Casting calls?

I'm 14, in my 9th year of high school and the only type of training I have is half a year of grade 7 drama - and in that we didn't do any work on screen acting, only theater performance.

My parents say I should go through high school first, and then choose screen acting as a uni course - but see, I want to start young, because the more experience you get when your young, the more likely you'll be able to get parts in bigger things when your older - or that's what people have been telling me.

Another problem is this, I went onto this site - www.starnow.com - my parents signed me up and everything, I was SO excited; and then I realized you had to pay money via credit card to get casting calls, then I did some researching, and found out that every site I went to is the same; they all want money, pretty much all of them via credit card, and that's something my parents just won't do.

Does anybody know of a website which allows you to apply to casting calls without them charging anything for it? IT's be a great help..

Anyway, as I was saying - I'd love to get some experience under my belt first, but I'm the sort of person who - as my parents say - tries something a couple of times, then gives up. But this is something different - I've wanted this for SO long, and I'd do anything to get it (When I say anything, I mean within reason).

I've looked at courses on screen acting in my area (Ballarat, Victoria), but as I said, my parents won't allow it - they don't really want me doing it at all, but It's my dream, not theirs! How can I get casting calls online without paying anything?

Sorry If I'm treating this like a questions & answers site, but I really need some advice. In fact, I've aready put this up on www.yahooanswers.com.au and I got a really good response back - but I want more than one persons thoughts.

Here is some of the advice I got.

Check out local auditions at theatre.asn.au, or read up on Aussietheatre.com. If you're keen, pay for a membership at QuietOnSet.com.au or Artshub.com.au; they list heaps of auditions every day around Australia. Another good site is screenhub.com.au. I will add, since you've mentioned it: Starnow receives mixed reviews, but I would never recommend it myself (I've worked in the area of online arts news myself, and know a good site when I see it: to me, it's a waste of time. Plus there are plenty of reviews of it right here on YA that suggests it's dodgy).

For the sites that I mention, the first one is free to use. The second one I think may have some free info and the rest is paid. The rest are paid membership. *However* the ones that you have to pay for are extremely good, are actually legit, are all run by and for the arts community, and won't rip you off. The fact of the matter is that without an agent, you are reliant on the few open calls that are advertised. Unfortunately, people figured out that audition sites = money, and you have to pay for it; on the other hand, many of these sites are run by people who spend their entire day hunting for (often exclusive) information about arts jobs. I will add that free sites will only ever post info about jobs you could find out about yourself (ie. by checking a theatre company's website, or subscribing to their mailing list), because they are open calls: for everything else you need an agent.

If your parents are willing to sign you up to a website, I recommend reading this: http://www.theatre.asn.au/book_page/audi...

It's all about how to spot a good Aussie auditions site from a bad one. Your parents are just concerned about you, and want to make sure you have good grades and graduate from school: they probably don't want you to spend too much time away from studying.

Besides which, if you tend to try something and then change your mind, they will definitely be concerned that you'll do the same with acting and waste their time and money, as well as yours, trying it out and then stopping. Whilst it may be good to get experience while you're young, that's no guarantee you'll get anything when you're older. I know of many professional actors who have been in the industry for 40 years and never get their face anywhere close to a national or even state recognition. By the way, did you know that there's a big performing arts acadamy in Ballarat, where you can study once you finish school? And what's wrong with doing drama at school in VCE, and taking part in a local amateur group anyway? My best advice is to visit the first link, head to the FAQ section, and read about finding agents in Australia, how to find work, etc. It also has a lot of stuff about dodgy Aussie agents to avoid. There's heaps of free info there for new actors, and is practically the best place you can find info for emerging actors. There's also a huge list of companies that you can search by suburb. If you're in a small town, you may have to create your own group with friends, fellow students or even general townsfolk. When you're ready, ie. 18 or older, think about moving.

AGENTS DO NOT COST MONEY - IF THEY ASK FOR FEES UPFRONT, THEY ARE DODGY. You get an agent *after* having a reasonable amount of amateur and/or professional experience, not before. And no legit agent advertises: you see an ad on Careerone or anything else, run away! These people take anyone and can't actually get their clients work because directors won't work with agents who don't select people with actual training and talent. Visit www.alliance.org.au, the actor's union for Australia and join. Get your parent/s to sit down with you and read all their stuff, as well as whenever you visit an agent: they *need* to be involved in contracts, etc. If you don't have experience don't expect a professional role or an agent. I suggest you use the next years to build up experience, stay in school, do drama in year 11 and 12, do amateur shows, extra-curricular classes, and then try applying for a local uni course. Trust me, there are too many actors out there and not enough roles. Everyone wants to be in Home and Away and Neighbours; very few actually do it.

Those Aussie actors who are in Hollywood have spent the better part of 20 years developing their career - first in Australia, and then overseas. Do yourself a favour; take some classes and do some shows first. Think about attending WAAPA, NIDA or VCA or one of the many great courses out there (there are heaps) when you're ready. There's a lot of indie films being made in Australia, for which you can audition for without an agent; check the first link for examples, or Quiet On Set. DON'T sign up for one of those American talent sites. They are scams and never have anything for Australian auditions.

Oh yeah, we don't have 'scouts' in Australia. If ever someone walks up to you off the street, and they tell you they are a 'scout', they are about to scam you.

Most of all, be patient. All 10-20 year olds want to be on stage/TV/film NOW. It's fine to have ambition, especially if it makes you work harder, but do have some patience too. Most actors state that their maturity and skills develop over a long period of time, so just remember that every role is a stepping stone on a journey.

If you want it NOW or not at all, you're not going to last in the pro industry, because that's not how it works. Very few professionals 'need' a teen actor without that actor having experience and training first. If you're serious about it, start at the bottom like everyone else.

That there ^^ brought me to this site. Which I joined, and have been flicking through. It's really helped alot, I reckon - BUt I still need some feedback. So please,  take a little bit of time, and share some experience with someone as in-experienced as myself.