Acting is a difficult path. There is no doubt about it. As they say, if there is anything else you can do for a career and be happy, you should do it instead. Learning the craft is, perhaps, the easy part. Navigating the egos, politics, and nuances of the biz, is the challenge.
While so many “gurus” say follow your passion and the rest will fall into place… I say, you must not only follow your passion, but dedicate yourself to mastering it. And that also means mastering the environment in which you practice your craft.
I know, you just want to act and express yourself. But nothing exists in a vacuum. Everything is dependent upon something else. Acting is a component part of filmed entertainment, and as such, there exists a highly complex social structure that has evolved around the manufacture and distribution of entertainment media.
Like it or not, the only way that you will be successful and happy, is to fully understand and master the social dynamics of the industry. I know so many people that want to quit acting because of these seemingly uncontrollable factors.
Look, I’m a realist… so part of me wants to say “hey, if your thinned skinned, and don’t want to deal with the BS, move on and find something that comes easier and makes you happy.” But then there is the hopeless romantic in me that says “if this is what you love, you must do everything you can to master it, to be the best, to make your mark.”
At the end of the day, I firmly believe that you can be whoever you want to be. So long as you believe.
Each and everyone of us has the power to shape who we believe we are, and what we are capable of accomplishing.
So, what’s the secret?
1. Make a commitment to a lifelong pursuit of mastering the craft of acting, for no other reason than your own enjoyment.
2. Set personal goals for your career that you have control over. You can’t control whether or not you get a part on The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, or Vampire Diaries… but you can control your performance in the auditions you get. Perhaps you get nervous before auditions… your goal could be to utilize that nervous energy and put it into performance. Personally, if I go into an audition and give the performance I intended to give… then it was a success. If they don’t book me, it’s their loss.
3. Do your due diligence about the people and projects you work with. Like any profession, there are good people, and bad people. I see a lot of complaints in the indie world about unprofessionalism. Well, of course… anyone with a camera is a “filmmaker” and very few have real world experience. The internet is your friend… research directors and producers. Ultimately it is your responsibility to negotiate the conditions that you will work under.
4. Don’t get discouraged by the BS, but don’t use that as an excuse either. Know that stars are going to get leads… That the producer’s girlfriend is going to get the bit part… That the hot girl who will go topless will get the role over the better actress who wont. Be OK with all of that and know that somewhere down the line, your mastery of the craft will be undeniably castable.
5. Do something everyday to further your career. Scratch that… do something every day to help further someone else’s career. Can you be a reader for a casting director? Can you connect a producer with a location? Can you connect a director with another great actor? Can you support a filmmaker’s movie? Don’t expect these same people to repay you in kind… but what will happen, over time, is that you will be seen as someone who contributes. And people will want to work with you.
The bottom line is that if you are the type of actor who is a team player, who makes strong creative choices that are interesting and compelling, and you have zero attitude, you will work. Word of mouth is big in this business.
But none of this will matter if you don’t enjoy the process. It can’t be about becoming a star. It can’t be about becoming rich and famous. Those concepts are far too nebulous. Statistically speaking, you will be disappointed.
It has to be about the creativity and craft you bring to the role. The attitude in which you approach the business. The contribution you make to the community. The enjoyment you get from the journey.
