I read good bit of advice recently on a Yahoo Group called "Hollywood Happy Hour" from casting director Bonnie Gillespie. In it she warned against wreaking of desperation. Not surprising, my mind kept going back to the many mistakes I made early on in my acting career. My problem... I thought I was "driven" when actually I was "desperate."
I'm a nice guy. I was raised to be agreeable, to send thank you notes and to bring a gift to the host of the party. I was taught to embrace etiquette and never argue with someone in public. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with that, but somewhere along the way (once my craving to be a star took root) I became the classic co-dependent actor. Everything I did was done to draw agreeable attention to myself. But, I was a good guy and I was certain that if they saw me they would like me and cast me.
It's all a matter of where you place your focus.
I used to spend countless hours trying to find out how to do things "right," things like writing the perfect cover letter or finding out what was proper etiquette when you talked to an agent. I drove myself crazy trying to get the inside scoop and learn all the secrets. I read every book, attended countless seminars and went to endless Cold Reading Workshops. And, I always sat in the front row and asked a "very intelligent question" in hopes they would remember me. Again, not like there is anything inherently wrong with that, but I was desperate to stick out and to be liked. But, if if being liked is the key to success people like Christian Bale would never be stars (not that his type behavior is the key either! Anyone remember Sean Young?).
One of the problems I see is that most actor's go to classes and attend workshops so they can learn all the "insider rules." Their thinking is, "'if I just learn all the rules and secrets I have a fast track to stardom." Two thoughts come to mind: 1) there are no rules, and 2) there is no better way to get noticed and remembered in this town than to be seen in that great role that defines you and have an audience that loves you.
So, how do you find those killer roles and audiences?
You don't! They find you. That's where I made my biggest mistake early on. Your job is simply to act and and continue to define yourself in your work. It's the audience's job to find you. The key is to "Brand Yourself." Find out what makes you unique and then exploit it in your acting. Make projects over and over that show us your personality, your individual type, your quirks and even your pains and vulnerabilities. Never stop marketing what you do. Molly Shannon did her one woman show for 10 years before she was finally discovered by someone from SNL. Ten years! But look what it got her.
Create your defining role yourself. Do a one person show. Produce a play with a role that fits you like a glove. Get friends together and do a short film that was written for you. Start a web series that revolves around you're life, etc. Once your fan base grows (and it will if you're being true to yourself) you're on your way. I read last year in Variety that all five of the top agencies (CAA, ICM, WMA, UTA and Endeavor) had at least one staff member who had a job of watching YouTube all day. They were instructed to find talented people with big fan bases. I guarantee you not one of those agencies had a single staff member who was paid to go to acting seminars and watch for the actor who asked the best questions.
How do you stay driven without being desperate?
Be smart. Go to seminars, take marketing classes, do the occasional cold reading workshop (especially if it is a show you are perfect for), read good books and take classes to find out what "type" you are (like mine!). But, do those things in order to educate yourself more on how the basics and standards of industry. Just don't waste your time looking for rules, secrets and the fast track to success... you won't find them. Focus on your acting. Exploit "yourself" through your work. Actors who are "driven" are primarily focused on their art. Actors who are "desperate" are primarily focused on being noticed, or liked, or anything other than their art.
Never forget, true art is about expressing yourself, not about gaining notoriety.
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