How to become an actor?

Thej693

Hey guys, I was just wondering how I'd go about getting started in acting. I know it's a stretch but I'd like to be a soap actor, maybe star in a few music videos and such. I hear there is workshops in Dublin, who would I contact about this? I played an extra in a movie before and am pretty comfortable infront of a camera. I reckon I'd be pretty good with some development. Is there anywhere I can go to further my acting career? And do I have to do theatre if I want to be on-screen?

thanks.

FloatingVoter

You'll need an Equity card. http://irishequity.ie/join-online/

To get that you'll need to have done something like 3 professional jobs (Extra work does not count).
Gaiety School of Acting is at http://gaietyschool.com/

There are other courses but you're looking at doing a few years training before the elusive card becomes yours.
As for the music videos thing - thats a modelling job.

You'll know this one by now - http://www.movieextras.ie/index.html

Theres also Assets model agency : http://www.assetsmodels.com/

AnonoBoy

FloatingVoter wrote: »

You'll need an Equity card. http://irishequity.ie/join-online/

By rights you should have an equity card but a lot of working actors in Dublin don't actually have one so I wouldn't worry about that too much yet.

As for the music videos thing - thats a modelling job.

Some are. Some music videos require actual acting, it depends on the video really.


There's lots of short films being made these days OP. Check out film making websites like filmmakersnetwork.ie and numerous filmmaker groups on Facebook. Get out to auditions and get to know directors.

FloatingVoter

I was bursting bubbles. There are avenues into professional acting - however you may have to be willing to work for free initially to make those all important contacts. AnonoBoy has made some great suggestions....remember directors and scriptwriters starting out (Edit here: or middling or ending) have skills and ideas but they often lack two things - actors and money. Get together and it can be amazing what happens.

Thej693

I act for fun, the money is just a plus for me. I'm not aiming for Hollywood or anything like that, it's not really for me. I'd just like to be in a soap opera or low-rent indy films. A few music videos would be cool aswell. But I'm mostly trying to get into something like Hollyoaks or Eastenders.

AnonoBoy

Thej693 wrote: »

But I'm mostly trying to get into something like Hollyoaks or Eastenders.

Well Fair City is the one for you then unless you want to move to London.

Agonist

www.tcd.ie/Drama

The Trinity School of Acting is well thought of, along with the Gaiety.

As you probably know, it's hard to make a living in acting, and of the students who impress most, a fraction of them succeed in getting bit parts in soaps. There's a lot of luck involved.

Best wishes with it anyway.

AnonoBoy

Amateur dramatic groups are also a good place to start.

Jellybaby1

AnonoBoy wrote: »

.....Get out to auditions and get to know directors.

Any advice please, on how to actually find out about auditions? Some agents from what I hear, can actually be a barrier to finding out this information.

Thej693

Thanks for the help guys Do i need to do theatre before going on screen?

AnonoBoy

Thej693 wrote: »

Thanks for the help guys Do i need to do theatre before going on screen?

Not necessarily. Lots of people start in one and move to the other. Some do one exclusive of the other. Some people are great in one and not in the other - it can all depend.

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Any advice please, on how to actually find out about auditions? Some agents from what I hear, can actually be a barrier to finding out this information.

Fishpond.ie
Filmbase.
Filmmaker and acting groups on social media.

Jellybaby1

Thank you for that. Know about filmbase already. Much appreciated.