How to Become an Actor in San Francisco

Are you wondering how to become an actor in San Francisco? From blockbusters like Disney’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to the action-packed Matrix 4, the BAFTA-nominated Beautiful Boy and national commercials, San Francisco has terrific opportunities for actors. So, whether you are considering moving to San Francisco to become an actor or are already a local, here are some thoughts from an actress who is carving out her path in its diverse market.

Photo courtesy of Christine Lee.

Christine Lee has taken an unconventional path to acting. After graduating from UC Berkeley, she started in tech, working at Microsoft and Google. However, she always loved athletics and began recreationally studying to be a circus performer. She fell in love with it and began doing circus shows when she moved to San Francisco. There, using her movement background, she was cast as a Japanese hacker in the Zynga game Mafia Wars, and her love of acting began.

She has been seen in dozens of commercials and print advertisements, as well as the films Love and Love Not and How to Disappear Completely. Christine Zoomed in to discuss some of her passions as an actress and essential takeaways on how to be an actor in San Francisco.

1. Learn the San Francisco market.

San Francisco is the home to Google and Meta, and those companies have in-house production studios which contribute to a huge commercial market.

Lee has thrown herself into that market and suggests that new actors make themselves available for commercial work. “Every tech company has a product, every e-commerce platform needs to have fit models; needs to have print models, and if you think about all the companies that are headquartered in the Bay Area, it’s huge, so all those companies need content. They need marketing.”

She recommends learning as much as possible about where you fit in in the commercial world because she believes there is space for everyone in the market.

“They often try to find characters and actors that people feel are approachable. For commercials, they need someone who looks like a tech employee, someone who looks like a young mom, and someone who looks like an older daughter.”

If you can create space for yourself and learn how to find casting calls in the market, you can have a thriving commercial career in San Francisco.

2. Put the work in as an actor in San Francisco.

Part of creating that thriving career is putting the work in, something that Lee stresses is of the utmost importance. Although she may feel like she tumbled into acting, it is imperative that a thriving actor works hard.

“It’s an interesting time, right? I think there are amazing online acting classes now, but in San Francisco, there’s a lot of resources in the improv community.”

Whether you take acting classes online or take advantage of the thriving San Francisco improv scene, finding an acting school that supports you and your style is essential. Lee has found that studying and persistence have increased her bookings and helped her grow her connections.

“I put in the work and I’m updating my headshots. I’m updating my profile. I’m responding to my agent, and I’m responding to every casting call.”

She spends time every day checking her casting profiles and self-submitting for print and commercials, “I respond to every casting call that I feel I could fit into that role or act in that role.”

This persistence can help bring an actor to the forefront, especially in San Francisco, where so many commercial casting directors and agencies re-hire bookable actors who put in the work.

3. Build relationships in San Francisco.

Because San Francisco is a small market, there is the opportunity to build strong relationships with San Francisco casting directors who will call you in again and again.

“It’s important to build relationships so you know who the biggest casting agents in the Bay Area are so you can stay in touch,” says Lee. “Most of my calls in San Francisco are actually callbacks. At this point, there are very, very few casting directors I haven’t already worked with.”

This ability to build relationships is the foundation of the acting business and is incredibly important when considering moving to the Bay Area to be an actor. You should consider your ability to reach out and build relationships. This is a great way to land a talent agent in San Francisco.

Lee has some advice when looking to build your relationship with a new agent: “Pick a manager and agent that you really feel a connection with.” If you are looking for an agent in San Francisco, there is no better resource than the SAG-AFTRA website, leading you to legitimate franchised talent agents.

That’s a wrap on San Francisco.

An actor’s life can’t be all about learning the market, connections, and building relationships, so we asked Lee what she would recommend for actors who had a week to visit San Francisco.

“San Francisco is one of my favorite places in the world. One of the things that draws me the most to the city is the underground arts life, the theater life, the shows and how offbeat they are.”

We asked Lee for recommendations and her eyes lit up, “I would say all over the city, there are so many cool shows and immersive experiences and everything from improv to music. I’ve even performed a circus version of Rocky Horror at The Great Star Theater.”

Are you ready to immerse yourself in all that San Francisco has to offer? Casting Networks posts new San Francisco casting calls and auditions every day.

San Francisco Film Information for Actors and Creatives

The San Francisco Film Office is a great additional resource for anyone looking to work or create in San Francisco.

• • Get involved in their social media conversations on SF Film Social Media! And make sure you use #FILMSF
  • Iconic film festivals take place in San Francisco, such as Cinequest San Jose, SF Independent Film Festival, and United Nations Association Film Festival.
  • Creating your project can be financially feasible in San Francisco. According to FilmSF, “The SF Film Commission offers the ‘Scene in San Francisco’ rebate program. Qualifying productions are eligible for a refund of all payroll tax and city fees up to $600,000 per production.” So, make your film in San Francisco!

Cost of Living Statistics for Actors in San Francisco

 
Sources: Bestplaces.net, Salary.com, Rentcafe.com, AAA, HouseCanary.com

Related articles:
How to Become an Actor in New York
How to Become an Actor in Los Angeles
How to Become an Actor in Chicago