Actors & Their Problems

Last week

I decided to start letting people know about my online career course

Since then

I have been inundated with questions from actors about what I do

And more importantly

Who I do it for

So I wanted to take this week to explain what I see behind the curtain

What problems are actors usually needing to solve

In order to move into the next chapter of their career

Firstly

I am an actor. Started at 14 with Shakespeare. Got into NIDA at 18. Led at the Opera House by 25. Switched to screen at 26. Nominated alongside my heroes at 30. Blah, blah, blah…

Now

At 36

I am fortunate enough to still be playing dress ups

On sets around the world

With artists I deeply respect and admire

This year for example

I have filmed a Disney+ series in Sydney

Shot a feature film in Kathmandu, Nepal

Had a lead role in a feature film which fell over 3 weeks before shooting (oh the pain)

And I’m currently sitting on the couch waiting for a call to tell me if I’m flying to Melbourne in the coming weeks for a series regular on a TV show

Why am I bothering to share this?

Well

When I was hurting the most as an actor

I wanted help from someone who was in the arena

(and boy, did I find her)

Didn’t just talk about change

Lived it

It’s extraordinarily easy to talk about acting

To throw around ideas about what actors should or shouldn’t be doing

But what’s most important to me in passing on guidance to other artists

Is that I’m placing myself in the arena to get that continual reality check

To help me remain

At best

A curious idiot

It’s all well and good for me to be teaching students at NIDA or helping professional actors

But if I’m not testing these ideas on set myself & remaining grounded

Then its very easy to step into the world of black & whites, do’s and don’t, rights & wrongs

I’m sure we have all experienced learning from someone who is disconnected from the work as they are not stepping into the arena themselves

Where suddenly we find ourselves in a space trying to get things right in order to please their doctrines

Doesn’t feel very healthy or energising does it?

And if I’m being honest

A lot of teaching at this stage is about helping students unlearn false rules that have been engrained at earlier stages

Speaking of which

(And second on my list)

I am lucky enough to be the current head of screen studies at NIDA for the diploma course

Les Chantery generously passed the baton to me back in 2023

Since then

It’s been an absolute privilege to nurture the skill development of these hungry up and coming artists

Some of the most energising times I have had in the last 3 years

Have been watching students have breakthroughs in front of the lens

Or sitting on the floor in the corner of the room

Watching the way they take care of each other whilst dipping their toe into dream work

Since 2021

I have also had the good fortune of working with the 3rd year graduates

Helping them manage their careers through a more holistic paradigm

Looking at how they can survive as artists when they leave the nest at the end of the year

Those guys go through a gruelling three years

And that last year can be an overwhelm of expectation

Thirdly

I’m an artistic guide for professional actors

Why do I use the word guide?

When artists have years of training & experience

They don’t need to be told what to do

They don’t need to be fixed

And they certainly don’t need to be controlled

What they often do need however

Is to give themselves permission

To take off the reigns

You’d be amazed how much artists are able to start driving their careers sustainably

When simply listened to

And guided with a few nudges here and there

God I love actors

What they go through for that little moment in time on stage or in front of the lens

To give everything to that 3 month job which will stay with them forever

I’m getting sidetracked

To summarise

I help students build skills

I help graduates turn pro

And I help pros find flow

Now

Let’s discuss the problems to be solved

All threes areas have artists at different stages

And those stages have varying problems which need to be solved

Students tend to be overwhelmed with shoulds

Things they have been told they should do that will make them good little actors

Unfortunately many of these shoulds

Although sometimes passed on with great intention

Usually aren’t founded in any real world application if you factor in what the actual goal is

That being

Free flowing self expression

To be fair

It’s very easy and understandable that acting teachers would pass on what they have been taught during their studies

But advice or skills that haven’t been tested in reality or questioned heuristically

Are sometimes more harmful than beneficial

Graduates on the other hand

Are usually overwhelmed by a deep sense of pleasing the industry

Yep

Did my drama school for 3 years

I’ve got all my techniques and knowledge

But now I’m out in the biz

And I can’t figure out why the flying fuck casting directors aren’t interested in my work

Why my agent is losing faith in me

Or why, when I do actually land the occasional gig

I’m not executing in the way that I hoped to

Several years out

Graduates often find themselves at a point of exhaustion

With a sense of disappointment at things not going the way they hoped

For these artists

It’s a beautiful time to start focussing on sustainable & energising processes over results

Which means

Having some deep and honest

(and sometimes confronting)

Conversations about their work and their processes

And absolutely

Examining how well they are waiting in between the work

In an uncertain industry

For professional artists

Years out in the industry with a bag full of experience

Is often when they hit a point where they stall

Lose passion

Or simply feel stuck when it comes to making progress

The feeling of invisible ceilings becomes real

They’re not doing the work they hoped to be doing

(Both giving the work they want to, but also getting the work they want)

They just know

Deeply

They can be giving more

Let’s make this clear

Growth

or making progress

Has a significant influence over an artists sense of fulfilment

When a professional artist has got to the point where they are doing the same thing and expecting different results

Time to interrupt the patterns :)

For these professionals

We put their time, energy & attention under the microscope

And we look for the patterns

We let go of the energising work and processes

And create room for aliveness to lead

Helping them find flow

Especially when having to give their best work in high pressure situations

So

To summarise

1. I help students build skills

2. I help graduates turn pro

3. I help pros find flow

For students, I unfortunately teach exclusively at NIDA

But for drama school graduates and professional actors

Who are ready to commit to change

Ready for the next chapter they know is calling

The online Career Course or private Six Week program are where you’ll find it

And of course

The main question…

Why do all this?

Because at the age of 25

I achieved my dream in acting

And It was the worst experience I had ever had

And just as I was about to throw in the towel

I found a coach (and then another, and then another)

Who helped me get back on to my track

And if there is an actor out there

Who is stuck, confused, frustrated, resentful or disappointed at how things have gone with acting

Who want… or need change

And I can help them breathe easier whilst they fall back in love with their work

As much as my coaches helped me fall back in love with mine

That’s a day worth living in my books

Hope this helps

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