EDUCATE YOURSELF FIRST! (READ those books listed below)
Here's a Cliffsnotes version of what you need to do:
1.GET TRAINING!
Definitely take classes in:
-Cold Reading/Auditioning
-Improv
-Scene study
-Commercials
List of the best classes in LA here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AipoAi86mqLUy76e6Lm8np_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091024102446AAYhxqm&show=7#profile-info-g7px8S9raa 2. Get GREAT headshots
Here's is a good place to start:
http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/110106342 3. Build Your Resume and Reel Doing Student films and Indie Films
In LA, you can find jobs on your own through:
-ActorsAccess.com (Best for film/tv)
-LACasting.com (Best for commercials)
-Nowcasting.com (Best for student/indie films)
4. Get an Agent
Start by reading this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AipoAi86mqLUy76e6Lm8np_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091024102446AAYhxqm&show=7#profile-info-g7px8S9raa These books will help you learn the business side and guide you to the training that works best for you.
READ (check your libraries and bookstores):
Acting business:
-Acting is Everything: Gold Edition-Judy Kerr
-How to Be a Working Actor-Mari Lyn Henry and Lynne Rogers
-Self Management for Actors-Bonnie Gillespie
-How to Get Arrested-J. Wallach Michael and Paul Thurwachter
-An Agent Tells All-Tony Martinez
-One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor's Survival Guide-Markus Flanagan
-So You Want to Be in Showbusiness?- Steve R. Stevens
-Acting Truths and Lies (purchased at www.info4actors.com)
Acting:
-Book the Job-Doug Warhit
-Intent to Live-Larry Moss
-Acting for the Camera-Tony Barr
-Acting in Film-Michael Caine
-Acting Class: Take a Seat-Milton Katselas
Method Acting:
-Art of Acting-Stella Adler
-Sanford Meisner on Acting-Sanford Meisner
-A Dream of Passion-Lee Strasberg
-Actor's Art and Craft-William Esper
-The Power of the Actor-Ivanna Chubbuck
-No Acting Please-Eric Morris
-Respect for Acting-Uta Hagen
-Challenge to the Actor-Uta Hagen
-You Can Act!-D.W. Brown
-Strasberg’s Method-Lorrie Hull
Comedy
-8 Characters of Comedy-Scott Sedita
-The Sitcom Career Book-Mary Lou Belli
Improv
-Anything by Viola Spolin
-Steve Book on Acting: Improv
Auditioning/Cold Reading:
-How to Get the Part Without Falling Apart-Margie Haber
-Audition-Michael Shurtleff
-Secrets to Successful Cold Readings-Glenn Alterman