An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production or in film,
television, theatre, or radio. Actors communicate an author's script to others
by acting in a creative and convincing fashion. They express ideas and create
images and entertain people in theater, film, radio, television, and other
performing arts media. Their skills can also be used in industrial theatre and
education to convey important information to the audience in an effective way.
Some actors even do voiceover and narration work for advertisements, animated
features, books on tape, and other electronic medias.
Actors work under constant pressure. Many face stress from the continual need
to move along with the changes and competition that surround them. To succeed,
actors need patience and commitment to their craft. Actors have to deliver
flawless performances, often while working under undesirable and unpleasant
conditions. Moreover, They experience stress not only from these reasons, but
also from the need to adhere to work rules and production schedules. Actors
typically work long and irregular hours. Actors may have to shoot or perform
one scene at night while another during the day and the next after a week.
Acting demands self-confidence, determination, willpower, the ability to adapt
to different situations and the talent to deal maturely with criticism.
Personal characteristics like intelligence, sensitivity, keen perception, good
memory, a sense of self-discipline and above all the knack for acting are also
required. Employers generally look for people with the creative instincts,
innate talent, and intellectual capacity to perform. Actors should possess a
passion for performing and enjoy entertaining others. Most aspiring actors get
their preliminary experiences by participating in high school and college
plays, work in college radio stations, or perform with local community clubs,
CBOs, NGOs and INGOs.
Formal dramatic training, either through training programs of institutes or a
university program, generally is necessary, but some people successfully enter
the field without it. Actors should be able to project personality and
emotions. The command over some additional languages are additional
requirements that complement actors.
JOB PROSPECT
Jobs for actors are offered primarily by motion
pictures and videos, Television Ads, Drama theaters (like Gurukul), and
broadcast industries. The jobs in these areas are mostly on short term
contract basis. Most actors work on a free-lance basis where they consider and
take any work that is temporarily available - many organizations and private
companies appoint people only temporarily, for the duration of the
production.
In fact, acting assignments typically are short term -
ranging from 1 day to a few months - which means that actors frequently
experience long periods of unemployment between jobs. And this uncertain
nature of the work results in unpredictable earnings and intense competition
for even the lowest-paid jobs.
Ever spreading cable and satellite television operations, increasing production and distribution of independent films and features, and continued growth and development of electronic games and other interactive media have increased demand for actors. In Nepalese context, the expanding number of television channels, increasing craze of viewers towards reality shows, tele-serials, comedy serials, educational and informative dramas etc. have increased the job prospects for new artists. However, as the number of available opportunities always are outnumbered by the available actors, only actors with an outstanding talent and aptitude for acting will find regular employment.
While most of
the actors stick to the job of acting all their lives, some actors move to the
related careers as per their interests. They may turn out to be announcers,
dancers and choreographers, makeup artists, theatrical and performance
directors, fashion designers, set and stage designers script writers, editors
and other related workers. Some may move into the work of teaching in acting
schools and theaters.
SALARY:
Salary depends on production size and budget of film/
Theatre. Normally, income range for the Nepali movie actor is around NRs. 40,
000 -500,000 per movie whereas in case of actress, it’s around NRs. 25,000 –
300,000 per movie. But in case of top Nepali actors and actress like Rajesh
Hamal, Anmol KC, Samragyee RL Shah the income range can even be higher.
Similarly, a model or an actor/actress earn NRs. 5,000 - 100,000 per music
video. This amount can again increase in case of top actors/ actress and
models.
Likewise actors can also earn good money by working in
Television Serials, Dramas, Commercial Ads etc. But the estimation of earning
in such cases would be inappropriate.
Institutes offering acting classes as follows:
- National School of Film & Television, Address: Chabahil Kathmandu, Nepal, Phone: 01-4488616
- Acting Course at
Suryakala Films Pvt. Ltd., Kopundole, GPO Box: 151 , Lalitpur , 5555695,
5555795
- Acting Course at Gurukul School of Theatre, Baneshwor,
Kathmandu , 4466956, 2101332
- Everest Culture Academy, Lagankhel,
Kathmandu , 5550662
