How Can I Be In A Movie?

Many people nurse a secret dream to be in the movies.

It’s not surprising, really – we are surrounded by a visual culture, from Youtube, to TV, to cinema, to on-demand services feeding us exciting stories that absorb and entertain us.

And we want to be a part of of it! This is the amazing power that stories have: they move us and change us. They give us an adrenalin rush. They can make us feel sad or excessively happy. And visual storytelling is all the more powerful because it makes the world of the story seem so real, even if it’s a fantasy. We imagine ourselves up there on the big screen, living the exciting life of another person – a fictional character, a historical figure, or even an alien or other-worldly being.

So how can you be in a movie?

Well, it’s not so far-fetched an aspiration. But it might take you some time, some training, and some work to get there.

1. Train to be an actor. Actors have a skill set which empowers them to create believable characters. They do this by learning a range of techniques. They work on their voice, their bodies, and their minds and emotions, to deliver that memorable character. It’s a craft, an art – and like any artform, there are skills involved that can be learned and refined through classes and workshops. In the same way, practise makes a good actor get better and better. But be aware that acting for stage and acting for screen have different requirements. So, even if you've been acting for stage, take a screen class if your major interest is to be in a movie. You can go to an acting school like Perform Australia and try a beginner’s acting class, or even a whole certificate which will take you through everything you need to know. When choosing a program of learning, make sure you check out the credentials of your teachers – have they trained at a worthy institution? Do they have a wealth of experience to pass on to you? Do they have a track record of being in theatre, film and television themselves?
2. Find auditions. The main way that actors get to be in movies is via auditions. An audition is like a job interview for actors. You can find audition listings online with major production companies, actor’s directories, social media pages, screen funding bodies, and on casting directors’ sites. In particular, it helps to follow casting directors who put out regular calls for new talent, and when something comes up that describes you, you can apply.
3. Go to your audition and put your best foot forward. Actors will often have to present a monologue (a one-person speech as a character) at an audition, or sometimes they will have access to a script and read a part opposite another actor, while the audition panel looks on. Just make sure you carefully read any information in the casting call (audition notice) so that you know what to do. There can be any number of people sitting in on an audition – this might include the film’s director, a casting agent, a producer, and even actors who have already been cast in major roles. As an auditionee, you must enter the room confidently, present your piece, engage in small talk with the panel, and then thank them for the opportunity on leaving. Don’t expect them to tell you whether or not you’ve got the part on the day – they have deliberations to make behind closed doors. And that’s just a live audition. Alternatively, you may need to audition for a movie via a self-tape. In this instance, you have to record yourself performing an audition piece (i.e. tape it yourself), and send it into the production company to evaluate. If they like what they see, and you suit the part you’re auditioning for, they may call you in for a live audition. Again, follow all the instructions carefully to make sure your upload goes through successfully.
4. Wait. This is perhaps the worst part of trying to get into the movies. Sometimes you go for a part you really want, and you find yourself hankering for a response from the company concerned... which may never come. So it’s important not to get too attached to each audition opportunity that comes your way, but go for lots of them in your quest to be in a movie. Often it’s not about your talent, but about your look – do you fit the director’s idea of the character, in his or her imagination? In film, casting is as much about the look as talent. Plus, your own social media has a role to play. If you have thousands of followers on social media, and you go for a part against an actor who has only hundreds of followers on social media, you’re ahead of the pack. The truth is that the film industry is a business. If you can bring an existing audience or fan base to your next project via social media, the casting panel is going to look on that favourably. They want people to watch the film they’re trying to make, and so these things are taken into consideration. And don’t expect that you will necessarily win a major role first time you apply. Many actors start out with minor roles, or even as extras (background non-speaking roles) as they start to learn about the industry.
5. Go on set. So you have a successful audition – now is the time to put everything you learned at acting school into action! You could be filming on set, in a studio, or on location somewhere. Make sure you have all your lines down in time for the big day, turn up early, read your production schedule carefully, and identify who you need to check in with on your arrival. Then – act! Listen carefully to the director’s instructions, and shape your performance to match their requirements. Occasionally you may be called back to re-record a voice track in post-production after filming is over, depending on how well it all went on the day – so sometimes actors have a few additional tasks to complete after the actual shoot.
6. Watch your movie. Hopefully your scene will still be in the final product - and not end up on the cutting room floor, as they say in the biz! You’ll be able to watch your movie in the cinema, on DVD or on TV, depending on where it’s sent - but if your part is a significant one, you may be required to be part of the publicity team, attending interviews, screenings and other public events to promote the film at its opening. And if it’s a good film, you may have opportunity to attend awards ceremonies…

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves! The first step is to get your actor training. Perform Australia has two regular intakes of our Certificate program, in January and July, plus a suite of short evening courses, and after-school programs, if you want to get started in the meantime.

Hoping to see you in the movies sometime soon!