The Purpose of Acting by Neil Schell     1-5-09 Actors become actors for many reasons. With most, it’s an emotional leap into a dream-like land that may some day provide an exciting life of betterment for them and their family and friends. The fantastical dream of acting in movies pulls them like some sort of giant magnet to a career of lights and cameras and sets, money and notoriety and admiration. The dream is wrapped up in emotion and it seems indescribable to even the owner of the dream. All the actor knows is that they must follow this love that has been borne within them. And so they do. And as they do, rationalization sets in – at some stage. It could be brought to the actor by a parent or a teacher or a friend. Or, it could be just the actor’s very own thoughts. And it comes in many different forms. Most often it comes as a question: What are your chances of really doing this as a career? Or; It seems rather selfish, doesn’t it? Or maybe even a commanding statement like; Become a dentist like your father and earn a good living! The unarmed, novice actor doesn’t have a full enough understanding of their own drive for their success to properly deal with these types of rationalization. Even actors who have managed to work as professionals may not know how to deal with this very important confrontation. It can be a very difficult and frustrating stage to go through. And many do not. From my observation of working with hundreds of actors for over a dozen years as an acting coach, there is truly only one remedy for this. I used to think the only way to deal with “rationalization” on this level with an art such as acting was to disregard these attempts to invalidate my chosen profession. How could rationalizing have anything to do with such an emotional, lofty subject as the art of acting? I thought that way because that’s what would happen to me when I was confronted with such rationalized thought about acting. Emotions would erupt inside of me. A passion so strong that I “knew” I was doing the right thing but couldn’t bring it down to their level and “explain” it. My only thought was that they just didn’t understand. And I left it at that. This works wonders when things are going your way. Because when they are your own mind won’t buy into this line of thinking. But when an actor is in a more vulnerable situation of not having worked for several months or even years, rationalization starts to set in the actor’s own mind. It can take the form of such thoughts as: “Why am I doing this?” “I could be living much more comfortably doing anything else!” “All I’m thinking of is myself and I’m burdening others with this selfish pursuit.” Hard hitting aren’t they. Now it’s time to bring out the big guns. The absolute best way to deal with rationalization of this sort is to truly confront what the purpose of acting is – for you. I can give some good suggestions. And you may even want to latch onto some of them. But, you have to make them personal. You have to discover what your purpose is for acting. You need to nourish this purpose. Evolve it. Never invalidate it or let it falter. For it is your guiding light through times of blackness and it is you who makes it shine brightly. This is true not only for the novice but for the professional at the top of their game. Daniel Day-Lewis referred to it in a recent acceptance speech. What I suggest is that you do a little research along these lines. Find out why artists are the most important people in this society or any society. Figure out why stories are so critical to the fabric of our social structure because that’s what you are involved in, telling stories. Why are movies so popular? Why are movies our greatest art form today? How do they help other people? How did they help you? After dozens of years of study and participation in the story business, I have come to understand some very important, strong principals about acting and movies. These give me a sense of purpose that goes far beyond a whimsical dream that sparkled my attention and took me on this adventure of acting. I believe that the very impulse to become an actor is your purpose and that part of your work is defining that purpose and evolving that purpose so its true strength is revealed for all to see. For without a strong purpose that puts a fire in your belly, you will fall to a rationalization or some difficulty will bring you down and you will start to rationalize your way out of one of the most important industries in existence today. An actor’s work is as vital, and arguably more so, than that of a scientist, engineer or doctor. And once you honestly understand that truth through personal observation and experience, no rationalization will ever strike you down! I wish you great adventures in the discovery or your purpose as an actor! Until the next newsletter… Neil PS Feel 'free' to write to me at  anytime. I will answer. PROFESSIONALS HAVE COACHES, AMATEURS DON'T