<p>Okay I'm only a freshman in high school so this might sound crazy..
I guess I'll start with the fact that I have a big speech problem. Like I hate speech class but if you stuck me in front of 500 people I don't know at all, I'd nail the speech perfectly. In a class with 20 people I sweat, stutter and blush. I just get nervous when i know the people judging me. I'm interested in Film & just recently ( last 9 months or so) got into the idea of acting. I think I'd be good at it since I'd have a new start where no one knows me and I'm great at first impressions- very brave unlike myself. I think that could help at auditions. I can portray emotions well and along with saying the lines- but I have no experience. I live in a country hick town if you get what i mean. I was thinking about going to UCLA (I'm interested in film, producing, lit and psychology so I'll have to chose eventually) because its near auditions- I could make my parents happy by attending college but still have my little acting secret on the side. If i got something I guess I'd chose. ( It would most likely be acting coming in first for me) I guess I want someone Else's opinion. I am only 14 and have no experience; Its kinda crazy. I've always wanted to live in LA since i was maybe 7 i think. I love the variety in California. I've wanted to go to UCLA since i was 9. I guess I just want an opinion is it a waste of money going if I want to focus on acting & just not make my parents upset? It seems like an awful lot of money to waste. My other thought was I'd take a year off and pursue it. If nothing comes I'd go to school, focus on that and do auditions when i had time. The thing is my parents see that as a road to nowhere since where i live a year off always turns into 10 years later & still not back at school. Could anyone give me some insight please? I posted this in the parents because I thought it might be nice to have someone a little wiser about parental thoughts. All help is appreciated.:)</p>
<p>I’m not sure why you view this as something you have to choose between at this point in your life. There are many students at UCLA who regularly attend auditions and easily fit that into their schedule. The professional training and opportunities available at UCLA for undergrads are incredible.
Your priority at this point is to make sure that 1) you are taking the right HS classes 2) you are making the most of summer opportunities for training. Remember that there are plenty of summer programs (even at UCLA) that you will want to start researching soon.</p>
<p>At many schools, you can major in theater arts, and at many schools, you can do acting on campus, in productions by students. So no conflict would exist between school and theater in those cases.</p>
<p>But first, before you get ahead of yourself, try some acting in high school productions, then, if you like that, consider branching out to local theaters, community theater groups, lessons and so on. But no rush and no pressure. </p>
<p>If your parents aren’t going to let you major in theater, that is another issue entirely. Majoring in theater can get you a BA or BFA, and is a degree just as good as a degree in anything else, in terms of future employment or grad school. But many parents do not feel that way.</p>
<p>You do not need to figure out your major, or what you want to do for work, at your age. Just try out some activities, including theater, and remember that many students change majors multiple times during college. Enjoy yourself, work hard, and see where things lead!</p>
<p>You are lucky to have most of high school still ahead of you.</p>
<p>Audition for as many shows as you can…in school and out (even little hick towns usually have some sort of community theatre nearby). If you aren’t cast immediately, don’t despair. Volunteer for crew/tech positions. That will begin immersing you in the world of theatre, and you’ll benefit a lot from learning the production side while you keep waiting/auditioning for a chance to become involved in acting.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>@ siliconvalleymom- I know I don’t have to chose. I like planning though. It helps me do things like work for the straight A’s I get and etc. I know I don’t have to chose in between. Thats why I’ve thought about doing college and auditioning at the same time. I just don’t know if I’m focusing on acting if I’ll put 100% into school. Which In my case we dont want to waste close to $50,000 if I’ll be getting C’s and not focusing.
@compmom- I want to go into producing or writing. I’m not much of a broadway person which is usually what happens if you major in theater. Most actors didn’t go to school for theatre but took acting classes, which i plan to do when I get there (none here!). I’ve done commercials before when i was little and loved it.
@momofsongbird-I know,I’m going to be working on set ( background) because they didn’t announce auditions for our school until too late. We only do one play a year but I’m rehearshing lines with friends backstage just for fun. We all missed the Audition days ( who puts them in the summer?) and are doing it next year instead.</p>
<p>oh and thanks for the advice. I know this isn’t what the parent’s forum is for but it helped quite a bit. :)</p>
<p>Reality check - UCLA is pretty difficult to be accepted to. You need to have a very high GPA (generally > 4.0 weighted) and have taken a fairly rigorous HS schedule. You generally would need to be in the top 2-5% of your HS class depending on the HS. </p>
<p>If you really want to go to UCLA (or USC or many others) you need to focus on school and your studies. You could still pursue acting but not to the exclusion of doing well in school. You have the rest of your life to pursue acting but only the next few years to be able to do well in school. If you’re thinking about attending any highly selective college it’s predicated on doing well in HS. If you’re thinking about pursuing writing (or even if not) make sure you work on your English and writing skills. Make sure you meet with a counselor and explain your college goals and ask for their recommendations as to which classes to take to best enable you to achieve your goal.</p>
<p>Thoughts from a current film major who first entertained the idea of film as a career at 14: acting and doing well in school are not mutually exclusive. The reason you feel you will put 100% into theater is because you love it - or think you will love it. It’s important to you. If doing well in school is important to you, then you’ll find a way to manage both. You may have to look into how you could pursue a degree that’s important to you - you could pursue a theater degree, or you could pursue studies in a related field that you’re interested in that could open doors into theater, or pursue something else altogether that you also maintain a deep interest in. Why not keep yourself happy too while you “keep your parents happy” by being in college? That way it won’t be a waste of time or money.*</p>
<p>Concerning this process one of the things I have learnt since I was 14 is that you don’t need to have all the answers now. I tend to plan four to five years ahead and I can tell you the way I thought things would happen back then was very different from the way things did turn out, but I ended up exactly where I was meant to be. Give yourself time.*</p>
<p>When I decided on my major and on the schools that I would apply to, I knew the level of academic achievement that I would need in order to be competitive, and once I knew that, believe me I did not let any other ambitions get in the way of finishing HS with as strong a record as possible. At this point, doing well in school is the key to unlocking the opportunities you want, and many others besides. The same will likely be true in college. Don’t shortchange yourself by closing off opportunities you think you don’t need now. I know the moment feels so long away - I’ve been there! - but I can’t stress how important it is to keep your eyes on what is right in front of you even while your mind is on the big picture.*</p>
<p>If you enjoy thinking ahead and want to have a lot of interesting stories and examples to think about, go to the Theater Major Forum and read the long archived thread. It will give you a lot of information about how many different people with different goals decided to go into college theater, what it meant to them, how it went, what it took to prepare, etc. </p>
<p>You can then post all of the very specific questions you have there, and join that discussion.</p>
<p>It’s great that you are thinking about this now. Definitely get experience, as much as you can, not only to help you “get ahead,” but to find out what’s most important to you. Having a great imagination and being able to make practical plans are qualities that will help you enormously in the long run. Best wishes!</p>
<p>Yes, focus on high school. Act in high school. Do well academically in high school. Then you’ll have options.</p>
<p>If you’re really serious about acting, you’ll go to college somewhere other than LA. Los Angeles is a place to go after you’ve got a resume. After you’ve got chops. After you’ve made some connections in regional theater that can help you get a good agent.</p>
<p>Getting a good agent is even harder than booking a job… and you can’t even go on auditions without an agent. If you want to give yourself your best shot, go to a great theater school somewhere else. Work in college productions, work in regional theater, build up a resume – then move to LA.</p>
<p>You have no idea how immense is the number of young things wandering around LA getting nothing and going nowhere who think you can just show up in LA and go on auditions.</p>
<p>In this day and age, you don’t need to “wait” to explore film and other media. Make short films with your friends, put them out on the internet and learn the craft. Get comfortable in front of the camera, use local theater to get comfortable with the crowds and enjoy this time in high school. It is great to have a goal, and by working toward it, you may find additional options in the entertainment industry that will be rewarding career alternatives.</p>
<p>I believe both Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt come from small burgs. </p>
<p>I encourage you not to pooh-pooh the local stage (“Broadway”) opportunities. Get your act together and figure out when auditions are going to be next cycle. Get there. </p>
<p>Many, many actors train in theaters and bring those chops to film. (That is, I strongly disagree with your notion that “most” actors just take a few acting classes. “Most” pour thousands of hours into high school productions, then summer theater, then college or community theater). </p>
<p>Please learn a LOT more about the realities of theater and film. Right now I think you are enjoying a lovely fantasy about zooming out to lovely, sunny California and being “discovered” for your fabulous (but previously underappreciated) abilities. </p>
<p>Get thee to a theater production (even if it’s putting on Little Red Riding Hood for the kiddies at the local preschool) and find out if you like the WORK of acting. (See if you can’t find a video of a production of “Noises Off” or Kenneth Brannaugh’s “A midwinter’s night dream” – both of which show both the sweetness and insanity of the actor’s life).
Learn a lot more about acting – and then break a leg!</p>
<p>Stay in school.</p>
<p>My 15 yr old son is a working actor and has been since he was 8 yr. old. He is planning on continuing (or trying to) as an adult. However, he has been told by his agent and several casting directors to definitely go to college. There are very few roles that are filled by actors between the ages of 16 and 22 - most of those roles are played by young looking actors who are in their twenties. This is the hardest age range to break into. You can always continue to audition for roles while you attend college and, if you get a break , take a leave of absence from school to work. If you plan on pursuing film-making you will also need a degree from a reputable film school. Take a look at Chapman University - they have a unique program in film acting, as well as a strong film dept.</p>
<p>My D is a freshman BFA musical theatre major. She does film and televsion work as well as stage works and loves all of it. She got started in film work by auditioning for the student films at the University of Texas. If you are near a university (or a high school) with a film program take a look at their auditions. You are normally getting paid food and a copy of the film but it is great experience and can be lots of fun. Check and see if there are any short/independent film networking websites in your area for other opportunities. Keep an open mind and good luck!</p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad- i have a 4.0 and I’d also check into other schools since it would be crazy to only try for one. I referred to it though because UCLA is first on my list.
Olymom- I realize you might be meaning well but your being really rude. I know people do more than a few classes but there are actors out there who claim they’ve had no acting classes. Key word claim. And please don’t tell me not to pooh-pooh my local programs. I’ve checked into most and will do one I guess but theres nothing in the place i am at besides school & one local theater that isn’t serious in the least. Like they have one run-through which is practically a joke before performance. I’ve done my research- I know that you don’t get out there and get discovered. ALOT don’t ever get noticed & I’m willing to take that risk. Thanks never the less.
megpmom- Thanks! I’ll definitely check into their program.
austinmtmom- Thanks! classes in my area are all adult or need accompanying by an adult and few positions are open. I had to take the mandatory classes as a freshman & had no room for film which really upset me. I’ll be taking them next year hopefully though!</p>
<p>Thanks all!</p>
<p>Perhaps your parents will change their minds if you find a way to double major and choose a college which will help you do so. My son chose to do this in order to satisfy our request that he major in something in addition to theater.</p>
<p>Well, your a freshman in high school, so if you want to act, go act. If you like it, major in theater. Not really much of a do or die choice there.</p>
<p>There is a blog I think you should read. It’s [The</a> Acting Room - A Blog by Actors for Actors / Acting Technique, Insight & Guidance for Actors of all levels and ages](<a href=“http://theactingroom.com/]The”>http://theactingroom.com/)</p>
<p>She gives her advice from personal experience about becoming a working actor.</p>