i want to be happy, not famous
Fri, 23 Jan 2004, 11:34 pmLisa7 posts in thread
i want to be happy, not famous
Fri, 23 Jan 2004, 11:34 pmI have only just come to this website and already my jaw has hit the floor. I'm sorry, but so many teenagers don't realise how hard this industry is. I'm 16 and I've come to terms that I'll probably be spending my days with an apartment void of furniture eating stale crackers and vegimite. Okay, a little dramatic, but I'm an actor. Actors have the hardest job in that they're a nobody until they get somewhere and become a somebody but nobody will look at them until they're a somebody. So thats when you slowly squeeze up through the ranks.
It really annoys me when people say they want to be an actress and go to hollywood and be famous. But hey, I cant judge, I wanted that too... for about 5 minutes. If you do, well then good luck. Heres what you're going to need:
1. an agent. A good agent. Audition, get on their books and make sure they remember who you are.
2. contacts. If you live in Sydney or Melbourne, you're probably going to have to spend a bit of cash so you get into all the best bars/ get the best training etc to make contacts who will remember you and hopefully in the future you can score work off. If you live in Brisbane especially, you have the harder job. Sydney especially is where you'll find really professional work, but they don't recognise any Brisbane training/ experience etc due to our bad past. So you'll have to start from scratch. Also get contacts with people you work with.
3. Training. If you want to land an agent and land work in film you'll need training. Not just on improving your acting ability but also on learning all you can about film. Shot sizes and how to act in them, where you look, what everyone does on set. Don't be naieve- learn what assistant derectors, lighting technician and boom operator etc do. When you forst start out, these people will be ordering you around.
4. An american accent. If you want to work in america, you'll need this. GET TRAINED in this. You'll be laughed oout of the room when you turn up to a casting with a way dodgy accent. You think you can do an American accent but trust me, you probably cant without the training.
5. An easygoing nature. Most people start out as an extra, not the main star. Don't hassel the director, stay out of Tom Cruises way (be sure not to make eye contact with him) and listen and do everything to the best of your avaliability. You're an extra, they can fire you if they want. People who are easygoing, the director remembers in the future.
6. Luck. With a 98-99% unemployment rate, the chances for you to become famous are slim.
It really annoys me when people say they want to be an actress and go to hollywood and be famous. But hey, I cant judge, I wanted that too... for about 5 minutes. If you do, well then good luck. Heres what you're going to need:
1. an agent. A good agent. Audition, get on their books and make sure they remember who you are.
2. contacts. If you live in Sydney or Melbourne, you're probably going to have to spend a bit of cash so you get into all the best bars/ get the best training etc to make contacts who will remember you and hopefully in the future you can score work off. If you live in Brisbane especially, you have the harder job. Sydney especially is where you'll find really professional work, but they don't recognise any Brisbane training/ experience etc due to our bad past. So you'll have to start from scratch. Also get contacts with people you work with.
3. Training. If you want to land an agent and land work in film you'll need training. Not just on improving your acting ability but also on learning all you can about film. Shot sizes and how to act in them, where you look, what everyone does on set. Don't be naieve- learn what assistant derectors, lighting technician and boom operator etc do. When you forst start out, these people will be ordering you around.
4. An american accent. If you want to work in america, you'll need this. GET TRAINED in this. You'll be laughed oout of the room when you turn up to a casting with a way dodgy accent. You think you can do an American accent but trust me, you probably cant without the training.
5. An easygoing nature. Most people start out as an extra, not the main star. Don't hassel the director, stay out of Tom Cruises way (be sure not to make eye contact with him) and listen and do everything to the best of your avaliability. You're an extra, they can fire you if they want. People who are easygoing, the director remembers in the future.
6. Luck. With a 98-99% unemployment rate, the chances for you to become famous are slim.
Re: i want to be happy, not lucky
Sun, 8 Feb 2004, 05:42 pmRosie wrote:
>
> "6. Luck. With a 98-99% unemployment rate, the chances for
> you to become famous are slim."
>
> How horrible is that! What kind of a person says that to
> someone? I didn't exactly feel spiritually enlightened!
Well I would've thought it exactly the kind of statement an 'enlightened' person would say; regardless of how horrible it sounds, it's a statement of fact.
At any one point in time, 98% of people who legitimately call themselves actors are not currently working. That includes many famous actors!
And at the other point of the scale, there are plenty of actors who work significantly more than 2% of the time, without necessarily becoming famous (I estimate I've managed 65-70% over 15 years, yet still couldn't claim any degree of fame).
What's the aim here? Is 'being famous' the goal? Well, sorry, but Lisa was entirely correct to say your chances are slim.
If you more realistically (and enlightened-ly) aim to do good work, and enjoy your work, as an actor...then you may find happiness and fulfillment doesn't need quite so much 'luck'.
How are we defining 'luck', anyway? Most people seem to think of it as a 'happy accident', rather beyond our control. By this definition, I feel a little insulted if people attribute any of my successes to 'luck'.
I prefer this definition (I'm afraid I've forgotten the author) :
"Luck = when preparedness meets opportunity."
You are entirely in control of your preparedness, and you can actively seek opportunity. Add to this the fact that you are in control of your own attitude toward given circumstances, and you ought to be able to create your own success and happiness. The types of opportunity that come your way are going to be accidental...but whether you grasp them or miss them is still up to you. So 'fame' is going to be accidental...on it's own, it's an unrealistic goal to seek...you should be focussed on your own personal success, and then deal with fame if and when it results.
Good luck (!)
Craig
>
> "6. Luck. With a 98-99% unemployment rate, the chances for
> you to become famous are slim."
>
> How horrible is that! What kind of a person says that to
> someone? I didn't exactly feel spiritually enlightened!
Well I would've thought it exactly the kind of statement an 'enlightened' person would say; regardless of how horrible it sounds, it's a statement of fact.
At any one point in time, 98% of people who legitimately call themselves actors are not currently working. That includes many famous actors!
And at the other point of the scale, there are plenty of actors who work significantly more than 2% of the time, without necessarily becoming famous (I estimate I've managed 65-70% over 15 years, yet still couldn't claim any degree of fame).
What's the aim here? Is 'being famous' the goal? Well, sorry, but Lisa was entirely correct to say your chances are slim.
If you more realistically (and enlightened-ly) aim to do good work, and enjoy your work, as an actor...then you may find happiness and fulfillment doesn't need quite so much 'luck'.
How are we defining 'luck', anyway? Most people seem to think of it as a 'happy accident', rather beyond our control. By this definition, I feel a little insulted if people attribute any of my successes to 'luck'.
I prefer this definition (I'm afraid I've forgotten the author) :
"Luck = when preparedness meets opportunity."
You are entirely in control of your preparedness, and you can actively seek opportunity. Add to this the fact that you are in control of your own attitude toward given circumstances, and you ought to be able to create your own success and happiness. The types of opportunity that come your way are going to be accidental...but whether you grasp them or miss them is still up to you. So 'fame' is going to be accidental...on it's own, it's an unrealistic goal to seek...you should be focussed on your own personal success, and then deal with fame if and when it results.
Good luck (!)
Craig