Watch Me Entertain Myself!

Sacha Guitry once said, "You can pretend to be serious, but you can't pretend to be witty." Oh yes, I'm the great pretender.
(pilot episode: 20 January 2004)

Monday, January 11, 2010

Acting 101

I believe it was from Gibbs that I first heard the analogy.

“Think of it,” he said, “as just going through auditions. A lot of theater actors—especially on Broadway—figure out sooner or later that auditions are really hit-or-miss things. There are just so many factors that affect one’s audition; a lot of it depends on luck. And timing. So what do they do? They go to as many auditions as possible. And if they don’t get the part, they move on to the next. They quickly realize that though they’re talented and good-looking and are more than capable for the part, they still will not be chosen.”

I remember nodding my head in agreement. Yes it’s like that; I’ve even found myself on audition couches before. What I didn’t bother to articulate anymore was this: unfortunately I’m not used to going thorough a lot of auditions. I’m not that versatile an actor; there aren’t a lot of parts out there for me, so I choose those parts for very carefully.

Plus a reality check: at my age, I cannot play ingénues, debutants and certain other characters anymore.

So when I don’t get a part, it still smarts—no matter how zen and philosophical I try to be. Though I’m still working on getting used to rejection, I’ve shortened my prerequisite emo phase. Even better, the people around me (officemates, for example) never know that I’m in a funk.

Since I cannot play a part, might as well just play Cheerful, Carefree McVie while being far from it. Hey, a role is a role. I get to flex my acting muscles while hiding the fact that I feel lost and confused.

9 comments:

ManilaRaunch said...

sino bang hindi takot sa rejection? lalo na pag gusto mo talaga yung ina-auditionan mo?
i recall i got to a point where i wasn't afraid of rejection--by treating everyone like a fast f*ck; kaso that made me such a first-class, hermes-quality a*hole naman.

it's easy to say that rejection is a part of life-blah-blah kaso it doesn't numb the pain. i say, wallow in the hurt and confusion, rejected na nga a-acting pa?!

(i realized i have a ton of insecurities at the party but that's an entry for my blog LOL)

joelmcvie said...

@RM: I'm glad I've given you fodder for your next blog entry. =)

Misterhubs said...

Hugs.

Dabo said...

i'll keep that in mind: a role is a role. =)

joelmcvie said...

@MISTERHUBS: Thanks. =)

@DABO: And we must play our different roles to the best of our abilities.

Rygel said...

does rejection sa role or rejection in more personal stuff brings out the same emotions?

MkSurf8 said...

i still have that smashed/broken state when rejected even if in my line of work, i practically eat rejections for breakfast (bwahahhaha mala-miriam!). but through the years, i've managed to shorten the emo state, just like you. tsaka 'chura nya! na reject din sya dati kaya gumanti. so it's not me, it's him. ganda ko no?. LOL!

it's just a matter of perspective =)

joelmcvie said...

@MKSURF8: Spoken like a guy who has a boyfriend for 6 years already. LOL!

Unknown said...

I Played the Part http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEB9MJrAyTM