22 replies to this topic

[jaquie_farmer]

Okay so all my life I've wanted to be an actress. Now I'm in this chair and it seems my dreams have been put on hold. If any of you had read my posts, you know that I more than likely won't be in the chair forever. But I think it would be super cool to start an acting career from a chair. Any ideas on how to make this happen?

[Ches]

Would probably need to detach yourself from the internet first thing.

[Beautiful]

EXCITING! Something you should know, modeling & acting usually go together. An agency sometimes won't want you if you can do one, but not the other.

A couple of years ago I auditioned for a fashion show, thinking I wouldn't be picked because of the wheelchair. But I was actually chosen and I was super excited. I got to model in the fashion show, and the person who put together the show actually was an agent. I didn't really think it was something I wanted to pursue, so I just forgot about it. She hosted another fashion show, and I auditioned again, and got to be a part of it. She gave me her card, and I decided it would just be fun to see what the industry was all about. I originally was interested in modeling, but honestly, you make so much more if you act. So I went down and they asked if I would act out a scene, and I did. They were pretty pleased, and I became a part of their agency. I took a couple acting classes with one of the biggest casting agents of the pacific NW & I looooved it! They were 9 hour days, but so worth it. I learned a lot about the business and what to except, what to do during auditions, how to do a resume, etc. I kind of put the whole thing on hold though, because I'm trying to focus on my future and college.

But when I auditioned for the fashion show the first time, there was pageants a group of pageant title holders there, and I thought it would be fun to do one. I've done a handful of them now & I've won some titles. A lot of times when you do a pageant, the judges or pageant coordinators will kind of have an "in", and they can make referrals or something. Also, some have optionals. Thats where they have things that the contestant can do, but it doesn't count toward the title. One optional is usually acting.

It definitely is a hard business, but you're determined. If you have any other questions, you can ask. I might not have all the answers, but I can try

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

I have a couple friends here in california, who both model and act. Teal and Briana, have had quite a few gig's over the years...Mind you they both live in the LA/Hollywood area as well though...If you wanted to move to So-Cal, i'm sure you would do very well!

[jaquie_farmer]

ches - (insert sarcastic/bitchy come back here)
i am flattered though that you took the time just to be a smartass towards me.

bre - ugh you are such a God sent angel. i want to know EVERYTHING. =]

santa cruz - i would LOVE to move to cali and have plans to visit. ill look you up for some help ;]

Edited by jaquie_farmer, 14 March 2009 - 02:25 PM.

[greybeard]

Ches, on Mar 14 2009, 07:46 AM, said:

Would probably need to detach yourself from the internet first thing.

Hi Ches,
I thought that would be far too subtle, but it seems to have found it's mark

[itsjustme]

Hi J.F.

Have you heard of Daryl Mitchell?

"Mitchell was paralyzed from the waist down in a November 2001 motorcycle accident. After the accident, he appeared on the TV program Ed between 2002 and 2004 as a bowling alley manager who was paralyzed after an accident not unlike Mitchell's own. He later started the Daryl Mitchell Foundation to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and serves as the Minority Outreach spokesperson for the Christopher Reeve Foundation" I don't think that he has done any acting since. Just watching TV you can see that there's not much demand for "handi-capable" people however...

Do you have any community theaters in or near your hometown? That would be a great way to get started. Start auditioning locally and watch the newpaper for casting calls in larger cities that you might be close enough to travel back and forth. Just be persistant and have fun!

[jaquie_farmer]

itsjustme, on Mar 14 2009, 10:12 AM, said:

Hi J.F.

Have you heard of Daryl Mitchell?

"Mitchell was paralyzed from the waist down in a November 2001 motorcycle accident. After the accident, he appeared on the TV program Ed between 2002 and 2004 as a bowling alley manager who was paralyzed after an accident not unlike Mitchell's own. He later started the Daryl Mitchell Foundation to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and serves as the Minority Outreach spokesperson for the Christopher Reeve Foundation" I don't think that he has done any acting since. Just watching TV you can see that there's not much demand for "handi-capable" people however...

Do you have any community theaters in or near your hometown? That would be a great way to get started. Start auditioning locally and watch the newpaper for casting calls in larger cities that you might be close enough to travel back and forth. Just be persistant and have fun!

Thank you so much. I will def do that. =]

[acidtwix]

I have an underground photo studio if anybody is interested.

we're up to a 2 megapixel camera now!!!

[twisted_ophelia]

I have an agent, am represented by a regular principal agent, not one who specializes in people with disabilities or anything like that. I am the only one who is not able-bodied on their roster. I was very recently approached by them when I was with a friend of mine at the agency (which also represents her) and agreed to give it a go with them. Acting or modelling wasn't something I ever planned on doing, it just sort of fell into my lap and I thought it might be amusing to try my hand at it. To me, it's totally fun and games.

Move to L.A. if you are serious and pound the pavement trying to get jobs like everyone else out there. I know quite a few people in the music/entertainment business because my ex husband works in the music industry and let me tell you, it's NOT easy. It's very hard work that takes serious time and effort on your part, not just sitting around looking pretty. And sadly enough, a lot of agents would not even look twice at someone in a chair. The majority of the time you see a role involving someone in a chair ie. on that show Joan of Arcadia, Friday Night Lights, etc., they use able-bodied actors which I think is bullshit.

Somehow I have a feeling you're not exactly serious about it though.

[jaquie_farmer]

twisted_ophelia, on Mar 14 2009, 12:08 PM, said:

Somehow I have a feeling you're not exactly serious about it though.

of course you do. but either way i am serious about it.

i can't/won't just up and move to LA. i have higher priorities like getting my education to fall back on. i obviously know Ga isn't the ideal place for starting such a career, which is why i asked if anyone had any other ideas.

but thanks, i guess.

[Beautiful]

Yesss, theater is great. It really helps you how to learn your voice, and its just an overall fun experience. A lot of people have been discovered that way.

[acidtwix]

i used to model part time for calvin klein...

[jaquie_farmer]

acidtwix, on Mar 14 2009, 03:26 PM, said:

i used to model part time for calvin klein...

oh really?? cool beans.

[acidtwix]

jaquie_farmer, on Mar 14 2009, 08:30 PM, said:

acidtwix, on Mar 14 2009, 03:26 PM, said:

i used to model part time for calvin klein...

oh really?? cool beans.

Yeah, i had to quit when the photographer told me to get out of the background of the pictures he was taking.. then the cops had to escort me out..

plus they didn't have good benefits.

[jaquie_farmer]

acidtwix, on Mar 14 2009, 06:26 PM, said:

jaquie_farmer, on Mar 14 2009, 08:30 PM, said:

acidtwix, on Mar 14 2009, 03:26 PM, said:

i used to model part time for calvin klein...

oh really?? cool beans.

Yeah, i had to quit when the photographer told me to get out of the background of the pictures he was taking.. then the cops had to escort me out..

plus they didn't have good benefits.

funny.

[StellaLAtella]

acidtwix, is it true what they say about the "casting couch"?
~Stella

[nomis]

If you're the right person in the right place at the right time you might fluke one of those rare opportunities.
But most actors work to get to where they are. Many nowadays start in tv work as journalists or production and gradually move up, maybe getting a soap drama walk/wheel-on part leading to other opportunities.
What are you prepared to do to make it happen?

[qbounce]

Alot of people get in TV and film as extras first. Check out "CENTRAL CASTING." They're always looking for different people with unique looks to use as back ground characters. Then who knows, maybe you'll be spoted and moved to the forground.

[jules]

I've got an agent and do some modelling from time to time, as an extra to my "normal job" as a Scientist. I've done photographic work and catwalk (runway) shows. I always enjoy it, and the pay is good too!!

My agent in the UK specialises in disabled models and actors and is very successful.

So my advice is go for it, you haven't got anything to lose.

Jules
x

[Travelling Blackbird]

Jaquie, it is of course possible to have a career as an actor and be a wheelchair user, just as it is possible to have a career as an actor and be hearing impaired (Marlee Matlin), a little person (Warwick Davis), or vision impaired (Esmond Knight), or have a speech impediment (Nicholas Brandon). However, it makes it tougher to succeed, harder to be considered, and is unlikely to bring exactly the roles and career most people dream of when they enter into an acting career.

First and foremost, to become an actor, you need to start learning your trade, which can be broken down into four parts:

-learning to act (learning to memorize and deliver lines, learning to emote, learning to show without speaking, learning to sing at least the basic scales, and learning to use the full range of your available movement);
-learning to advertise yourself;
-learning to follow (learning to take instruction without question, and to take harsh criticism and mean comments);
-learning to work harder than you ever have and still look great (learning to get up at 5 am despite having stayed up till 1 am; learning to repeat the same action and line over and over no matter how late it gets; learning to go to audition after audition without a break; etc.).

If you really want to be an actor, you need to treat it very seriously and pursue it absolutely.

What can you do?

Take acting classes, either at your local city college, or privately.
Join a theater group in whatever capacity you can, and be prepared to learn and show what you can do.
Take a voice training class of some kind.
Get a portfolio of photos showing a range of possibilities: not just glamor shots, but some grittier shots too.
Go to casting calls for extras.
Make a serious short film with other actors showcasing what you can do.
Talk to an agent, and get an agent who'll send you out for modelling and acting/extras jobs.

Act, act and act.

If you're not serious about it, don't pursue it. Acting is a really tough job, and you need to be tough to handle it. It's not something that you can get into as a career without giving it your all.

Regarding some things others have said:

Ches said that for a start, you'd need to detach yourself from the Internet, and you interpreted that as a smart ass remark, but there's a lot of truth in that. I have five friends who are actors (two in the UK, two in Los Angeles, one in Germany) and several who are professional musicians (here in Germany), and one who's a director (out in LA), and they are very, very careful about what they allow to be online. You have to edit your personality and control your image. You might not take me seriously, but this kind of thing still counts. If they want you for a family show/movie/short, they don't want to find out that you've done something that their audience might consider inappropriate.

Twisted Ophelia questioned how serious you are: get used to that, because she's right. Either this is your big dream, or it's a hobby, and if it's your big dream, get used to people questioning you and criticizing you, and undermining you. I saw that all the time when I lived in the US.

Finally, from me: realize that if you are an actor and wheelchair user, that's going to mean that you're the wheelchair-using actor. Outside of fringe theater and off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway, no-one's going to cast you blind or ask the audience pretend that you're not a wheelchair user. You will need to accept and embrace that, rather than railing against it, and use it.

[Abdifatah28]

I do theatre work and im part of a casting site callled starnow.com check it out many great opportunities there

[Oldsparkie]

Here in Australia right now there is a local TV production which runs to six episodes called The Cut. The office secretary is a young para girl and what makes me angry is that the part is played by a young AB Actress. Whilst she does a credible job as a para she clearly isn't, surely within this great wide land there would have been a genuine para actress that could have played the part and got some employment.

I really admire any challenged person looking at a stage career but I am afraid it is a very conservative industry who finds it hard to look at reality.

So go for it Jaquie and good luck.