Do you need a portfolio to get an acting agent?

I would like to start my modeling/acting career, willing to travel, looking for an agent, need some advice :s?

• I really want to model and act, but I want to go about this the right way not through a scam. I have a profile on model mayhem and have been approached by photographers and also been offered jobs but my fiance doesn't trust the site and wants me to go about it the right way. I almost have a college degree so i will have something to fall back on but I seriously want to pursue this. I am 5'2 so high fashion run way is out of my league and also not really something I care to pursue anyway. I would love to do some print work in magazines and just model some regular clothing and I would love to act as well. I was going to go to Barbizon but I hear they are a big rip off. Also I was going to do some TF work but I just read an article that says you don't even need to have a portfolio to get signed to a big agency. It seems like everything is a bit contradicting some say barbizon is great others say its a waste of money. I think I'll stay away from that but I would like to have some preparation for modeling and acting, I mean do agencies hire people with no experience at all, I have height working against me after all. I could really use some advice. I am moving to Savannah soon and looked up an agency there but I'm not sure if it is reputable or not, would it be better to try to get an agent in Savannah? Please help I really am passionate and diligent and will do whatever it takes I'm willing to spend money on classes and to build a portfolio I just want to know that it is worth investing in. Thanks so much everyone :)

• Answer:

  At 5'2" the only modelling you could ever do is swimwear/lingerie as you are too short for even petite modeling. But you need to be with an agency in LA or Miami for swimwear or NY for lingerie as that's where most jobs are shot. You aren't going to find any work in Savannah - the only real modeling work in GA is in Atlanta anyway, Click and Factor (formerly Elite) are the main agencies http://eliteatlanta.com/flash.cfm http://clickmodel.com/ You cannot get an agent for acting with no experience. Agents only work with actors who have years of experience and training. You have to show that you are talented enough to be cast again and again in leading roles in amateur productions before any agent is even going to look at you. In order to be considered by an agent, they need to look at your resume and demo reel -if you don't have any experience, you won't have a resume or demo reel. So the first thing to do is look for acting classes now or when you get to Savannah. Also do school plays and look for community theater groups in every town within 50 miles of you and contact all of them to find out where they post upcoming auditions - on their own website, in the local newspaper, at acting schools, on a casting site, etc. Audition for everything and take any role,no matter how small. Even a one-line role gives you another piece of experience for your resume and your demo reel.