When you set out to be an actor, the first thing they tell you is

Get used to "no."

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"No" what?

No. You can't be in my movie ?

No. You can't train here. ?

No. I won't be your agent ? 

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All of the above

and more.

 

When you call yourself an actor,

and ask people to let you into

their casts,

their ensembles,

and their rolodexes,

the answer will

(9 times out of 10)

be "no."

​

I had a lot of people tell me

to get used to "no."

but no one told me

how to get to "yes."

​

When I asked how, the answers were all over the place.

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"Be the perfect product. When they want you, they will pick you off the shelf, and put you in their work."

 

"Don't focus on the no's, focus on the yes'. When you get a yes, you know you're doing something right."

 

and so on.

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These answers couldn't be more wrong

.

The first is fine for artistic integrity, but does not help if you're trying to pay your bills as an actor.

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The second assumes the factors in booking are the same ones you're accounting for in your preparation, which is rarely the case.

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The truth is: this is a business. If you want to be hired, do good work.

Prove to investors that you are worth their money. 

Prove you are reliable.

Prove you are a good businessman.

Prove that you are the best use of their time.

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Through my work in production and acting, I have learned what is expected of an actor, and what makes one worth their weight. 

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