In order for an aspirant to enter its major star entertainment employment, he has to explore his career to attempt a bit part in a local production, or to assume a major role in a school production. Even working on the props or lighting will provide insight into the field. Likewise, it is also an advantage if one can attend a dramatic production and perform the best role he can play. Many books have been written about acting, not only concerning how to perform but also about the nature of the work, its offerings, advantages, and disadvantages. Those who are interested in acting can speak with those employed in the dramatic arts departments at various colleges and universities. Prospective actors will be required not only to have a great talent for acting jobs, but also a great determination to succeed in the theater and motion pictures. They must be able to memorize hundreds of lines and should have a good speaking voice. The ability to sing and dance is also gaining an increasing significance for the young actor to enter the world of entertainment with greater success.
Moreover, it can be recalled that in the early 1990s regardless of their past compensation for actor job and movie jobs, actors in Broadway productions only made a minimum weekly salary of about $700. Those in smaller productions “off Broadway” received minimums that ranged from $240 to $465 a week depending on the size of the theater. The rate for touring shows was an additional $70 a day. Motion picture and television minimum rates were $398 daily or $1385 for a five-day week. Extras earned a minimum of $91 a day. Motion picture actors also receive additional payments known as “residuals” as part of their guaranteed salary. For instance, all motion picture actors receive residuals whenever films, TV shows, and TV commercials in which they appear are re-run, sold for TV exhibition, or put on videocassette. Residuals often exceed the actor’s original salary and account for about one-third of all actors’ income. The annual earnings of persons in television and movies are affected by frequent periods of unemployment. Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild reported that in the early 1990s, more than 80 percent of their members earned $5000 or less annually and less than 5 percent earned more than $25,000 from acting. In all fields, well-known actors have salary rates above the minimums, and the salaries of the few top stars are many times higher. The average annual earnings, however, are usually low, except those best-known performers in their entertainment careers.
In their entire movie careers, actors work under varying conditions. Those employed in motion pictures may work in air-conditioned studios one week and be on location in a hot desert the next. Those in stage productions perform under all types of conditions. The number of hours employed per day or week varies, as do the number of weeks employed per year. Stage actors normally perform eight shows per week with any additional performances paid for as overtime. The basic workweek after the show opens is about thirty-six hours unless major changes in the play are needed. The number of hours worked per week is considerably more before the opening, because of rehearsals. Evening work is a natural part of a stage actor jobs and lifestyle. Rehearsals often are held at night and over holidays and weekends. If the play goes on the road, much traveling will be involved. Indeed, the jobs of the actor and movie entertainers are stressful and challenging. However, making people happy made them feel the joy of performing their entertainment job regardless of conditions.
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