I want to be a famous actor…

Dear Annie,
All I want is to be a famous actor. I’m always asked to take the lead in productions at school but I’m worried I don’t look buff enough. My parents say I look perfect and that bulking up then slimming down will ruin my ‘teenage’ looks. I need a modelling contract to pay for the time when I’m not acting. What should I do?
Jonnie-jay

Hey Jonnie-jay,

Whenever I hear of somebody wanting to be an actor, I always hear a parent saying ‘what’s plan B?’ and here you are planning your A and B with acting and modelling – well done!

The two choices you have made are both to some extent dependent on how you look and what you can do to make your personality come through, giving yourself gravitas as an actor and originality as a model.

If you are under 18 you will be regarded as a minor so your parents’ permission will be needed before you sign any contracts, plus always get it checked out by a lawyer before you sign as it might require exclusion from any other work and your acting may have to stop. Unlike females, male models usually start modelling at 18+ but continue well into their 30s, have an average height of 180-190cms, are physically fit, but not necessarily buff. You can always try other modelling specialities of hands, feet, eyewear….

Consider working out the costs involved before applying to a modelling agency – it is expensive as you have to look your best. Also males do not earn as much as female models, so this needs to be factored into your long term plan and remember that the agency will take between 10-30 per cent of your earnings.

The cost just isn’t financial; it’ll cost you time and energy to research the best modelling agency, set up the interviews, prepare yourself and attend the interviews. If you want to succeed it will take hard work, both mentally and physically. This link is interesting as it gives an idea of what you are up against – the key word is ‘Challenging’ http://www.howcast.com/videos/512637-Downside-to-Modeling-Modeling

To be an actor requires self-confidence to deal with constant rejection as well as talent; something like 92 per cent of the profession is out of work at any one time and that same 8 per cent tend to work continuously while the same 92 per cent have little chance of work.

Patti LaBelle said ‘You’ve got to know business before you go into show business’. For all jobs you need a crisply presented CV, you will have to research the project you’re being seen for so you can talk intelligently about it, be on time for the audition and choose your audition piece appropriately.

To keep ahead of the game read the actors’ directory, www.sentinel.spotlight.com. For information on actors/agents and what’s coming up, http://www.theknowledgeonline.com is another useful site.

Perhaps you should consider the potential conflict of having a modelling job and an acting job offer at the same time…which would you give priority to?

When you talk about acting you seem to be asking for two things – fame and adoration – both of which depend on external gratification to feed your self-worth and your choice of being a model is another way to gain public adulation.

Where is the real you in all of this? Do you need this adoration to feel good about yourself?

Some personalities thrive in a discombobulated world as they leap from one situation to another using the stress to feed their energy – they are like a whirlwind of creativity where everything is ‘me, me me.’

One can survive that level of uncertainty only with the support of family and friends and a level of self-respect – without this you will turn into a destructive tornado with a vacuum in the eye of the storm.

And yes, seek personal growth, self-esteem and amazing experiences through your work but don’t let them define who you are – you are Jonnie-jay and you have a life history that is offering you a springboard into the unknown – jump knowing you have friends who will catch you and applaud from the front row!