18 year old with little experience
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18 year old with little experience
Hi! I'm Welsh, female and 18 years old. I'll be going to university in Sheffield next month to study English, but I want to keep acting on the side and was thinking of applying to some adult agents. The problem is, the only real experience I have are plays that I've done with my drama group at my local arts centre and short films that I did with my friends as part of my film-making group or just for fun! Also, I'm worried that because I'm in uni and obviously, that comes first, that agents might think that I'm not serious about acting. Any advice?
Re: 18 year old with little experience
Congratulations on your admission to Sheffield - I'm sure you'll have the time of your life!
Over-18s aren't my strong point, but if you read through the forums you'll find lots of advice to young people in similar circumstances, especially from pg, for example. So it's probably worth you putting your feet up and having a good browse.
The thought struck me that you may get opportunities to be involved with performing arts at the Uni. I don't know about Sheffield, but as far as I know, many Universities include groups and societies that put on productions which may help you to keep your acting skills up to scratch while balancing the need to focus on your studies. Have a look around during freshers week.
I'd also guess that local amateur theatre groups, or even the professional theatres in the area, might be interested in hearing from you if you are willing to volunteer some of your time to help with - for example - their youth programme. It's all good experience, it keeps you networked and may lead to opportunities that provide the sort of track record that would interest an agent.
Let us know how you get on - and good luck!
Deb x
Over-18s aren't my strong point, but if you read through the forums you'll find lots of advice to young people in similar circumstances, especially from pg, for example. So it's probably worth you putting your feet up and having a good browse.
The thought struck me that you may get opportunities to be involved with performing arts at the Uni. I don't know about Sheffield, but as far as I know, many Universities include groups and societies that put on productions which may help you to keep your acting skills up to scratch while balancing the need to focus on your studies. Have a look around during freshers week.
I'd also guess that local amateur theatre groups, or even the professional theatres in the area, might be interested in hearing from you if you are willing to volunteer some of your time to help with - for example - their youth programme. It's all good experience, it keeps you networked and may lead to opportunities that provide the sort of track record that would interest an agent.
Let us know how you get on - and good luck!
Deb x
Re: 18 year old with little experience
Great advice from Deb!
I think the honest answer is that you will struggle to get decent acting agency representation while studying at University (as you don't have a CV with professional work or accredited training). Agents for adult actors are inundated with applications from those who are ready to act full-time (not that anyone really ever does act full-time, but I guess you know what I mean). If an agent did take you on you would be expected to be available for auditions/castings with very little notice.
The only exception to this might be if you look very, very young for your age. Then an agent might be interested.
An adult agency will almost certainly want you to be in Spotlight - and you are probably not eligible for Spotlight entry unless you join an agent that runs a children's agency (who would only be likely to take you on if you look really young).
Even actors that graduate from accredited courses at top drama schools (and thus have automatic graduate Spotlight acceptance) can struggle to get agency representation.
You could try a few northern agencies and see what sort of response you get - most agencies accept email applications, so it wouldn't cost you much to put your toe in the water. Don't join any agency that wants an up-front fee and don't join an agency that doesn't insist on meeting you/seeing what you are capable of before being taken on.
There WILL be agencies that will take you on for a fee. Unless it's an extras agency (and that's what you want to do) - don't be hoodwinked. Decent adult actors agencies do not charge any kind of upfront fee.
I would recommend looking for your own work - without an agent - for the time being. The likelihood is that very little of it would be paid work - but it should mean that you can build up a bit of a CV for when you graduate. Are you hoping for an acting career on graduation? Contact film schools and let them know you are available; look for amateur opportunities; join Uni dramatic societies - maybe even consider joining an extras agency for a bit of on-set experience.
You might be able to get on to Casting Call Pro (despite supposedly strict acceptance criteria I have seen lots of adults on there who only have amateur or extras credits). That's a pretty good site for finding "opportunities" AKA unpaid work.
Have a look at Spotlight so that you can see what their criteria is for entry.
Sorry to be depressing. I think you can have a brilliant time increasing your acting skills and enjoying yourself at Uni though! Best of luck.
I think the honest answer is that you will struggle to get decent acting agency representation while studying at University (as you don't have a CV with professional work or accredited training). Agents for adult actors are inundated with applications from those who are ready to act full-time (not that anyone really ever does act full-time, but I guess you know what I mean). If an agent did take you on you would be expected to be available for auditions/castings with very little notice.
The only exception to this might be if you look very, very young for your age. Then an agent might be interested.
An adult agency will almost certainly want you to be in Spotlight - and you are probably not eligible for Spotlight entry unless you join an agent that runs a children's agency (who would only be likely to take you on if you look really young).
Even actors that graduate from accredited courses at top drama schools (and thus have automatic graduate Spotlight acceptance) can struggle to get agency representation.
You could try a few northern agencies and see what sort of response you get - most agencies accept email applications, so it wouldn't cost you much to put your toe in the water. Don't join any agency that wants an up-front fee and don't join an agency that doesn't insist on meeting you/seeing what you are capable of before being taken on.
There WILL be agencies that will take you on for a fee. Unless it's an extras agency (and that's what you want to do) - don't be hoodwinked. Decent adult actors agencies do not charge any kind of upfront fee.
I would recommend looking for your own work - without an agent - for the time being. The likelihood is that very little of it would be paid work - but it should mean that you can build up a bit of a CV for when you graduate. Are you hoping for an acting career on graduation? Contact film schools and let them know you are available; look for amateur opportunities; join Uni dramatic societies - maybe even consider joining an extras agency for a bit of on-set experience.
You might be able to get on to Casting Call Pro (despite supposedly strict acceptance criteria I have seen lots of adults on there who only have amateur or extras credits). That's a pretty good site for finding "opportunities" AKA unpaid work.
Have a look at Spotlight so that you can see what their criteria is for entry.
Sorry to be depressing. I think you can have a brilliant time increasing your acting skills and enjoying yourself at Uni though! Best of luck.
Re: 18 year old with little experience
Hello, thank you guys a lot for your responses! I'm definitely looking into doing things in the university and in the surrounding area. I'm planning on getting involved in the drama society, as well as the film making society and I've spotted a few amateur theatre groups around the city. I was also thinking about maybe asking some advice from someone in the drama department, even though I'm in a separate department. I'm not sure if I could though?
I do look quite young for my age, often being mistaken for being around 14. I would set my playing age at about really 14-19 years tbh.
I was wondering would you guys recommend joining something like starnow/mandy.com to try and find myself some work in the meantime? I think I will send out a few e-mails to the surrounding agents, but not expect to hear anything good back.
I do look quite young for my age, often being mistaken for being around 14. I would set my playing age at about really 14-19 years tbh.
I was wondering would you guys recommend joining something like starnow/mandy.com to try and find myself some work in the meantime? I think I will send out a few e-mails to the surrounding agents, but not expect to hear anything good back.
Re: 18 year old with little experience
If you are interested in doing unpaid work for the experience, then I think these could be good routes for you. Mandy would be my preference as you don't have to pay.
From what I can gather, there is not a lot of paid work on Starnow for young adults, it depends what you are hoping for really.
From what I can gather, there is not a lot of paid work on Starnow for young adults, it depends what you are hoping for really.
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francescasmum
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Re: 18 year old with little experience
My daughter has done several films students for SHU (Sheffield Hallum University0. You could contact the film school there letting them know you are interested if they need anyone.