Why are do soo many actors fail, to become great?

[Isaiah Butler]

Other than an obvious point that you may not have the look. How can I prevent from coming like all of the millions of actors out there that know one knows, that never become prestigious? Why do they never make it any where? i DONT want to be some sad looser on some unheard of casting site, or youtube making videos and getting low level jobs . I'm just starting out, and I've done 1 play and 1 musical last year lead rolls.The play was a Christmas play/The life of Jesus and I played Jesus. The musical was The Magic Flute, and I played Monostanous the lead villain. Now i auditioned for my first film and beat two adults and a few teens for the roll I am currently cast as. Im cast as Jake, one of the bad guys. Its slated for release on March 2013. It's no hollywood film, or anything, but its a film none the less and will have a public and private screening at a theater. So we are pretty much done and I'm looking for my next gig, I really want to tryout for a character in the upcoming holly wood film Divergent being shot in Chicago. Will I need an agent to get into this audition? I'm planning on going in to an open call near me to get an agent. I'm in touch with Joel Courtney on twitter and a few other teen celebrities, they found me. I just set up an account and twitted some stuff and next thing I know I'm being followed. My twitter is @IsaiahTButler. So please answer these questions and leave some advice, and don't forget the main question in the title. Also if you want to know more about me please visit my website isaiah.mixform.com feel free to comment on any blog posts.
I'm 16 years old and I'm ready for this, i know the headaches, and work and effort. I also know theres much more for me to learn. My passion at first was just the pure enjoyment and love of acting. No its developed into a passion to one of the best. Winning Emmy's and Tony's and sometime soon my first Young Artist Award. I don't care for fame and riches, matter fact if I worked at McDonalds and still got to be in Big movies with the greats, such as Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr. and others, while being the best I can winning awards, but not making millions I would go for it! My parents say its a pipe dream and i'll never make it, or their trying to except the fact that I'm going to be a bum. I haven't gone through all of this emotional scaring just to give up, so please someone help.

[Empty]

Because of maths. Stay on this site just a month and see how many people share the same dream. See how many go further and train and get good agents and really give it a good go for a few years. And every year they are added to and more want it than give up on it. There just isn't enough work to go around. And those who do work soon realise they simply aren't getting enough work to make a living, and the vast majority give up, statistically within their first five years, but I have known some who live on poverty wages for a decade and lose out on so much in life - socially, having a family, a home they can call their own, and, of course, self worth, until they simply buckle to the inevitable.

Nothing to do with looks - look at all those rather "odd" looking actors there are who constantly work. Then look at all the "attractive" actors who may have a few years of success then fade away as they are replaced by better actors, newer actors, more attractive actors.

The vast majority become these "losers" you despise, but if you don't try you'll never know where you'll end up. There's no guarantees, the odds are against you, and there are no safety nets. But it's exactly the same for everyone else.

[Cogito]

Empty is right - there are hundreds of thousands out there - just like you, just as desperate to become professional actors, just as talented and just as optimistic.

All I'd like to add is that not all actors want all those Oscars and Emmys and Tonys - they aren't looking for fame, spotlights and prizes at all. They just love to act.
That does NOT make them failures, bums, losers - whatever.

Many actors deliberately keep away from TV and movie acting and stick to the stage just to avoid all that stuff - they value their privacy, would hate to become famous and are really happy getting roles in plays.

Other actors - the vast majority, in fact - spend their whole lives struggling to find roles here and there, working several ordinary jobs just to pay the bills, being really happy if they get 2 or 3 weeks' paid acting work a year, which is the average for all actors.

Being 'followed' on Twitter and the like means nothing. Putting videos on Youtube is pointless.
If you really want to be an actor, only do so if you'd be happy with small roles here and there, as the chance of you ever getting more than that is really remote.

But the only way to get real auditions is through a good agent.
And the only way to get a good agent is after several years of training at a good acting school and getting loads of stage experience.
When even a small role is being cast, the director will get hundreds of professional actors submitting through their agents. You'd be competing with all of them - not just 2 adults and a few teens - and all of them with really impressive resumes, showing years of top-level training and 50, 60, 70 stage plays. To compete and stand a chance of winning any roles, you'd need all that on your resume.
Be realistic.
Good luck!

[Katrina E.]

Why are do soo many actors fail, to become great?

One because acting isn't as easy as everyone seems to think it is. It requires talent and training and continual challenges to keep growing as an actor. And while there are many, many very talented actors and much, much, much fewer roles that let them demonstrate those talents to their full capacity.

It also has to do with how you define "great". I was a professional stage actress for 15 years and I worked with some amazingly great actors (some even told me I was great too). We put on great productions. Does the fact that you've never heard of them or didn't see the productions make them less great? I don't think so.

I don't think that outside validation through awards necessarily makes someone a great actor. (They could be a good actor but have great connections and create campaigning skills.) Just like I think there are many great artists who will die in obscurity and may never be "discovered", there are many great actors who will never be famous or even well-known. But they will be very well respected by those who know them, worked with them, or seen their work. Being able to move an audience, touch lives, by bringing a story to life so others can experience it - that's being great. Often awards have more to do with being political than being great.


How can I prevent from coming like all of the millions of actors out there that know one knows, that never become prestigious?

You can't prevent it. You can improve your chances of it not happening if you have talent and get good training (classes and experience). If you can recognize other talented people (writers, producers, crew, other actors) and can match their skill and dedication and work together to create something memorable - then you have a better chance of winning the respect of others. Keep working to improve and grow as an actor. Recognize that a production involves A LOT more people than just the actor - and work with the good ones.

To get the awards, know the right people to suck up to. Work to get the roles that have more aware potential rather than ones that may challenge you or interest you as an actor. Understand the politics of the industry where you live. Get savy about the business end of things and know how to market yourself. Play the PR game - things like that.


I'm looking for my next gig, I really want to tryout for a character in the upcoming holly wood film Divergent being shot in Chicago. Will I need an agent to get into this audition?

Probably. Most movie roles are cast through a talent agent. A long shot would be if you knew who the casting director is and you self submit and see if they call you for an audition. But if the production company is out of California and you're a minor, you may need an entertainment work permit and a Coogan Trust account. (Not sure - you'll have to check into that.) But yes - the best chance you have of getting an audition would be to have a talent agent.

Good luck.