The Acting Grind Or I Love Rejection

THE ACTING GRIND

or

I LOVE REJECTION

"I found this commentary from a newbie actor. I reminded me that we as artists all go through the same pains no matter what decade we did it in pursueing our dream. I found that facinating..."

Acting.

There's such a weird mystique about acting. Landing a role depends on whether you're tall enough or have the right skin color. You need to accept yourself as an artist and be who you are. Accepting that is a huge thing."Networking. "

Networking

Is too impersonal of a word. It's more about fostering meaningful artistic relationships with people. Get involved with the right people. Who you know can really step up your game. "Meeting people in The Acting Company has been terrific because there are a lot of people into the kinds of things that I'm doing. Having someone there backing you up can be really great."

Accepting criticism.

"Criticism is so essential. You have to keep developing, and you need your peers to tell you when something isn't working."

Auditioning. "It's such a weird Catch-22. You have to go into a room and offer up your soul and crack open your heart. Then you have to turn all of that off, and say 'it's work, and this is who I am,' and if you like it, that's fine. You have to walk out and leave it at the door."

Choosing roles.

"It's my first year out (of graduate school), so I'll go for anything: film work, commercial work, all of it. At some point, the industry is going to accept you for who you are. My fiancee is doing a lot of TV work, she's been on "Gossip Girl" and "Lipstick Jungle," and I seem to be getting a lot of theater work."

The down side of being an actor.

"You're always wondering when the next job is coming. Do I have enough money to pay the rent? And it puts a real strain on relationships."But every day I wake up and say, 'today I am an actor. I am an artist.' If you don't do that, you go nuts."

Emmitt Says....

As an artist you have to feel the need to do what you do. Yes their are many rewards at the top in the financial sense and the notariety sense, but the real value is the jackpot you hit by working at perfecting your craft. The exhilaration of audiences responding to you the artist. That, you can't put a price on. The value of those moments are what we as artists work long and hard for. The war stories we all have about the process as we develope are just that. Battle scars that we are proud of. When Theater actors say we have paid our dues you really understand what they mean. You respect what they have endured just for the opportunity to practice their craft and give their gift.

There is something to be said for fame. But their is more to be said for enduring and surviving as an Artist, GOD smiles at your creations even when no one else even see them. Trust your work and believe in yourself. Don't fool yourself into thinking there is a short cut. There are NO shortcuts in a process. Short Cuts are by it's very meaning a short version of something more meaningful. Don't try to drink the water without first getting a cup. You may be able to drink out of your hands but you never know what else you may be drinking that is on your hands. Instead use your hands to applaude for the Artist that has done the work and continues to do the work trying to be in the moment, for only a moment.

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