Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers: The Story of Success, suggests that it takes TEN THOUSAND HOURS of practice before any person is at the point which allows them to reach success.
Sir Lawrence Olivier, has said that one should read a piece at least TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY times before it is ready; I learned this information by way of Tom Todoroff.
Sir Anthony Hopkins, in an interview I saw many years ago (I state this as my mind may be faulty here - take the point though it was a very high number), said he often would read a script as much as TWELVE HUNDRED TIMES before he got to set.
I have heard of famous athletes making similar statements in terms of practice.
It seems to me that to be good at anything one needs to put in numerous hours of preparation before one can be successful. It makes sense to me. We don't wake up as actors and just know how to successfully spill off believable dialogue for stage and camera. No we practice, practice and then we practice more. We go to classes, we read with friends, we do unpaid work to get experience, we monologue to ourselves walking down the street, we repeat dialogue on the subway, we read scripts and we practice.
This past week I had a big audition and I went in prepared. I went in with my two pieces, both of which have had their runs in practice above the three hundred mark. Patient friends listening to them, neighbors who must have them memorized while they hear them through my thin walls - I thank them both.
I sat down to do my first piece and I dropped into character, I said my first, my second, my third line and I stumbled. It was very minor glitch, a second's break in my concentration. Nerves kicked in, I was messing up, I could loose this chance, never to be had again, how good of an actor am I, what am I doing, oh no what next… all in the blink of an eye in real time. And then I stepped outside of myself, reminded me of what I can do, calmed myself and carried on. It went over smashingly.
As I left the room and took a moments reflection (a general rule I use, do and forget it cause it is in the past once I am out of the audition room) I realized that in that blink of an eye, I didn't corpse or flail. In the slight rearrange of wording nobody knew any different. Only I knew there was a glitch. Why? Because of so much practice, my "muscle memory" kept me in check while my actor put himself back on track and stayed there.
Practice.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Choosing
"Maybe it's time I rethink career?!"
These were the words from a much younger actor I spoke to earlier this week.
Acting the Myth: Fame, Fortune, Fast Cars, Red Carpets, Jet Setting Life Style, Adoring Fans, Gala Parties, Excitement At Work, Never A Dull Moment, Whirlwind Romances, Sordid Affairs, Glitz, Glamour and Lots and Lots of Fun
Acting the Reality: Uncertain Income, Struggling To Meet The Bills, Challenged Relationships, Extreme High's and Low's, Frustration With Lacking Work, Ongoing Self Promotion, Extra Work Beyond What Pays Bills, Slant Eyes From Friends And Family Who Wish You Well.
I looked long and hard at the actor and said "Yes. Yes you should. But make sure you rethink it with passion."
Both of those realities are possible for any actor. The first one is only a myth, because it is rare and, although real, it is what people thinks happens the moment they decide to go into acting. The second one is the reality because it is most commonly the result of deciding to become an actor. When you look at the reality, you have to love the craft, so that you can accept where you are at. It means there are sacrifices and hardships but all of those are worth it for the love of the craft. You have to have passion and you must be passionate about what you do or you cannot do it - even if it means struggling. Here is the thing though; the myth rarely to never happens unless you have passion, but the reality happens regardless. It is the passion that drives you through and brings you to the top.
So if you are thinking about any of the hardships you may face and then you find yourself thinking about any other line of work - go and do it because you will be much happier without the struggle.
These were the words from a much younger actor I spoke to earlier this week.
Acting the Myth: Fame, Fortune, Fast Cars, Red Carpets, Jet Setting Life Style, Adoring Fans, Gala Parties, Excitement At Work, Never A Dull Moment, Whirlwind Romances, Sordid Affairs, Glitz, Glamour and Lots and Lots of Fun
Acting the Reality: Uncertain Income, Struggling To Meet The Bills, Challenged Relationships, Extreme High's and Low's, Frustration With Lacking Work, Ongoing Self Promotion, Extra Work Beyond What Pays Bills, Slant Eyes From Friends And Family Who Wish You Well.
I looked long and hard at the actor and said "Yes. Yes you should. But make sure you rethink it with passion."
Both of those realities are possible for any actor. The first one is only a myth, because it is rare and, although real, it is what people thinks happens the moment they decide to go into acting. The second one is the reality because it is most commonly the result of deciding to become an actor. When you look at the reality, you have to love the craft, so that you can accept where you are at. It means there are sacrifices and hardships but all of those are worth it for the love of the craft. You have to have passion and you must be passionate about what you do or you cannot do it - even if it means struggling. Here is the thing though; the myth rarely to never happens unless you have passion, but the reality happens regardless. It is the passion that drives you through and brings you to the top.
So if you are thinking about any of the hardships you may face and then you find yourself thinking about any other line of work - go and do it because you will be much happier without the struggle.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
What Support?!
I'm sitting in a cafe with a group of artists and the thread of the conversation is miserable
"The government does not support the arts. There is not enough funding. Arts never get money" etc.
I'm arriving early to a staged reading I'm performing in. I'm arriving early to sit in the audience and support the other two groups which go on before me. The house is moderately full (as full as 25 seats will let you be). I'm enjoying listening to these other new Canadian Plays. After the first read I note the company, having done their reading, leave the venue. Following the second act I note the same thing of this company. I climb onto my stool to read for the audience. The house is less than moderately full, having lost half of it in exiting companies and their friends in the audience.
I'm on stage for a two show staged reading (a different one) for a new theatre company; it is the official launch of this theatre company - "hello world we are here!". The theatre company is closely related to another company, so close I call them sister companies. The artistic teams and regular actors used have a large cross over. I take my place and look out into the abysmal audience - photographer and his girlfriend asked to be there to shoot the event, sister to an actor, boyfriend to another actor. No one else? No support from your sister company?
I'm sitting at an improv show, hosted by my good friends The Dandies for their regular Holo Deck Follies show (a Star Trek improv spoof) and the audience is packed. Yes it is a Movember fund raiser event so lets knock off 20% of that house. It is still full. I know eight months ago this audience was not full, but the Dandies, being who they are decided they wanted to better promote and so that is what they have been doing. Regular houses are now decently full.
I'm sitting at Savage in Limbo. A popular play, a new company. I know one of the actresses and am good friends with her producer fiancé. (His first theatre producer role) The house is decent and I am told it is unusual for them, the other nights have been sell outs. The show just announced their extension.
I'm wondering what is the difference here and thinking back to my cafe where the artists are bitching. Yes it is true, we do not have funding in copious amounts from federal and provincial levels. It also seems that when we do have funding it goes to those who already have the means and don't seem to really need the support (Mirvish for Lord of the Rings, Egoyan for another film, Cronenberg, CanStage, Tarragon…the list goes on) yes they deserve funding too, but so much seems to go to these already established places, where they have existing fundraising models in place, where they could most likely survive without the government money. I don't know this for sure, but I'm willing to bet on it. *insert firm handshake here* So the point is what little money we have in government support seems to be given to the already established. This to me is a problem - because well if we gave a more equal distribution of money to a larger pool of artists then their would be that much more art being made in order to make the community that much more vibrant. Again true, but something is not hitting me right on this note. Why does this potential for a good "damn the man" blog not sing to me.
And it hits me while I am sitting in the audience for the Dandies. The man in this case is Joe Canadian who is sitting at home, watching TV, missing out on another piece of art that a friend of their's did. It is the artist at the bar saying I can't afford a ticket to your show while ordering their fifth pint that night (lets not discuss last nights bar tab), it is the theatre team that is too busy to make it to your show because we are doing ours…the list goes on. So here it is!
Get off your ass and get out there as support the arts. Don't be so self centered and only focus on your work expecting people to come see it - go see some other shows support them and they will come to out to your show, hold off on a couple of pints this month and buy a ticket to a show you want to see - not every ticket is a hundred dollar Mirvish hit/flop and I bet your buddy's show is only 10/20 bucks, don't watch another movie or episode of TV - hell PVR that shit and go see closing night of your best friends blood sweat and tears. My artist friends in the cafe are right there is no support for the arts but lets clarify what we mean. No support means that our community is not helping itself, it is not supporting itself, it is not making an effort to be an artistic community. So why in hell would any government body look at a flailing industry with no internal support and throw them money? I wouldn't.
When I look at who does get money, Mirvish, Egoyan, CanStage…you know what, they could survive without the government money because they worked damn hard to get an audience to support them, and that audience would still be there if these establishments had to raise the funds on their own, or get more grass roots because they had less money. I look at the team on Savage in Limbo and the Dandies and see them make money because they work hard and for their efforts people have come to see them. Yes much more could and should be made but they are showing what happens when artists support artists and go see the work. Money breeds money, and if I have to throw a dollar out then I'm throwing it where I can see it winning. I get what the government is doing. So when I spend my dollar, I'm going to spend it on my fellow and immediate artists because I believe in them and the work they are doing, and dammit, I wanna let the government know the next time they hand out cash, that it should reach all artists because Toronto is a thriving community supported internally first.
Addendum
When I go see live shows, or support arts in person, I am always presently surprised. Those moments can never be recreated and are individual in that moment. Case in point the November fundraiser which the Dandies recently did - well they achieved their campaign goal on the first night of their drive - I helped artists and prostate cancer. But better yet, I got to see my best friend propose to his girlfriend live on stage and hear her accept because I was present. That will never happen again. Didn't read that on FB, I saw it live. Congratulations Dale Wells and Andie Leathley you two are awesome.
GET OUT THERE, STOP BITCHING, SUPPORT THE ARTS AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE
"The government does not support the arts. There is not enough funding. Arts never get money" etc.
I'm arriving early to a staged reading I'm performing in. I'm arriving early to sit in the audience and support the other two groups which go on before me. The house is moderately full (as full as 25 seats will let you be). I'm enjoying listening to these other new Canadian Plays. After the first read I note the company, having done their reading, leave the venue. Following the second act I note the same thing of this company. I climb onto my stool to read for the audience. The house is less than moderately full, having lost half of it in exiting companies and their friends in the audience.
I'm on stage for a two show staged reading (a different one) for a new theatre company; it is the official launch of this theatre company - "hello world we are here!". The theatre company is closely related to another company, so close I call them sister companies. The artistic teams and regular actors used have a large cross over. I take my place and look out into the abysmal audience - photographer and his girlfriend asked to be there to shoot the event, sister to an actor, boyfriend to another actor. No one else? No support from your sister company?
I'm sitting at an improv show, hosted by my good friends The Dandies for their regular Holo Deck Follies show (a Star Trek improv spoof) and the audience is packed. Yes it is a Movember fund raiser event so lets knock off 20% of that house. It is still full. I know eight months ago this audience was not full, but the Dandies, being who they are decided they wanted to better promote and so that is what they have been doing. Regular houses are now decently full.
I'm sitting at Savage in Limbo. A popular play, a new company. I know one of the actresses and am good friends with her producer fiancé. (His first theatre producer role) The house is decent and I am told it is unusual for them, the other nights have been sell outs. The show just announced their extension.
I'm wondering what is the difference here and thinking back to my cafe where the artists are bitching. Yes it is true, we do not have funding in copious amounts from federal and provincial levels. It also seems that when we do have funding it goes to those who already have the means and don't seem to really need the support (Mirvish for Lord of the Rings, Egoyan for another film, Cronenberg, CanStage, Tarragon…the list goes on) yes they deserve funding too, but so much seems to go to these already established places, where they have existing fundraising models in place, where they could most likely survive without the government money. I don't know this for sure, but I'm willing to bet on it. *insert firm handshake here* So the point is what little money we have in government support seems to be given to the already established. This to me is a problem - because well if we gave a more equal distribution of money to a larger pool of artists then their would be that much more art being made in order to make the community that much more vibrant. Again true, but something is not hitting me right on this note. Why does this potential for a good "damn the man" blog not sing to me.
And it hits me while I am sitting in the audience for the Dandies. The man in this case is Joe Canadian who is sitting at home, watching TV, missing out on another piece of art that a friend of their's did. It is the artist at the bar saying I can't afford a ticket to your show while ordering their fifth pint that night (lets not discuss last nights bar tab), it is the theatre team that is too busy to make it to your show because we are doing ours…the list goes on. So here it is!
Get off your ass and get out there as support the arts. Don't be so self centered and only focus on your work expecting people to come see it - go see some other shows support them and they will come to out to your show, hold off on a couple of pints this month and buy a ticket to a show you want to see - not every ticket is a hundred dollar Mirvish hit/flop and I bet your buddy's show is only 10/20 bucks, don't watch another movie or episode of TV - hell PVR that shit and go see closing night of your best friends blood sweat and tears. My artist friends in the cafe are right there is no support for the arts but lets clarify what we mean. No support means that our community is not helping itself, it is not supporting itself, it is not making an effort to be an artistic community. So why in hell would any government body look at a flailing industry with no internal support and throw them money? I wouldn't.
When I look at who does get money, Mirvish, Egoyan, CanStage…you know what, they could survive without the government money because they worked damn hard to get an audience to support them, and that audience would still be there if these establishments had to raise the funds on their own, or get more grass roots because they had less money. I look at the team on Savage in Limbo and the Dandies and see them make money because they work hard and for their efforts people have come to see them. Yes much more could and should be made but they are showing what happens when artists support artists and go see the work. Money breeds money, and if I have to throw a dollar out then I'm throwing it where I can see it winning. I get what the government is doing. So when I spend my dollar, I'm going to spend it on my fellow and immediate artists because I believe in them and the work they are doing, and dammit, I wanna let the government know the next time they hand out cash, that it should reach all artists because Toronto is a thriving community supported internally first.
Addendum
When I go see live shows, or support arts in person, I am always presently surprised. Those moments can never be recreated and are individual in that moment. Case in point the November fundraiser which the Dandies recently did - well they achieved their campaign goal on the first night of their drive - I helped artists and prostate cancer. But better yet, I got to see my best friend propose to his girlfriend live on stage and hear her accept because I was present. That will never happen again. Didn't read that on FB, I saw it live. Congratulations Dale Wells and Andie Leathley you two are awesome.
GET OUT THERE, STOP BITCHING, SUPPORT THE ARTS AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE
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