This week’s Your Turn is a collection of emails I’ve received without questions. Just want to be sure you wonderful readers know that your feedback (even when you don’t have a question for me) is very much appreciated!
I wanted to thank you for your article on “When To Work for Free.” It helped answer many questions related to my current position in the film industry and gave me a monitoring tool for myself. I’ll now make wiser more well thought out choices when it comes to free work. You rock girl!
On Save the Drama for Your Mama
I have been reading your column for a while now and I just have to say that I really enjoy reading it. I have started booking like wildfire. In wonderful self-affirming authentic way. I have found that the booking usually came not in the reading part but in the space between the read: the entrance, the exit, the interview. I noticed that once I became empowered as a person (got out of unhealthy relationships, really started to believe in myself instead of the crap others put on me), I became an empowered actor. It was no longer, “Pick me Pick me!” but, “Hello. This is me.” I think actors get so caught up in the little things and getting them all perfect that they forget to bring the most important thing. Themselves. Again, great column. Thank you for your generosity each week in giving us what you do.
I recently joined Actors Access and I must say that your articles are very insightful. It’s amazing how much casting directors put up with. As an actor I know it’s hard because people also keep telling me it’s all about who you know, but when I learn that there are CDs who appreciate the art of acting and understand the struggles involved it takes a load off my shoulders. I’m just a young struggling actor from Chicago who has a dream. I know that there are probably millions of people with the same dream and hundreds if not thousands of people more talented but I will never give up! I hope that one day I will have the pleasure of auditioning in front of you, and I promise not to run around in a circle and make weird noises or send emails like a stalker.
I’m too late on this one, but I have to add this one comment. Going there and detaching from the audition are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it’s the going there that gives the actor that high and leaves her walking out of there on a cloud, even if it involved painful emotion. Here’s the (not so secret) secret: when an actor wants to go there, or knows it’s what the scene requires, but doesn’t (or even with all the best intentions and preparation, can’t), that is when the audition gets relived over and over in the actor’s head and is so much harder to let go. Nailing it and not booking is tough, in its way, but not nailing it is way worse.
On Union-Required Name Changes
I really enjoy your column each week and I’m thankful for all the information! I have a comment on the “Your Turn” question about name changes. In it, you state an actor doesn’t need to worry about having the same name as another union actor anymore. I reinstated in Equity in April 2005 and I changed my last name. Since there was another actor with the same sounding name (the spelling was different), I had to add in my middle name to make my name different. Maybe SAG has different rules, but Equity made me change my name!
Thank you for touching on this subject. I emailed you a while back about giving up paid extra work to go after lead and supporting roles. At that time, your insight was great. I started to do supporting and lead roles for free. It gave me a better opportunity of what I really want to accomplish as an actress. I just wanted to share that one of the films that I did last year as a supporting small role, is going to premiere this month. When I went to the wrap party a few months ago, I was approached by the director. He specifically said that he was glad to see me and that he just started to write his new script and that he had me in mind for a big role. I was excited of course, but kept my professional posture (while I screamed and jumped up for joy inside) and told the director I was looking forward to working with him again, and (yes I would do it for free) because he was totally professional, mentoring, and passionate about the craft. As I continue to do good work, I realize it’s not about the money. It’s about pursuing one’s dreams and goals as an actor. Thanks again for all your insights.
I really appreciated two points in “I Got a Cool Gift.” I am going to try so hard to remember that, “part of casting is being a fan of the people.” That you guys really want to be our fans, want to like us, want us to be good, and aren’t just waiting for us to fall flat on our faces so you can get some giggles. I’m trying to figure out where I could have it tattooed, so that I can see it each time I go into an audition. As for the fun night out; when I was a schmata salesman, I had a friend who’d been in the business forever who often gave me leads of people I should call, and once asked me why I never gave him leads. I told him that I thought he already knew everybody. To me he was the pro and I was the innocent. Who would imagine that you would appreciate the specialness (I can’t think of the appropriate word) of an invitation-only taping and the chance to mingle with “bigwigs.” You’re just people too. Another tattoo I have to find a spot for! This is going to be very helpful.
I will keep this short and sassy. I just wanted to say thank you for all your articles on Actors Access. I use so much of your information. I emailed one of the groups you wrote about to volunteer to do some table reads. I networked without even trying. I continue to work hard and make my own opportunities. Your insight has changed my view on “my business” dramatically. I have the comedic timing and the drive. I will get in front of you at some point, and sock it to you!
I just wanted to thank you for your response to the question about the casting process and timelines. I will take your advice, and try to “leave it on the court.” Thanks once again!
I have been reading your articles and am taking a few moments to just say, “Thank you!” What you write is helpful and, for me, energizing. Sometimes it’s like, “Why didn’t I think of that? It just makes sense!” So, thank you. I’ve gotten a few gigs off Actors Access and referrals, but it’s time for me to really hit the pavement running. Thanks again.
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/000298.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.