Here's a Thought...Be Different...Be Yourself!

Some of you may/may not know that I've been studying with Ivana Chubbuck for a few months now. I only bring that up to share the following story:

Last week I did a scene with a classmate and very accomplished actor Clement von Franckenstein. (I know him best for playing the role of the French President in the film “The American President” with my boy Michael Douglas….smile. My boy…yeah right.) We both worked very hard in preparing to put up the scene for class. Now when I tell you we were ready....trust me, we were ready. We did the scene and I felt VERY good about our performance. (My classmates are always sooo kind and nice, telling me how much they enjoy my work.....thanks.) The feedback from Ivana totally took me by surprise:

She asked me what I thought of my performance….I told her I felt very good about it. (No shame in my game….I’m my own worst critic, hence, I feel I can be very objective about my work. Still, if it’s good….it’s good. Nothing wrong with having confidence in yourself either. She says to my partner and I that she thought the scene was "okay". (So I'm sitting there saying to myself "Whatever, I don't care what you say....that scene was off the chain....I know good work when I see it!") AND THEN SHE DROPPED THE BOMB ON ME:

She says: “Angel, if 50 people were to audition for this scene….48 would have done it exactly the same way you did. They’re just doing what’s on the page. Yet all 48 of those actors doing it the same are totally different from one another. There should really be 50 totally different performances!” Angel, I can tell that you’re special and you have all sorts of things you’ve experienced….you need to show that in your work.

I said to her “Damn, you’re right. I took the easy way out didn’t I?” By just playing what was on the page and not making it Angel’s. Urrhhh. Needless to say, she’s SOOOO right. But what’s even more frustrating is……I ALREADY KNEW THAT!!! I became aware of that years ago working with Haile Gerima in a workshop @ Howard University. That along with SOOO many other empowering truths like…..What is beauty? Who says it has to be slim? or a particular color or complexion? or hair color, texture, etc, etc. Or why only one race of people can sell certain kinds of stories to Hollywood….and only another race can sell another? The point being made was simply not to conform. Be yourself, tell your story, you are unique…..THERE IS NO ONE IN THIS WORLD EXACTLY LIKE YOU!!! Use that fact as your selling point! Embrace it! Don’t hide from it. We can’t allow people to “validate” us or empower them to say we’re good or bad. That is simply one person’s opinion. (And probably a very close minded one at that.) The truth is, another person may feel totally different. We as actors can not keep letting these opinions make us “feel great” or “feel terrible”. We have to be secure and confident with what we bring to the table and if they like it….they like it. If not…so be it! This (plus years of very good training) may sort of explain why I’m always pretty confident with my work. I feel I’m at a point acting-wise where no coach or teacher is going to “re-invent the wheel” for me as far as acting. Still, it’s good to STAY SHARP and maybe tweak a few things here and there.

In fact, I’m always preaching and coaching other actors not to “water down” your personality to become a character….but instead take the character and make it part of you. How would YOU deliver these lines if you were this character? That’s what makes these parts interesting. Hey, it may/may not be the right choice but it’s a strong choice being made by a professional actor.

That’s it for now people. Hope you're all doing great. I have a couple of auditions tomorrow....please keep me in your prayers. Tks.