<p>I don’t disagree with your main points, especially about lashing out. However,</p>
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<p>I don’t agree with this. This is your opinion and your philosophy. It stems from the notion that talent is born.</p>
<p>I apologize if this offends, I don’t mean it to, but I think it is a philosophy that is snobbish and out of touch. And it is not true.</p>
<p>People that say that do it to put themselves in an elite category. They may have had to work, train, develop, and struggle, sure, but they “have it” – and you/they don’t, nah-nah-nah-nah-nah.</p>
<p>I genuinely think it is wrong.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s all a business and all to make money, but acting is an art form. Art requires the breadth of individuality and unique perspective by nature. This means that everyone “has it”, because everyone is human, and everyone acts in their daily life.</p>
<p>Does it mean everyone is commercially viable in terms of being able to be cast for a wide spectrum of roles? No. Does it mean everyone has the ability to learn and develop as an actor in the time that traditional BFA programs last? No. Does it even mean that everyone who does have something genuine and amazing to offer has even an iota of an idea of their potential – or how to unlock it (and without training!) by the time high school is over? No way.</p>
<p>But speaking strictly on the art of it, I firmly believe that everyone that wants to can develop the ability to bring out their soul and individuality in this craft. </p>
<p>Stella Adler once said that (and this isn’t a direct quote or anything, but) the first indicator of talent is wanting to be there – as in, training, watching, and analyzing theatre. I firmly believe this.</p>
<p>I’m just saying that using acceptances as some sort of sign or proof of some future commercial viability or potential for future development is really, really cynical.</p>
<p>No, not everyone can be Meryl Streep (who was an absolute star at Yale Drama) or Gene Hackman (who was kicked out of a drama school for not “being good enough”) – and I’m not remotely saying that there certainly aren’t types of people that are more suited to act and to LEARN to act than others. But that doesn’t mean someone can’t learn to bring their personality, individuality, and soul to this art form, and that is the ONLY point I’m trying to make.</p>