ARE CLASSES, ETC DEDUCTIBLE WHEN PURSUING A CAREER IN THE FILM INDUSTRY.

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

ARE CLASSES, ETC DEDUCTIBLE WHEN PURSUING A CAREER IN THE FILM INDUSTRY.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT HELPS A TON. 

In addition to the Standard Deduction, you may also qualify for special tax credits and other dollar-for-dollar deductions. More on that later.

One of the disadvantages in being a struggling actor is the money you have to spend getting your name out there. Some years you have more deductions than income. Some of those lean years make the choice between eating and getting a new wardrobe a hard call. There are the photos and resumés and those thousands of mailings and telephone calls. Running around town in your car going to all those auditions and workshops can cost a lot, too. It's all deductible. So are workshops, union dues, agents and management fees, trips to New York for an audition, and gifts to those elusive casting directors (maximum $25 per person). Books for research, demo tapes, and the trades are also on the list.

And don't think for a minute that the film industry cares whether you do this or not. It's just a fact of life. Ask those that have been there. REALLY THERE. REAL ACTORS.