How much of your acting life — not just your time on set, not just your time in the audition room, not just your life as a performer — is based in reactions? This topic came about over conversation with some actors who were talking about how they wanted to check replies to recent posts at social networking sites or wanted to check comments on YouTube vids.
“Wait,” I asked, “Is a fan’s reaction a part of your motivation in what you post?” And then, “Ooh! Is a hater’s reaction a factor?”
A delightfully spirited conversation came from that, and it left me with more questions than answers, simply because the human mind — with all its intricacies — is a fascinating place, especially where creatives are concerned.
We want to create independently of others’ opinions about the worth of our gifts, for sure, but we also must keep track of what’s working and what’s not working, since our ability to exist as thriving storytellers certainly does depend — at least somewhat — on our ability to tell stories that others want to hear (and in ways that they want to consume them).
Hrm.
Quite the conundrum. How do we balance the public opinion that can make a difference in our level of success and the lack of needing to hear the noise that can make us question the presentation of our gifts?
Based on our conversation, I’m left with the feeling that each artist must navigate this issue for himself or herself. Some folks will behave as if following a script when they post at Facebook or Twitter. Some will pander for retweets or shares. Some will live and die by the hit count at YouTube or the number of thumbs-up vs. thumbs-down votes. Others will make choices from their very core, paying attention to major trends, but otherwise dismissing the chatter, the immediate replies, the noise.
I’m laughing as I wrap up this week’s piece, as the second season of Machinima’s zombie apocalypse series Bite Me has launched (both online and on TV, thanks to the partnership with Lionsgate and FEARnet), and overwhelmingly enthusiastic comments at the YouTube channel are peppered with, “Ugh! Finally! It’s only two years later! Took you long enough!” (Note: 14 months, not two years, but okay.) The takeaway for me is this: Pay attention to the press. Pay attention to dozens upon dozens of articles about how groundbreakingly cool something is. Pay attention to the flood of calls from folks who want to work with you, after having been a part of something so very awesome.
Gloss over the misspelled tirade from “h8rrrrboi69” who is clearly from The Land That Grammar Forgot.
But more than anything, train yourself to have no relationship with reviews — good or bad. Have no relationship with comments online. Sure, know how to take a redirect in the audition room. Sure, have the ability to adapt when something has gone stale. Know the difference between dealing with feedback and being driven by reactions, because unless they’re signing your paycheck, leave their opinions out of your head, in the day to day. And especially leave ’em out of your heart. Reactions be damned! You’ve got work to do.
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/001474.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.