Introduce Yourself : Multi-talented and Undiscovered by Alexis Raven Mills

Don't lose faith. Keep trying to get in touch with people and look to increase the size of your network. Also keep up with your training and take any professional training that you can get. These things increase your skill set and make you more of an asset to prospective productions that you would be involved in. Get yourself that headshot as that is your ticket in. All professionals have one and a good one speaks volumes in your favor. Upload everything that you have to this site and any other that you may get involved in and get yourself an agent. It really helps with getting the work.

Thank you, Mr. Sickles. :) I had been trying to get an agent, but I don't know where to start.

Welcome, Alexis! Boy, once you get the whole business side of things down, I don't see what could stop you from reaching your goals. Best wishes for continued success!

Oh! Thank you very much, Mr. Sumares. :) I am trying really hard now to get where I need to go. I have a few connections that I know personally, but I hope it is enough to boost myself to the starting level I want to be. My younger cousin had been in a music video and a tv show already and she's under the age of 10. My goal is to be an extra/supporting character in a feature film...like Hunger Games, Avatar, etc. The thing is that I am not sure what to do to get there. Finding an agent is hard enough, along with many scams, I live in a location that is pretty much not in the right place for actors to be in...I'd rather be in Charlotte/ATL/ Wilmington/Charleston... Then, height is an issue. I am 5ft 1in. I have to over come that.

You are certainly doing the right thing by coming to a site like this and learning from others. If I were you, I'd be careful about hoping that your current connections "are enough". Actually, you never know who may end up being a good connection, so just keep shining with your addictive personality, showing interest in other people and their projects, etc. Your heart has to just keep loving every opportunity to tell that story, whether it's in a widely publicized feature like Hunger Games or not ... but use your head to steer you to people and projects that seem serious with respect to the craft, are well-done, and strike you as stories worthy of telling. Always think in terms of people. For example, an agent. Well, you know that Hunger Games and Avatar were filled with extras and supporting characters, right? Why not actually find out who they were, find one who has similar traits as you (e.g., perhaps on the shorter side), and ask them who their agent is, and if they are happy with him or her? The likelihood is that they are not well-known, and were in the position you are in just a few years ago, and (hopefully) are not inundated with calls from people trying to get an audition with James Cameron. In other words, they may be happy to give you insights, and maybe even references. And if the first 6 you contact are complete jerks to you for some reason, brush it off; maybe the 7th one will be really awesome, and end up referring you because the casting director on their next project mentioned that they needed someone exactly fitting your description! You never know. Other people here know a lot more than me about this stuff. But I'm excited for you and can see your talent and diligence in trying to reach your goals, so I'm just sharing what little I've heard.

I try not to get to shiny. :) I just have a child like energy that seems to make things brighter. I want to share my light with everyone and show that I can do it. I mean as a kid, I didn't have a light this bright. I used to be bullied and told that I would never amount to anything. But you know what? I had pulled through. I had became a better person by keeping my head in the game. I am powered by will and determination. I wouldn't let anyone kill my dream. Dreams were one of the only things that I survived on because I had no friends, I was too different...and not skinny enough to fit in. But at least I was able be myself. I want to show kids like me that nothing should beat them down. No matter your background in life, or shape, height, etc, they can make a difference and live a life they dreamed of. I lived in poverty before. I lived in a life with a dysfunctional family but look at me now. I am doing something with my life with a life that is better than my childhood. It is getting better. I want to inspire. That has always been my goal. On another note, agents... I just need to know how to search for them. I don't want to annoy them. I read many articles about what they don't like and I just found my self too scared to speak to one. I don't want to waste their time. I want them to be understanding of my current situation...like college and limited travel during the school year. I have to wait until I am out my parents house to actually go out and travel. I have to have someone with me when I leave out of state. It is my parent's rules. I just want to go places by myself...I want to experience it alone so I can just get that oh my gosh I made it to the top feeling. I don't know how to explain it. :) But I really want this more than anything. I really do. I would do everything that should be done. I will work hard 110%! I can see my dreams right there in front of me...near reach. Just another step or two and I am there. I am there and I will live the life I always wanted: an aspiring, inspiring young actress living the dream that seems unobtainable but was successfully obtained by a rags to riches story that will unfold like a flower bursting into blooming and radiant colors.

I can relate a lot to your sense of wanting to pull yourself up and far away from a not-so-good childhood. So trust that I'm on your side when I say that you'll go farther faster if you can just make sure to take care of any baggage related to that BEFORE you head out into the bigger world. In other words, make sure you're not doing it to prove something, but solely for a love of the craft, and as you say, to inspire. Your relationship with everyone from agents to directors will have two common aspects: what they need from you, and your ability to deliver it for them. Your job is to find out what each one needs, understand things from THEIR point of view, and then look honestly at yourself and ask if you can deliver that. If you know you can and have in the past, then there will be no fear in your approaching them. They have a need; you can fill it. End of story. Or maybe they will have to adjust one of their expectations to make it work -- if that's what you have to offer, all you can do is offer it, and all they can do is say yes or no. There should be no fear on your part. But whatever you do, please don't require a rags to richest story just to feel like a success. I'm getting close to 50 years old, and have observed many people in my life time. Alexis, you are already a success, okay? It's a done deal. Now just go out there and do what makes you happy! :-) ~Paul

I second what Paul has already said. You have to be ultimately confident in what you bring to the table. This business is all about needs and filling needs. If you don't believe in yourself then you won't be able to get agents or casting directors to believe in you. I'm glad that I was able to bring you into this network. It seems like this will be something that works well for you, provided that you have worked through all of your own issues and want to do things for the right reasons. Love the craft, respect the business, and you'll do well.

Paul, don't worry. I don't have anything to prove to anybody. I won't rub it in their face like jerk. I will just move on, and do better things than be like "yea, I am better than you just because". It is not right, and it is very out of character for me. And ith agents...I am guessing that they will like me. I am told to have a charming personality, but I am just nice and child-like. So I guess it is part of it. I don't know...but hey, making a big impression on an agent will be great. :) But artistic talent runs in the family...my cousin Anthony Ray aka Sir mix A Lot is a rapper. My female cousin in LA is a dancer/model/actor. Her daughter is an actor and was feautred in a video with Mary J Blige. Then we have the writers and my grandpa was very artistic. But with of that, I take on all sides of artistic talent: writing, dancing, acting, singing, modeling, etc. I love it. :)

Mr. Sickles, I believe in myself. I almost didn't when I was a kid. I was told I should give up because it is too competitive. I love challenges! So I am up to the competition. I have experience so I shouldn't chicken out. I had gotten so far and I can't end the journey now. Not ever! But, because of you, you gave me an opportunity to network with people that could see me as someone interesting to work with. It works for me. I had been trying to find a network and this is the best one for me. :) Thank you x infinity!