Wanting to become an actor? Okay mature answers please :)
Im 14 & live in New Zealand at the moment.
Taking drama classes in highschool right now, and will be for the next 3 years in highschool.
My gut feeling for about a year now Ive been interested in trying film & television acting when I'm older, from how I'm feeling RIGHT NOW is that I want to be an actor. And I understand I could change my interest later on. But at the moment I plan on going to university & take a 3-year course for acting for film & television after I finish highschool.
I have a few questions though,
- How can you tell if you have the right look to portray a number of roles?
-What characteristics (appearance/race-wise) are usually found in different types of character.
-I wish I could narrow this down, but what are the chances of making it atleast decently big ?
-If you had to guess, with 3 years of drama in highschool & 3 years of film & television / no past work, how long until I can get work?

Sorry if this sounds stupid. :P

If I manage to get enough work here for a resume,
I'd definantly consider L.A or any major city. 1 week ago MORE ANSWERS PLEASE :) Report Abuse by actor22

Member since:

September 21, 2006

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1580 (Level 3)

The problem is that you ask things no one can know. With make-up techniques at their current level, characters can be made from almost anyone's "look": For example, super-slim Courtney Cox-Arquette was made to look more than 100 pounds heavier several times as Monica Gellar in Friends. Eddie Murphy has played white people more than once (and I say "people" rather than "men" because not all of his white characters have been men.
Character is more about what you can bring to the role from within, rather than how you look. For the role of Louie DePalma in Taxi, the producers were looking for someone who could stand toe-to-toe and nose-to-nose with the cabbies when scenes called for confrontation. The role went to Danny DeVito (who has since to gone on to many film roles with a wide range of character-types to his credit -- despite his having to shop in the boys' department for clothes).
Chances for making it decently big, and how long for to you get work? Some people get work before they even graduate, and on shows that leap to the top of the ratings (Michael J. Fox comes to mind). Others take many years (if they make it at all). It's not just about "the look", but also about how much talent you bring to the auditions with you, and about how well- written your parts are, and how much you're able to really show what you can do.
At this stage of your life, I encourage you to follow your dream, and I wish you all the luck in the world. Sorry my answers had to be so vague.