CAREER TRAINING FOR ACTORS

When I told my parents I was moving to LA, they thought I was nuts. Of course, I wasn't going to do the stereotypical acting thing... no... not me. Rather I was going to play drums in a rock band. Certainly a much more refined and stable career path then then trying to be an actor! My point is, I can relate to the fear and anxiety of pursuing a career most will call you crazy to embrace. However the more you treat it like a career, and not a "hobby" or something you're dabbling in, the more serious people will take you, and the more successful you will be.

You need to at least be aware of the options out there so you can do this effectively. Even those of you who got an acting degree at college, once you make the move to Los Angeles, or New York, will quickly realize that, at best, you have a basic education that needs to be enhanced, fine tuned, or perhaps put aside (now that you have access to stronger acting teachers/ programs).

Here is a quick overview of professional training for actors.
Acting/ Scene Study - This is really where you start. A good scene study class gives you the fundamentals, and helps you build a solid foundation from which to start growing as an actor. There are several popular acting methods, and hundreds of programs out there. Selecting the right program/ method may take some time, and I'll discuss in other entries.

Improvisation - is a must for all actors. It helps you feel more comfortable regardless of what situation you are in as an actor, and thus enhances your ability to do better auditions. Even when given a script to follow, there is room for you to be creative... and if your improv skills are in peak form, you will be able to take advantage of this.

Commercial Audition Technique - To most peoples surprise, commercial auditions are considered to be the most difficult to do in the industry. This is mainly because the actor has so little to work with. If you can master the commercial audition, then TV and Film auditions become much easier.

Cold Reading Technique - Cold Reading classes prepare you for TV and Film auditions. the instructor helps you analyse the material, break it down and make strong choices for you character and approach.

Speech, Accent, Dialect - If you have an accent, it can be very limiting, so this kind of training is obvious. Beyond that, consider how important your speech is to how you are perceived. Cate Blanchett comes to mind, from "The Gift" to "The Aviator" to "The Lord of the Rings", she has such a command of her voice... and it brings such depth to the characters she plays.

Specialty Workshops Soaps - Sitcom - Comedy - Theatre - Stand-up Comedy - Voice Over - Character Voices - Hosting
Once you have a feel for what your strengths are, then take a workshop (as specific as you can) for that skill. Each little corner of the industry has it's own preferences... rules... short cuts... do's and don'ts. Specialty workshops can really give you a ton of information, in a short amount of time, and create some great momentum.

One final note... training should never really stop. Maybe you take a break here and there, but its' always good to continue to develop your skills and/or sharpen the ones you have. I know a few actors who dismiss the importance of training because they've managed to book a few things here and there. I think this is a mistake, and ultimately limits your options in the big picture.

This entry was inspired by Carolyne Barry's book Hit The Ground Running.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel