Negative Nancy is Debbie Downer's Lesbian Lover
I am wracking my brain trying to think of something helpful, useful, or educational, some pearl of wisdom or practical advice to bestow upon a hopeful new actor that I haven't already blogged about before. But I think Stacey hit that one on the head in her last post. In a nutshell, get a job. Read the trades. Get in class. Toughen up your skin. Invest in your headshot. And suffer along with the rest of us or get out.
I will also add the caveat to not get swept away by hoopla. Don't let your desperation cloud your sound judgment and good instincts. Just like anything else, while it's useful to have solid associations to big reputable names of coaches, classes, gigs, what have you, I can tell you from personal experience that none of that will help you if you don't have the goods to back up what's on paper.
In fact, particularly if your goals lie in TV or film, nobody is going to give you a job over someone else because of what's on your resume. It will be based on your audition and your look. I realize the problem often lies in getting those auditions in the first place. Again, your acting talent, abilities, and most of all your confidence along with putting yourself out there as much as possible will get you there. Make decisions not out of desperation, but intelligence. And if you don't know, then ask someone else who does.
Other personal acting updates...another commercial audition. The commercial agent left me a message saying they were given the copy for the spot in advance. When I called back to ask for it, she screamed, "Why?" I screamed, "Because I want to see it!" She accused me of being a Negative Nancy because I wanted to make sure this wasn't going to be a total waste of my time before I confirmed the appointment. Whatevs. I been doing this for long enough to know that unless there's at least some acting involved, I will only leave there completely demoralized. I told her either I become more selective or I quit commercials all together. She put me on the phone with her higher up who convinced me that she was on it and not to worry. I'm not worried. I'm tired. Geesh.
On the legit front...I think I spent more time doing my hair than I did on the lines, but it went pretty all right. I felt I did my best and that's all I can do. It was only two scenes anyway. And pretty straight forward. Sometimes in the past I've worked the material to death and it loses a little spontaneity because I'm more likely to go on autopilot. I think leaving it alone for a bit was actually really helpful. Once again, I too need to remind myself not to act out of desperation and have the confidence and trust that I will do what I need to be prepared.
On the rest of me...trying to get back into exercise...again. I am determined to do it on my own and not have to hire a trainer or join a gym to get my flabby flat ass back into shape. However, I've been thinking about doing a private yoga session just to get a kickstart and get that ball rolling. I used to practice it intensely and I really miss it. I know it's time to get back in because I've found myself saying more than once, "I think I need to be drugged." The only pills I pop are multi-vitamins and I sometimes wonder what life feels like for people on anti-anxiety medication. Is it just smooth sailing for those guys 24/7? If I lunch on the yoga, maybe I'll just stick to my own self-medicating good ole fashioned boozing and shopping. Or maybe I just need to remind myself that this is Life. Deal with it.
Anyhow, I read an article the other day about how indie bands are feeling the pain at the pump and fewer bands are able to go on the road because they just can't afford to anymore. That's really shitty. We need indie artists to keep being creative and producing their art so we aren't left with mainstream media feeding us their prepackaged garbage as our only option for consumption. Please go out and support your local music, your local theater, your local farmer, your local barber, your local mom & pop shop...or be prepared for every corner of America to be taken up by stripmalls where our only choices are Starbucks, Staples, Bank of America, and Bed Bath & Beyond.
Between rising gas prices and digital media, global warming, and pharmaceutical drugs, it's hard not to feel like the only thing to look forward to these days is that alleged economic stimulus package so I can fill up the gas tank to get to the drugstore to pick up a prescription of Zanex and wash it down with a plastic bottle of water while I listen to my iPod and check my e-mail on my laptop at the beach where I'll get severe sunburn and possibly poisoned when I go for a swim in the polluted ocean.
Have a great day!
--Ming Ming
I some times wonder if the GAS PRICE surge isn't helping the small store. I've always walked to the hardware store, corner store, coffee shop, over driving to a big corporate one... Now I think more people are doing that too. I also noticed all last weekend, much less cars on the FREE WAYS... That's my only ray of sun shine.
Course wouldn't it be nice if gas were 2 bucks, and people still did that?... That's one of my many clouds.
Posted by: Tom Kiesche | June 26, 2008 at 12:43 PM