LOSING THE ACTORS WAY
Many people tell me that they’ve always wanted to be an actor. From childhood they were creating stories and inventing fantastical worlds where they became the protagonist or antagonist in their imaginary story. Then one day they graduated from school and they had to make a choice which career path to take. Deep inside there was a longing to take an acting class, but being the good daughter or the good son, they did what their parents wanted instead.
“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.” – Wood Allen
Parents are well-meaning and only want to see their children survive in a difficult world. It’s tough for a parent to support an artistic dream because it is so unstable. No one can tell you if you will get an acting job for sure, or if you will have an ongoing long-term career as an actor. And yet something inside of you speaks louder than anything else. Your heart and stomach turn with feelings of really wanting….needing to be an actor. You set about to quiet this intrusive voice and feeling so that you can get on with it and not disappoint your parents.
What makes a person need to act is a feeling in their heart, in their gut, deep in their stomach.
So… you become the lawyer or get a good stable job at the bank or in some corporate office. Every day you go to work but something inside of you is not right. You know somehow that you do not belong there.
I have seen so many intelligent, hard working people in their late 20’s, early 30’s come to my studio for an acting class interview only to tell me the above was their story. And that this longing, this need inside of them is still in their blood. They took their parents path but now they realize they must take their own path.
YEARNING TO BE AN ACTOR
What makes a person want to be an actor is as varied as the people who come to see me. But it is always a deep internal need. Achievement towards fame and fortune is never the reason someone needs to be an actor. No talented, successful actor has ever started their career wanting fame and fortune. Check out this 3 minute video with Jeff Daniels (The Martian / Dumb and Dumber / Steve Jobs) where he talks about his philosophy on how he ‘chose’ to live his life as an actor.
Some people have a strong need for expression. Some are shy and can’t come out of themselves. Many people tell me they want to heal through acting. Some people feel they have a need to open up more to their feelings. Some need to be creative and open up their imaginations.
I’ve had some people tell me that their lives have been so difficult emotionally that they need an outlet to put all of their feelings. There are people who have suffered great losses or suffered growing up in a family where the atmosphere was cold, without physical affection, without feeling. These people feel repressed and cut off from intimacy. There are people who have been bullied or humiliated or even abused and acting becomes a cathartic healing journey for them. When we act, we change our relationship to our emotions in a healthier way.
There are people who are simply stuck in their lives. They don’t feel the flow of life. Their life force energy is dulled. There is no creative energy coursing through their veins. They are hungry for a creative outlet.
If you are or have ever been one of these people you may recognize yourself in one of these stories.
An acting student in one of our Toronto acting classes begins her journey into the world of acting
ACTING AS A HEALTHY OUTLET
Acting as a healthy outlet for those that need it. If fame and fortune follows, great. But it is not a results oriented journey. If you make it that, you lose the point of it. Watch Veteran actor Ron Cephas Jones (He plays William on the show This is Us) talk about how he redefined success.
This need inside most of us never goes away. I’ve had people come to me at 50 years old or even 60 years old looking to start an acting career. And I’ve seen acting careers take off at this age! The need to express themselves has stayed inside of them for an entire lifetime, as they have veered off path to here and there, but never fulfilling their soul, until now.
What makes a person need to act is a feeling in their heart, in their gut, deep in their stomach. It’s also a whisper that can be elusive if you’re not listening. Are you listening to your heart? Are you listening for the whisper?
With love
Cindy
Cindy Tanas Actors Studio teaches acting classes for Theatre and Film in Toronto and the GTA, Collingwood and Southern Georgian Bay.
Connect with Cindy for a free consultation
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Acting Teacher / Mentor / Life Coach Cindy Tanas, has run a highly reputable and successful Toronto acting school for over 25 years. She teaches Acting Classes for beginners and experienced actors. Cindy is a member of ACTRA, former Chair and member of TAAS (Toronto Association of Acting Studios) and member of Theatre Ontario.
Cindy Tanas Actors Studio offers a holistic approach to acting in Toronto since 1995. Both in person and online acting classes are available.
www.torontoactingstudios.com
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