Who's tried acting in L.A.?

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by Winningduh

I appreciate all the responses I'm getting. I'm just saying this, this is not a 300 pound bald headed fat guy thinking about his past and wants too give it a shot now. The boys around my age that's made it, is no different then me. The only thing is I've never done any acting. Dont know who I need too talk too. That's why I'm on here, see if you could help me out. Take care.

Here's the thing: L.A. attracts thousands and thousands of people every year who think they could be the next big thing. The people who have a itty bitty chance usually have a ton on community theater and some kind of improv work under their belt. Local commercials, whatever.

For a person who has no acting experience to come to L.A. and think he has an equal chance... well, it's not very realistic. Especially if he doesn't have any contacts. This town is built on who you know.

Scammer agents do not wear a sign that says "All I want is your money". They know exactly what to tell the star struck kid from Podunk to get his money. All any of us are saying is Tread Carefully.

Start with acting lessons. Join an improv group. Community theater. (They'll probably have you painting backdrops.) When you start making friends who have been in the dance they can point you to who is legit and who isn't. Good luck. BTW: It's sometimes the 300lb guy who gets hired. Casting directors aren't just looking for the great looking guys. There are a ton of those. Casting people look for faces. A certain off-beat look who can also read and deliver lines.

[Senshi]

Originally Posted by DewDropInn

. BTW: It's sometimes the 300lb guy who gets hired. Casting directors aren't just looking for the great looking guys. There are a ton of those. Casting people look for faces. A certain off-beat look who can also read and deliver lines.

Here is part of a recent breakdown......



Apparently we were too polite in our first breakdown - we got a ton of gorgeous in-shape men and women - which is exactly what we are NOT looking for!!

[ MALE TEENS ]
Male, 18-24 to look like teenagers, All ethnicities. Seeking overweight, round, chunky and funny character actors - must be at least great with physical comedy - if they have any of the following skills, it's a plus: Hip-Hop Dance, Tumbling, Cartwheels, Parkour, Martial Arts. These roles involve comedic and character skills and some text work. PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR IN-SHAPE AMAZING GYMNASTS! WE ARE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR CHARACTER ACTORS!!


A generic pretty person is pretty boring. LA is filled with them. The pretty people who make it are usually the ones who started very early and know everyone.

[obscure reference]

Originally Posted by Winningduh

Who in their right mind would buy a magazine or go PAY too watch a movie that stars 300lb man/woman? That's not going too sell. The only way it would sell, they would have too be hilarious.

You really need to brush up on your film history and industry knowledge. I'm not saying this to be condescending; I'm saying this because if you want to succeed, you need to understand that not everyone exclusively wants to see pretty people.

Talent will always win out over whatever is considered beautiful that month. Yes, there are always bad, pretty actors out there. And there are thousands more that never make it, because "pretty" is all they have to offer. No, it doesn't hurt, but the successful pretty people back it up with talent, hard work and savvy marketing. And so do the people who don't fit your definition of "attractive."

You asked how to get started in acting, and you have a whole chorus of people here saying the same thing: Take classes wherever you are now. Do community theater. Research everything. Learn what the industry's looking for. Sorry, there's no way around it: No matter how attractive you are, you're going to have to put in some serious work.

Would you rather we lied to you?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Winningduh

Who in their right mind would buy a magazine or go PAY too watch a movie that stars 300lb man/woman? That's not going too sell. The only way it would sell, they would have too be hilarious.

have you ever watched Mike and Molly or Modern family? Obviously not; do you remembe Roseanne Barr and her weight or Kristy ALlie. Do you know who John CAndy or John Goodman are or were or how about Jackie Gleason or Haas on Bananza? There are a lot fewer overweight people trying to make it than the wow types.

First you ask for some advise, then you get defensive. You admit you have never acted which is a clue you don't know much about Hollywood, you have a modeling agency that will charge you for everything. You do not have a portfolio set up. You will pay a fortune for acting lessons and then you have no idea if you are good, bad or inbetween. Heck I could find a modeling agency that would accept me and if you say me you would be laughing. They will take almost anyone if it isn't costing them anything.

I think you seem very niave. This doesn't mean it won't work, but most, like you, end up in porno films or worse. Now, if you have about $20,000 to $30,000 to get your started you might survive for 6 months.

You think others have made it, most of them have not just popped into So Ca and said, "here I am" take me. They have worked little theatre or done modeling in their home towns or smaller venues. They have had lots of connections and many even have college degrees in theatre arts.

Obscure referances is telling it the way it is: Pretty today is out tomorrow: example: big features especially mouths used to be something nobody wanted to see: now: wow: little cute noses were the in thing, see many now? Mr muscles might be good today, gone tomorrow or visa versa. Why do you think most models, if they make it at all only last a few years, shorter times than athlets?.


Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by yamota

Hey lay off the kid. There's lots of good looking guys who made it in Hollywood despite not having any acting talent. Just look at Ryan Gosling and Keannu Reeves. Sure there are guys like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti who are acting masters but sheesh! They're short fat and ugly, they'll never make the covers of magazine, right kid?

give me a break: do you think they just came to Hollywood, with no experience, not talent, no money to speak of and suddenly overnight became hits.

I have been reading these threads for a few years now. I think once or twice someone has come back and told us they actually got something: usually it was a small part in a commercial and that was with contacts and a long wait.
Most never come back, some are open enough to say thank you for the eye opener, I have decided not to move to Hollywood and a few have posted how right most people were. They didn't last and are sorry they ever tried...

It is almost a travisy to see someone post something like you are posting, isn't it better to be honest than give truely false hope? You know when someone wants to hear their ideas are good they will jump at even one positive response regardless of how many are trying to be honest.
Nita

[Winningduh]

Originally Posted by nmnita

have you ever watched Mike and Molly or Modern family? Obviously not; do you remembe Roseanne Barr and her weight or Kristy ALlie. Do you know who John CAndy or John Goodman are or were or how about Jackie Gleason or Haas on Bananza? There are a lot fewer overweight people trying to make it than the wow types.

First you ask for some advise, then you get defensive. You admit you have never acted which is a clue you don't know much about Hollywood, you have a modeling agency that will charge you for everything. You do not have a portfolio set up. You will pay a fortune for acting lessons and then you have no idea if you are good, bad or inbetween. Heck I could find a modeling agency that would accept me and if you say me you would be laughing. They will take almost anyone if it isn't costing them anything.

I think you seem very niave. This doesn't mean it won't work, but most, like you, end up in porno films or worse. Now, if you have about $20,000 to $30,000 to get your started you might survive for 6 months.

You think others have made it, most of them have not just popped into So Ca and said, "here I am" take me. They have worked little theatre or done modeling in their home towns or smaller venues. They have had lots of connections and many even have college degrees in theatre arts.

Obscure referances is telling it the way it is: Pretty today is out tomorrow: example: big features especially mouths used to be something nobody wanted to see: now: wow: little cute noses were the in thing, see many now? Mr muscles might be good today, gone tomorrow or visa versa. Why do you think most models, if they make it at all only last a few years, shorter times than athlets?.


Nita

Defensive? Just telling it like it is. How do you know so much about hollywood since you live in Arkansas???

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by Winningduh

Defensive? Just telling it like it is. How do you know so much about hollywood since you live in Arkansas???

And how are you "telling it like it is" when you've been in LA for what, 2 weeks? Actually, it's just another sign that none of this is real, although I could tell from post 1. I have the gift

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Winningduh

Defensive? Just telling it like it is. How do you know so much about hollywood since you live in Arkansas???

Born and raised only a few miles from Hollywood and lived there for many years as an adult. I visit every year or so, my brother, his family and many nieces, nephews still live there.

Nita