Acting Requirements In South Africa

Acting isn’t one of those careers you can put in a box and form an exact how-to list, as is with more traditional careers like Accounting. To become an Actor takes raw skill, determination, passion and grit. Some people make it young; they discover their passion at a young age and constantly pursue acting opportunities.

Others study a drama degree and make it through connections from university. Others get spotted by an agent by chance and voila, they’ve made it. Some, and the more common story, spend years pursuing acting by attending hundreds of castings, doing arb acting gigs, and networking as much as possible.

Required Qualification/s

Your main selling point as an actor will be your natural talent. Courses will merely help you expand your skillset, develop your skills and allow you to do more.

Here are some qualification suggestions to assist you

  • Bachelor of Arts (Drama)
  • Diploma in Drama
  • BTech in Drama
  • Short courses in Drama/Acting
  • Workshops
  • Part-time acting classes

Required Skills

You will need to have the following skills to succeed as an Actor:

  • performance
  • oral communication
  • team work
  • self-motivation
  • creativity
  • critical thinking
  • negotiation and conflict management skills
  • improvisation skill
  • time management
  • ability to cope under pressure

Required School Subjects

There are no required high school subjects but there are some that are recommended for Acting:

  • Dramatic Arts
  • English Home Lanugage or First Additional Language

How do I become an actor in South Africa?

The SA FILM Academy programme is open to South African youth (18 – 35). For more information visit http://www.safilmacademy.org/apply-now/. Nailing down the audition process is equally important. Before you begin, create a solid portfolio and invest in taking professional headshots.