When you flush a standard toilet, the handle pulls up a chain, which raises a flush valve. This flush valve then releases at least two gallons (about 7.5 litres) of water from the tank into the bowl in about three seconds, which triggers the siphon to suck the contents of the bowl down the drain and into a sewer system or septic tank. However, contrary to popular belief, the tank is not the most important part of a toilet's technology. In fact, you could detach the tank from the toilet and pour two gallons of water into the bucket by hand, and the toilet would still flush. This type is the most common type in North America. These toilets use the weight and height of the water in the tank to facilitate a flush. The tank then refills via a small gushing pipe (usually plastic) until a float shuts off the flow. If any water does happen to flow a little higher from gushing, hand-motion inside, or even an earthquake, a narrow overflow tube handles any overflow problems. So, as long as the toilet is functioning properly, no water should spill outside of the porcelain tank. This type is the staple toilet, simple, effective, and durable. The flushing sound for gravity assisted toilets also isn't particularly loud and they are easy to repair. However, if you have a lot of people using your toilet (say, a large family) or are going to be putting a lot of wear on the toilet's flush system, gravity-assisted toilets may not have enough power to flush consistently, after every use. Think about purchasing a standard gravity-assisted toilet if you have a small family or a bathroom that will be getting minimal use. Unlike gravity assisted, pressure-assisted toilets have an ‘active’ rather than a passive mechanism. This type adds pressure to the force of gravity by supplying more force than the traditional unit. Water displaces air inside a sealed cylindrical tank, usually made of metal or plastic, inside the larger ceramic tank, helping to generate a larger force. However, because the water in the tank is held under pressure, it flushes with greater force, resulting in a loud flushing sound. As well, a greater amount of pressure via your toilet can put stress on older pipes and plumbing in your home, which can lead to a leak or a busted pipe. Go for a pressure-assisted toilet if you live in a newer building or a home with new, well kept pipes, and low water pressure. This type innovates on the standard gravity-assisted toilet by using a vacuum that draws the water with more force into the bowl using the rim holes in the upper toilet bowl. Vacuum-assisted toilets have a cleaner, quieter flush than other models, making them ideal for a bathroom near your bedroom, or by a quiet area of your home. However, unclogging this type of toilet requires some time and skill. To unplug the bowl, you have to take the lid off and put your hand over an opening in the tank for the plunging action to work. The vacuum-assisted toilet also costs about $100 more than a gravity toilet. Think about getting this type if you're looking for a toilet with quiet but powerful flushing, and are willing to spend some extra money up front. This type uses an even greater force than vacuum-assisted toilets. In fact, power-assisted toilets are known as the only "toilets with horsepower". These toilets have a 0.2 horsepower motor in the tank to literally blast waste products down the drain, making them ideal if your bathroom has old pipes. Power-assisted toilets can also save the average family 2,000 gallons of water per year. However, these toilets have a pump that must be plugged into a power outlet, they are known for their incredibly loud flushing sound and they are currently the most expensive type of toilet on the market. Think about purchasing a power-assisted toilet if you're in need of a model with a super powerful flush, regardless of upkeep or cost. These toilets have two buttons on the tank, one for a half tank flush, the other for a full tank flush (obviously, you utilize either flush based on your needs). Originally invented in Australia to respond to the country's constant drought cycle, dual flush toilets are just starting to gain popularity in North America, and have the best water conservation system of any other models. In fact, studies have shown that a dual-flush toilet uses an average of just 6.9 gallons per day, compared to 9.5 gallons of a low-flow toilet and 19 gallons with the older models. This type can save a household 2,250 gallons of water per a year, and because there are two flushing options, you have the choice between a lighter sounding flush and a louder sounding flush. However, this type has a high up front price tag, and high installation costs. Go for a dual flush toilet if you're looking for an eco friendly, option friendly toilet. Keep in mind that the long term benefits of a dual flush toilet in terms of water savings may be worth the initial cost.
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One-sentence summary -- Understand the mechanics behind a toilet. Consider a gravity-assisted toilet. Consider a pressure-assisted toilet. Consider a vacuum-assisted toilet. Consider a power-assisted toilet. Consider a dual flush toilet.


Start by working in your local film scene or in areas that you can easily get to. Save the money you make so you can make the move to a larger city where more roles are available and movies are frequently made. Consider moving to Los Angeles, Austin, New York, or Atlanta if you’re in the United States. Try Vancouver, Toronto, London, or Mumbai for film outside of the US. Search for casting calls on websites like Backstage or Craigslist for local commercials. As you go in for the audition, dress for the part you’re playing so the casting directors can easily picture you in the role.  Commercial acting is a smaller role, but it will give you exposure to a wide audience and get your face out to the public.  Look out for posts on Craigslist that seem too good to be true since they could possibly be scams. Watch for off-site emails or jobs that seem to be paying too high with no needed experience. Once you're where you need to be, get connected and take on roles as an extra, or background actor. Open casting calls for these can be found all over the Internet, but a few places to start off are Backstage, Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Though it may not be a starring role, you can still list an extra role on your resume to show you have experience. Ask around your network for opinions on who to go to and how to get started. Make cold-calls or send inquiry letters to agencies to see if they are looking for new talent to represent. An agent will help you negotiate deals for the roles you take on. Agents only get paid when they find you work. Don't buy into the ones that demand some exorbitant fee even if your schedule stays wide open. Look into organizations like ACTRA, AEA, AGMA or AGVA. Once you are a member for at least 1 year and worked under union, you’re eligible to get into SAG (the Screen Actor's Guild). Unions provide you with benefits and insurances while you’re working. Annual SAG fees are $201.96 USD and 1.575% of the earnings you make in that year. Check with the union you’re interested in to see what their annual rates are. Though it's completely possible to run through all the hoops without it and still find success, having your equity card opens up a number of auditions that otherwise wouldn't be available to you. You either have to get a contract that requires equity standing, be a member of a sister group (like SAG, for example), or accumulate enough credits to meet the standard. It's natural to find the process a bit confusing, so contact a friend or mainstay in your actor's social network for more information on how they received their card.
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One-sentence summary --
Move to a large city if possible. Look for roles in commercials when you begin. Become an "extra" actor in larger pictures. Get an agent. Get into a performer's union. Consider getting your equity card if you want to do theatre.