The Actors Help Guide

The Actors Help Guide is about learning exactly what acting is all about. It is not about getting spotted in a restaurant and being placed as the star in a Hollywood movie. Acting is very hard work and you need to be passionate and ambitious in order to make it.

Long hours, rejection and low pay is how most of us started out. Whether it's on stage or in a movie, actors need to prepare, study, rehearse and know exactly what to do for every step you take.

There are many links to help you get started and I suggest that you go through everyone of them in order to understand what you are getting yourself into.

Know how to prepare for an audition, where to study and learn about legitimate auditions, castings and agencies.

Once you have knowledge of what to expect from this industry, it is then up to you to follow your dreams and work hard to achieve your goals.

Always be prepared and don't be afraid to ask questions. Arrive for your audition fifteen minutes before the time and make sure that you bring snacks and water with you as it could be a long day!

Don't wear black or white, stripes or colours that will not look good on camera and try to fit yourself into the role of the character you are auditioning for. Dress and act the way you think the character would.

Ensure that you have everything you are required to bring with you and once you audition remember to give it your all as this could be the one!

Open your mouth while you speak and ensure that you resonate your voice in order to project yourself clearly. Your words should come out loud and clear so that you are fully understood. Do not look directly into the camera and don't forget to do some breathing exercises to stop the nerves!

This is very important because there are so many people wanting fame and fortune and to separate yourself as a true artist you need to let people know who you are and what you stand for.

Join acting groups, build a blog or website to showcase what you have done and go to as many auditions as possible but communicate with other people there so that you can get to know where other auditions are. Business cards with your photo and details on it are a good idea to give to the casting director or crew for other prospects.

Learn as much as you can about acting. If you do not have the money to study than try to enrol in as many courses as you can. You do not just get discovered and a qualified actor will get the opportunity before you do. So learn your craft, study different types of acting methods, learn how to project your voice, warm your voice and how to behave in front of a camera or an audience.

When you start don't be too fussy on what role you take because experience is key. Do not take on roles that will cheapen you and if you do not want to do nude scenes than Don't!

Acting is fun but very hard work as I mentioned and it takes up a lot of time and energy to get the role that you want. Theatre work is tiring as rehearsals start early in the morning and can finish late at night for months before the actual show.

Be prepared to work hard, give up any social time and learn to budget as most of the time the pay is not great!

To protect yourself make sure that you register with a reputable agency as you will get work out of them and they will know if the casting is legitimate.

Agents will also ensure that you are prepared for the audition and they ask questions on your behalf.

Agents will not hire actors that are just starting out with no experience so if you have none than join a casting agency to begin with to allow you extras work for experience and hopefully once you have learnt to network there will be better opportunities for you!

These links are for your information, I have no connection to these sites.

Send your information with caution and be careful of production companies that you have not researched. I was cast for a role, changed my hair colour and weight only to find that the producer ran away with the funding, halfway through filming. Unfortunately we couldn't continue and it can be very disheartening, so make sure you know everything there is to know. If you need information - don't hesitate to ask! This search engine and connections can be helpful!

Anita Alraun representation - 5th floor 28 Charring cross road, London wc2hodb

Bigfish Management - 55 Candon Valley, London sw1842z

Jessica Carney Associates - ste 90-92 kent house 87 Regent street london w164eh

The Agency, 47 Adelaide Road, Dublin 4. Tel.6618535 , Fax. 6769951

Center Stage Agency, 7 Rutlidge Terrace, S.C.R., Dublin 8. Tel. & Fax; 4533599.

Ann Curtis Agency, 101 Collins Ave. West, Dublin 9. Tel; 8327708 Fax; 8319537

First Call Management, 29-30 Dame Street, Dublin 2. Tel. 6798401, Fax; 6798353.

Hally Williams Agency, 121 Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
Tel; 353 1 493 3685. & Fax; 353 1 493 3076.

Lisa Richards Agency, The Basement, 15 Lr. Pembroke Street, Dublin 2.
Tel. 6624880, Fax; 6624884.

Lorraine Brennan Management, unit 22, Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harolds Cross, Dublin 6.
Tel; 4534355, Fax; 4534412.

Neil Brooks Management, 153 Rathgar Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6. Tel/Fax; 4966470.

Centre Stage Agency, 7 Rutlidge Terrace, S.C.R., Dublin 8. Tel & Fax;4533599.

Stafford Management, 41 Ard Glass, Dundrum, Dublin 14, Tel;2985944, Fax; 2981781.

TN Enterprises, 14 Beech Grove, Booterstown Avenue,Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Tel;2881537, Fax; 2881541.

Voicebank, The Barracks, 76 Irishtown Road, Dublin 4. Tel; 6687234 Fax;6607850.

Re-Actors Agency, 1 Eden Quay, Dublin 1. Tel; 878633, Fax; 8783182.

Actors & Movers, The Basement, 45 Windsor Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6. Tel; 4961882.

Maureen Hughes, 2nd Floor 74 Dame Street, Dublin 2. Tel; 6711733, Fax;6711736.

Pearce McMahon Casting, 38 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 2. Tel; 6673568, Fax;6673566.

Children's Agents & agencies

Dramtech Agency, 19An old Soldiers Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Tel; 2860889/2762462.

Irish Academy of Dramatic Art, 9 Dunlea Avenue, Sandycove, Co. Dublin. Tel/Fax; 2302691.

Career Artists International 11030 Ventura Blvd suite 3 studio city, CA, 91604

Mackey/Sandrich casting 180 grand street 3rd floor ny,ny 10013

Creative Artists agency 3 arts entertainment 9460 wilshire blvd, 7th floor, beverly hills, ca, 90212

Affordable services inc, 4430 fountain ave hollywood, ca, 90029

The Acting industry can be very daunting and unnerving. There are many ways to get into the film industry and many agencies that will give you work just by taking a look at you. The unfortunate truth is that acting is hard work and it takes time to succeed, but with patience and determination, you can achieve your goals.

There are so many movies and theatre productions around the world and brilliant actors and actresses, who work hard and impress every time.

These are the ones, who are to me, the best in the business and you could learn from them.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Al Pacino

Robert de Niro

Dustin Hoffman

Johnny Depp

Val Kilmer

Robert Downey Junior

Robertt Duvall

Anthony Hopkins

Tommy Lee Jones

Jessica Lang

Meryl Streep

Julia Roberts

Shirley Maclaine

Cate Blanchett

Barbara Streisand