Are you your worst enemy?

Each of us find ways to sabotage our own careers.  The trick is to figure out what it you are doing to hurt your career and then work everyday to fight that.

Personally, I often question my abilities and especially my looks.  I will say to myself I am not pretty enough for that part or I don't have enough credits so they will never call me in.  This prevents me from going after roles I really want and then I will never be given a chance in the first place.

Have you ever been called in for something and then thought, this character doesn't look like me or I'm not the type of person they would cast in this role?  What do you do then?  Do you go to the audition and tell the casting director you aren't right for this or even worse do you not go to the audition at all? 

Both of these are the absolutely wrong choice.  Don't do the casting director's job for them.  You can't know what they are looking for, so go in, don't make excuses, and do the best work you can do.  Let them decide that your ears are too big, or your nose is crooked, or that your credits aren't enough.

Woody Allen famously said, "Eighty percent of success is just showing up."  Talking yourself out of trying for things that may seem difficult or out of your reach can be a self-protecting device to prevent you from being rejected.  But, I guarantee someone else will get 100% of the jobs you don't show up for.

Serious Actors Take Classes

In last week's post, Where is your Craft, I questioned how people could claim to be following their dream without working on their craft.  I wanted to follow-up on that and talk a little bit more in-depth about the importance of acting classes and why it's hard for me to take you seriously as an actor if you don't take classes.

I've said it before but it is worth repeating: LEARNING TO BE AN ACTOR IS A LIFELONG PROCESS!

Just because you've booked a few roles doesn't mean that you have no more to learn.  Doris Roberts at 80 still goes to her acting class every week and she's been in the business for 60 years.  From Doris Roberts' Interview with CBS:

"I go [to class] every Saturday morning, I went this morning! I keep learning. See, the important thing about getting older is not to settle. The minute you settle, it's like a disease: if you give into it, become a victim, then you're dished. So I don't settle."

Ted Danson spoke with the Washington Post about working with an acting coach for his role on "Damages."

"[Acting coach] Harold [Guskin] got me to stop being a nice actor. . . . There was an arrogance that he gave me to the acting process that was fun to play with."

Do you still think you have nothing to gain from taking classes or that they are a waste of money?


I found a school that works for me and that I enjoy in Playhouse West.  But, I know that everybody works differently and needs help in different areas so I suggest auditing many different classes to find the one that is right for you.  Don't use not liking a particular class or teacher as an excuse to not go to any classes.  There are so many acting classes in Los Angeles, I guarantee there is one for you.

Now, I want you to understand that I am not talking Casting Director workshops.  They may pretend to be classes, but we all know what they really are.  I am not going to weigh in on the fight over whether CD workshops are worthwhile or not, but one thing I do know is that they are not training.  So, please do not put workshops under training on your resume (and yes, I have seen that), if you do this I will immediately think less of you as an actor.

So, if you aren't taking classes ask yourself how serious you really are about pursuing this career.

Where is your Craft at?

I am amazed how many people in Hollywood say they are following their dreams but don't find the time to go to classes or even read about the craft of what they are trying to do.  If you can't find the time for your dream then how can expect anyone to give your dream time. 

Why do so many people choose to not work on their craft?  I see three main reasons: they get too busy, they get too lazy, or they think they know everything already.

Today I want to talk about the latter reason because I think it is the most detrimental.  I know some people who think they are going to change all the rules of filmmaking, photography, writing, or whatever it is they want to do without ever even learning what the rules are in the first place.  They want to change the world, but discount everybody who came before them.  If you truly love to do something then you should want to learn as much as you about it as you can. 

If you love acting then you should be reading plays and books by the masters all the time.  If you love photography you should be studying photos by the greats and reading about the techniques they used.  If you love filmmaking then you should watch the classics and learn about the intricacies of telling stories through moving pictures.  This goes for anything that you want pursue on a professional level. 

Would you go to a doctor who hadn't studied?  Would you want to fly on a plane with a pilot who had never learned in a simulator first?  Would you want to be represented by a lawyer who didn't study the precedents in your case?

If you want to be a professional why would expect anything less from yourself?

Do you have support?

Yesterday, I spent the 4th with my extended family. All day we ate and gabbed.  It was wonderful and I got to see how very lucky I am. (This is also my excuse for being a day late with my blog.)

I have an amazing support network of aunts, uncles, and cousins who love me unconditionally and are guaranteed to repost anything I put on Facebook (probably including this blogpost.) On days when I am feeling down for not getting more movie or TV work, one thing that keeps me from really beating myself up is knowing how proud my family is for what I have done. With their support I know I can keep trying to do this crazy career. 

Not everyone has such a supportive family and my suggestion to you is to create your own. If your family wants you to just go to Law School already then make your friends your support network. Find a group of like-minded people and support each other. 

Remember friends are the family you get to choose, so choose well. If you are friends with people who aren't supporting your career, why are you friends with them?