| If you've been on a set or have longed to be on a set, you should really be listening to I Was There Too, Matt Gourley's wonderful podcast featuring actors who had small roles in big films. |  |
But this post is to recommend the latest episode, featuring Paul Sheer's epic tale of being hired, fired, rehired, and then cut from a film that should have been great but turned out to be pretty terrible. Listen to it here, or subscribe to the show on your podcast platform of choice.
Paul's story is a great illustration of a point I'm always trying to make with actors: no one has the power to tell you if you're good or not, and if you give them that power, it will only confuse and dismay you. Paul is abruptly fired because he didn't have a big enough butt, was too skinny, wasn't a good luck charm, and looked too much like another guy. Some of that is true. Or none of it. But note this: none of the myriad reasons for his "rejection" had anything to do with his abilities as an actor.
So stop carrying that shit around with you, trying to guess what people want and assuming you did something wrong if you don't get a part. You'll only make yourself insane. Learn to do work you're proud of and happy to be doing, and if you get fired for your too small butt, you'll have nothing to feel badly about.
This story carries the lessons of my best audition advice ever onto the set, and it's a fun listen as you drive around town. And the show's theme song is amazing. So go listen, and be made better for it.
Paul's story is a great illustration of a point I'm always trying to make with actors: no one has the power to tell you if you're good or not, and if you give them that power, it will only confuse and dismay you. Paul is abruptly fired because he didn't have a big enough butt, was too skinny, wasn't a good luck charm, and looked too much like another guy. Some of that is true. Or none of it. But note this: none of the myriad reasons for his "rejection" had anything to do with his abilities as an actor.
So stop carrying that shit around with you, trying to guess what people want and assuming you did something wrong if you don't get a part. You'll only make yourself insane. Learn to do work you're proud of and happy to be doing, and if you get fired for your too small butt, you'll have nothing to feel badly about.
This story carries the lessons of my best audition advice ever onto the set, and it's a fun listen as you drive around town. And the show's theme song is amazing. So go listen, and be made better for it.