<p>Hi, I’m a 14 year old girl who keeps changing her mind. One day I want to travel, the next I want to be work-driven in one place. The only consistent job choices I’ve really felt connected to, (by consistent I mean I’ve wanted them for over 2 years) I would be good at is Acting and Psychology. Odd, I know. The thing is I’d love to move to LA when I’m done with school and pursue acting, taking 1-2 years off college to see if I make it, if I don’t I would attend UCLA or berkley for film, photography, or psychology/ maybe law. The thing is my parents are huge in the there-is-no-choice-when-it-comes-to-if-you’re-going-to-college thing. I don’t want to waste money and get their hopes up for my future by going a year to college then taking a year or two off for acting. They believe taking a break is another term for quitting. The thing is though, They’ve been in charge- supportive, but in charge- of me my whole life. It feels like all decisions are theirs. (I do realize I sound like all bratty 14 year old girls) I’ve never been in a REAL play or anything ( grade school performances) but I sometimes stay up late practicing lines from books as different characters. I don’t have stage fright and I’m more interested in movies and etc, I’m just nervous what people will think of me considering the fact that my parents, who are so supportive, tend to judge so much. I know its not your life and I’m only posting this here to get a parent’s opinion. Please be respectful and honest- Is it crazy? Am I absolutely nuts for wanting to risk it all for what makes me happy? I think I have a shot but most young actors tend to even if they well… suck. I’m doing backstage stuff this year if I can ( I need to see if they’ll accept me considering acting you had to sign up for in registration) and see if I would be up to try my hand at acting on stage sophmore year. I don’t really like the aspect of stage, play-like performances since its usually musicals at my school and i lack a good voice. I want to take photography in all other 3 years of HS if I can, and maybe some type of editing class. Would it be smarter to just go into scripts( I like writign and have often been told I’d be good at it since I can predict exactly how most shows end.) Well… advice or suggestions are appreciated. Message me if you don’t want to post it here, but I’d REALLY appreciate a parent’s perspective. Thanks In advance, alo1313.</p>
<p>Alo - I have three daughters that bracket your age, so I’ll give your question a go.</p>
<p>IMHO, you’d be a pretty unusual 14-year-old if you didn’t keep changing your mind. Embrace this phase in your life. Pick a couple of “flighty” things that appeal to you and pursue them. Keep in mind though that you’ll probably change your mind again … and again … between now and adulthood. So be sure to continually work at the two main jobs every teen has … your education, and becoming the best person you can be. Good luck, and remember that even child-stars make room in their busy lives for education … it’s really that important.</p>
<p>I know, education is first. I’m trying to get straight A’s to show a little bit of responsibility. Thanks though, :)</p>
<p>Sounds like you are on the right track of making your extracurricular activities as much about acting as you can! Even if you end up doing something else with your life, you will have some great experiences and memories if you keep doing that. Does your high school put on any non-musical productions? Ours does a ‘winter show’ that is a serious play (usually no singing :)), then a spring musical. You might check out community theater and see if there are any roles to try out for there for plays that are not musicals, too.</p>
<p>Two kids from D1’s high school class of 75 kids (two years ago) got into the USC film school, so it can be done. One had made a big hobby of movies, and the other was interested in animation.</p>
<p>You might also look into summer programs that are about movie making or acting. Not sure if you could find one on script writing, but it would be worth looking into.</p>
<p>You should definitely keep working on your education, though. You don’t want to be like those boys who think they are going to be pro-football players and don’t take their education seriously, and end up without any way to make a living long term. So I would say pursue your dreams, BUT have a good backup plan. And a good backup plan does include a college education in this day and age.</p>
<p>Fortunately you don’t have to decide the college question now so the best thing to do is to prepare yourself to allow a shot at entry into the colleges of your choice which it looks like you are with your grades. Very few people can make a living wage at acting and there’s a lot of luck involved - not just skill. This is a statistic you probably already know. This means it would pay to be conservative in your approach - not give up your dreams but rather, be practical, have your eyes wide open, and have good backup plans. Also be practical enough to know that many people change their minds about what they want to do between your age and graduating HS as well as beyond that point in college where they might switch majors a time or two.</p>
<p>If you were my D I’d say to keep up the good grades, plan to attend college and complete your undergrad in one chunk as opposed to taking a break from it after a couple of years, and pursue your acting along the way including taking taking acting courses. If you happen to strike it big then maybe you can consider taking a break at that time but I can’t see quitting to ‘pursue it full time’ when you may not even have any real prospects at the time. What exactly would you see yourself doing in that 1-2 years?</p>
<p>You shouldn’t consider attending college to get your undergrad in 4 years and pursuing acting as mutually exclusive.</p>
<p>Make sure you end up considering more than just UCLA/UCB since there are other colleges that offer opportunities in whatever area you end up deciding to pursue - such as intparent’s info on USC. If you want even a shot at being accepted to UCLA/UCB you’ll need to have excellent stats (GPA, SAT/ACT, courses like honors/AP, ECs).</p>
<p>btw - my D who attended UCLA ran into an actor attending UCLA, James Franco, who, even though he was/is already a very successful actor, prioritized getting a degree and attended UCLA to get one. I think he’s at Columbia in grad school now (and still acting in movies).</p>
<p>edit - It looks like I cross-posted with intparent somewhat - we both offered the same advice so we must be on to something.</p>
<p>many find acting in college, or high school a wonderful experience, but at that stage in their life, don’t see it as a career. Some choose other fields of production they are exposed to after a taste of acting.
Many 14 yr olds change their mind weekly. You may not be that extreme, but know “you’ve got a lot of living to do” (song lyrics from a famous play and movie)
you don’t have to decide today what you’re going to be doing at 20; but you do need to get a sound education and extracurriculars so you can be prepared for any turn your life takes.</p>
<p>intparent- I know, my plan as of now is to try my hardest (A’s- I’m really good at school) and I was hoping I can prove to them that I’m responsible and take this seriously. If I get A’s I could tell them that I got them so that If a year off doesn’t work I’ll still be able to have a future.
ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad- I would be planing on working, taking classes and hopefully find an agent that would get me auditions. </p>
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<li>I realize I don’t have to decide now but it feels like I do (another teenage thing I’m assuming) and I’ve got to say I think I’d really regret not trying it out. I’m not saying I won’t go to college. IF I did take the (for me) 2015 year off, I’d for sure return to school next year and do acting on the side unless something big came along. I’ve been on a commercial set a couple times before and I love the whole filming process, It just fascinates me. The few plays I remember from grade school I hated the crowd. It didn’t make me nervous, I just didn’t like it. That is why I’m semi-hesitant to try my hand at plays, I just don’t want to lose the intrest at movies and filming that I have, which I have seen people do before because they didn’t like the branch of filming they were in. * Please note I realize this is a little weird. Thank you so much for the advice everyone. You all seem to agree that College is important and I don’t have to decide now, I really appreciate the perspective of a parent you guys gave me:) thanks!</li>
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