Acting Q&A With Elly

Elly is an up-and-coming actress from Florida. She has been in the Top Five for Max on UBC on numerous occasions. Her most recent role was in the FSU film 10 and 2. Say hello!

1. Do you have an agent? How did you find one?

Yes, I have an agent, but it's a very rare and fortunate situation I have. My agent came back to live here from LA and decided to open an agency. I'd suggest googling agencies in your area, but be aware that there are scams. Do not ever pay for an agent. They get paid for the jobs they book you (10 to 15% of what you make from the job, typically). Also, if they force you to work with a certain photographer for headshots, that may be a warning sign as well. A good agent will let you take pictures and classes from whomever you want, but will try to help you and steer you in the right direction. Remember, they only make money if you do.

2. How many dancing/singing/acting courses have you taken?

Oh man. I've done dance since I was four. I started with tap and jazz and kind of went all over the place from there, including modern and ballroom. I'm not as proficient in dance as I used to be, but it's a huge plus to be skilled in picking up routines of every kind, as I learned with my last role (I had to learn a band routine in only a few minutes. I think it would've been stressful if I didn't have years of dance behind me). 

I've been singing since I was seven. I've taken with quite a few different teachers, and it's hard to find the perfect teacher for you. I still haven't found one. They have to mesh with your style and not make you do what you don't want to do, you know? Otherwise it won't be enjoyable. 

Acting has been forever as well. I did theater since I was around five or six to middle school. I wish I would've kept it up, but balancing it all with school was very difficult. I got into film early in high school and have been very involved with that since. If you want to see some classes I've taken specifically, my resume is on a blog post on UBC. So, all-in-all, I can't put a number on it. I've had to take parts and classes off my resume because they were less important than new things I was adding. But as I'll explain later on, YOU MUST KEEP TAKING CLASSES. Don't let yourself get rusty. If you can't afford classes, practice by yourself. Find acting exercises, anything.

3. I read somewhere you were in a film. How did you find this kind of job? What were the auditions like?

Yes (soon to be more hopefully)! Look to see if colleges nearby have film schools. That's where to start. They're always in need of actors who will work for free. Especially if you have an Arts Academy or something similar anywhere close. Audition wise, I did it over the internet by recording me doing the sides they sent and sending via yousendit.com, but all auditions are different. You can't ever depend on something to happen or not happen at an audition. Taking improv and audition workshops are a great way to handle this mystery.

4. What tips to you have for a newbie?

Do your research. Don't rely on anyone but yourself to find you jobs. Practice your craft. You never know when an audition will come up. Find classes to take, whether they're with a local theatre group or an acting coach. The fees add up, but to stay on top of it you have to keep practicing. You won't improve any other way. 

Also, watch movies and plays to see how others act. Watch their choices and think about what other choices they could've made instead. Why'd they make these choices instead of anything else? HOWEVER, never base your performance on someone else's. You can get inspired by them, but never imitate. Be yourself because that's what people want to see: something different and fresh, not the celebrity they already know and are sick of. Also, it's taken me years to come to terms with, but know that a lot of getting parts is pure luck. When I was growing up, there were NEVER parts for kids my age. It is all about TIMING and luck if an audition for a character you might fit comes your way. And even then, you're never guaranteed a part until you're on set about to film!

5. Is it better to get a professional headshot or not? I heard some agencies want you to look natural while others want to see you at the best.

You want to look natural AND your best, that's why you go to a professional headshot photographer. It's not like they just pick up a camera and take a picture. Photographers take many classes and some even went to school to do what they do. Most people think a picture is a picture, but it's not that simple. Often times a headshot will finalize a job for you over another actor. Photographers know how to bring out your personality in a photo--its their job. If you want to be serious about acting, you better have good headshots. It's more than important.

KEEP IN MIND: THIS IS NOT EASY. I've been working my butt off for years, finding my own jobs, finding my teachers/agents/etc., and it's just starting to pay off. It takes a lot of time and a lot of dedication. You may say you love it, but your love will not out last the time and money it takes to pursue acting. It's just a fact.