DIY for Actors – Getting Noticed

This isn’t a revolutionary idea.

If you aren’t going to wait for permission, you ARE going to have to do something about it.

Back in the day, they would have said choose a play, hire a hall, get together with some friends and put on a show for yourself. I still occasionally suggest this. Don’t wait for someone to come knocking, go out and do it for yourself.

Except, these days… I would say, that’s too much to lose and too little gain.

Instead. Make a movie. Something simple. Don’t overcomplicate. Tell a story. Well.

That’s how to get noticed.

I don’t mean mortgage your house and try to make a full movie, but create a short film and put it on YouTube and Vimeo, edit it on your home computer and then make another. Then make another.

 If you believe in your ability as an actor, writer or director: PUT IT ON THE LINE.

I don’t mean try to make a feature, I mean put the means of production into your own hands, stop waiting for them to ‘pick you’ as Seth Godin would say, and go out there and put it out in the public sphere and see how it does.

That’s precisely what my friend R Paul Wilson just did. He made a beautiful short film called The Magic Box and put his ability as a writer and director on the line for people to see. I was lucky enough to be involved as the Casting Director, and in the 6 weeks since he put it up on YouTube, it’s already garnered 606,000 views.

So you can be like Paul, and put it on the line or stop complaining.

They are not going to just call you up on the off chance you are free.

Do It For Yourself.

 You Can.

Any excuse you’ve just given is just an excuse.

Don’t have a camera? You can get them for less than £300. That’s cheaper than hiring a hall.

Most cities have cheaply rentable equipment, don’t know how to use it? Learn.

DIY for Actors – Do It Yourself.

No?

Okay, WalMart are always hiring.