Are you an aspiring actor? Do you have a love for different characters and people? But you have never been told where to start? I am here to help. As once a child actress and acting coach for people all around the world, I have learned the ins and outs of the industry and know what is needed to put your best foot forward into this crazy industry.

Acting Lessons

Acting, like any other craft, you must dedicate a part of yourself to your training. Just like you want to be in a movie, athletes want to be in the NFL. It takes dedication and time. First you must know it doesn’t happen over night or in a few months. There are many acting coaches in Texas and even over zoom. They can be pretty pricey, so you have to try to find something in your pricing range that is beneficial to you. You’re training also must be for film, as much as your local theatre helps you learn, it isn’t the same as on camera acting. You must learns tips and techniques for how to act on camera.

Headshots

Having a professional headshot can make all the difference in your submissions to auditions and for open calls at agencies.  They are your number one marketing tool to put your best face forward for exposure. It is important to find a photographer that focuses primarily on acting and modeling headshots as there are certain looks casting directors except. A great Texas headshot photographer is Shea Anne Studios. Shea was a model for Ford Models for many years before switching to behind the camera.

For more information visit, https://sheaannestudios.com/.

Agency

Once you have your headshots and began your acting lessons, you can began seeking representation. Having an agent allows for them to submit you for projects to casting directors. Usually agencies will have open calls to come in with your headshot resume. They will typically give you slides to try with a reader since you are still a beginner and don’t have enough footage for a reel. Make sure to come in dressed like your headshot or similar, you want them to see what you would be like walking in an audition. Be comfortable and go with the flow and be open to new ideas. Try not come in with a fixed idea or outcome, be flexible. That is how majority of auditions will be.  Yes be professional and have questions but also remain true to yourself. You want an agent that knows you and will advocate for who you are and the roles you want.

Self Submission

Whilst seeking representation, you can get started on those auditions through self submission. There are many sites that allow you to submit for different projects in your area. The main ones for Texas is Casting Networks and Actors Access. These are great sites to began your journey as a new actor. Try submitting for roles you could see yourself in. A great way to figure out your cast type is finding actors who are similar to you (either look or vibe) and research their work. Try to become familiar with recent shows and commercials. Think about how you would try to do the role. I know you probably won’t hear this in any other profession but go watch more television. It is important to watch shows outside of your basic go-to or niche genre. You will began to understand the differentiating tone some shows expect. For example, The CW Network one hour drama vs a HBO one hour drama or learning differences of single cam vs multi-cam comedy. This will help you know how to dress for your audition and the tone of the show. So for example, the CW uses lots of greens and dark colors in their wardrobe. The acting is very intense and mysterious. While on the other hand, A CBS multi-cam comedy is going to have pastel sets and wardrobe with high energy fast paced acting. These are all things new actors will slowly began to realize and understand where they fit in that puzzle or what they can bring to their roles.

Have Fun!

The most important part of this career is to have fun! We cannot take ourselves too seriously as actors. It is our job to explore and understand human connection. It is so easily to get lost and try to mold yourself to what you can see on TV, but these are only tools of inspiration. Your creativity and art is what matters. Remind yourself that we are on a floating rock every time you enter that audition room. My favorite thing is to always have something fun planned after my audition. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that this isn’t the only thing. That I am doing this to experience life. You will find yourself less drained and also beating yourself down. This industry is full of rejection so don’t reject yourself. Let yourself fail in those auditions, let yourself explore scary characters, and remind yourself of your worth.

San Marcos is home for many indigenous fish and animals. Yet, there are other animals here that wouldn’t benefit the same from the beautiful rivers and infrastructure. Many people would like to argue cats can be an indoor and outdoor animal to allow their hunting instincts to be fulfilled. Some do not realize that these animals have been bread for our needs and can no longer happily live full lives outdoors in the world we’ve created. Outdoor cats are actually viewed detrimental to the ecosystem and global biodiversity. While there are working cat programs that will benefit pest control on farms this still brings my attention back to the limit lifespan these babies could have.

During my junior year attending Texas State, I lived in a suburbs of San Marcos Texas. It was actually only two minutes away from San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter. In that time I had seen more strays than I have encountered in any city or metroplex. Most of which were all not neutered or spayed, and many were friendly enough for petting, love and even a home. In a five month time span, I had rescued over six cats from just my single block.

Lucky was one of the first cats we rescued. I was walking my friend to her car around 9pm one fall night, when we heard a cat crying in the storm drain. I thought it might have been one of the older strays we feed in need of medical attention. I put my flashlight down there to find only a three week old kitten searching for his mom.  After trying to feed him by tossing food down the drain while he was fending off other strays, I told him I’d be back for him in the morning. There he was. Waiting for my return, knowing he found the right person; still crying for help, a meal and a good hug. I called the shelter to see if they could help rescue him. They explain they have no jurisdiction to go underground and that they had already had many reports in our neighborhood a few nights ago from other people blocks away. He had journeyed all the way to the other side of his neighborhood searching and crying for his mom and siblings. They said “you are just going to let him find his mom”. This was heart breaking. The odds for this cat were all against him. I decided to take things into my own hands with no prior rescue knowledge. I called the fire department and they explain they need the animal control to call them to approve. Which I found upsetting because the animal control said they could do nothing when in reality they could have. I told the nice correspondent the lack of care for this animal and that we would claim it as our own if they help us. She kindly sent a team over to me. Five firefighters and I got flashlights ladders and many different tools to go down and grab this baby.

Lucky is now almost one year old. He inspired a huge part of my heart to rescue animals. It was here, I realized that our shelters only have so many resources to help. Especially with the  surge of cats in San Marcos. It is our job as a community to help if we want to see change. Yet, what is the issue? Well after finding lucky, I began going on walks around my neighborhood to check out how many cats really are here. It was then I found a house with over six cats hanging outside, without neutering, flea medicine or vaccinations.  This was my second accidental rescue. Koda decided to follow me home that day all the way down the block. One of the neighbor of the cat house said, “yeah you can take those cats, the lady won’t mind”. I picked him up scared of him getting hit by a car. Instantly he cuddled on me knowing he’s about to be with his new mom, my bestfriend Dani. After taking him to vet we found out he had worms and was very skinny from eating a flea. We got him neutered and all in good health.

Koda gave me so much insight into what was happening in my neighborhood. A month later I grabbed two more cats from this house, just before the winter storm with the owners knowledge and acceptance. At first, I was nervous this lady, who’s identity I will protect, was going to be mad for taking her cats but it was here I found out she has many more inside. She loves cats and she is constantly having litters of them which makes her have to put many outside. I understand her love for these animals. Every single cat from her house was loving. Yet, many of them that were outside that I was not able to rescue would be seen in the neighborhood with injuries, sickness and pregnant way too early for them to have a healthy pregnancy.

While yes, the issue can start there, other neighbors in Blanco Gardens didn’t like the mass amounts of cats in the street. Along my cat rescue journey, I met Sarah. A women who has sustained many brain surgeries and lives on disability making it her soul purpose to help San Marcos cats. She has seen so many cats in our neighborhood shot with bebe guns, hit by cars and severely mistreated. This extended my fear for these babies. The issue isn’t just that animal control lacks resources. The issue isn’t just people’s lack of pet knowledge. The issue is constant. The issue is a community issue. These cats have many odds against them. I think while yes, this is a temporary home for many college students, it is also becoming a temporary home for way too many cats. We love San Marcos and our river. I think it’s important to extend our care for these little guys we see on every block. Next time you see a black cat cross your car, don’t be superstitious. Instead remind yourself of Lucky; a cat still crying for help, a meal and a good hug.