Acting and Rejection

By Bob Fraser

So, you want to be a successful actor …

The first distinction you must make about success – and how to achieve it – is explained by David Zucker. (Mr. Zucker is one of the guys who made Airplane, Naked Gun, Scary Movie and lots of others.) When asked to give his advice to people who want to succeed in show business, he said,  "Quit now, you'll never make it.” 

He went on to say,  “If you disregard this advice, you're halfway there."

The reason I pass along this quote is because it tells you two of the biggest things about succeeding in show business. Not just success in general – but success in show business. 

First, Mr. Zucker points out an important observable reality: You will hear the "you'll never make it" part hundreds, maybe thousands of times. Because, if you're a performer, you are going to hear that stuff – from a lot of people. 

You must understand – right from the start – that negative reactions, suggestions that you might be happier in another line of work, constant, brutal, outright rejection … is just a part of the job. Now, I know that rejection is very difficult – but no matter how we would like things to be, it is just the unalterable fact of a life in show business.

“Twas ever thus.”

If you plan to ‘make it in this business’ you’ll have to get used to the idea: Being rejected on a regular basis will always be a central feature of your career in show business. Like sunshine in Phoenix, rejection is going to happen. It is going to happen to you all of the time – on a regular basis.

In our business, rejection happens to everybody. Somewhere, right now, in some casting director’s office or producer’s Malibu cabana, someone is saying something like; “Dakota Fanning? Isn’t she a little old for this?” or  “Phillip Seymour Hoffman? I think this is out of his range.”

I call this ZUCKER'S INEVITABILITY THEORUM: You Will Be Rejected

If you aren’t sure how this rejection business relates to your success, let me remind you of a few stories:

In 1931 Fred Astaire came to Hollywood (he was already a Broadway star). He made several screen tests and was turned down by 4 movie studios. One executive at Columbia famously said, “Ears too big, balding, can’t sing – dances a little.”

In 1944 the owner of the Blue Book Modeling Agency told a pretty young lady that she’d better learn to do secretarial work or get married because she didn’t have a future in show business. The owner had been a successful manager of models and actresses for many years and she knew who “had it” and who didn’t. Fortunately, the young lady didn’t give up. Her name was Norma Jean Baker – she became Marilyn Monroe.

In 1954 the manager of The Grand Old Opry fired a fresh young singer from Tupelo, Mississippi - after only one performance. The canny show biz pro said, “You ain’t going nowhere son. You ought to go back to driving a truck.” Luckily, that young swivel-hipped singer with an old guitar and a mellow baritone didn’t take his advice. The singer’s name was Elvis Presley.

In 1962 four young musicians played their first record audition for some executives from Decca Records. The executives said, “We don’t like their sound. Groups with guitars are on the way out.” The four lads were turned down. They were disappointed but they went back home to Liverpool and they kept trying. They called themselves The Beatles.

Burt Reynolds was fired from his first studio job in Hollywood and told that he would never be a movie star because he couldn’t act. In a strange twist of fate, Clint Eastwood was fired from the same studio on the same day. Clint was told he would never be a movie star because his Adam’s apple was too big.

When these two future movie stars met in the parking lot and exchanged stories, Burt Reynolds laughed. "You got a problem, Clint. I can learn to act – but what are you going to do?" 

There are literally thousands of these kinds of stories in the history of show business. In fact, I’ve never read or seen a biography that didn’t include at least one story of rejection – and most have many.

You will be rejected.

You won't get picked – a lot.

Like the man said, “Quit now, you’ll never make it.”

But don’t forget the second part of Mr. Zucker’s warning: “If you disregard this advice, you're halfway there."

In other words, be like The Fab Four, Marilyn, Elvis, Fred, Burt and Clint ... ignore the rejection and keep plugging away.

Why? Because ignoring rejection is the only path to the red carpet.

And, best of all – you’re halfway there.