ANSWERS: 5
  • Yes. Many have gone on to a successful career (i.e., a professional who makes enough money to live on, so that their main source of income does not come from waiting on tables) in film and on stage with no formal training in acting. However, very, very few do it 'cold': without any experience or training. Most successful performers have an established history of working part-time in local theatre, in minor film and television roles, and in other venues before being able to support themselves in their chosen career. For every performer who makes a professional career, there are at least one hundred who struggle on for the love of the art. It must cheese these folks off when some non-actor, particularly from the music industry, has millions of dollars worth of promotion lavished on them so they can appear on screen in a 'vehicle' for their career. Why are we not surprised when most of these productions land with a colossal thud? No musicianship, no acting skills... just people looking to turn a fast buck.
  • Yes you can. There are many stories through Hollywood of people almost picked off the street who have gone on to fame and fortune. Ron Howard’s younger brother Clint Howard got selected to play the part of Mark Wedloe in the television show, "Gentle Ben", simply because he was on set of "The Andy Griffith Show" (Ron played the role of Opie Taylor) Of course there are many more stories of people hoping to make it big, but ending up on the boulevard of broken dreams. I'm no expert at all in what makes a successful actor/actress except that their looks, their personality and being in the right place at the right time has made the difference. Many hopeful mothers sent their children to acting school and enroll them in various modeling agencies. The only thing I do note, is the difficult transition between a child actor, to an adult. Kids are always cute, make you laugh or cry and in general are fun to watch. However kids grow up. The Brady bunch, Flipper, The Partridge family, lost in space, the list goes on and on. Some people are just naturals in front of a camera. Shirley Temple is the most successful actor who was a natural. Not only do she learn her own lines, but the lines of other cast members. She basically saved the movie studio she was working for at the time from going under. I hope this has helped answer the question for you.
  • What the director of the play or movie tells you is "training," even though it might not seem so formal. Sometimes people manage to act in plays that they also direct; it's very difficult. You'd have a hard time finding anyone who started out acting in a play he also directed. But if by "formal" you mean sitting in a classroom with lectures, homework, and skits, see the answers above.
  • Hmmm... Can you be a successful brain surgeon with no formal training? Yeah, I suppose. Just do a lot of brain surgery on your own and learn as you go along. The world needs more zombies anyway and you will be producing a lot of them. How about being a plumber with no formal training. Yes, you can be anything! Just learn from your experience. But how about a smarter choice? Find the best teacher you possibly can right now and learn everything relevant they can teach you. That's how you get better. Your goal should be to improve, get better, do it better than you did it before. Learning from excellent teachers (make sure they are!) is a short-cut to making your dreams come true.
  • Hmmm... Can you be a successful brain surgeon with no formal training? Yeah, I suppose. Just do a lot of brain surgery on your own and learn as you go along. The world needs more zombies anyway and you will be producing a lot of them. How about being a plumber with no formal training. Yes, you can be anything! Just learn from your experience. But how about a smarter choice? Find the best teacher you possibly can right now and learn everything relevant they can teach you. That's how you get better. Your goal should be to improve, get better, do it better than you did it before. Learning from excellent teachers (make sure they are!) is a short-cut to making your dreams come true.

Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC

Answerbag | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy