"You are what you do, not what you say you will do".
Carl Jung
BACK TO SCHOOL TIME
The summer is behind us. Autumn is around us. This time of year always reminds me of going back to school, and the new theater season opening. I have always loved them both. We are in the most inspiring of seasons.
THE WHY Of CAREER
Let's talk about 'The Why,' not in the way we have talked about it in the past, as an acting exercise, but as the raw fuel that drives your career forward. By the way, there doesn't seem to be any correct answer to this, and there is no definitive "Why"; just your own personal 'Why.'
Take a pen and a notebook that you can keep private and write about why you want to be an actor. Explore it in detail. Tell no one, and as Gandalf said to Frodo, "Keep it secret. Keep it safe ." This is not for sharing with anyone. It is not for publishing. It is for you to have a safe place to explore why you are drawn to and drive down this path of life. Once you find your why, it will light your way in the darkest of times. Your why may remain steadfast over the years or evolve. Years ago, one new actor, just starting out, told me their reason, "I'm gonna be somebody". I'm not sure if that actor carried on the path; I never heard from or about them again. What I do know is that you can find yourself on this career path, but you have to start by being somebody. That will make all the difference in your journey. If you feel like you don't know who you are, my experience is just 'to ask' and then do. You will find the answer.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN INDUSTRY
We've all been hearing the phrase that goes something like, "Just survive till 25!" Ouch! I've heard others say that it's best to just apply your creativity to another industry or another line of work.
Well, I'm happy to say that September marked an uptick in our end of the business. We got two large casting/producing jobs, and that has given us hope, and we want to share it.
We credit it with a "Knock and the door will open" philosophy. Calling contacts, reaching out, and yes, the door opened. That opening that let other jobs in. So we encourage you not to be bitter or jaded, but to open your creative mind to possibilities and then act on them. Some people retort that it's all so pointless. Our retort to their retort is "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction," or what you put out there comes back to you. It never goes out and dies in the void. That is not our experience anyway.
This harkens back to the quote we shared a while ago: "Whatever you can do or dream, you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it".
That, coupled with the advice I heard from a film investor, who basically said if you want to make it in this crazy time, when studios are shifting and trying to stay relevant and open, embrace YouTube. Yes. She said Youtube. This really is the first time in movie history when it is so affordable and accessible for any actor/film artist to create a channel. Display their work.
OUR CALL TO ACTION... FOR YOU
Back in the last century, many actors did plays to let people see their work. There is nothing like theatre to train and sharpen an actor's skills, but getting people in the industry to come and see it was always a challenge, not impossible, but a challenge. In this century, you take the same energy to be in a play, shoot it with a digital camera, and there is a platform waiting for you; welcoming you with open doors: YouTube. Whether or not you monetize your videos or produce content that shows off what you can do, now, it's out there. And now it's just a matter of marketing.
The call to action we're proposing right now is to just sit with it. Let your imagination explore the possibilities of what your channel might look like. What stories would you put on there? What do you want to say as an artist?
It's thrilling, isn't it. It's a little scary or perhaps a lot scary but admit it. It's thrilling. Thrilling to think that you don't have to wait for permission. Just do it. If it's not good, don't show it; redo it. But just imagine joining the world of artists who are telling their stories. That may sound too bold for someone just starting out. So, band together with actors you know and begin, because boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STUDIO
At the studio, we are very busy. As we work on getting Writer's Room out and into
festivals, we are color correcting and working on sound on The Psychodynamics
of Modern Theories of Acting.
We are also working on budgeting and scheduling our first feature film, finishing up the script for our second feature, and creating a new reality show from the ground up.
And finally, we got distribution for, our first full-length documentary entitled Choices. We will also be hitting the film festivals circuit this fall with this timely documentary. The excitement and energy are high at the studio.
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