Math, physics, and electrical engineering courses would be a complement to your theatre major if you have an interest in technical lighting or sound design. While formal training is helpful for performing in theatre, television, video or film, experience and talent are the most important ingredients for success. Often aspiring actors face rejection when looking for work and may experience long periods of unemployment between jobs. Even established actors tend to accept smaller roles in commercials or other types of endorsements, primarily because experience is so crucial to success. Many actors hold an additional job while they are pursuing their career in acting.
Directors coordinate production of plays, television shows, commercials, and film.
They audition and select cast members, conduct rehearsals, and coordinate the work of the cast and crew. Directors work with writers to determine the best way to present a script, and confer with producers regarding casting, budgets, production schedules, and designers. Entry into the directing field is varied. Some directors begin as actors and eventually transfer to directing. Others write plays that they then direct, or work as assistants to the director before actually receiving their own production.