When does the struggle end and where is the “prize”?  Just as Kevin Spacey says in the attached video the “prize” is inside.  The process and journey as you move toward your own unique success will be the reward.  Sounds great but what does it actually mean?  If the consequences of your conditions or actions RIGHT NOW serve as tools and inspiration to fuel the journey toward Artistic and Economic fulfillment then you are on the right track.  Each action you take in the present moment is an investment toward your future success as a result of these actions your condition will change and evolve bringing you closer to your ultimate goal. Right now you may feel a lack, living in oblivion unknown and undiscovered in a profession where fame and notoriety defines success.  Use this time to create a foundation, a platform for success build your skills, your brand, your point of view and your purpose.

Work diligently to create relationships that will encourage and nurture your artistic, spiritual and creative growth.  Prepare yourself for that moment (or series of moments) where the oblivion you blissfully worked in itself falls away and the spotlight you dreamed about and aspired to shines on you.  Only then will you truly appreciate the anonymity and purity of the solitary struggle.  If you spend your time conscientiously preparing yourself then when the fame and fortune you seek finds you, you will be prepared to embrace it, enjoy it and live fully in it.  Until then enjoy the journey you are on and make sure to explore and enjoy all of the rewards that the process has for you.

Watching them “play” I realize that although I am in a position of wisdom and authority I still have much to learn from teachers of all ages.  My children and my students teach me to embrace the joy of the journey, the delight in discovery and the importance of pure imagination.  The worry, the frustration, the impatience, the feelings of inadequacy and all of the other forces that block the pure joy of creativity are like weeds in the creative Garden of Eden choking the life out of the simplicity of imagination and creativity.  Experiencing the unfettered free form of children lost in their imaginary Magic and totally committed to living with their character and the circumstances that character is in inspires me to tap into the “play” part of Acting.

Time to get out of my head and into my heart……… living in the euphoria of nonsense, the bliss of ignorance and the ecstasy of silliness.  The only harm that might befall me is that my stomach may hurt too much from laughing.  These Friday blogs will be dedicated to the fun factor, the silly side the trouble free kid’s stuff that we locked away as adults.  Time to find our six year old and let them out to play !!

More often than not unless you are a celebrity or the official spokesperson for the endorsed entity the Actors role is big in terms of storytelling but small in terms of budget and payment.  The halcyon days of huge residual checks and home run commercials that set you up financially are over.  Don’t get me wrong it is still possible to make a living as a commercial actor but the number of spots you shoot determined by the number of auditions you go on and the juggling act of not being over exposed make it exceedingly more difficult than it was in the past.  The formula of cable, wild-spot and national runs is skewed in favor of the company, Ad-agency and Production entities rather than the Actor.  Even though the talent payments comprise a small percentage of the overall budget they will still give it their best effort to pay you as little as possible, it just makes good business sense to do so.

There is the myth out there still hanging on from the days when companies shot one or two commercials a year and ran them hundreds of times on three networks that Actors are buying houses and fancy cars with their residual checks.  The truth is even booking a few successful and popular commercials a year after taxes and commissions paid out it is still a struggle to pay the basic bills.  Combining your commercial career with a few roles in films and an occasional Network Television appearance then you have a career you can hang your hat on and live a middle to upper middle class life.  The truth is that a commercial career is a lynchpin in your total career as an Actor tough to stand on it alone but when combined with other Acting opportunities allowing you to work exclusively and full time as an Actor.  If you aren’t firmly established as a commercial Actor then how do you “crack the code” and get in to audition consistently and work steadily.  Come back here next Tuesday to find out how to get yourself into the game.

Acting is big business. The story tellers that attract the most eyeballs (which are attached to and willing to part with their money) are rewarded in turn with money, recognition and power.  Most Actors seek this elevation very few however climb to the top of the mountain.  It is easier than ever to see the lop-sided equation that makes up the community of Actors.  A study of ImdbPro will show you in no uncertain terms the reality of reaching the ranks of royalty as an Actor.  The handful of top tier “name Actors”, the few hundred that support the truly elite some of which will move up as the one percenters move down or die and others that will forever be the “B” listers, the thousands who occasionally get to participate as day players, co-stars, one day guest stars, the tens of thousands who work as atmosphere crossing around the principle players or muttering “peas and carrots” while pretending to sip a drink, the hundreds of thousands just starting, patiently working on their craft or allowing blocks and distractions in their life to keep them from moving forward in their careers.  The same paradigm exists although in smaller numbers in the world of live theatre.  In fact there are quite a few sub sets in the Acting world Stunt-players, Voice-over, Commercial, TV, Film, Puppeteers and on and on.  Each subset has it’s own pecking order and degrees of success.

While the goal of superstardom is somewhere in the consciousness of every Actor, you are just as likely to reach it as scratching off a million dollar lottery ticket.  What does Superstardom represent?  As a true Superstar you will be universally recognized a “household” name, choose the projects you want to work on and make more money than you ever imagined.  Although the result of “universal Superstardom” is far reaching and next to impossible, degrees of superstardom are within your reach.  How are you extraordinary and exceptional right now?  Who are you surrounding yourself with? What steps are you taking to become the best that you can possibly be where you are at right now while preparing to move yourself to the next level?  Are you building the best foundation for yourself to support the growth for your future?  While planning for the future is important the present is what you have.  The exciting aspect of living in these technologically advanced times is that you are in more control of creating content and telling stories in a universal platform than ever before.  This is a blessing and a curse.  The blessing…. you have the capability of creating right now.  The curse….you need your content to be exceptional.  Find exceptional, talented and capable people to work with and create.  Become a superstar in  the group you choose to work with and watch it ripple out into the world, attracting more and more people who want to work with you.  Enjoy the journey.

What makes Kelsey unique is the combination of her approachable style, attention to detail, sense of focused Artistic concentration, ability to instill confidence in her clients and willingness to push the edge artistically and technologically.  In spite of all of the focused, dynamic and diligent work that happens during a session the entire process is filled with mischief and wrapped in whimsy.  When you walk out of a session with Kelsey you have a feeling of lightness, satisfaction and inspired energy.  That feeling you leave with is exactly what is captured in the photos and the video that Kelsey shoots and creates.

Kelsey is on the cutting edge for Actors and entertainers.  Her social media and marketing packages take the head shot experience to the next level combining powerfully effective head shots as well as marketing shots and video slates to fill your web site with content that shows your professional capabilities.  To set up a session with Kelsey get in touch with her associate Brady Smith 323-936-6106 she will answer any questions and give you all the information you need to make your experience at CATCHLIGHT  STUDIOS the best that it can possibly be.

If you have shot with Kelsey and want to comment or join the discussion by adding the details of your experience please join in.  It would also be fun to see some history add your old head shots shot by any photographer  (leave a note if they were shot by Kelsey).

WHO’S WHO Wednesdays is a blog about people who have shaped my career in some way or people I have a relationship with already or I am developing a relationship with.  None of us as Artist’s are able to do what we love on our own, it is a collaborative creative process.  In the Thirty plus years as an Actor thousands of individuals have played a part in starting, developing and continuing my journey as an Artist.  WHO’S WHO is a small random sampling profile of people that have somehow been instrumental allowing my journey to continue.  Thanks to all of those who have taken a chance on me, had confidence in me, hired me, fired me, inspired me, confounded me, pushed me and let me down.  All of you have taught me lessons given me strength contributed to the wisdom and added to the joy and pain of this roller coaster ride.  Check back each Wednesday to see who pops up in the WWW.

Tuesday Blogs on this site will be devoted to exploring the business half of your career and providing an understanding of the importance in creating the balance in your own journey. Some information will be very basic for those just starting on their path as an Artistic Entrepreneur other information will be a bit deeper and more intricate for those Actors who are more established. All of the information will be useful to you at some point in your career so whether it is a refresher of UNION 101 the purpose and importance of UNION membership and support or HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR RETIREMENT…..WHEN TO CASH OUT.  You won’t want to miss out. If you have challenges or questions about the Business side of your career…the Tuesday ACCOUNTABLE ACTING blog is where you want to bring them up or ask them.

Topics that will be covered over the next few months are UNION 101 getting in and getting the most out of your membership in SAG-AFTRA and AEA, FINDING THE BALANCE OF ART AND COMMERCE how much time and money do you spend on your career and is there a right balance between the two?, ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL does it ever make sense to work on projects for little or no money how to protect yourself, COMMERCIAL BREAKS making sense of the world of commercials and how they fit into your career, THE ACTORS BUSINESS PLAN a plan designed to lead you into a career free of your “Second Job”, MARKETING AND SELF PROMOTION setting yourself apart in the Sea of creativity, CONTENT CREATIVITY your three dimensional calling card Why to, How to, When to……, INVESTING IN YOUR CAREER what investments will pay off, when to make them, how much to spend, MATHEMATICS OF ACTING the formulas of creativity contracts, residual formulas, pension formulas and pay outs, health insurance and more.

So check back every Tuesday for a new look at an old challenge; Creating consistent and constant success as an Artistic Entrepreneur.  Feel free to comment and contribute to the topics discussed or suggest new topics to be covered.  There is a world of opportunity at our fingertips and as CEOs of our own careers finding the proper balance of Art and commerce will maximize our capability to create and capitalize on every chance for complete success.  Join me here each Tuesday to explore the Economic elements that will create a robust and flourishing career.  Enjoy the journey.

The key to avoiding the cliche’ of formulaic performance is to find the music in the words and beats just as a musician explores a piece of music.  Just like the words are the notes of music on the page the Actor’s body is the instrument that is played.  The set, the other Actors, the camera and/or the live audience make up the rest of the orchestra.  Think about how musicians totally confident in a performance will riff and change keys speed up or slow down the tempo in sync (or purposefully out of sync) with the other musicians. Pushing the envelope of what is expected, accepted and pleasing to the ear.   If music is not your thing then relate it to the sports world.  Sports are all about the element of surprise contained within the structure of the rules and boundaries of the game or contest.  The players or competitors that push the rules and boundaries to the limit, the ones that do the unexpected “win” the moment.  If an individual competitor wins enough moments in a contest they win the contest.  In the case of team play if enough individuals win their moments and the others on the team don’t negate the accomplishments of those individuals then the team is victorious.

Acting follows the same basic principles.  If the sport of basketball was watching each individual on one team take ten free throws one after the other then allowing the other team the same experience tallying up the score and declaring a winner then not many tickets would be sold.  If you went to see your favorite band and each band member played a “correct” song individually with no fused energy or reaction off of each other then the concert would be tepid and unmotivating for the artists and the crowd.  As an Actor it is vitally important to develop the instincts that allow you to create and recreate spontaneous natural circumstances within scenes utilizing all of the supporting elements that surround you.  One of the keys in allowing the natural flow of a scene to play out is “acting on the line”.  What does acting on the line mean? While the line is being spoken or heard the physical reaction is simultaneously occurring.  There is no pause, beat or breath in between the lines.  There is no moment where a feeling or reaction is “shown” to the audience to illustrate how the Actor is moved by the dialogue in the scene.  Action then reaction with no air in between.  As you practice this more and more you will begin to feel the “micro” beats that occur in between the back and forth of the character dialogue and in your own line delivery.

There is a difference in the  trap of the “pause for effect” instead of the  natural “cause and effect” that happens in a real situation. Pausing is outwardly motivated by what you want the camera or audience to see happening to you, showing what want them to see.  In that pause you are self-conscious and in control of what you are doing it is presentational and result oriented Acting giving “them” what you think is correct and they should see.  Cause is allowing what you say or what someone says to you to resonate and impact your character leading to a spontaneous and often unpredictable response.  Allowing this cause to occur can be daunting and intimidating because it is unstable, erratic and a bit dangerous it is internally motivated and evolved, organic Acting.

Pausing will lull the players and audience into a trance.  Although the story will be told it is more about the information that is relayed than the emotional connection and resonance involving the audience.  Cause will keep the other characters on their toes and the audience on the edges of their seats wondering what might happen next.  The story will unfold in a motivated and connected although chaotic manner just as real life plays out in it’s own unpredictable way.  Think about the most memorable performances you have seen and the most memorable experiences you have had in your life and compare the commonalities.

Give a diligent examination of the “cause and effect” rule in your life as an observant Artist and also in your Acting practice.  Once you see it occurring in life and in Art you cannot “unsee” it.  Take a chance in your next class, audition or performance prevent the pause and embrace the cause allow “it” to carry you into that place of unpredictable bliss, chaotic danger and precipitated acceleration.  Leap and the net will appear – John Burroughs and “You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” – Ray Bradbury two inspiring and applicable quotes supporting cause and effect, Acting on the line and being in  the moment.  Enjoy the Journey!!

We all know what we want as Actors … the topsy-turvy goal of creating an alternative reality that we occupy while telling a story that promotes an emotional shift in our audience, in the world.  Truth in imaginary circumstances.  When we are given the opportunity and are able to match the reality to the frequency of our character, the story and the other characters in the project we are working on Magic happens.  We suspend our disbelief and create a world that is so truthful and alive that those who witness it suspend their disbelief as well and take the journey with us.

The goal and the trick for the Actor is two fold.  The first step is putting yourself in a position where the frequency of work is consistent. The secret of this perceived conundrum lies in the definition of work – “activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result”.  What is the purpose or result of the work that you do?  Be careful how you respond, it is a trick question.  If the purpose or result you seek is fame and fortune then you may find that both elude you.  Fame and fortune is actually a by product of excellent work done consistently.  If the reality you seek is fame and fortune then the frequency of work that you do must be such that it matches the reality you desire.  There are many road blocks along the path, both psychological and physical that will show up to keep you from doing the work you need to do to create the reality of your dreams.

The second half of the puzzle is using the frequency of the work to develop the skill set to constantly and consistently improve the work you are capable of executing.  The greater your skill set along with the recognition of that skill set by others the further you will be able to cast your net for opportunities that will serve to enhance and broaden …. your skill set.  Creating that paradigm is the challenging part.  If you are relentless in your pursuit and execution of work for the express purpose of improving your craft and skill set then with each class, each exercise, each project you will get closer to matching the frequency with the reality you desire.  As your skill set develops and improves then the possibilities of the reality you desire will consequently develop and improve as well.  Where YOUR reality ends up is entirely up to the frequency you are willing and able to create in order to achieve it.  Enjoy the journey!!

This GROUP idea and paradigm is the same  method used in a professional paid way with Artists higher up in the food chain.  A feature film is an example of an accountability group.  Every individual involved is responsible to the greater good of achieving a successful outcome.  The idea and story starts out as an individual thought or concept but in order to become a reality on the screen the individual must turn over the execution of the process to hundreds even thousands of people.  We must be willing as Artists to expect and do the very same thing with our careers.  As our capabilities and goals become greater so is the need to enlist and allow others to be an active part of our journey.  Too many Actors and Artistic Entrepreneurs hang on to the premise of “going it alone” or “it’s me against the world” instead of humbly, diligently and consistently seeking help, advice, encouragement and work from others as well as offering the same.  The key is seeking out your best team looking for buddies and artists that you are able to assemble for yourself.  There should be a balance of Mentors and trainees.  Individuals that have strengths you wish to learn and emulate as well as people you can coach and nurture.

This ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP in addition to inspiring me to do more and focus within the group also allows me to more fully examine the other relationships and groups in my life and career.  In being responsible to a Buddy and group on a daily, weekly, monthly basis part of my focus will shift to the other personal and professional groups that I am part of and allow (or force) me to be more responsible to them.  Am I doing everything possible to allow my family, my Agent, my Manager, my Theatre group, my Classes and any other groups I am part of to help me in my journey?  Am I being responsible and contributing the best of what I have to offer them?  Am I finding the balance and joy in the process?  Is my life fueling my career and my career fueling my life?  Seeing the journeys and paths of others in my ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY GROUP as well as the other “unofficial” accountability groups  will allow me to find the balance.  I will be able to ride that thin line of aspiration and dedication to achieving success in this roller coaster career and finding blissful balance in the process.  Enjoy the journey.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

I have referenced my favorite poem of all time IF by Rudyard Kipling before.  It is a poem that speaks to the very essence of our creative journey.  As an Actor, Artistic Entrepreneur or many other career ventures the practical and magical IF comes into play and the THEN shows up sometimes in a very predictable and expected manner but other times taking us by complete surprise.  The predictable result helps shore up our confidence and reenforce the work we are doing as well as the growth we are experiencing as we move closer to our goals.  It is the unpredictable THEN that fuels our creative soul and keeps us in the game.  The surprise may be positive, inspiring and uplifting moving us further and more quickly toward achievement than we thought possible or hoped for.  The surprise may be negative, discouraging and frustrating pushing us back making us question our methods and hopes.  The good news is that no matter the THEN the ultimate result can be positive depending on your perspective, reaction and subsequent action to it.

How do you take the IF … THEN equation and use it in your career?  By stepping up to the plate.  Apologies to those non-Baseball fans out there but the analogy is obvious.  No one EVER got a hit by sitting on the bench in the dug out.  In order to even have the possibility of the IF … THEN paradigm working in your life you must create the idea, circumstances and actions to support it.  Once that happens then you will begin to see a pattern develop and your conscious approach and execution of the IF …THEN exercise will become easier and more rewarding in both the practical and expected outcome as well as the surprise result.  In fact once you are applying this exercise in a conscious way the rejection and nos simply become part of the exercise.

Although you might be consciously putting the IF … THEN exercise into play the synergy and creativity that surrounds it often takes on a life of it’s own leading you into more IF … THEN situations that culminate into the ultimate result you never could have predicted or imagined.  It is interesting to “work backward” with the IF … THEN paradox to see how you arrived at a particular moment in your life and career and see where the choices you made and the actions you took led you to the present.

Try putting the IF …. THEN exercise into your routine.  What will happen IF …..  you call those people you have lost touch with, you take that IMPROV class you have been putting off, you start that blog, you pick up that digital video camera and begin recording yourself, you pull that screenplay you wrote out of the drawer and begin calling Actors up to do a reading, you call your friends who are doing well and ask them to coffee to seek advice, you start working on that monologue that has been haunting you all these years, you send out notes of gratitude to EVERY person who helped your career grow, you find that Mentor and sum up the courage to call them, you start taking that Yoga class, you reach out to that Actor who is struggling and offer help and encouragement, you try that one scarey thing that has been intimidating you?

Each IF has the potential to create change in your career and life but only IF your ACTION pulls the idea out of your head and puts it into play.  Your desire is to create, your desire is to move forward, your desire is to make your dreams a reality in your life. The ONLY way to achieve your desires is IF you act on them THEN the results will appear.