Acting
Introduction:
Looking for a Career Option in the Field of Acting ? This section features Acting as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.
Acting is a profession that calls out to a person. Stories of the hardships and struggles an acting career entails can never dampen the enthusiasm of the true actor. Such a person has to be in front of an audience and just cant be happy doing anything else. Acting is not just an intensely competitive field;it is the profession in which the demand is really in significant in proportion to the supply. Luck of all kinds plays a major role in establishing a person in this profession. To be known to the right agent/producer/director/talent scout at the right time under favourable circumstances is as important as being talented.
Personality Traits:
Outstanding acting talent with a stage personality is a natural pre-requisite. Other important attributes are good health, an iron constitution, innate grace, coordinated movements with a good sense of rhythm, preferably an aptitude for dancing and singing, a good, well modulated voice with proper diction and intonation, an arresting countenance rather than beauty or balance of features, the ability to learn lines quickly and a good memory, a high degree of imagination and sensitivity to get the feel of a role and to interpret it, versatility, abundant self-confidence, lots of energy, unbounded enthusiasm and optimism, resilience to bounce back from trying times and the harsh criticism from colleagues, producers, directors, mentors and critics.
Entry Requirements:
Entry into the profession is through various channels.
Modelling is a popular mode of entry into the acting world. Many of our actors and actresses have gained entry into film and television work by being noticed on the modelling scene. The requirements of modelling and acting are not really identical but the element of a stage personality, a good sense of rhythm, being photogenic, an arresting face and figure, poise and professionalism are noticeable and important traits which lead to offers of acting assignments.
Courses/Training:
There are no formal education requirements to become an actor but a bachelor's degree in theater arts, drama, acting and performing, may be helpful in learning technical skills. Experience is of great importance in this career, as experience leads to bigger and higher paying roles.
- Complete exposure, training and education in acting are possible through degree/diploma courses in drama/acting available in the country in many important universities and institutes.
- Certificate Course In Acting Duration: 6 months or Diploma in Acting
Colleges:
- Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune
- Barry John Acting Studio, Mumbai
- National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi
- Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares, Mumbai
- AAFT (Noida, Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi)
- Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
- R K Films & Media Academy, New Delhi
- ZIMA, Mumbai
- Delhi Film Institute, New Delhi
- CRAFT, New Delhi
Placements & Prospects:
Prospects are not very bright except for the exceptionally talented and lucky few. The sudden invasion of the satellite television network, however, has widened opportunities significantly. Our film industry is also very big one. Recently there has been a noticeable revival of interest in theatre too.
Innumerable opportunities exist but the number of aspirants is high and there are very few who are well established and have carved out a niche for themselves in the profession. The range of fees charged out a niche for themselves in the profession. The range of fees is so wide, and good luck and timing are so important that there is little point in trying to give an idea of salaries.
Many of our actors and actresses who could or could not become big names have diversified from acting to doing compering for shows, contests, awards ceremonies, anchoring and hosting television shows and film oriented entertainment programmes as well as anchoring even educational programmes and have been highly successful and popular.
Challenges:
A number of things, such as stage fright (if you are a theatre actor), but sometimes all the lights, cameras and people on set can be pretty intimidating too. It is difficult, if you are an actor who takes on a lot of roles, to constantly be changing into someone else.
Other challenges are that it is not any easy business, It is not easy to get jobs, or to keep them. You have to have the right look for a part, the right personality, charisma, etc. Directors and producers can also be very hard on actors. You have to always wear and do what the director tells you to- it can be hard!
- Rolls that are very demanding and hard to do.
- Make up that takes longer time (seating's of 3 to 4 hour to do make up and masks.)
- Acting challenges such as doing the right thing in the right time every time
- Remember the sometimes tough to remember scripts filled with words impossible to remember.
- Trying to do something that you absolutely not can or want to do but are asked to do
- Long hours, working late at night etc.
- Rejections
- Being in limelight always
Remuneration:
It depends upon which field you have chosen and how successful you are and which country you are working in.
Some of Bollywood’s top actors and actresses get paid as much as 5 crore rupees. Actors who are not yet established can earn as little as Rs. 20,000 per month, but since most actors get paid per project, earnings may fluctuate.
The average annual salary of an actor in the United States is $51,000. However, established actors earn tens of millions of dollars a year and the earning potential is enormous.
Useful links:
http://plancareer.org/en/career/9/1167/actor-career-option-and-requirements.html
Bibliography:
Indicareer.com. (2017). Acting, Acting Courses, Qualification for Acting. [online] Available at: http://www.indicareer.com/Acting/India-Career-Acting.html [Accessed 12 Sep. 2017].
Study.com. (2017). Acting Career Information: Becoming an Actor or Actress. [online] Available at: http://study.com/articles/Acting_Career_Information_Becoming_an_Actor_or_Actress.html [Accessed 12 Sep. 2017].
https://www.shiksha.com/. (2017). Top 10 acting schools in India | Shiksha. [online] Available at: https://www.shiksha.com/mass-communication-media/film-tv/articles/top-10-acting-schools-in-india-blogId-8822 [Accessed 12 Sep. 2017].
Answers.yahoo.com. (2017). What challenges does an actress/actor face?. [online] Available at: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090908031800AAaY89p [Accessed 12 Sep. 2017].
Plancareer.org. (2017). Actor Career requirements, Job Details, Salary Prospects | Plancareer.org. [online] Available at: http://plancareer.org/en/career/9/1167/actor-career-option-and-requirements.html [Accessed 12 Sep. 2017].