If you have a passion for the arts, solid communication skills and enjoy working with people, a career in acting could be for you.
Ready to find out what it takes to become an actor in South Africa? Let’s dive in!
Career Overview: Actor
Acting isn’t one of those careers you can put in a box and form an exact how-to list, as is with more traditional careers (e.g. Accountant). Becoming an Actor takes raw skill, determination, passion and grit. Some people make it young; they discover their passion at a young age and constantly pursue acting opportunities. Others study a drama degree and make it to the top via the connections they have at university. Others get spotted by an agent by chance in order to make it. Some spend years pursuing acting by attending hundreds of castings, doing acting gigs and networking as much as possible.
So, how do you go about realistically becoming an Actor? Below are just general guidelines that can assist you in becoming a full-time actor.Â
Required School Subjects
There are no required high school subjects but there are certain high school subjects that are recommended for acting:
- Dramatic Arts
- English Home Lanugage or First Additional Language
- Other languages
- Visual Arts
- Music
Institution and APS
There are many different institutions and private organisations that offer acting classes and/or qualifications across the country. Do a quick Google search to find one near you.
Private Institution/Organisation:
- University of Pretoria – APS of 30
- University of Witwatersrand – APS of 34+
- University of KwaZulu Natal – APS of 28+
- University of Cape Town – APS of 32+
Required Qualification/s for an Actor
Your main selling point as an actor will be your natural talent. Courses will merely help you develop your skills and allow you to achieve your goals. Here are some qualification suggestions to assist you:
Required Skills: Actor
You will need to have the following skills to succeed as an Actor:
- performance
- oral communication
- team work
- self-motivation
- creativity
- critical thinking
- negotiation and conflict management skills
- improvisation skill
- time management
- ability to cope under pressure
Where You Can Work as an Actor
There is no set career overview. If you wish to become a professional actor, on stage or on TV, you will need to attend hundreds of castings and you’ll need that one break all Actors talk about. Whilst doing this, many aspiring Actors make a living by working in retail or hospitality.
You can also opt to offer acting classes yourself. Or, if you completed a traditional qualification, you can study a PGCE (postgraduate certificate in education) and become a teacher or a lecturer.
The career path you take will determine your salary expectations, working hours and what kind of performances you’ll end up in. You can even opt for the more technical side of performance and work in production side of things. These are all things you need to consider when thinking about a career in acting – it can be tough out there and you need to be prepared to work hard and continuously believe in your goals and dreams.
Working Hours
Actors work all hours of the day, often more than the general 9 hours a day. Depending on your project, you could be expected to work through the night or all day. There is no general guideline. Or, if you’re doing something like an advert, they might require you for one or two full days and the day will only end when they have all of the shots they need. If you prefer routine and standard working hours, acting may not be for you.
Expected Salary for an Actor
According to Indeed, the general salary for an actor is +-R15,000 per month. However, salaries may differ depending on your role, your level of experience, location and talent. Connections in this industry matters, so be sure to network as much as you can when entering this career.
What to Expect
If you opt for short courses, workshops or evening classes, you’ll have a lot more practical work. You’ll practice different methods and skills in class, with your fellow aspiring actors. This will help set you up with practical knowledge and skills. You can choose classes based on what you need, for example, learning new accents.
Related Articles
Pursuing a Career in the Arts
Want to find out what it means to head on into the Arts industry?
