Hey Bonnie,
My name is Brad Stevens. I’m a member of the Actors’ Meet-Up in Chicago, and really enjoyed hearing you speak in April. I had to leave early, but I had a question. You mentioned that LA is “the Super Bowl of Acting,” and I totally understand that if you want to stomp with the big dogs, that’s the place to be. But I was wondering if you think your options expand if you’re an actor creating and directing your own material?
I’m currently working on my own feature and am looking forward to moving New York once it’s completed. I’ve visited LA on several occasions and thought it was cool, but I absolutely LOVE NYC. My thinking is with a great story, an amazing looking film, and the Internet constantly searching for content, you can plant your flag anywhere, kick things up to the next tier, while still flying back and forth to LA as projects arise.
Just wondering what your thoughts are.
Thanks,
Brad
Hi Brad! Thanks for the email. Wow, my time in Chicago was so much dang fun. I loved getting to do an event with the Chicago Acting in Film Meet-Up Group. That you guys gather and bring in industry guests and support one another’s projects and share resources? That’s ninja stuff! Love it.
Absolutely, when I talked about Stephon Fuller’s great line about LA being “the Super Bowl of Acting,” that’s an analogy that runs along the lines of how you can rise to the top of your game wherever you are, but the top of the game at the top of its game is Hollywood. It’s just like a politician can be huge “back home,” but needs to go to DC to play at the highest level.
Does that mean that you can only play big in a big market? Heck no! You can play big in a small market, and plenty of people prove that you can play small in ANY market, should you stay trapped in that cycle. I think it’s wonderful to look for ways to play big wherever you are! And I totally agree with you that the opportunities are growing, lately, to allow creatives to build a fanbase ANYWHERE and thrive in ways previously not possible in minor markets.
Absolutely, being a hyphenate helps that along! “Just” being an actor — unlike decades ago, when that “acting only” status was required to get respect — could limit your ability to thrive in any market, today. Not only does your ability to self-produce, write, create content, etc., give you a leg-up in your current market, it could actually push you farther along (and faster) than if you’d stuck with the old-fashioned way of doing things, as an actor.
Will there come a time when producing your own content and being seen as a hyphenate falls out of fashion? Certainly, that could happen. But for now, the actor who also has a screenplay optioned who also has a series in development who also has a short at a festival who also has a YouTube channel that sends check over who also has meetings all week long for all the other “what ifs” going on is BANKABLE. What used to make an actor bankable was the confidence of a top agent, the deal with a major studio, the attachment to a project being developed.
Don’t get me wrong! All those things still make an actor bankable! No doubt! But today, actors who are nowhere near the level for those great things to happen YET are cutting to the front of the line (or dang close to it) by creating their own content and keeping productive — wherever they live.
So, yes. Keep creating. Keep building your empire. Stay plugged in and stay inspired! Remember: WE are the future of this business and we get to decide how it’s built, as we break in and make it happen. Here’s what’s next: Let’s build Super Bowls everywhere. 🙂
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!
Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/001525.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.