There's this woman I used to work with at my survival job who's also an actress. She doesn't really work there anymore but does some stuff there once a week. We've never really talked about it, so I don't really know what her full story is, just from bits and pieces she's mentioned and I've overheard. I know she does some voice over stuff, and I think she's done a few plays and films. I have no idea what these films are - student films? short films? low budget films? indies? major motion pictures? I have no idea - it could even be background work. I have a feeling it's either low budget stuff or background work - I could be completely wrong, but that's the vibe I get. I don't think she has an agent. I also think she may have acted in some stuff in her native country.
I don't know if I ever mentioned this but no one at my job knows I'm an actor. Or maybe they do know but have never said anything about it. There were 2 people who used to be there who knew I did improv back in the day, and 2 more who I told after they left the company. I also think there may be a 3rd person who recently might have found out inadvertently. It's easier that way - since I can make my own hours, if I have an audition or shoot, I leave early or come in late with no explanation and no one questions it - I'm sure this makes certain people there mad, but hey, I get my work done - I can't help it if they aren't as organized! I just have this feeling that if I were to start bringing it up and say, "I'm leaving because I have an audition" it's going to open a can of worms I don't want opened - sarcastic comments, unwanted input, possibly even saying I can't leave. Yeah, it's much easier this way.
This woman used to tell our boss at the time when she would go on auditions. I also have a sneaking suspicion the boss had some deep secret desire to be an actor - all the reason more not to tell them. She'd also talk to one of our co-workers about her acting. One day I heard her say something along the lines of how she didn't HAVE to be an actress, if it never happens it would be okay. She also told me once that her passion was what she was doing at this day job. I also heard her say once after she left her full-time position that things were going good with the acting.
Okay, on the comment about not having to be an actress. I'm assuming by her saying "if it never happens" she meant making a living as an actor - I could go off on a whole rant about how you are an actor or you're not, but that's not the point. My first gut reaction is, well, I guess she doesn't want it that bad. There's tons more people out here who want it BAD so she stands no chance. I'm hearing more and more that if you don't give 100% and treat it like a 40 hour job, you'll NEVER make it. I've seen the level of commitment and work it takes. I've even heard if you have a 2nd career forget it - there's no way you can split your time between the two.
But, on the other hand, is she better off? Not wanting it so badly that there's no disappointment when it doesn't happen - when she doesn't get an audition, when she doesn't book a role, etc. Just kind of stumbling into stuff that comes along?
Hmm, I tend to agree with the first thing - you've got to WANT it, you have to be COMMITTED, and you have to WORK at it, and that's just scratching the surface - I haven't even mentioned setting SPECIFIC goals, networking, the business side of it, etc. Believe me, for a long time I just floated along, going to whatever audition came along. But that will only get you so far.
But, I think a little bit of the second part is a good thing. I mean, I always hear, don't be desperate, and I think that's where the 2nd part kind of plays into it - hey, I've got an audition, if I book it I do, if I don't, I don't.
Sometimes I have to ask myself how bad do I want this? Am I committed enough to it? Am I working hard enough? Am I ENJOYING it? But at the end of the day I can't imagine doing anything else. I can't walk away. Yeah, I think it's easy to forget to have fun, but I'm working on that! :)
As far as I know this woman is the fourth person I've worked with who's also an "actor." I put actor in quotes because I have no idea how serious these people are about their careers. I have a feeling they aren't all that serious about it. I think two of them did sketch and improv and the third one did do a co-star on one of my all-time favorite shows (jealous, SO jealous!!!) but they never talked about acting, so I don't' know if it was a fluke or not. I have a sneaking suspicion out of all these people I'm the most serious about it.
I have no idea where this is going anymore, so I'll tell the story of how the person was on one of my favorite shows. I was laying in bed watching it on DVD and was reading the credits to see if there was anyone I knew who did a co-star or guest star on the show. I hadn't recognized the person on the show, but saw their name in the credits. I paused the DVD, literally sat up in bed and shouted "No! No! No!!!!" Then I thought, I'M the only actor at my work! This is one of my favorite shows! How did THEY get on it. Lol. It was pretty funny now that I look back on it.
I have no idea what this post is about anymore. It made sense when I started it, lol. I guess the bottom line is, WANT it, be COMMITTED, but have FUN and sometimes take a step back :)
No comments:
Post a Comment