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What if one of the best things you

could do for your acting career was

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spend less time thinking about your

acting.

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Now before anyone drives off the road,

hear me out,

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because some of the healthiest,

happiest and most successful actors

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I've known had something surprising

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in common.

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Acting wasn't the only thing in their

lives.

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Today we're talking about why becoming

a more interesting human being may

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actually make you a better actor.

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This is casting actors gasting.

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Well, hello everybody, and welcome back

to casting actors cast.

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I'm Jeff driesby.

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Thank you for joining me.

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Now.

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This is part two of our actors reset

series.

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In our previous episode we talked about

letting go of the invisible reward card,

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we discussed why actors often continue

grading themselves long after school is

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over, and why professional growth

requires a different mindset.

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Today we're taking that conversation

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one step further,

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because once actors stop treating

auditions like exams,

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they often encounter another challenge.

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They've made acting

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their entire identity.

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And while that sounds noble and

passionate and artistic,

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it can actually become a serious

obstacle.

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Let's talk about that.

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But first, this is that moment of the

conversation where I simply get to say

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thank you for tuning in to casting

actors cast.

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It's been a pleasure bringing these

podcasts to you.

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If you'd like some more information

about the podcast, or you want to check

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out my new book, I've got a course

that's available.

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Just simply go to casting actor's cast.

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All one word dot com.

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Oh, by the way, there's a form that you

can fill in that says dive into the

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talent pool.

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Just filling out that form we'll open

up a whole bunch of freebies for you.

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One is a free book absolutely free on

doing voice over work.

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The other is a video called casting

secrets, what they don't tell you.

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Finally, I just want to say, as you

check out the website, please consider

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leaving me a thumbs up,

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like

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whatever you can do to show that you

are appreciating the effort that I'm

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putting into these podcasts.

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Especially a review on iTunes, that's

like the holy grail of getting

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good response.

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And I want to grow this podcast.

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I've been doing it for quite some time

now, and you can help me.

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So if you're getting anything out of

these podcasts, please consider showing

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me a little love back.

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That would be

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really, really cool on your part.

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Thank you so much.

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The old actor myth.

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Let's begin with

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one of those famous pieces of acting

advice ever.

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Given, you've probably heard this.

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Maybe a teacher told you this.

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Maybe another actor might have told you

this.

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Maybe you've read this in a book.

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It goes something like this.

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If you can do anything other than

acting,

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do that.

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I had that person, I had that

conversation.

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Or if acting isn't the only thing you

can imagine doing,

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you'll never make it.

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You know what?

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For years, I believed that

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many actors do.

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It sounds romantic and committed and

heroic.

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The struggling artist,

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the torch hood creative soul,

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the actor who sacrifices

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everything for their craft.

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But there's just one problem.

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Real life doesn't work that way.

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And honestly,

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most successful actors I know

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don't live that way either.

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Here's the problem with building your

entire identity on one thing.

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Let's say,

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you're building your entire self worth

on acting.

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So what happens when you don't get an

audition?

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What happens when you don't book?

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What happens during a strike?

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What happens during a slow season?

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What happens when your agent retires?

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What happens when life gets complicated

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if acting is your entire identity.

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Every professional setback feels

personal.

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Every rejection

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feels existential.

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Every quiet period feels like a crisis.

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Because you're not simply losing

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an opportunity,

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you're losing a piece of who you

believe you are.

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Now listen that's a heavy burden for

any career to carry.

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And frankly,

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it's unfair

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not to the career, to you

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the most interesting actors I've known

over the years.

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And I've worked with thousands of

actors, some

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pretty incredibly famous, some just

beginning, some in the middle of their

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long, successful careers.

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And guess what?

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I've noticed something.

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The actors I enjoyed being around most

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usually had lives,

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big lives, interesting lives.

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They traveled, cooked, read, taught,

built businesses, raised families,

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painted, volunteered, played music,

restored, motorcycles,

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learned, languages, collected

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strange

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hobbies.

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One after I knew became obsessed with

bird watching.

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Bird watching,

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I remember thinking, how can somebody

be passionate about birds?

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Then they spent twenty minutes

explaining migratory patterns.

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And suddenly

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I was fascinated,

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not by the birds, by them,

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their curiosity,

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their enthusiasm,

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their engagement with life

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that's what audiences respond to as

well.

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Interesting people are often

interesting actors.

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Now let's talk about why life feeds art.

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And I think this is something worth

remembering.

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Acting is about portraying human

experience.

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How do you portray human experience if

you're not experiencing life?

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Think about it.

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Characters fall in love, lose jobs,

raise children, care for parents.

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Take risks, make mistakes,

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start businesses,

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travel, fail, recover, hope, fear,

dream.

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Live.

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The broader your life experience

becomes,

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the larger your emotional and

imaginative toolbox becomes.

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Now listen.

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I'm not saying you need to climb Mt.

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Everest,

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although if you do, please send a

picture.

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I'm saying that life itself is valuable

preparation.

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Every experience teaches you something

about people,

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and acting is ultimately

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about people.

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You know, I once knew an actor

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who could somehow turn every

conversation

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back to acting.

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Did you know someone like that?

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I see this on occasion, and

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it's so strange because every

conversation, like, for example, I'd

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say, how is your vacation?

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And they'd respond,

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it really deepened my process.

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You'd ask, did you enjoy dinner?

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And they would answer the pasta

reminded me of emotional availability.

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Even the waiter wasn't safe.

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Would you like dessert

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only if it's truthful?

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Eventually start realizing the world is

larger than acting.

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And that's a good thing,

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because acting should enrich your life,

not replace it.

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Let's talk about

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the creative ecosystem.

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Now here's a phrase I want you to

remember

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that is creative ecosystem.

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Your acting career

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should not be a single tree.

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They really shouldn't.

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It should be a forest.

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Acting may be the tallest tree, the

most important tree, the tree you love

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the most.

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But it shouldn't be the only tree

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you see.

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You might also teach,

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write,

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direct,

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create content, steady photography,

coach actors, volunteer,

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start a podcast.

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Trust me, I know someone who did that.

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The point is this,

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when one branch of your creative life

slows down,

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another branch can continue growing.

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That is emotional stability

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that's sustainability that's longevity

and longevity matters.

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Years ago, I watched a talented actor

leave the profession.

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Ah, not because they lack talent, not

because they lacked opportunity opportunities,

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because they lacked balance.

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Every emotional need was being

fulfilled by acting.

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The validation,

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identity

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purpose community, meaning hope.

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When work slowed down, everything

collapsed.

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You know what that story stayed with me?

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Because it taught me something

important.

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A healthy actor needs more than

auditions.

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A healthy actor

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needs a life.

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Now let's talk about something that

gets confused all the time,

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dedication

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versus obsession.

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The acting.

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Profession often celebrates

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obsession.

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We admire the actor who says, I eat,

sleep and breathe acting.

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And

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guess what?

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I responded.

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Really do understand the sentiment?

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Passion is very, very important.

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Commitment is important.

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Hard work is important,

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but obsession is different.

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Obsession says, if this isn't working,

neither am I.

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Dedication says this matters deeply to

me, but it doesn't define my entire worth.

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That's a huge distinction.

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Think about elite athletes.

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The healthiest ones don't spend 24

hours a day thinking about their sport.

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They train intensely,

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then they recover.

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They have families, interests, friends,

other experiences.

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Why?

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Because human beings need balance.

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Actors are no different.

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The irony is that actors who develop

healthy balance often becomes more

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creative, more available and more

resilient.

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They're bringing fresh experiences into

their work, instead of endlessly

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recycling the same old thoughts.

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We're going to talk about the

professional actor's secret

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right after this.

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Ok, welcome back.

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And the professional actor secret is

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00:12:02,22 --> 00:12:04,324

really, I think of value here because

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here's something that I observed over

the years as a casting director.

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Many actors believe, successful actors,

think about acting all day.

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Most don't

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00:12:16,102 --> 00:12:17,103

when they're working.

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They're working.

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When they're not working,

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they're living.

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Now I know that sounds simple, but it

may be one of the most valuable lessons

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you'll ever learn.

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Because many struggling actors spend

enormous amounts of energy worrying

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about acting

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instead of actually living.

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And worrying isn't preparation,

anxiety, isn't effort, obsessing, isn't productivity.

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Thinking about acting for six hours is

not the same thing as

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improving as an actor.

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In fact, some of the best breakthroughs

occur when you step away from the work

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for a while.

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That's true, you stop.

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You go for a walk, take a trip, read a

book, learn something new, and suddenly

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a character problem

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solves itself.

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Now, why does that happen?

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Well, it's because your brain

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finally had room to breathe.

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So here's a real world example.

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Listen years ago, I worked with an

actor who is extraordinarily talented.

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Every class, every audition, every

workshop, every conversation,

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00:13:28,341 --> 00:13:28,508

acting.

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Acting.

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Acting.

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If you asked about their weekend, they

talked about acting.

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If you asked about their hobbies, they

talked about acting.

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If you asked about relationships,

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they talked about acting.

269

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Eventually someone asked,

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so what do you do for fun?

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And after a long pause, the actor

answered,

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I prepare.

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Now that's dedication, but it's also a

warning sign, because eventually that

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actor became exhausted,

275

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burnt out disconnected.

276

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The career wasn't the problem.

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The lack of balance was,

278

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compare that to another actor?

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I know wonderful performer works

constantly,

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but also hikes and travels and

volunteers and plays.

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The guitar love's history studies

architecture.

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Every time you speak with them.

283

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They've discovered something new.

284

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And guess what?

285

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That curiosity

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shows up in their work.

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They're fascinating because they're

fascinated.

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That's a lesson worth remembering.

289

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Now let's move into what I call the

five thing exercise.

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And we'll make this practical.

291

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I want you to take out a sheet of paper,

292

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seriously

293

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pause the podcast if you need to,

please pull the car over if you're driving.

294

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Now, at the top of the piece of paper.

295

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I want you to write,

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who am I

297

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besides an actor?

298

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Now list five answers.

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Yeah, five.

300

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Not one.

301

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Not 25.

302

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Maybe you're a parent, a teacher, a

traveller, a runner, a photographer,

303

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a reader, a volunteer,

304

00:15:19,719 --> 00:15:20,653

a gamer,

305

00:15:21,121 --> 00:15:21,588

cook,

306

00:15:22,88 --> 00:15:23,189

musician,

307

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history, buff, dog, lover.

308

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Whatever is true for you.

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Here's the challenge.

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If you struggle to 55 answers,

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that's

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valuable information.

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It's not criticism.

314

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It's information

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00:15:38,38 --> 00:15:42,509

because it may indicate you've been

placing too much pressure on one part

316

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of your life to fulfill every need.

317

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The goal isn't to love acting less.

318

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The goal is to love life more.

319

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And trust me,

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your acting will benefit.

321

00:15:55,855 --> 00:15:59,192

Now, this entire series is called the

actor reset for a reason.

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We're not trying to throw away your

training.

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We're not trying to abandon ambition.

324

00:16:04,597 --> 00:16:06,399

We're not trying to lower standards.

325

00:16:07,67 --> 00:16:10,403

We're trying to create healthier

foundations.

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Episode one, we stop stopped grading

ourselves to day.

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We're expanding our identity

328

00:16:16,343 --> 00:16:20,13

because a stronger career starts with a

stronger person,

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not the other way around

330

00:16:22,916 --> 00:16:23,83

this.

331

00:16:23,149 --> 00:16:27,687

And I've met actors who were desperate

for a career to make them happy.

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00:16:29,289 --> 00:16:32,625

I could honestly say that I was one of

those actors.

333

00:16:33,793 --> 00:16:38,998

I also met actors who built happy,

meaningful lives and brought that

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energy into their careers.

335

00:16:42,435 --> 00:16:45,5

The second group tends to last longer.

336

00:16:45,638 --> 00:16:48,174

They tend to enjoy the process more.

337

00:16:48,742 --> 00:16:53,279

And perhaps most importantly, they tend

to remain human

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underestimate, the value of that.

339

00:16:59,386 --> 00:17:01,87

So here's a little humor before we go.

340

00:17:01,154 --> 00:17:02,822

Imagine introducing yourself at a

party.

341

00:17:02,989 --> 00:17:05,291

And someone asks, oh, tell me about

yourself.

342

00:17:05,859 --> 00:17:09,996

And you respond, well, I had a call

back in 201920

343

00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:12,999

minutes later.

344

00:17:14,34 --> 00:17:15,168

And then my agent suggested.

345

00:17:15,535 --> 00:17:16,970

I update my head shot.

346

00:17:18,171 --> 00:17:22,876

Meanwhile, the person you're talking to

has quietly left and joined another conversation.

347

00:17:23,343 --> 00:17:24,10

Please

348

00:17:24,911 --> 00:17:27,213

do yourself a favor don't be that actor.

349

00:17:28,348 --> 00:17:30,83

Become interested in the world.

350

00:17:30,650 --> 00:17:34,554

Become interested in people, become

interested in ideas.

351

00:17:35,555 --> 00:17:36,656

Acting is

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00:17:37,390 --> 00:17:39,192

a wonderful profession,

353

00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:42,228

but it is not the entire universe.

354

00:17:43,463 --> 00:17:45,432

Well, at least I don't think it is.

355

00:17:45,799 --> 00:17:47,701

Although some actors are still

conducting research.

356

00:17:49,769 --> 00:17:50,503

So here's a challenge.

357

00:17:50,904 --> 00:17:55,308

I want you to do one thing this week

that is absolutely nothing to do with

358

00:17:55,475 --> 00:17:55,642

acting.

359

00:17:55,942 --> 00:17:58,11

Nothing, no auditions, no classes,

360

00:17:59,145 --> 00:18:03,49

no self tapes, no industry networking,

no career strategy.

361

00:18:04,184 --> 00:18:04,818

Just one activity

362

00:18:05,952 --> 00:18:07,854

that genuinely interests you

363

00:18:08,888 --> 00:18:10,223

ok read a book,

364

00:18:10,590 --> 00:18:13,927

visit a museum, take a walk somewhere,

new,

365

00:18:14,494 --> 00:18:17,931

learn something, explore something,

become curious again,

366

00:18:18,732 --> 00:18:23,336

and then pay attention to how it

affects your creativity.

367

00:18:24,738 --> 00:18:26,406

I think you might be surprised

368

00:18:27,674 --> 00:18:28,308

truly,

369

00:18:29,209 --> 00:18:32,812

as we finish today's episode, I want to

leave you with a thought.

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00:18:33,947 --> 00:18:35,849

Acting is something you do.

371

00:18:36,750 --> 00:18:38,385

It is not everything you are,

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00:18:39,786 --> 00:18:39,953

ok?

373

00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:41,221

Please, somebody write that down.

374

00:18:41,321 --> 00:18:42,255

That was really good.

375

00:18:43,223 --> 00:18:45,58

Acting is something you do.

376

00:18:45,558 --> 00:18:46,760

It is not everything

377

00:18:47,794 --> 00:18:48,328

you are.

378

00:18:49,929 --> 00:18:52,32

You are bigger than your auditions.

379

00:18:52,432 --> 00:18:54,100

You are bigger than your resume.

380

00:18:54,668 --> 00:18:56,636

You are bigger than your bookings.

381

00:18:57,70 --> 00:18:58,405

And you are certainly

382

00:18:58,905 --> 00:19:00,640

bigger than your rejections.

383

00:19:01,641 --> 00:19:03,843

The richer your life becomes,

384

00:19:04,678 --> 00:19:06,713

the richer your work becomes,

385

00:19:07,213 --> 00:19:09,282

the more curious you become,

386

00:19:09,783 --> 00:19:12,485

the more interesting your performances

become.

387

00:19:13,53 --> 00:19:15,689

And the more fully human you become,

388

00:19:16,189 --> 00:19:17,791

and the more fully human you become,

389

00:19:18,825 --> 00:19:22,395

the more deeply audiences connect with

what you do.

390

00:19:23,930 --> 00:19:25,432

That's the new paradigm.

391

00:19:26,199 --> 00:19:28,802

Not less commitment, not less ambition,

392

00:19:29,369 --> 00:19:32,639

more life, more experience, more

humanity.

393

00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:37,110

Because great actors don't simply

perform life,

394

00:19:37,610 --> 00:19:38,244

they live it.

395

00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,683

Next time in part three of actors reset

series.

396

00:19:44,751 --> 00:19:46,720

Memorization isn't the job

397

00:19:47,220 --> 00:19:48,154

until it is.

398

00:19:48,488 --> 00:19:51,791

We're going to tackle one of the

biggest changes in my own thinking

399

00:19:52,25 --> 00:19:56,262

about auditions and why knowing your

material deeply can be more important

400

00:19:56,663 --> 00:19:57,263

than ever.

401

00:19:58,331 --> 00:19:59,199

Until then.

402

00:19:59,799 --> 00:20:00,800

Go live a little.

403

00:20:01,468 --> 00:20:02,435

I'll see you next time.

404

00:20:02,435 --> 00:20:05,271

I'm just rise back and this has been

casting actors,

405

00:20:05,438 --> 00:20:05,772

gast