Login Now to visit your portfolio or Create An Account if you don't already have one.

Job Definition
View MoviePlay parts in stage, television, radio, video, or motion picture productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.
Job Zone

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Interests
Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Knowledge
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Skills
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Tasks
Write original or adapted material for dramas, comedies, puppet shows, narration, or other performances.
Prepare and perform action stunts for motion picture, television, or stage productions.
Tell jokes, perform comic dances, songs and skits, impersonate mannerisms and voices of others, contort face, and use other devices to amuse audiences.
Introduce performances and performers in order to stimulate excitement and coordinate smooth transition of acts during events.
Manipulate strings, wires, rods, or fingers to animate puppets or dummies in synchronization with talking, singing, or recorded programs.
Dress in comical clown costumes and makeup, and perform comedy routines to entertain audiences.
Perform original and stock tricks of illusion to entertain and mystify audiences, occasionally including audience members as participants.
Construct puppets and ventriloquist dummies, and sew accessory clothing, using hand tools and machines.
Study and rehearse roles from scripts in order to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other in order to develop role interpretations.
Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
Attend auditions and casting calls in order to audition for roles.
Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements in order to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was .

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between  and .

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 50,500 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 59,400 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 890 openings due to growth and about 1,040 replacement openings for approximately 1,930 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
Acting - A program that prepares individuals to communicate dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the achievement of naturalistic and believable behavior in imaginary circumstances. Includes instruction in voice and acting speech, stage dialects, movement, improvisation, acting styles, theatre history, script interpretation, and actor coaching.
Similar Occupations
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators - Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of mediums and techniques, such as painting and sculpture.
Floral Designers - Design, cut, and arrange live, dried, or artificial flowers and foliage.
Talent Directors - Audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
Music Composers and Arrangers - Write and transcribe musical scores.
Singers - Sing songs on stage, radio, television, or motion pictures.
Models - Model garments and other apparel to display clothing before prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, retail establishments, or photographer. May pose for photos to be used for advertising purposes. May pose as subject for paintings, sculptures, and other types of artistic expression.
Notes
You must be logged in to take notes, click here to login.
Job Openings
Click here for job openings in California.