TIME: 6:31 AM
Oh my goodness - let me tell you very quickly about the song I'm listening to for this blog:
I'm an 80's baby, and when I was a little kid, my mom and I used to blast this song whenever it came on the radio and sing our hearts out, not caring if our pitches were off. I find it kind of weird and funny how Jefferson Airplane went from being like this psychedelic rock band to...well, this. And then you step back and you wonder, "What the hell was Grace Slick thinking?"
Seriously, Jefferson Airplane?! AWESOME! Starship?! CHEESEY!!!!!!
This song is the epitome of 80's cheese, but even at my age now, I still enjoy the cheesey song! I even blasted it on Rabbit's IPOD when we were randomly driving around on a cool and breezy Saturday night with our pal, Kimmy Jacobs, all over the Jersey shore, chewing the fat, laughing our asses off, and listening to random music. They probably thought I was nuts, but honestly, this cheesey song still makes me I smile. Ahhhh, good times! =)
You know what word rhymes "cheesey", folks? "EASY" - that's what! Okay, I know that was very cheesey, but I had every intention to do that! =P
Any industry person, beginner or seasoned professional, will tell you that the acting industry is TOUGH! Perhaps it is the toughest profession on the face of this planet, and we, as actors, producers, directors, coaches, etc. are known for dreaming BIG - I mean, castle-in-the-sky big! I've met people who want to be on top of the world in this profession, and the sad (but honest) truth is that not a lot of us make it to where we want to be. Not a lot of us even stick to this profession and wind up venturing off into some other field, which is okay, too. After all, it's your career, and even though people have laughed at me for saying this, it is true when I tell you that whatever we given in our careers rests in the palms of our hands.
Think about it! We are given this key to open doors in our careers to unlock secrets to who we are and discover things like unhidden talents and inner-strengths that have been clouded from our eyes. Now, you either take that key, go and unlock as many doors as your little heart desires, or you don't do a damn thing at all. And I'm not talking meeting "the right people". No, no, no...this lies beyond that!
I am probably going to either ruffle a bunch of feathers here or get people scratching their heads when I say this, but I don't care. What I am about to tell you IS true (and no one can convince me otherwise on this, because I stand firm in this belief): There ARE a couple of easy parts to being an actor! I don't care what city you are trying to persue your career in. You can make your career a smudge easier than what it looks like if you follow me a little here in this blog entry. Take it from a girl who is on the same boat as you!
Pay attention, kids! Take some notes if you wish to! Hear me out! =)
THE 5 EASIEST THINGS ABOUT BEING AN ACTOR
1. READING BIOGRAPHIES AND FICTION NOVELS - it's not hard to open a book!
Theatre actor, film actor, television actor, whatever - it's important to READ! There are thousands of excellent resources out there that help you learn about our profession as a business, how our industry is holding up in our outrageous economy, our craft, and much, much more. I'm talking about newspaper articles, articles on the web on actors' websites, books, newsletters, blogs, magazines, the list goes on.
As an actor, you also get excellent resources from reading even a fiction novel. When I was a kid, I used to read a lot of R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike books, which are horror, but they always delt with the supernatural. One of my favorite books when I was little was called "The Dark Card" by Amy Erlich, which was about a lost seventeen year old girl who sneaks into an Atlantic City casino with her sister's ID while staying at the family's Jersey shore summer house, winds up being seduced by a much older gambling addict, and throughout the book is clearly disturbed by her mother's passing from cancer. I read that book over and over again. It was then and there, I actually learned that the kind of stories I enjoy are dramatic as oppose to comedy. Now, my point to reading fiction novels is this where you can learn what kind of roles you're interested in. If you go to the library or browse around a Barnes and Noble or Boarders or the Strand Bookshop, what works and authors are you most drawn to?
I'm not going to lie, though, I really am not a fan of reading fiction novels, but when I do, the plot HAS to grab me. I WILL sit and read a work a fiction if it is dramatic or has some sort of twisted character in it, but I also love stories that have a sense of hope to them. Take "Memoirs of a Geisha" for example, which is my favorite novel of all time. I relate to Sayuri, because of her journey to becoming the famous geisha she winds up becoming in the book. Through her tears and disapointments, she was able to find generous people to not only help her career as a geisha, but to help her appreciate and love life again by the end of the book. Great book! Movie was all right, but the book has me FLOORED!
A character that is similar to Sayuri's story? I'm so in!
Sticking to books again (and this one's a no-brainer), there are also biographies. Not just biographies on actors or directors or producers, but musicians and even ordinary people who have fascinating stories to tell. If you read biographies and memoirs, you can also discover what kind of stories you'd love to tell through them. Some people will say you ought to read biographies to bring a sense of hope to your careers as well, and that's very true. But again - think about what the biography is about. Is about a person who was heroic? Is it about a person who struggled through drug addiction? Whose life is so fascinating that you just want to talk about them non-frickin'-stop? Do you see the connection here? If you can find a biography about a certain person whose life has touched you in a certain way to a point where you talk about them non-stop, that right there shows you what kind of roles you'd be interested in playing.
Take David Bowie for example. I love him and I would read any biography having to do with him, because he's in a class of his own, he's different, and has been one of my favorite singers since I was twelve. I, myself, love to be different, in a class of my own, but I could never play him. Well, first of all, I'm not male. Second of all, he's 30-odd years older than me. And third, the guy's not Korean-American. However, I can play an unconventional female character who comes off as a complete oddity to this world, but still be brilliantly talented and versatile. This also explains why I chose the monologue from "A Feminime Ending" by Sarah Treem. Amanda Blue is the David Bowie to her story (in my eyes that is) - unconventional, an outsider in her small-town, very talented musician, brilliant in her own mind, but struggles to make it, which David did back in the 60's before the whole Ziggy Stardust thing. Then, it is a matter of lacing in my own personal experiences and knowing how she feels when certain things affect her.
It's amazing how you can find your artistic callings just by reading biographies and works of fiction! If you can relate to the person you're reading about, fiction or non-fiction, or are touched by their stories, that's the kind of stories, as performer, director, and writer, you want to tell, and should keep in mind throughout your career. Books are PURE gold! Reading is ESSENTIAL!
2. EDUCATING OURSELVES WITH OR WITHOUT A COACH - do your research!
This is possible, but don't mistaken me here - we need acting coaches and we need business coaches as much as they need us, and if you're lucky enough to find excellent ones, then that's even better! But what I mean about doing your research is this:
Say you're auditing an acting coach and he or she teaches Method acting. Before you say yes to the coach, at least find out what Method acting is, it's origins and whatnot. What I am saying is try and find out if the technique is for you. If it is, it is. If it isn't, then try another technique that you're most comfortable with. This also helps you in your search for a certain coach. Not every acting coach teaches Method acting or follows the teachings of Lee Strasberg. Some follow Sanford Meisner, and some actors out there follow the Meisner technique (I'm one of them). Some follow David Mamet. Some are all passionate about Shakespeare and only teach classical.
My point is this: If you're searching for an acting coach, but you run into one that teaches a certain technique and you have not a clue of what that technique is, at least do a little research about it to see what you're in store for if you decide to participate in the classroom. I'm not saying going into class as a complete know-it-all and try to outshine to the coach. Good God, DON'T do that! But at least see if this is a technique that you're going to be comfortable with.
I'm not going to lie here, though. When I started coming to New York back in 2006, I was VERY naive and I jumped into my training without thinking it through, despite the fact we very briefly went over Meisner in college. I did go with my gut and my instincts has served me well, because I do prefer Sandy Meisner's teachings and I swear by it when it comes to the work. However, learning a certain technique requires a certain temperment, which I WASN'T prepared for when I started out. I've gotten used to it, though, and I'm still learning to do that. Picking an acting coach not only has to do with how you feel about the coach itself or his or her approach to acting and how it's being taught to the students, but it also requires how you feel about these techniques. Not every actor follows Sandy Meisner. We are all unique in our own way!
When it comes to business coaches (if you decide to go with one or not - it's entirely up to you) and prepping your session with your business coach, I strongly do believe it is your job to bring the questions to him or her. When I started working with my business coach, I brought basic questions to her:
- What is the biggest mistake do you tink actors make as far as business decisions, looking for work, self-promotion goes?
- What do agents really look for?
- Do you think managers are neccessary?
- How else do you avoid being scammed other than not giving money?
- Are looks really everything? And how do you know what kind of image or look you want to use to market yourself as an actor?
- What are the do's and don'ts to writing out your resume?
Our industry is full of unique people and we all go about our careers in different ways. We all do our preperations as performers differently. But let me add one thing to this: You HAVE to get your training! You can help your coaches by working WITH them by doing your research AND when chosing the right acting coach for you, but all in all, it doesn't replace being trained by an actual coach. And if you've found yourself a genuine coach, then you're hit the jackpot, but DON'T expect them to do all the work for you. You are the most responsible for your growth and your training - NOT your coaches. Your coaches help you become actors, but they don't turn you into one. I'm telling you this, because I've made that mistake when I first started out with my coach. But once I have learned that my personal growth as a performer is really up to me, I began to enjoy it A LOT more and learn a lot faster! =)
Today, whenever I approach my work for class, I try to do it with a good amount of passion so I am ready to present it to him, and see if he can help me make it better and at least point out what works or doesn't work. It sure in hell beats bringing it to him like, "How do you play this? What do I do?"
One last thing I want to point out with coaches and I can't stress this enough: Be professional! Yeah, so you chose them, but remember you're on their time, they are doing this for you, they have other students to attend to. If you're lucky to have a very down-to Earth coach, be courteous, be respectful, and be open-minded with your coaches, and they will give you their all in return if they're great at what they do!
3. NETWORKING AND SOCIALIZING - reach out to others, actors or not!
Unfortunately, I have met actors who hate networking, and I even had the great pleasure of meeting an actor who thought networking was pointless. It was one of those just grin and bear moments, then you leave the b.s. and go on your merry way. The truth is, networking, in my opinion, is the most important part of the job and one of the easiest. Then again, I find networking VERY easy only because I love to meet people and I am, generally, a pretty gregarious person!
Here's what networking has helped me with. I have always been a very shy. I know, it's funny, because I can be really outgoing, then I can be really shy. But networking has helped me come out of my shell and made me realize that despite the horror stories of being scammed or screwed over with broken promises that I've heard (and fortunately, never experienced - knock on wood), there ARE very generous people in this business! I'm telling you, I have not a clue what I'd do without having my colleagues! I've made a lot of really good friendships in this business, and what helps having these friendships is that when it comes to our careers, we have others to lean on.
Actors, I think, sometimes mistaken networking as - to be really blunt - a "butt-kissing" convention. I don't know about half of the people I meet in mixers, but I don't network hoping to win anyone over. I go, because those who know me very well know that I genuinely love meeting people and talking to others. I don't care if people wind up thinking I'm full of myself at the end of the day. The reason why I network and try to stay in touch is, because we can learn from one another. We can learn from our colleagues about how we go about our careers and even recommend those we've worked with in the past or even the present.
ALSO, keep in mind, when you have colleagues, it helps you along in your career. I'm not talking about acting jobs. I'm talking about word-of-mouth information of where we go to find auditions, books we've read to enhance our careers, coaches we've worked with, etc. Networking is KEY! And I cannot imagine not being in this business without networking!
If you're a shy person, I can understand that it may be nerve-wrecking to be a mixer, but the key to networking and socializing with other actors is to be yourself. Be there to mingle and to meet others. You don't have to do anything to come off as impressive. I most drawn to people who are positive, enthusiastic, and generous in character. I could care less if you've seen every play on Broadway. I want to know your story - what made you go into acting, what you're interested in. I am not interested in how many acting project you have under your belt. If you have a question for me that could help benefit your career, I am willing to help you if I can. I can recommend the guy who did my headshots or tell you about other photographers I've interviewed. I can tell you what plays you can read if you're looking for a certain character. Recommend a good book to read. Give you tips on how to find what kind of roles you could possibly be interested in playing like I did before. I found that a lot of really good-hearted people in this business are willing to do that same. That's what networking is really about! Granted, I have ran into some people who made me feel uneasy, but there's no need worry, because you do have the option of staying in touch with certain individuals or not. Shine a positive light and others will shine one right back at you! =)
And going back to "butt-kissing", be extra cautious if you run into someone who starts doing exactly that. These people most likely are scammers. However, no matter what city you are in, you are most likely to find safe networking groups that will allow you to exercise your social skills. How do you find them? Do your research! Not sure about something? Ask a trusted colleague - hence my point on the importance of networking!
Actually, to tell you the truth, I think socializing in general is very important. I even learn things just socializing with non-actors, but in a different fashion. You learn about the aspects of human behavior, whether you are watching someone or speaking to someone. You also learn how people tell each other stories, which helps you along with your studies as a performer. So, the next time you have a normal conversation with a friend, actor or not, keep in mind how the conversation goes. In the end, it will help you!
4. ASK QUESTIONS - don't be afraid to speak up!
Adding on to the importance of networking, ask questions! Ask questions to your colleagues and your coaches, no matter how "silly" or "stupid" a question may sound, ask away! I bet you dollars and dimes that every seasoned professional actor started out by asking "silly" and "stupid" questions to trusted mentors and colleagues. No question you should as is "silly" nor "stupid", and if you ask them to someone who thinks they are, they're not someone you should really be asking, because they will usually give you general or one-sided answers. You don't want that.
The kind of people you want in your corner in this business are people whose passion for this matches yours. One of the greatest joys about being in this industry is having questions to bring to my coaches, because it shows that I am more than eager to learn as much as I can as a performer and a business person. You're not going to learn everything in one session or year or two or three or four or five. No matter how much of a novice or a seasoned professional you may be, there's always something new to learn! You learn, though, by asking, so ask away! Enough said on this. Next topic!
5. WATCH MOVIES, TELEVISON SHOWS, WEBISODES, AND GO SEE A PLAY - see it all with your own eyes - the great, the good, the mundane, the bad, and the ugly!
When it comes to movies, I'm talking about ALL movies! Even terrible movies! Do yourself a favor, especially if you're new: Rent two movies via Netflix or Blockbuster or the library. Rent a favorable movie with excellent reviews, where the performances had critics and audiences FLOORED. Then, rent a not-so favorable movie that reigned surpreme at the Razzies. Watch them both, take notes, and compare the differences betweeen the two. Take careful notice of the performances of the actors, the movie plot, how the characters get what they want, try to accomplish, the dialogue, etc. These things help your performance training in so many ways!
Along with studying others and taking notes in your head when you socialize, you can see how it comes up on screen. You benefit from both excellent movies and poor movies. Excellent movies - well, that's an easy one! You basically are learning what others are doing to deliver a great performance. Understanding the importance of brilliant dialogue and a strong synopsis. However, why poor movies? Poor movies can be fun, because you can point out and recognize when an actor isn't doing a good job. When I do watch poor movies, I always say to myself, "If I were her, I would've said it with more anger." and things along that lines. It's always a "I would've" or "she should've"....although, I will also admit that watching poor movies are painful. Sometimes I have to struggle to keep my attention on the film if it's so bad.
You can even benefit from a really sloppy comedy, because comedy is also a skill on it's own. I, personally, prefer to watch comedy rather than do it, but a lot of people don't realize that there is drama even in comedy! If the comedy is done right, then great! If not....well, you get my point!
And the same goes for watching shows on TV (even though I don't watch a lot of television), webisodes on the net, and going to a theatre off-Broadway and watch a play. You, as a member of an audience, understand your own personal reactions when watching a play. I've been to plays where I was delightfully entertained! And I've been to ones where I spent a good most of the time sending text messages to my friends while having my phone on MUTE. Sometimes, I'd even *yawn*. Now, let me ask you this: Would you want to be apart of a project where you are not holding the attention of your audience members or not even connecting with them?
As actors, it is our job to connect with our audience, to touch them, to tell our stories. If you give a performance that is less than entertaining, not only are being unfair to your audience, but also the people you're performing with! Nothing helps you more than going to see a play! As a matter of fact, I think witnessing live theatre is the most helpful of them all! THIS is the easiest part of your job as an actor! There is no excuse for you to not be able to watch a movie or television show or webisode or go to the theatre and to watch a play! There is isn't!
All in all, my point to this blog entry is that even outside the classroom, without the presence of your coaches, it is essential to be DEDICATED to your work! There is more to life than our careers, like we have personal friends, family, day jobs, and stuff like that. But if you have the time, dedicate yourself to your career by doing these small favors for yourself. I promise you, they will come in handy for your as your career progresses! These are even "treats" for you and your brain, and you learn so much just from them! Small steps usually lead to giant leaps!
Let's face it: Actors who come to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or wherever are so hooked and far too hypnotized by the "glamour" of our industry. The money. The fame. The diamonds. The hidden secret behind these "treasures" is the hard work you put into it, and that work is more than acting classes or business sessions. It's knowing yourself as a person. It's educating yourself from either watching films or reading books and plays. Almost everything, 24/7, that you touch in your life is a tool for your work as a performer and a business person. For me, that's the "treasure" of this industry. I love to learn! I come from a very sheltered small town in the Jersey shore. I haven't had a real taste of life until I started going to New York to persue my career, and to be able to see things and learn things people from my little hometown can only dream or imagine seeing -- no fancy piece of jewelry, big paycheck, or mass amount of attention can replace that! This is not to say that I don't hope to make a solid living from this. I just don't promise myself anything. I can only promise to try and I can only promise allow myself to learn as much as I can to get to where I hope to go someday with this. I don't have control over how casting directors or how my coaches see me. Quite frankly, that's the last thing I'm really concerned about. None of us should be concerned about wanting to please people. My main concern is what I, and any other aspring actor, has control over:
- The amount of time we put in to work on our careers by working on our scripts, monologues, etc., etc., etc.
- The way we present ourselves when we're at an audition or networking mixer or meeting.
- The number of plays or novels or biographies we read to find the perfect monologue or to discover what roles we are interested in.
- The time and effort we put in anything having to do with our careers.
And I can gaurantee - not promise - but gaurantee that if you look at your career as an endless goldmine for life-long knowlege as oppose to a ticket to fame and fortune and access to material possessions, you will build such a passion for this industry that it will help you strengthen your will to succeed in whatever your goal may be, make it big or small. You have to look at your work and your career in so many different corners and observe them. You have to understand and even admit to yourself that you don't know everything and you're not going to learn everything. And I said this before, got laughed at, but I don't care, because I know I'm right about this, so I AM gonna say it again:
You can be given all the advice and tips in the world on how to get through this industry, but really, your career, seriously, lies in the palms of YOUR hands!
It's all up to you! ALL of it!
So, do yourself a big favor: Enjoy the ride, but be on your toes!
Now, that's easy...isn't it? =)
That's enough candy for now! xoxo
Cristina
http://www.cristinacho.net/
1 comments:
Wow -- that's quite a piece of work! Must be the beginning of your book... :-) That's some really good advice. And, as an acting coach myself, I really appreciate what you say about looking for a coach. Any good acting coach is totally on the actor's side, but nothing can replace the actor doing his or her own work. Rehearsal is absolutely essential! And certainly it will make all the difference in the world. Blessings to you, Christina!
Rhonda Musak
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