Business School or Go Act!?

M

mattspat

Well-known member
Hey guys,

I am in a dilemma. My passion and desire is to move down the Hollywood to act. However, right now I am in business school in Canada. I have a work visa (almost) and really want to head down to Hollywood (I have agents already lined up down there along with management along with a day job).

So I was just wondering if anyone else has faced this problem and how they went about dealing with it. I am 19 years old and am in my second year of university. I always tell myself that school will always be there so I can go back later but I am pretty confused.

Matt
 
Follow your dreams, BUT set a time line and a goal. If you want to take a serious shot at acting then you need to be auditioning as much as possible and that means working at night. (Jerry's famous deli anyone) The odds are against you, you will have to catch a break, but the worst feeling is the "What If" feeling that will haunt you the rest of your life if you do not try.

Having attended UCLA's Film School I can tell you that there are a lot of talented people that do not make it. But I also have many friends that have made it.

I say take a shot and give it your all for a set time.

Here is another secret....create your own great story and market the hell out of it as a web series. I talk with a lot of talent agencies and that is the hottest thing right now.
 
PM'ed you Sinfear11

sinfear11 said:
Follow your dreams, BUT set a time line and a goal. If you want to take a serious shot at acting then you need to be auditioning as much as possible and that means working at night. (Jerry's famous deli anyone) The odds are against you, you will have to catch a break, but the worst feeling is the "What If" feeling that will haunt you the rest of your life if you do not try.

Having attended UCLA's Film School I can tell you that there are a lot of talented people that do not make it. But I also have many friends that have made it.

I say take a shot and give it your all for a set time.

Here is another secret....create your own great story and market the hell out of it as a web series. I talk with a lot of talent agencies and that is the hottest thing right now.
Click to expand...
 
What does everyone think is a good time frame to devote to acting? I kind of felt that it is the kind of thing where you have to keep trying your whole life no matter what. As in no plan B. Just go go go.
 
Hey man,

I have some advice but its not coming from the wisdom of old age. I'm only 19 myself. But I've talked with a lot of people who are in the exact same position you are in... and I've also been there for conversations when they would ask elders your same question. Heres a mix of what I've heard and from my experience. Don't know how much good it will do for you

First off, acting is a business. It requires just as much of a business mind set as any other.. but on top of that, an artistic mindset as well (which is why some say its harder most of the time.) Essentially as an actor, wether in an audition or just publicity, you are selling yourself. When ever you are in a professional environment as an actor you are marketing who you are to someone else (be it a director or journalist... or america.) So on one side, I think business school could really help your acting career. I have a friend who is really making it big now and she went to school for business. I was in a film with her and she was telling me how much it had changed her view of acting. She's much more conscious about how she markets herself (and not on the street.. no) and she does it magnificently. It's obviously working out for her.

But there are success stories for almost anything you can think of. So that might not be a convincer. Being an actor myself and talking with actors who have past their prime, I'm really starting to realize just how true the saying is "you suffer for your art". And that is no understatement. Frank Darabont (Director of Shawshank Redemption) once said that there are directors so much better than him who are working in coffee shops and construction right now, the only difference between them is that Frank was willing to be incredibly poor for 10 years before he actually became a director. And that really is the case for a lot of artists. I hope that doesn't discourage you. In fact, I hope it inspires you. It's a journey of sorts. You just need to be able to love the bad times along with the good. What I'm trying to say is, if your passion is to be an actor, if thats what you know you want to do with your life.. or at least a good portion of it, seriously think about where your heart is and follow it and stick with it. Because damn... its going to be bumpy. But amazing at the same time.


To be honest, I'm against University and College. But thats just a personal thing and of course, I'm in a work force that doesn't really lend itself to a useful College/Uni degree. So if you think you might want to go into business at some point in your life.. Yeah, it might be a good idea to start now. It can only benefit your acting as well (the knowledge... not the degree). Ask anyone who has been through university/college and is now making an honest living if school taught them everything they needed to know for what they are doing now. I've asked this question ALOT and almost every answer is no. Life teaches what you need to know, being around people teaches you what you'll need to know for your career. That doesn't mean school doesn't teach valuable things, it will teach you how to think in different ways for when you do need to learn specific things in life and it sure as hell opens up a lot of door ways.

But again, it comes down to what you want. What do you want in life? What kind of life do you want to lead? Big questions really at any point in your life. Because a degree won't mean anything if you really pursue acting.. in fact a degree really doesn't mean anything when your dead anyways. It's about doing what you love and knowing what you want. If you love school. ha. Go! Get on that! Or if school will allow you to do something that you know you'll love, then again. Get on that! But if you have this once in a life time opportunity right now, and you know you'll be happy (even if you do suffer for a bit), and if this is what you want to do. I say do it. And don't let friends or family deter you from that because they believe you should get yourself an "education". School is merely a facility that houses an educational environment.. and I say.. if you want to be an actor.. Hollywood has now become your "educational environment" and your degree is having coffee with J.J Abrams.


Good luck and all the best.

Phil.

(sorry this was a bit long. I guess I just had a lot to get off my chest)
 
This advice is coming from the wisdom of old age and experience. Listen to Phil. He's got it right.
To answer your question,"What does everyone think is a good time frame to devote to acting?"- there is only one good reason to pursue acting, because you absolutely need to. The time to stop is when you no longer absolutely need to.
 
Dude, everyone and their momma goes to business school now days. Go act. You'll be better off. Just make sure you can support yourself without having to do anything that involves standing on a street corner late at night without a film crew. There's many things you can still do with a basic BA. But if you have agents already lined up down there along with management and a day job, I can't believe you're asking us what to do. We should be asking you.

-Nate
 
Matt,
Go for it! Get your butt down here and get on with it! You are in the prime acting age range...you know you want it...don't fight it. I'm sure some of your friends/family may have differing ideas...but it's your life. Plus, what would stop you from picking up a business class or two here and there while you are down here...with all the online courses you can probably pick up classes from your current school.

What level are the agent/manager? Are they top 5 agencies? Top 10. You don't need to name names...but give us an idea of their stature in the biz.

You have to live with your decision, but not giving it a shot...oh you will regret it the rest of your life. The pain of regret lasts a lifetime and it is much more painful than the pain of sacrifice, hard work, discipline and rejection.
 
Hey Kess,

Thanks so much for the words. I have a few agencies I am trying to choose from. I don't know how they rank but I know an agent from CESD really wants me to sign with her. I believe Hayden Penettiereewsjdfalsefbla or something is with them (the girl from Heroes). How would I go about finding how the agencies are ranked?

Matt

Kess said:
Matt,
Go for it! Get your butt down here and get on with it! You are in the prime acting age range...you know you want it...don't fight it. I'm sure some of your friends/family may have differing ideas...but it's your life. Plus, what would stop you from picking up a business class or two here and there while you are down here...with all the online courses you can probably pick up classes from your current school.

What level are the agent/manager? Are they top 5 agencies? Top 10. You don't need to name names...but give us an idea of their stature in the biz.

You have to live with your decision, but not giving it a shot...oh you will regret it the rest of your life. The pain of regret lasts a lifetime and it is much more painful than the pain of sacrifice, hard work, discipline and rejection.
Click to expand...
 
Haha yes you have Michele and you help is very helpful. I hope to set up a call sometime soon as we talked about before so we can chat a bit!
 
You have to be committed for however long it takes, if not go to business school. If you set a time line is this business you have already FAILED. It is the great leap of faith.

Ps, you dont tell TIME, TIME will tell you.

Good Luck.
 
Ok, here is some thought from an old guy with over 40 years in all aspects of the media biz in front and behind the camera. The last 26 years I have worked for a major media company.

I also have a 14 year old son who is just getting started as an actor. He has already done his student/independent/feature films. He has appeared on stage in local/regional and off-broadway. His agent has commercial shoots lined up. He says he wants to become an actor and study acting in college. I have mixed feelings. But we both agree that a college education is a given. It is much more than the classes in the craft of acting. It is a chance to discover and explore new ideas, situations and tools in the safety of a learning environment.

I think a degree is a necessity in this day and age. It says something about your commitment and the ability to follow through on a goal. If, by any chance, a career change in needed, you aren’t going anywhere without one. It is expected for any decent professional job, one that pays even a modest wage.

I spent 7 years as an undergraduate in radio/tv with minors in journalism, cinema and photography, music and aviation (I have my commercial/multi engine ticket). I also have been an adjunct professor at several universities. Much later in life I also was working on a PhD in business of all things when the kids came along and am ABD.
So, when I hear someone asking should I give up my university studies to go run off to Hollywood, I have mixed feeling here too. Sure, give it a shot if you really feel you must. (Easy to say since you are someone else's kid). ( My 18 year old is studying Sports Training/Exercise Science at University at Buffalo). But, be prepared to go back to it at some later time in your life. It is much more than just ‘book learning’. Right now it is still socialization skills and a chance to explore life in a safe surrounding. You will have unparalleled access to resources that you might not have otherwise. Think long and hard about making such a leap of faith.
Good luck to you in whatever you decide.
 
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Maybe I should have rephrased my question. I am not choosing one over the other necessarily. But I want to move to the Hollywood area and maybe pursue school there instead of in Canada. That way I can work on my craft as well as attend school at the same time.
 
Ack -- aren't there way more productions happening in Canada, though? I doubt very highly that Hollywood is the future of movie innovation (speaking as a Chicagoan, of course, where our city was branded best in which to film movies -- ha!). Live where the connections you develop will have the most sway. Talent is an e-mail away in this day and age. Money will be all that matters, as the money will connect the talent.

I left university because I felt the professors were starting to skew my writing. I wanted to write this, they wanted me to write that. It's all absurd when you're dealing in art.

So, with a highschool degree and the tenacity it takes to be any kind of writer, I went out and became "rich" (at least by my own standards). After mulling over that expression, "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?" I went out, grabbed myself a position at a banking firm, quickly became a top producer, and now I make six figures working from home about 3 hours per week -- which is all being "rich" ever meant to me: no one to report to and no clock to punch ever again.

Making lots of money is simple in comparison to the arts.

A word of caution, though. After I made my first 10K in a week, I went out and got the word FOREWORD tattooed into my inner arm so as to never forget why I decided to make a bunch of money in the first place. If you decide to go make a bunch of money, you must always remember WHY you do it.

But then, unfortunately, that speaks to many artists and especially actors -- the WHY. Why are they doing it, really? I hear so many actors talking about getting a "break" or "making it" and all of this ridiculous bile. If you're an artist, your purpose is to create art -- not to manifest something that is saleable or safe.

The art is existing for the art, not to make you a profit. If you make a profit from art, that's not a shameful thing, but to ask monetary gain from your art is pretty grotesque and is essentially spitting in the face of your gift or craft or whatever they're calling it these days and really adds nothing to humanity and so should be mutilated, burned and hastily forgotten.

The point is, being rich is easy. People remain poor because they're either uninformed (which is becoming increasingly difficult in these times) or they simply don't have the stomach for it, no balls. But being an artist is so much more challenging and unforgiving than is business.

So, my advice -- go headlong into the acting, of course, but don't look to it for materialist gains. Do the art for the art. If you're concerned about starving (I certainly didn't like having to steal groceries or sleep in a ventilated trailer infested with roaches when I was doing it), then go grab some books, learn about stocks or banking as I did, and then go crush and manipulate the system using your "gift" of malleable characterizations, right?

There is no either or. There's simply those in the know and those who are not.
 
I was trying hard to stay away on this but the last post contradicts itself.

Chambered...in one section you say people should not be making their art for profit but for love and then later you go on to say people are poor because they are not informed or have no balls.

So which is it...make art for no profit or have the balls to charge for it?

Seriously...you contradict your own statements. The fact is, there are no Patron Saints and even those who love their art NEED to focus on it making them money.

As for your reasons for 'others not being rich'...oh for goodness sake I know tons of people who don't care about money as much as you do. As long as they have enough they are fine. RICH does not buy happiness, it buys comforts in misery.

Rich only makes people happy if they convince themselves that money is all that matters! I have been very well off and I have been poor....and I was not poor for lack of balls or being ill informed BUT because people like you don't think artists should get paid and should just give it all away. Or, as in the last two years the medical bills got so out of hand it took my life savings. And don't try to claim that made me ill informed because a fire truck hit the car I was in at 22 and no one would insure me because of an accident I did not make happen.

And by the way...until you stop hiding behind your nick name and put a real name and links to prove who you are...I don't trust anything you have to say on any subject!

You got balls enough to show who you are?
 
Good Luck on deciding...My opinion is that acting, like any art, is something that is compelling to you...you either can't live without it or you can...if you have a back up plan then great but chances are that if you do then you'll fall back on it. It's the hardest business to get into, especially if you are not related or connected to someone, so you truly limit your chances if you are not putting in 40 hours a week...and I don't mean training, I mean on the business of acting. Something very few people do but that's why 95% of actors are unemployed...

With classes, I would recomment the Stella Adler Studio in Hollywood. Great Alum support...ofetn see Ruffalo, or others coming in to address the students. I must discolose that I am from Stella so there is a bias there, but either way go to a great school.

The agency CESD is a great agency...primarily knowm for their commercial dept and some print but they are into theatrical and have a strong name...they are not small. Most people in LA can't even get in to see and agent so if you have them asking you to sign, DO IT and don't waste time.

Again, you have to want this more than air because if you don't, trust me, you'll quit...it's tough but it's worth it for those that can't live without it...


Good Luck,
Stan The Man
 
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