How to be Indie Star

Live in a city with a strong indie movie scene. Austin, San Francisco, London, and Seattle are good choices. You'll just be another pretty face in New York or Los Angeles.

Offer to work in movies for free. Even though you're not getting paid, learn your lines and always act like a professional.

Make lots of friends who want to make movies. You can use each other in your films, so if one of you makes it big, you all will.

If acting isn't your strong suit, stay behind the camera. Stick to writing screenplays (see the how to list), producing, and directing.

Gain inspiration from reading the biographies of your favorite indie film stars. Did you know that a 16-year-old Tim Roth allegedly wet his pants from stage fright before going onstage for a production of Dracula?