The Truths About Acting

An Actor’s Life: INTRO TO HUM (that’s humility, folks) 101.

Those few good weeks can bring an actor, two, three, maybe even four (gosh!) auditions to juggle into his schedule.

“No, this wino drinks Thunderbird, not Ripple. NEXT!”

“Let’s see your boy-next-door pining look. NEXT!”

“Do the businessman on steroids who beats his wife. NEXT!”

“OK, this character’s psychotic, but stable. Now he’s not a stable psychotic mind you, but psychotic only on Tuesdays, and it’s Wednesday morning after a tough night, and he’s thinking of his father whose schizophrenic as he’s waking up. Now, wake up!

No, we don’t have five minutes to give you.

NOW! NEXT! . . . CUT. NEXT. PRINT. NEXT.

At 31, I’ve spent more money on classes honing skills or staying sharp than I’ve earned these past 12 years as a member of SAG and AFTRA both. Wrinkles are earned . . . hairline fades.

Where’s the dignity? Deluded? Stupid? No, talented, coming into his own, and he’ll do or die trying. You want dignity? Sell insurance, bub!

An Actor’s Life: a destiny graced with the responsibility of showing mankind itself. At its best, at its worst, at its moments in between. Can’t ask for much more dignity than that.

MARK TRAVIS FULLER

Hermosa