The Biz!
by Michele Seidman

There is a strong trend towards hiring the new "action actors." The action actor is a new breed of animal. The amount of time spent training in both crafts (acting and martial arts) can be exhausting and rewarding. Action films require talent who can not only act before the camera but also throw and take punches. Naturally the directors and producers look for actors who have also trained in some sort of fighting technique, especially the martial arts. 

It's a world of discipline and long hours, with very little glamour. True, there are some big premiers and parties, but more often than not, it is a 12-15 hour workday, 6 days a week. Make sure you want to do this with all your heart because its going to be some of the hardest work you have ever done.

Training to act for camera

Theatre is still considered one of the best places to train as an actress. It is considered the "old school" method. You learn the craft and business from the ground floor up. Do not be scared if you can not sing and dance, those skills are needed for main stage musical theater. Musical theater is fine if you want to work towards a career on Broadway, but most camera actors try to do studio and black box theater. The theater is smaller and only houses a small audience, so your acting is developed in a more natural style. 

You do not have to "play" to the back of the house (an expression that means a big style of acting so the people all the way in the back row can see your face and body movement). If you learn the more subdued acting style you will have less distance to travel for camera acting. The film and television cameras are magnifying lenses. The camera will see the smallest flicker of your eyelid and the faintest twitch in your smile. 

It is important to keep this in mind so that you can add skills that prepare you in the right direction. Remember, if you are trained for main stage theater, your style may overwhelm the cameras view, and therefore the audience as well. Do not expect to become a star overnight.

Many train and become very skilled actors and still never make it. Training can take years to perfect, like any other art form. Learn how to act before you go spend money on head-shots and resumes. You need to have some theater or camera acting training to put on a resume that is then attached to the back of your head shot. Once you have the background in acting, a resume that proves you are serious, you can then look for a talent agent to represent you to casting directors. 

Just for the record, producers and directors hire casting directors to audition talent. The casting directors call talent agents to see if they have actors who meet the look or skills for part. Most casting directors prefer or only call talent agents and not the actress themselves. You will have to build that resume so you can find a reputable agent to get your name and face in front of the casting directors. Protect yourselves from bad agents. Agents only get 10-15% of the money you earn doing work that agent sent you in for. You do not pay agents in advance to represent you, nor do you pay filing or processing fees. 

Protect yourself and learn from people who do what you want to do. Find a mentor and always have your parents check out any business agreements. Parents note: All contracts must have a 30 day "out clause" with written and certified notice, if not beware and when in doubt have a lawyer read any contracts.

Training for the Action side

Many of today's action actors come from a Martial Arts background. They all have multiple black belts and have in many cases, training in more than one discipline. Some of the action actors come from specialty fields like motor-cross, skydiving, gymnastics, diving and other athletic arenas that lend themselves to the requirements for a stunt person. The action actor must be able to do his or her own stunts. It's best to find the one area that your are best at and then train to compete. 

Divers often end up doing high fall stunts, motor-cross and race-car drivers do car chase scenes, martial artist do fight sequences and so on. Only the top in their specialties even get a chance to be action actors so you must train diligently at your chosen physical art.

If you are a top martial artist you will do many fight scenes and must be prepared to be the person who takes all of the punches. The star usually gets to win the fight and most action actors start by playing the bad guy who gets knocked out, or the bad guy's henchman who gets thrown across the room. 

The special area you have trained in will determine what type of acting/stunt work you will do. Most of the bigger names in action films have trained as martial artists.

It takes time to master any art form and martial arts is no exception. It can take years to earn your belts if the discipline you chose awards them. In any of the martial arts, many hours are required to warm-up, practice and train. Most towns have several martial arts Dojo to study at. Check the background of the teacher and ask to sit in on a class first to see if you are comfortable with the style of training.

If you are lucky enough to have a Sensei in your area that has done any work in action films, by all means try to train with them first. Not only will they be able to train you in a martial arts discipline, but they can also teach you some of the skills required when making the transition from a real fight to a staged fight for camera. 

Take the training serious and do not skip your lessons. Most action actors have competed and made a name for themselves in their discipline. Only the best even get the chance to be in action films.

Hope to see you in the movies soon!

Michele Seidman

Michele will continue to bring you advise about Hollywood. If you have any questions for her, send in your questions to advise@karateangels.com and Michele will be happy to answer them.

2004 BIO
Michele Seidman

Born in Virginia she did school shows, community theatre and dinner theatre. She started training for camera work and landed her first commercial four weeks later. It turned in to a series for the once national Pantry Pride Grocery chain. Not long after she was cast as Jill Hanson on the soap opera Another Life doing over 150 episodes. From there she moved to some Off Broadway work in NYC and then took a break to pursue music. A few years passed and she returned to acting in TV shows and feature films like, Young Indian Jones Chronicles, Empire Records, Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys, The Lost Capone, Dawson’s Creek, Radio land Murders, and Going to California to name a few. She has worked in indie films like The Cut Off and Dinglingless (now Remembering Jack), to festival only indie’s like Murder in My Shorts, The Shot, and Winterlude (v/o). Now in NC and still acting, she waits for wrinkles to play Mom roles and supplements by teaching ‘camera technique’ and producing projects from documentary, to short films, and commercials. She just completed a 2 year run producing a live FX Make Up show called Film Gore and More Galore at Screen Gems Studios with legendary FX Make Up artist Jeff Goodwin (Blue Velvet, Last of the Mohicans, Ride with the Devil). (Affiliations: Associate on the Board of Directors for the Cape Fear Filmmakers Accord 1990-1991, Board Member/Secretary for The Actors Network 1996, Foundling Member Cape Fear Independent Filmmaking Network 2000, Programmer for Cucolorus Film Festival 2003 & 2004, Former owner/SMC Talent and Models Agency 1993-1996, Films Studies Director for Cape Fear Community College 1998-2000, Member in good standing at Studio F/Stunts & Weapons since 1998-2004

Michele Seidman offers private classes and consultations focusing on camera acting, cold reading and the business of show business. Private acting classes cost $30 per session. Consultations for individuals interested in acting or modeling, provide the proper information to enter the 'biz.'