Stairway to Heaven
#FIRST STEPS
Some days our dreams seem so far away that we may doubt the career path we’ve chosen. It is important to remember those first steps we took all those years ago. Or if you are relativity new to the game, it's important to understand what you are getting yourself into. Remember when you wanted to get an acting job, you were told you needed an agent. How much fun was that? You are faced with mass rejection, with the exact same message; “We aren't taking anyone unless you've had prior acting experience”. Great, the old catch 22, can't get an agent without any work, can't get any work without an agent. However, with some persistence and a few student films and/or self-tapes, the door is finally opened by someone willing to take a chance on us! They might not be a top tier agent, but it's a foot in the door and it's the beginning of the climb. In front of us lies a staircase that leads upwards, with no end in sight. Exciting! As we step through that door to representation thinking that the hard part is done, we can’t wait for the auditions to roll in. This is where our journey actually begins and for the rest of our days in the industry, we soon realise that the very first problem we had when finding representation, is the exact same problem we will face time and time again.
#TIRESOME CLIMB
As we make our way up this staircase, with all our goals and dreams in sight, it soon becomes clear that having an agent isn't going to change the struggles we are all going to have. Yes, auditions are now tangible things that exist, our agent can submit us for them. However, this doesn't mean we are actually going to be invited to audition. After some time, the commercial door opens. This is nothing to sneeze at. With the money ads can pay us, they can be our bread and butter year after year. Your first audition from your agent can be an exciting time. However, you may find yourself a few years down the track with only commercial auditions under your belt. This can be tedious. Our first thought is “well clearly my agent isn't doing a good enough job”. This could be true, so I am not saying ignore that, but furthering your understanding of the industry can more helpful. Casting agents in charge of auditioning Film and TV roles are far more selective with who they open their doors to. They won’t see you unless they know you and they can't get to know you unless they see you. Ahh yes, once again we find ourselves in that frustrating conundrum. This is a problem that we are going to encounter as long as we keep on climbing. We land a small role, but we can't get bigger roles unless we have previously had big roles. We won’t be able to land lead role auditions without having previously had at least a solid supporting role. It’s also highly unlikely that we’ll be landing a lead role without being a ‘name’. And yet the very essence of landing that leading role will make us a name. It goes on and on. We climb up a few steps, and then it feels like we have gone five steps backwards.
#REAP YOUR REWARDS
Do we climb the same way we have always climbed, hoping for a lucky break, or can we take a more critical look at ourselves? Try something different? It's already hard enough to be noticed, let alone remembered, with so many people fighting for a slice of the pie. It isn't often that those that follow the masses achieve the success they have been dreaming of. Those of us who break through usually carve our own way to the top. What that means is unique for each individual staircase. A great teacher of mine has often told us that there is no such thing as right or wrong choices, but rather strong and weak choices. This principle can apply to the art of acting itself, but also to our approach to future success. Breaking free of the repetitive grind is pivotal to seeing more success at a far quicker rate. In this day and age, we don't need to sit back and wait around anymore, nor should we. With the help of the internet we now have the ability to create our own work and be seen by large audiences across the globe. There are people whose sole job is to filter through YouTube and other social media channels to hunt down the ‘next big thing’. There is no reason that that person can't be any one of us, if we dare to dream big enough. Not everyone needs to create production companies, but there is nothing stopping you from creating some form of content. Even if it is simply filming and uploading a monologue. If you sit around like every other actor what is going to change? We can keep complaining about our agent, perfect our craft in classes, or even through self-teachings, pick up every student film you can do, even see casting directors every second weekend. But that's exactly what the masses are doing, which makes it harder to stand out. I am not suggesting that you stop these processes all together. What I am suggesting is no risk - no reward. Take a chance, create something, put yourself out there, or network with some other really talented people. No matter which path you decide on, the number one thing is to make sure that whatever you act in, produce, or create, that you do it to the best of your ability. If you don't, then what was the point?
While everyone is busy taking the stairs, why don't you take the elevator, or even the fire escape for that matter? It's time to stop following the masses and find your own way to the top.