I think it would be better to discuss here, it's more on-topic imo

All the same to me lol

Ok so, here is my plan

I move to L.A and i look for a job/acting school something to get experience from

If you don't have any credits (Theater in school or anything, like a youtube channel) that's definitely necessary.

Acting school I mean.

Then i could work as an extra for some movies, to learn the job

Very few people like working with inexperienced actors

Also a good idea, knowing how to navigate film sets is useful.

Now the thing i'm not sure about is: how do i exactly "go to an acting school"? Do i... google it?

Before you have to sign up with a union, turning down roles is a bad idea. You never know who the next person who is going to blow up is.

You just sign up, a lot of actors have acting programs

Acting schools in LA are useful because they help with networking. Even if you've done a school somewhere - it's still worth it to keep going. Keep improving, meeting people.

Do you have any resources or something i can read?

I know there are a few lessons on masterclass that I've heard good things about. masterclass.com/classes/helen-mirren-teaches-acting

A few other people are there teaching acting also I think

But are there like.. actual acting schools in L.A?

Yeah

I don't have a ton of resources on that kind of thing though

Oh ok cool

Backstage is your friend for that

backstage.com

I used to run the production side of a local production house (I'm based out of Michigan) so my experience is mostly related to that.

And once i get out of it, what does it give me? (In terms certificates and stuff like that)

@Noctrine oh nice

No one is gonna care about certificates and stuff the way that jobs usually do.

You basically gotta prove every job that you can do the job they want, it's a lot like programming that way

Oh

Oh okay i like that

Lets see

in addition to backstage

Deadline is a good resource. deadline.com

Mm

You're also gonna wanna sign up for IMDB.

What's that?

Internet Movie Database, its a massive DB of film and people related to it

Importantly, it's a good way of keeping track of all of your miscellaneous credits

Oh okay

Credits at the very least help get you through the door / auditions / infront of an agent

Oh

Your immediate goal (in addition to living) is going to be trying to find representation. You want someone to advocate for you.

That's why I said, Voice Acting may help out

Mmm..

Barrier to entry is low, it'll give you a lot of room to learn, grow, and practice, and it'll help you get more credits.

Acting is acting is acting

You said that people don't like to work with inexperienced people, right?

It's difficult, it makes work harder

You want to be known as professional, easy to work with, getting the takes necessary when necessary.

Newbies make filming take forever, and that makes budgets grow.

But they don't care if you went to an acting school, what school you have done.... they want you do DO THE JOB

Right

Ok

They want to be able to SEE the experience

That's the casting directors entire job

So let's say i just got in La and i'm looking for a job

Like an extra for a film

Casting people and Agents will also be looking around acting schools for new people to sign occasionally also

How, where can i look for it?

Backstage, trades

So should i hire an agent?

backstage.com/casting

The agents that'll let you just "hire" them without any experience

Are often not the agents you want

The important agencies seek out people they want for representation, and have the ability to be choosy.

Okay

This is where credits are important

So like unitedtalent.com is one of the largest agencies.

Man i'm even more confused than before ahah :D

You'll see a disclaimer on their page.

"UTA operates exclusively by referral and does not accept unsolicited materials or solicitations of any kind. Any such materials will be returned or destroyed at the agency's discretion."

Being a working actor is hard

But if its the kind of thing you are interested in, and good at, I think it's worth it.

But its a long slog between starting and A-lister

I want to become a professional actor, i'm ready to do whatever it takes

Unless you are you know, unnaturally attractive AND talented

Well that's the right attitude

Some general advice (that'll take you far anywhere, but ESPECIALLY in LA)

(Just about) no work is beneath you. Check out your favorite actors credits, you'll see them in ALL kinds of stuff. Because work is work.

But the thing is that i still didn't understand everything about it..

Be nice to everyone

@Noctrine i am and i will always be

You don't know who knows who, and who is whos cousin. And the working set in LA is ridiculously tight

@GabrieleVierti You hit the ground running, spend all of your time researching, looking for work, or working.

It's more than a full time job, even when you aren't actually on set or working.

A lot of gig jobs are like that

You gave me some useful links, but... i think i need a mentor or something like that...

Acting schools would help with that

Oh okay

But again, it's one of those things where mentors are gonna wanna see ability in you

Feeeeeew

Acting is acting is acting :p

Start a youtube channel, voice act

@Noctrine i'm gonna show it to them

Work work work

Like literally, acting is what i wanted to do as a kid, even though just recently i got into it

And i know it's my way

That's why i'm so ready to work hard for it

Well, definitely good luck.

Thanks!

I gotta be honest with you. I'm scared af

It's scary.

I've a mindset of these things though. If things aren't scary, you aren't going fast enough.

How do i go faster then?

You're already scared lol

Yes! I told you!

But yeah, definitely do work. Working will make it easier

Once again

Voice acting - voiceacting.space

And get a youtube channel, and post stuff

Like imagine this: going to another country to chase a dream you've had since you were a child, leaving your home and family, looking for an acting school

If you're in HS, and you currently have your parents taking care of you. Make as much use of their resources as you can, cause you won't have them in a bit.

It's really scary ahahahaa 😅

Another thing.. does age matter?

mmm

How old you look, more than how old you are

until how old you are starts to matter

I mean now i'm 17, but... is it... late or something?

You are too young, mostly.

How long is acting school gonna take?

You aren't too old to learn anything. But in the US, contracts suck until you are 18. People are reluctant to make contracts with minors.

Oh okay

Most people on like, the Disney channel or whatever. Playing late teens are often adults lol

Just because of that

Okay haha

Starting young just means you have more time to get more experience and do more work

Mmm

Let's hope for the best then

Yep

Like Zendaya for instance

I like to think, if you hope for and work for the best possible outcome. The best possible outcome usually happens.

You've at least got the right mindset. Acting takes work. Lots of work. And when it looks effortless, they've put in the most work of all.

She just like exploded, because of the spiderman movie, but she worked lots of years ago with Disney channel

I love acting

And before that she was working as a fashion model and backup dancer

I still don't understand why i do, but trust me on this one i DO

@Noctrine exactly

And she is now a flippin actress working in hollywood and making lots of money

What a life hahaha :)

So acting school are not just online aren't they? They are also kinda like... real? Haha

Yeah, you defintiely want to go to a real one

But like I said, always be learning

Working actors still take time to do schools, and studies, and what not

Does it cost a lot of money?

I don't think it's free

Prices vary, so I couldn't say.

Mmm

Okay

But are they really expensive

Or more affordable

Like I said varies. It depends on who's teaching, where it's at, how many students.

So prices range from no, not expensive to it's gonna cost as much as you'll make in a year.

Okay hahaha

So you're still in HS

Do they also offer a place where to stay? Kinda like college?

You're biggest thing (Unless you have dual citizenship)

@Noctrine yes sir

@GabrieleVierti Dunno, varies. If you go to college for acting in CA you'll have a dorm

I don't have dual citizenship

Then you'll need a visa of some sort to come/work in the US

efp-online.com/en/project_talent_promotion/shooting_stars.php

So what should i actually do? Go to college for... acting or something or just acting school?

You may wanna look into those guys

@GabrieleVierti Up to you. Going to college for acting will help you know a lot of people who are aiming to be actors.

"It's not your net worth, it's your network"

My father is a policeman here, so i think he will know how to help me on the dualcitizenship stuff

mhm

But if i go to college, wouldn't i get kind of a bonus?

Well yeah you'll just need some sort of Visa or something to come to the US

If you go to colllege you can come to the US on an education visa

Yeah something to work there

That won't let you work for money, but you can act in student films

Which means that when you finish school, you'll be able to get cast relatively easy to get US work visas

But then i would need to go to college here in Italy, wouldn't i?

Nah, you can go to college in the US

Oh okay

Alternatively you can apply for an O-1 or something

"Extraordinary talent" visa

BUt for that to get accepted, you'd need to do some work lol

Oh okay

Fine then

It all comes back to, if you can start acting right now. Start :D

I wish i could

But i first need to finish HS

Like honestly, i kinda hate living here in Italy..

That's why i'm planning to leave asap

Wow this is actually quite a comprehensive guide. - learnhowtobecome.org/actor-or-actress

Thanks, i'll read that later! Anyway, i think i'm gonna have dinner now, thank you for the info i appreciated it :) later!

No problem, good luck

reddit.com/r/acting/comments/39wmk3/…

May be more help in that thread also