1. It takes you to some really cool places. Everybody knows that NY and LA are where you want to be for any major roles. I'm really glad I was able to take the leap and live in both of those places, but I really love how now, I'm able to actually get work in Seattle and Bellingham. There is much less crazy, actor competition and it's great for the resume. Will I ever move back to NY or LA? It's crossed my mind.
2. You get to pretend to be somebody else for a while. Honestly, it's great to get out of your skin and crawl into somebody else for a while.
3. You can use your past experiences to help create a character and trigger emotions like crying. Free therapy is how I look at it.
4. People who see you acting somewhere, get really, really excited and happy that they know a "famous" person. It's cool and embarrassing, but you also know just how not famous you are.
5. The moment when you see yourself on screen, or wherever, and you realize that you had actually done well. Especially when you trusted your gut instinct. When you knew the directors were looking for something else, or somebody else, and you pulled it off! It's a really rare occurrence, for me at least, to acknowledge that I had done a good job. In fact, I only just recently started watching my performances!
6. After a play is done and people are coming up to you asking questions about your character like, "Are you supposed to be pregnant?" It's crazy! It's like they think you're the character. That makes me feel as though I have not only made people in the audience feel something, but that I took some words on some paper and gave my character some life and a little mystery.
7. Analyzing! When you go to the type of acting schools I went to, you learn to ask questions about the character you're playing. You ask things like, "Who am I?" "Where am I from?" You build a world around your character that allows you to make precise choices and gives the character you are playing a purpose, an action, and a sense of mystery.
8. Anytime you get an award or recognition for your efforts. Which is rare. Here is the link to a film I was in, that was entered in the Tacoma 72 Hour Film Competition. Our team took home Best Film and Best Use of Dialogue! Just copy and paste it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dI3Vc1ToT04
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| Happy, happy evening of winning! |
9. When you don't even remember what just happened. "Off" days in the theatre suck, but when you have an "on" day during a show, you don't even remember it. You might remember hearing something that dropped, or the audience making noise, or have an occasional moment when you realize, you are standing on a stage. That's also the day you wish all of your friends and family had made it.
10. Being able to leave an artful footprint in the world. Even if nobody ever sees any of it.
Thanks for reading!
