Many actors who train and have worked in London choose to try and make it in Hollywood and are drawn to the bright lights glitz and glamour that comes with the “image” of Hollywood the truth is it is all smoke and mirrors and that is possibly the best kept secret in Hollywood as most eager young actors find out when they get there and stopped in their tracks by cold harsh reality of a massive vast city full of talented actors all waiting to be the next big thing.
One of the best ways to get into acting is to train and then train some more, this way you will find out if you really want to be an actor and can handle the demanding schedules and grueling determination it actually takes to get into this wonderful career and there you will get advice and help you need for the next steps immediately after drama school, for example getting an agent and showreel together and a glowing CV/resume and fantastic headshots, all the tools an actor needs to start out which is generally universal.
Hollywood differs in some ways to acting in the UK from the start as like mentioned before it really is all smoke and mirrors right down to your headshots. Your UK headshots have very strict guidelines they must be natural, for females this means you must appear to have little or no makeup on and for both men and women you must be straight on to the camera with a solemn expressions not smiling or frowning and must absolutely be a true likeness to yourself also shot in black and white.
\n\nFor Hollywood style headshots your pictures can be bright bold and colorful and women can wear as much make up as the feel they need and shots can have as much “airbrushing” as you like in order to show your true Hollywood style and big glamorous Californian smiles are a must.
Hollywood headshots can be shot from any sort of angle that makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd and often all the editing can resulting in a completely different looking person walking in to audition.
Acting in Los Angeles/Hollywood is harder for British citizens because in order to do any professional assignments you need to be eligible to work in the country by obtaining your O1 acting visa or green card.
In order to get a hold of your O1 visa you must first prove you are of exceptional talent in your chosen field of work in this case it is acting, have someone willing to sponsor you like a manager or production company and give hard evidence such as articles and press of the work you have been involved in legally anywhere in the world all count towards your O1 application. Once you gain your O1 visa which normally allows you to work in the United States for three years you can then go on to apply for your green card which allows up to ten years working in the US. If you then decide you absolutely love acting in Hollywood or you get great work opportunities you may then apply for residency.
If you decide you are ready to make the move to Los Angeles and are ready to basically start your acting career over again in a new city and start a new life in Hollywood making new friends and building your contacts from the beginning you must either be able to drive and have your UK license or be willing to learn to drive in California once you have your O1 visa or green card as your car will be one of your biggest tools in the business as unlike London, Los Angeles has a limited public transport operation and you will miss the London underground and bus system a lot believe it or not.
Whilst driving in LA you must pay extra attention to road signs as some streets in LA are right turn only and you will be fined for turning left or going straight ahead but only at certain times so until you know the roads well, be extra cautious as the cops are ruthless and very different from in London.
\n\nIn Los Angeles actors attend casting director workshops to be seen by all the biggest casting directors in television and movies which does not seem to be the case in London. These workshops are run by a few companies who take a fee of usually around forty dollars and this involves doing a reading for the casting director on the day and cutting out the agent middle man giving more opportunity for the actor to find work for themselves.
The casting director may or may not be actively casting for a show or movie at the time but it is a great way to get your face known on the circuit and in the casting directors memory so the more you are seen the more likely they are to remember you the next time and cast you in any upcoming projects. It’s not what you know it’s who you know as the saying goes so it is in your best interest to get friendly and on a first name basis with your favorite casting director or the ones who cast the shows you would like to be in.
Be sure to take up on networking oppourtunitys and of course follow them up as no one will chase you everything needs to be pursued as persistance really is the key, Los Angeles is a big unfriendly place like London you must be causious of the people you meet but the difference is actors in London will let you know they dont want to help and actors in LA will be very friendly and full of false promises with a sunny front but this is not the case for all people just use your intutition.
