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What if I told you one of the biggest

obstacles in your acting career isn't

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your talent,

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isn't your training,

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isn't your agent,

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and isn't even your auditions,

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what if the thing holding you back is a

grading system that doesn't exist anymore?

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Today, we're talking about something I

see every week,

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actors who graduated years ago,

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sometimes decades ago, but are still

living like they're waiting for someone

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to hand them a report card.

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And that mindset may be costing them

more opportunities

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than they realize.

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Let's talk about it.

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This is casting actors cast.

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Well, hello, and welcome back to

casting actor's cast.

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I'm Jeff driesbach.

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Thank you for joining me.

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Whether you're listening while driving

to work, or walking the dog,

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doing laundry

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or avoiding, memorizing your audition

sides,

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which ironically will discuss in the

future.

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Episode, I am so glad that you're here

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today begins a special five part series

I'm calling the actor reset series.

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And over the next several episodes,

we're going to challenge some assumption,

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some assumptions, that actors actually

a carry around that may no longer serve them.

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And we're going to talk about the

following

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how you think about yourself,

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how you prepare,

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how you perform,

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how you present yourself professionally,

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and how you can build a healthier, more

productive, acting career.

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This first episode may be the

foundation for all the others.

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Because before we can change behavior,

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we need to change mindset.

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And one of the biggest mindset traps

actors fall into is believing they're

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still being evaluated.

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They work the same way they were in

school.

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Now, before anybody emails me, I am not

anti training,

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far from it.

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I've spent years teaching actors.

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I love training.

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I believe in training training matters.

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But there comes a point where the habit

that helps you succeed in school can

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actually start hurting you

professionally.

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We're going to talk about why.

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But first, this is that moment of the

podcast where I simply get to say thank

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you for tuning into casting actor's

cast.

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It's been a joy and a pleasure bringing

these podcasts to you every week.

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Every Thursday at one p m, I drop a new

episode.

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So the fact that you're joining this

first in a five part series makes me so

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so happy.

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Also, just to throw this out there, if

you're interested in just getting some

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more information about me and or the

podcast simply go to casting actor's

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caste all one word dotcom.

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There you're going to find a bunch of

new information.

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I've upgraded the website just a little

bit.

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Also.

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There is a form there that you can fill

out, call dive into the talent pool.

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Get it

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anyway.

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Just fill out that form, giving me your

name and your email address.

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That's going to open up some absolute

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free material for you.

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When is a book I'm doing voice over

work.

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And the other is a video called casting

secrets.

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What they don't tell you,

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but also you're going to see my courses

available.

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I've got a new book that's been

released, which I'm really proud of and

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happy that it's doing quite well.

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And there's all kinds of other stuff in

there that you can certainly check out,

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including the YouTube channel.

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So if you do like what you hear, I

would love lovelova.

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A thumbs upscribe.

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I don't know.

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I guess I'm trying to think of all of

the things that are available for you

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to do.

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But most importantly, as if you could

leave

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a review,

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especially in iTunes, cause that's sort

of, I've mentioned this many times

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before, that sort of the holy grail of

reviews.

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Please consider doing that it means a

lot to me.

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Um, I am not selling you anything.

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I'm just making my information

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as a casting director of over sixteen

years available to you so that you can

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be more comfortable and more confident.

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And so the only thing I ask in return

is that you give me a little bit of consideration.

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Just knowing that you're out there is

what motivates me to keep on presenting

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these podcasts to you.

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All right, thank you.

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That's enough of that.

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And here's my shadow to my good friends

at actor's connection.

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Actor's connection, todcomslash, New

York.

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And once again, being hosted on the

Broadway podcast network is a privilege

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and an honor.

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And I'm really happy to have that

association.

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All right, let's move on.

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We're going to talk about what I call

the invisible

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report card.

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Ok?

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Imagine this.

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You finish an audition.

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You get into your car, you close the

door, take a deep breath, and then

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immediately

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you begin grating yourself.

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Anybody ever do that?

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Of course you do.

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Actors are Olympic level self

evaluators.

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Believe me.

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You replay

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every moment,

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the slate, the first line, that weird

thing you did with your hand, the

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moment you looked down the call back

adjustment, the good by

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the walk to the elevator.

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The elevator itself sometimes

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seems to me that actors analyzed the

elevator ride longer than the audition.

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You start assigning grades.

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Oh, I don't know.

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My slate was a b.

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My first page was an amionus.

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Page two got a little shaggy.

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That's probably a c minus

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plus.

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And then

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I forgot that one word

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career over.

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Pack it up.

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Become a bookkeeper.

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I don't know why bookkeeping is always

my backup career, but it's sometimes peaceful.

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The point is,

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many actors walk around carrying an

invisible

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report card,

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and they don't even realize it.

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Every audition seems to become a test.

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Every call back becomes a final exam.

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Every booking becomes proof of worth.

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Every rejection becomes proof of

failure.

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You know what?

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That's an exhausting way to live,

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and here's the problem.

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The problem is the professional world

doesn't work that way.

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There is no acting gpa,

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no Dean of auditions,

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no semester rankings, no honor role for

self tapes, no academic probation for

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forgetting a line.

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The grading system ended.

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But many actors never got that memo,

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so where do you think this mindset

comes from?

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Now listen, to be fair, this isn't your

fault.

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Most of us were trained this way.

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Now think about your educational

experience.

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Especially

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in your

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bfa or MFA or conservatory training,

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you perform a scene.

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Teacher evaluates,

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you do a monologue.

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Teacher evaluates

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you complete a semester.

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The teacher evaluates

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you get a grade,

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a score, a ranking feedback

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approval,

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disapproval.

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For years, your brain learns a simple

equation,

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performance equals evaluation,

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evaluation equals worth.

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The better the evaluation,

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the more successful you feel.

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Now that system makes sense in school,

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Schools need a way to measure progress.

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But once you enter the professional

world,

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everything changes.

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Suddenly nobody is giving grades.

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You're getting information instead.

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And let me tell you, those are not the

same thing.

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An audition isn't a test.

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It's a conversation,

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a call back isn't an exam

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it's a collaboration.

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A booking isn't proof you're talented.

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A rejection isn't proof you're

untalented

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it's simply information.

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But actors often keep treating every

experience like they're trying to pass

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acting one on one.

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And that's where the trouble begins.

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So let me give you a

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real life

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casting room observation.

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Over the years, I seen actors walk into

auditions with extraordinary training,

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brilliant Schools,

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impressive resumes,

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fantastic technique.

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And

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they were terrified.

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Well,

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not because they lacked ability,

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but because they were trying to get an

address.

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Everything about their audition felt

cautious,

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safe,

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protected,

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calculated.

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They wanted to be

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correct.

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Then another actor would walk in

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less training, fewer credits,

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less experience.

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And guess what?

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That actor completely owns the room.

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Why?

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Because they weren't trying to be right.

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They were trying to be alive.

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They were present,

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engaged,

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available, human.

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And very often those actors booked, not

because they were perfect,

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because they were watchable.

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That's a very different goal.

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So let me just share with you what

casting actually sees.

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Let's continue this by talking about

something actors often misunderstand.

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What exactly are casting directors

evaluating?

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Notice, I didn't say grating,

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evaluating and grading are not the same

thing.

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A grade implies a score.

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An evaluation is simply an observation.

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When I'm watching auditions, I'm

usually not sitting there thinking that

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actor was an Amis.

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I'm thinking

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interesting.

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Believable.

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Compelling.

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Too young, too old.

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Wrong energy.

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Oh, exactly the right energy.

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Wonderful actor.

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Wrong role.

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Wonderful actor.

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Keep them in mind.

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Most casting.

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Decisive decisions are not about

quality.

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They're about fit.

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And that distinction

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changes everything.

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Now I want you to imagine buying shoes.

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You walk into a store and you find a

beautiful pair of shoes, excellent craftsmanship,

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wonderful design,

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but they're three sizes too small.

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Do you conclude

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that the shoes are bad?

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Of course not.

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They're simply not the right fit.

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Yet.

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Actors routinely leave auditions

believing

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I didn't book it, therefore I wasn't

good.

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Nona, no,

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you may have been excellent.

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You simply weren't the right fit for

that particular role.

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On that particular day,

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professional actors really understand

this.

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Student thinking actors often don't.

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One of the healthiest shifts you can

make is understanding that many

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auditions are not judgments.

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They're sorting processes.

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We're looking for alignment,

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not perfection.

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Now let's talk about another dangerous,

school habit

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competition.

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Gosh.

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You guys.

269

00:13:04,17 --> 00:13:08,121

I can tell you how many times I've

heard actors come up or say to me in conversation,

270

00:13:09,155 --> 00:13:11,191

I wonder who I'm competing against,

271

00:13:11,524 --> 00:13:12,158

or

272

00:13:12,759 --> 00:13:14,561

I need to beat the other actors?

273

00:13:16,496 --> 00:13:18,398

No, no, no, you don't.

274

00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:21,267

Because acting isn't a race,

275

00:13:22,335 --> 00:13:24,971

and auditions aren't sporting events.

276

00:13:25,705 --> 00:13:27,374

There isn't a score board.

277

00:13:27,941 --> 00:13:30,510

You are not competing against the other

actors.

278

00:13:30,810 --> 00:13:32,579

You're solving a casting problem.

279

00:13:32,912 --> 00:13:34,80

That's a big difference,

280

00:13:34,347 --> 00:13:35,515

and here's what I mean.

281

00:13:36,416 --> 00:13:39,52

Let's say we're casting a detective,

282

00:13:39,519 --> 00:13:40,320

ok?

283

00:13:40,587 --> 00:13:44,758

One actor walks in and immediately

feels like someone who's spent twenty

284

00:13:44,991 --> 00:13:46,726

years solving crimes.

285

00:13:48,94 --> 00:13:50,63

Another actor walks in and feels like

286

00:13:50,597 --> 00:13:52,165

a charming, young lawyer.

287

00:13:53,533 --> 00:13:55,368

Now both may be terrific,

288

00:13:56,36 --> 00:13:58,405

but they're solving different problems.

289

00:13:59,239 --> 00:14:02,709

One happens to solve the problem we're

casting today.

290

00:14:03,877 --> 00:14:07,347

The other may solve a different problem

next week.

291

00:14:08,982 --> 00:14:11,51

The actor who understands this

292

00:14:11,384 --> 00:14:14,554

stops worrying about everyone else in

the waiting room.

293

00:14:15,622 --> 00:14:18,391

Because the truth is, you can't control

them.

294

00:14:18,825 --> 00:14:21,461

You can't control who gets called back.

295

00:14:21,861 --> 00:14:23,363

You can't control

296

00:14:23,930 --> 00:14:25,265

so many factors.

297

00:14:26,599 --> 00:14:28,468

You can't control who books.

298

00:14:28,835 --> 00:14:32,305

You can't control who has a cousin

producing the project.

299

00:14:33,540 --> 00:14:36,943

You can't control who resembles the

director's favorite actor.

300

00:14:38,411 --> 00:14:39,846

What can you control?

301

00:14:40,814 --> 00:14:41,748

Preparation

302

00:14:42,816 --> 00:14:44,451

choices, professionalism

303

00:14:44,951 --> 00:14:45,585

presents.

304

00:14:47,153 --> 00:14:48,355

And that is absolutely

305

00:14:49,789 --> 00:14:50,223

enough.

306

00:14:52,592 --> 00:14:53,393

Now years ago.

307

00:14:53,460 --> 00:14:56,363

I imagine what an actor's audition gpa

might look like.

308

00:14:56,429 --> 00:14:57,163

Let me see 3.7

309

00:14:57,797 --> 00:14:58,665

in procedural television.

310

00:14:59,399 --> 00:15:00,900

Strong work and dramatic reaction.

311

00:15:01,468 --> 00:15:01,634

Shots.

312

00:15:02,435 --> 00:15:04,337

Needs improvement in commercial

sleeting.

313

00:15:04,904 --> 00:15:06,439

Excellent attendance in anxiety.

314

00:15:07,140 --> 00:15:08,742

Outstanding achievement in overthinking

315

00:15:10,10 --> 00:15:10,677

dean's list.

316

00:15:10,977 --> 00:15:11,711

In self doubt.

317

00:15:12,112 --> 00:15:14,47

Magna cum laude in checking.

318

00:15:14,414 --> 00:15:14,848

I mdv.

319

00:15:15,382 --> 00:15:16,316

After callbacks.

320

00:15:17,384 --> 00:15:18,18

I know I'm joking,

321

00:15:19,52 --> 00:15:20,153

but not by much.

322

00:15:21,54 --> 00:15:26,726

Actors often create an imaginary

scorecard for things nobody else is measuring.

323

00:15:27,794 --> 00:15:32,632

One actor leaves an audition and thinks

I was only 82 per cent truthful to day.

324

00:15:33,700 --> 00:15:34,901

82 per cent.

325

00:15:35,68 --> 00:15:36,970

Where did that number come from?

326

00:15:37,637 --> 00:15:38,505

Did you bring a calculator?

327

00:15:39,773 --> 00:15:43,777

Did you measure your emotional

availability with laboratory equipment?

328

00:15:45,378 --> 00:15:50,83

The truth is, many actors are inventing

standards that simply don't exist,

329

00:15:50,817 --> 00:15:53,286

and then feel bad for not meeting them.

330

00:15:55,288 --> 00:15:57,757

That's a rough way to spend a career.

331

00:15:58,591 --> 00:16:00,326

We're going to talk about why

332

00:16:00,593 --> 00:16:02,95

some a students

333

00:16:02,429 --> 00:16:04,164

struggle professionally,

334

00:16:05,298 --> 00:16:06,399

right after this.

335

00:16:08,568 --> 00:16:09,436

Welcome back.

336

00:16:10,103 --> 00:16:13,740

Here's why some a students started

struggle professionally.

337

00:16:14,507 --> 00:16:17,610

So we're going to tackle kind of a

difficult subject.

338

00:16:17,944 --> 00:16:20,180

Some of the strongest students I've

ever encountered.

339

00:16:21,314 --> 00:16:22,882

Struggled professionally

340

00:16:24,117 --> 00:16:24,784

that's true,

341

00:16:25,452 --> 00:16:26,86

not all,

342

00:16:26,820 --> 00:16:27,520

but some.

343

00:16:28,655 --> 00:16:29,456

Why?

344

00:16:30,423 --> 00:16:35,195

Because success in training and success

in the profession require different skills.

345

00:16:36,830 --> 00:16:39,999

In school, you've rewarded for analysis,

346

00:16:41,234 --> 00:16:43,837

and the profession is rewarded for

execution.

347

00:16:44,571 --> 00:16:47,207

In school, you are rewarded for insight

348

00:16:48,274 --> 00:16:51,845

in the profession, you are rewarded for

behavior

349

00:16:52,979 --> 00:16:53,380

in school.

350

00:16:53,713 --> 00:16:56,182

You have months to prepare in the

profession.

351

00:16:56,983 --> 00:16:58,885

You may have 24 hours

352

00:16:59,619 --> 00:17:00,153

or less

353

00:17:02,188 --> 00:17:02,589

in school.

354

00:17:02,756 --> 00:17:04,24

You are evaluated by instructors

355

00:17:05,225 --> 00:17:07,827

in the profession, you are evaluated

356

00:17:08,261 --> 00:17:09,429

by the market place,

357

00:17:10,430 --> 00:17:11,831

completely different systems.

358

00:17:13,66 --> 00:17:17,103

I've known actors who could discuss

chatkoff for three hours,

359

00:17:17,771 --> 00:17:23,209

analyze every beat, break down every

objective, identify every emotional transition,

360

00:17:24,344 --> 00:17:27,681

then completely freeze during an

audition.

361

00:17:28,515 --> 00:17:28,682

Why?

362

00:17:29,449 --> 00:17:32,786

Because they were still trying to get

the answer right.

363

00:17:34,20 --> 00:17:37,123

Professional acting is not about

getting the answer right.

364

00:17:37,857 --> 00:17:38,658

I promise you.

365

00:17:39,159 --> 00:17:41,761

It's about committing fully to a choice.

366

00:17:43,396 --> 00:17:48,802

That's why you'll sometimes see actors

with less formal training, book, more work.

367

00:17:49,769 --> 00:17:51,504

They're not necessarily better.

368

00:17:52,272 --> 00:17:54,874

They're often more willing to play,

369

00:17:55,775 --> 00:17:59,512

more willing to risk, more willing to

fail.

370

00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,983

And ironically, that freedom often

makes them more watchable.

371

00:18:05,785 --> 00:18:08,421

Now let's talk about the actor who

stopped chasing approval.

372

00:18:09,689 --> 00:18:14,227

I can remember working with an actor

years ago who constantly asked,

373

00:18:14,761 --> 00:18:15,695

was that ok?

374

00:18:17,230 --> 00:18:22,869

Every audition, every workshop, every

call back, every performance, was that ok?

375

00:18:24,37 --> 00:18:25,105

Eventually I asked,

376

00:18:26,439 --> 00:18:28,475

what answer are you hoping for?

377

00:18:29,943 --> 00:18:35,215

And after a long pause, the actor said,

I guess I want to know I'm doing it right

378

00:18:37,617 --> 00:18:38,251

there it was,

379

00:18:39,319 --> 00:18:40,487

the hidden motivation,

380

00:18:41,621 --> 00:18:41,921

approval

381

00:18:43,56 --> 00:18:44,791

validation, permission,

382

00:18:45,225 --> 00:18:49,929

like many actors, they're still waiting

for someone to tell them they belonged.

383

00:18:50,897 --> 00:18:51,698

But here's the truth.

384

00:18:52,499 --> 00:18:53,800

Nobody can give you permanent

385

00:18:54,901 --> 00:18:55,669

permission,

386

00:18:56,970 --> 00:18:57,604

right?

387

00:18:58,104 --> 00:19:00,640

Because even if someone tells you today,

388

00:19:01,241 --> 00:19:02,575

you'll need someone else

389

00:19:02,909 --> 00:19:04,10

to tell you tomorrow.

390

00:19:04,978 --> 00:19:06,79

And the day after that,

391

00:19:07,614 --> 00:19:09,749

confidence built on approval

392

00:19:10,350 --> 00:19:12,318

is incredibly fragile.

393

00:19:13,386 --> 00:19:13,553

Ok?

394

00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:14,688

Somebody write that down?

395

00:19:14,988 --> 00:19:15,989

That was really good.

396

00:19:17,624 --> 00:19:20,160

Confidence built on preparation

397

00:19:20,894 --> 00:19:22,95

is much stronger.

398

00:19:22,896 --> 00:19:24,964

Confidence built on experience

399

00:19:25,932 --> 00:19:26,433

is stronger.

400

00:19:26,900 --> 00:19:28,335

Confidence built on curiosity

401

00:19:29,636 --> 00:19:30,704

is stronger.

402

00:19:31,538 --> 00:19:36,476

The actors who last the longest

eventually stop asking,

403

00:19:36,810 --> 00:19:37,644

am I good enough?

404

00:19:37,877 --> 00:19:39,512

And then they start asking,

405

00:19:40,113 --> 00:19:41,448

what am I discovering?

406

00:19:42,716 --> 00:19:43,216

That

407

00:19:43,850 --> 00:19:45,752

is a professional mind set,

408

00:19:46,586 --> 00:19:47,987

not a student mindset.

409

00:19:50,490 --> 00:19:50,657

Ok?

410

00:19:51,157 --> 00:19:52,492

Let's make this practical,

411

00:19:53,460 --> 00:19:57,130

because if you've listened to this

podcast for any length of time,

412

00:19:58,98 --> 00:20:02,68

you know, I don't want these episodes

to become motivational posters.

413

00:20:02,736 --> 00:20:04,304

I want them to be useful.

414

00:20:04,738 --> 00:20:06,106

I want you to finish an episode

415

00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:07,440

and actually

416

00:20:08,408 --> 00:20:09,609

do something with it.

417

00:20:11,211 --> 00:20:11,378

Ok?

418

00:20:11,945 --> 00:20:12,979

So here's your actor.

419

00:20:13,146 --> 00:20:14,514

Reset, exercise it.

420

00:20:14,581 --> 00:20:15,882

For the next seven days.

421

00:20:16,416 --> 00:20:20,787

I want you to eliminate one question

from your vocabulary,

422

00:20:21,788 --> 00:20:22,389

just one.

423

00:20:23,957 --> 00:20:25,125

The question is,

424

00:20:25,959 --> 00:20:26,893

how did I do?

425

00:20:28,428 --> 00:20:32,465

Now before anyone panics, I'm not

saying, stop evaluating yourself.

426

00:20:32,899 --> 00:20:35,368

I'm saying, stop judging

427

00:20:35,535 --> 00:20:36,169

yourself.

428

00:20:37,237 --> 00:20:39,205

Those are very different activities.

429

00:20:39,939 --> 00:20:42,242

Instead of asking, how did I do?

430

00:20:42,909 --> 00:20:45,278

Replace it with three questions,

question one,

431

00:20:46,12 --> 00:20:46,546

what worked?

432

00:20:48,114 --> 00:20:50,884

Question two, what surprised me?

433

00:20:51,851 --> 00:20:52,786

Question three,

434

00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:56,489

what will I try next time?

435

00:20:58,358 --> 00:20:59,25

That's it?

436

00:20:59,626 --> 00:21:05,131

No grades, no ranking, no emotional

punishment, no audition, report card,

437

00:21:05,799 --> 00:21:07,33

just information.

438

00:21:08,435 --> 00:21:10,70

Let's say you finish itself tape.

439

00:21:10,904 --> 00:21:13,606

Instead of saying, oh, my god, that was

terrible.

440

00:21:14,974 --> 00:21:16,9

Why don't you try this?

441

00:21:16,743 --> 00:21:18,545

My preparation was strong.

442

00:21:19,379 --> 00:21:21,614

My eye line drifted.

443

00:21:22,982 --> 00:21:25,452

Next time i'll simple fly my choices

444

00:21:26,986 --> 00:21:28,922

that's growth that's professional

thinking.

445

00:21:29,289 --> 00:21:31,157

And professional thinking leads to

professional

446

00:21:32,192 --> 00:21:32,959

behavior.

447

00:21:34,661 --> 00:21:36,796

Now let me share something I've observed

448

00:21:37,263 --> 00:21:38,398

repeatedly.

449

00:21:39,299 --> 00:21:42,736

Actors who stay in this profession for

decades,

450

00:21:43,937 --> 00:21:46,72

those long term careers,

451

00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,543

they tend to approach their careers

differently

452

00:21:50,977 --> 00:21:52,645

than actors who burn out.

453

00:21:53,613 --> 00:21:57,450

And the actors who survive understand

something really important.

454

00:21:58,351 --> 00:22:00,153

The audition has value,

455

00:22:01,454 --> 00:22:04,157

even the ones that don't lead to work.

456

00:22:05,558 --> 00:22:06,226

Think about that.

457

00:22:07,60 --> 00:22:10,997

You prepare, you practice, you solve

problems, you build confidence.

458

00:22:11,464 --> 00:22:12,599

You strengthen your instincts.

459

00:22:13,700 --> 00:22:15,869

You learn how to recover when things go

wrong.

460

00:22:17,70 --> 00:22:18,238

Those are wins.

461

00:22:19,472 --> 00:22:22,876

But actors carrying an invisible report

card

462

00:22:23,476 --> 00:22:24,310

often miss

463

00:22:24,678 --> 00:22:25,278

all of that

464

00:22:26,179 --> 00:22:29,616

because they reduce every experience to

one question.

465

00:22:30,817 --> 00:22:31,685

Did I book it?

466

00:22:33,386 --> 00:22:34,721

If the answer is yes,

467

00:22:35,855 --> 00:22:36,523

they feel successful.

468

00:22:37,57 --> 00:22:38,558

If the answer is no,

469

00:22:39,159 --> 00:22:40,794

they feel unsuccessful.

470

00:22:41,928 --> 00:22:47,367

Now that's a very dangerous system,

because bookings are influenced by

471

00:22:48,101 --> 00:22:51,37

countless factors beyond your control.

472

00:22:52,172 --> 00:22:56,643

Listen, I've cast projects where the

final decision came down to height,

473

00:22:57,444 --> 00:22:58,411

age,

474

00:22:58,712 --> 00:23:00,13

chemistry,

475

00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:00,780

availability,

476

00:23:01,715 --> 00:23:04,17

scheduling, budget, network preferences,

477

00:23:05,51 --> 00:23:05,852

producer preferences,

478

00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:07,787

a costume fitting.

479

00:23:08,355 --> 00:23:11,858

I've seen actors lose jobs because

another actor looked more like someone

480

00:23:12,92 --> 00:23:13,426

else's sibling.

481

00:23:14,427 --> 00:23:18,998

You cannot build emotional stability on

things you cannot control.

482

00:23:19,399 --> 00:23:20,333

You simply can't.

483

00:23:21,301 --> 00:23:23,503

What you can build stability on

484

00:23:23,870 --> 00:23:24,971

israelis preparation,

485

00:23:25,772 --> 00:23:26,406

growth,

486

00:23:27,40 --> 00:23:27,340

professionalism,

487

00:23:28,174 --> 00:23:28,475

consistency.

488

00:23:29,209 --> 00:23:31,678

And that's where your focus belongs.

489

00:23:34,581 --> 00:23:36,483

Now let's talk about something

uncomfortable.

490

00:23:38,351 --> 00:23:40,487

Many actors are still waiting

491

00:23:41,54 --> 00:23:42,255

for a gold star.

492

00:23:43,156 --> 00:23:47,227

You know the gold star, the symbolic

one, the magical moment where someone

493

00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,295

important to you says, congratulations.

494

00:23:50,96 --> 00:23:52,966

You are now officially a real actor.

495

00:23:54,734 --> 00:23:55,835

Unfortunately,

496

00:23:56,336 --> 00:23:57,904

that moment never comes.

497

00:23:58,838 --> 00:23:59,839

Not permanently.

498

00:24:00,907 --> 00:24:02,42

You book your first job.

499

00:24:02,175 --> 00:24:03,43

You celebrate.

500

00:24:03,677 --> 00:24:04,310

Then

501

00:24:04,678 --> 00:24:05,912

you worry about the next one.

502

00:24:06,913 --> 00:24:09,115

You get your first Co star.

503

00:24:09,849 --> 00:24:11,985

Then you want a guest star.

504

00:24:12,986 --> 00:24:14,20

You get a guest star.

505

00:24:14,254 --> 00:24:15,188

And then you want

506

00:24:15,522 --> 00:24:16,489

recurring,

507

00:24:17,691 --> 00:24:18,525

your book recurring.

508

00:24:19,292 --> 00:24:22,95

Then you want to be a series regular.

509

00:24:23,229 --> 00:24:25,131

You get series regular.

510

00:24:25,865 --> 00:24:27,367

And then you want the next thing.

511

00:24:28,968 --> 00:24:32,5

You see the finish line keeps moving.

512

00:24:33,306 --> 00:24:37,610

That's why external validation can

never fully satisfy you,

513

00:24:38,278 --> 00:24:43,516

because there will always be another

mountain, another goal, another challenge.

514

00:24:44,517 --> 00:24:46,553

The actors who seem happiest

515

00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:49,589

aren't necessarily the most successful,

516

00:24:50,757 --> 00:24:54,227

they're the ones who learned to enjoy

the process.

517

00:24:55,295 --> 00:24:56,996

They stopped chasing gold stars.

518

00:24:57,297 --> 00:24:59,32

They started chasing growth.

519

00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:02,569

And that is a much healthier

relationship

520

00:25:03,236 --> 00:25:04,304

with the profession.

521

00:25:06,740 --> 00:25:10,877

So what does a professional mindset

actually look like?

522

00:25:12,112 --> 00:25:14,414

A professional actor says, I'm prepared.

523

00:25:14,914 --> 00:25:15,849

I'm committed.

524

00:25:16,416 --> 00:25:18,84

I learned something.

525

00:25:18,651 --> 00:25:20,153

I'll be ready next time

526

00:25:21,154 --> 00:25:22,889

a student mindset says,

527

00:25:23,623 --> 00:25:24,791

I hope they like me.

528

00:25:25,792 --> 00:25:27,360

A professional mindset says,

529

00:25:27,961 --> 00:25:29,295

I presented my work.

530

00:25:29,696 --> 00:25:31,197

A student mindset says,

531

00:25:32,32 --> 00:25:32,799

I hope I pass.

532

00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,336

A professional mindset says,

533

00:25:36,569 --> 00:25:38,238

I hope I connected

534

00:25:40,40 --> 00:25:40,206

listen.

535

00:25:40,340 --> 00:25:41,441

Do you hear the difference?

536

00:25:42,409 --> 00:25:44,144

One is rooted in fear,

537

00:25:45,211 --> 00:25:46,813

the other is rooted in contribution.

538

00:25:47,947 --> 00:25:49,282

One seeks approval,

539

00:25:49,949 --> 00:25:51,851

the other seeks expression.

540

00:25:52,585 --> 00:25:55,855

One is trying to survive, the other is

trying to communicate.

541

00:25:56,890 --> 00:26:00,627

That is a profound shift, and it

changes everything.

542

00:26:03,129 --> 00:26:04,97

So here's your challenge?

543

00:26:04,497 --> 00:26:05,165

For one week?

544

00:26:05,231 --> 00:26:11,37

After every audition, every self tape,

every rehearsal, every class, every performance

545

00:26:11,671 --> 00:26:12,472

replace.

546

00:26:13,373 --> 00:26:14,574

How did I do

547

00:26:15,41 --> 00:26:15,508

with?

548

00:26:16,743 --> 00:26:18,712

What did I learn?

549

00:26:20,580 --> 00:26:21,281

That's it

550

00:26:21,948 --> 00:26:23,216

simple, but powerful?

551

00:26:23,950 --> 00:26:27,520

And if you're really ambitious, keep a

notebook, write down the answer.

552

00:26:28,421 --> 00:26:30,390

At the end of the week, look back.

553

00:26:31,57 --> 00:26:33,593

I suspect you'll discover something

surprising.

554

00:26:34,661 --> 00:26:36,496

You've been growing

555

00:26:36,830 --> 00:26:38,64

the entire time.

556

00:26:38,998 --> 00:26:41,768

You just weren't giving yourself credit

for it.

557

00:26:44,838 --> 00:26:48,475

As we wrap up today's episode, I want

to leave you with this thought.

558

00:26:49,609 --> 00:26:52,312

School gave you many valuable tools,

559

00:26:53,113 --> 00:26:54,80

technique,

560

00:26:54,247 --> 00:26:54,547

discipline,

561

00:26:55,448 --> 00:26:56,649

analysis, craft,

562

00:26:58,351 --> 00:26:59,352

training, matters.

563

00:27:00,420 --> 00:27:05,759

But one thing school often forgets to

teach is how to stop being a student.

564

00:27:06,92 --> 00:27:06,393

Eventually,

565

00:27:07,394 --> 00:27:09,429

you must become a professional.

566

00:27:10,196 --> 00:27:11,131

And professionals understand

567

00:27:12,265 --> 00:27:13,767

that every experience

568

00:27:14,267 --> 00:27:16,169

is information, not judgment.

569

00:27:16,970 --> 00:27:18,505

Every audition is an opportunity,

570

00:27:19,706 --> 00:27:20,473

not a test.

571

00:27:21,641 --> 00:27:23,143

Every call back is a conversation,

572

00:27:24,511 --> 00:27:26,79

not an examination.

573

00:27:27,147 --> 00:27:27,881

And every rejection

574

00:27:29,215 --> 00:27:32,485

is simply part of the process, not a

verdict

575

00:27:32,919 --> 00:27:33,920

on your worth.

576

00:27:34,754 --> 00:27:36,790

You are not being graded anymore.

577

00:27:37,691 --> 00:27:39,526

The report card is gone.

578

00:27:40,493 --> 00:27:42,228

That classroom is over.

579

00:27:43,229 --> 00:27:47,367

The only question that remains is, what

are you learning?

580

00:27:48,201 --> 00:27:49,703

And how will you use it?

581

00:27:49,936 --> 00:27:50,870

Moving forward,

582

00:27:53,139 --> 00:27:58,44

the next time in partio of the actor

reset series, stop making acting your

583

00:27:58,411 --> 00:27:59,846

entire identity.

584

00:28:00,413 --> 00:28:04,150

We're going to talk about why some of

the most successful actors

585

00:28:04,651 --> 00:28:05,585

have lives

586

00:28:06,19 --> 00:28:08,488

far bigger than acting itself,

587

00:28:09,155 --> 00:28:11,524

and why becoming a more interesting

human

588

00:28:12,592 --> 00:28:15,362

may eventually make you a better actor.

589

00:28:16,329 --> 00:28:18,398

I think you're going to love that

conversation.

590

00:28:19,232 --> 00:28:23,503

Until then, keep learning, keep

growing, keep creating and most importantly,

591

00:28:24,270 --> 00:28:25,305

keep being wonderfully,

592

00:28:26,573 --> 00:28:27,841

imperfectly human.

593

00:28:28,575 --> 00:28:29,709

I'm Jeff dries back.

594

00:28:29,776 --> 00:28:30,443

Thank you for listening.

595

00:28:31,77 --> 00:28:31,378

And this

596

00:28:32,412 --> 00:28:32,712

has been

597

00:28:33,146 --> 00:28:34,14

casting actor's