Recently, I found myself feeling like a crazy person. The film industry in LA is JUST as hard as everyone else said it is, ha ha. After 600 submissions, 79 auditions, and only 3 bookings this last year - I feel like I'm doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result and I'm not seeing it. And then I was recently nominated for "Best Actor" for the 2023 Geoffrey Awards for my role Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. It was nice to be recognized, and it gave me the boost to get back on track and keep going.
So what keeps YOU going in this industry? As an actor, producer, director, technician, artist, designer, etc. What do you do or focus on to keep your faith in this industry? Would LOVE to hear about your experience!
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Congratulations on being nominated for "Best Actor," Kalond Irlanda!!! :D 600 submissions and 79 auditions last year. That's determination!
What keeps me going in the industry is wanting to sell my scripts and see my scripts be made. Mainly my feature scripts. And knowing the themes in my scripts will make changes in people. Big changes and small changes.
"What do you do or focus on to keep your faith in this industry?" Focusing on my goals helps. Seeing others success also helps.
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First of all, congratulations on your nomination, Kalond Irlanda!
It can be so difficult to stay motivated in an industry that is built around rejection. I think ALL of us have bad days where we ask ourselves why we're here or whether it's worth it. At the end of the day, we're all here because regardless of the rejection and struggles, creatives are meant to create. We can't quiet the passionate voice inside us that wants so badly to create something, to leave something behind, to be a part of the wild world of entertainment. The way I push through those harder days is by surrounding myself with a support system that encourages me to keep going. I think that community is truly the key to sustainability in any environment. When I feel down and ready to give up on myself it's my friends and collaborators that encourage me to get back up. They remind me why it matters and their belief in me helps me believe in myself again too.
We're all in this together.
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Congrats! Keep up the good spirit, hard work pays off.
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Continuously reinvent yourself and your business model. See blogs on the art of filmmaking and the business of filmmaking.
The headlines are full of story ideas. I find clients, business opportunities and story ideas by reading the newspapers from around the globe.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, and I'm loving the fresh perspectives!
It sounds like the magic to maintaining faith is: having a cheer section, always have a specific goal for yourself, practice letting go of what you cannot control and remind yourself of what you DO, and to never stop learning and get creative!
Thanks folks!
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I'm loving everyone's responses. I also want to add an awesome video about staying motivated that our fearless leader Richard "RB" Botto did on this that's really inspiring: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2513269985602066
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Congrats Kalond, sometimes you get exactly what you need when you need it. I'm happy for your win. I'm sure it's well deserved.
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I recently started writing, and my current completed film is based on a partly true story. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t give up. I love writing screenplays and I also love acting, which is why I want to work in this industry.
I know this path isn’t easy — but I also know it’s not impossible.