Question by N S: Is it worth trying to be an actor?
My ultimate dream is to be an actor. I’ve been in quite a few stage productions, both in school and in youth theatre, including many Shakespeare plays, Waiting For Godot, Pygmalion, Death Of A Salesman, Heart Of Darkness and so on, all with major roles.
I was recently also among the top 3 out of 3000 boys to be considered for a (admittedly not very long but important nonetheless) role in the massive Disney film ‘Prince Of Persia’ coming up in 2010, which eventually went to a boy much younger than myself (In films you have to have the exact look they want), they basically wanted someone younger.
I would love to be an actor in the future but I’ve been told this is not an easy option and that aspiring actors struggle like hell trying to get a break, and in most cases never get one.
I’m 16 and live in England. I’ve been very lucky and have had a fantastic education. I can either try to be an actor or a journalist, war photographer and war reporter in Afghanistan etc, living on the front lines for months and understanding the war on a personal level, reporting things as they are.
Which should I go for?
This is what I look like, if it helps you form a judgement.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40341353@N04/3827656664/
Best answer:
Answer by JesusZoidberg Saves
Depends. Any shlub can be a film actor. Look at the likes of Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, and any number of pretty-boy talentless hacks. Compare them with stage actors, some of which having gone to film, sure, but who have the talent, and more importantly, class. Basil Rathbone and Vincent Price come to mind.
Being a war correspondent is a pretty extreme diff from being an actor. If you have the ability to write, and an eye (if you’re shooting, too), like to live in muddy/dirty/bug-infested/diseased locations with little or no sleep/food/fresh water for days/weeks/months on end, don’t mind being shot at, and the risk of getting your head lopped off doesn’t bother you, then that would sound better to me.
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