Prefer to be an actor or director?

The movie business or entertainment business for that matter is not an easy one. Most actors work longer hours then most of us do at our regular jobs. Hours consisting of 5am sometimes even earlier and working 15-18 hour days sometimes 7 days straight. That goes for directors too sometimes even more hours then actors do since they are involved in every aspect of movie or television work.

Showbiz is a hard business to get into but even harder to work in it. There are a lot of others out there that want to do the same thing you may be wanting to do yourself. But nonetheless it is possible for anyone to get into the business with persistence. The keys to any success. One common mistake a lot of people make is paying to get into the business. I have seen it time and time again. You go to some get together for someone to tell you if you have it or not, keep you in a room for those who get to stay and tell you it will cost X amount of dollars to go see producers that will be at a specific function. Now how these people know whether you have it or not is them just picking and choosing who they think will have the money to go on to the next round. It is the biggest rip off going on and lots of people get shafted for it. Don't fall for it.

If you really want to get into show business here is some helpful advice. There are websites out there that list auditions happening all over the US that I have seen. All you really have to do instead of spending hundreds on a portfolio is take some poloroid or simple snap shot of yourself with NO MAKEUP on. The agents want to see your actual face , not a make believe one. Next you mail it to talent agents. They are listed on both your local telephone book and online.

If the talent agent thinks he/she can get you work they will pay for your portfolio not you! The agent makes a percentage of what you make. Its there business to get you work.

Also start off in city plays, if you are still in high school join the drama club. Colleges and University's also throw plays so try and join. It helps in your resume. Most of your first works may be in commercials.

If your interested in directing you may want to take some college courses on learning what you can. Another alternative is to volunteer to work on sets or for film production studios to learn the business.

Got any other questions? Perhaps I myself or someone else that comments can help you out on your quest. Networking is key so get to know people.

So what would you want to be? Director? or Actor?

Behind the scenes of Back to the Future

Back to the Future was an idea hatched by Bob Gale whom was one day going through his fathers high school year book thinking what it would be like to meet his father in that time period. Only difference is from the movie and in real life is that the characters had been reversed. Bob Gale was more of the nerd going through high school and his father a class president and highlyrespected in school.

Some of the shots for the movie where shot in Universals backlot in California such as that of the courthouse. The houses you seen in the movie where actual houses in the neighborhoods of Passadena.

Courthouse in Universal Studios Backlot

The original character for the movie was suppose to be at the beginning Micheal J. Fox which did play in the movie, however at the begining they could not get him because he had a prior obligation to finish up Teen Wolf and Family Ties at the time. Erick Sholtz actually played the character of Marty Mc Fly for the first 4 weeks of filming until Steven Spielberg had come back from being out of the country decided that Eric Sholtz was not right for the part of Marty Mc Fly. By this time Micheal J. Fox was available and had finished filming Teen Wolf, so they got lucky enough to get him to play the part of Marty Mc Fly.

Micheal J. Fox (Marty McFly)

Of course Eric Sholtz is not seen in the movie, some parts of him being in the movie are still there and where never cut out. Such as the scene of him driving the De Lorean through the mall parking lot is of him. The producers thought since you couldn't see his face why should it be cut out.

Crispin Glover (George McFly)

In the original script for the movie Doc Browns name was Professor Brown and instead of him having a dog named Einstein he had a chimp. The script was pitched to several companies including Disney only to be turned down. Universal did pick up the script but made some changes to the script into the finished product you see on screen.

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Christopher Lloyd (Doc Brown)

Lea Thompston ( Lorraine McFly)


Thomas F. Wilson (Biff)