Actors : DON’T Go Into ‘The Lion’s Den’

During Your Professional Acting Career, Or When You’re An Actor Finding a Break Into An Acting Career [Big Uh-Oh] Or Trying To Have Your Acting Part Upgraded [Always, And Also Always A Bigger Uh-oh In These Situations]…

When A Director Asks You To Stand Next To The Live + Roaring Lions, Say “No”.

When acting: On a film set…On A TV set…On A Broadway Stage

[or Off-Broadway, Non-Profit, University Theatre, starter theatre company in Indiana... ]

actor acting in the lions den

Even if it is an A-level director, or it is rumored to be, once released, the hottest film or show of the decade…

Do not go into the water in the dark of night, holding the hands of some non-union children, with a helicopter just overhead, and explosions going off right next to you.

Even if it the last film shot of the day, and they just want to try it one other, more dangerous way.

Even if it’s a Broadway show that sucked in Previews, and every theatre blogger wrote about it, too early.

Actor Injury Risk Warning Signs:

- - It breaks SAG or AFTRA or any union rules
  - Even if a director or someone in the film production hierarchy tells or asks you to do something not very safe
  - Doesn’t look or sound safe
  - Your instincts are trying to tell you it isn’t safe, but you probably aren’t listening
  - The pressure to do your own stunts, or some crazy external or internal need for validation is telling you it means you are a real actor to do something dangerous
  - The sense of belonging to this production makes you risk so you can show you are a team player
  - You think that if you trade in your safety they will reward you with a bigger acting part, better actor billing, more stuff for your acting reel, etc. Even more treacherous: You will be able to break into the business by risking breaking your brain.
  - In the production, things are not going as well as they should be.
  - Most important: You wouldn’t do it off of a film set or stage, but you are entrusting that the production-or director-or makeup artist- or the stunt person -or the special effects person- knows better what’s safe for you!

It’s a film set (etc) so… There’s a lot of people and a lot of safety responsibility, in general.

You as a professional actor, are responsible for yourself. Stay responsible, and others will the respect you for doing so.

You’ll be happier that you lived to enjoy your acting career.

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Actors : DO + DON’T

Professional Actors Do:

Eat Nicely and make sure you keep your costume immaculate, for matching shots; and out of respect for the production, the warddrobe people, the script supervisor, the director; and because, most of all…

That’s what professionals all know and do.

Do even wear a bib, like Russell Brand, on the Arthur set.

Actor Russell Brand, On Film Set, At Craft Services

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DO :: Use Professional Actor Manners

Actor Gratitude Is Important. To Producers, Director, Casting, Crew…

This Actor, Sarwan Badesha, Asked Dana On Twitter

They all granted you a chance to do what you love. They gave you an opportunity to show your talent.

There’s a quadrillion-zillion actors in this world, at least. You got the acting job, the acting opportunity.

It’s a fine thing, to show what a fine person you are…

….Because that makes you a hire-able actor.

Aren’t you grateful for that acting job? Aren’t you so happy to be an actor who got to be in a real production, whether film, tv, or stage? Aren’t you glad that you have new acting credits to put on your professional acting resume?

If you are grateful, thank everybody. Write as many people as you can.

If you are an actor that isn’t grateful, you may garner resentment all along your acting career path; as short as that will probably be, due to your arrogant actor attitude.

Actors, Always Include A Photo With Each Handwritten Note

If it’s at all possible, have a photo reference inside each “thank you note”.

Make stationary on your computer, and shrink your photo next to your printed name. Or whatever way you want to do it.

Why?

Because, again: There are a million-trillion actors in this world.

1.They may not remember which actor you are.

2.Even if they do, by the next project, you will be out-of-mind because you are out-of-sight. (Maybe they will save your note, if they liked you; and hire you again.)

3. You can use the same photo in your subsequent letters to them, or postcard. As reminders of what a fine person you are, and a fine actor. So that they DO hire you again.

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