Acting : Acting outside of NY & LA by Katrina Morris

@Jorge Great this wild card approach worked for you aswell. It's fantastic you are re visiting this point in your life 1983, now it's in your power to write the final outcome. The pen is mightier than the sword. @All. This thread is a buzz. It's a bit like a film festival with regards comradeship, I will be sad when it's over.

Thanks, Debbie, but know for sure that through the magic of this website and the technology, we will always be connected. Be sure, that there will be future challenges like this one, after the success stories of comradeship" like you so beautifully put it, that this has generated.

Hey, Katina, try looking for acting jobs here on Stage 32. I'm here in NYC and Theatre is what I've worked in a great deal and too many background in features and TV. But, it's hard here, thank God, writing is my first passion.

Thanks, Jorge. I'm realizing more and more that it's just hard everywhere. Being an artist is hard. Putting yourself out there is hard. But when you're an artist I think the hardest thing is not doing it and waiting on others to 'allow' you to do it. So my solution is that I'm just going to continue to make my own stuff. I'm an improviser and I have a ton of talented friends on all sides of the camera and stage, so screw waiting to be cast in something worthwhile. I'm going to find the stories that I want to tell and tell them with my friends! And yes, thank goodness you have the writing! That's the most important part of the whole equation. Without a good story, there is nothing.

Hey everyone. Yes it's hard every where. You have to create your own work and put stuff on YouTube and hope to meet the right people. I'm from Florida born and raised and I have sacrificed everything and moved to LA to live my dream because that is what I want to do. You have to be willing to do what it takes to make it. It's hard every where yes...but even harder in the non-LA/NY market. You can always get agents in New Orleans, Atlanta, and the Caroline's. That's what I did! I left the night before even sometimes and drove all night just for auditions. It's a grind and you've gotta be willing to do what it takes.

You have to think of it as an "investment" as opposed to just a sacrifice.! Make sure if you are going to move to a city where your head can be in the game, that you have the drive to be able to make those sacrifices and continue on your goals and your journey!

Thanks guys. Brian, good for you to take the big leap and follow your dream. Anthony, believe me, I'm investing. I have recently started making regular trips to LA for casting director workshops, headshots, etc. And while I will continue to make the trips, I have decided that it's not worth uprooting the life I've built here for a chance at getting on a show or in someone else's film. I think I'd rather just make my own stuff! I think if you choose not to go the LA/NY route or travel all over kingdom come for auditions, that's your only option. And you know what? I think I'm finally OK with that. In fact, I like the challenge and am looking forward to searching for a good story to bring to life. Luckily Miami has a lot of stuff going on - not even a FRACTION of the stuff going on in LA or even Atlanta, but still, we have resources. I even opened a non-profit improv theater and am having fun with that. And I'm taking a RED camera workshop next weekend. I'm a secret gear-head, so I'm looking forward to getting technical!

Excellent, Katrina. Listen to your instinct they never fail us. With today's social media is easier than ever to create your own films, scenes , shorts and post them here on Stage 32, where great things are happening everyday and YouTube, facebook, ECT... You got this girlfriend. Believe that you can and you are halfway there.

Woohoo! I like your outlook Jorge! Thanks for the vote of confidence.

That's great Katrina and awesome that you are where you wanna be in life!! Yes, you can make it work with guest star roles in Miami, since there is work there! You have to do what makes you happy in this world!! You only have one life to live and if you're happy then you're living the dream we all hope to one day as well!

See, Katrina? Thanks, Brian. Just watched, Katrina's reel. Funny stuff! Lol. You got it girl.

Hi Katrina. There is a lot of film and tv work in Atlanta these days. Is that a possible source of work without having to relocate? I face the same dilemma in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Hi Kevin, Yeah. A lot of my friends have actually moved there and there are more comedies there, which is my focus. I need to take the plunge and get an agent based out of Atlanta. Funny thing is, it's actually easier to go to LA for me because I have family there and so have a place to stay and access to a car. What I would love though is to figure out a way to find great projects and submit for them from here and then travel for call-backs or meetings if it turns out I'm a possible good fit. I'm mostly interested in independent films, so I would imagine there would be more flexibility there and a more creative casting process. My alternative really does seem to be producing my own stuff.

I understand what you are saying, Katrina. I live in the Las Vegas, NV area and I have done a few things here locally. I think for the most part is knowing where to look for auditions and opportunities in different markets other than LA & NY. That is what I am coming across in the Las Vegas market. I can search social medias and internet searches, but I always find dead-ends or companies that want to charge for the audition lists that mostly are out-dated. My old acting friends who moved to LA are telling me to move there. I believe that there may just be too many actors looking for work in LA. I would have never had the jobs that I have had here in Las Vegas if I had been living in LA. But on the other hand, is there enough work for all us actors in a larger market?

Exactly Kent! I feel like I've had more access to the roles that do come here. I've gotten auditions I never would have made it into in one of the larger markets. I'm going to start looking for more opportunities for video and Skype auditions. I'll let you know if I find any worthwhile resources. I'm beginning to feel like it's my mission to find a solution for actors looking for an alternative path. :)

Kent, LA has Central Casting, which has hundreds of background work per month and if you're union you can make decent money, the down side is background, no lines, no challenge. I hate it.