Son wants to get into drama/be an actor

maggiesoop

Hi all, 16 yr old is mad keen on being an actor and wants to study Drama. He sent dozens of emails to Agents (casting I think, they all seem to be private email addresses) asking for their advice. He's received quite a few nice responses saying he should get experience and stick in there... but two or three have said if he wants to register then he needs to do an audition (which is free) but if successful then he would need to pay £50 for a photo to go on their books. Call me cynical, but at £50 a pop, I think quite a few kids would be successful. Do aspiring actors have to pay as much as this for a photograph to get on an agent's books. Any idea where I can go to get sound professional advice?
Thanks.

Ma_Boswell

My advice would be talk to a drama teacher at your local college, or even go so far as to call one of the big drama schools (RADA etc), we used to have resident drama teachers at our local theatre who had all been to drama school and knew "the ropes". I wouldn't pay out anything at the moment as he's unlikely to be considered for auditions without experince and/or training.
I hope he succeeds with his dream and well done for supporting him in it

Toonie

My partner is an actor and I just asked his opinion and he said to be very wary of agents asking for money for a photo, if he wants to sign up with an agent however, he will need a professional headshot for applications for any jobs, but whether or not you do this through an agent, or with another source is your option.

Try to find out some information on the agents. They should all have websites and offices you can visit and should also have a list of other actors on their books, also bear in mind that they would not normally take on any actors who look similar to their established actors as it will cut down on their work.

The best option your son has is to keep studying. Drama school is the best thing he can aim for. Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh is well respected and perhaps your son could get some advice from them on the best way to persue his acting dreams. Good luck!

wolfehouse

I see you are in edinburgh. if you don't want to fund participation in private drama school,
i suggest he look into some of the syt (scottish youth theatre) workshops (although they are based in glasgow) and their summer festival.
http://www.scottishyouththeatre.org/

they are often asked to supply kids/young adults (up to age 25) for parts in things
and he can do other studies (drama?) alongside.

i bet they would also advise you about getting serious, in general.
btw- will he be doing anything at the fringe?

System

If decides to pursue it at uni there are quite a few accredited drama/acting courses, though be prepared to pay for the auditions (and out of 6 places including 2 in london, my little sis only got 2 offers-tis highly competitive)

Oldernotwiser

The main thing is for him to realise that he needs training and this, at whatever age, is what he should be looking at, rather than thinking about getting an agent.

Hermia

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The main thing is for him to realise that he needs training and this, at whatever age, is what he should be looking at, rather than thinking about getting an agent.

Exactly. Actors usually worry about getting an agent after they have completed their training. I think drama schools have sort of showcases at the end of the course that agents attend. The only time I can see a 16 year old (who presumably has very little experience?) getting an agent is if he is very good-looking & could potentially get jobs on adverts etc. I would be wary of any agent who charges. If an agent seriously thinks he could make money out of an actor they should take them on for free.

If I were him I would join a local drama group to get some actual experience on stage. I would also advise him to get his A-levels (I have a few actor friends and they all seemed to study English and drama at A-level). It's also a good idea for him to get A-levels as a back-up as most Equity members are unemployed. Then he should think about auditioning for drama school after his A-levels. Hopefully, he will have got lots of amateur dramatics experience. I take it he is reading "The Stage" each week?

heretolearn_2

You need an equity card to work as an actor and it's bloody hard to get one without going through the usual routes. Just registering with an agent won't help.

If he is serious then he should be going to a good drama school - and at the same time thinking about how he can support himself in between acting jobs.

Pee

Think that is good advice - if there is flexible work he would enjoy to train up for that at the same time.

Kay_Peel

I assume that your son is a member of a youth drama group, local amateur dramatics society or involved with school/college productions. In other words, he has had some experience of acting before deciding that he has the makings of a competent actor.

If he has little or no experience then he needs to find some. He needs to test his assumptions about acting and his suitability for it BEFORE he thinks about approaching agents or preparing for drama school. Options include:

- work experience with a local theatre group
- summer drama schools

CBBC Newsround did a little piece to encourage young actors because the show gets hundreds of enquiries every week. Matt Smith, the new Doctor Who, and Amy Pond, his assistant, speak of how they went on National Theatre courses and joined local acting groups - where they were talent spotted by agents.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8560000/newsid_8565000/8565070.stm

best of luck to your son!

belfastgirl23

If he's interested in acting for TV/film he could sign up with an extras agency. it's a good way to learn more about the business - my experience from being on set with a friend is that it is soooo boring - you wait forever, there's a take which is over in about 2 mins, then you wait, then repeat, wait repeat etc. He should experience this a few times before thinking he wants to be a tv or film actor