What are you still waiting for?

Hello everyone,

I have been away for a while, focusing on something totally different that i seldom browse the web to even check my mail. Now that i'm back, i hope to engage you with interesting articles about film making.

Today, we are going to talk about actors and acting

These two words go hand in hand. One is in-existent without the other. The performer is both, he projects a believable expression. He is hired. He does his work. He acts. Actors act. Just like my good friend said, "If we be actors, what else can we not be? This is what we do and this is who we are. You ask us to fly, you help us get the wings" . Temple D.G

It rewards to work with passion. Acting is a passionate field. You don't have to want to do it. You just have to do it, no matter how the director will see or take it. You are ready for  that one last correction that will link you to and make you feel the character, become the character and live as such. It takes focus, determination and hard-work to become Leonardo Dicaprio.  Congratulations Leonardo on your Oscar award last night for best actor!.

Ghana and Nigeria have contributed  tremendously in the history of African Cinema, so much that their works gain international recognition and win nobble prizes from international film festivals; but irrespective of their efforts, we can only boast of a mouth-full of actors who knows what acting really means, and this is evident, dominantly in Ghana, where opportunity is given to but a selected few, who may have paid in cash or kind to get the acting gig. It really saddened me when i overheard an actress saying, "acting is my business, that is what i do and i will use my body to get the role, if that's what it will cost me to play with Majid Michel, I already starred in five movies through same way". Why should an actor think like that? How could the love of acting compel one to prostitute before getting a role? Not only for one movie, but with various producers on different locations! Inexperience can lead to desperation. 

If you must act, you need training. 

Think differently. Get an acting lesson today and master the craft of acting. You don't need to be a star, you only have to be an actor. Acting is, in a large part, reacting and listening. A majority of movie acting is relaxation.  If you’re knocking yourself out, you’re doing it wrong. An actor relaxes in front of the camera by concentrating, and knowing that you have no enemies on set, everyone’s on your side and doing their best to make you look your best for the movie. You don't only get consistent acting jobs after acting class, but you also benefit from the business side of the game and most importantly, get the orientation on how not to get laid and get the part to play!

Finally, to you, who is reading this right now, thinking of how to start acting. Stop thinking too much and do something today, anything. Search for a drama club near you, an acting class or film school. Start acting today. Don't let fear shut down your dream. Rise above the above your limitations.

See you in Stardom!

Good Luck!

Start Where You Are!

Are you one of those who dream to relocate or travel overseas before venturing into the world of acting? If yes, then I have a better news for you. Start where you are and start now!

Start acting where you are. That way you are able to build up your resume now. And then when you decide where you want to move, you will have credits on your resume before you get out there - even if it is plays for now - it will give you a nice boost over some of your competition when you move. A friend gave me this advice and it is really working great. You can still be able to work on moving, even when in a play and doing extra work, you can also be to network. My resume had been dead for five years, and now it is looking good again.

Also, I realize the importance of taking up acting classes as well, be it online or anywhere else. It is the duty of a skillful actor to unleash the unknown  and give best performances through her/her dynamic range of articulated knowledge on the complete art of acting. 

This is one aspect of acting you wouldn't want to miss."In the end, the actor lives but once. Right Now. The timeline won't stop, so let each frame reflect the expression of a real character".

Actors don't work for money, they work on the product!

For you to make a consistent living as an actor, you must treat your 'craft' like a business. You are an artist, but when your goal is to get paid to act, then you are deviating from the norms and traditions of acting. Don't get it twisted. Yes, money is  a reward for an actors performance but don't let the love for money, stop you from working on the product (you). You should think of 'yourself' as a business person who is the CEO of your own company. As you progress on your journey, you will meet and possibly may add Agents and Managers to collaborate with as a part of your team. They become your sales force, selling the product (you) to the rest of the industry. The more you refine your product (your skills, look, and experience) and the more you define your "brand," the stronger your product is, and the easier it becomes to sell your services as an artist.


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5 ways to overcome self sabotage (ACTORS)

Do you feel stuck in your career? As much as we’d like to blame our agents or the economy for what is lacking, sometimes it’s best to take a real, honest look at how YOU might be getting in your OWN way.  It’s time to take a good look at self-sabotage and how you can take your power back!  Here are 5 ways actors sabotage themselves, and what you can do about it!

1) DON’T BLAME & COMPLAIN

A lot of actors (hopefully not you?!) love to blame their agents, casting directors, producers, production managers, traffic, and even celebrities for the lack of work/auditions that are coming their way. It’s definitely the easy way out, but it also makes you the victim of your circumstances and makes you feel powerless. In fact, go to any audition in any town, and you’ll probably overhear a few actors on a negative rampage.  The problem is, it perpetuates negativity.  You convince yourself you can’t move forward and then gather more evidence from other actors.  All this blaming and complaining just makes it easy to stay stuck and helpless.

WHAT TO DO?Walk away from any negative energy, and become aware of your own.  Practice not complaining for one week.  One day even!  Practice praise and appreciation of yourself, your career, and even your agents! If you have one, and if you don't, try and get one.

Affirm: I no longer engage in blaming and complaining.  I have the power to change my circumstances and I begin looking for the good, now.  The more I focus on what IS working in my career, the more positive experiences come my way.

2) LET GO OF FEAR

So many performers are plagued with fears.  If you could hear the internal thoughts of actors in the waiting room of an audition or callback, it would probably sound something like this…“ I hope they will like me,”  “I don’t have enough credits,” “I’m too old, (young, tall, short, pretty, ugly) to play this role.” “What if I don’t remember my lines,”  “I really need this job” and any other fearful thought you’d like to insert. This fear-based thought process robs the actor from bringing their best, authentic self into the room.  The funny thing is, F.E.A.R. is really just an acronym for FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.

WHAT TO DO?
Acknowledge that your fears are just lies you’ve been telling yourself to keep you “seemingly” safe.  Know that you are bigger than your fears, especially since they are your ego’s way of controlling you.

Affirm: My fears are merely false evidence appearing real. I release and let go of any fears I have right now. I am here to have fun.  I can let go of needing to please anyone but myself.  I do not have to be perfect or get the lines perfect.  I let go of my need to please and embrace my imperfections as they make me unique.  I deserve to be here.  Who I am right now is enough.

3) END PROCRASTINATION

When you are a self-employed actor, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and not know what to do next or where to begin.  When we lack a clear vision of what we want, it leads to a lack of action, which leads to a lack of results.

WHAT TO DO?
Begin with the end in mind and work your way backwards.  Create one clear goal, and list all the baby steps you can take, and pick one and begin.  Don’t worry about HOW things will unfold, just get busy taking inspired action.

Affirm: As I begin with one small step, it leads to the next one.  I take inspired action and trust my intuition.  I know what to do next.  I will learn as I go.  I release the need to be perfect.  Everything always works out for me.

4) STOP COMPARING

This is actor death!   Focusing on how many auditions your roommate had, how many IMDB.com credits another actor has, how many likes, followers, he/she has on any social network; if it makes you feel frustrated, angry, or depressed.....hmmmm.  In fact, if you can’t be happy for someone else’s success, don’t ask!

WHAT TO DO?Understand that the more jealous and envious you are of another’s career, the more you are actually holding yourself apart from what you want.  When you feel negatively towards another’s success, what you are really feeling is doubt about your own.  When you can begin to be happy for those who are doing work you’d like to do, you are actually telling the Universe that you expect it too.

Affirm: I bless those that have created the success I want.  The more people close to me who are successful, the closer I am to success as well.  I know there is enough for all of us, and the right roles are on their way to me now.

5) DON’T OVERTHINK THE FUTURE

It’s easy to fast forward to how your whole world would change if you just booked this commercial, pilot, film, theatre role, etc.  Whether you are fantasizing about the money, prestige, status, accolades or just the feeling you’d have, it will never help you get the job.  The energy you use to over-think your future always creates a feeling of desperation that you don’t want to bring in any audition room.

WHAT TO DO?
Take the pressure off yourself by being less concerned with the end result and more focused on the present moment.  Find the thoughts and feelings of the character in the scene vs. the runaway thoughts of the actor who wants a job.

Affirm: I focus on being present in this moment.  I let go of needing this job or controlling this audition.  I focus on aligning myself with the thoughts and feelings of the character I’m playing and having fun in the room.

Now that you’ve become more aware of how your thinking might have been sabotaging your best efforts, try some new thoughts and affirmations for the next 30 days, and see what changes occur in your career.  Good luck!