Learning To Be an Actor

I will have been in LA eight months at the end of October. Was it as I expected it would be? I realize an answer of "yes and no" says nothing but still, that is the answer I must give. I say that because in some ways my time in LA has exceeded my expectations, while in other ways it has been quite difficult.

The roles in which I have been cast have gone far beyond what I had thought would happen in eight months. The craft of acting, however, is much more complex than I first thought. Perhaps that requires some explanation.

Actors who come to Hollywood can be separated into three major groups. I know some will say there are many more groups than that, but I am speaking of three very basic groups.

First there is the smallest group, which is those actors who are incredibly gifted. Some have much training, while others have almost none. It makes no difference, as these actors have talent and success written all over them, and the ability to immediately back it up. It's an exceptionally small group, but it does exist.

The next largest group, but still relatively small, is the actors who shouldn't be here. They usually have great looks and think they can simply show up in town and be movie stars in a few months. They almost always have little training, and lack the desire to really dig in and work at the craft. Ninety nine percent of this group hits town, runs into reality, and are gone in six months, or less. As one actress so accurately put it on her website, "An acting career is a marathon, not a dash."

The quite large group that is left contains the rest of us. All of us have some talent (in varying degrees to be sure, but some), and probably have a good deal of training. We came to Hollywood because we believed we could make it here. Whether or not you do make it here, if you don't come to town with that attitude, you really shouldn't be here. Most of us also realize there is a lot of hard work, dedication and focus ahead of us.

However, here is one thing that many of us didn't count on. We all figured we knew how to act before arriving. Many of us had experience in films and TV before we came here, as well as some good solid training. Well, here is the unvarnished truth....many of us did know how to act before we got here, but will have to learn how to act at a level conducive to working in Hollywood.

It's an entirely different ball game with higher expectations for actors from those on the other side of the camera, fierce competition, and an industry where being at the top of your game isn't unusual, it's required.

In my lessons with my Hollywood acting coach I have found that in many ways I have to learn how to act all over again. As the old saying goes, "What was good enough to get you here probably won't be good enough to keep you here." As said before, my acting coach is always tough and honest with me. I would expect nothing less. He expects my best at all times and we both expect my best to keep getting better. He and I both agree that I am a better actor than when I got here. We also agree that I must get better still, to keep up with the marketplace in Hollywood. Finally, we both see a measurable increase in my acting ability from month to month, and that is probably the most telling yardstick of them all.

So for all actors who aspire to come to Hollywood and ply your wares, come prepared with all the experience and training you can possibly have, and then swallow you pride, dig in, and learn how to be a Hollywood level actor. The saving grace in all of this is that for all actors who love to act, the journey can be great fun.

Until next time.............

The Cutting Room Floor

The episode of "The Office" I was in has come and gone. When we filmed it, I had seven or eight lines, as I performed the ceremony that married Jim and Pam. I say seven or eight, as the director wanted me to do some improv lines in addition to the scripted lines. I've been acting for awhile and I know that in the final edit actors sometimes lose a few lines, particularly in television where the length of the show is a definite factor.

What happened was, I didn't just have a few of my lines cut....I had ALL of them cut. While the inside of the chapel in which we shot the scene was a very important part of the episode, the actual wedding ceremony was not shown. In the script Pam and Jim were actually married twice....once by my character, and once by the captain of a tourist boat near Niagara Falls. The actor playing the boat captain also had all of his lines cut, as well. The end result was that Pam and Jim's exchange of wedding vows was shot twice, with neither of the ceremonies making it into the final edit. The producers/directors/editors of any production (film/TV/etc.) have to produce a final product which they feel is the best one possible from the footage which has been shot. While disappointed that my character's lines did not make the final edit, I fully understand and accept that this is what they must do.

By the way, while the phrase "The cutting room floor" is still used in the business, it is a throw back to the old way that films used to be edited. In the past (quite a few years in the past) the actual film which had been shot was run through editing devices whereby the film's editor would physically cut and splice section of the film together until they had the final edit. Pieces of film that the editor had cut from the film fell to the floor of the cutting room, and this is where the phrase came from. Today, all editing is done digitally, and there is no film to fall onto the cutting room floor.

Looking back at my experience on "The Office" I have to say that, other than having my lines cut, it was a wonderful and very beneficial experience. I got to work with a wonderful cast, crew, and director. My appearance in the episode made m SAG eligible. the payday for a non union actor was quite good, and I have a very nice credit to add to my resume. Being SAG eligible means that while I am still technically non union, I am eligible for, and must join SAG the next time I am cast in a SAG production. Becoming SAG eligible in LA is not the easiest thing to do and being in "The Office" cleared a big hurdle for me.

My Hollywood acting coach put it best I think when he said "This is not only your first SAG job, but a credit that ANY actor in LA would covet." Of course, he's right.

So life moves on. Today, I am attending another casting director's workshop at Actor's West. Next Thursday I am flying to Seattle for a few days of R and R, during which my wife and I will attend the Seattle Seahawks/Arizona Cardinals NFL game. After that, it's back to LA to see what the acting life holds in store.

More when I return from Seattle.................

Maximum Exposure

I've heard it said that you can invent the greatest widget in the world, but if no one knows about it you won't sell any. That was true when I was in computer system sales, it was true earlier when I was a professional musician, and it is certainly true as an actor.

This Thursday I will be playing the role of The Minister on NBC's "The Office". Obviously I can't discuss anything pertaining to the plot (even though hints of it have been all over the fan sites of the show, on the Internet), as the producers take a dim view of anyone who does, I and I don't blame them one bit.

However, I can publicize my appearance on the show to those in the industry who I feel need to know. Along those lines I have been busy preparing self marketing material to distribute this week. I have created, addressed and stamped 90 postcards. These cards (which will be mailed tomorrow) will go to talent agencies and casting directors in LA. I am still seeking theatrical representation and need to market myself and my role on "The Office" to agencies. Also, sending postcards telling casting directors about an appearance, be it television, a film , or on stage is always a good idea. Not all will be interested, but some will. Postcards need to have a very short message and address on the back and your photo, or photos on the front.

Also, to the talent Agencies only, who are receiving postcards from me, I sending my headshot, resume and short cover letter. Again, not all will be interested, but my hope is that some will.

Marketing of one's self in LA is an ongoing procedure. Actors either trying to break into this market, or those who already have, need four things (and possible a fifth). They need at least some talent, good training, experience, and a strong self marketing effort. The fifth thing is some luck, which never hurt anyone. By luck I mean meeting the right person, or simply being in the right place at the right time. I have had my share of good luck since arriving in LA.

In addition to regular private lessons with my Hollywood acting coach, I am continuing my participation in casting director's workshops, having taken one last Wednesday with another one scheduled for the 10th of this month. I do this through an organization called Actors West, run by two very nice and qualified people, Stan and Mike. For a smaller fee than one might think, Actors West provides top working casting directors conducting workshops for actors. Most run three hours (with a few scheduled for longer periods) and they are a great tool for any actor to improve their audition skills, and to network.

What will be the result of my latest marketing efforts? I have no idea, but I do know that marketing is a necessary and continuing part of the game plan for any actor in LA.

I hope all of you will be able to watch "The Office" this coming Thursday.

More later....................