Constant Production vs. Masterful Creation
I want to open this blog with a bit of grounded hope:
History has seen the world through violent regimes time and time again. As I’m sure you saw quoted in your feeds Jan.20th “The Arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” While we can not simply sit down and wait for this oppressive time to pass, know that our good work will see the light of day again. I continue to share this resource, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls . It links in their stories creators and resources for the kind of help you may need (you know what I’m talking about).
constant production or masterful creation?
If you don’t have much material for your reel and you need to meet creative collaborators, maybe the former is for you. If you want to make a name for yourself and really show off, perhaps the latter. However, what if you don’t have money sitting around? What if you need to convince a group of talented, hungry people to work on projects for free, in order to prove to grant judges you’re worth their time for that big, master work? I’m in the camp that slowing down to focus on the big project, just slows you down. It’s my own performative itch driving that opinion I’m sure. While I have dreams of “making it” on the big screen, for every day I’m in a creative mode, I’m living the life I set out to live. It doesn’t matter if it’s theater in a basement, comedy in an attic, or rehearsing in an office space after hours. I get to be an artist that day.
In a landscape where it often takes 5+ years to book a co-star on a procedural television show (that’s a one liner on a Chicago Fire type network series if you don’t know), I dread the wait. I dread missing 5 beautiful years of making art.
I bumped into a friend from one of many, many, many acting classes I’ve taken at the library this week. She’s given up the whole acting trade. While a good enough actor, she’s never been into the business and networking side of things. So when I told her, no I have not booked a union series/film yet, despite having representation, she said…”why?” It’s no one’s fault the whole scene is oversaturated with girls who look exactly like me. Spoiled for choice, a casting director will choose the actor they know (the business of relationships) or the actor with a big juicy credit at the top of their resume. Unfortunately for the elusive co-star booking, skill does not matter so much as having the eye color the director wants, knowing a friend, and of course LUCK. No shame in keeping a few crystals on your windowsill, no shame at all. This friend then responded, you should tell your manager to ask casting why they don’t want you. Oof.
Later that week I saw Where We’re Born from the newish theater company adult.film. My friend joked, with my taste in art, we would likely be walking into someone’s basement with a few folding chairs set up. That is exactly what happened. Except it was 25 folding chairs, and it was glorious. This company believes in process and integrity of creation. An actor there will train with the company for months and perform in shows as part of a team of artists. It’s not the standard equity audition and wait format. Having trained at a theater with an ensemble mindset myself, I personally believe this group’s got something right. I chose to make art professionally because art feels like the truth. These people put on shows and study plays because it matters; voices matter; and shows with friends in obscure places is a pure form of love.
I share this because whether or not you’ve got the blue eyes that book you a co-star on some Hulu gig, your dedication to telling stories and keeping art alive will always be the most important part of your art career. I’m not convinced that a handful of lines as Nurse 2 in that new doctor show is better than performing a tour-de-force in a third floor walk up. I know I’ll spam my followers with clips when I do book that co-star anyway, but it will never compare to defining my art the way sketches with friends and movies I make leave a part of myself of stage and carve out space for my unique voice.
The Matter of Taste
Now when it comes to sharing these pieces of myself, Imma sensitive wittle bunny wabbit wit doe eyes anda melty heart. I understand that especially in comedy, people have narrow taste. For every person who loves Veep, someone loves I Think You Should Leave, or someone hates both but loves The Great North. For people who never liked Potter Puppet Pals on youtube growing up, I’m sorry you’re wrong go back and try again.
But how do you reconcile with people very close to you, who also don’t align with your sense of humor? Not your teachers and peers, I can understand those varying styles and points of view. I can separate those opinions through the lens of education. I mean the people in your life you’re the most yourself with. If they don’t understand what makes you laugh, do they understand you? Maybe they understand you, but they don’t laugh with you, is that enough?
I’ll leave this as an open question. How do you navigate taste with your loved ones, besties, and partners?