I Bet I Can Do That!

No matter what your chosen profession is, the job will present challenges unique to that position. Many people look at doctors, lawyers and CEOs of major companies and think there is no way they could do that job.  However most people look at actors and say, "I can totally do that!"

Not really.

I know what you're thinking right now. "Acting is just memorizing lines and repeating them at the right moment."  It's true that part of acting is memorizing lines and saying them at the right moment in the scene.  Memorizing lines is easy.  I memorize scripts and individual scenes all the time to run lines with Zach.  Just because I remember the lines, and know where they go in a scene, doesn't mean I can deliver them with feeling or in a way that fits the character.

The rehearsal process is a vital tool for an actor. Going over each line, the cues to enter and exit scenes, working out the blocking of a scene and discussing the motivations of a character all help an actor inhabit a role. Once the lines become second nature, the actor is free to focus on the emotion and feeling of the role.  An actor has to be willing to let himself go and show real emotion in front of others on a daily basis.  Many people are so shy or nervous that they can't show real emotions for fear of being embarrassed. 

In a way, acting itself isn't that hard of a job,  With enough training and rehearsal an actor can let himself go and completely inhabit a character.  The hard part (and the part where most people lose the "I can do that" attitude) is getting to the point of being able to inhabit a character. Nailing the proper body language, dialect and facial reactions isn't something that just comes to a person, Training is vital to being a good, and successful, actor. If you just try to "act" without the proper training, you'll come off as fake and superficial to the audience.

There are many acting coaches who use the phrase "leap and the net will appear".  The saying means an actor must move forward and have faith that the necessary skills for the part will appear when needed the most.

Maybe I'm just too logical but I hate that phrase.

I can't imagine Michael Jordan not practicing hard before every game.  Michael once said that playing the game was 99% training and 1% being on time for the game.  There's another quote of his that also fits acting. "Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you." 

There's no thought of leaping without a net in Michael's world.  The key is preparation and knowing what needs to be done before the game. You can play basketball but you (more than likely) won't be able to play as well as Michael Jordan. You can act but you won't act on the level necessary to be a successful working actor without putting in the time and effort to learn the craft of acting.

I'm not trying to discourage you from being an actor.  I'm just asking you to think about the hard work it takes to be an actor. I'm sure there are a few people who think "I can do that" and actually have the natural talent and skills to be a successful actor.  I just haven't met any of those lucky few people (yet).

This teen actor still works on learning more about acting on a daily basis.