Nature of the Work:
Actors entertain and communicate with people through their interpretation of dramatic roles. They rely on facial and verbal expression as well as body motion for creative effect. Making a character come to life before an audience is a job that has great psychic rewards. Acting requires persistence, practice, and hard work as well as a special talent. Only a few actors achieve recognition as stars on the stage, in motion pictures, or on television. A somewhat larger number are well-known, experienced performers, who frequently are cast in supporting roles. Most actors struggle for a toehold in the profession and pick up parts wherever they can.
Employment for actors is characteristically unsteady. Most actors experience frequent periods of unemployment, and many take temporary jobs, often as waiters or sales workers, while waiting for their next acting part to come along. Some actors employed by theater companies teach acting in courses offered to the public.
Beginning stage actors generally start in bit parts where they speak only a few lines. If successful, they may progress to larger, supporting roles. They frequently serve as understudies for the principals. Film and television actors, in contrast, may begin in large roles or move into programs from working in commercials.
In addition to the actors with speaking parts, extras, who haveno lines to deliver, are used in almost all motion pictures, in many television shows, and in some theater productions.
Directors interpret plays or scripts. In addition, they usually conduct rehearsals and auditions and select cast members as well as direct the work of the cast and crew. Directors use their knowledge of acting, voice, and movement to achieve the best possible performance and usually approve the scenery, costumes, choreography, and music.
Producers select plays or scripts and hire directors, principal members of the cast, and key production staff members. They negotiate contracts with artistic personnel, often dealing with collective bargaining agreements with labor unions. Producers also coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and other personnel, arrange financing, and decide on the size of the production and its budget.
Working Conditions:
Acting demands patience and total commitment, because actors must wait for parts or filming schedules, work long hours, and travel often. Evening work is a regular part of a stage actor's life. Flawless performances require the tedious memorizing of lines and repetitive rehearsals. Performances on television programs often allow little time for rehearsal, so that the actor must deliver a good performance with very little preparation. An actor needs stamina to withstand the heat of stage or studio lights, the long irregular hours, and the adverse weather conditions that may exist on location. When plays are on the road, traveling is necessary. Actors often face the anxiety of intermittent employment and rejections when auditioning for work.
Directors and producers often work under stress as they try to meet schedules, stay within budgets, and resolve personnel problems.
Employment:
Actors, directors, and producers held jobs in motion pictures, stage plays, television, and radio. In the winter, most employment opportunities on the stage are in New York and other large cities. In the summer, stock companies in suburban and resort areas provide employment. In addition, many cities have nonprofit professional companies such as little theaters, repertory companies, and dinner theaters, which provide opportunities for local amateur talent as well as for professional entertainers. Normally, casts are selected in New York City for shows that go on the road.
Employment in motion pictures and films for television is centered in Hollywood and New York City. However, studios are also located in Florida, Texas, and other parts of the country. In addition, many films are shot on location and employ local professionals and nonprofessionals as day players and extras. A number of American-produced films are shot in foreign countries. In television, most opportunities are at the headquarters of the major networks in New York, Los Angeles, and, to a lesser extent, Chicago. Sometimes employment opportunities are available with a few local television stations.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement:
Aspiring actors and directors should take part in high school and college plays, or work with little theaters and other acting groups for experience.
Formal dramatic training or acting experience is generally necessary, although some people enter the field without it. Many experienced actors get formal training to learn new skills and improve old ones. Training can be obtained at dramatic arts schools in New York and Los Angeles, and at hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the country offering bachelors or higher degrees in dramatic and theater arts. College drama curriculums usually include courses in liberal arts, stage speech and movement, directing, playwriting, play production, design, and history of the drama, as well as practical courses in acting. From these, the student develops an appreciation of the great plays and the roles he or she may play or direct
The best way to start is to use local opportunities and to build on them. Local and regional theater experience may help in obtaining work in New York or Los Angeles. Modeling experience may also be helpful. Actors need talent, creative ability, and training that will enable them to portray different characters. Training in singing and dancing is especially useful. Actors must have poise, stage presence, and the ability to affect an audience, plus the ability to follow directions. Physical appearance is often a deciding factor in being selected for particular roles.
Many professional actors rely on agents or managers to find them performing engagements, negotiate contracts, and plan their careers.
To become a movie extra, one must usually be listed by a casting agency, such as Central Casting, a no-fee agency that works with the Screen Extras Guild and supplies all extras to the major movie studios in Hollywood. Applicants are accepted only when the number of persons of a particular type on the list,for example, athletic young women, old men, or small children, is below the foreseeable need. In recent years, only a very small proportion of the applicants have succeeded in being listed.
There are no specific training requirements for directors and producers. Talent, experience, and business acumen are very important. Directors and producers come from different backgrounds. Actors, writers, film editors, and business managers often enter these fields. Formal training in directing and producing is available at some colleges and universities. Individuals interested in production management who have a bachelor's degree or 2 years of on-set experience in motion picture or television production may qualify for the Assistant Directors Training Program offered jointly by the Directors Guild of America and motion picture and television companies.
For most actors, directors, and producers, advancement takes the form of a growing reputation. For an actor, this means getting bigger and better roles. Some actors move into actingrelated jobs as drama coaches or directors of stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions. A few teach drama in colleges and universities. For directors and producers, advancement may mean working on larger productions or taking shows to the most prestigious theaters.
The length of a performer's working life depends largely on training, skill, versatility, and perseverance. Some actors, directors, and producers never retire. Many leave the occupation, however, because they cannot find enough work to make a living.
Job Outlook:
Employment of actors, directors, and producers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations as the number of theatrical and motion picture productions increases. Rising foreign demand for American productions combined with a growing domestic market, fueled by the growth of cable television, home movie rentals, and television syndications, should stimulate demand for actors and other production personnel. The growth of these recorded media doesn't seem to be drawing any interest away from live productions. People who prefer to see live entertainment are expected to continue to go to theaters for the excitement and aesthetic appreciation. In fact, attendance at live theater performances has been increasing slightly as regional and touring shows are reaching audiences outside of the traditional theater center, New York City.
In addition to jobs created by increasing demand, many more will arise as workers leave this high-turnover field. Nevertheless, the large number of people desiring acting careers and the lack of formal entry requirements will cause keen competition for acting and directing jobs. Only the most talented will find regular employment.
Earnings
Minimum salaries, hours of work, and other conditions of employment are covered in basic collective bargaining agreements between producers of shows and unions representing the various workers in this field. The Actors' Equity Association represents stage actors; the Screen Actors Guild and the Screen Extras Guild cover actors in motion pictures, including television, commercials, and films; and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) represents television and radio performers. Most stage directors belong to the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and film and television directors belong to the Directors Guild of America. Of course, each actor or director may negotiate an individual contract that provides for a higher salary than that specified in the basic agreement
Some well-known actors have salary rates well above the minimums, and the salaries of the few top stars are many times the figures cited, creating a false impression that all actors are highly paid.
Many actors who earn more than a set minimum per year are covered by a union health, welfare, and pension fund, including hospitalization insurance, to which employers contribute. Under some employment conditions, Actors' Equity and AFTRA members have paid vacations and sick leave.
Producers seldom get salaries; instead, they get a percentage of a show's earnings. Sometimes producers receive a set fee for their services.
Related Occupations:
People who work in occupations requiring acting skills include dancers, choreographers, disc jockeys, drama teachers or coaches, and radio and television announcers. Others working in occupations related to acting are playwrights, script writers, stage managers, costume designers, lighting designers, and set designers. Workers in occupations involved with the business aspects of theater productions include company managers, booking managers, and actors', directors', and playwrights' agents.
