KENNY MORSE'S (SFA '73)
"B.U. GRADUATE & ALUMNI HOLLYWOOD 101"

GETTING STARTED

The very first thing you need to do before you attempt to be in any business, is be organized...in your mind, in real life.

ACTING IS A BUSINESS.  It is not called "Show ART" its show "BUSINESS" and if you don’t approach your career as one, then you will be wondering why the people who you think are WAY less talented than you, are doing far better than you, because they did.  Try to always remember that your talent will only get its shot with opportunity, and 99% of the time, you have to create that opportunity.  If you sit waiting by the phone for someone to call you because you are fantastic, you will be waiting a long time!!  You hear the word "LUCK" used a lot. Here is the definition of LUCK:
Main Entry: luck
Pronunciation: 'luk
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English lucke, from Middle Dutch luc; akin to Middle High German gelucke luck
Date: 15th century
1 a : a force that brings good fortune or adversity b : the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual
2 : favoring chance; also : SUCCESS luckless 

This is bull. Luck is: WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS PREPARATION

Lets start with setting up a space in your living quarters where you can get organized.  It is IMPORTANT that your have such a space that can be devoted to your career, your business.  It should be comfortable, well lit, good ventilation, and a space that you can transform into a positive working environment. 

Here are some of the tools you will need in your "Office":

a.       Personal Stationary (with your name printed)

b.      Mailing labels printed or a rubber stamp with your address

c.       Stamps

d.      High Light Pens

e.      Red Pens

f.        Paper clips

g.      Post-it notes

h.      Stapler

i.        Scotch Tape

j.        File Cabinet & Folders

k.       Business Cards

l.        Card file

 AND, PROBABLY THE MOST USEFUL THING...A COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS!!!

THE 3x5 CARD FILE

One of the smartest things you will do as an actor is be prepared when you go to meet the person who you want something from...in this case, the Casting Directors, Agents, Managers, Producers, Directors or whomever is a potential helper to your goals.  Keeping a CARD on them is the organized way to do this (you may wish to enter the info if you are writing it, in pencil as info can change often).

 CONTENTS OF CARD:

1. Their name, address, phone/fax number and e-mail.
2. Their credits.
3. If they have an associate, their name (and their Background if known)
4. Their assistant’s name (and their background if known)

 PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION

1. Information about them personally that you learned by meeting them, seeing their office, their interests.  FOR EXAMPLE...If you know how to ride a horse, you have something in common with the casting director who OWNS a horse, and you saw the picture of their horse on their wall.
2. Your observation about their preferences in READINGS...books, music, know a little something about them as a PERSON. This helps you see them as the humans they are, and not just someone who can help YOU.  THEY want to be treated as you do...and talking with them about THEIR interests helps relax both of you and humanize YOU. THAT'S ultimately what they want to see...you as a human who can act in the special way they are looking for.  Also...when you see a movie or a play, did you note WHO CAST/PRODUCED/DIRECTED it...so you can potentially discuss it?

 CONTACT HISTORY:

1. The date of each interview
2. The project you read for
3. Was the contact in person/phone/e-mail
4. Brief notes about what happened
5. Photo submitted (which one)
6. Was it a showcase...if so what scene did you do and with whom
7. How did it go
8. What was the feedback
9. Was it a general interview or specific audition
10. Did you send a THANK YOU NOTE?

RESOURCES TO START LOOKING FOR WORK 

One of the things that you will find plenty of...are resources to help you find work as an actor.  SAMUEL FRENCH BOOKSTORE is a great place to find everything under one roof...or online.

Samuel French, Inc. 
7623 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90046 
Phone (323) 876-0570 
Fax (323) 876-6822 

Samuel French, Inc.
11963 Ventura Blvd. Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 762-0535
http://www.samuelfrench.com/bookshop.htm

OTHER ACTORS RESOURCES:

Los Angeles - Hollywood - West Hollywood

Studio City / Van Nuys / Burbank /North Hollywood
Kinkos 21816 Victory Blvd. Woodland Hills
Kinkos 4100 Riverside Drive Burbank
Ray the Retoucher, 12345 Ventura Blvd. Studio City
Grand Prints 6143 Laurelgrove Ave. North Hollywood
Final Print, Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood

Anderson Graphics 6037 Woodman Avenue Van Nuys

Beverly Hills/ Westside / Santa Monica
Kinkos  9334 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills,
Final Print, 2050 S. Bundy Drive Santa Monica
Take One 11516 Santa Monica Blvd. 2nd Floor Santa Monica

THE UNIONS: (WHERE YOU CAN GET A LIST OF FRANCHISED AGENTS, PRODUCTION COMPANIES AND THEIR SHOWS/MOVIES)

AFTRA http://www.aftra.org/la/
Los Angeles Office
5757 Wilshire Boulevard, 9th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036-3689
Tel: (323) 634-8100
Fax: (323) 634-8246

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD  http://www.sag.org/  
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036-3600
(323) 954-1600
Fax (323) 549-6603

ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION http://www.actorsequity.org/home.html  
Museum Square
5757 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite One
Los Angeles, California 90036  
323.634.1750   
323.634.1777   fax  
323.634.8980   Pension and Health  

VALUABLE ONLINE RESOURCES:

START HERE WITH 
CRAIG'S LIST  http://losangeles.craigslist.org/

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER  http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hollywoodreporter/index.jsp

http://www.variety.com/

http://backstagewest.com/backstage/index.jsp

 
http://backstage.com/backstage/rossreports/index.jsp

A MUST FOR ANY ACTOR TO HAVE IN THEIR CAR!!

OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES:

  http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/state.asp?state=CA

.com  http://www.showbizjobs.com/dsp_jobsearch.cfm

  https://www.nowcasting.com/ncnotices.php

  http://www.showbizmonster.com/sbj.html

 HOLLYWOOD CREATIVE DIRECTORY

http://www.hcdonline.com/

SETTING GOALS 

Approaching any business is a matter of setting goals and finding a way to achieve them.   It is ok to not achieve a goal...it is not ok to not set them!!

1. Make a list of 6 goals to achieve over the next three months. Be realistic.
2. Make at least THREE (3) contacts each week that would be productive in moving you forward.

This was just a beginning of the steps on the long road of your career and your life in Show Business.

Try to remember these ideas no matter what:  

>THERE ARE NO FAILURES IN SHOW BUSINESS, JUST PEOPLE WHO GAVE UP

>TREAT OTHER PEOPLE AS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED

>WORK HARD...JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE SUCH A WONDERFUL AND TALENTED PERSON...IT AIN'T GONNA COME TO YOU!!!

>LEARN YOUR CRAFT. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! STUDY STUDY STUDY. (YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE WITH THAT? THE BIGGEST STARS IN THE BUSINESS CONTINUE TO STUDY)

>REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING YOU DO IS A CHOICE...NOTHING...NOTHING...IS FORCED ON YOU. YOU CREATE YOUR HAPPINESS OR MISERY...NOT THE WORLD...NOT THE BUSINESS.  MAKING GOOD CHOICES IS WHAT YOUR LIFE IS REALLY ALL ABOUT. THE ONLY MISTAKES THAT ARE "BAD" ARE THE ONES THAT HURT YOU AND OTHERS IN AN IRREPARABLE WAY.

>TRY TO BE "HEALTHY" WHICH MEANS.........TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY/MIND/INSTRUMENT.   If you smoke cigarettes.......STOP IT! It is a sign to anyone with brains, that you have health and self-esteem/addiction "issues" and in a business.......WHO NEEDS THAT??  Don't ever walk into an audition after you smoked a cigarette to calm yourself.....the stink will turn off even a casting director who smokes. California is the most anti-smoking state in America, and you can turn an opportunity for a great job, into a loss cause someone in the room doesn't wanna work with the smell, no matter how talented you are.  Anyone can get addiction to stuff.  Ask yourself, "why do I deserve to hurt myself with a damaging drug?" and then give yourself the gift of quitting before its too late or too hard.

THE DEFINITION OF “INSANITY” :

Main Entry: in.san.i.ty

Pronunciation: in-'sa-ni-tE

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural "-ties"

Date: 1590

1 a : a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia) and usually excluding such states as mental retardation, psychoneurosis, and various character disorders 
b : a mental disorder

2 : such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility

3 a : extreme folly or unreasonableness 
b : something utterly foolish or unreasonable

NO...

INSANITY IS...YOU DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND YOU EXPECT A DIFFERENT RESULT!!

FINALLY.........

Use your B.U. Contacts. In this business.....you need a leg up if you can get it, and if you know of an alumnus who is here in LA and can be of assistance........LET THEM HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP YOU.

There are no overnight successes. I know you all want it yesterday, but the truth is......if the ball was thrown in your court yesterday, you might not have been ready. A career is a marathon, not a sprint.

Have a good "PLAN B" in place. Get a job that can pay for classes and a lifestyle that will keep you feeling good about your choices.  Nothing demoralizes an artist more than money problems.

Try to also remember that there is NO ONE LIKE YOU.  Reject the concept of "Competition"....it will only limit you and stop you.  Go be the best actor you can be, but more importantly, go be the best person you can be, and that will make you a better actor.

This was hardly all you need to know.....just some great advice from someone who would love to see you succeed.  Now its up to you to make the most of it.

I wish you all the best........I invite you all to visit my website, check out MY journey from B.U. to today, and contact me if I can help.

Kenny Morse

kennymorsela@aol.com

www.kennymorse.com