Here’s an editorial from a British publication by director Phil Willmott that I noticed circulating on Facebook and figure is worth sharing here since the forum has gotten awfully quiet. It’s definite food for thought although I saw one person describe it as a real “kick in the stomach.” At any rate … https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2015/phil-willmott-tell-young-actresses/
Wow, that’s disheartening.
I think it is more valuable information than stories of people who graduate and are on Broadway a few weeks later. Don’t get me wrong, I’d LOVE that for my kid- but it is definitely the exception. The reality is that actors have chosen a profession where there will be constant struggle- and having a plan for how you are going to handle that could be the difference between performing or not
This is an article with very realistic advise. Whether speaking to an aspiring actor or actress, the message is whether or not you get to perform in a coveted showcase and get lucky enough to get signed by an agent isn’t even the be all end all . I know this article is speaking to girls but I hear of numerous actors in the same boat. They need to create their own opportunities, constantly network and juggle a lot of different baskets. This career is not for the faint of heart, they need to hustle and many can’t handle the struggle. What do we tell young actresses? Honestly, many graduates of prestigious master programs in all disciplines are struggling with how to get their start. I know of several law school graduates working in volunteer positions for a few years post graduation. Its tough out there. Some of your kids are just not going to make it in this profession or the chosen profession of undergraduate or grad school. Siggghh. Good Article. Poses good real life issues. Fish?.. What would you tell young actresses today after the experiences that you have had?
I love this article and find it refreshing. I’d love to see a follow-up with more meat in the section about creating your own opportunities. That’s what I tell my kids all the time. No one is out there to hand anyone anything. There’s a reason that this is called show “business.” The “business” side has to make sure that they can make money. Nothing wrong with that. As much as we creatives love this for the art of it, theater can’t survive (on a large-scale sustainable level) without money, and agents/managers/casting directors/etc. are looking to make their field sustainable. Talented people are a dime a dozen (more like a dime a thousand!)–there’s no use in sitting around waiting for some agent to come to you and your school’s showcase.
Look at the new Broadway musical phenomenon ‘Hamilton.’ Lin-Manuel Miranda is a good actor (I haven’t seen him in a huge range of ‘types’ but he has held his own, acting-wise, as the lead in two musicals), not known as a dancer, and a decent-enough singer. And he’s Latino, which is a demographic that’s not known for agents knocking down one’s door to star in a big-ticket show. But he’s continually creating, and he creates for himself (and others of course). He’s not sitting around lamenting the fact that no one is approaching him to discover his talents–he’s putting his talents out there for the world to see. Yes, one could argue that he’s a genius as far as creativity and writing are concerned, but he wasn’t born that way. He’s posted a video of himself as Conrad Birdie in middle school, and, as adorable as it is, no agent would come across that and decide to sign him for anything. And his first iteration of In the Heights (while he was in college) isn’t anything like the show we’ve all fallen in love with–he collaborated with someone who knew how to write and made his own way in the world. As anyone who follows him on social media could attest, that man works non-stop. I’m pretty sure that ‘sleep’ isn’t a word in his vocabulary. And he went to Wesleyan, a liberal arts college, not one of the ‘top’ musical theater schools.
If Lin-Manuel is too big of a show-runner to be an example for you, look around and you’ll find others. Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger are the masters of creation and self-promotion. Check out their web series, Submissions Only, or their book series, Jack and Louisa. Or look at Wesley Taylor’s web series, It Could Be Worse. Are these venues that have lead to gigantic stardom? No–and in some cases, it may cost them more than they make. But these people are constantly working and not waiting around for someone to find them. Here’s an article about Kate in which she talks about just that:
http://www.startribune.com/theater-kate-wetherhead-makes-it-on-her-own/274496951/
It’s hard for me to say much about that from personal experience other than what’s already been said since I was actually one of the lucky ones coming out of school. However, something I can say is that something I have noticed about those who weren’t as lucky straight out but who are now gaining momentum is that even if they weren’t getting paid, they were finding a way to act all the time and doing things to keep their creative juices flowing. OTOH, I’ve seen some really good actors fall into a state of inertia waiting around for the business to come to them and the next thing they know, they’re late 20s - early 30s Baristas who may have earned an Acting degree years ago, but can no longer really call themselves actors because they haven’t done it to any significant degree since graduation. So ABA. Always Be Acting whether it’s in a black box, a webseries, a microbudget indie, improv, standup, a class, or just reading with friends if nothing else.
But don’t worry about me. Here is what some of the top studio teachers in LA have to say on the subject specifically in regards to creating your own content … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUVXzNM8rxQ&t=63m5s
^ Love it ! Getting lost in those youtubes now! Thanks Fish.
Without a doubt, it can be very difficult for a young actor to get his or her career moving. I watched much of the You Tube video in the link above in which the acting teachers discuss how to prepare for pilot season. I have a S who graduated a year ago with a degree in drama and is in LA. I was heartened to see that he has been doing exactly what the teachers in the video recommended for actors interested in film jobs – he is actively involved in one of the improv training centers, has appeared in improv shows, does stand-up, and with a pal he has written, acted in, and produced a web series (not yet released), among other projects. He has made an effort to make many friends in the business and has tried to become friendly with folks who are somewhat older than he is so that he can learn from them. He says that in a competitive environment like LA, it is important to create your own content or to associate yourself with people who can write and produce short films because simply being an actor and going on auditions may not be enough to get your career moving. He is still in the “just starting out” phase but I believe he is doing all that he can to move his career forward. From what I have gathered, it is highly unusual for a newly-minted actor to find instant success. For the young women in the article at the beginning of this thread, and for any other young actors, I would say to try to make as many connections as possible, particularly with persons who are able to write and produce, and persevere as much as you can, as the article’s author has recommended. While talent has a lot to do with success, so does having the right look, being in the right place at the right time, knowing someone who is willing to give you a boost, or banding together with others to produce your own work.
I have a daughter who is 6 years out of a BFA program. She is one who doesn’t wait to be cast or to have work come to her. Yes, she has been and continues to be cast in things. She doesn’t audition a lot. However, she is working constantly and makes her entire living and has supported herself since graduation day entirely in theater/music. A lot of what she does is creating her own work…creating work for herself and others to perform. She should only be as fortunate as Lin-Manuel Miranda, but the kind of work she does is along the same vein both on and off stage.
Here’s a bit of hope for our actor daughters! This article was in the New York Post today: http://www.pressreader.com/usa/new-york-post/20151030/283162902461219/TextView
Great thread! And very happy to see the update on your son @nansan.
My D graduated from a BA program in May and just recently moved to NYC and has hit the ground running. If she continues to follow @fishbowlfreshman’s advice to “ABA”, I think she will be fulfilled in her creative endeavors. In the meantime, she is nannying to pay the rent and has no debt. So I’m going to use this post to put in a plug for graduating debt free if possible. It is much easier to take the risks of creating your own work and doing things that don’t pay, just to get out there, not to mention get additional training and new head shots, if you aren’t struggling to pay off student loans.
Oh, and don’t neglect the physical and emotional toll this path can take on you and your body. Working out, yoga, mindfulness, healthy eating, time with good friends, catching a show yourself, cuddling with a cat. Whatever feeds your body and soul. Have a plan for all of that too. If you aren’t grounded, it’s too easy to let yourself fall apart because you might be going in multiple directions, living with rejection, navigating a new (big!) city, and dealing with the transition to adulthood all at once!