For my
purposes, let me be clear what I mean when I say ÒformÓ and ÒstructureÓ.
In the case
of a building, ÒstructureÓ is everything INSIDE the building; for instance the
framework, beams, walls, anything supporting and holding it up. And ÒformÓ is the OUTSIDE appearance of
the building; for instance whether it is big or small, sleek or run down.
With a
building, if you build a big, tall, sturdy structure, the form of a skyscraper
will come to it.
In the case
of an actor, ÒstructureÓ is the work he has put into becoming better and more
productive at his craft; for instance
classes, reading, performing, and creating. While ÒformÓ is the kind of jobs that he has attracted.
In terms of your career, you need only be concerned with the structure.
In other
words, if you work diligently on your craft then you will grow as an artist,
your structure will become strong, and you will attract fantastic jobs into
your life.
Many actors would love to skip this step and go right to the ÒfameÓ. But, as with a building, if too much form comes to meet a structure that is not ready for it, the building collapses.
There are
too many stories of young actors who achieved great success early in life, only
to downward spiral into drugs or even suicide. Their internal structure was not ready for the form that
came to meet it.
Maybe they
felt like a fraud, or maybe after their initial success they expected more
terrific jobs to come, but didnÕt have the talent to get them, or maybe they
just had a personality disorder that hadnÕt been worked out yet. For whatever reason, they didnÕt have
the inner strength and/or talent to retain the jobs they wanted.
I want your
career to be sturdy and have longevity.
Many people
get too involved in worrying about the form of their life. You may want to be an actor, but
instead be currently employed as a waiter. There are two ways you could respond to that:
1) You
could worry and fret, causing yourself anxiety and unhappiness.
or
2) You
could trust that there is a higher plan at work in your life, stay focused on
your goal, and have that positive energy translate into growth.
So, you
might ask, ÓWithout an acting job, how can I do what I want to do?Ó
And I say,
ÒJust do itÓ. Get involved in it
some way.
The best
thing to do is to surround yourself with other artists who are at, or just
above, your level. Work with them,
learn from them, and grow one step at a time.
People want
to skip steps. They think, ÒIf I
could just make friends with the right celebrities, start hanging out with some
movie stars, then IÕd be famous too.Ó
I promise you, it rarely, if ever, works that way. It is a recipe for time wasting and
trouble.
Some actors
think if they could just get introduced to a big time agent at some Hollywood
Hills party, then they might be on the fast track to stardom. But if youÕre not prepared for that
meeting, nothing much can come from it.
What have you got to show him?
If you want
to be a film actor, going to a movie isnÕt going to help. Go see some live shows. Find a theater group whose work you
respect. Become a ÒfanÓ.
There is a
power in ÒpartnershipÓ. You donÕt
have to do it alone. When you join
forces with other actors, their ÒbreaksÓ become yours as well.
When I
first got to Los Angeles, I didnÕt know anyone. I just knew I was interested in being involved in the world
of comedy.
I couldÕve
sat at home, waiting for an invitation to get involved, but that would never
have come.
I found a
group of performers, who were doing live shows at a run down coffeehouse. I went every week, and soon they got to
know me. Next thing I knew, I was
being invited to perform, and soon I became one of the many performers in this
small community of comics.
Over the
next few years, I performed alongside these comics, in coffeehouses,
bookstores, and dumpy clubs. And I
got better at what I do. I saw all
of them grow as performers.
And now most all of these comedians, who were just doing what they love for nothing, are all working actors and writers. Some are on series, others created their own TV shows.
And all of
this from a run down coffeehouse!
The
Universe pays off to people who put it out there.
If you take
two steps towards what you want, the universe will give you two more.
Action
creates action.
And good
news: Working on your structure is
FUN! YouÕre getting to do what you
love, and become better at it, as opposed to just worrying about the form of
your life, which you have no control over.
Follow your
bliss. In other words, ÒDo that
which makes your heart happy.Ó
Because when you do something, it creates more of it in your life.
Early in my
career, and agent of mine explained to me that acting was an ÒetherealÓ
profession. What she meant was
that you cannot control it, so donÕt sweat it if youÕre not currently working
the kind of jobs you desire. If
you are talented you WILL get work. Therefore, the best thing is to simply keep
doing it, keep growing as an artist.
There are
many hugely successful actors who didnÕt hit it big till they were in their
thirties or forties. I guarantee
you that they were working on their craft all along. They were doing their real job, which is to focus on their
structure as an artist. You must
never stop acting and growing.
Worst-case
scenario, youÕll never be quite as famous as you had dreamed. But you got to spend a lifetime doing
what you love. Not too bad!