Acting: Talent?

By Bob Fraser

I recently got a letter from a young actor from Kentucky, who told me that an agent in Atlanta had said that she was definitely cut out to be an actor. That she had "the look." However, the 'agent' said, she would need classes and pictures and a marketing package – which the 'agency' would gladly provide ... for a fee.

Then, a friend of hers – who has been "acting for years" – told her that she wasn't very talented ... and that without talent she would be wasting a lot of her time and money, chasing after a dream that would never come true.

This young actor got 2 pieces of horrible 'information.'

The first 'advisory' was from a scammer (but I'm sure you already knew that – and, don't worry, I helped her avoid that fate with a prompt reply to her question, by email).

It’s the second bit of 'advice' that really gets me riled up.

That kind of mean spirited, uninformed, and just plain wrong, junk – is the subject of this rant.

The idea that some people should just forget it, because they aren't talented – or that others should go forward because they have 'gobs of talent' – should be dispelled by those of us who know the truth about what it REALLY takes to have a professional acting career.

The reason I never address the question of whether someone is cut out for the business of acting, is because I have learned through long, hard experience that, although I can spot talent with the best of them, I don't know who is and who isn't going to succeed.

I don't believe anyone can say for sure.

There are just too many variables that go into a successful acting career.

As William Goldman so aptly put it, "Nobody knows."

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary defines 'talent' thusly: 1. a gift committed to one's trust to use and improve; from the parable of the talents in St. Matthew; hence any natural faculty, ability or power. 2. a special, superior ability in an art, mechanics, learning, etc.

While I agree with Webster (who would dare to disagree) there is a misconception among some agents, managers, other actors – and fortunately for scam artists – even ourselves, that there exists a "natural" actor gene. Or, as Webster puts it, "a special superior ability."

This mistaken idea is that if you have it, your future is secure ... and if you don’t, you’re doomed. Since most human beings ACT – behaving, emoting, reacting, listening, and slipping in and out of attitudes – every day (all skills of a professional actor) ... why is it that those "special” superior acting abilities have never been set down, or explained, in some methodical, scientific way?

Because, after thousands of years – still – nobody knows.

I DO know this much; I have seen (and probably so have you) actors who were clearly 'talented' – end up teaching second grade. And rather ordinary people with little or no acting ability – go right to the top of show business.

Telling a young (or even not so young) actor that it's all about "talent" or "looks" is just plain wrong.

When I first decided I wanted to be a professional actor, I couldn't act a lick and I'm far from a babe magnet – but I managed to make millions as an actor.

I’ll conclude my argument with one word: Schwarzeneggar.

Case closed.

My point is simply this: Any "reason" to go ahead or give up should be questioned thoroughly – from all angles – no matter who comes up with it.

Acting is not an easy business. It is more difficult than most professions because it sometimes takes many years to establish a career. But the gap between 'talented enough' and 'not talented enough' is smaller than Paris Hilton's sense of propriety.

As everyone knows, who reads my stuff, I try to make it very plain that an acting career is really hard work. Few achieve stardom. More actors can achieve a solid career, but it is still a small percentage of those who think they'd like to act for a living. Not all of the successful actors on screen and stage are "natural talents" or even passably good looking. Some are just good at the business part – or they manage to stay at it longer than others.

As I point out in my acting career course, You Must Act! – there are specific steps you must take to have any hope of success. And the first step is to rid yourself of all the walls you build up – or allow others to build – that keep you from taking the steps toward fulfilling your dreams.

As with all dreams (whether it be sports, music, medicine, poetry, dance ... or having the biggest ball of string in the world), it won't become real without action on your part. If you believe that there are "reasons" you will or won't succeed – then you won't DO what needs to be done. Don't accept "reasons" to give up your dream without first considering whether those "reasons" are real – or just someone else's illusion of reality.

Remember: REALITY IS NOT OPTIONAL.