Acting On Your Own

By Bob Fraser

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of speaking to the actor participants at the SAG Conservatory/AFI three-day event at the wonderful American Film Institute campus. I say 'the pleasure' – because I got a lot of laughs. I'm still a slut for laughs.

But – about half way through the proceedings – there was a question that really put me in the 'hot seat.'

Here's the question: (In my own self-serving interpretation, of course.)

"What do you think actors should do about the constant 'not getting it' thing?  We almost never 'get it' – yet our whole lives are centered around this 'getting' thing. I mean, How are we supposed to handle it?"

Here's my honest (yet, still self-serving) answer:

"Don't wait for 'THEM!'

"'They,' really, truly, sadly and unfortunately – don't know diddly squat about "putting on a show." They're Philistines, people. You could wait forever!

"Get out there and do it yourself! Technology has providentially given you the tools to successfully supply the public with entertainment – without the mind-numbing downside of having to deal with friggin' idiots."

Laugh. (No, seriously ... a very nice laugh.)

I continued:

"For about the cost of used Toyota, you can PURCHASE a movie studio! A hi-def camera is about 4 grand, a fully loaded Mac is about twenty five hundred, lights will run you in the area of a grand and a half, software is about a grand. Total cost to own a movie studio – nine thousand dollars."

Much "hmm hmming."

"Of course, the actors are free."

Huge laugh. (At least we actors still have great a sense of humor.)

I was on a roll – "There are 8 million stories in the public domain. You could produce – oh, let's say The Misanthrope ... 11 characters, one set.  Burn it to DVD ... sell it on the internet – and suddenly, you're an independent!" 

A few chuckles and a lot of head nodding.

“Look around. The audience has moved on to other activities. More people are scrapbooking and bowling than are watching the latest network offerings – or going to the multiplex. Calling it an 'extra special episode' or 'a cinematic triumph' – isn’t fooling anybody anymore."

A nice chortle.

“But here’s the real point: 'They' cannot do it without you! Actors and writers are the only people who are really needed to put on a show."

(I apologized to the director on my left. He smiled and said that one of the actors would become a director – inevitably.)

“The people in charge of our industry are not actors or writers … and the business is on the ropes. Could there be a connection?”

The place was quieting down. I think I had accidentally struck a chord.

"Stop competing with each other – to win the favor of the Philistines – and start collaborating with your natural allies. Become friends with writers. Do what you both want to do – which is tell stories. Above all, stop wasting your time – waiting to get something from 'them.' 'They' have nothing to give you. 'They' are takers."

The auditorium actually became deathly silent.

It was the sound of 100's of actors thinking.

My timing was impeccable (if I do say so myself).

"Or you could just put out for the A.D."

Gigantic laugh.

You know, if only I could stay serious for a minute, I might actually be able to help. But, like I said, nothing cheers me up faster than a cheap laugh. I can't help it. Don't worry though, Bev is making me go to a twelve-step program...

Agitators Anonymous.