From: Mariar

To: advise@karateangels.com
Subject: Michele

My name is Thierry Rene. I am a 4th degree black belt and an instructor in tae kwon do, interested in getting into acting in martial arts movies. What would be my first step in achieving this goal? Contact me at rene_*******@yahoo.com. Thank you for your cooperation. 

Thierry

You did not mention what town you live in. I can give some general ideas but without knowing your location, specifics are harder. 1st thing is to see if there are any 'camera acting' teachers in your area. In a pinch theatre teachers are good to but then you will have to make adjustments to the acting craft to fit with camera work. Do you know if there are any other M.A. folks in your area who have worked in film before? Some of them may know an instructor plus they can give you some extra skills on how the M.A. folks cheat angles for camera shoots so they look like they are taking punches even when not actually getting struck. To be prepared to be the person who gets beaten up or killed in films at the start. The star has to look good and often when you first start, the new guy gets to take all the falls.

If you can email us back here with your city or even state, I might have some stronger suggestions on where you can turn. Does you state have a Film Commission? Check their web site for info and leads too. Since you have such a strong background you might want to back door the way in by offering to Intern for some Key Stunt people. They will work you hard but if you prove your worth they will help train you more and might know where a good acting instructor is who can help you with some of those skills. If you only want to play the 'hench' men and side kicks you won't need lots of acting training but if you want to work up to bigger parts it would be your best bet.

Please get back to me with your general location!

Michele
for Karate Angels

From: misty

To: advise@karateangels.com
Cc: shelly_***
Subject: Michele

Hey Michele, 

I'm a 16 year old girl and I think I want to start acting, I have a background in martial arts. I've been doing Taekwondo for 3 years know I go to tournaments all the time. I want to start gymnastics so I can get better at what i do because i really want to be the best at taekwondo and I have a great passion for it so I want to take it as far as i can. I want to give 100% at it and I think if I'm doing a film about taekwondo or any other martial arts film I could really do good at it. 

Thanks, 
Shelly C** 

Hey michele, 

It's Shelly again I just want to know if you think I would be good at acting and if you think I would how can I get into acting?
Thank you 

Shelly,

No one can tell if you would be good until you do act in front of them. There is no way to tell from emails or even just sitting and chatting for a few minutes. Since you are in school, go check in with the teacher who guides drama club and handles the theatre shows. That way you can get some of the basics in place while you are getting your education. Once you are out of school or get a little in school training under your belt you will be better prepared to work with a camera acting coach.

Like my previous email, a general location would be a big help. Because you are a minor, please only give us a state and not a city! If you send the city name I will make sure it is not included when I reply on the message boards. I am very protective about anyone under 18!

By the way, keep up the gymnastics too. That is another way to get in with stunt people because they hire people from that field for certain types of stunts. Just like the hire people who were 'high divers' to train to jump off of buildings, they hire people who do gymnastics for certain stunts and people from M.A. for other stunts. The more you do, the easier it will be for them to hire you. 

Michele
for Karate Angels

From: Bernard G
To: advise@karateangels.com
Subject: Michele

Hello Michele... 

I do hope you remember me,my name is Nik Gran***. I lived in Wilmington for awhile and worked with you on Empire Records also you provided me with plenty of work around that time. I have been back home in New York for years and have been working as a stagehand. The reason I am writing is because around a year or more I saw Amy ******* in the Village and we exchanged numbers,I however lost hers. Are you still in contact with her? If so will you please give her my e-mail. Thank You I hope all is well and how is your singing coming along.. Best of everything to you as God continues to Love you always.... Nik

Nik

So glad to hear from you and so very happy to know you are still working the industry. I have not spoken to Amy in ages. Many of those I have worked with have moved and alas, I seldom know where they are until they pop up in a movie or on a set! One former student just showed up in a major feature film and I just giggled like a school girl. She was one of those I expected to make a good name for herself and darned if she has not pulled it off. And there you are still working the biz...and it really tickles me to know it! 

I just left you a phone message and I hope you check in now and then to keep me posted on your world! So nice to hear from someone I know!

Michele
for Karate Angels

From: Antanas Ab******* 

To: advise@karateangels.com 
Date: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 
Subject: To Michele Seidman 

Good afternoon, Dear Michele.

My family and me are admirers of You. I beg Your pardon, but I have a request to make. I am one people who wishes the picture with Your autograph. Thank You preliminary with great pleasure. I wish You happiness, good health and all success.

Respectfully Yours Antanas Abr********

Antanas,

You want my picture? I feel so flattered. I don't get asked much since I walked away from the big stuff and decided to stay in a smaller town and do things quieter. Sure my students are off to NYC and Hollywood while I hide in this quiet town now and do smaller parts and teach and guide but it gives me satisfaction to help others along the way. I am just flattered. I will try to get one off to you soon! I took your address off of this so it would not be public information.

Michele 
for Karate Angels 

Allen D*****
To: advise@karateangels.com 
Date: Saturday, March 01, 2008
Subject: question to Michele 

hi Michele,

note: sorry if i'm asking a weird question(s), or something that is not interesting to you and bit too much reading of none-impressiveness, and that maybe you don't answer questions from a male. i'm a He and my name is Allen (my stage name-Allen ******). IF YOUR INTERESTED IN LOOKING...you can view my resume specifically made just for production work. soon i'm making one for performance work. i will also send a picture of my talent or a video if your production is interested. of course IF you read this email and interested in giving me an advise.

i was researching and applying for a career in martial arts movies, and i have a lot of experience in many other sports as well. i always wanted to be an actor or a director. for that reason, i believe that if someone gives me a chance to display my vision for an art work, i will definitely make a completely different, unique, and extraordinary type of martial art choreography in any movie. i'm a practitioner in Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do for 8 years, and i have had also training in wrestling (high school/tournaments) , and boxing (training/competition) for more than 5 years, and many other arts. In addition, i am also love doing stunts. i know how to fall, jump, and many other stuff. anyways {sic} you got the picture.

so, my question to you is how do you really find a company or a production that is already working in martial arts movies? can you give an advise to where i can find production(s)? do i really need an agent or agency to help me succeed to become an actor for martial art movies, or at least a stuntman? do i have to go to school for it? they seem to be picky about resumes and not on performances and experiences. i don't have a resume filled with movie projects. for example, it was my dream to make a movie with steven segal, van dam, jackie chan, and jet li. they seem to be invisible to find their production. i really don't like to be in any movie out there...to be honest, i'm not a professional actor but an average actor. meaning i can act certain characters that i am comfortable with. otherwise i feel like people are just not enjoying my performance and then i become self-conscious. i've done theatre in college, made my own short movies and i've had training on acting.

thank you Michele and God bless!

Dear Allen,

No idea where you would get the idea we won't answer questions from men! If you check past boards you will find I have answered questions from both men and women and adults as well as kids! I also have no idea where you read that I have a film in production to hire you because I am not producing any feature films and in fact do produce some projects in my area but I hire from this area and only people I know or can check their work out in person.

Now on to your list.

1) Finding production companies depends on where you live. 1st check and see if your state has a film commission and if they do that is the best place to start because their web site often lists incoming productions as well as established companies based in your state.

2) Productions are shooting all over the country these days in almost every state but the top states include California, NY, North and South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and a few more make the top ten.

3) You don't need an agent right away for stunt work but you must get in good with Key Stunt men to even be considered for stunt work. Most will expect you to work for free at the start so they can watch and make sure you follow their directions. It will be important that you can do exactly what they say and not argue or debate it. If they think you won't listen you become a liability for Insurance. Key Stunt men are BIG on safety and they know how to cheat angles and do hits in ways you never trained for, no matter how many belts you have. Films don't do it the way you do in a DoJo or when you do Forms. Be prepared to (and pardon this as it is not meant as bad manners), but be prepared to shut up and do as you are told so you can learn how they do it on films and how and why it differs from your regular M.A. training. DON'T tell any of them you can choreograph fights, that is not your job until YOU are the Key Stunt person and many will avoid hiring you if you make a claim like that to them.

4) Want acting gigs, then get an agent. Want to be considered for action actor...some work will come from Key Stunt men who hire you and others will be from Agents know for handling 'specialty talent'. Also check the web site at www.sag.com to see if there are agents in your area or a SAG office near you. They often post information but most of the good stuff gets saved for members, so you will want to work towards getting your SAG card because the major films are SAG approved productions and even though SAG is mostly for actors, they also cover the action actors. As soon as you have words in a major film they will offer you the chance to join if you are in a non-Union state. BUT, if you live in a Union states you will need to become a member before any film can hire you.

5) You could go to some school for action actor training but to be honest, I think it is better to go get camera acting class and then do what I mentioned above about getting in good with Key Stunt men and learning to just shut up and do as you are told. You will learn so much more about working sets that way than you could in most 'action actor' study programs. It is well and good to take those classes IF they are taught by people who have been in movies OR see sentence above once more!

6) They ARE picky on resumes and with good reason. As mentioned before..if you have never done it before you are a HUGE liability and they don't want to take the chance. Aside from Insurance, those who have never done M.A. for film could end up taking twice as long to shoot a simple scene and as much as you might not mind, you just cost the production anywhere from an extra $10,000-$1,000,000 to pay that entire crew and the rest of the cast to wait around for you to finish. Can you see why those costs might make them hesitant to hire you? If not, don't get in film work at all. Not to sound harsh, but you don't get to pick where you start or which 'stars' you get to work with until YOU hold the power of being a star or having all the money in the world to pay to make a movie. 

7) You made short movies! Again, not to sound harsh but to be straight forward to help you see how this statement means nothing to film folk...ANYONE with a camera can claim to make short films. It does not mean that anyone of any importance ever saw it or cares. People around the world make short films for YouTube and other sites and most are badly made, with horrid lighting and worse yet...lousy acting. How does that make a resume? In a real film makers eyes who got their degree or worked their way up from the ground floor, they won't see you as a filmmaker. They will see you as a poser even if you are not.


8) As an actress who started doing stage (and I think everyone should do some stage), I can tell you first hand that can be a problem. The style of acting for stage is NOT the same as camera work and you will need to learn the differences. As for being comfortable only playing certain parts...are you sure you want to be an actor? Because one of the reasons people act is because they can and ARE willing to try any part anyone will give them. Again, until you are the star or hold all the money, what you want or think does not matter to any of us. I really don't want to sound mean but that is the truth and you need to know that if you want a fighting chance.

I really hope I have not come off too harsh because it might seem that way. But from where I sit, you may not know how you come off. This is what they will see "I am Allen**** and I know more than you and I am only going to do this and I don't care that you all paid your dues and built a resume because I made films and I did stage"....when in fact, you have no name in the industry yet and you don't mention those short films winning any awards in film festivals or even seeing the light of day.

I suggest you enter those short film in some film festivals. These days it is a good solid way to get your foot in the door. Then go to www.sag.com as mentioned and check out sample resumes to make sure you also format yours correctly. A badly made resume can scare people away from you. If your state has a SAG office, they will also list some other helpful information, but until you get in to the union there is information not available to you. 

I know your email is full of passion, but passion without substance equals futility! Now go out and make the changes and adjustments and beat the odds. I know that is what you want, and now you have some real information to go on. Use it....beat the odds, but be willing to pay your dues just like at the DoJo when you first started. No one handed you your Belts, so I don't know why you expect anyone to hand you film parts of your picking and choosing. It took discipline to earn those belts and it takes the same to work your way up in film!

Last point, don't email in all lower case if you are an adult. You should know how to write a proper email or people might think you are not a professional type of performer. Actors and stunt men have to be able to write a proper cover letter when they self-submit to a project. If you don't know how they might toss your stuff in the circular file (that is a trash can). Not to mention you make names (proper nouns) in all lower case too which is not a good thing and suggests you have little regard. I don't think you meant to do that, but others might.

Best of luck and keep us posted as you move up the ranks!

Michele
for Karate Angels

From: clifton keen
To: advise@karateangels.com 
Subject: advise

Hi, how are you? My name is Clifton Keen*****. I'm a 25 year old law student, living in Suriname ( South America). I've been training in taekwondo for almost 10 years now, but I've also trained in karate, boxing and kickboxing. I want to start a career as an onscreen martial artist next year, but I don't know if I have what it takes, to make it as an onscreen martial artist. Can you please give me your honest opinion and tell me if 
I have a shot or not? And if you do think that I have a shot, how can I find work as an onscreen martial artist in a foreign country? I'm 6'3" and weight 235 pounds. I've attached a few clips on this message. 
Please email me.
Thanks and keep up the great work. 

Clifton

You are in luck because you are near Venezuela which is an area there that makes movies but they also make them in Argentina and Brazil is one of the biggest places in the world for shooting commercials. Many companies in America take commercials to Brazil because of how many beautiful locations they have to shoot in. I suggest looking for the Film Boards or Film Commissions for those areas and check their web sites for production company listings.

It would be hard for me to tell if you have shot because I would need to see more than clips. So you understand how I would decide if you can act: I would ask you to come and show me monologues and then ask you to do 'cold readings' and interview with me so I can see if you will be easy to work with. The monologues (sections from a script that have just you talking) will tell me if you know your 'type' or not and if you know how to prepare. Cold readings (a script you have never seen that I only give you a few minutes to prepare) would tell me if you are a quick enough study if we change the script or scene on set. If you cannot make the change fast enough it is hard to use you because time equals money on a film shoot.

As for getting work in another country: Better start near home first because work visas are a real problem these days. No one will want to hire you if you don't have a resume yet and you don't mention any acting training at all. If you only want to do stunt work, then you don't have to have acting training but you must watch movie credits and learn who are the Key Stunt men in your area and locate them and ask to work for free for a little while. They will work you hard but if you listen and follow their direction they will start to pay you or on the next film bring you in under a paying contract.

I hope that helps but if you need more information, please email back.

Michele
for Karate Angels

From: abdulr* 
To: advise@karateangels.com

Subject: Michele 

Hi, I saw your email on the web site and I got wondered if you guys teach how to act Martial art movies. I am actually a Martial act student, very focused on expanding my career in martial art and movies acting.

Thank you, bye.
E-brahim A****
Minnesota. 

E-brahim

I cannot train anyone by email. You need to take classes live and in person with a teacher who can see you and guide you right there. I have made some free acting classes on the web site www.famefor15.com that might help a little but you really need to find a camera acting coach in your state. To check some of my additional acting tips, go to the web site above and look for the Acting 101 classes or the Wilmywood Channel. We are working on doing some stuff exclusively for Karate Angels in the future, so stay posted for that!

Michele
for Karate Angels

From: malachi m
To: advise@karateangels.com

Subject: Michele

call me at 209303**** i have some qustions{sic} to ask i want to try out for a moive {sic} and i have been certified all ready and i been in it for a long time i read what u said and i just have some qustions {sic} so can u {sic} call me if u {sic} do and i dont {sic} answer can u {sic} leave me a number so i can get back or leave an email leting {sic} me know u {sic} call thank u {sic}

Malachi

I cannot call you up and answer your questions. I make part of my living teaching and only give some free advise here and on the www.FameFor15.com web site. Please send your questions here or check the other site mentioned and watch my free acting classes there to see if you can get an answer I may have already given out. But, I won't call and coach you for free by phone and without sounding mean, it is not fair of you to ask me to do that. It is very clear here on this site, that I am answering here on the boards, and NOT calling anyone directly or emailing them directly.

Please use this site as intended or ask someone else for help.

Last point, don't email in all lower case if you are an adult. You should know how to write a proper email or people might think you are not a professional type of performer. Actors and stunt men have to be able to write a proper cover letter when they self-submit to a project. The letter 'U' is NOT a proper substitute when contacting a professional in the industry. Every computer has spell check, so please use it. If you don't they might toss your stuff in the circular file (that is a trash can). 


Michele
for Karate Angels

From: Kiwi
To: karateangels.com
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 

Do you think I can become a singer some day? I get complements about my singing. But it seems like it's not going anywhere! What do I do with out spending a lot of money to become a singer? I'm in the wizard of oz high school play. You think that will take me somewhere? 

Kiwi (only name I have for you)

It is impossible for me to know if you can sing. I have never heard you. You might be good or people might think you are good but if they are not trained in music, they don't know how music industry people might view you. Listen to you coach in school. Does your teacher think you can sing? Has your teacher given you any advise?

I am very glad you are doing shows in school. It is a great way to build a resume at the start and can help you prove to others that you are capable of getting parts. But you have to think of it in sports terms for a moment....no one gets to play for a Major team like the Met's or Yankees unless they started playing baseball in school, then get good enough to play in college and ONLY then will a major team ask a player to join them.

In the industry we call that 'paying your dues' first. The good part is, by doing stage in school, you still get your education while you start to pay your dues. This way when you get out of school you will be a little ahead of the people who graduate and then decide to be in music. At that point you might be able to beat everyone else out for parts because you already have a resume and have some dues pre-paid!

Talk to the voice teacher in school and ask them about this first. Then email back and let me know what they say. It will help me guide you a little better if I know what a voice teacher thinks first!

Michele
for Karate Angels

From: kiki herrin

To: advise@karateangels.com
Subject: Michele

Hello. 

I recently read your article online about how to enter the world of acting in action films being a martial artist. I am a 3rd degree black belt. I have trained 14 years in tae kwan do and have spent the last 3 years training in the world of tricking. I am a member of the Ernie Reyes World Action Team. We have traveled all around the world competing and preforming {sic}. 

We are considered to be the top martial arts demonstration team in the world. Many of the team members, such as Ernie Reyes Jr. have been a part of many action films in the last few years, such as Rush Hour and The Run Down. I have been trying to find the best route to enter the world of acting with martial arts myself. I have been having quite some trouble finding agencies or auditions that involve the field i am interested in. I would greatly appreciate any advise you could share with me on how to get started. Thank you so much for your time. You article was inspiring.

Jackie M*****

Jackie

How cool you are working with Ernie. He won't remember me but I did work with him for a short time in the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II. It was the only film I ever worked on the crew! Tell him you met 'Tokkas' dresser. I am certain he won't remember me because the crew was large and as mentioned it is the only time I ever worked crew on a feature film. I was new in town and just wanted to make some money while I learned my way around and I got hired right away...so I did it. Oddly I learned a lot of things actors seldom learned by being behind the scenes. Like how many stunt people work and how much crews costs to keep on set for long periods and all kinds of other things the actor never sees!

How come you have not asked Ernie? He and his father are very well versed in action films. One problem I see is you being on the road so much. No one can audition you if you are not near them or can't get a video tape to them right away. You may have to come off the road and find a filmmaking area to settle down in first.

Few agents handle action actors and you need to look for those who handle 'specialty talent' most of the time. There is a small magazine called the Ross Report that you can order from the Drama Book Store in NYC via their web site or find in book stores in major cities in NY and California. It lists agents all over the country but mostly in California and NY. But those agents will be better than an agent you might find in the newspaper. Also check the web site at www.sag.com to see if their is a SAG affiliated agent in your home state. If the agency is listed with SAG then they are going to be the most honest. There are honest agents in states that SAG won't allow to join up. That is only in states that are non-Union and you will have to ask around to make sure they agent is good. Always remember a good agent only makes money when you work, they don't charge you a sing up fee or to be listed on their web site.

When you get a chance, email back with the state you normally live in and I might be able to help you pin point better information. Right now I am not sure what to suggest while you are on the road so much!

Michele
for Karate Angels 

If you have any questions for Michele, send them to advise@karateangels.com