Quote:
Originally Posted by zenor77
I tried to break into "the business" when I was in my early 20's. Agents, casting directors, etc. all have an unhealthy and unrealistic view of weight. At least that was the case 10 years ago. Quite honestly, I think it's gotten worse.
Find another agent if you can. One who understands what a healthy weight is.
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"all have an unhealthy and unrealistic view of weight." I don't think this is true. I mean I know there are probably some who do but most agents and acting teachers will be brutally honest with you because that is what their job is. They have to be because the competition is FIERCE for the good (and paying) acting roles.
If you are 20 something and you want to break into acting (especially LA or NY) and you are 20 pounds over weight you don't stand a chance unless you are a character actor or something.
An agent ... well LOL! agents are another ball game...
an agent gets 10-15% of what you make. They get a cut of it and if you are talented but over weight they will tell you what you need to know to make you more marketable so they can make their money! A good agent is always a little cut throat! you want that in an agent! LOL!
But most acting teachers, the good ones anyway think of their students as their "little babies"
They tell you what you don't wanna hear, thats their job in addition to teaching you to act.
And telling someone to just drop their agent and go find another tells me that you don't know how hard it is to find an agent (a good one) in the first place.
You don't just "drop" your agent! LOL! First off most know each other in their areas and if you drop one the others won't touch you because they want actors who are reliable. Agents don't chase after actors (unless you are A list) it's the other way around!
I know know people who have Master degrees and tons of experience in Theatre and move to New York and spend YEARS trying to get just a C list agent. It is the same way in smaller towns but to a lesser degree because the parts are smaller or more local.
If an Agent told me to lose that much weight in that amount of time i would just nod my head and say "OK Yes I will" and then just do it at my own time and every time they brought it up I would just say "I am working on it!"
Because you definitely don't wanna PO your agent they have 20 other actors who will kiss their feet to get the job you want.
It's a VERY brutal business most people have no idea how much!
I am SO glad that I have kinda steered towards music it is so much more less nerve wracking! LOL!