How Many Hours Do Actors Work? | Los Angeles Acting Classes (2024)

Actors are hired for roles in film, television, theater or even events. They can also be employed as ‘extras’. In those roles, they appear on-screen with no lines, as narrators for animations or as voiceovers for audiobooks or other media. Since acting roles range from Hollywood ‘A-listers’ to struggling actors trying to secure a steady job, work hours vary. The hours can also be extensive and even irregular.

Some actors may work on a part-time basis. Their acting hours can range from one day to a few months. They spend the remaining hours doing other jobs to supplement their income. For example, they may teach acting classes.

An actor’s work hours may include early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays. Filming days can run from twelve to as many as twenty hours. Feature films may involve working 5 days a week and can last up to three months of shooting.

Depending on the role, an actor may need to learn new skills or receive training or coaching. This can last several weeks or a few months. For example, in an action movie, the actor may be trained by the stunt coordinator. After all, their moves must appear believable even with a stunt double.

Whether a big-budget, feature film or theater, actors may need to travel to different locations. This includes working in other countries and can take two to three months of production. Other aspects of an actor’s business may include post-production edits and promotion of the film. This can be another two to four months of constant travel and full days of interviews, events and talk shows.

Acting hours can be long and irregular. It requires a great level of commitment but can be very rewarding. With hard work and dedication to the profession, actors can be successful in landing that dream role.

How Many Hours Do Actors Work? | Los Angeles Acting Classes (2024)

FAQs

How long do actors take acting classes? ›

Average Time it Takes to Learn Acting

Still, the consensus is that it can take about 2-4 years to perfect the skill and become confident.

How difficult is it to become an actor in LA? ›

Drive, motivation, and professionalism: The number of actors flocking to L.A. can be daunting and discouraging at times. While you will need some degree of luck to achieve success here, drive, motivation, confidence, charisma, and professionalism will take you a long way. Be persistent and relentless with your goals.

How many hours do you have to work in acting? ›

Actors work 10 to 20 hours a day, six days a week when they are starring in a main role. Supporting actors can expect to work around 30 hours a week. It largely depends on the role, filming schedule, and film studio. Overall, work hours for an actor can be extensive and irregular.

What is the most prestigious acting school in Los Angeles? ›

Top 6 Acting Schools in LA
  1. The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. ...
  2. The Groundlings Theatre & School. ...
  3. Margie Haber Studio. ...
  4. Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre. ...
  5. The Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Theatre. ...
  6. The Beverly Hills Playhouse.

How much are acting classes in Los Angeles? ›

How Much Do Acting Classes Cost? In general, acting classes cost between $150 and $2,000, a number that varies greatly depending on location, size of the class, and reputation of the educator. Group acting lessons typically run between $20 to $80 per hour in Los Angeles and New York City.

Do most actors take acting classes? ›

While formal training can be helpful, there are plenty of successful actors who never got an acting degree. That said, pretty much every actor working today has received some sort of training along the way.

Is LA or NYC better for acting? ›

NYC vs. LA: Which is Better for Actors? While Los Angeles is the center of the country's film and TV industry, New York City offers more opportunities for stage actors. That's why, for many actors, there are fewer decisions more agonizing than figuring out which coast will better suit their pursuit of an acting career.

Is 24 too old to start acting? ›

It may not be smooth sailing to begin with, but perseverance and persistence can pay off. So remember, it's never too late to become an actor and follow your passion.

Where are most auditions in LA? ›

BURBANK. This is the famous Burbank, and arguably the nicest area in The Valley. The rent will run higher, but you'll live close to Disney, Universal and Warner Bros studios, find many things to do in here, and a lot of auditions take place in Burbank.

Is 30 too late for acting? ›

There is no age limit or threshold to becoming an actor.

Is 20 too late for acting? ›

It's never too late to start acting because there is no age limit to pursuing your dreams and passions.

What percent of actors make a living? ›

According to a comprehensive study that examined 2,408,501 performers, “as low as 2% of actors are able to make a living out of acting.” Note the “make a living” part—we're not even talking about becoming the next Brad Pitt or Margot Robbie.

Is 25 too old for drama school? ›

Let's get this out of the way: No, you are not too old to start your acting career. Whatever age you are now, there are opportunities for you to perform onstage and onscreen. But that doesn't mean they will come easily. You will have to be as prepared, if not more so, than your competition.

What is LA film school acceptance rate? ›

The Los Angeles Film School admissions is not selective with an acceptance rate of 100%. The regular admissions application deadline for The Los Angeles Film School is rolling.

What school has the most successful actors? ›

Top 20 US Universities and the Actors Who Studied There
RankUniversity
1Yale University
2University of California, Los Angeles
3New York University
4Harvard University
16 more rows

How long do you stay in acting school? ›

Once you have joined IDSA, the training is open-ended and you may stay as long as you wish, although we would recommend that you train at IDSA for at least three years to be able to take advantage of the full breadth of our unique curriculum and performance opportunities.

How long should you take acting classes before auditioning? ›

“I would suggest starting with an acting class,” Barry says. “Do your research and auditing, then select the technique and teacher you want to train with. Then, commit yourself to that class for at least six months.

How many years of school does it take to be an actor? ›

Often, it is up to chance, luck, and being in the right place at the right time. If you take a traditional educational route to become an actor, your education can take anywhere from two to four years. Then, how long it takes to actually become a working actor will depend on auditioning and eventually getting cast.

How many years do actors go to school? ›

Common options include drama, set design, playwriting, film, theater, television, acting, directing and more. Most master's degrees taken through colleges and universities take up to three years to complete; for master's degrees at performing arts schools, three to four years is standard.

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