tag:planetisa.com,2014:/feedIsa Totah2016-10-06T15:44:17-07:00Isa Totahhttp://planetisa.comSvbtle.comtag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/you-are-perfect2016-10-06T15:44:17-07:002016-10-06T15:44:17-07:00You are Perfect.
<p>I mean that. That is, if you can manage to cut out all the noise in your life: wanting to please mom and dad, not wanting to stir up the critics, desiring to be liked, afraid to look stupid or incompetent, and on and on, why, you’d be quite nearly perfect.</p>
<p>Your vision would be crystal clear.</p>
<p>The decisions you make would be good ones — ones that benefited you and all the people you care about. You wouldn’t even have to bounce your ideas off a trusted friend or companion. You’d know the correct path to take, the pitfalls to avoid.</p>
<p>It may be easier said than done, but it’s comforting to know that you have all the answers. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to learn. There is. But you are the judge of what’s worthy of learning and what’s not.</p>
<p>The power to succeed lies within you. </p>
<p>If you are not certain of your success, you career will be uncertain. </p>
<p>If you fear the pressures of stardom, you will remain in the “comfort” of oblivion.</p>
<p>If you criticize the successful, you will damn yourself into obscurity.</p>
<p>If you don’t know you want to be a star, you won’t be… until you know.</p>
<p>If you believe it’s owed to you, then you will wait forever for a remittance that will never arrive.</p>
<p>It’s you that decides your future.</p>
<p>Your confidence and certainty are the determiners of your tomorrow.</p>
<p>It’s your intention that determines what will be or what will not be.</p>
<p>No one else can do it for you.</p>
<p>It’s all you.</p>
tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/getting-more-done-in-less-time2015-08-10T15:16:39-07:002015-08-10T15:16:39-07:00How to Get More Done in Less Time<p>Everyone has 24 hours in a day. </p>
<p>Why do some people get so much done in those 24 hours, and others never have enough time?</p>
<p>It’s not as though the successful artist has been endowed with an extra 10 or 20 hours each day. Yet Artist A will often get ten times more done in the same 24 hours as Artist B, and still have extra time left over to attend that event you invited him to. Artist B will tell you, “I’d love to, but I have no time.” </p>
<p>What is going on here? </p>
<p>Artist A is organized and is using his time wisely. Artist B is, likely, a fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants type, spending most of his time on putting out fires and busy-work.</p>
<p>Everyone is busy. All the time. No matter what, time manages to fill itself with something, even if it’s surfing the web. The question is, what specific things are getting done? And how efficiently are they getting done?</p>
<p>So, the key is organization.</p>
<p>You might say, “I am organized — I have a To-Do list.”</p>
<p>A To-Do list is a start, but it’s certainly not enough, because a To-Do list does not exist in a vacuum. What tasks make it to your To-Do list, is crucial. And how efficiently those tasks are completed, is essential.</p>
<p>I knew an actress that got so many tasks accomplished every day, but her career stayed in the same place. It didn’t go anywhere. The reason for this is: she didn’t know what actions were the priorities. Those actions that would have done the most for her career or business were not on her To-Do list or not being accomplished. Those that were somewhat helpful, but not essential, were being completed by the dozens.</p>
<p>Some actions are 100 times more important than others. And often, those actions are the ones that get neglected or never make it to the To-Do list. Perhaps it’s because they are the most uncomfortable to confront, so other things get done instead. That’s one way time gets wasted. Writers talk about this all the time — whenever they sit down to finish the novel they are working on, they get an irresistible urge to clean the house. And they do. And no pages get written. Sure, it’s nice to have a clean house, but that’s not going to finish their novel, is it?</p>
<p>So, knowing which actions are the most important and seeing to it that they are done, is essential to efficient time management.</p>
<p>But before we can determine which tasks are the most important, we need to look at the big picture — where are we going? What’s the big goal? What’s the purpose? In business school, they used to tell us, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. In other words, if you don’t know your goal, it doesn’t matter what you do. Essentially, without a goal, you will go nowhere or in circles.</p>
<p>So, the first step to prioritizing tasks is to take a look at your goal. The tasks you accomplish each day should be those that are aligned with that goal — the ones that take you a step in that direction, in one way or another. You will find that some tasks may take you ten steps in the right direction, and some a hundred. A task that takes you a hundred steps would be a hundred times more important to accomplish than one that takes you a single step. You will also find that some tasks take you no steps toward your goal. And some, even take you a step backwards.</p>
<p>Since we all have 24 hours in the day, we have to divide it efficiently to get the most important tasks done first. But we need to know where we are headed, in order to prioritize our time.</p>
<p>So take a look at your goals and purposes. If you’ve broken them down to doable actions, you will find certain tasks are far more important than others. Those are the ones that need the most attention. Set a target to get them done. If they are too time-consuming for a daily To-Do list, break them down further and put the baby steps on the list. And get them done. Don’t go off and do a lessor task because the important one is uncomfortable. See it through to a done. Move on to the next priority. </p>
<p>Keep and maintain a schedule. Keep and maintain a prioritized To-Do list. Get the priorities done.</p>
<p>There’s more that can be said to using time efficiently. But focusing on priorities is a key.</p>
tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/behold-the-critic2015-07-28T13:39:43-07:002015-07-28T13:39:43-07:00Behold the Critic<p><a href="https://svbtleusercontent.com/mw0covryruuegg.jpg"><img src="https://svbtleusercontent.com/mw0covryruuegg_small.jpg" alt="cartoon-hand-thumbs-down-vector-illustration_Q1232-.jpg"></a></p>
<p>The world is full of critics. They are the so-called experts that can tell you all the things wrong with an artistic creation, such as a film. They can even tell you if it’s the writing, acting, editing or directing that ruined the film. They are quite knowledgable and have great vocabularies. </p>
<p>But there is one problem: they cannot create the very work they criticize. They cannot make a movie, write a novel or paint a painting. Some have tried, and failed miserably. </p>
<p>An expert is someone who can do something very well. A critic is not an expert at anything except criticism.</p>
<p>Sometimes, actors can be critics as well. They love to criticize other actors and performances. They especially love to criticize Oscar winners and movie stars. But they don’t stop there. They also criticize their fellow actors and friends — usually behind their back but sometimes to their face. They have a running monologue of criticism.</p>
<p>But of all the people they criticize, they have one absolute favorite.</p>
<p>Themselves.</p>
<p>They love to chop themselves to pieces. Of all the targets of their criticisms, they levy the fiercest attacks on their own, perceived, incompetence. No matter how good they are, they will find a reason to be dissatisfied, and miserable. They forget that no one is perfect — perfection doesn’t exist. </p>
<p>They hold themselves to a standard that is impossible to meet. And so, they set themselves up for failure. And they fail, fail, fail. </p>
<p>And finally, when they can’t take it anymore, they quit.</p>
<p>Some become teachers or professional critics. </p>
<p>An artist should appreciate the creations of others. He should look for all the good things in people’s work and ignore the not-so-good. He should do the same for his own work, while training to improve the rough areas without finding fault. He should strive for perfection, while knowing that absolute perfection doesn’t exist, and that everyone is a work-in-progress.</p>
<p>Treat others well. Treat yourself well. You are important. You are an artist! </p>
tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/its-about-people-people2015-07-02T12:42:33-07:002015-07-02T12:42:33-07:00It's about People, People<p>Why do I make movies? Why do I act, write, eat, breathe?</p>
<p>Is it about swimming pools and majestic palm trees on my front lawn?</p>
<p>Is it about fame? Autographs? Being chased by Paparazzi? Starlets? Being seen at the Ivy with Charlize Theron? </p>
<p>Why do I live? Why do I love?</p>
<p>Is it all about me? It’s a me, me, me world, after all.</p>
<p>Is it all about gadgets? I just got my new Apple Watch.</p>
<p>Is it about technological advances? Artificial intelligence? Robots? Space travel? New frontiers? Star Trek? </p>
<p>Is it about love? Love makes the world go ‘round, right? All you need is love.</p>
<p>Or is it about people? A little about me, and a lot about other people? My girl, my sister, my nephew, my friends, all of the people in the world I will never meet? Helping others? Inspiring others? Making people smile, laugh, cry, even learn a little about life? If I cry on a movie screen, maybe someone else won’t have to. If I laugh, maybe someone else will too. Maybe I can make just one person’s day a tiny bit better — just a little. And maybe he will do the same for someone else. And I’ll still have lunch with Charlize at the Ivy. </p>
tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/a-day-in-the-life2015-06-25T01:41:51-07:002015-06-25T01:41:51-07:00A Day in the Life<p>8:00 A.M. The alarm pounds my hung-over temples. I reach by the nightstand and slam my fist in the general direction of the snooze button. Eight more minutes.</p>
<p>Yesterday was the worst day of my life. I had a massive audition and the douche-bag casting director barely looked me in the eye. I had nothing to work with — nothing. It’s as if she decided I was wrong for the part the second I walked into the room. It was over before it began. And rather than let that fuel me, I let it get to me. Went up on my lines, three times, mumbled my way through the audition, then had the stupidity to ask if I could do it again. “That won’t be necessary,” she snarled, and the next thing I remember, I was walking through the waiting area, past all of the other actors. One looked at me with an evil twinkle in his eye, “You didn’t get it, huh? Better luck next time.” “Fuck you,” I beamed back at him.</p>
<p>Just twenty-four hours earlier, I was so ecstatic that I got the audition in the first place. I got the email from Deb, my agent, and couldn’t believe what I read. An audition for an outstanding scene in a film by my all time favorite director, David Fincher! I spent the next several hours deluding myself into thinking that this was it — the big break I’d been waiting for. All the years of suffering would finally pay off. On the outside, I kept a nonchalant demeanor, but inside, my heart was doing triple-time. I even shelled out a hundred bucks of hard earned tips for a private coach.</p>
<p>But like bad sex, it was over before it started. In and out in less than four minutes.</p>
<p>I left the audition feeling hopeless. The pain in my being was excruciating. I couldn’t remember why I got into this business in the first place. Why do I put myself through this? You’d have to be a masochist to love auditioning, and I was always a wimp when it came to pain. A paper cut is enough to ruin my week, and here I am asking to be kicked in the balls on a daily basis. Maybe I should move back to Santa Rosa.</p>
<p>My girlfriend, Beth, called and asked the obligatory “supportive girlfriend” question: “How’d it go, babe?” At first I gave her the usual bullshit about it being okay, and that it’s hard to tell, blah, blah, blah. But ten seconds later, I vomited all of my neurosis on her. “It was horrible. I can’t act. The worst audition of my life! I’m a terrible auditioner — I’ll never work in this business. I blew the best chance I’ve had in years. I don’t want to do it any more!” “Well, you probably should quit,” she responded. Beth always knew how to shut me up. She was stingy when it came to sympathy. I had no choice but to wallow in my own misery.</p>
<p>So, I drank some of the inventory at my job — I drank a lot of it. It helped for about two seconds.</p>
<p>The alarm jars me awake again. 8:08 A.M. Why did I agree to this meeting? Some student director wants to have breakfast, undoubtedly, to pitch his stupid thesis film, and ask me if I would do it for free, cause he really admires my work, yada, yada. Fuck him. Doesn’t he know I suck? He should ask me to pay <em>him</em> to do his worthless film. That’s what I deserve. For some inexplicable reason, I drag myself out of bed and into the shower. “I wonder if anyone ever drowned in a shower,” I think to myself.</p>
<p>Deb texts me: “How did the audition go?” I key in several responses: “Okay.” “It sucked.” “I quit.” “You’re fired.” “I’m fired.” None seemed right, so I don’t respond.</p>
<p>The director turns out to be a nice guy — delusional — but nice. He still has that idealistic gleam in his eye. Just wait until the little shit graduates. I’ll give him six months before he offs himself. I tell him I’ll read his script, but I’m secretly planning to brush him off with some bullshit about another engagement the week of the shoot. I certainly wasn’t going to waste any brain cells reading the damn thing. From the sound of it, it’s another depressing student film — a father-son story with lots of abuse and alcohol. Why do film students make depressing films? It must make them feel deep, or maybe it impresses their professors. You’ll never see the next <em>A Fish Called Wanda</em> as a student thesis film, that’s for sure.</p>
<p>I throw the script on my back seat and head over to my apartment. I don’t want to go home really but I have nowhere else to go. For ten seconds, I consider driving all the way to Tijuana. I have no logical reason to do it, other than it would be dramatic. Ultimately, I chicken out. I wish I had the balls of some of my characters. I really do.</p>
<p>The phone rings — since I ignored her text, Deb has resorted to calling me. I send it to voicemail. I don’t want to hear a pep talk from anyone.</p>
<p>When I get to the apartment, I decide to take a pen and paper and write down all of my options other than acting. I make a long list. The least depressing is to apply for a job as a drama teacher at my old high school. I figure I could call my cousin Ben — he teaches History at my alma mater. Maybe he could put a word in for me. I call mom and ask for Ben’s number and she tells me his daughter just got in a major car wreck and was in the intensive care unit at Saint Mary’s Hospital. I consider calling anyway, then I decide that the, “I’m so sorry about your daughter — could you call the school for me,” pitch won’t fly. Mom surprises me though. When I tell her I am quitting, she says something along the lines that only losers quit just before the finish line, and I wasn’t a loser. What does she know? But it makes me feel a tiny bit better anyway. Hell, I always thought she secretly wanted me to quit and move into a house with a white picket fence and the 2.5 kids. Who knew?</p>
<p>Option two on my list is a car salesman. I have mixed feelings about that one. I happen to love and know all there is to know about cars. But I hate sales — absolutely detest it. You’d never guess, right? I move on to option three: travel around the world. The problem with that one is you need money. I decide to hit the bookstore to buy one of those dumb “Africa on a Buck-a-Day,” books or something. The best I can find is a series of five-bucks-a-day books — inflation, I guess. I buy them all.</p>
<p>I was supposed to see Beth that night — I’m embarrassed to say we’ve resorted to scheduling our sex lately. Sure, it’s not spontaneous, but it’s better than nothing. But tonight, I am definitely not in the mood. Actually, I decide I am going to break up with her. Believe me, I am doing her a favor. She deserves a successful guy. I eat a pint of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and rehearse my break-up lines. “I’m sorry babe, but this is not working… I’m going to hitchhike all over the world… I’ve moved on.” I decide to wing it.</p>
<p>She comes over and I tell her we don’t belong together because she is so positive and I am a dark cloud, etc. Her response is to ask me if I wanted to order some Chinese. I figure she didn’t hear me, so I start all over again. She cuts me off and tells me she heard me the first time, and asks what I want to eat. This girl has some serious issues — who the hell ignores you when you’re trying to break up with them?! A normal person would have been pissed.</p>
<p>I finally give up on getting through to her and we order Chinese and put on <em>The Godfather</em>. I’ve seen it like seventy-five times, but it’s my favorite film of all time. We were at the part when Sonny gets machine-gunned when Deb calls again. She usually doesn’t call this late, so I figured she must be really annoyed that I’ve been ignoring her all day. Beth pauses the film right on the frame where Sonny’s bullet-ridden body is about to collapse, and makes me pick up.</p>
<p>I start to apologize to Deb and tell her how shitty the audition went, etc., when she interrupts me with: “You got a callback.” For a second, I think I heard her wrong. Or it must be that stupid Gillette commercial I auditioned for two weeks ago. Then she lays this on me: “David Fincher wants to meet with you in person.”</p>
<p>I go numb. My mind immediately flashes back to the past two days, the email with the audition, the genius choices I made with the coach, the Brando'esque, under-stated, audition, the coy, “That won’t be necessary,” from the casting director, the terror in the actor’s eye that knew I got the part!</p>
<p>A warm elation fills my body. I scream into the phone. Between laughs, Deb tries to put things in perspective, “You don’t have the part yet. It’s between you and one other guy.” Bullshit!“ I yell back. "This role is mine, baby!”</p>
<p>All of the hard work was worth it! My big break is here! Oh my God, a one-on-one with David Fincher! I’m amazing! I’m brilliant! I’m the best actor in the world!</p>
<p>I finally hang up and Beth doesn’t even have the decency to ask me what all of the screaming was about. I’m sure she got the picture, but a courteous person would give me a chance to relive the entire phone call all over again. I give her the blow-by-blow anyway and all she does is flash me a huge smile, then press play on the remote. What is wrong with this woman? I think I’m going to ask her to marry me.</p>
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tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/what-to-tell-yourself-to-feel-better-about-quitting-12015-06-19T18:18:25-07:002015-06-19T18:18:25-07:00The Joy of Quitting<p>Quitting has a bad name. </p>
<p>Being a successful actor can be a challenge. However, quitting in the pursuit of a dream is frowned upon by most people. On this planet, a quitter is pond scum. Only winners are cool. </p>
<p>So, if you’re thinking of quitting or have just quit, here are a few things you can say to yourself to make you feel better about your decision:</p>
<ol>
<li>I never wanted to be an actor in the first place.</li>
<li>The movie business is all about who you know.</li>
<li>Hollywood is full of backstabbing a-holes!</li>
<li>The family plumbing business isn’t as bad as I thought.</li>
<li>Working 9 to 5 is nice!</li>
<li>No more auditions! (Just job interviews).</li>
<li>Acting is too hard.</li>
<li>I love acting, it’s the business of acting that I hate.</li>
<li>At least I have money now. (Even if there’s no time to spend it).</li>
<li>Free rent living with my parents again!</li>
<li>I really had no talent.</li>
<li>Success has nothing to do with talent!</li>
<li>Who wants a dumb Oscar anyway?</li>
<li>Movie acting isn’t as glamorous as it looks.</li>
<li>No more waiting tables! (Just making coffee for my new boss).</li>
<li>No traffic jams at the family farm in Wisconsin!</li>
<li>Maybe I can teach acting instead.</li>
<li>It was just a hobby.</li>
<li>Time to have some kids and settle down.</li>
<li>I’m not passionate about acting any more.</li>
<li>I gave myself a time limit to be successful and it didn’t happen.</li>
<li>I have to make a living at something.</li>
<li>I have to grow up at some point.</li>
<li>I’m not a kid anymore.</li>
<li>I’m too old to do this anymore.</li>
<li>It’s all about how you look.</li>
<li>I’m too short.</li>
<li>I’m too tall.</li>
<li>I’m too fat.</li>
<li>I’m too skinny.</li>
<li>I’m too good looking — they think I’m dumb.</li>
<li>I realized it’s too shallow a career.</li>
<li>I slept with the wrong people.</li>
<li>I wouldn’t kiss ass.</li>
<li>I think I’ll look up my high school sweetheart.</li>
<li>I’m not really quitting, I’m just taking some time off.</li>
<li>I’m married now — I have to be responsible.</li>
<li>I hate rejection.</li>
<li>I’m like everybody else now!</li>
<li>I love my desk job!</li>
<li>I’m going back to school to be a nurse.</li>
<li>I tried! I really did!</li>
</ol>
<p>Of course, you could always give it another day.</p>
tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/the-secret-to-success2015-06-11T14:26:19-07:002015-06-11T14:26:19-07:00The Secret to Success<p>People love ideas. I do too. The mistake many people make in the pursuit of success is thinking that the idea, alone, is enough. It never is.</p>
<p>You must put the idea into motion — into action. You must work hard to be successful. Ideas are the easy part. It’s the work to realize the idea that trips people up. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, ideas are very important. Everything starts with an idea. But the key word is “starts.” You now have to get to work to make the idea come to life.</p>
<p>Work can be difficult at times. You will often have to overcome unexpected obstacles, even walk on coals and climb Mount Everest to make a dream come true. Successful people are up for the challenge. Those who fail quit before the finish line. That’s the only difference.</p>
<p>I often have people come up to me and tell me that they have a great idea for a screenplay. And they generously offer to share it with me, so I can write it. I have plenty of film ideas. It’s the writing part that’s the hard work. They want me to do the work for them. I politely decline.</p>
<p>Success comes about from putting great ideas into action. And staying at it, pushing through the bumps and twists and turns, until the idea is fully realized. </p>
<p>A friend said it succinctly, “you want to be successful, then get to work!” If you hit a roadblock, and you will, then find a way around it. Be clever, be persistent, and maintain a good sense of humor. And for inspiration, remind yourself every day of the great idea that started it all. </p>
tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/look2015-04-12T17:56:34-07:002015-04-12T17:56:34-07:00Look<p>Actors need to learn to <em>look</em> — look at people, look at things. Actors portray characters going through the various bumps and bruises of life. The way to understand characters, or people, is to look at them. Truly look, and see what you see.</p>
<p>By the way, this would benefit anyone in any occupation, not just actors.</p>
<p>Well, you might say, “I look all the time.” Do you? Or are you generally too distracted to genuinely look? Are you too dependent on others to look for you? Are you thinking about something else when you “look?” Are you really seeing what’s in front of you, or some vague idea instead? Are you looking though the fog of random thoughts and the day’s problems?</p>
<p>If you’re not fully in the moment, you cannot look. If your mind is on how much the audience likes or dislikes you, you are not looking.</p>
<p>You have to be <em>here</em> to look.</p>
<p>An old acting teacher of mine used to turn to the class and say, “One day you’ll look back on these days as the good old days, but none of you are actually here to enjoy them.” He was right. Most in the class were thinking about finances, relationships, auditions, parents insisting we get a real job, and what have you.</p>
<p>So while our bodies were in the chairs, we were spiritually off somewhere else. And therefore, we weren’t really seeing anything. Sure, for a few seconds, when something unexpected or shocking occurred, we popped back into the room and really engaged in that moment. But those times were fleeting, if I’m being honest.</p>
<p>So, right now, look at the computer in front of you. Really. Did you do it? What did you see? Look again and notice something you’ve never noticed before. Good. Do the same for the room you’re in. Look around. See things you haven’t noticed before. Interesting, isn’t it?</p>
<p>Go to a busy place and take a look at people. See what they are wearing? Look at their faces. Are they happy? Sad? Thinking about something? Look at their shoes. Look at their clothes. Neatly ironed or shabby? Their hair? Make-up? From what you observe, try to figure out their occupation, their emotional state and other personal things about them.</p>
<p>Movie stars often complain that the toughest thing about being famous, is not being able to go to a busy place and just observe people.</p>
<p>If you start using this simple exercise, you’ll be surprised how many things you will learn and how many changes in yourself you will experience. This simple exercise is powerful.</p>
<p>All great acting is in the moment. All the life worth living, is in the moment as well. So, be here, and take a look around. You might learn something about others. You might learn something about yourself.</p>
tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/up-the-down-escalator-12014-10-01T11:08:32-07:002014-10-01T11:08:32-07:00Up the Down Escalator<p>In many ways, living life is like walking up a down escalator. The momentum of the escalator is pulling you downwards, while you are trying to climb up to the top. If you go about it casually, you will still go backwards. With a little more effort, you will go nowhere. It takes concentrated focus and energy to overcome the downward momentum of the escalator and actually get anywhere.</p>
<p>This can also be said of a career — any career, but especially that of an artist. There will be bumps along the road for sure. It’s how you react to the bad days that makes the difference between a winner and a loser.</p>
<p>Good days are easy. They’re good. You wake up feeling energized and ready to conquer the world. So, there’s not much to say here other than take advantage of those days to the max.</p>
<p>It’s the bad days that trip us up. Those days, the down escalator feels like someone hit the high speed button. It’s hard to get out of bed. Career feels hopeless. There is no apparent purpose to anything. </p>
<p>Perfect. Here’s your chance to take charge, and force yourself out of bed and into action. You could go to the gym. Go on a hike. Study. Do anything you can to extrovert your attention.</p>
<p>And do something productive for yourself and career. </p>
<p>At first, it will feel terrible, useless, so difficult. That’s okay. Make yourself keep going. Again, that downward escalator is pulling you backwards. On days like this, it’s on high speed. What are you going to do? Give in or fight your way to the top.</p>
<p>If you decide to fight, you will start to make progress and before you know it, you’ll also start to feel better. Eventually you’ll have a breakthrough. Perhaps book a role. And you’ll remember why you got into acting in the first place. Your purpose will get a revival.</p>
<p>So, how you react to the bad days is key. Remind yourself what you love about acting, and why it’s important for yourself, your friends, family and the world that you do this. Get out of bed and go. You feel horrible — so what? Go! Get something done, no matter what. </p>
<p>Keep this policy in and the bad days will become fewer and the good days more frequent.</p>
<p>And you’ll find a switch for that nasty down escalator; flip it, set it going in the right direction. Up!</p>
tag:planetisa.com,2014:Post/what-you-dont-know-hurts-you2014-07-25T13:18:02-07:002014-07-25T13:18:02-07:00What You Don't Know Can Hurt You<p>The cliché is, “What you don’t know <em>can’t</em> hurt you.” Some clichés are grounded in truth. This one is ass-backwards. The only things that can hurt you are those things you know nothing about. The enemy of life is ignorance, not knowledge.</p>
<p>Knowledge is power, is certainty. If you know all aspects of your career, genuinely know them, you will run along smoothly. If you know the machinery of your job, then the machinery can’t bite you. If you know the mechanisms of life, then you will run life — life won’t run you.</p>
<p>Seeking knowledge and truth is supreme.</p>
<p>An actor should know all there is to know about his craft. And since an actor is performing different characters and expressing a multitude of life experiences, he must be an avid student of life. </p>
<p>Don’t accept the clichés or what “everyone” knows to be true. Observe for yourself and make your own decisions. Watch life. Sit at a busy corner and look at people. Examine their facial expressions, their clothes, their emotional tone, their gait. Try to figure out what they do for a living and what they’re thinking about as they walk past you.</p>
<p>Observe how people respond to good and bad news. It might not be what you expect. See what you can discover about individuals that isn’t immediately apparent. </p>
<p>This is a full time job, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An actor never stops studying life or seeking life improvement.</p>
<p>The pursuit of knowledge is supreme.</p>
<p>Great actors are the best students of life.</p>