Generally speaking, actors’ work lives follow a cycle: audition, get a part, prepare, perform, and repeat. As they work on productions, all but the most successful actors tend to hold down one or more other jobs. In almost every major acting industry, the job means working long hours and late nights. Stage actors are generally called in the evening to avoid conflicts with day jobs, while film actors may be called for 12 hours or more. Working in the film industry often necessitates travel, whereas stage actors generally only travel if relocating to another city in order to participate in a specific production or touring.
The roles you play vary: You could find yourself acting like a monster for one project, and then months later, you might play the romantic lead in another. The more diverse your skills are, the more likely you’ll get hired. Your work isn’t confined to filming, though. In fact, the job of a film actor starts way before filming, with the audition process. To get a part, you can work with a talent agent or you can audition on your own, but you want to get in front of a director or casting director to prove that you can act.
