Nearly seven months ago, I made a decision that changed my life forever. I decided to leave the full time job and take a real crack at this crazy business. Before, I was getting work, but the jobs actually cost me a few gigs. I got tired of that and made the leap.
Do I regret this? Absolutely not. I may not have a lot of money right now(That comes from having a job that's 2-3 days a week, and very little other money coming in), but I'm good at keeping my money in check, so that's no big deal. I also have a lot more time to network and get myself out there, not to mention finishing up a script(I'll blog about that another time).
But I'd be lying if I didn't get a little frustrated. In one case, I've become a social networking butterfly. Not only do I friend a bunch of people, but I end up meeting them and even work with a few. I also have a tiny consolation of being in the top 100,000 in IMDB, even with two credits(Soon to be three, by the way. Look for Broken Benjamin really soon). But the competitor in me always wants more, and it's frustrating to not get calls from my agent, even when she works hard to put me out there. Makes me wonder if there's something wrong with me at times.
You know something, though? I just have to remember that this is all part of the process. Actors far more talented than me have gone through this too. We all have taken this leap into the great beyond, and few of us will survive the leap.
Either way, none of us regret said leap. We wouldn't want this any other way.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Everything in pill form.
My brother and I watch a ton of stupid television. Besides being an outlet for a good laugh, you also get really really stupid commercials, and stupid products behind said commercials.
For instance, there's the Baby Bullet, FROM THE MAKERS OF MAGIC BULLET, which makes all your baby food from nice fresh produce, and "saves money not buying all those jars", which since produce is up 600% anyway, makes that argument completely moot.
Or there's any variation of machines you strap around your waist, and the "electrodes wake the muscles up and make them work" while you sit on your ass. Never mind those backbreaking crunches that have never broken a back a day in anyone's life, all you have to do is sit on your ass to get that shredded body.
Even better, there's a program out there that allows you to eat whatever you want, work out like five minutes a day, and you can lose an inordinate amount of weight. Even though that was on one of those 3 AM infomercials(That I got accustomed to while working on my script), it still counts.
Let's go one further. How about any of a number of get rich quick schemes that promise that you make $300,000 in one month, and only 5 hours of work a week.
In other words, if there is zero work involved, no sweat required, or little effort needed, the product is a guarantee top seller.
And this is exactly where my blog title comes into play. My buddy Greg(An actor buddy of mine that I'll bring up later) said it best. Society wants everything in pill form. They don't want to put forth true effort, or blood, sweat, and tears. They want it all easy, and all right now.
Even the entertainment world has fallen into this trap. While there are still the usual struggles to get ahead, there are also easier ways. You can go the way of Nicole Polizzi or Mike Sorrentino, AKA Snooki and The Situation. Simply go on one of a number of reality shows(cheaper production values, so the network doesn't have to put on real television), make sure said show uses zero IQ points so that the majority of the population understands the show, and/or gets a laugh out of hotheads that think they can fight, or women that can't shut their mouths.
You truly want to know what's wrong with our country? It's not the rich people holding the lesser people back(biggest myth ever concocted), or politicians not looking out for people, or any of a number of excuses.
It's that the United States of America, which was once built from blood, sweat, guts, and guile, a country that was built on the back of people with unlimited determination, and blisters on their feet, has now accepted that you can lose weight without effort, gain muscle without the pain, cook five course meals in seven minutes, and make a ton of cash without the work ethic. They have also accepted that we are 24th in the world in standardized testing, behind some third world countries, and barely blink.
So what do we do? I could spend hours going over the same stuff that I've written in other blogs, but I won't this time. I'm just going to take a quote from a favorite movie of mine.
"Get busy living, or get busy dying" - Red from Shawshank Redemption
When the majority of this country is ready to start living again, call me.
For instance, there's the Baby Bullet, FROM THE MAKERS OF MAGIC BULLET, which makes all your baby food from nice fresh produce, and "saves money not buying all those jars", which since produce is up 600% anyway, makes that argument completely moot.
Or there's any variation of machines you strap around your waist, and the "electrodes wake the muscles up and make them work" while you sit on your ass. Never mind those backbreaking crunches that have never broken a back a day in anyone's life, all you have to do is sit on your ass to get that shredded body.
Even better, there's a program out there that allows you to eat whatever you want, work out like five minutes a day, and you can lose an inordinate amount of weight. Even though that was on one of those 3 AM infomercials(That I got accustomed to while working on my script), it still counts.
Let's go one further. How about any of a number of get rich quick schemes that promise that you make $300,000 in one month, and only 5 hours of work a week.
In other words, if there is zero work involved, no sweat required, or little effort needed, the product is a guarantee top seller.
And this is exactly where my blog title comes into play. My buddy Greg(An actor buddy of mine that I'll bring up later) said it best. Society wants everything in pill form. They don't want to put forth true effort, or blood, sweat, and tears. They want it all easy, and all right now.
Even the entertainment world has fallen into this trap. While there are still the usual struggles to get ahead, there are also easier ways. You can go the way of Nicole Polizzi or Mike Sorrentino, AKA Snooki and The Situation. Simply go on one of a number of reality shows(cheaper production values, so the network doesn't have to put on real television), make sure said show uses zero IQ points so that the majority of the population understands the show, and/or gets a laugh out of hotheads that think they can fight, or women that can't shut their mouths.
You truly want to know what's wrong with our country? It's not the rich people holding the lesser people back(biggest myth ever concocted), or politicians not looking out for people, or any of a number of excuses.
It's that the United States of America, which was once built from blood, sweat, guts, and guile, a country that was built on the back of people with unlimited determination, and blisters on their feet, has now accepted that you can lose weight without effort, gain muscle without the pain, cook five course meals in seven minutes, and make a ton of cash without the work ethic. They have also accepted that we are 24th in the world in standardized testing, behind some third world countries, and barely blink.
So what do we do? I could spend hours going over the same stuff that I've written in other blogs, but I won't this time. I'm just going to take a quote from a favorite movie of mine.
"Get busy living, or get busy dying" - Red from Shawshank Redemption
When the majority of this country is ready to start living again, call me.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The world's biggest contradiction
I'll admit it. I don't know what to think of it, but I'll admit it.
I'm a contradiction.
Maybe I was born this way. I can't really tell, although I doubt God puts "contradiction" under anyone's list of quirks(provided God would even give you quirks, or if it's just a part of you).
But I've come to accept it.
I've come to accept that I have a very old school mind, yet love to embrace the new school.
I've come to accept that I can watch football with a bunch of drunk goofs, yet be happy watching a tennis match from August 24th, 1978(My birthday, by the way. Don't forget to send a gift).
I've come to accept that I can go to a play, symphony, or opera with anyone now, and yet still watch pro wrestling like when I was 13.
I've come to accept that I have no natural athletic ability whatsoever, yet I have had some level of success in two different sports(Tennis and Martial Arts)
I've come to accept that we have generations of architects, contractors, business people, and engineers in our family, and I want to be an actor.
I've come to accept that I am tighter than under armor on T.O. with money, but yet I buy nothing but name brands, and sometimes even luxury items if the opportunity presents itself.
I've come to accept that I've never made more than $30,000 a year because of the path I have chosen to take, yet I've paid off all my debts, and bought a new car in 2009.
I've come to accept that my father was my hero. I adored him from beginning to end. But when he hinted at my coming home when college was over, I always said no. Just like he did years earlier, I just wanted to choose my own path in life.
So that's who I am. I never understood it for the longest time, but I do now. We're all just built differently, and that should be embraced. Some of us are 9-5ers, and some of us would rather have limited resources till we make our way in something we love.
So enjoy life, my friends. As an actor friend of mine said once.....we don't get a second take.
I'm a contradiction.
Maybe I was born this way. I can't really tell, although I doubt God puts "contradiction" under anyone's list of quirks(provided God would even give you quirks, or if it's just a part of you).
But I've come to accept it.
I've come to accept that I have a very old school mind, yet love to embrace the new school.
I've come to accept that I can watch football with a bunch of drunk goofs, yet be happy watching a tennis match from August 24th, 1978(My birthday, by the way. Don't forget to send a gift).
I've come to accept that I can go to a play, symphony, or opera with anyone now, and yet still watch pro wrestling like when I was 13.
I've come to accept that I have no natural athletic ability whatsoever, yet I have had some level of success in two different sports(Tennis and Martial Arts)
I've come to accept that we have generations of architects, contractors, business people, and engineers in our family, and I want to be an actor.
I've come to accept that I am tighter than under armor on T.O. with money, but yet I buy nothing but name brands, and sometimes even luxury items if the opportunity presents itself.
I've come to accept that I've never made more than $30,000 a year because of the path I have chosen to take, yet I've paid off all my debts, and bought a new car in 2009.
I've come to accept that my father was my hero. I adored him from beginning to end. But when he hinted at my coming home when college was over, I always said no. Just like he did years earlier, I just wanted to choose my own path in life.
So that's who I am. I never understood it for the longest time, but I do now. We're all just built differently, and that should be embraced. Some of us are 9-5ers, and some of us would rather have limited resources till we make our way in something we love.
So enjoy life, my friends. As an actor friend of mine said once.....we don't get a second take.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
