PLEASE SHARE THIS. Lets make it go viral! If you have the passion as an artist to make acting your LIFE, if you have a lifelong dream that no one can take away from you, if you refuse to let this industry exploit, control, abuse and manipulate you... PLEASE SHARE THIS POST. This is a letter that came today from an actor about her dream. I was so moved I had to share it. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ Billy, I’ve been following your and Deas posts on facebook for a few months. I apologize for this very long email, but I felt compelled to tell you how touched I am by what you and Dea are doing! My interest in acting and film began early. As a kid, I’d watch the Oscars with an almost-reverence because I felt those people were putting their hearts into creating something wonderful. When I moved to LA, I was eager to learn, to step outside of what *I* thought was right. I tried to do everything I could, and everything I felt I should. I didn’t want to be the actor who wanted something for nothing. I was willing to pay my dues. So when I heard that THE ONLY WAY an unknown actor can even BEGIN to start becoming a MERE BLIP on some casting director or agent/manager’s radar is to do workshops, I said ok. I looked at it as a necessary evil, even though deep down it didn’t feel good. I heard it was the actor’s duty to do these workshops; afterall, it’s our career. The worst part was this pervasive implication that actors need to grovel. Not only are we expected to pay for play, but if we don’t ask the right questions, or don’t act cool enough for them, or we don’t have “the look” they like, or email instead of snail-mail, or snail-mail instead of email, or annoy them for whatever other reason, we’re just delusional, lazy actors who have been wasting their time. It made me feel like I was a terrible person for even thinking that I could be a part of this industry, for even existing. Like, who did I think I was, taking up space in their precious workshop and wanting to act and all? I thought there was something wrong with me, and eventually I felt so confused and run down that I decided, with a heavy heart, that maybe acting/film wasn’t meant for. It wasn’t easy, but my sanity, self-respect, and self-esteem were worth more. As cliche as it sounds, I had to ‘find’ myself and figure who *I* really was and who *I* wanted to be. I had to throw off the layers of confusing and contradictory advice in regards to my “type” and my “brand.” The confusion and constant grovelling had seeped into other areas of my life, to the point that my self-esteem was completely shot. Eventually, I did recently get back into the industry. This time around, though, I had more self-respect, and I decided I was going to do this staying true to myself or not at all. I guess the worst part of it is, is that the “actor services” industry relies on making actors (who are often already insecurity-ridden) feel like crap, and then promises to make them feel better if they throw money at the problem. And that’s pretty evil in my opinion, and that’s why I am SO grateful for people like you and Dea, and I SO appreciate your efforts. Your posts and efforts are like a breath of fresh air. I feel like I had suddenly been yanked out of a Kafkaesque world. For the first time in years, I felt like that little girl watching the Oscars, full of admiration and respect for an industry that creates so much art, joy, and entertainment for others. And I know that I have made the right decision in continuing to pursue what I love, because there are people out there who stand for something I’d be proud of. I want to truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for upholding the integrity and magic of our industry.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 01:36:10 +0000
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