Tiffany Marie Wilson: Actor and singer in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Bo- I was thinking the same thing. Not how it works at all. And you don't just hire an agent. You submit to agencies and if they need your look on their roster They will set up a meeting.

Exactly, Tiffany. Beginners, please, start with training under a reputable, well-known (if in NYC or LA) coach. That is, by far, a more important first step. The rest will come in time. If you start submitting to agencies with little to no training, and just a few extras credits on your resume, you're hopes are going to get crushed, quickly. I realize Tara meant well in her comments, but incorrect information is more harm than good.

Get some nice headshots and continue your classes. Look on craigslist for students and other amateurs making films. Also look up short film contests (48hourfilmproject.com is a good one), and connect with them about being available for acting. You don't need to look like a 24 yr blond bombshell. There are all kinds of fat, bald, weird looking people on tv and in movies (Kramer, Costanza). Just be honest with your pictures, have an awesome attitude, don't put up with bad behavior, and you'll pick up good films to get experience with.

New demo reel up! Would love some feedback! On a side note ... I hate LA heat!

@Deryn - Any time you say something that is not true, by definition, you are lying. Fiction writers tell lies - lies we like and even love - but they are still lies, because they are not true. The same is true for actors. There is nothing wrong with lying if it is done in the right context. Truth vs. Lies: http://uneed2listen2this.podbean.com/mobile/2008/12/27/voir-dire-20/

@Thomas - I have no doubt your method helps you deliver your best performance. But I don't think it is necessary for someone to believe they are lying to provide a good performance. Consider a shady car salesperson. Does he or she really believe all the crap they tell you? Having heard many of them behind the scenes, I don't think so. All they have to believe is that they are fooling the customers/audience. And in the end, the audience is the final judge of the quality of the performance: Was it believable?

Nice post, Paula. To me it is making YOURSELF believable and putting yourself, not a character, in imaginary circumstances and reacting as you would. You are unique and we want to see that unique reaction. Of course we also want to see the full you with all your energy and vulnerability and charm and humor.To do that well you need a lot of training. One reason I called my book, How to Make Yur Audience Fall in Love With You is that you have a lot of choices in acting and you should strive to make the ones that make you appealing. If the part you are playing has a lot of fed up and weary lines don't do them that way, use game playing and "I can't BELIEVE you are so awful," in an amazed way, not a fed up way. Great actor make interesting appealing choices. Look at the charm of Hannibal Lector, for example. He loved his wins and superiority. He got great pleasure from them and so did his audience.