Results
Introduction
🎬 Hey, what's up, guys!
In today's episode, I’m going to share five tips on how to start your career as an actor in South Africa.
Whether you're just getting started or you’ve always dreamed of being on the big screen, these tips will give you the tools you need to kickstart your acting career.
1. Join Acting Groups and Volunteer for Short Films
The first thing you need to do is find acting groups in your hometown.
- Join short film projects and volunteer your time.
- Search for local events like the 48-Hour Film Project in Durban, Cape Town, or Joburg.
Even if you have no experience, it's essential to get involved and gain as much experience as possible. Whether it’s paid or pro bono, just act!
I have a friend who started exactly like this. While working full-time, he would spend his weekends acting in free projects and passion projects. Over time, he honed his craft, and now I see him in commercials, TV shows, and even on billboards.
It’s all about putting in the work. If he can do it, so can you!
2. Shoot Monologues and Upload Them to YouTube
Next up, you should shoot monologues with your phone.
- Choose monologues or scenes from your favorite movies.
- Ask a friend to shoot you, or even do it yourself.
Upload them to YouTube and start a channel to showcase your work.
- If you can’t find short films to act in, perform monologues, record your favorite scenes, or create skits.
- Practice makes perfect. Keep learning and practicing your craft.
When you're ready to join an agency, you can send them these clips. They'll be able to see your range and experience, and that could be the first step toward representation.
3. Create a Showreel
Once you’ve acted in a few projects, create a showreel.
- A showreel is essentially a montage of your best acting clips.
- I helped my friend with his showreel after he acted in multiple short films. I cut together clips from all his projects, and he sent it to an agency.
Even though he never studied acting, his experience and versatility impressed the agency, and they signed him. He started getting auditions, and now he’s thriving.
If you can build a showreel with a variety of clips, agencies are more likely to notice you—experience counts!
4. Put Yourself Out There – Audition, Act, and Network
If you want to make it as an actor, you have to put yourself out there.
- Keep auditioning for as many roles as possible.
- Practice monologues, take acting courses, and keep reading acting books.
- Network with other actors, directors, and filmmakers.
- Volunteer for smaller productions and indie films.
The more you practice and immerse yourself in acting, the better you’ll get. But don’t just wait for opportunities to come to you—create them.
5. Never Stop Learning and Improving
Finally, keep learning and growing as an actor.
- Keep practicing your craft.
- Take online courses, workshops, and trainings.
- Read acting books, study different acting methods, and experiment with new techniques.
Acting is a lifelong journey, and there’s always something new to learn. If you're serious about your career, you'll need to put in the effort every single day.
Closing Remarks
And those are my five tips on how to start your acting career in South Africa. It may seem challenging at times, but if you’re committed, it’s definitely possible.
💬 Have any questions? Drop them below in the comments. I’d love to answer them, either in the comments or in the next video!
🎥 If you found this helpful, let me know your thoughts, and feel free to suggest topics for future episodes.
Until next time, guys—peace out! ✌️