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Hello! This is not a question, but rather a resource for all aspiring actors and actresses out there. Instead of i guess wasting your points asking how to become an actress, I will tell you how to become as successful as possible. Before I get started, let me give you a little background first. My name is Anna, and I have been in the acting business since I was 6 years old, and modeling since I was 4. I am now 13 years old, so that makes almost 9 years in the business. I do have experience, as I am not telling you my knowledge coming from someone who has zero experience.

Step One:
Get into some acting classes. Without these, you will get nowhere. It doesn’t matter if you have natural talent or think you are they best, you must take these. It is a known fact that without training, casting directors wont even consider you for roles. For starters, I would suggest an improvisation class. If you are looking into getting into film or television acting, I would suggest taking a film or television acting workshop. Classes should not cost more that a few hundred dollars, if that. Many classes are offered at local theater companies. With some research on the internet and in the phone book, finding a class perfect for you will be easy.

Step 2
So great! You are now enrolled in an acting class. You are now ready for the next step: gaining experience. Audition for local theater productions, school plays, church plays, and independent films. As a beginner actor, you will not automatically start out by doing films and television shows. You must work your way up. Gaining enough training should take about a year. It would be a plus if you got some leads or main roles. To find auditions, call your local theater company, or contact your local community college, which may be holding auditions for student films, which look great on any resume. For all people who want to become an actor on the Disney Channel: please do not send your audition tapes to Disney. Unless you have an agent with an impressive resume, they will not even consider you. You will be just wasting your time. Also, "casting call" websites are not a good place to start. Many of those sites usually are scams, or are looking for experienced actors.

STEP 3
Great! So you’ve been taking acting classes and have some experience in acting. Now you have some background and are not going into this clueless. The next step is to get 8×10 color headshots of yourself. If you are serious about acting, you should get AT LEAST 300 of these prints, which will be used for auditions, casting calls, etc. Also, you must create a resume, which is a written copy of all previous acting training and experience, as well as your statistics and special skills. You can go to http://www.bestsampleresume.com/acting-resumes.html to find the best format for you. Paste your resume to the back of your headshot. You are now ready for the next step, and perhaps the most challenging and exciting step… getting an agent.

STEP 4
So you have created a resume and have your headshots done. It is now time to get an agent. Agents help find auditions and casting calls for you to go on, and is another essential part of showbiz. The do not cost a thing! Never pay an agent. They only take around 15% of the money you earn when you book a job. Start out by finding a local agent. Don’t get an agent in Hollywood or NYC unless you live there. To find a list of SAG franchised agencies in your area, visit http://www.sag.org . Once you have picked out a few different agencies that seem legit or that you like, send them your resume and headshot, along with a cover letter in a yellow envelope. Do not drop these off. (A cover letter is a letter briefly describing why you would be an asset to their company.) If the agency likes you, they will call you in for an interview. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, so don’t get discouraged. If you impress them at the interview, you will be asked to sign with their agency. Please also be aware that if you don’t receive a call from an agency, it’s not that they didn’t like you, it’s just maybe your not what they were looking for. Once you sign with an agency, they will send you on auditions for film, television, commercials, and theater depending on your type of agency.

Those are basically all of the basic steps on how to become a professional actor or actress. I am not guaranteeing success, but if you follow these steps I know that you will get somewhere. Also, keep in mind that most television shows, films, and commercials are shot in Los Angeles and NYC. Eventually, you will have to move to either one of these cities if you are serious about acting.

Check out these sites for acting tips, resources, and more:

http://startips.com/
http://sag.org/
http://cricketfeet.org/bizkids/
http://www.redbirdstudio.com/AWOL

Check out these important tips below:

NEVER attend acting classes at places like John Robert Powers, Barbizon, ProModel

Wow thank you for that. That must have taken a lot of work,Thank youu for putting so much effort into this.
I have been taking acting classes for around 5 years and I didn’t really know where to go from here.Thank youu so much

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