Acting or directing, which one is more practical for a career?
- Thread starter kitson
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clang
Veteran
Well, the world needs greater numbers of actors than directors, simply because most projects need one director and many actors, so in that sense acting is a safer bet. Also, acting has a far greater range of jobs, from megastars down to extras - but a director is just a director (ok, ignoring second unit and SFX directors etc).
But a bigger question is what directing and/or acting talent you have...
But a bigger question is what directing and/or acting talent you have...
PopcornFlix
Well-known member
"Practical," I assume, means "a reasonable and dependable way to make a living." Neither of your choices are "practical." It's very tough to make a living as an actor. Google it, you'll see. And they only hire one director per project, so there are far fewer directing jobs.
IMHO, you should decide which one you really want to do, and go for it. Do the thing you really are attracted to, and give yourself the chance to excel at it.
IMHO, you should decide which one you really want to do, and go for it. Do the thing you really are attracted to, and give yourself the chance to excel at it.
tired
Well-known member
Neither is practical as a career - a diesel mechanic or a plastic surgeon is a practical career - with hard work and study you can gain the necessary qualifications and there will always be people wanting work done.
you 'act' because you have a passion for it, you love doing it, you couldn't not do it - it's who you are. I'm not sure if the same can be said for directing, I enjoy it but it's not a passion - maybe for some people it is a passion. Your chances of making a career out of either are very minimal. If someone is telling you otherwise, they're about to ask you for tuition fees.
you 'act' because you have a passion for it, you love doing it, you couldn't not do it - it's who you are. I'm not sure if the same can be said for directing, I enjoy it but it's not a passion - maybe for some people it is a passion. Your chances of making a career out of either are very minimal. If someone is telling you otherwise, they're about to ask you for tuition fees.
Melvin Harris
Black Flag Member
+1
Directing is my passion. I respect acting, but only because if facilitates my directing and the act of storytelling, not because I want to do it. I have no inclination toward acting whatsoever, but I can not face a day where I am not a director. Square jobs are only so I can do what I love and I'm 32 years old so this is an investment that, if it goes south, represents a huge loss for me.
Kitson, When you say "career", I'm guessing you mean "making enough money to sustain yourself and more". I am a Director/Cameraman/Actor of 40 yrs and one of the things I've learned about this business is just that it is a "business" (show business).
I consider myself an artist, and that's what I want to be doing most of the time, but that means nothing if you don't know how to "schmooze". There is one hint in your post that says you may be able to make a career for yourself and that is the line at the bottom of your post that says "I like to make friends". In this business you need to love the 'politics'. Sad but true, it's not what you know, but who you know. When I was younger, I didn't want to pay attention to that kind of thinking. As I got older and more experienced, I realized that I wasn't the kind of person who didn't mind sacrificing some integrity to get ahead, so my acting career suffered. Fortunately, I was on staff with a major tv network and in a union, so my job was pretty safe regardless of how much "schmoozing" I did. This is my opinion from my experience and perspective. I hope it is "food for thought" for you.
I consider myself an artist, and that's what I want to be doing most of the time, but that means nothing if you don't know how to "schmooze". There is one hint in your post that says you may be able to make a career for yourself and that is the line at the bottom of your post that says "I like to make friends". In this business you need to love the 'politics'. Sad but true, it's not what you know, but who you know. When I was younger, I didn't want to pay attention to that kind of thinking. As I got older and more experienced, I realized that I wasn't the kind of person who didn't mind sacrificing some integrity to get ahead, so my acting career suffered. Fortunately, I was on staff with a major tv network and in a union, so my job was pretty safe regardless of how much "schmoozing" I did. This is my opinion from my experience and perspective. I hope it is "food for thought" for you.
DadinWestchester
Well-known member
My son is an actor and only 17. I have instilled in him that an actor needs to know the business inside and out. In front of the camera and behind it. An actor needs to know how to write, direct and produce these days. He is about to enter college and major in Cinema Studies. This is the least intensive field of study that will allow him time to audition and work as an actor. (I am now in Vancouver as his guardian while he shoots a FF) While it is good to know all aspects of the business you tend to gravitate to one of the major jobs and through networking continue to work. I've been in the business 45+ years and intend to guide my kid into what he loves and can sustain as a career.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3664430/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3664430/
neither is practical at all! slightly more practical would be directing for animation, which means you start as a storyboard artist, but that means you have to be able to draw really well, and very fast. you could also work as a character animator, which is similar to acting. you have to animate performances out of the characters based on the dialogue that's recorded. or on the director side, you could do layout or pre-viz with cgi. if you want to be able to make a living, i would suggest learning something with computers. something technical (editing would be another good job for an aspiring director). then you can pursue your main goal while you pay your bills, meet people, and hone your skills in an indirect way.
paulears
Veteran
Ive been a performing and music lecturer in college, and I've worked for the exam boards so I've seen many aspiring actors, and far fewer directors. I'm now back in the industry employing actors and technical people.
If you intend to study these areas, the first thing the colleges will ask you is "what have you been in?" and "what have you directed?" These are standard questions given to people who tell them they have a passion. So you need to do a skills audit. How good an actor are you? What kind of shows, plays, movies have you been in? What experience do you have of learning scripts? What scale and technical complexity and budget has your work been?
They want to hear you took the lead in the local amateur production of Grease, or you directed a movie short that won third prize at the local festival. They want to see evidence of commitment - so expect questions on what equipment you have to support the directing bit. I used to always ask these questions and often the answer would be - I've obviously not had a chance to do any of this yet - that's why I want to come to this college. My answer was always the same. If you have a passion then you would have been doing it already. You mention plays. What kind? Naturalistic, comedy, period, contemporary? Which ones have you been to see in the past three months. Often the answer is very vague and it turns out they have never even heard of the famous theatre practitioners - Berkoff, Stanislavsky, Brecht etc If they want to direct, then they must have experience of how actors act?
If you want work as an actor, frankly it's guaranteed unemployment unless you are very, very talented or very lucky! Becoming a decent director costs money. To even self-direct means you have to have access to lots of kit, and this costs.
Consider yourself and work out how you fit in with the above. How would you respond to the college interview/audition?
Many people have a passion but for some odd reason have no experience. There is NO excuse that will cut it at the interview/audition. Some people by the time they are 16 have loads of evidence of their skills - huge portfolios. What is yours like?
If you intend to study these areas, the first thing the colleges will ask you is "what have you been in?" and "what have you directed?" These are standard questions given to people who tell them they have a passion. So you need to do a skills audit. How good an actor are you? What kind of shows, plays, movies have you been in? What experience do you have of learning scripts? What scale and technical complexity and budget has your work been?
They want to hear you took the lead in the local amateur production of Grease, or you directed a movie short that won third prize at the local festival. They want to see evidence of commitment - so expect questions on what equipment you have to support the directing bit. I used to always ask these questions and often the answer would be - I've obviously not had a chance to do any of this yet - that's why I want to come to this college. My answer was always the same. If you have a passion then you would have been doing it already. You mention plays. What kind? Naturalistic, comedy, period, contemporary? Which ones have you been to see in the past three months. Often the answer is very vague and it turns out they have never even heard of the famous theatre practitioners - Berkoff, Stanislavsky, Brecht etc If they want to direct, then they must have experience of how actors act?
If you want work as an actor, frankly it's guaranteed unemployment unless you are very, very talented or very lucky! Becoming a decent director costs money. To even self-direct means you have to have access to lots of kit, and this costs.
Consider yourself and work out how you fit in with the above. How would you respond to the college interview/audition?
Many people have a passion but for some odd reason have no experience. There is NO excuse that will cut it at the interview/audition. Some people by the time they are 16 have loads of evidence of their skills - huge portfolios. What is yours like?
Grug
Veteran
As others have already stated quite clearly, neither is 'practical', filmmaking is perhaps the silliest of professions and very few of the 'creative' jobs based around it can generate much in the way of income. Technical, rental, support services do, but not the key creative roles.
That said, as someone who's worked both as a director and actor, directing has brought in the larger number of paycheques. Though the sourcing of creative work is such a random process I'd be hard-pressed to tell you why.
That said, as someone who's worked both as a director and actor, directing has brought in the larger number of paycheques. Though the sourcing of creative work is such a random process I'd be hard-pressed to tell you why.
nycineaste
Well-known member
If you're debating between two creative fields asking yourself which pays more, you have the WAAAYYYYY WRONG idea about the difficulty of making a living in -any- of the arts (and its ups and downs, even when you "break in").
Best choose your biggest passion, you'll need that passion to keep you going in the face of the no-money you'll be getting, which will happen first, for a long, long time, way before you get that big break that lets you quit your day job.
Best choose your biggest passion, you'll need that passion to keep you going in the face of the no-money you'll be getting, which will happen first, for a long, long time, way before you get that big break that lets you quit your day job.
kennedymax
Well-known member
Either . . . Neither. If you are knowledgable, qualified and your heart is in it you can be successful in either. If you pursue a goal on the strength "wishing", or playing, then neither will work. Your soul must be dedicated to a discepline, not from just pure lust.
Tomorrow I want to be a fireman . . . and next week a policeman, then . . .
You can't just wish success. You must earn it with unique skill and ability.
Tomorrow I want to be a fireman . . . and next week a policeman, then . . .
You can't just wish success. You must earn it with unique skill and ability.
Allan Black
Veteran
Whatever you choose, acting or directing or any of the associated fields .. do a full on voice development course.
A lot of actors et al, make a good living doing radio commercials, TV voice overs, recorded books etc.
In fact one well respected actor here told me he was giving it up, v/o was much saner and far more lucrative than carrying a spear at the Opera House.
One time, when Sydney Ferries went digital with their public announcements, we spent 2 days in the studio with an actor
recording every possible combination of the ferry announcements for all the wharves on Sydney harbour.
This guy couldn't believe his luck, he made a small fortune.
Even better when the client discovered their 'new' computer system had scrambled all the directions in a lot of the scripts
and with the deadline fast approaching, we determined it was cheaper just to get him in and re-record the whole thing.
After another 2 days we were all stuffed, I'd had enough, so I wrote the very last track and had him read it ..
"Sydney Ferries wishes to announce the near queue is full, would all you people please go over to the far queue"
15 year later they still use the same announcements and I live in hope that one day, I'll hear that last track on some wharf.
Cheers.
A lot of actors et al, make a good living doing radio commercials, TV voice overs, recorded books etc.
In fact one well respected actor here told me he was giving it up, v/o was much saner and far more lucrative than carrying a spear at the Opera House.
One time, when Sydney Ferries went digital with their public announcements, we spent 2 days in the studio with an actor
recording every possible combination of the ferry announcements for all the wharves on Sydney harbour.
This guy couldn't believe his luck, he made a small fortune.
Even better when the client discovered their 'new' computer system had scrambled all the directions in a lot of the scripts
and with the deadline fast approaching, we determined it was cheaper just to get him in and re-record the whole thing.
After another 2 days we were all stuffed, I'd had enough, so I wrote the very last track and had him read it ..
"Sydney Ferries wishes to announce the near queue is full, would all you people please go over to the far queue"
15 year later they still use the same announcements and I live in hope that one day, I'll hear that last track on some wharf.
Cheers.
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Justyn
Veteran
I understand the point but this is so so far off from reality and Acting is WAY MORE competitive, selective and limited. You are in and out and only 1 percent of the Actors are paid enough to be full-time actors. Now, directing you can do so many more things and you can work in so many capacities and branch out into other areas and be a producer/director/DP, etc. I've acted for years but Never to the volume and amount of money or interest as I've had as a technician. Being an actor in large part like like being unemployed... Very similar to being a musician.
There are over 5 million "musicians" listed on just Myspace alone! I think diversity is your best option and ALSO, when you are a director you control your own destiny and create your own project, in large part. An example of actors being proactive is Swingers. WIthout that there would be no Vince Vaughn or John Favre....
So, I might be a bit jaded one way or another, but I think that you have other options as a techie..../director.
There are over 5 million "musicians" listed on just Myspace alone! I think diversity is your best option and ALSO, when you are a director you control your own destiny and create your own project, in large part. An example of actors being proactive is Swingers. WIthout that there would be no Vince Vaughn or John Favre....
So, I might be a bit jaded one way or another, but I think that you have other options as a techie..../director.
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As Justyn mentioned "I think diversity is your best option". This is what I told my daughter (16). As far back as I can remember she has been in this play or that musical, won awards for short stories and movies she has shot. She said early on she wants to go to "film school". Fine, "what do you want to learn to do there"? I ask. "Everything" was her answer and I was somewhat surprised but very happy. I think the real questions is should I go into the entertainment industry (open those arms up real wide). Or should I be an accountant. Keep your eyes and your options open, wide open. If there is one thing I learned in my business 'life' its that relationships are what help the most and provide for a positive movement in anything you do. So by all means lean towards one or the other, acting or directing but don't limit yourself to anything that a school might offer you.
Steve
Steve
Allan Black
Veteran
I've seen 2 actors at the other end of their career, it wasn't pretty. Basically they'd made a good life, respect, family, lifestyle etc. but they weren't good businessmen.
By that I mean as they grew older, they should have provided for a better retirement. They both tried investing in various projects, but didn't follow things up. They expected others to 'do the work' and that didn't happen. One offered to invest in my business, but I suspected all he'd do was turn up every Friday to see how much money he'd made that week. As it turns out I was right.
Their roles and offers dwindled to a trickle and now they're sad older men. Yes they're both egotists which makes it worse for those around them.
It's all very well to follow your dream, I'm all for it, but back it up by doing homework for later in life, listen to advice from your elders, attend seminars, bank regularly. A little bit each week will train you and save pain later on.
Cheers.
By that I mean as they grew older, they should have provided for a better retirement. They both tried investing in various projects, but didn't follow things up. They expected others to 'do the work' and that didn't happen. One offered to invest in my business, but I suspected all he'd do was turn up every Friday to see how much money he'd made that week. As it turns out I was right.
Their roles and offers dwindled to a trickle and now they're sad older men. Yes they're both egotists which makes it worse for those around them.
It's all very well to follow your dream, I'm all for it, but back it up by doing homework for later in life, listen to advice from your elders, attend seminars, bank regularly. A little bit each week will train you and save pain later on.
Cheers.
