ISM- INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

Student Name:
Printed Name of Person
Interviewed:
Role of Individual:

Eden Thiess

Period:

Rozanne Curtis

Place of Business:

___Mentor ___Other Professional #1

Clear Springs High School

Business Address:

501 Palomino Ln

_*__Other Professional #2

Phone Number:
Date of Interview:

4/7/16

Type of Interview: __*_ In Person ___ Telephone* ___Email*

*Documentation Required (Attach E-mail to Interview Verification Page)

1. For someone working in your field, please describe the fantasies versus realities of the job.
(fantasy vs. reality)

Fantasies: You are going to be famous immediately

It will be easy
That you would always be working
Reality: Its very difficult
Fighting with politics
o casting based on who they know and not talent,
When it rains it pours
o there will be 20-30 auditions and then dry spell of no auditions
Never done studying- always something to learn

2. What is your current educational level? What continuing education and training are required?
(educational level and requirements)

Current level: Bachelor of Arts in theatre

Continuing: Always taking dance class, private voice lessons, acting classes (stage, film and
commercial) and improvisation classes

3. Please describe the typical day to day activities of someone working in your field.
(day-to-day activities)

Revised Fall 2013

Theatre: wake up and do physical warm up, vocal warm up, review lines or songs or
choreography before you even go to the stage, expected at stage at 1:00PM and rehearse until
10:00PM, musicals usually have that schedule for 3 weeks (6 days a week), go in look at the call
board and check room and scenes, staging and blocking and choreo, visiting costumer for
fittings. Get off at 10:00 and go home to review what you learned that day for the next day. 3
days of tech rehearsal and then opening night.

Film: Get break-down of call sheet (what time to be on set and makeup, etc). Head straight to
makeup and wardrobe. Go to set, shoot scene for 12 hours which gets about 4 minutes of film.
Film takes longer due to shooting scenes with many different angles and lighting. Feature films
last 2 to 6 months.

4. How secure are you in your current position? What do you think is the future of your field?
(job security)

An actor is never secure, always studying to be better

The field is never secure
o You could work non-stop for 3 years and then not work ever again
Whats on-trend
Can only be secure if you stay on top of your abilities
Sometimes she worries about musical theatre because of the popularity of reality TV
o Hurts good actors because anyone can be famous without putting in the work or study
The internet is adversely exciting in that young actors can make more art and less expensive
o Anyone can get famous on Youtube or reality TV

5. What is a typical (average or lowest to highest) salary of someone working in your field?
(salary)

Most actors make less than $10,000 a year

85% unemployment rate
o Supplement that income by making money teaching or doing tech or backstage work
(being well-rounded)
o If you only know how to act you arent going to get much work
High range is for if your famous
Large gap between the salaries you can make

6. What potential for growth is there in your field?

(growth potential)

Potential growth depends on being well-rounded and learning how to do everything that is
creative
Writing, directing, backstage work
Growth of acting and films is becoming easier due to the internet

Revised Fall 2013

7. What is your favorite part of your job?

Involved in a production that changes someones life

Example: She directed Jesus Christ Superstar, and performed in a church, and she got a note
from a mom that said thank you for putting on a production, her son wanted to take
communion because he understood what Jesus did for him

8. What is the most difficult part of your job?

Staying positive because when you audition 9/10 times you are rejected
Be your best cheerleader

9. Do you like working with younger kids or older kids? Why?

No preference; likes them both equally

High schoolers are more daring because they can try more
Younger are fearless but less emotional maturity

10. How is a theatrical job different than any other kind of job?

You get to work a job that everybody wishes they had

Can be creative every single day with an immediate impact on people
Touch a lot of lives
Always different, never bored by your job

Interview Summary
What information from this interview will you select for your page typed,
bulleted list of research informationto be used in your presentation?

Revised Fall 2013