All right, so I have decided that in order to do this, I need to set some long-term and short-term goals. I don’t know how productive my plan will be, but these are all things I feel I need to do.
So here they are, with some explanations:
SHORT TERM
- Read as many plays as possible this summer and come up with at least two strong, contrasting monologues. This is not as easy as it seems, since I am currently living in a non-anglophone country where it is difficult to find reading material in English. I recently bought a considerable amount of plays, thanks to amazon. Once they arrive, I will start to read them and thus commence my search.
- Reconnect with the craft. My own confidence in my talent has diminished a tad with this current acting hiatus. I will read the books I bought for inspiration, learn from classes, and benefit from private coaching. I will practice my monologues. I will polish and hone my technique.
- Draft a list of schools. I have a general idea of which schools I would like to apply to, all on the east coast and most in the NYC area. There are MFA programs and there are conservatories. I need to figure out the benefits of going to one instead of the other. Which have showcases? Are they frequently attended by industry professionals or do students have to do publicity to get a good turn-out? Are past/current students happy? Will I be prepared to enter the business? Do they offer financial aid or scholarship? So many questions. But I figure, it can’t hurt to apply.
LONG TERM
- Get involved again. I have not tried to break into the theater clique at school (and from what I understand, it really is a clique). But I will try out for shows, audition for classes, and pay special attention to casting calls for student films. In addition, I will try to get involved in theater and film in the area (I go to school in New England).
- Start to put myself “out there.” I desperately need new headshots. So that’s first, along with updating the resume. Next, I should do mailings to casting directors, agents, and managers (mainly in the New England area). I would like to make a little bit of a mark in this region before I head out to a much larger, more unforgiving one.
- Continue to work on audition material. This probably means coaching and classes. Must have four monologues (two classical, two contemporary, contrasting in nature) and one 16-bar song. I have never taken voice classes, so the song will be a challenge.
- Figure out when to graduate. I can graduate either after fall semester or in the more traditional spring. While I receive excellent financial aid from my current college, spending the spring semester there will still cost a pretty penny. By not going, I will save myself and my parents some money. By going, I will buy myself extra time, training, and experience before thrusting myself into the real world. Similarly, I should look into tutoring (various subjects, SATs) and teaching English as a second language over the Internet as possible survival jobs.
- Finalize a list of schools. After some additional training, experience, and research, I will hopefully be able to create an intelligent list of schools.
- Apply. Fill out applications online and collect all relevant material. This includes writing a personal statement as well as getting 1-3 letters of recommendation. Blah. Next, schedule an audition.
- Audition. This probably won’t be pretty, but I bet it will be an exhilarating learning experience. After this step, I will need to pause, reevaluate, and adapt accordingly with a new set of goals.
Posted by mLc 