Introducing Myself - Actors Forum is the Community to Talk, Learn and Study Acting.

jillybean · 02-13-2007, 02:48 PM

Hi!

I'm a very new actor trying to learn the ropes and develop my skills. In a way, I've been part of the theater world my whole life but have only gotten seriously interested in it the past three years. My dad has done plays, musicals, written music, etc...but I only worked with him in the smallest of ways and didn't realize my own interest and talent in it until I became an adult. I started pursuing it and have been receiving positive reactions. I'm still taking baby steps though, because I sort of feel like I shouldn't be pursuing it. Every time I talk to people about acting they make comments like, "who would ever do that??, why would anyone go into the entertainment industry, it's not stable! It's a fairytale??" I met a woman who was obsessed with becoming an actor, but she had no acting talent at all. My brother produced a CD with a woman who desperately wanted to break into the music industry, but she couldn't sing, play any instruments or write music. She FINALLY gave up but she really thought she had talent! So with all of those illustrations, I wonder if I'm being as ridiculous as I thought they were?! I love acting and it seems to come very naturally for me. I don't know if I can make a living at it though?! I haven't taken any major risks yet with it. I'm afraid to. Thanks for reading!

Pyodog · 02-20-2007, 06:36 AM

TAKE RISKS! Yay! Risks are fun! You can't do anything without them...

I had the same doubts as you... I still have never been in a play but I've done student films and such... I had the same doubts because I hated my voice... I thought I acted fine but my voice was... blrrr horrible. No one else seemed to think so though... so just believe in yourself. If your heart tells you to go into acting... you'll make it. If you weren't meant to be in acting... you would've known by now.

Billy1970 · 02-20-2007, 10:51 PM

My advice is to ignore your detractors completely. Make no mistake, there will always be people who try to shoot you down no matter what endeavor you choose to undertake. It doesn't matter if you want to be a chef or a carpenter, somebody somewhere will think it's a bad idea.

But, the truth is...they're wrong. Self doubt is normal. When self doubt becomes self destructive, that's bad. There's a saying in the Navy Seals training that goes 'the only thing stopping you from being here is you.' Take the risk and go for what you want in life, you only get one shot at it, make it YOUR life...not a life lived through other people's fear.

A little tale that I recently read to illustrate what I mean.

"Listen to the story of Jimmy the Cat ...

Jimmy the Cat was out strolling one day, as cats are wont to do, when he accidentally fell down into a deep hole. Jimmy the Cat could not get out of the hole, so he cried for help. Unfortunately, Jimmy the Cat’s yowling attracted the attention of Butch Murdock – a mean little kid. Rather than help Jimmy the Cat get out of the hole, Butch decided to bury Jimmy the Cat. So, Butch got his sand shovel and began to shovel dirt into the hole – on
top of Jimmy the Cat.

At first, Jimmy the Cat got hysterical. He was being buried alive by a mean little kid! But then Jimmy the Cat stopped his emotional outburst and began to think. He realized that if he just shook off the dirt that was falling on his back – and stepped up – he might just save himself. So that’s what Jimmy the Cat did. Every time a shovelful of dirt landed on his back, he shook it off and stepped up. Shook it off and stepped up. Shook it off and stepped up.
Butch was as persistent as he was mean and, eventually, he shoveled enough dirt into the hole so that Jimmy the Cat could keep stepping up and, eventually, step out.

Jimmy the Cat got out of the hole – and merrily continued his stroll.
Be like Jimmy the Cat ...

SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!"

You'll get to where you want to be if you persevere. Always remember, you can't fail if you don't quit!

Hope this helps and welcome to the boards!

jillybean · 04-03-2007, 12:24 PM

Thanks so much for reading my post from way back in Feb. I appreciate your thoughts. I haven't come back to this site in ages. I just finished a play last weekend and had so much fun. Now, I'm back to the old monotony of business. I'm going to meet with my old auditions coach and just talk things through with her. I'm hoping she can give me some worth-while advice.

Edder · 04-19-2007, 10:57 PM

Welcome to the Actors Forum!