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.

It's not about the Audience anymore.

When our venues were only the stage for actors we developed certain training techniques so that the audience could hear us, and see us and understand all of our complex emotions we human beings have.  As a modern day film and Tv actor many of the rules to make us perform are gone.  If we act as though we were on stage we look like fools on the camera. The camera will catch every little nuance in your life.  It is no longer important to worry about the audience.  They are not there, they do not have to hear you or see you.  As a matter of fact if your shooting something that in the script takes place with you and one other person then guess what, it is only important if that other human in the scene hears you.  The Gaffers, and the hair and make up don't care if they can hear you.  Guess what? Your not on set to entertain the people on set.  You are there to truly live in the circumstances they have given you.  If you ever questions yourself, "am I over acting or under acting", then start with the truth.  Do you believe that aliens are coming to get you to suck out your brain?  No?  Then, neither do we.  You have to find a way to make everything real to you.  If you don't know how, then get to an acting class.  Respect your career.  If you think your giving acting a shot by taking some photos and getting an agent to send you on auditions then your wrong.  Doctors don't just give it a shot and try to heal someone.  They go to school, they train, they perfect their craft.  They have respect for what they do.  Have respect for this craft and industry and be willing to learn.  Humble yourself and be like a sponge.  If you don't respect your career then don't expect others to take you serious or respect what you are doing.  In the end this is a job, a career.

As an actor and teacher of modern day and age medium-film & Tv

Unlike the old days when you could take all morning to getting back into your character or building up the anger;  we don't have that kind of time or patients.  As an actor of modern day and not in the theatre of acting, I know that if I am going to work in TV and FILM, then I need to be able to access my emotions quickly, and in a controlled way because of filming.   In that case, I can't use past events or issues that I myself have not dealt with because their is no control.  We must be able to move on to the next scene.  I don't mind if you stay in character all day, but you need to be able to control your emotions.  If we loose you for 20 minutes because you brought up an issues for you and can't stop crying; then you just cost production a crap load of money. If your in a play or in class, then yes feel free to ball your eyes out because if its going to let you deal with it in class instead of on set then by all means let it out.  Class is a free space to try anything, if you never fail horribly then you haven't taken enough risk to be great!