“In order to get something you want, you have to do something you’ve never done before.” – unknown
I know you’ve heard this saying before. It’s something I have found to be true in my life. I remember when I told my mother I wanted to ACT for a living. I’m pretty sure she thought I was out of mind. Modeling was okay as long as it was a hobby, but to quit my full-time stable job was preposterous. Her words to me were, “How are you going to live?” Now that I am a parent, I realize her concern was for my well-being. She wanted to ensure I was able to maintain supporting myself and of course, Eat.
I was stepping out of my comfort zone.
When I made the decision, my passion was bubbling over and my desire was over the top. I was a little too eager. In my naivety, I thought the acting world would be like the corporate world. For example, a. submit resume, b. do an interview, and c. get the job. Not so much. There are many other factors that went into procuring acting jobs I did not know. Entering the field of acting was a totally new ballgame with its own set of rules to match.
I did extra work. For those of you who do know not what an “extra” is in a tv/movie — an extra is a person who is in the background of scene shown in a movie or television performing an action. Extra work was rather plentiful and easier to get compared to other roles. I personally think being an extra is a good start in the entertainment industry as a learning experience.
Some Casting Directors I have met denote being an extra is like being a piece of furniture. Hence it is needed but not important.
After a while, I decided I wanted to do more. Once again, I had to step out. I started to gather as much information I could get my hands on. I took classes left, right, and center. Free classes, paid classes, and online classes. I needed to learn about how the industry worked and what I was suppose to being doing to succeed.
Along the way I booked a few independent roles. I took what I learned in class and put them into practice on set. Thus far my journey has had its ups and downs, but I’m in it for the long haul. I want to be like Betty White, now that’s success.
So, in closing, Step Out! Do Something. Preferably something you enjoy, and then tell me about. Later gator.
Amanda
P.S. If you found this helpful, or you just like it for some reason – leave me a comment.
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