How can I showcase my acting talent and stand out in Hollywood?

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The discussion revolves around the aspirations of a physics PhD student who dreams of becoming a Hollywood actor. Despite enjoying acting in high school, the individual has not performed since college and is contemplating moving to LA to pursue this dream. However, responses highlight the challenges of breaking into the acting industry, emphasizing that many aspiring actors fail to achieve success. Suggestions include sending audition tapes to agents, exploring opportunities in the European film scene, or participating in amateur films to gain experience.Concerns about the competitive nature of Hollywood are raised, with statistics indicating that only a small fraction of aspiring actors succeed. Participants recommend completing the PhD before considering a move to LA, as it provides a solid backup plan. The conversation also touches on the potential for incorporating physics into acting, with some suggesting that a rational approach to acting could be unique. Ultimately, the importance of persistence, networking, and gaining practical experience in acting is emphasized, alongside the recognition of the demanding nature of the film industry.
marlon
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You know, though i am currently doing a physics phd at IMEC (look at the website in my profile), i always enjoyed playing on stage when i was in high school. Since being in college at never performed anymore but my dream has always been to become a Hollywood actor. In order to achieve this, should i just move to LA and "make things happen" ? That is what i always had in mind...

marlon
 
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Every month hundreds of young{and a few older} people get off the bus to find there dreams in California. Very, very few find success this way.
Your better off sending tapes and photos with bios to different agents.
 
hypatia said:
Every month hundreds of young{and a few older} people get off the bus to find there dreams in California. Very, very few find success this way.
Your better off sending tapes and photos with bios to different agents.

where can i find them agents ?

What are good sites ?

Keep in mind i am not even in the US...

Besides, are you sure there are only a few hundred of them every month. I always had imagined there were a lot more

marlon
 
Your gentle physicist's soul will be sorely battered by the backbiting and intrigue in that business, marlon..:wink:
 
You find more info by contacting the Screen Actors Guild{SAG}. I don't know much about agents, other then you really need them.
 
arildno said:
Your gentle physicist's soul will be sorely battered by the backbiting and intrigue in that business, marlon..:wink:

yeah, probably...however i am planning to incorporate the physics in my acting-style...I am going to be a real rational actor...i really hate the exagurated way of acting that is common amoung most semi-talented actors

marlon
 
Marlon, why not start out in the EU scene?

Of thousands of people who want to be 'Hollywood' actors, only 1 in thousands succeeds - similar statistics for professional athletes.

Focus on physics, and look for opportunities in acting.

You could also come to LA (UCLA or UCSB) to do physics and pursue an acting career on the side.
 
Astronuc said:
Marlon, why not start out in the EU scene?

true but there are not really great actors/movies here in Belgium. I don't want to be a belian actor, i want to be a Hollywood actor.

Of thousands of people who want to be 'Hollywood' actors, only 1 in thousands succeeds - similar statistics for professional athletes.
I was more thinking of 1 in a million

You could also come to LA (UCLA or UCSB) to do physics and pursue an acting career on the side.
What opportunities are there for me to do physics in LA ?
marlon

ps : thanks for your answers Astronuc...
 
Marlon, you seem like a pretty horny guy. :wink: If you fail in Hollywood, there's always the chance you could succeed in the "alternative" movie industry that's located in Chatsworth (in the San Fernando Valley).

BTW - a friend and I were doing a student film 2 or 3 years ago, and placed some casting notices in one of the trades (no pay, student film, etc). We got on the order of hundreds of headshots back. (One of the more memorable ones was from a girl who ended up getting a topless bit part in a big Hollywood production a year or two later. We had called her up for an audition back then, but she didn't show up). Anyhow - we had auditions in LA, with maybe 20-30 actors and actresses, and one or two were really good, but the majority were mediocre to horrible. One funny one was this hot, tall blond German girl who didn't really speak English too well, and had to consult a dictionary a fair bit. To be fair though, it was a cold reading, meaning we gave the actors the script when they showed up.

We ended up not using any of the LA actors anyhow, since we shot up in the Bay Area.

As for physics in LA - are you kidding me? Caltech, UCLA, UCSB, USC, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, etc.
 
  • #10
juvenal said:
Marlon, you seem like a pretty horny guy. :wink: If you fail in Hollywood, there's always the chance you could succeed in the "alternative" movie industry that's located in Chatsworth (in the San Fernando Valley).

BTW - a friend and I were doing a student film 2 or 3 years ago, and placed some casting notices in one of the trades (no pay, student film, etc). We got on the order of hundreds of headshots back. (One of the more memorable ones was from a girl who ended up getting a topless bit part in a big Hollywood production a year or two later. We had called her up for an audition back then, but she didn't show up). Anyhow - we had auditions in LA, with maybe 20-30 actors and actresses, and one or two were really good, but the majority were mediocre to horrible. One funny one was this hot, tall blond German girl who didn't really speak English too well, and had to consult a dictionary a fair bit. To be fair though, it was a cold reading, meaning we gave the actors the script when they showed up.

We ended up not using any of the LA actors anyhow, since we shot up in the Bay Area.
:smile:
Thanks man, you give me hope

As for physics in LA - are you kidding me? Caltech, UCLA, UCSB, USC, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, etc.

ok, but how do i get in ? I mean, i don't really feel like restarting my phd you see ? Besides, i doubt if going back to college is a usefull thing in my case

regards
marlon
 
  • #11
Astronuc said:
You could also come to LA (UCLA or UCSB) to do physics and pursue an acting career on the side.

If you already have a physics college master degree and several years of experience in math and physics tutoring for college students, do you stand a chance of getting in the US permanently ? What about the money to get in ?

I think i should consult the US ambassy here in Brussels right ?

marlon
 
  • #12
Hello, if any directors in the futuer invite you for a movie ronaantic like "Shapear in love", please phone us for a ice-cream and beer party! Okay ?
 
  • #13
You enjoyed playing on stage but you want to become a Hollywood actor? What is it that you really want? If you like acting on stage then there are countless amateur theatre groups all over the country (and the world) where you can play the thespian all you like. If you want to act on film, there is nothing stopping you from gathering like-minded people together to create amateur films. You might also consider enrolling in drama school or film school to get a more structured and disciplined education.

But if you want to become rich and famous, i.e. a Hollywood actor, then probably the best way is to sleep with those who hold the power in that sleazy business.
 
  • #14
hmmm...
 
  • #15
cragwolf said:
But if you want to become rich and famous, i.e. a Hollywood actor, then probably the best way is to sleep with those who hold the power in that sleazy business.
That does not work over time; you need to discredit potential rivals in various ways.

Rule nr. 1: Do not let your potential rivals dominate cocktail parties and other social gatherings, i.e., you need to make yourself known on other arenas like these and not only on the actual stage. Otherwise, you'll be squeezed out of the game.
So if you find the prospect of showing up on an endless series of dreary parties intolerable, you won't succeed, no matter what your acting skills are.
 
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  • #16
arildno said:
So if you find the prospect of showing up on an endless series of dreary parties intolerable, you won't succeed, no matter what your acting skills are.

Ohh nooo; not at all...i did this for 4 consecutive years when i was is college :wink: :smile:

marlon

i don't like gay parties though
 
  • #17
marlon said:
i don't like gay parties though

Well, that sort of rules out your career in movies like "Rigid rods"
and "The Gay Quarks: Tops&bottoms", doesn't it?
 
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  • #18
arildno said:
Well, that sort of rules out your career in movies like "Rigid rods"
and "The Gay Quarks: Tops&bottoms", doesn't it?

OK correct. Though i would really like to star in ANTI-gay movies for once...You know, just to be old fashion and conservative

marlon
 
  • #19
What does that pretty brunette with curly hair say about this?
 
  • #20
Joel said:
What does that pretty brunette with curly hair say about this?
she is all for it...we depart once she finished college...i am going to buy her a house in Santa Cruz.

marlon
 
  • #21
In that case, I lost my objection. :approve: I don't know a first thing about professional acting, so I can not but wish you luck.

Joel

Ps. Remember to incorporate your acting in your teaching as well (as I'm sure you've done).
 
  • #22
Joel said:
Ps. Remember to incorporate your acting in your teaching as well (as I'm sure you've done).
exactly, that is why i say that going to college and study physics is the best preparation for a career in acting

marlon
 
  • #23
marlon said:
exactly, that is why i say that going to college and study physics is the best preparation for a career in acting

marlon

After studying acting...? :wink: Altough I guess you get more self-confidence from physics studies than acting studies, concidering the backup plan you have in that case...
 
  • #24
i don't believe that you can actually study to become an actor

marlon
 
  • #25
marlon said:
Since being in college at never performed anymore but my dream has always been to become a Hollywood actor. In order to achieve this, should i just move to LA and "make things happen" ?
It's funny you should ask that quetion. When I was thinking I really might want to be a physicist I instantly posted at Actingforums.com asking people's advice on how to break into physics.
 
  • #26
If it's just the acting and a bit of screen exposure you're interested in, you can start the way I did. If there's a movie shooting in your area, go and sign up as an extra. You only get $20-50 per day unless you have lines or a scripted action, but there's all-you-can-eat food and drinks and you eventually get noticed. You can do that for quite a while on your own before getting an agent to try and move up to bit parts and beyond.
 
  • #27
marlon said:
true but there are not really great actors/movies here in Belgium. I don't want to be a belian actor, i want to be a Hollywood actor.
Marlon - have you heard of Jean-Claude Van Damme!? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000241/

I don't mean that you have to be like van Damme, but he is Belgian.

Regarding the odds, I was thinking of the ten's of thousands who travel to LA to try acting. Many Hollywood actors start out elsewhere.

As for Physics opportunities, Juvenal answered quite adequately. Just complete your PhD and then think about LA.
 
  • #28
Danger said:
If it's just the acting and a bit of screen exposure you're interested in, you can start the way I did. If there's a movie shooting in your area, go and sign up as an extra. You only get $20-50 per day unless you have lines or a scripted action, but there's all-you-can-eat food and drinks and you eventually get noticed. You can do that for quite a while on your own before getting an agent to try and move up to bit parts and beyond.

yep, you are right. You know , in my second year of college i once took a break from studying thermodynamics. It was about 2am (i had examination the day after and lots of work left and it was very hot outside) when i walked in the streets of Ghent and i suddenly encountered an entire filmcrew shooting a scene in some street. Basically the scene was about the actor (SEAN BEAN, you know Boromir from Lord of the Rings) having to run in the street with his dog...It was for some child movie...

That was a real exciting experience for me. Ofcourse i went back to study and passed my exam very well the next day. Later that day Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin Hardenne played their first ever semi final at the French Open. It was the year that Clijsters went on to reach the final but lost to Capriati...You see, i remember that very well

marlon
 
  • #29
That movie was called Tom and Thomas

marlon
 
  • #30
Astronuc said:
Marlon - have you heard of Jean-Claude Van Damme!? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000241/
:smile: Yeah, i sure have...i would like to pursue a different career of acting though...and i ain't no European kickboxing champ...


As for Physics opportunities, Juvenal answered quite adequately. Just complete your PhD and then think about LA.
You know, this might sound strange but physics bores me so much sometimes. I really wonder if i have the patience needed for a scientific career. I mean, grades, college, degrees were never really any problem for me. I passed college with no severe problems and was able to combine it with teaching in the last two years. Physics is very interesting but sometimes i wonder about the use of a researching-career since i do realize i ain't no Einstein, you see ? I mean, how many scientists are there out there , that have been blasted into oblivion because of irrelevant work, eventhough they work at prestigious institutes all over the world. Or is this just juvenile lack of patience and wanting too much ? I have always been quite ambitious and several people have told me to calm down, but it does not feel good, you see?

About the acting, that is the only constant factor in my life besides my interest in science and classical music. I have played the cello for four years but then i dropped it and went on to study italian in evening classes. That was back in 96


regards
marlon
 
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  • #31
Acting is the most boring kind of employment there is. The saying that is applied to film sets, "Hurry up and wait," is not a joke. There is eight hours of set up time for every minute of actual camera rolling time. Don't go into acting to alleviate boredom.
 
  • #32
zoobyshoe said:
Acting is the most boring kind of employment there is. The saying that is applied to film sets, "Hurry up and wait," is not a joke. There is eight hours of set up time for every minute of actual camera rolling time. Don't go into acting to alleviate boredom.

sorry, but i think you missed the point of my previous post

marlon
 
  • #33
zoobyshoe said:
Acting is the most boring kind of employment there is. The saying that is applied to film sets, "Hurry up and wait," is not a joke. There is eight hours of set up time for every minute of actual camera rolling time. Don't go into acting to alleviate boredom.
That's not a problem for marlon. He's a smoker.. :approve:
 
  • #34
marlon said:
You know, this might sound strange but physics bores me so much sometimes. I really wonder if i have the patience needed for a scientific career. I mean, grades, college, degrees were never really any problem for me. I passed college with no severe problems and was able to combine it with teaching in the last two years. Physics is very interesting but sometimes i wonder about the use of a researching-career since i do realize i ain't no Einstein, you see ? I mean, how many scientists are there out there , that have been blasted into oblivion because of irrelevant work, eventhough they work at prestigious institutes all over the world. Or is this just juvenile lack of patience and wanting too much ? I have always been quite ambitious and several people have told me to calm down, but it does not feel good, you see?
Marlon - Actually, I can understand it. What I studied as an undergraduate in nuclear engineer and physics was boring as h***. It was simply basic stuff, and learning about and understanding what had already been done. In graduate school, MS stuff was more interesting, but not new. It wasn't until PhD studies that the work became really interesting. I didn't finish the PhD, but started a professional career.

My professional work has been very interesting. It mostly involves getting down to the fundamental undertanding of materials in an aggressive environment, and often finding why something fails to perform in its intended environment.

I'll be at a conference in a couple of weeks. There are some big challenges ahead, I will have some questions for you Physics guys when I get back. :biggrin:

Just saw arildno's post - both you guys should quit smoking.
 
  • #35
marlon said:
sorry, but i think you missed the point of my previous post
You think you have a better shot at celebrity as an actor than as a physicist? Roll the dice and take your chances!
 
  • #36
arildno said:
That's not a problem for marlon. He's a smoker.. :approve:
:smile: :smile:

yeah...that shouldn't be a problem, and in the worst case, i still have my Norwegian smoking buddy.

ps arildno : i think the wintergames of Lillehammer in 1994 where the best games ever. I really enjoyed the world records of Johann Olav Koss on the 5000 and 10000meters . As i recall, did he not also win the 1500m

and who can forget the achievement of Oksana Baioul in figure skating. I believe she was only 16 back then...

marlon
 
  • #37
zoobyshoe said:
You think you have a better shot at celebrity as an actor than as a physicist? Roll the dice and take your chances!

this is not about becoming famous man...please ...

marlon
 
  • #38
marlon said:
:smile: :smile:

yeah...that shouldn't be a problem, and in the worst case, i still have my Norwegian smoking buddy.

ps arildno : i think the wintergames of Lillehammer in 1994 where the best games ever. I really enjoyed the world records of Johann Olav Koss on the 5000 and 10000meters . As i recall, did he not also win the 1500m

and who can forget the achievement of Oksana Baioul in figure skating. I believe she was only 16 back then...

marlon
Not to mention the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan debacle..:wink:


More serious though: pursue your dream.
 
  • #39
arildno said:
Not to mention the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan debacle..:wink:

yeah, how could i forget? Do you know the name of the woman that sung at the opening ceremonies. She had a magical voice and i believe she is Norwegian. I also thought she once sang with Placido Domingo at one of the Christmass in Vienna-extravaganza's...I would like to know her name

More serious though: pursue your dream.
Thanks, appreciate it

marlon
 
  • #40
marlon said:
yeah, how could i forget? Do you know the name of the woman that sung at the opening ceremonies. She had a magical voice and i believe she is Norwegian. I also thought she once sang with Placido Domingo at one of the Christmass in Vienna-extravaganza's...I would like to know her name
It most probably was Sissel Kyrkjebø; I'm not totally sure, though..

EDIT:
Yep, it was her.
 
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  • #41
  • #42
arildno said:
Here's a link to Sissel's home page:
http://www.sissel.net/


thanks man...she is very nice

marlon
 
  • #43
marlon said:
You know, though i am currently doing a physics phd at IMEC (look at the website in my profile), i always enjoyed playing on stage when i was in high school. Since being in college at never performed anymore but my dream has always been to become a Hollywood actor. In order to achieve this, should i just move to LA and "make things happen" ? That is what i always had in mind...

marlon

When Brad Pitt was a struggling actor he moved to California in his beat-up Nissan called Runaround Sue. To pay for his acting classes, he worked as a limo driver for strippers, a mascot for pollo locco chicken and delivering appliances.

One of the wonderful things about this country, is with hard work, persistence, drive and luck you will achieve your dreams...

But your first sentence says a lot. You chose Physics, you're working on your Phd in Physics. That's your first love. You'll have more luck in that. Being an actor is just wishful thinking, it'll pass.
 
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  • #44
"One of the wonderful things about this country, is with hard work, persistence, drive and luck you will achieve your dreams..."

This has been true of every society.
Work like a slave, intrigue against your peers, suck up to your superiors, then you might become a superior yourself.
 
  • #45
arildno said:
This has been true of every society.
Work like a slave, intrigue against your peers, suck up to your superiors, then you might become a superior yourself.

Someone has a huge chip on their shoulders :rolleyes: But hey, you earned that advisor title so I'm not holding that against you :biggrin:
 
  • #46
arildno said:
Here's a link to Sissel's home page:
Holy cats! Thanks, man. I haven't heard her music yet, but that site is worth it for the visuals. :-p
 
  • #47
Danger said:
Holy cats! Thanks, man. I haven't heard her music yet, but that site is worth it for the visuals. :-p
There are no sheep there, though..
 
  • #48
The_Professional said:
Someone has a huge chip on their shoulders :rolleyes: But hey, you earned that advisor title so I'm not holding that against you :biggrin:
Uhm..no. Just stating some historical facts for you, that's all.
 
  • #49
arildno said:
Uhm..no. Just stating some historical facts for you, that's all.

I didn't ask for it. Shut the hell up.
 
  • #50
Yes, being brainwashed is a cozy state of mind, isn't it?
 

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