Career Management
At the age of 25
I learned something
Which made me furious
You see…
I was born in South Africa
And being a South African
One thing is guaranteed
You’re a Rugby Union fan
Rugby holds a special place in the heart of any South African
Especially those who experienced the 90’s
Ask any South African about what Mandela did for his nation using the sport of Rugby Union
And they will likely end up teary-eyed telling you that extraordinary story
Anyway
As a Springbok fan
There’s something we fear
The All Blacks
With the highest winning percentage of any sports team in the world
New Zealand’s rugby team has become a formidable force
Respected by all who stand opposite them on the pitch
So
When my friend messaged me a screen shot of a book which delved deep into the culture of the All Blacks
It was an easy decision to put aside two days and jump on the couch
“Let’s see what crazy secrets built the most successful team in the world”
I told myself
The book focussed on a very interesting period
One which most regard as the lowest point for the All Blacks
And how they went from being knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in the quarter finals
To winning the World Cup four years later
The book also focused heavily around the captain
How we was able to influence the culture of the team over that period of time
And what he did to turn a dire situation into one which bared many fruits
I can remember the moment when I turned the page
And read how the captain had no idea what to do next
They were at rock bottom
But saw no way forward
No way to create change
So…
He sought help.
I had to stop
The leader of the worlds most successful team
Asked for help
For guidance
Huh?
This didn’t make sense to me
If he is a professional performer
And one of the best in the world to do it
Why the hell would he ask for help?
This felt wrong to me
Weak
But that little morsel of information
Caused a crack in my fearful armour
One which resulted in many restless nights over the following month
I started to look
At the performers who inspired me most
The artists, musicians, athletes, entrepreneurs
Who did things their way
I had also spent years collecting data on all my favourite actors
Yep
The same thing kept popping up
Over and over again
I was met with what I believed to be one the weakest things someone could do
Asking for help.
The performers I loved
They sought guidance
They had coaches, mentors & external accountability
No matter where I dug
The romantic idea I had
That a favourite actor was just raw talent
Rocked up and did whatever their impulses said
And didn’t need anyone
Yep
It started to gently crumble
In fact
There was not a sustainably working artist I researched
Who I couldn’t find some form of external accountability for
Joaquin, Shia, Hardy
Perfect examples of this
To the public
These actors are insane and magical artists
But all have and use external accountability
People in their corner guiding them
From specific acting coaches
To colleagues they trust to help them learn their lines in a way that helps them give their best
No matter where I looked
It was there
Blatantly in front of me
“But I should be able to figure it out on my own
I should be able to solve it myself
I should be like a self cleaning oven
Doing the work and maintaining myself all alone”
This was during a two year period of my life
Where I had recently played the lead at the Sydney Opera House
And been directed by Mel Gibson alongside Andrew Garfield in a Warner Bros film
And had fallen on my face
Both times.
So I was yearning for change.
But
I did not want to start asking for help
I had 25 years of a “shut up and get on with it” mentality
However
There was something else that I was damn sure of
Doing the same thing and expecting a different result
Seemed delusional
So…
Knowing that going alone was unsustainable
I decided to step out of my comfort zone
And began seeking guidance
I found coaches, mentors and external accountability
Those who were taking care of the performers who inspired me most
Some terrible
Some life changing
Some who have since passed
Some who I still treasure seeking guidance from still to this day
And I went from resenting the industry
To less than two years later working on my dream role and leaving set feeling fulfilled
Which (very fortunately) even got me a nomination alongside the very actors I was inspired by to begin with
So I knew something was working
I started to play again
My way
And it began making sense
Why would I limit my knowledge and skillset to my own past and experience…
When I could stand on giants’ shoulders?
When I could rely instead on their decades of accumulated skill and experience?
Bingo.
Four years after making that decision to seek guidance from the best I could find
I was working back to back
Flying between California, New Zealand, and Australia
From Netflix, to BBC, to Sundance, to Venice
And then…
Covid struck
And, like many people
I had time to think
Time to sit still and question what I was doing and why I was doing it
And I became very clear about one thing
The lessons that those incredible mentors and coaches passed on to me
I wanted to pass them on to others
The things I hadn’t got from any acting book or drama school
Especially in regards to one aspect
I had never found a systematic approach to managing ones career
So
(And this has only taken me four years)
I finally have a little baby I’m wanting to share with others
A career course
The Actor’s Blueprint Career Course
A systematic approach to building your career… your way.
To be honest
I have made this for me
For the version of me who felt like there was no way to continue on this career path
This is everything that helped me go from sleeping on a wet mattress, miserable, hating acting and resentful of the industry
To being nominated alongside my heroes two years later after finally being able to leave set feeling fulfilled
In the most honest, clear and actionable way I can possibly pass it on.
I realised there was an infinitely better way to excel in acting
And now
That’s what I want to pass on to you
I truly, truly hope this helps…
Career Course: https://www.actorsblueprint.com/course
This is a one-of-a-kind online series providing a systematic approach to help build your career, your way.
Introduction: Welcome to The Actor’s Blueprint Career Course. A systematic approach to help you build your career, your way.
The System: A system for sustainably building your career, your way.
The Principles: Four essential principles for a sustainable career.
Chapter 1 - Secret Sauce: What is the most important factor that will help you contribute generous, meaningful and unique work to this industry?
Chapter 2 - Harbour: Get clear about what you honestly want to begin making progress towards.
Chapter 3 - Behaviour: The majority of actors allow their behaviour to be dictated by the industry. Don’t. Go first. The whole industry is waiting for you to go first.
Chapter 4 - Pressure: At some point, your value will be determined by how well you’re able to give your work under pressure. So find comfort in the chaos whilst giving your best when it counts most.
Chapter 5 - Waiting: The majority of an acting career is waiting. So, can you wait well in an uncertain industry?
Chapter 6 - Skills: Everything in your career will become easier if you prioritise skill development.
Chapter 7 - Practice: Practice in a way which actually results in progress.
Chapter 8 - Opportunities: Place your head on the pillow knowing you gave everything you wanted.
Chapter 9 - Game Plan: Do what you need to do, to get where you need to get, so you can give what you need to give.
Chapter 10 - Game Day: Play your best when it counts most.
Bonus - Agents: Musings on agents.
Conclusion: Finding joy in the effort.
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