Has anybody made it big in Film/Acting/Writing? Degree?

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Hi, I'm someone who's always wanted to act at least a little, write stories, and be involved in big league film/TV stuff. And, by always, I mean that when my spoiled self got a TV at age 2, I declared at the first sight of a child on screen: "That should be me."

I tried applying to universities for things like theatre, English, and screenwriting. I was admitted to most of them but my parents will not pay for me to go because I have always given them a hard time to get through school because I am somewhat phobic of the unvaried learning environment, stress, and rigidity of formal schools.

Has anyone on here (preferably with Asperger's) acted on TV or in film, written anything that was published, or worked as a screenwriter, crew, camera person, etc. I am interested in hearing from people who found success (able to live off of earnings) in New York or Hollywood, especially.

Also, I would like to know how hard it is to find representation and enter the union from New England (Boston-Providence areas) for acting or writing, especially without a degree.

Just a heads up, I don't drive on my own and I don't have a job yet. This is basically a dream I can't seem to shake off, and I want to know if it could ever be a reality for someone like me, as many have told me it is not.

Thanks in Advance!

I have a prestigious mfa and make my living as a writer.

Your parents are right. If you're serious, and talented, and can manage yourself well -- all three are necessary for any of these businesses -- then the degree is ancillary. Selling degrees is a business for the schools that do it. You can learn the things you need to do without them, which is why people did exactly that until, oh, two-three decades ago.

If you're in the Providence-Boston area you're particularly fortunate because you've got serious regional and community theatre, not-bad writing, and highly literate/creative people. Providence in particular has excellent theatre. Is it different from TV, yes, but there's enough of the sort of TV that starts careers, commercials and such. It's also true that Yale is heavily represented in the area, but don't let that put you off.

Anyway -- do not go and blow $70K of your parents money on a degree you're unlikely ever to earn back. If you want to act, go act; if you want to write, go write.

eta: the kids who go off and live in Silver Lake and Brooklyn do it with their trust-fund-investment-banker-daddies' money. Put aside that dream unless you're rich and pampered. A better bet: Chicago, where you might be able to afford the rent. Or Portland, Mpls, one of those places.

Dan Ackroyd: original cast of Saturday Night Live, cowrote and appeared in both Ghostbusters and The Blues Brothers - won the Academy Award for best supporting actor for Driving Miss Daisy, just to name a few of his accomplishments.

Daryl Hannah: Blade Runner, Splash, Roxanne, Steel Magnolias, Kill Bill, etc.,...


Both diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome as children.