Is it possible to become a Hollywood star? This question has stirred the minds of millions of girls around the world for decades. Many even decide to take real steps toward their dream: they move to Los Angeles, enroll in acting classes, and constantly try to break through at auditions in hopes of landing any role. This can be called the “classic” path to conquering Hollywood. While the chances of success are slim, some do manage to appear on screen in a bit part, creating a sensation in their hometown and a sea of envy among former classmates. However, this scheme doesn’t always work.
First, all future starlets heading to Los Angeles studios should consider that for a girl from Europe or other regions with a noticeable accent, the chances of landing a role in American cinema are much lower than for local candidates. This is unless your family moved to the US a long time ago and you spent years in an American school, thereby getting rid of your accent.
Of course, if you are willing to settle for the “dead prostitute” typecast or a non-speaking role, an accent might not be a hindrance.
Second, even if we assume you have a great ear for music and, after a couple of years of hard work, you’ve completely shed your foreign accent (or had English language skills since childhood), this only slightly increases your chances of success. Don’t forget that alongside you, another 10, 20, or 30 girls arrive in Los Angeles every day from various American, Australian, and British cities, all dreaming of becoming the next Margot Robbie.
As a rule, if you try to get a role through the “front door”—via acting schools and auditions—your chances are roughly equal and are estimated at 1 in 50,000. Every year, hundreds of films and TV series are filmed in the US, involving thousands of actors who at least get some screen time and a few lines. Fresh faces are always needed. However, even if you are lucky enough to get a bit part in a professional project, it by no means guarantees that your career will take off. It’s quite possible that it will end there, and in three or four years, after 30 or 40 failed attempts to progress, you’ll forget your old dream and go sign up for accounting courses.
Advantage #1: Children have a much better chance of success.
Maddie Ziegler, who danced in Sia’s “Chandelier” music video at age 11 and gained 6 million Instagram followers a couple of years later, had 100 times more chance of getting a movie role than an 18-year-old high school graduate from Nebraska with model looks and a suitcase full of ambition. By inviting a child star into a movie, producers and directors are guaranteed to “recoup” part of the budget investment. No matter how terrible the script or the movie itself is, the appearance of a child followed by millions on Instagram will add at least a few thousand viewers—maybe even tens of thousands. A former high school prom queen whom nobody knows is unlikely to be of much help to the filmmakers.
If parents want their child to become a movie star in the future, they need to start promoting them now. Modeling agencies, commercials, or music videos—all of this is a plus that can play a role later. Start an Instagram account, a YouTube channel, and post photos and videos. Moving to Los Angeles is not required at this stage—if necessary, they will find you. Believe me: it will be much easier to get into movies through social media fame than from an apartment overlooking the 20th Century Fox studios.
Advantage #2: You must provide value to the film.
If you dream of cinema, do music. Become the lead singer of a rock or pop band, film amateur music videos, and post them on YouTube. Perhaps you can break into movies through music by becoming famous in that field first.
Advantage #3: Act in and film your own short films.
They don’t require a large budget—in fact, many of them cost pennies. Perhaps most of them will be mediocre or naive, but it won’t do you any harm, and one out of ten might be something you’re not ashamed to show people. When you send your portfolio to various auditions, having these films won’t hurt.
Advantage #4: Become famous.
If you don’t have enough talent to write music or shoot shorts, you can become a vlogger. Of course, there are more and more of them every day, so breaking through is becoming harder. Но believe me: if your antics and camera presence manage to interest at least 100,000–300,000 subscribers, everything else will be much easier. Besides, YouTube stars make decent money from their videos. Fame gives you a certain value in the eyes of those looking for an actress for a role.
Advantage #5: Make the right connections.
Unfortunately, many girls misunderstand this advice, trying to interest an older producer or assistant director with their looks, with all the resulting consequences. Believe me: if this scheme worked, girls without inhibitions wouldn’t become porn actresses upon arriving in LA; they would immediately get roles in blockbusters and TV series. Networking is successful if you—already having some value to society as a musician, model, or vlogger—propose a joint project to an aspiring director. Perhaps even on a volunteer basis. This can be mutually beneficial.
Advantage #6: Write and pitch scripts.
If you are a well-rounded individual ready to put your ideas into print, they might interest someone in the film world. To be honest, the chances here are quite slim. But again, if you write your own script for a low-budget short, your chances of seeing yourself on screen in a leading role will be much higher. This is exactly why you need connections with aspiring directors. An attempt will cost you nothing but time, but it will provide a wealth of experience.