START AGAIN MONDAY

Game of Opportunities

Principle #6: Surrender to the game of opportunities 

Opportunities 

Auditions, self tapes, call backs, meetings, chemistry reads, test deals, etc etc 

Opportunities to give our work professionally 

From getting the news we have the opportunity

All the way through to putting our heads on the pillow after we’ve done it

Sometimes, It can be a long and arduous process

Other times, it can be a short and intense rollercoaster 

But there is a massive elephant in the room here worth acknowledging…

As an actor, I cannot control the decision of casting

Yes, I can influence it

But I cannot control it

There is a huge amount of angst in this industry coming from the simple fact that we do what us humans are so good at doing…

Trying to control things we can’t

And how bloody understandable!

We give decades of time, energy and effort to this craft

And we get an opportunity which could mean the chance to play generously + pay rent

And then someone decides no, because… 

Well… who wants to start counting the infinite reasons why someone gets cast over another?

Sidenote

I have sat in on casting processes before

I once watched a guy get cast over another because on the tape his hair seemed curlier & he had “somewhat of a sadder smile”

The job was for a major US network, negotiated at US$55k per episode… for 25 episodes per year… for 5 years

And the decision was made as we sat having a beer on the couch 

Oh the games 

However…

We have a choice

We can continue to try control something we can’t 

Or, we can choose to surrender

The choice to stop fighting

To take that beautiful energy being spent on trying to control the un-controllables

And give it towards something we can

Our process 

And what’s glorious and terrifying about that…

Is it requires a leap of faith

To say to oneself…

I give up

I give up trying to control the things I can’t

I will focus, instead, on playing

On creating a meaningful, sustainable and joyful process

I will stop chasing results

And instead

Allow the results to come to me

How bloody vulnerable

So lets surrender 

And lean into the process of opportunities 

A question worth pondering…

How can I make it easy for these people to hire me?

Think about it from the their point of view

If I was a director, producer or casting director

And I was trying to find my dream actor to cast in a role

I would want a few things done well

1. Competence - Can they contribute well to this story & do it on cue?

2. Professionalism - If we are going to spend months working together… can they rock up on time, hit their mark, whilst being kind and respectful?

3. Trust - Do they trust themselves enough to take care of themselves (sometimes that means knowing when to ask for help!)

So let me turn my attention onto those things which I can control…

Being damn good

Being professional

And trusting myself

Exercise: My Opportunity Process

Requirements: Paper & pencil, some focussed private time, maybe some music, tea/water etc etc 

Next: Choose an opportunity category you would like to work on.

(For the following example, I will use the category of self tapes - as they have recently surpassed auditions as the most common form of opportunity)

Step 1. Set the timer for 15 minutes: Journal the most energising experiences you’ve had self-taping & explore what you did that made them energising.

Step 2. Set the timer for 10 minutes: Notice the commonalities between those experiences. What are the shared underlying principles? 

Step 3. Set the timer for 2 minutes: Clarify how you would like to feel putting your head on the pillow after giving a self tape for a job you really want.

Step 4. Set the timer for 3 minutes: Write down your dream self-tape process for you to experiment with. Try keep it between 3-7 clear, doable points. Then repeat the 3 minute process. And finally, repeat the 3 minute a third time.  See how it morphs and grows with each iteration. Build something which you feel energised about. 

One last thing

In case I haven’t made it clear enough already

There ain’t nothing weak about surrendering 

x

Sheasby 

P.s. Let me know how it goes ;)

Seriously - I love reading what you are all coming up with

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Email: info@michaelsheasby.com 

Articles: www.michaelsheasby.com/articles