Career-Occupations
The search for adequate representation for an actor can be just as hassling an event as much as finding those ideal roles that an actor desires, the quest is always on, and there needs to be an active awareness for many actors to receive the best pay possible for their work accomplished. One of the few guaranteed ways to go about that is to find the best agent, who in turn works for a larger agency most of the time these days, and one that will represent you with your best wishes and choices kept in mind.
There are many ways and steps to finding the most adequate representation available, and though it can sometimes feel absurd to think about the need for an agent, it is also a fact that agencies can also find a steady amount of work for the actor in particular. Finding a legitimate agency can take having the knowledge and the attitude to do a little research into acquiring the services and wage amount that you desire, and you can easily avoid scams and find a worthwhile agent with this information in mind.
Some steps include going to a local theater, and after the performance, asking the actors for the names of those who represent them. Phone the local office of the Screen Actors Guild or the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for the signatory agencies in your area, these are contractual agents and are bound to abide by their respective unions’ rules, but either group you contact will give you the list of names for free. By scheduling your appointment for during working hours while they are there, you can avoid awkward meetings with unfamiliar agents, and agree to meet them at their office.
Determine whether you happen to feel comfortable around the agent, and never pay any up-front fees because the agent should work off a percentage of what you make from the work, or booking, they get for you. If you feel uneasy or unsure at all, maybe speaking to the appropriate acting association might give you more information about the perspective agency, and also calling the Better Business Bureau might glean some other insights if others have made complaints against them or their agency.
When you settle upon a particular agent, it may be wise to set up an appointment if you happen to be unhappy with the number of bookings that the agent is setting up for you, and to further discuss the degrees of effort necessary to increase or generate more work. If your agent seems preoccupied with money up-front, keep looking for an agent because a legitimate agent won’t require you to come up with expense money, and always keep aware of what your interests are by not settling for anything that seems too good or too easy.
Before beginning to get into the gristle of the topic of acting, it is necessary to speak a little on the issue of where it comes from, and thus putting the bones and structure of the issue before the more fleshy and substantial points. As well as going over a brief comparison and contrasting between the areas of film and theatre, and the medium of storytelling that it has become, growing from such ancient theatrical roots as those in the Roman culture to Western culture’s contributions to the art of acting as it stands today.
Acting, as a process committed to by an actor, is the telling of a story through the portrayal of characters and the reciting of a written text. From a Latin word meaning “to do”, and that is precisely what acting is, an actor changes their own personality in order to reveal the motivations and actions of their character for particular moments in the story. Artistic philosophy is usually generated through an intense study of the elements which seem to perfect the practice of one’s own style of performing, and can include many differing skills with which to utilize during the approach to a role.
Many different schools of thought have arisen from the varying amounts of opinions concerning the most appropriate ways to assume any particular role of characterization, and each of these rather diverse opinions seems to focus on some of a multitude of human traits and qualities, as well as accentuating the uncommon quirks inherent in human nature. Good vocal projection, physical expressiveness, ability to emulate a variety of emotional or physical conditions, and a sense of perspective are some traits that can perhaps lead to a particular aptitude for acting.
The term thespian, which is another commonly conceived of word used in place of actor or actress, is attributed to the Greek performer Thespis who was supposedly the first known person to speak words as a character in a play. Having usually been thought to be told through song and dance and third person narrative prior to this, the storytelling was approached in a much more distanced way, and no one had ever been known to assume the role of a character.
In the Middle Ages, acting was not considered of a very high status, but this perception changed with the motion picture creating a new respect for acting as a profession and an art. During this time when popular appeal was rising for film entertainment, the role of the movie star was propelled to the level of status symbol through a combination of public presence, and the wealth generated from the large salaries they began commanding. Creating an elevated interest in acting as an art and as the above-mentioned position of high social status.
Before the introduction of the motion picture, theatre was the central access to this kind of occupation, and men up until the 17th century played most of all the roles available. Many times throughout then and now this concept has been played for comic effect, and even the role of Peter Pan is traditionally played by a woman, which is commonly conceded to be because in some regards a woman has a closer resemblance to a boy than a man would. So it is with this in mind, that anyone should consider acting with not just respect, but as an art form that reflects our culture through the medium of ourselves.
