Well, if you haven't acted in school plays and high school drama classes, you can do classes and/or productions through your local community colleges theatre arts/drama programs, in community theatre, and in films made by Film Students at local universities without any prior experience (all of these performances are
acceptable on a resume).

Again the caveat: Disagree if you wish, but realize there are other valid approaches which MIGHT work if your own approaches are (1) not getting auditions from submissions, (2) not getting callbacks, (3) not getting you cast.

1. What You Should Already Know
Recap: Please review last fall's note about self-submissions. I open up to 50 self-submissions a week or receive email requests for interviews. The packages are ALWAYS hand-addressed, sometimes scrawled illegibly; the cover notes often a ripped out notebook sheet, the resumes a disorganized mess.

How to Choose an Acting Coach
By Chad Gracia

If acting is your profession then naturally the study of acting is your educational process. While there are many paths to obtaining acting knowledge it is good to consider the following items as outlined below.

Where to Learn Film Acting (1295 words)
by Ruth Kulerman

Here are two questions we received from a reader asking about acting for film:

(1) Are there classes just for film or TV acting?
(2) What is the difference between acting on stage and acting on camera?

Let's answer the easy part first: Yes, there are classes for film acting all over the world. In fact, look under a vine in the Brazilian Rain Forest and you'll find a come-on ad for an expensive class in camera technique! In the world of scams, film acting classes rate top ten. Be careful out there. Lots of sharks.

Developing a Thicker Skin
by Kelly Hero

A constant question from my students is, "Am I too emotional, Ms. Hero?" They ask it as if they fear they have contracted a horrible disease. For most artists, the label of "too emotional" has followed us around since childhood like a stinky little dog that begs acceptance and food.

We have mentioned in almost every article for the past year the importance of words. I referred then to words (in the text) as the basis for interpretation. At that time I meant that the words in the text will evoke the emotions, will create the internal picture and that you will respond emotionally without psyche digging if you focus on the words.

"I take a lot of classes, when is it time to stop taking classes?"

When to Avoid Student Films, Acting Classes, and Accents
By Ruth Kulerman

Occasionally a reader sends several questions, seemingly unrelated but if you read closely you can pick up a thread running through each question. The following e-mail is an example. After answering the questions, let's look at the common emotion behind each and see if there is any advice that will help get past all these potholes in his road to success.

QUESTION #1 - Student Films

"How important are student films? Should I keep doing them if I like the scripts?"

1. When to Take Acting Classes
By Chad Gracia

Without much of a preface – you should plan to take acting classes throughout your entire professional career as an actor. Notice, I did not say, you had to take classes every day of your life, but there will be periods when you should plan to go back to training, whether for a specific role or for a refresher in the fundamentals of acting.

The following tips are the result of working with actors, both as a fellow cast member and as a coach, actors who graduated from the best acting schools in America. Perhaps you have already discovered some of these tips on your own. If so, excellent! Continue your pursuit for more powerful skills sadly overlooked in drama school.