Zaryo - Actors   FILM AND TV ACTOR

The results are pretty simply to attain: there are no live mistakes and forgotten lines aren't the end of the world (unless it's a live broadcast, of course). It's no wonder, then, that most actors today wish to appear on television and film.

In terms of numbers, television and film has more potential roles available then the theatre has. But there is also a greater demand for those roles, so that in the end, it's easier to find a big part in a fringe theatre than it is to appear on television or film. Most screen actors, before finding their fame on the set, can remember the days when they went to audition after audition, struggling to get even a small part in an advertisement. Therefore, the main traits a would-be screen actor needs are thick skin, lots of patience, optimism, stubbornness and obstinacy. Of course, a large dose of acting talent won't hurt!

First Step: Acting Agency
Every actor needs to be affiliated with a good actor's agent in order to find a job.
Find a reputable acting agency that has good connexions in the television and film industry and can push you forward even though you're just a beginner actor. Unfortunately, most beginner actors only receive a phone call from their agents once in a blue moon. Don't be afraid to call your agent and remind him that you're around. The agent will understand that if he's accepted you that means that you are a promising actor!

Acting Lessons

There are actors that successfully develop an impressive career without taking any acting lessons at all. Some of them arrive at the screen almost by accident, others after a long run in some parallel area such as music or modelling. But if becoming an actor is your goal, we strongly advise you to study acting. If you can afford to study full time at one of the better acting schools, that is the best option. That way you can enjoy being taught by the best teachers in addition to being exposed to all sorts of connexions in the entertainment industry. If not, checkup other options, shorter acting courses or lessons.

The Wonderful Dream; The Horrible Nightmare: The Audition!

Auditions are an actors work interview for stage and screen parts. Agencies are invited to send actors with potential for playing certain roles; those having the appropriate features such as age, look and style that matches the character will be considered for casting. When you arrive at an audition, you will need to read a bit of the script for the casting crew, the director, the producer and of course, for the camera. It's important to learn the text beforehand, even read the entire script if possible.

In the event that you are chosen, you will be contacted. If you're not chosen, you won't be contacted. Each audition is important! Even for parts that you may consider less significant. The more auditions you attend, the more experienced you'll become and the less stressed you'll feel. Be calm, confident and don't despair because of a few rejections. All actors go through this process, so don't compare yourself to a celebrity that didn't actually go to an audition. If you've had a bad audition, talk to your agent. He might have some information like: he's too stressed or he's not the right type-cast.

I got the job, what should I look forward to?

In film, as in television, there are two basic kinds of photography: single-cam for movies and television series that are shot with one camera, and multi-cam for television series, that are shot by three or more camera concurrently. Most cinema-goers think that movies are filmed by a few cameras, because otherwise how does one explain seeing the same thing from several angles? Viewers may think that a production shot with just one camera is a low-budget affair, but the truth is just the opposite. The most prestigious productions are those shot with one camera (except for special effects shots, which we will discuss in more detail later on in this section).

In the movies the shooting period is very long and concentrated. For the actors, the camera work takes anywhere between a day and a month of long days, depending on the size of your part and the size of the entire production. If the shooting takes place somewhere far away and you have the starring role, you'll have to say good-bye to your loved ones for a while. Television series are usually produced all at once, an entire season's worth at a go. Daily series or 'soaps' or live broadcasts; those are filmed on a regular and consecutive work basis.

On the movie set and the drama series set: single cam
This style of photography is generally accepted in movies and in some drama series. It requires many film days and a high-budget. There is much more control over every detail that will be seen on the screen. This means that every angle of lighting must be absolutely perfect.

In order to arrive at top exactness, the director and crew plan each angle of filming ahead of time, dividing the movie into short bits, usually lasting ten seconds or less. Each bit is filmed separately. Between shooting one angle or another, an hour may pass while the crew arranges the lighting and camera. Only later, in the editing room, all the filmed footages are connected together to seem as if the whole movie was filmed at several angles at once.

Acting, then, is not so easy. The actor needs to learn to portray powerful emotions in a very short time. To accomplish this, the actor must act on the sentiments of the character and know, at each moment, what is expected at a certain part of the story. In the end, the director and the editor will decide which of the takes will appear in the movie.

Filming days can be long and tiring, the hours can be crazy! The crew working on the set also works long and hard, but their work is technical. The actor, on the other hand, needs to show emotions for hours. At least, during the time that the technical crew is working, the actor has time to rest and prepare for the next part.

During the last stage after filming, it's very possible that you will be called back. In many productions, in the editing stage, it becomes obvious that something is missing and needs to be filmed, or the sound that was taped on set isn't good enough and needs redoing (looping). But when the work is really finally over, the next time you'll be called is when the red carpet is rolled out for the premiere. Or for interviews by the media; let's face it - that's a big part of the fun.

On the television set - multi cam

Lots of television series are filmed with three or more cameras. Usually this is done on a TV studio set, but not only. Sit-Sitcoms are filmed by this method because it's faster and cheaper, and because it can be done in front of a live audience.
How does it work? The whole set is put in place, each detail of the backdrop and equipment, then the general lighting is put in place so that the whole studio will look well. It's not perfect lighting as in the cinema. The three cameras are set up right, centre and left and they divide the work amongst themselves: close-ups on certain actors, long shots, etc.

In a separate room, the control room, the director and the tracker sit. A few monitors in the control room will pick up everything that the cameras are filming. The director gives filming directions to the photographers by headset and tells the tracker which camera should be all the time. At the end of the filming there is a tape of the program that is edited and ready to broadcast. Those types of films can be done for live broadcasting, while making sure that no mistakes are made. Tapes can be made ahead of time, and then edited.

Acting in a studio is similar to acting on stage: the actor needs to learn his lines by heart and to rehearse and be totally ready when he reaches the studio. But there are differences: for instance the studio actor needs to know which camera to pay attention to all the time. There is a red light that goes on just above the camera that the actor must direct himself to.

Actor's First Role

There are those who turn into stars overnight, but most actors don't receive the main role of a Hollywood movie their first time out. Usually it's an upward struggle from one role to the next. Most first time parts will be small ones, or roles in tiny productions.

Extras, Bits, and Small Acting Parts

As a beginning actor, most of the parts you will get will be small ones. We're not talking about second-string parts, but about tiny ones that take seconds to deliver or that have no text at all or just a couple of words. Those parts are based mainly on type-casting. Leading those small parts will be an experience in an on-camera environment. You won't be doing any in-depth character study just yet, but this way, your chances of getting past the cutting room floor will be diminished and you might even go on to getting a bigger, better part next time.

Acting in Student Films and Low-budget Film Productions

Is there any way to get a significant role at the beginning of an actors career?
One way is to participate in the cinematic efforts of students. Those productions of television and cinematic works are part of the syllabus. The work is done on a voluntary basis, or for a very small sum, but it does give some experience in working on the set and your resume will benefit. In addition, low-budget enterprises cannot generally afford to hire anyone famous or even well-known actors, so your chances of being accepted are a bit better than in an audition to larger production.

Advertising

Usually there is a larger budget available for advertising, especially in relation to the short length of the finished product. The set is well-equipped, the technical crew is very professional and experienced, just like on a movie set. For the actor, advertising is the most likely chance to appear on screen. Except for a few well-known faces, most of the actors in advertising are unknown; you can audition for an advertisement even if you're just a beginning actor. Here, too, type-casting is the system. Usually it is a one-day shoot, or a couple of days. Because of the extremely professional technical crew, it's sure to be a positive experience for any actor wishing to gain experience in front of a camera.

Acting Career Options

If you are talented at teaching and if you have studied acting at a good school, we suggest that you checkup the option of teaching in the meantime. Remember that the best actors, even though they are sometimes swamped with job offers, sometimes find themselves in dry periods. The profession of acting isn't a regular 8 hour day, 5 days a week job with pension and benefits.
Once upon a time in Hollywood, the big studios would hold their actors to Draconian contracts for long periods of time. Those days are gone. There are several ways to work more or less steadily in television, on series that go on for a long time, especially the daily ones. There are also contracts binding you to a certain production company for a specific period of time. But the profession of television and film acting is usually based on projects and not on the long term engagements.

Good Luck!

 

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