Let's talk post-pandemic acting in Singapore

So you want to be an actor, but you were born almost exactly halfway around the world from Los Angeles. Can't believe your luck huh.

The bad news is that you're very, very far away from the bright center of the acting industry, and in this day and age, you won't be getting your O1 visa approved anytime soon.

The good news? You're in a part of the world that has in-person acting classes, comparatively less and industry shakeups, and live theatre is back because people here actually bothered to wear a mask. It's a very stable (don't you love this word now) and safe place to start out in any profession, including acting.

Yes, really. You've heard all the naysayers go off on our local showbiz industries. I've heard plenty of comments about how I am wasting away a bright future on the arts, and as an 18-year-old who is just beginning to find my place in this dazzling expanse, I had moments where I got discouraged by the perceived lack of opportunities, especially if you don't really know where to look.

The independent film and theatre industry in Singapore largely operates off the record. Diploma and degree students in both acting and filmmaking carry out internal castings or send their casting calls to small, unheard of and therefore exclusive Telegram groups where actors congregate and send in their resumes and headshots. Hobbyist filmmakers and actors join hands through WhatsApp groups like Kino Red Dot to engage in guerilla-style filmmaking. There is a union - The Actors' Society - which conducts regular table read sessions and workshops and promises a small list of merchant discounts and free gifts for its members including insurance coverage, but it will very understandably take time before it starts to really provide union standards such as minimum wage and safety standards.

Online, you learn about a very different reality. Students in Australia, the UK, Canada and America enroll in performing arts high schools, or regularly hang out in their theatre department. They have community theatre and a constant stream of new short or feature films being made. Acting classes and instructors are a dime a dozen, and literally everyone is talking about how to audition for that BFA and getting accepted into twelve different musical theatre programs.

Then you're here, on this island, and you've only ever heard of the School of the Arts (SOTA), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and LASALLE College of the Arts. Or perhaps you've researched further and you know about Haque Centre for Acting and Creativity (HCAC), the Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI), Sing'Theatre Academy and so on. I'm just confirming what you probably already know - our options are limited compared to what you see out there.

So you might think - should I study overseas then? Is it worth it? Well, actor training is always worth "it" - but be prepared to give your wallet away. Let's face it, assuming you're a citizen or permanent resident here, this is probably the only country where you would run into minimal costs while trying to get your acting career up and running. The average cost of out-of-state tuition (that means you aren't a resident of that US state) is US$25,620 as of 2021, and that is excluding room and board. Together with inflation rates and living costs, four years of studying overseas would run you several hundred thousand dollars in debt. I also acknowledge that there are tons of financial aid and opportunities out there and you're entirely welcome to pursue those if it turns out to be a financially sustainable option for you.

However, having spoken to dozens of acting professionals from all over the world, I can assure you that the consensus is - do the BFA only if you can afford it, so long as you get the training and experience. People tend to see training and getting a degree as one and the same, but the truth is that many actors were trained in studios and privately coached by renowned instructors outside of a formal education setting.

If you're ready to begin your journey on this island, start by joining an acting class - either Acting which is taught at LASALLE under their Continuing Education Program, or Method Acting 101 taught by Kamil Haque at HCAC. Both courses are pitched at the introductory level and provides a decent foundation for further training. If you are under 21, you can join TAS without any credits - but after the age of 21 they'd want at least four credits. You can learn more about those requirements here.

Nothing about this industry is easy and everything comes at a price. But if this place makes you happy and if you dare to dream of a future in acting and make it real, then welcome onboard.