My first question is... how did ya'll get me watching RIVERDALE and now I can't stop??
This is a dumpster fire of an addictive show. I don't care who killed Jason, but damned if it's not playing in the background as I write this.
Second. I am genuinely so sorry to have to have said goodbye to you all yesterday. I was blown away with the level of talent and commitment you all brought in. I am a bit envious of John as he gets to make it to the final week with you all. And believe me when I tell you you're in the best hands.
I do hope that John and I have helped demystify some of the audition process thus far.
I wanted to leave you with a few resources that helped me along my way, and I wish someone had given me sooner. Take em or leave em. Not every tool fits in every hand, but you're better off for knowing what's out there.
1. Self Management For Actors by Bonnie Gillespie.
This is her 4th Edition, I believe I came up on the 3rd edition when a T-Rex was running Paramount. There's a lot of built in powerlessness that comes with being an actor unless you educate yourself on ways to manage yourself in an unruly business. There are a lot of books out there, but I can vouch for this one. This book was incredibly helpful to me. She also has a fantastic blog that goes back YEARS AND YEARS... covering everything from "how to pick a headshot" to "how to move up from a co-star to a guest star" to "how do I fire my agent?" She does career coaching, if that's something you're into, I've never tried it, but I hear it is good. Get on her email list for bits of advice on the weekly.
2. Making Your Life As An Artist. by Andrew Simonet. Whoa... I just got this one a year ago by our theatre company consultant-- where was this book 15 years ago for me? And if you can stand reading on a PDF it is FREE. Short, but practical advice for making your life (notice... not "a living") as an artist. Read this and really think about your personal mission statement... GAME CHANGER.
3. Do It Yourself. I can't overstate this one enough. Acting is a very long, often zero sum game. You really have to give yourself a number of years before you truly start seeing results that have nice accompanying paychecks... and even then it is unreliable. So while you're building that extraordinary life in the long game... MAKE SHIT HAPPEN.
If Podcasting isn't your jam, how about a web series, if that isn't your thing, do you like making theatre, or did you check out that short film festival in your neighborhood and meet a DP who you get along with on a certain idea? Find your medium, grab the mic, and start telling stories. As you do it, you'll fail, and you'll get better, and you'll fail, and you'll get really really good.
AND SHHHHH... WHILE YOU'RE MAKING YOUR OWN SHIT HAPPEN your confidence in auditions SKY-ROCKETS... SHHHHH... don't tell anyone... SHHHHHH
-Tell me about yourself
-I just wrapped my first feature.
-Oh you were in it?
-I directed it.
-Ohhh.
(badass)
Of all the mistakes I made (and ooooh boy, I have DOOZIES) my biggest mistakes were saying No to independent projects with friends who are creative partners. I often thought: no, I can't work on that little play or short film, I have an agent and will soon be working on television all the time! Nope, nope, nope. Some of those projects had collaborators that are quite literally running things on Broadway, or else doing things that are so thrilling and exciting that the line to get in is very very long.
If Apple can start in a garage, your film can start on the living room floor of your shared one bedroom with no AC over pizza and a six pack of beer.
4. Don't Fear The Day Job. This one sucks. Money from acting will come. The stories are true though... it can often take a while. Or then you hit jackpots for a year or two and then it dries up, inexplicably. The "Making Your Life As An Artist" book really knocks this one out of the park... Ask yourself what else do you love doing that also feeds you? Are you a fitness person who can do personal training? Do you have a passion for buying and selling vintage clothes on the internet? Are you a Disney fanatic who wants to spend your weekend dressing up at a theme park? Do you have a passion for food service and like waiting tables and selling high quality wine? ... you get the idea. (and I know some incredibly successful actors who have all done these things).
5. Essentialism by Greg McKeown. This is not an acting book at all. But that's the point. If Silicon Valley nerds take silent meditation retreats and improv classes then I think artists should nose around in what makes them tick... how they operate. I also teach professional development to the corporate world and this is one of the best books I've come across in a long time. I highly recommend just getting the audio book and listening while you sit in traffic or do your dishes. You'll finish it in a week or less. This book asks you to prioritize and cut out the noise. An excellent excellent read.
6. Self Taping. You'll have to do this a lot nowadays. Practice with friends using your iPhones, and how to upload, etc. You want to have the technical kinks all worked out before you get the audition. Eventually you'll really want to pay for this service to get high quality if it's for a big job. I know of two that are run by excellent people:
Put Me On Self Tape
and
Your Audition Friend
7. The IAMA Theatre Company. Okay, this is my personal plug. John and I are in this company and it's kind of our artistic home now. (Also, this company, now ten years old DID start on a living room floor). If you move to LA come check us out. LA is a great theatre town, despite its reputation to the contrary.
8. ME! Stay in touch! And when you come back to LA for good or just to stay, hit me up, let me know what you're up to. christianjamesdurso@gmail.com
Sending Love and many broken legs!
