Game Of Opportunities
Principle #6: Surrender to the game of opportunities
Opportunities
Auditions, self tapes, call backs, meetings, chemistry reads, test deals, etc etc
Opportunities to give our work professionally
From getting the news we have the opportunity
All the way through to putting our heads on the pillow after we’ve done it
Sometimes, It can be a long and arduous process
Other times, it can be a short and intense rollercoaster
But there is a massive elephant in the room here worth acknowledging…
As an actor, I cannot control the decision of casting
Yes, I can influence it
But I cannot control it
There is a huge amount of angst in this industry coming from the simple fact that we do what us humans are so good at doing…
Trying to control things we can’t
And how bloody understandable!
We give decades of time, energy and effort to this craft
And we get an opportunity which could mean the chance to play generously + pay rent
And then someone decides no, because…
Well… who wants to start counting the infinite reasons why someone gets cast over another?
Sidenote
I have sat in on casting processes before
I once watched a guy get cast over another because on the tape his hair seemed curlier & he had “somewhat of a sadder smile”
The job was for a major US network, negotiated at US$55k per episode… for 25 episodes per year… for 5 years
And the decision was made as we sat having a beer on the couch
Oh the games
However…
We have a choice
We can continue to try control something we can’t
Or, we can choose to surrender
The choice to stop fighting
To take that beautiful energy being spent on trying to control the un-controllables
And give it towards something we can
Our process
And what’s glorious and terrifying about that…
Is it requires a leap of faith
To say to oneself…
I give up
I give up trying to control the things I can’t
I will focus, instead, on playing
On creating a meaningful, sustainable and joyful process
I will stop chasing results
And instead
Allow the results to come to me
How bloody vulnerable
So lets surrender
And lean into the process of opportunities
A question worth pondering…
How can I make it easy for these people to hire me?
Think about it from the their point of view
If I was a director, producer or casting director
And I was trying to find my dream actor to cast in a role
I would want a few things done well
Competence - Can they contribute well to this story & do it on cue?
Professionalism - If we are going to spend months working together… can they rock up on time, hit their mark, whilst being kind and respectful?
Trust - Do they trust themselves enough to take care of themselves (sometimes that means knowing when to ask for help!)
So let me turn my attention onto those things which I can control…
Being damn good
Being professional
And trusting myself
Exercise: My Opportunity Process
Requirements: Paper & pencil, some focussed private time, maybe some music, tea/water etc etc
Next: Choose an opportunity category you would like to work on.
(For the following example, I will use the category of self tapes - as they have recently surpassed auditions as the most common form of opportunity)
Step 1. Set the timer for 15 minutes: Journal the most energising experiences you’ve had self-taping & explore what you did that made them energising.
Step 2. Set the timer for 10 minutes: Notice the commonalities between those experiences. What are the shared underlying principles?
Step 3. Set the timer for 2 minutes: Clarify how you would like to feel putting your head on the pillow after giving a self tape for a job you really want.
Step 4. Set the timer for 3 minutes: Write down your dream self-tape process for you to experiment with. Try keep it between 3-7 clear, doable points. Then repeat the 3 minute process. And finally, repeat the 3 minute a third time. See how it morphs and grows with each iteration. Build something which you feel energised about.
One last thing
In case I haven’t made it clear enough already
There ain’t nothing weak about surrendering
x