Career in Acting: Career Path, Courses, Colleges, Relevant Skills

Career in Acting

A successful career in acting requires equal parts talent and practice with a bit of luck thrown in. Actors at work can be seen and heard everywhere: TV, the big screen, the theater, on the Internet, in videos, and on podcasts. They portray characters from the past that have impacted history, and they portray characters that are destined to impact pop culture in the future. Some dabble in a variety of entertainment mediums, while some stick to the stage, and use their voice to create new worlds or dedicate their lives to the silver screen. Some make up the cast of extras that round out a production, while some achieve levels of fame that makes them a household name. This guide serves as a starting point for anyone seriously interested in the world of professional acting. It includes a brief description of the real working life of actors and actresses, a rundown of the skills one must develop to succeed in this highly competitive field, and a list of steps to consider in pursuit of an acting career. To put it very simply, an actor works to portray a character in a movie, play, television show, theater production, or any other variety of performances.

Acting is a powerful profession; by pretending to be somebody else, actors are able to trick people into believing that the character they are playing is actually real. Actors influence emotions, trends, and critical discussion. Without them, the world would be a boring place. To be a successful actor, you will need a certain amount of talent. However, you can’t rely on your gift alone. To thrive in this cut-throat industry, you will need to rehearse, learn your lines, rehearse, and then rehearse some more! Actors rehearse their roles, take speech and acting classes, conduct independent research, and try their best to refine the character that they’re playing. Famous actors may also be required to promote the productions they’re working on by giving interviews to the press and making television appearances. Obviously, actors need to find acting jobs before they can perform. Consequently, actors will need to spend a lot of time during the early stages of their careers, searching for the right agent, attending auditions, and building up a network of industry contacts and this is a difficult process if you are planning a Career in Acting.

The path to acting careers can actually begin in high school plays and musicals. Drama classes can introduce students to performing, different methods and schools of thought in acting, writing their own material, and different approaches to characters, along with stage and costume design. High school drama classes and productions allow students to develop their skills and experience what it feels like to perform in front of a large audience. They are also very important in preparing students for the inevitable countless auditions that await them once they venture into the world of professional acting or head off to a college or university drama program.

So if you have decided to make a career in Acting the there are some bachelor’s courses you should take into consideration.

Career in Acting: Education

B.A. Acting – B.A. Acting is a 3-year postgraduate degree program, the minimum eligibility is 10+2 from a recognized college or its equivalent exam. B.A. Acting is an undergraduate Acting, Dance, and Drama program. Admission in the B.A. Acting is based upon the applicant’s performance in the relevant entrance examination and a counseling round.

The course is gainful to build up the abilities and credits expected to devise unique creative works in the zones of theatre. Candidates consistently can go-ahead to an effective career in the film, TV, and theatre. The program is intended to furnish you with the information and aptitudes to execute as an actor to proficient industry benchmarks whether in Film, TV, Theatre, or Radio. B.A. Acting course sets you up for the proficient life you’ll find out about operators and cast directors as well as the actors’ union. Some colleges offering this course are:

1. National School of Drama – https://nsd.gov.in/delhi/
2. Delhi University – http://www.admission.du.ac.in/

• Bachelor of Fine Arts– BFA or Bachelor of Fine Arts is an undergraduate degree course which deals with the study of Visual or Performing Arts. The course is sometimes also referred to as a Bachelor in Visual Arts (BVA) in which the study of Visual Arts includes subjects such as painting, sculpture, photography, literature, animation, etc. On the other hand, the study of Performing Arts involves subjects such as dance, theatre, and music. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree often requires an area of specialization to be chosen by the candidate as per his/her interest. Depending on the candidate’s chosen specialization, BFA is typically a three to four-year duration course that can be pursued as a full-time, part-time, online, or distance-learning program. A BFA course not only educates but reforms the skills of candidates to enable them to become artists in their chosen field. Career opportunities for fine arts graduates are ample wherein they can choose to be an art teacher, writer, fine artist, actor, art director, and a lot more. These days many students are opting for a career in Fine Arts not only to earn high remuneration but also to gain popularity and prestige. Aspirants can choose an area in which they can specialize in subjects which can not only enhance their skills and fine-tune the aspirant’s creativeness, it also allows candidates to explore varied options. The BFA assists the candidate to grow in the area of the subject chosen. From fine arts to visual arts to performing arts, here aspirants can check colleges according to location which can help candidates pursue BFA. Some colleges offering this course are:

1. Banaras Hindu University- www.bhu.ac.in
2. College of Arts, University of Delhi- http://www.admission.du.ac.in/

After completing the bachelor course the student can also opt for Acting schools such as:

• BARRY JOHN ACTING STUDIO, MUMBAI (www.bjas.in) – Established in 1999 in Film City, Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Barry John Acting Studio (BJAS) operates under the Theatre in Education Trust, a non-profit association. In 2002, the course moved to a studio in Saidulajab, Saket in New Delhi. It offers courses like:

1. Diploma in film acting
2. Diploma courses in film arts
3. Certificate in acting

• NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA (NSD), NEW DELHI (nsd.gov.in) –“It was set up by the SangeetNatakAkademi as one of its constituent units in 1959. In 1975, it became an independent entity and was registered as an autonomous organization under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India”, informs the official website. At the National School of Drama, as part of their training, students are required to produce plays that are then performed before the public. It offers a course like:

1. Classical Indian drama
2. Classical Indian drama
3. Modern Indian drama

The qualities of a good actor are:

• Good stage, screen, or vocal presence.
• The ability to enter into another character and engage with an audience.
• The ability to memorize lines.
• Good understanding of dramatic techniques.
• Having the confidence, energy, and dedication to perform.
• Creative insight.

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Career in Acting: In short the process of becoming an actor is:

• Step 1: Take Classes

Although no formal training is strictly required to become an actor or actress, College degree programs allow students to expand their skills in various acting fields, including impromptu acting, sketch comedy, voiceover work, and musical theater, while building their portfolios. An undergraduate degree program in drama or theatre includes coursework such as voice and diction, stagecraft, acting theory, and stage management.

• Step 2: Gain Professional Experience

Actors need whatever experience they can get in order to improve their skills and gain more recognition. Participating in college productions is an excellent way to bolster a resume and gain experience on stage or in front of a camera. It is important to keep copies of the recordings of these performances to show potential employers when auditioning for a role.

Many actors also start by participating in community theater productions. Others may choose to perform publicly at ‘open mic’ nights held by local venues. Performing in other public settings, such as nightclubs, dinner theaters, or theme parks, can also help beginners get real-world experience and help them become comfortable in front of an audience.

• Step 3: Acquire Additional Skills

Because endless roles are available, the more an actor knows how to do, the wider the variety of auditions he or she is able to attend. For example, learning foreign accents or impressions may appeal to a certain market that was previously unattainable. Some roles may require that actors know how to dance, sing, or both. Taking classes and practicing different skills can help actors prepare to play a variety of different characters and more options on the job market.

Many actors choose to enlist the help of an acting coach, who is more experienced than they are. This coach helps them prepare for roles and find auditions while teaching them tricks of the trade.

• Step 4: Find an Agent

While it is not mandatory, having an agent can make working as an actor easier. Agents complete most of the business-related tasks involved with acting, such as mailing out resumes, scheduling audition appointments, and negotiating contracts. Having an agent completing these administrative tasks provides actors with more time to practice their skills. The majority of agents also have connections with casting directors, which means they can more easily connect clients with regular acting roles.

A career in Acting is evergreen as entertainment is an important part of our lives, so this profession is never going to be out of trend as is expected to only grow in the coming years. So if you are thinking to make a career in acting, go ahead without a doubt.

We hope this is going to be helpful if you are planning to pursue a career in acting. For more guidance, feel free to connect with us and provide your feedback as well, so that we can also improve in the future.