[s2000]

hey, nice words above! Whoever is interest in acting and film-making, these meetups might interest you. You need to register to the site before you can see what they are about I think.

I haven't been back in HK to go yet, but they certainly seem interesting to me.

http://acting.meetup.com/252/

http://acting.meetup.com/3/

[hkbecky]

One of the quickest ways for girls / women to enter into HK's entertainment industry is through entering Miss HK (TVB) or Singing competitions.

Men can also enter Mr. Hong Kong. check www.tvb.com for more info. although this is a not a superstardom launching pad, it may help get your foot in the door if you have no connections.

[Krad]

Originally Posted by Donnialda

These replies are so discouraging! In every other country there are at least Community Theatres, University productions, Indy film work, and Film/TV Extra work. All of these allow a newbie to the profession or to the area a step in the door. And it's all about that first step whether it be for experience or for networking... both are necessary.

It's ridiculous to discourage an artist and advise them to 'go back to law school' simply because they don't yet have experience. Good lord! Tromp on the boy's dreams why don't you? He's TWENTY YEARS OLD for goodness sake.

My suggestion for the OP would be to 'yes, get some of that green outta ya'. But before you go investing a stupid amount of money you don't have, volunteer for the types of productions I listed above. Accept that you will not get paid for the first few very likely. But make it part of the deal that you get a credit and if film, a copy of the reel to add to your video resume.

Oh, and get over the 'I don't want to do theatre' thing. build your chops in theatre where you are forced to invest fully in a character from start to finish, not just roll to cut. Pay attention to e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e around you. From the little old man in the market to the leading lady on the film set you're doing background work on.

And be nice to everyone form the top to the bottom. It's mostly about networking, certainly. Then its about you having chops once your 'pub buddy' gets you invited to an audition.

Much luck!

Agreed, but with exceptions.

In the end, it all depends on the question of why you want to act. In my experience, there are mainly two types of people that are in the theatre/movie/tv industry, those that want to act, and those that want to be famous. If you're the type that wants to be famous, then I would recommend that you not attempt to pursue a career in acting. Acting professionally is stressful, tedious, and oftentimes incredibly frustrating work. It's not as simple as showing up to an audition and landing a feature film role the next day. If you don't have the right mindset going into things, the industry *will* chew you up and spit you out just like it does to hundreds of actors around the world each day.

If on the other hand, you are of the type that wants to get into the industry because you want to act, and can't imagine doing anything else, then you should give it a shot. There are a couple of schools around that will get you your foundation, especially if you don't have a lot of experience. If you don't have a lot of experience, and school plays don't count, then I think you would be much better off taking some courses at APA or elsewhere to hone your skills. Even professional actors with years of experience take workshops when they can afford the time and money, to keep sharp on new techniques and get new ideas.

That said, there are options for actors with day jobs. There are two or three good English community theatres in Hong Kong, that do plays two or three times a year. There are other smaller theatre groups that will also put on shows. The downside is that you don't get paid. The upside is that a lot of times, you will get the chance to play characters that you wouldn't be "right for" in pro productions. Again it comes down to what you want. You won't get famous doing these, but if you want to act, these groups are a great outlet for you. And if you have a day job, say as a lawyer, then you get the best of both worlds by keeping a stable job and being able to perform.

I would sit down and spend some serious time thinking about you really want before jumping into this. I've seen many actors who start off thinking that they're the next big thing, only to be disillusioned and cast off. The ones who have made it, are the ones where you ask what they want to do for the rest of their life, and the only answer you get is that they want to act. In the end, it's that drive, that desire that keeps you warm at night, that keeps you going at 5 am in the rain shooting a laundry detergent ad. IF you don't have that desire, then you may want to look at other options.