And we’re currently on strike. So what are we going to do—besides rewatching the entire seven seasons of Game Of Thrones? (Well, maybe we’ll skip the last season . . . am I right?)
[Of course if you live in the southern hemisphere winter is not coming, summer is, and we up here in the northern part of the globe are jealous.]
Winter means colder weather, less sunlight, less desire to go outside—unless you are into winter sports. It can also mean a drop in serotonin from lack of sunlight. Leading to lethargy, depression, and stress. As if it isn’t stressful enough just being an actor and on top of that having the world on hold due to the actors/writers’ strike.
So what can we do now to preempt any mid-winter crashes and keep our mental health intact?
Here’s a few ideas.
Take action on things you do have control of:
Training
Working on your craft
Reaching out to other actors to build your community
Shooting your own clips
Watching films
Training
Going to plays
Catching up on TV shows people have raved about
Working on your voice
Getting your self-tape set up ship-shaped
Training
Exercising
Meditating
More training
And even more training
One thing I do love about being an actor is that we can work on our craft no matter what. If we’re cast in something, or if we’re currently just auditioning. Or if we’re not yet ready to audition and just gearing up to it. Even if we’re totally clueless and don’t know where to start. It doesn’t matter what level we are at we can still work on our craft. And the fact is if we do work on our craft, we will start going up a level.
That really is something magical I’ve found about working on your own skills. I tell my students this often: Work begets work. If you want to work as an actor and you currently are not, what you have to do is start working as an actor. Even if it’s just in your living room working on a scene or monologue or drilling memorization or cracking open an acting book or doing the exercises from your acting class. If you start to do that and do it consistently, “real” work will start to come your way.
I promise.
You’ll be more motivated. You’ll feel more skilled and thusly more confident. You’ll just start to seek out auditions and/or representation. Your hunger for acting will grow and your ability to feed that hunger will grow as well.
It’s just how it is. Try it and see.
So this winter if you find yourself feeling like you’re in a hole—don’t pick up the remote and turn on GOT. Instead pick up a script and get to work with it. It’s call self-propulsion. It’s a law of physics. You’re moving yourself forward and that forward motion will continue to move you forward ever increasing your momentum.
You really are in charge of your career. Far more than you know.
Take action. Get into the habit of working your craft. Let your passion for acting be what ignites you.
Kick Winter’s Boutay!
