Off-Cut Fifty Three

Bob Fraser sells advice to actors largely over the internet. He markets vigorously but he also talks a lot of commonsense – a scarce commodity. This article, include in his email newsletter in January 2007 reminded me of an earlier aritcle published by The Rehearsal Room, in 2001 called “How Long Will It Take.” But read Bob Fraser’s first.

ANOTHER HISTORY LESSON
If you watched the Golden Globes the other night, I'm sure you received some really important lessons about building an acting career and staying successful, just by observing who the winners were.

I certainly did.

JENNIFER HUDSON, SACHA BARON COHEN, HELEN MIRREN, ALEC BALDWIN, and AMERICA FERRERA - each exemplified a crucial part of what it takes to be a big success in the entertainment industry.

Keep in mind that each star's 'story' reveals a critical part of the whole puzzle -- but let's start with the most compelling ...

JENNIFER HUDSON is the singer/actress who did NOT win American Idol. In fact, during the competition Simon even went so far as to predict that she'd NEVER 'make it.'

JENNIFER'S story points out an extremely important lesson - one that every performer must 'get.'

You see, despite being a 'loser' and being told that she didn't have what it takes, JENNIFER HUDSON kept going forward and acting on her dream.

As I point out at the very beginning of You Must Act! - you will always face rejection in this business - there will always be those who tell you that your dream is 'impossible.'

Some of those negative people may even be 'authority figures.' But, every day, those nay-sayers are being proven wrong ... by performers who do the hard work of maintaining their focus, following their plan, and taking action, tenaciously.

In other words, you must ignore the rejection and the nay-sayers and just keep on going - like JENNIFER HUDSON did.

SACHA BARON COHEN has broken through in a big way in the last year. His world-wide success points out a vital lesson for those actors who think it's all about knowing the right people, or being in the 'right place at the right time.'

You see, COHEN built his career himself - by taking action.

He invented characters, devised vehicles, produced and performed in them without anyone's permission or 'help.'

He just went out and did it.

And, although he started small - and was not extremely successful right away, he kept working on his own projects until the world sat up and took notice. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from SACHA BARON COHEN, as time goes by.

HELEN MIRREN won best acting honors in television AND film. The one unmistakable reality we must keep in mind is that she is ...

... 61 years of age.

When you hear that this business is all about youth and 'hotness' - I hope you keep in mind that HELEN MIRREN is no spring chicken.

And by the way, neither is CLINT EASTWOOD, MARTIN SCORCESE, MERYL STREEP or someone you probably saw for the first time the other night - best supporting actor winner, BILL NIGHY, who is coming up on 60 ... and didn't get his first real film role until he was 40.

In fact, it is just an incontrovertible fact that a career can be started at any time and that if that career is managed properly, by the performer, it can last as long as the performer wishes to keep going.

Lesson: Age has nothing to do with it.

ALEC BALDWIN has had a few ups and downs in his career. Many in the industry believed that his career was floundering several times along the way.

But his staying power exemplifies the wrong-headedness of the idea that you only get 'one shot' at this.

Over and over again, this fine actor has "come back" and turned in outstanding performances in widely recognized films and television shows.

Bottom line? You get as many 'shots' as you are willing to take. Or, as a great basketball player once said ... "I miss 100% of the shots I don't take."

Which brings us to the greatest lesson of all ...

AMERICA FERRERA defies all common wisdom about stardom and success. She is not 'willowy and blonde.' She is not conventionally 'pretty.' She does not have a long resume (she only started about 6 years ago). And she is Hispanic (a group that's rarely 'represented' on TV or in films ... outside of narrow 'typecasting').

In fact, from a logical point of view, she never stood a chance.

But AMERICA FERRERA didn't think that way. She thought it was all possible. So she worked hard at it and ... well, she has 'arrived.'

See, that's the thing about 'common wisdom' - although it's common ... it's seldom wise.

Which is why these actors and performers should be at the forefront of your mind - as you go about your career.

Because, in the final analysis, there are no 'rules.'

Those who make it to the red carpet are those who take action on their dream - no matter what anybody else says or thinks.

I'm sure we'll see some similar lessons when the Oscars are shown.

I hope you'll be watching carefully.

Have a great week and, as always ...

Much Success,

Bob

You Must Act!
The #1 Acting Career Course On The Web
http://www.youmustact.com

Check out some similar RehearsalRoom thoughts, here.

January 2007