<p>I am a High School Junior, and I am planning on majoring in MT, but my passion is really to be a film actor. I really don't know how to go about describing my situation, so bare with me! Here it goes...</p>
<p>I Have been dancing my whole life, ( 12+ years training ) and this is a strong passion of mine (im a hardcore dancer!)
Im a singer also (with classical training)
and as you probably guessed, acting is right now what i really want to focus on.
( i have training, and lots of stage experience)</p>
<p>In the end I want to pursue an acting career, and I feel as if that should be my main focus during college. However i just can not picture myself not continuing voice and dance, id feel like SUCH A WASTE OF TALENT..(not being concieted, i guess lol) Not to mention all these years of the countless voice lessons, and dance classes... they would just go to WASTE!!</p>
<p>So i guess my question is... is majoring in MT going to help, or hinder my goal in becoming a Screen Actor? Does it help being "well-rounded?" or should i just go for a Strait Theatre Program if i really want to focus on acting...?</p>
<p>you should look at nyu i think...as of now, i am a student of the class of 2010...(sorry, just had to put that there) and if you are a really talented mt-er...you should look at doing cap 21, and you can also select a secondary straight theater studio if you want...but (correct me if i am wrong anyone) theres and advanced studio...which you cant get into as a freshman or sophomore, but transfer into later...that focuses on film and tv. this way, you could keep your mt-passion for a few years, and then move away from it. </p>
<p>my question is this: why do you want to be a film actor? after spending all this time and money on other things?</p>
<p>also...for nyu, look at costs and grades...the cost is rather up there and grades and academics are really important there as well. my opinion? if you want to be a film actor and nothing else...then you shouldnt major in mt...as singing and acting and dancing would take up time you could use developing your acting craft...but if you love mt...you should do that...and find a program that focuses on acting more of than the other two disciplines so that you can work on that most, but still keep the mt part with you</p>
<p>don't consider 12 years of hardcore dance training as "wasted time" in terms of crafting your acting skills. body awareness is incredibly important in acting (whether film, straight theatre, musical theatre, etc.) and having so much dance training will make your movement look very natural and graceful. </p>
<p>"my question is this: why do you want to be a film actor? after spending all this time and money on other things?"</p>
<p>i mean my thing is, if i don't make it to film, maybe ill make it to broadway, one or the other you know? I guess i'd like to pursue both.. if that's possible.</p>
<p>and about NYU... Its my DREAM school.
ahh :( im just so scared,to even APPLY. The whole grades thing is killin me, i dont know exactly what my GPA is right now. I took The Psats Twice did pretty well, and Im going to take the SAT in JAN.. and im spending A LOT of time preparing for it. but my question is, with having a low GPA of about 3.4-3.6 but will good scores on the SAT HELP my chances? i have tons of EC'S... also.. but my gpa's just isnt up there with the 4.0'ers..</p>
<p>And about the secondary studio at Tisch, is it possible to be in two studios? Wow.</p>
<p>Deeny, the AVERAGE GPA for admitted students to NYU is 3.6. Your GPA alone is not out of line for NYU. It doesn't mean "you are IN" but that alone is NOT a deal breaker. It is in range. The strength of your courseload also matters....what you took, the level of the courses. If you can get it closer to a 3.6, I would not fret too much over the GPA, as you do NOT need a 4.0 (though 4.0's help in any admissions, just are not required). Since you are a junior and half the year is left, put LOTS of energy into keeping your grades up and even raising them. Schools also like upward trends. Yes, prepare for the SAT's. No single thing will get you in or take you out of the running....there are many factors that go into it. Try hard to get that GPA to a 3.6 and if everything else about you is on the very good side, that should be a fine GPA for consideration for admission. Higher helps but a 3.6 is fine. Make sure the other elements are your very best which can balance out the GPA. </p>
<p>For film acting, the more things you can put in the "special skills" section of your resume, the better so being a real trained triple threat certainly won't hurt. I don't know if the trend will continue, but they are starting to do more musicals on film. "Rent" is out and "The Producers" is coming out soon. If they do really well at the box office, there will be a lot more to come ... at least for awhile. I'm assuming you've looked at UCLA. They apparently relax their academic admittance standards slightly for drama majors, so I doubt your grades will be a problem there. CMU is an acting-based MT and does showcases on both coasts, too, so you definitely want to look there. You wouldn't get any regular academic classes there, though, because it's considered a double major. I do think that for an actor of any kind, the more broad-based knowledge you have, the better you can build your characters, so you kinda have to make a choice there. Personally, I think the most important non-theatre area in which to gain knowledge is history perhaps followed closely by cultural anthropology and then psychology, but if you know how to do the research, actually taking the classes isn't completely necessary, though they certainly help if you get good profs.</p>
<p>and one more thing on the gpa...i had a 3.48...but i have 8 aps (1 history, 2 science, 2 English, I language, 1 Music, and 1 math)...and was able to get an academic scholarship at nyu...so it is possible...depending on what your 3.4 entails...if it was a really rigorous schedule, then i think thats better than having a 4.0 in gym, health, regular classes and lunch...so it really depends on what your gpa entails...and also your essays are a big deal...</p>
<p>Soozie VT - you are absolutely right when you say the courseload is what NYU looks at. The friend I told you about who was so talented was in National Honor Society, but I think perhaps she didn't take those AP/Honors courses.</p>
<p>hmm.. courseload.
well freshman year i took 3 honors
sophmore year none (i know i know :( )
and this year im back at 3 honors
and next year my schedule will consist of the following</p>
<p>Ap. Comp
Ap. Lit
Ap. Music Theory
Hon. Chamber Choir
Hon. Pre-Cal</p>
<p>and possibly... AP gov, depending on my grades this year</p>
<p>so i guess thats, 8 honors, and 3/4 aps..</p>
<p>.... not sooooo great, but decent i guess
what do you guys think?</p>
<p>i think the kids that should major in mt are the ones that totally breathe it. if you aren't totally obsessed by it you will probably find a lot of your classmates who ARE that into it annoying and sooner or later tire of it and have your committment rightfully challenged by the faculty. you can major in acting and still keep up with your singing and dance skills so they won't be wasted. you still get some singing and dance in the adler and strasberg studios at tisch and can get advanced dance outside of class if you want it and have time.</p>
<p>I have always heard that the sophomore and junior years were the most critical when determining course load....maybe someone could give more information on this. I am not sure how much all the a/p's will help as a senior if you weren't already taking them but I certainly could be wrong! I would say you may be better taking all honors and a few a/p's and making sure they are A's then going a course load with a lot of a/p's that you aren't used to. Just my opinion! :-)</p>
<p>You should apply to some film acting programs. I had an internship with a theater company in the bay area this past summer and i was talking to one of the lead actors about musical theater vs. legit theater. He said that he has a a friend who does shows on broadway and he has 2 resumes one for musical theater and one for legit theater. He said that whenever he went to a legit theater audition with a resume that had musical theater on it nobody would hire him because the acting techniques that you learn for musical theater are so different. Aka musical theater acting and film acting techniques are very different. So if film acting is your passion i would definatly go for it, try applying to both.</p>
<p>Acting is acting no matter what medium you're performing in. Yes, there are differences between a film performance and a musical theatre performance, but anyone who says that the techinques are different is just wrong. You use the same acting skills in both, you just make different choices based on the style of the piece. A musical theatre program with a strong foundation in acting will prepare you just fine for film work. Sure, you could take an "acting for the camera" class, but it only takes a few hours to learn how to hit your mark. Go to a real drama school, whether you decide to pursue a degree in acting or musical theatre. Those LA film acting studios are probably not going to get you where you want to be.</p>
<p>oprahnoodlemantra...
"He said that whenever he went to a legit theater audition with a resume that had musical theater on it nobody would hire him because the acting techniques that you learn for musical theater are so different."</p>
<p>ahhh, that was my biggest fear. like you totally cleared up a lot of things, so basicly when they see a B.F.A in MUSICAL THEATRE in big letters on my resume they'll just laugh at me lol. ohhh man. decisions, decisions!!! we theatre kids have it THE WORST!</p>
<p>Yeah thats a fear of mine too because I love film acting as well. Deeny you should apply to USC. They have a musical theater minor but they also have the best film school in the world and many of the film students use the theater students in their movies. I have heard of a few film actors who got their big break because of those connections.</p>
<p>Hayhayden- I have to disagree with you. There are a billion different acting techniques. Thats why NYU has different studios. Method acting is not Meisner for example. When you are learning musical theater you have to learn how to project your voice and how to use singing and dancing to reach your objective. When you learn film acting you have to learn how to be subtle and to get your emotions across the screen in more simple ways. Plus many film acting programs teach method, and if you have ever tried to use method in musical theater...uh it doesnt really work, or at least it is extremely difficult. There are so many different techniques out there you really have to research to find the one that works for you.</p>
<p>film acting and theatre acting are SOOOOO different. i have on screen, on stage and years of dance experience as well as extensive behind the camera skills, and i can tell you first hand that they are two different worlds. </p>
<p>i know that when i attend tisch drama in the fall i hope to continue my base in theatre but to eventually hone my skills in film acting through specific studios later on. </p>
<p>it is nice that you want to be a film actor, but so does everyone else in the world. if you really want to "make it" it is crucial that you take the steps and commit the time towards your goal. it is imperative that you take a film acting course because the tricks they will teach you are invaluable.</p>
<p>above all, in this industry it is not about how well you can act, it is about who you know and how you look. i know this comment will get a lot of mothers up in arms - but i'm not going to sugar coat it.</p>
<p>you need an agent if you want to get into film and unfortunately most of their rosters are already full. there are a lot of good actors out there and when it comes down to it, the agent is going to select the actor that fits the look he/she is currently going for. this doesn't mean you have to be beautiful and stick thin, they could be looking for anything - just beware. its not all about your talent. it would be nice if you were a pretty decent actor....but we've all seen hilary duff movies and if they've taught us anything it's that you don't need to be a good actor to get a film deal. </p>
<p>you need the look and the connections. </p>
<p>if you want to be an actor it is a big commitment; its not just something you can do half heartedly and hope to make it big. wherever you end up going, if you want your dream to come true, commit and be ready for failure. its a tough gig to break into and if you don't have the drive you're not going anywhere. </p>
<p>on a tangent i just have a general comment to all wanna-be film stars: if you are serious about being an actor, your goal should not be to be a "famous movie star." if you truly love acting you understand that its not about fame and recognition; fame is not as fun as it's cracked up to be , and while recognition is gratifying it should not be your ultimate goal. the only way you will ever be successful as an actor is if you love acting for what it is, and you do it because it is the air you breathe - not for the fame you might someday attain. </p>
<p>i know i sound like a terrible cynic but the industry is tough and i someone has to be blunt.</p>
<p>katys's post is very true. Both areas are very different. My d did some extra work in film and my younger d as well. I remember them asking my younger d if she did stage work because she was too MT....performing for the audience when film is just not done that way.</p>
<p>We also just got back home after our Christmas vacation in NJ where I saw my best friend from childhood who was also in visiting. She lives in California and has been pursuing this crazy life for over 20 years. She got her MFA in acting from Mason Gross (Rutgers) and moved to NYC for about 10 years. She had some good opportunities come her way but small ones. 1 broadway show (ensemble), 2 off broadway shows (ensemble), a small part on One Life to Live and a few under 5 movie roles. </p>
<p>Then she moved to CA to try to go after movie roles only. She felt that film was what she loved most. She has been successful in her life out there, but not famous. Your goal cannot be fame...but to be able to make a living. She has worked steadily in the business but mostly with small parts. In the past five years she found that voice overs was the place that would give her the most success. She loves it! She also has a side retail business. Her husband, who has his MFA in acting, has worked as a props person and on camera for a show on HGTV and FitTv. She was telling my d that both are still paying on their graduate school loans and neither one needed the degree they have for anything they have done!</p>
<p>My d does not want a film career....at least that is not her goal now. But my friend's suggestion was that if she does, put college aside (at least for now) and move to CA after graduation, take a few film classes (that's all you really need) and hit the pavement. The prime age to enter the movie business is 17-23. She also said it is all about who you know (which I'm sure is how it is with everything) and your look. She has made many contacts over the years and has had great opportunities. They have an amazing home and are just all around beautiful people. They are successful in the business...but again....they are not famous. </p>
<p>I don't think the expectation should be fame, but just some sort of success. It may not even be in film or MT or what any of you set out to do. Maybe just related in someway. Soozievt has said it before about her d that she could possibly work in choreography, directing or something else. I feel the same for my d. She has done quite a bit of choreography work and also sews and has designed many of her own costumes, prom gowns, etc. She could end up costuming or something. I guess what I am trying to say is to just be open to all ideas and opportunities that are around you and shoot for success.</p>
<p>so basicly, you guys are telling me the degree isnt worth it. but when you think about it, how many of "famous" film actors have a B.F.A in acting? i don't think its very many. im from jersey myself, and i think i want to take a year off, and go to california. but it's so far from my family, and i don't think they'd be too happy with that.is trying to make it in the film business harder when your in NY?</p>