Before we get into the details of career development, I want to be upfront with you about one thing: most successful actors got where they are by way of having family members who were already successful in the industry. That is the only sure bet. That’s not to say that you cannot become a professional actor unless you have family connections, but it will be a hard road.

You have to make sure that you are actually good at what you do. Natural talent has a lot to do with it, but there is also a lot of skill development involved. Consider enrolling in a respected undergraduate acting program at a school such as Julliard, New World, or Idaho State. You can learn a lot in these programs, gain valuable experience, and also network with important people. In the acting industry, as in most industries, networking is the all-important ingredient. You have to know people, and that takes time and savviness.

Once you have built up some experience you will need to put together your acting resume and headshot. An acting resume format is as follows: exactly one page, with separate sections for each type of experience. So you should have one section for theatre acting experience, one for film, one for television, one for commercial work, and a final section for special skills. Your headshot should be stapled to the back of the resume, so that each faces outward and the packet can be handled as a single page. In some geographical areas, acting agencies have started asking for modeling zed cards, so ask around to find out if it is something you’ll need in your city.

Once you have that you’ll be able to audition for an acting agent. Call around to the most reputable agencies in your area and ask when their next open audition is. You can also gain notoriety by going on open auditions for any major theatre companies in your area. Working for smaller theatre companies can help you build up your experience so that you have a better chance of getting these auditions, but you will not likely be paid very well or at all.

Thousands of delighted customers are more than enough to assure MAC’s standing as the pre-eminent makeup for looks that stand out from the crowd. For instance, Glamour magazine’s October 2009 issue featured singer and fashion maven Gwen Stefani listing MAC’s Prep + Prime Translucent Finishing Powder as one of her “faves under $40″ (it retails for just $22). Stefani said she loves the product because it sets her makeup perfectly without any visible signs.

In that same issue, Glamour found that “six stylish women” are so devoted to MAC’s Fluidline gel liner in BlackTrack that they save up to buy it. Because it’s a gel, Fluidline resists smudges better and lasts longer than typical liquid liners. The formula sets to a softer finish than most liquid eyeliners, too. Fluidline comes in a wide variety of colors such as Rich Ground, Blitz & Glitz, Macroviolet and Waveline and as well as BlackTrack.

Meanwhile, Glamour’s sister magazine, Allure, gave a big thumbs-up to MAC’s Pigment Colour Powder in Heritage Rouge in its “Beauty and the Beat” column of November 2009. Allure called the blusher a “beauty essential” that would perk up anyone’s complexion and chase away the wintertime blues. Any makeup tips you use in addition to this product are magnified to the utmost power.

Finally, Entertainment Weekly’s “Gotta Have It!” column of pop style sleuthed out MAC’s Tinted Lipglass in Russian Red that gave Diane Kruger her retro lips in Quentin Tarantino’s recent hit, “Inglourious Basterds.” The popular lip gloss’ star turn now has dozens of customers clamoring for the same look.

With all the superior quality of its products, coupled with dazzling styles prepared every season by professional makeup artists, it’s easy to see why MAC Cosmetics is the choice of women who put their best look forward every day.

So, wht is the latest scoop on what celebrities have been seen with what fashionable handbag.  Rumor has it that Hillary Duff has one of the much in demand, and limited edition Prada Fairy Bag.  I have seen pictures, and apparently the rumors are true.  She really does have one.  Let’s not leave Angelina Jolie out of the mix, as apparently she has the good fashion sense to be seen in the company of a Anya Hindmarch Cooper Leather.  This one is one of my personal favorites.  And yes, Nick Hilton is still around making the circuit with here Magenta Balenciage City handbag.  It looks good on her, but definitely not so good for me.  That beautiful bad girl Lindsay Lohan, is not one to be left behind by the fashion mavens, as she was just recently seen with a Dolce Gabbana Bowler wrapped around her arm.  Good for her.  Hayden Panettiere is quite the little fashion guru herself.  Photos of her and a Kooba Elisha Bow Hobo made it to print as well.

So, all this talk of fabulous handbags has probably gotten you a little envious I bet.  Well, maybe you should treat yourself, and grab a replica Gucci online just to make yourself feel a little better.  Trust me, you deserve it.  I would.  And, at the same time you can feel a little better knowing you got it at a heck of a deal.  Even if you had to go shopping for it yourself.

There are several movies that truly stand out in his career, and make him memorable for many people. The first would obviously be his career maker The GodFather Part 1, and the second one being Scarface. I must confess that to this day, I’ve never watched any of the Godfather movies in their entirety, but it is on my list of things to do before I die. Scarface however is one of his movies that I have seen several times. Not just because of Pacino I must confess, but also his costar Michelle Pfeifer. Two of my favorite actors in one movie is pretty hard for me to miss.

He’s also done a few smaller and less memorable movies that really worked for me. One was Carlito’s Way, and the other was The Devils Advocate. He plays opposite sides of the law (kind of) in both movies, but he still really shines. While Carlitos Way is a bit more his typical stick, The Devils Advocate isn’t. He starts off as what appears to be a good guy lawyer (if there is such a thing), and turns out to be the devil incarnate. Like that was a big character stretch for the audience.

I was a bit surprised to learn some of the roles he turned down. Probably the biggest, has to be the role of Hans Solo in the Star Wars franchise. I have to believe that was one of the best decisions in movie history. For the life of me, I just can’t imagine anyone buy Harrison Ford playing the role of Hans Solo. As great as Pacino is, my brain nearly blows up imagining him as a renegade space pilot rescuing princesses and being chased by evil galactic forces. Sometimes fate has a way of doing the right thing.

Any way, I digress a little from the point of this article which is to discuss Hayden Panettiere who played the character Beth Cooper. Every once in a while, you watch someone on screen who you’ve never seen before, and think, “Wow, what an amazing actor, and why haven’t I heard of you before.” Hayden Panettiere played just such a part in this movie, and I don’t think it would have been anywhere near as good if another actress had been cast in the role. Hayden Panettiere was really quite amazing in the part. I’m not sure what other movies she’s been in, but I’m sure after this movie she will be in a lot more down the road. The only other thing I noticed her in lately was a skin care commercial. I’m sure I’ve seen the commercial, but just didn’t realize the girl in it was such an accomplished actress.

I think what I liked about how she played the part, was that she made the character so real. I know a large part character creation has to do with the writers, and to some extent the director, but Hayden Panettiere really carried the role off her. I also think, that a large part of the character creation process comes from the actors themselves, and I have to believe that was the case here. How Hayden Panettiere does in future roles will confirm or deny the validity of my belief, but I’m not too concerned.

I like it when teenage angst movies throw in a little bit of eighties era music classics. The use of Beth by Kiss was a pretty easy fit for this movie, kind of ironic for me as well. I was just listening to an end of the year 70’s top music countdown when Beth came on the radio. My daughter was in the car, and I told her it was Gene Simmons from the Family Jewels playing the song. Then, we watched that movie, and there it was again. Cool huh?

If the movie had anything to say, it had to be a message about honor, and uphold your own definition of honor no matter what. Irregardless what others around you do, and have to say. The fact that the movie was directed by Ridley Scott didn’t hurt it in my books whatsoever. Ridley Scott happens to be one of my favorite directors of all time. Something to do with a couple of movies he did called Blade Runner and Legend.

I’m sure most of you have heard of Blade Runner, but not so many know of Legend. Legend starred Tom Cruise, a very young Tom Cruise I might had. It’s a mythical piece about fairies, elfs, unicorns and their accompanying nasty enemies. The role of the big bad was played by Tim Curry, in one of my most memorable movie scenes ever. Where he goes charging across in those big red horns . . . well, it was one of those things you just had to see for yourself.

I forget the young actress that played the maid in need of saving (Mia something . . . ) was quite remarkable, especially when dressed up in her evil costume. I think she’s the same girl that played Ferris’s love interest in the seminal movie Ferris Buellers Day off. Another one of my favorites to be discussed at a later date I’m sure. Matthew Broderick is pretty terrific in that one.

But, getting back to Russell Crowe, I was pretty happy he won the Academy Award when he did, even though he lost out the next year to Denzel Washington for his effort in Training Day. I think Russell would have won it, if he hadn’t managed to piss off a few reports and the media in general. Anyway, one of the lines in the early stages of Gladiator is one that always sticks with me. Maximus hears from his lieutenant Quintus, “People should know when their beaten”, to which he replies “Would you Quintus, Would I”.

As much as I enjoyed his roles in the Star Wars franchise, and the Indiana Jones franchisee, it was his role as Decker in Blade Runner, that really worked well for me. He played the usual tough guy private investigator, but with his usual working class guy charm. Something that Harrison had to come by naturally as he spent a lot of time as a carpenter before making it big. Rumour had it that George Lucas discovered him working on one of the movie sets and decided to cast him in American Graffatti.

Some of his later work as international CIA information analyst Jack Ryan in the Patriot Games & Clear And Present Danger movies was good, but not really my favorite. I suppose I do have a soft spot for science fiction and fantasy roles, especially when they feature top rate actors, actresses and directors.

Harrison Ford was a bit of a natural writer and improv stand up it appears as well. It’s well noted Hollywood trivia, that he came up with the line “I Know”, as Carrie Fishers’ Princess Leila character was about to wish him farewell being frozen in carbon something and said “I love you”. It really built both his characters and personal image as a cocky cowboy that all the girls can’t help but fall for.

But, Harrison appeal to both sexes on the silver screen. Not only did the girls swoon, but most guys watching him would consider him a guys guy. Somone other guys wish they could be like. Of course the pairing of him in the third Indiana Jones with Sean Connery as his father was perfect casting. Well, in spite of the fact that casting Sean Connery in just about anything could be considered perfect casting.

Here was an actress that was both beautiful, intelligent and edgy. At least in her roles she was. I didn’t realize, that she was married to David E Kelley, who would one day make it huge as a writer for the Ally McBeal show, and a few others such as Boston Public and Chicago Hope. At the time, I knew Michelle mostly for her role as Al Pachino’s coked out trophy wife in the classic movie Scarface. That movie was a career maker for both of them I might add.

But, she was so brilliant in that role, at the time it was hard to consider her in anything else. Although Michelle has had a very eclectic career starring as a smoky lounge singer in The Fabulous Baker Boys and stretching even further to fit into catwomans skin tight leather suit in one of the Batman movies. That was a real Jekyll and Hyde role for here, where she played basically two very different characters in one movie.

She also seemed to be one of the few actresses of her time, who managed to make it big, get critical acclaim, and be taken seriously without self destructing. She didn’t seem to get caught up in any serious alcohol and drug addictions. Rarely if ever made it to the cover of those trashy Hollywood tabloids. Plus, managed to stay married to the same guy for decades. Wow, how often does that ever happen anymore. Far too many actors seem to need to get caught naked doing something incredibly stupid before their career takes off.

Nope, not for Michelle. She seems to be one of those actresses who managed to get by on her talents and hard work. Being beautiful and smart helps a lot in the business of Hollywood. I think the one thing that separated her from the rest of the crash and burn celebrities that we see today, is that she understood the difference between being an actress, and being a celebrity.

Services like Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace are the ultimate gossip mongering tools. Sometimes, I don’t think they should be called social media, I think they should be called GossipMedia. That’s really what they come down to. It’s kind of like all those chatty clicks at school on steroids. What I find interesting about all this now is, that it’s really being driven by the average person. For years there’s been the argument, that paparazzi and tabloid reports weren’t the real monsters, but the people who buy their stuff. It’s an interesting argument, but one that’s mostly academic until you can actually test it.

Well, the testing has now become reality. When anybody can have a blog, and anybody can post pictures, and anyone can become a YouTube star by posting videos, you really have to wonder who the real paparazzi are? Personally, I think that theory has proven itself. The people who were buying tabloids for years, and pretending it wasn’t them harassing the stars are the same people posting all kinds of breaking news stories, pictures and videos long before the major corporations can.

For a while the big tabloid companies I’m sure were paranoid that their jobs were on the line. But, I think nowadays, that’s all changed. They see this as an opportunity to turn every fan into a reporter or photographer with the potential to grab that million dollar photo. I wouldn’t want to be a celebrity these days. It would seem they have no where to hide any more.