For those of you who want to be actors, the first step to success is to discover why auditioning doesn’t work. Using auditions is the traditional way, and that doesn’t work anymore. For example would you try to find your way into the industry via a traditional acting agency route?

The film industry has changed a great deal. You need to do things in a way that others aren’t. The faster you learn how, the sooner you will be a regularly working actor.

How to get acting roles without auditioning is an insider secret. Many people ask if it’s really possible to get acting roles without auditions. Everyone does acting auditions. Everyone has an audition tape. It’s just the way it’s done – so everyone says.

The problem, though, is that almost everyone who wants to act is trying to get in front of the camera the same way. Actors in auditions are faces in a huge crowd. All many hear is that dreaded word – NEXT!

Something you might not expect but IMPORTANT: Look like the job you want to do! Film industry jobs are made of crafts. In order to get ahead, it matters that you look like, talk like, and have the energy of the people who already do what you want to do. When you know how to fit in, insiders think of you as a professional.

You can be highly skilled at the craft you want to do.  You can get stuck in your career though by ignoring things like dress, talk, and energy.

Imagine a career in film where you get on shoots with Matt Damon and Taylor Swift. This is a great time to break into the film industry because shoots are happening everywhere. Get into the film industry and get networking with insiders.

Friends and family are among the most common challenges that can stop you from pursuing a career in the film industry. People close to you simply don’t know how the business works, nor do they understand how much opportunity and money there is to be made. They tell you to get a ‘real job’ because pursuing your dream isn’t realistic.

Learn how to get roles that put you on the map! If you want to make it as an actor, think creatively to get the parts. Most actors try to break in by going to film school or by going to auditions. There are many successful working actors who didn’t go to film school. They didn’t go to audition after audition.

The problem with auditioning is that there are so many people doing it. You only get a couple of minutes in front of casting. You are just one of many anonymous faces to the casting director. They don’t know you.

I screwed up working for the Director of La La Land D:     Everyone makes mistakes, whether they are just starting out, on their way up, or at the top. Mistakes at the workplace do happen. Online film school won’t prevent it from happening, being a top expert won’t prevent it, being as careful as possible won’t either.

Be prepared to handle mistakes correctly. You’re going to make them. It’s OK.

Some people break into film and work for a while without avoiding a common career-killing pitfall. They expect to move up into their craft and have a successful career in film. When some people get stuck, they think film school might help them. Film school can lead to debt and frustration. Others work with a particular acting agent or director or other professional for months or years. That may provide a steady income for a time until that professional moves on.

You don’t want to be dependent on a few professionals for your success. Reliance on a few key people is one of the most common pitfalls you can fall into. It’s often why, for example, some actors are famous for a time. They get forgotten, only to become one of those, ‘whatever happened to so and so’ stories.

Making friends in the film industry and networking leads to job opportunities. There are many different types of jobs on filmsets. Understand how different jobs function as part of the whole and you’re easy to work with. The film industry is a great place to make friends for life. You’ll be networking with your friends your entire career, since all the job opportunities come from the inside.

Getting work in the film industry is all about who you know. It’s a people business. The biggest challenge to breaking in is making those initial connections.

A huge part of being successful in the film industry is just doing it. Putting yourself out there to get on set and meeting with professionals gets you on the inside. People who get into film take action. They are opening doors in the film industry all of the time.

You need to take action in order to break into film. You need to meet the professionals who can hire you and refer you.

Shifting identity and bringing energy to set – the learning curve, is a group of empowering techniques and skills you need to learn to overcome fears. The film industry is an exciting place to be. You can work with the fears stopping you from pursuing your dream.

Alex started as a production assistant on set and did that work for some time. When he moved into camera, which is his specialty, he was uncomfortable working in a new department. Camera is a completely different niche than working as a production assistant.