In my weekly class, I reserve the first twenty minutes of class for general discussion and downloads from students about the previous week. And I always have a theme I have identified as a starting-off point. A wide-ranging discussion takes place before we actually get down to the work that was brought in to class that week. I find this to be a great way to open everyone up; it’s a part of class that we all enjoy.
One week an actor in my class came in and told us that he booked a movie. We were all thrilled for him, of course. Then, sometime later (during one of these class discussions) he spoke of the shooting experience on this film. He said, “It’s a silent film. Yeah…silent. I have no idea really of what this is. It’s kind of strange, but they really seem like they know what they are doing. It was very professional, and the director was really clear and direct. But, I honestly have no idea really. It was fun. It was….different.”
I had forgotten about this until I saw the great new film “The Artist.” This was the “strange” silent film my student Dash Pomerantz had a part in. I thought the film was superb, original, and very moving. Dash had a very nice featured role, and was quite good in it. I gave him a call right after I saw it, and it was clear he was enjoying the whole thing, as he should. Take it from me, it’s great to be in a film that everyone is talking about. It boosts your self-esteem, and adds a little jet fuel to your journey – not to mention giving your agents and managers something very real to talk about for quite some time. It can buy you a year or two of viability – which is a very good thing. I asked Dash if he remembered talking in class about how unusual and odd he thought the whole experience was? Of course he did, and we both laughed because the great lesson is – you just never know. You truly never know when a great opportunity presents itself, or what it will look like.
One of the big enticements in our profession is that things like this can happen to anybody at any time. One day your professional life can change forever. When I walked in and booked an episode of “Seinfeld”, little did I know that I would be (as one of my students said), “part of TV immortality.” It didn’t change my life, to be sure; it was just an average day that turned out to be a link to something bigger. As Bogart says in “Casablanca”, “We’ll always have Paris.” Well, Dash will always have “The Artist.” Always – even though at the time he had no idea what it really was, and certainly no idea of the impact. He found himself at the intersection of his talent, opportunity, and a little bit of luck. This time it turned out to be a wonderful stroke of good fortune.
Take that lesson into 2012. The new year embodies renewal, new opportunities, new chances, new people in our lives, and a chance for a tiny bit of immortality.
May Dash’s good fortune rub off on us all. A very Happy New Year to him, and to all my students, colleagues, and friends.
Dash Pomerantz: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3317474/
Love this. Same for most everyone who did the film I believe. Heidi, who worked for and with me for years, cast it… It’s so true – you never know! Lovely.
Here’s to a new year full of “you never knows”!
Risa
Hi Michael, happy and healthy new year. In the spirit of you never know… I received a call from my agent in the middle of last year telling me that I had been requested to audition for a production of A Raisin In The Sun being done by a theatre company in town. I hadn’t done a play in a couple of years and thought all of my usual thoughts about such ventures. Rehearsing for theatre is so time consuming it does not pay anything and with family, little kids, etc. it is a big commitment. I also thought I had not auditioned for a play in quite some time, soooo what the heck, it would be a good experience to put myself back out there in that way. The audition was great… my agent called two days later and said they want to offer you the role. before I could say I don’t think I can do a play for no money, she says, “the only bummer is it only pays $500 per week”. WHAT?? I SAID. They are going to pay me to do theatre in Los Angeles?? To make a long story short it turns out it is an equity production, We run to amazing success, We close and re-open by popular demand and we end up winning the Ovation award for the best play of 2011 in Los Angeles. And as if that wasn’t enough, we were picked up by The Center Theater Group for the beginning of their 2012 season with an even bigger contract. When I think, that I almost didn’t go on that audition I want to kick myself. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW !!! If anyone would like a truly rare theatrical treat, with some tour De force acting, let me know and I will try to arrange for some discounted house seats for your students the show is playing from 1-19-2012 to 2-21-2012 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. All The Best, Scott Mosenson
My 39 year career is chock a block with such experieinces. From Tennessee Williams seeing me in a college production which lead to my becoming an actor and not a teacher to doing an episode of WILL & GRACE which lead to the offer to do PASSIONS for eight years to doing an episode of GRAND which lead to the offer of a film then series for Bonnie Hunt. Fairy dust can happen any time and I’ve come to expect it. Great message of hope to kick off the new year. xx, Marianne Muellerleile