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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)

Mon, 17 May 1999, 12:26 pm
Walter Plinge
> Only recently have I felt empowered enough to actually discuss> it like> this.> Our theatre is a huge resource and we shouldn't waste it. We> need more> exposure and a stronger attitude.This is great - we started off with two bits of wood and 6 nails - now end up with chariots, 50,000 extras - all we need now is Charlton to jion in. But unfortunetly this seems like a four handed whist drive - no else seems inclined.Fortunetly what we tend to do is bottle these things up behind four walls and under strict rules of silence, if your caught speaking the 'Secret-ary' will disenvouw any knowledge - evaporation will comence in 10 seconds.I keep saying it - in theatre our biggest re-used and abused resource is people,so why do they all suffer unto the wall after only a short period?It is the nature of incorporation to be democratic, but theatre is not, it's an inversed pyrahmid, with each of it's elements making up the total sum. So when you feel the power and it's motive force use it.MAY THE FARCE BE WITH THEM - AND YOU LIVE IT.Joe McCabe

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