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Define Actor (was Re: Cheap Cheap)

Fri, 14 May 1999, 04:09 pm
Labrug10 posts in thread
Thank you Joe and Kristine for you encouragement. I'm tending to leantowards Joe.WHY DO WE NEED TO DEFINE THE ACTOR AT ALL?Trying to catagorise thesbians into their seperate groups will bea nightmare experience. You would have things like;Enthusiasts - They do it as a hobby.Dedicates - This is their ambition.Light Hunters - They seek the fame!and probably more! but is it necessary? Anyone of these could bepaid or not, in other words Pro. or Am.Attempting to group US will only lead right back to the stigmasof the current terms, no matter how many groups you have. Iconsider myself a professional actor - I am dedicated, I amambitious and I have been paid for some work. In my mind, tobe professional is not to be paid, but is a state mind andattitude. I attempt to do my best for (almost) any show I am in.Does that make me any different to those who see it as a hobby?No, an why should it.Same goes for directors, technicians, costume designers and anyother crew position. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. THERE IS NO US AND THEM!We all do it to get something out of it. Some do it for money, somedo it for love, some do it for both. Try and break them apart.Theatre is theatre wherever it's done, an actor is an actor wheneverthey desire.If you still feel the need to find a new term, why not call yourselvesPassionate Thebians. That'll keep the punters guessing while we sortthe mess out.Jeff WatkinsStepping off the box again.

Re: Define Actor (was Re: Cheap Cheap)

Sun, 16 May 1999, 09:21 am
> I think i'm with Joe on this one. Whatever may in actuality be> the case, in practice people will draw the distinction. And it's not> just the pro's that think it is necessary to draw this distinction.I can't believe that the distinction AS IT IS will always be made.Sure there will always be a distinction between a show which hasBig Name performers and those which feature your friends, that Idon't expect to ever see die. It can't.What I would like to see an end to is the stigma that the smallertheatre collectives are 'just for fun' or 'not the real thing.'This view point is only amplified by the terms that we have eitherwillingly accepted or given ourselves. I'm not sure which.This situation does not appear in London, and from what I've heard, mostof Europe and America. If this is so, why are we ramming our heads intowalls like this? Why do we (Australia) always seem to be about 10 to 30years behind everyone else in most social aspects?I believe that the majority have adopted there overseas stereotypicalview of Australians - 'She'll be righ' mate. No worries.' Sure it canbe a stress-free lifestyle but very little changes. I really feel thatwe're all being a little too conservative on ourselves, myself included.Only recently have I felt empowered enough to actually discuss it likethis.Our theatre is a huge resource and we shouldn't waste it. We need moreexposure and a stronger attitude.

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