I Quit!

I quit!   I am over acting, and I never want to do this again.

Every actor that is anything in the world of actors has had this thought.  This can be a tough world, and I cannot tell you how often getting out of the industry all together crosses ones mind.  Those who make it aren't always the best of the actors at the time.  They may not be booking because they are the best for the part.  Some actors make it because they never quit. They were no longer a new face. They were the option that is deserving or that casting knows they can count on.  If this industry truly doesn't make you happy anymore, then quit; and do what makes you happy.  If you feel frustrated, sometimes a break is in order; but if you have a passion for what you do and it makes you happy, then don't give up.  Tough, hard, and disappointment can be things you learn from.  Sometimes you need to clear the mind and the focus.  Sometimes you need to just be.  Just sit there.  Often when frustration sits in, I choose to take a day to myself. Do something "brainless", shut up that brain, and stop letting your thoughts run your life.  You are the observer of those thoughts; and that gives you the right to ignore them.  Understand that attachment to things or your career can hurt you. Work hard, focus, and plan on achieving; but don't form so much attachment to an outcome that it breaks you if you do not achieve it.  Happiness should not rely on anything but you.  Breathe.

Energy is in everything

The more we understand how our world works, the more we are aware of.  The more we are aware of the more we are what is called Enlightened.  Understanding how our Body, mind, and spirit work allows us to create real life inside these imaginary circumstances more freely.  It allows us to let go of all of the labels, and rules we have grown up with that we no longer need.  Becoming more and more enlightened allows us to do away with the BOX..  We no longer need the safety of those 4 walls.  When we understand we are infinite and ever expanding we are free to Create without judgment or guilt.  We no longer worry about others judgements of us either.  

Nothing is Solid -Here is what Quantum Physics tells us.

LET IT FLOW

As actors we tend to think of only the outcome.  In our careers, in our scenes, ect.  Stop.  Our journey is 4 times longer, and 4 times more important than what we get out of it.  The time you spend learning, growing, training, and exploring who you are and what you think is a powerful and enlightening experience that can hold more to gain than actually being successful.   Adjust your thoughts of success, change your perception.   All
ow everything in life to be success.  Appreciate the growth you make each day and allow the flow of positive things to come our way.  When we start giving ourselves a hard time we stop, or slow down that flow of energy.  Open up and allow your talents and creativity to flow all the time.  Let go of the old habits that tie you down.  Struggling is ok, suffering is ok, and not knowing what to do, is ok.  Those are the things that force us to grow.  As a coach and a student of life, I try to stay humbled and always in the mind of a student.  It is ok to not know everything.  It is ok to listen to and allow yourself to learn.  Be open, be free of judgment, and question everything.

The Speech

A few powerful words.  Enjoy.

Does the scene make sense to you?

Do you know what is going on in the scene?  The lines are important because if there is one thing we know about this character, you're reading for it is what they say.   Those lines have to be the truth to you.  However, we also get to find out where this is taking place, who is in the scene with me, what am I doing in this scene, what do I want?  Do I care about any of these other people?  Dig out all the information you can find from the script.  Know as much as you can.  Now you know the circumstances.  Make them real.

Remember that all this information is not something you have to remember or think about when you start the scene.  A simple but specific need has to be there ... something good enough to sustain your drive through the scene.

"Bravery to the point of foolishness is where the magic is.  Whatever happens in the moment is part of the scene, use it." - Will Smith

NO ONE CAN SELL YOU A DREAM.

In a career where there is no such thing as a guarantee, you must be strong-willed, focused, and willing to possibly FIRE your friends and/or family.  My acting coach told me this when I first started his classes.  He also told me, "You cannot sleep your way to the top; but you may be able to fuck your way to a good middle."  What I am saying is: you need support, not someone pulling you down, slowing you down, or telling you that you will never make it.

The entertainment industry has many roads that may lead to getting a foot in the door; but in the long run, you have to get started now.  If you have an uncle that has the last name of Cameron, as in James Cameron, then maybe you can take advantage of that.  If you are like the rest of us and do not have any relatives at the top of the ladder, then you better get ready to work and I mean work hard.   This industry is a job - %100 work.  You are basically starting your own business; so you have to know "who" you are and how to market yourself.

First thing to know about acting!!!  GET A JOB!  I don't mean an acting job - I mean get a job that can pay your bills and keep food on the table.  You don't need to party like a rock star - you need to drive a hooptie, if need be, so that you can afford your training and gas to get back and forth to auditions.  This industry is not glamorous unless you are Brad Pitt.  Otherwise you are not making a lot of money; and you need to know how to save it.  You don't need to like your job; but if you want your career to be acting, then you have to pay to play right now.  I call acting my habit, like a drug habit, because I had to keep a regular job to pay for acting class and keep myself afloat between acting jobs.  Eight years is considered an overnight success; so if you are in a rush, then strive to be a burger flipper at McDonald's and it won't take as long to reach your dreams.  No one is going to give you anything; and if you are waiting around to get discovered, then just quit now.  I am not here to discourage you, but to give you the honest truth about this industry. 

Extra work - it isn't a bad gig.  If you are a green (new) actor, then do some extra work and learn what happens on set.  Learn the roles of everyone and what their job entails.  Pay attention to the lead actors, and see how they handle themselves.  Hopefully you are watching a professional who isn't an asshole.  After you have done it a while or when you start auditioning for real acting roles (speaking parts), then you may need to get out of extra work!  You don't want to meet a director on set as an extra, then go in for an audition for them the following week.  It's ok every now and then if you need to catch up on some bills; but overall, in a perfect world, get out of extra work.  There is no job that is not good enough.  You need money; and you need to know how and where to spend your money.  You also need to know how to do your homework before you spend any of your money on photos, acting coaches, etc.  NO ONE CAN SELL YOU A DREAM.  NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU A STAR.  NO ONE GETS DISCOVERED.  If it were that easy, then you wouldn't want to be an actor.

Remember acting is a journey, not a destination.  Enjoy your trip!

Directors this one is for you... Touch for an actor at the end.

As a director sometimes we want to be really detailed in our vision of the scene.  We already know where we want to shoot from, where we should light the actors, and what the physicality of the scene should already be.  Just like an actor we must not give ourself physical and emotional decisions and choices until we see what the scene's potential is.  If you have done a wonderful job in casting then give the actors a chance to create the real human behavior and movement of what that scene may be.  After you see what and where it could go then make your decisions, then see where you want to set up camera, you may see some wonderful and beautiful natural shots that you would not have seen if you would have projected your expectations of the scene on the actors.  Plus many times when a first time director gives directions they only give the physical direction which takes away from the natural human behavior of the actor.  It puts the actor in their heads about what they should physically be doing and they stop living.  I am not saying do not direct, but direct after you see what the natural blocking of the scene may become.  Film and television is not a stage play, it is human life and behavior that as a director it is our job to capture that reality on film.  Learn to direct an actor by choices, and objectives, keep them living, not roboticaly walking through the scene and spitting out lines that someone put on a page.

As for the actor, do not try to become the director.  Do not try to act the scene the way you see it in your head, if you do then you have now become a stage play.  You took any chance of that scene being real right out of the equation.   Live in the moment.  The blocking and the emotions must come from a natural state of being.  It must come from living in those circumstances.  "ACTING-creating real life in imaginary  circumstances."-A.S

A quick note on Character work..

Remember. There are always at least 3 different ways to learn about your character before you make any decisions. The way you see the character, the way others see the character and the way the writer sees the character. Who the character "says" they are isn't always who they are.  Look deeper.  Most people lie, or don't know who they are at all anyway, it's your job to figure out the truth.

*******VOTE********

Actors, if you've been a studying and or working actor for more than 4 years ongoing, please put a comment below..

QUESTION:  
 If you had a choice, would you wish that your passion in life turned out to be something other than acting?   And, would you follow your dream if it changed from acting in the future?

I will share my answer after a few others step up.



I would like to do this so that new and or green actors can see the thoughts of "veterans. Tell us about career and or following your passion?  Actors should always know clearly what drives their career? WHY are you doing this?

TAKING A RISK

In our work, or in our lives.   Risks may not seem like the smartest thing to do, but if they were then they would not be called a risk.  A risk is different for everyone in every scene and in every moment of life.  One of the best compliments I ever got my from my acting coach(Aaron Speiser) was that he said "I never know what your going to do."   How wonderful is it when you can watch an actor in a scene that you already know the outcome, and you still don't know what they are going to do.  Hold on to that risk taking and it will make people want to watch you and see what your going to do over and over again..  You need fans in this business, and it is a business.  When you decide to become an actor you are selling a product, sorry to say it, but that product is you.

A sense of time in this industry. .....HONESTY.....

Many actors never get to hear the truth about this industry until you have spent close to 7 years or so in it. I had an honest and wonderful coach. Lucky me. I agree with my coach, I like for my students and other actors to know the truth right when they decided this is the career they want.

Truth: Acting is not a dreamers industry anymore. The reality of this industry is that it is tuff, ruff, and full of NO's. Please don't take the No's personal, but get use to them so that you can move on and focus on learning what acting really is. If you have no respect for your career and you think it is suppose to move super fast, and you don't need class, and you don't need to work every day at perfecting your craft then you might as well quit now. I think I have served my students well if after a while of studying with me they either decide to work super hard for their career, or quit. If this is not your passion, and at any point you feel that your passion has changed, then follow it. In the long run just be happy. But please, have the respect for your career that a doctor has for his, or a pro athlete. He doesn't sign up and they throw him a scapulae and a liver. He studies for many years before he even gets a chance. Pro Athletes practice almost every day of their lives! They practice for a living!!!

You can not fail until you have given your self a chance.

And don't listen to all those damn groups, schools, and ads that say they will get you in Twilight or any of that bull shit. Just find an acting coach that you believe in and trust. Get to work! Learn what you want them to hire you for. Then hang on, because it's a long road. Know that I am not saying you can't make it shorter, but you do it by working harder. Not by waiting around, and not by someone discovering you. Sorry if there were any Bubbles that just got busted, but know you can make your decision knowing more honesty.

Older actors feel free to leave a comment on this one.