<p>I am a 19, almost 20 year old Californian currently attending community college. Ive come to the conclusion that I definitely want to get involved in film/tv/theatre. Im not positive whether Id prefer acting or directing, but I know I want to have a significant part in creating films, hopefully ending up in a place where I can work with international material. A lot of my favorite films/actors are British, or otherwise involve a mix of talent from various countries, and I can see how directing could more easily allow me to venture away from strictly American material. Anyway, my question is this: What should I do at this point in my life, as someone with no experience whatsoever, to begin a path to making films and/or directing stage? Transfer to an American University and do a general Drama major, try and get into a British conservatory for directing or acting? Is this possible with no experience? Are there other options? Examples of people who are doing or have done what I want to do are Joe Wright, Sam Mendes, Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Fernando Meirelles, Eddie Redmayne, etc..</p>
<p>Thank you so much, any input would be a godsend!</p>
<p>I visited Columbia College Chicago with my son last summer, and we were very impressed by their film facilities and resources. They have a very high acceptance ratio, unlike other prestigious film schools.</p>
<p>gambon,</p>
<p>Here are my thoughts:</p>
<p>Many people say that it’s easier for a stage (theatre) actor to adapt to screen (film/tv) then the other way around. So if you are interested in acting, it might make more sense to major in theatre/drama.</p>
<p>But I get the impression that screen directing is VERY different from stage directing. I am a stage director, and would have no idea how to go about directing a film or tv show–I don’t know all about camera angles and such. So if you want to be a film director, you should probably major in film directing. (or if you want to be a stage director, major in theater)</p>
<p>British actors are very different from American actors in that they tend not to specialize. Thus, a British actor will freely mix stage, TV, and film work, while an American actor tends to just pick ONE of these three (so when they crossover to a different medium it is a big deal). Partly this is because British film, TV, and theatre are all pretty much concentrated in one city–London (although this is beginning to change), while in America there is a lot of film in LA, TV in New York, theatre in New York and Chicago, etc.</p>
<p>You may want to research the people you admire to find out how they got where they are. Wikipedia is a good place to start. Then you can pretty much do what they did.</p>
<p>But don’t hesitate to research the British actors and directors you admire as well.</p>
<p>I think you should contact the universities and conservatories in Britain, especially the ones that your favorite British actors/directors went to. It just takes a letter or an email. These days they all have webpages and you can download a prospectus online. Of course in Britain you will be a foreign student, which will probably mean higher tuition and less opportunities for financial aid. But it’s worth exploring.</p>
<p>Sorry gambon, the people on your list were all folks I either didn’t know, or didn’t know much about (wrong generation for me–I’m 42 for heaven sakes!). All of them are foreign (Ronan was born in New York just because her Irish parents happened to be living there at the time, she lives in Ireland and considers herself Irish). None of them did any of their studying or training in the United States.</p>
<p>I think, therefore, you should get out of this country as soon as you can, if that is the sort of work you want to do. You almost certainly should get yourself to Britain.</p>
<p>Two of the folks on your list have degrees from Cambridge, which may be worth exploring, except of course Cambridge has VERY HIGH academic standards. They don’t actually have a theater/drama major, but many British entertainment folks come from Cambridge. A lot of British comedians (folks I am more familiar with) come out of the “Footlights” club at Cambridge, for example.</p>
<p>Also remember that one of the people on your list, Saoirse Ronan, is only 17, is being homeschooled, and has no College or University at all. She is Irish, but this doesn’t seem to have stopped her from being succesful as an actress in Britain. Although the two countries are separate (since 1921), I do think Irish citizens get some special rights if they want to live and work in Britain. But this does show that you don’t have to be a British citizen or have a degree to be succesful in British entertainment.</p>
<p>Most theatre directors train as actors first. Film directors often follow different paths. </p>
<p>I’d suggest that you start taking intensive acting lessons at a local, quality studio, right away…to see how you do, and to what extent theatre really appeals to you. Even if you decide against theatre in favor of film, this will help you learn how to work with actors.</p>
<p>In the meantime, study up on how various film directors got to be where they are.</p>
<p>If you want an international perspective, but the UK seems daunting, think about Canada. Do you know about the wonderful Canadian actress Sarah Polley, who has been in many very good indie films? Have you ever seen the superb Canadian miniseries “Slings and Arrows”? Did you like the film “Incendies,” which is a Canadian film (adapted from an even better Canadian play)? “Barney’s Version” is another notable recent Canadian film. Just a thought. :)</p>
<p>Perhaps most theatre directors train as actors, but quite a few do not. My BA is in theatre, but with an emphasis in directing, not in acting. This is more common in Britain than it is in the United States. (although my BA is from Columbia College Chicago)</p>
<p>British theatre directors often have not trained as actors, this is where it is more common to see a director with, say, a degree in English from Cambridge.</p>
<p>This is why I suggest researching the directors that you admire, and seeing what path led them to where they are today.</p>
<p>It might indeed be a good idea to take professional acting classes here in the U.S., but then again maybe this isn’t the best idea for you. If you are more interested in the British approach to acting, you may find that instead here in the U.S. you are being trained in a very different American approach, which is not the same thing. And even in America, there is on the one hand the New York style, on another the Chicago style (which is what my training was), and probably other styles as well.</p>
<p>I also read here about American acting programs that are affiliated with British acting schools, and all students end up spending at least some time in Britain. That might also be worth exploring for you.</p>
<p>When I was a young person, even younger than you, I had aspirations of studying and working in Britain. But I gave these aspirations up because the adults in my life actively discouraged me. Now that I am 42, and free from those pressures, I am seriously thinking about whether I can do something at this point in my life to pursue those dreams I had as a young person, those dreams have never left me.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>I guess it’s just hard for me to know what path is going to be most fruitful, I know I tend to dislike mainstream American Films/TV, a lot of my favorite projects are international and I’d love to live in London…so that option makes a lot of sense. At the same time, I’m not opposed to American projects and I’m not sure how easy it is for an American to work on foreign projects etc. . My tendency is to think Cinema really has no borders and the most important thing is exposing myself to the art and learning. I’m probably over thinking things, I just want to make sure I’ve thought things out before I make any decisions…and I want to train somewhere that’s going to give me as much of an advantage as possible.</p>
<p>Maybe the first step is to clarify what your goal actually is.</p>
<p>Take some time to think about it and decide whether you would rather act or direct.</p>
<p>And whether you would rather do it in theatre, movies, or TV.</p>
<p>“Yogi” Berra once said something like “if you don’t know where you are going, you will end up somewhere else.”</p>
<p>But it is always possible to make a change of direction down the line if your feelings change. Having at least a “working goal” will help direct you as you are going. You can evaluate opportunities that come up by saying “Okay, does this get me closer to my current goal”.</p>
<p>hey gambon111. i have the same situation like you. around the time i completed my AA, i actually was looking at schools that have film and theater and I could major in both. When I took a film class, i did not like it. It was not because it was film, i did not like the approach the program takes. It was a documentary/ recreate film program (shouldn’t we create different art?) I decide to major in theater and learn film somewhere. </p>
<p>If you have not, take a film class, acting class, directing class, television class etc to see if you like it. Also, taking a class does not 100% help you. I would audition for a play, film or tv project around school or your area and see if you like it also.</p>