When Acting Becomes Impossible

Hey Sheasby

I’ve taken several years off from acting since covid

I want to get back in

But it just feels impossible

Any advice?

Miss Monkey

(Name changed for privacy)

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Miss Monkey

Firstly

I love that you’ve taken a break from acting.

In an industry like ours

With as many imaginary rules as their are

I wish more actors did this

Just step away

For a day

A week

A month

A year

A chapter in their life

To just focus on other important things

Casting directors want human beings who are full of life

So I think it’s crucial that actors live fully

Get out into the world and do things which make them feel alive

Travel

Study

Work

Have relationships

Volunteer in soup kitchens

Join the reserves

Obsess over gardening

Carry responsibilities

Cook

Teach

Learn

Forgive

Fight

Help

Cry

Etc

You get my point

Despite not having acted in years

I think with all the life experience you’ve been collecting

You’ll be better than ever

At being able to really have moments of human connection in front of the lens

So please

I invite you to bring all of yourself to the table in this next chapter

Secondly

Yup

Totally hear you

It might feel bloody impossible looking at it from the outside

I can imagine strong stories popping up

“I’m older now”

“I don’t have any jobs to show from the last few years”

Stories that might make you feel like you’re less valuable in the eyes of agents, casting directors or producers…

“Impossible”

That word

Impossible

Man

That word brings up a memory for me

Remember that situation several years ago

Where there was a group of kids trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand?

They needed desperate help before the water rose and they all died

And who do you call when you need people who are really good and saving others in water?

NAVY SEALS

And guess what the SEALS said about the situation?

“We don’t have the skills”

So they called the people who did have the skills

A motley crew of individuals from around the world who happened to do that kind of diving as a hobby on the weekend

Going deep into tight, dark and muddy caves under ground

So

The guys with the skills rocked up

But the distance they had to go to reach the children

The fact that the cave was still flooding

And the issue of having to transport children under water

For over a kilometre

Children who have never scuba dived in their life…

After 3 days

The divers had a meeting with the SEALS

They said

“It’s impossible”

And that they simply could not help

The entire rescue team was defeated

They knew

The loss of those divers with their incredible skills

Meant the loss of the children lives

But one SEAL

Did something really interesting

He pulled the divers aside before they left

And he asked them

“I know you said it’s impossible

But

If you were to do the impossible

What would that look like?”

The divers gave their two cents whilst rolling their eyes

They listed a bunch of ridiculous things that would be “impossible” to do

Logistics that no diver would think is sane

Then

They left.

A few days later

After witnessing some progress made by the rescuers that stayed and commenced working on the impossible

The divers with the skills returned

Ready to help again

And two weeks later

The kids were safely back in their parents arms

The divers had suddenly done the impossible

And I mean the impossible

Those kids were drugged, put to sleep

Placed in scuba gear whilst unconscious

Hands tied behind their backs so as to take up as little space as possible

Then one by one

They were escorted by a diver

Through over a kilometre of muddy dark tunnels

Back to the opening of the cave

It was insane

Any diver in the world

Knows how insane that is

And yet

They did it

They did the impossible

Stick with me here

The divers went on to be recognised internationally for their efforts

Given awards by the King of England

All the bells and whistles

But those divers

The ones who did the actual rescue

Went on to talk of their regret

The shame they will always carry at having given up for those few days

When they believed things were impossible

Now

What the hell am I trying to get at here?

Skills are so so fucking important, Miss Monkey

It makes you incredibly generous and valuable to the tribe

But no skills

None

Can compete with curiosity

A curious question

Can defeat the impossible

What would the impossible look like?

What would this look like if it were easy?

What would this look like if I were to actually have fun?

Under pressure

Ones attention becomes critical

Where someone chooses (consciously or unconsciously) to place their focus

Can be a gloriously dangerous thing

A quality question

At an appropriate time

Can completely change lives.

You have the skills, Miss Monkey

Yes

Skills are incredibly hard to build

But

They are easy to reignite

Trust muscle memory

Trust your body

It might take a few ugly bad reps

A handful of terrible self tapes

And a few practice runs of what it’s like being on set again

But

You’ll be back and running in no time

Don’t judge those first few steps as too ridiculous

Judging the first step as too ridiculous

Often prevents people from building their dreams or pursuing what makes them feel most alive

There will be some practicals of course

Some logistics to manage

If you just want to get in front of the camera again

A class or a few colleagues to connect deeply with will be essential.

If you want to work professionally on set again

There might be some helpful contacts to start connecting with

Casting workshops provide no excuses for getting in the arena again

And once you are back in the arena

Having moments of human connection in front of the lens

With colleagues and casting directors

You might even want to reach out to an agent or ask around to help you find a good match

Your wheels will be spinning again

Steer this with curiosity

Add the element of time

And eventually

Your wheels will gain traction

And you’ll be driving again

But this time

After taking time off to live your life

To experience everything you have

The pains

The joys

The loves

The losses

You’ll be more ready to do it your way

And far more generous at giving it to others

Miss Monkey

Skills are no match for curiosity

Curiosity

Is the most beautifully valuable thing in this craft

Take care of it

Wishing you the best on this journey

Keep me updated

And please

Stay soft in the face of adversity this holiday

Curious & kind

Hope this helps

X