Okay, serious question here. If anyone on this board is an actor in LA, I'd like to talk to you.

I'm seriously thinking about moving to LA to become an actor. Thing is, I'm 37, not 18 so the thought of such a life changing and uncertain future is a bit scary.

I'm thinking about everything I've been through in my life, all the shit I've gone through, and I think I could put all those experiences to good use through acting. Now I'm not expecting to become a leading man or even get a staring role in a production. However, I do think I could be a really good character actor or supporting actor. I'm not looking for fame and fortune, I'm actually a pretty private person. I'm just looking to do something that I enjoy.

Currently, I work in television as a cameraman on television documentaries, lifestyle shows and such. But there are forces that are occurring on this side of the camera and I don't like the direction things are going.

So I'm thinking about and moving to LA and continuing to work as a freelance cameraman to keep the bills paid as I try to get acting jobs, maybe TV commercials, corporate productions, theatre and such. I know some will say I should be an extra. But I don't want to spend my life as a background extra making $100 for a 16hr day. Maybe I could handle that at 18, but not at 37.

Not to sound full of myself, but I have been told that I have good looks, people have told me I look like several famous actors, though I wouldn't say I'm leading man material.

Well, I've rambled on long enough. If anyone has any comments, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks,
Warren

 

All I can say is good luck. You won't believe the number of people here in L.A. wanting to be actors. Its crazy. Just about every waiter/waitress/bartender I talk to came from out of state hoping to become an actor.

 

Get ready to be a P0RN STAR!

 

I wish I could help you, but I thought that last comment was hilarious

 

try being an actor locally. In LA, the competition is going to be far more intense than it is where you live, so if you can't cut it at home, you have absolutely no chance in hell of ever getting an acting gig in LA. And if you think you can act simply because "all the shit I've gone through" join the club. You think there are a ton of "actors" out there who claim the reason they would be good is they have no life experience? IMHO, the only experience that would make you a good actor is, um, acting experience.

When you are top dog in your town, then consider being employable in a town like LA. If you aren't even into acting enough to be on stage in a local play, you certainly won't get in front of a camera anywhere, much less in Hollywood.

 

Thanks for your comment. Actually, I forgot to mention that I do have some experience. Admittedly, not a lot but some. I have acted in several plays and a couple of independent films, a corporate film and a couple of voiceover projects (which is a form of acting in itself).

Everyone has said I do good work but I really haven't applied myself mainly because I've been working hard on building my own company. I admit that I would need some acting coaching and I'm in the process of seeking that out.

Thanks again for your comments, I appreciate that.

Warren

 

[QUOTE=gosixers215,Mar 16 2006, 09:13 PM]

 

That's some good advice (I think)...I'm no actor so I wouldn't know. It just sounds "right".

 

I'm not an actor in real life, but I play one on TV.

 

Good luck with it!