Trophies & Certainties
Within the cyclical nature of the four seasons, there lies a glamorous fifth between the months of November and February: award season.
From the Oscars to the Golden Globes, aspiring artists everywhere watch and worship these events of highest recognition – and the red carpet looks. As we watch, we can find ourselves rooting for our favorite movies, television shows, directors, writers, and actors. When our favorites win, it is as if we win with them. When our favorites lose, we may get disappointed, but they’re still our favorites. If we still respect and appreciate other artists’ work despite its “loss,” why do we sometimes struggle to grant ourselves that same grace?
As we grow into this industry, and strive for success, there will certainly be times where we aren’t chosen or we don’t win – a decision that is often out of our eager hands. That said, how can we redefine winning into a verb that benefits us perpetually, rather than only occurring during a fifth season on someone else’s terms?
When the term “winning” is associated with “an award,” we commonly visualize a physical trophy – an Oscar, a plaque, or a ribbon. However, a trophy cannot be carried around, clutched up, and balled in a fist any longer than it takes you to get from the stage you won it on to your chair next to Meryl Streep. Though awards gifted from other people make us feel chosen, in this work, we must choose ourselves above all, then we really win. That’s a prize we can carry everywhere we go.
For myself, I’ve tried to redefine winning by completing tasks that help me develop my creativity, while participating in self-care. When we engage in our craft in a safe environment, on our own terms, we can remind ourselves of what inspired us to create in the first place. This reminder, along with developing our skills, has the potential to create a more sustainable, enjoyable mindset – rather than one that burns out before we can reach our highest capabilities.
If your an actor looking for some accessible ways to “win,” here are a few fun ideas to help you towards your goal and choose yourself;
Build Your Own Actor Website: Turn on your favorite music, grab a snack, and build your own website using this template! By designing a tool that will help your career will allow you to make connections – and possibly allow you to feel more confident in your work! Add your resume, reels (if you have them), headshots, and you’re all set!
Online Acting Classes, Seminars, and Other Resources: The Acting Guide is a fantastic, and free, resource to get more information on the acting process, some acting methods and techniques, schools, seminars, and monologues. You got this!
Research Some Monologues: Get ready to say “oh that’s SO me” while researching the monologue that could land you your dream job. It’s always good to have a few monologues ready to go – you never know who you might meet!
Watch Actors Interviews: Every actor has their own process, story, and message – find a few that inspire you! *May I suggest looking at Spotlight’s Interviews ;)
Familiarize Yourself With Editing Software: There’s nothing better than being able to edit your own reels. My favorite programs are; Premiere Pro, iMovie, and Final Cut.
If your a filmmaker looking for some accessible ways to “win”, here are a few fun ideas to help you towards your goal and choose yourself;
Filmmaker IQ: Have you ever been curious about film and cinematic history? Look no further! Filmmaker IQ offers courses to learn the ins and outs of filmmaking.
Lessons From The Screenplay: This AMAZING YouTube channel provides tips, tutorials, deep-dives and general insight on filmmaking. *As an actor, I also find these extremely useful.
Familiarize Yourself With Editing Software: There’s NOTHING better than being able to edit your own film projects. My favorite programs are; Premiere Pro, iMovie, and Final Cut.
Trophies are not always certain in this industry. However, what is certain – and necessary, is showing up for ourselves. The first person to experience your art is you.
Make it count.