How 1 Young Actor Is Using Backstage to Gain Professional Acting Experience

Article Image
Photo Source: Deborah Koch Photography

Though he started small, child actor Ethan Thomas Jung dreams big—and it’s led him to booking tons of gigs.

Humble beginnings can blossom into big successes.
“I was in a small classroom play in my school a couple of years ago, and that’s when I fell in love with acting. I took classes and now have two agents. All of the projects I have worked on so far have been different. I have been a child, a student, a kid teacher, a neighbor, and a patient!”

Hang with Backstage, and gain real experience.
“There are great opportunities on Backstage—paid opportunities that allow me to act and model, which is what I love to do. I am getting so much experience, building my résumé, and having fun!”

Keep your materials as up to date as possible. 
“As soon as I finish a job or get new pictures, I update my profile immediately. In the meantime, build a professional social media presence so you can have your following grow as you do.”

If possible, enlist professional help for your reel.
“Get a reel as soon as possible. I worked with the talented Nathan at demoreel.com. Together, we pieced together some early work to illustrate my future capabilities.”

So long as it’s a showcase, your reel clips can come from any project.
“With the right [clips], you can really get a reel that pops without having a lot of experience under your belt. Watch a bunch of acting reels to get inspiration. Consider working credit-only jobs to get some footage if you don’t have any.”

To see your success story in print, tweet @Backstage using the hashtag #IGotCast.

This story originally appeared in the March 11 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe here.

And if you haven’t yet been cast, check out Backstage's audition listings!