On Acting
After a few months of not auditioning for acting roles, I was asked to send over a clip doing a romantic scene in Tagalog. I was awkward and mispronouncing all the non-English words; actually, I was also slurring some of the English lines. This experience taught me the following:
- Just let yourself go.
I sent the initial reel feeling extremely embarrassed. It was a new booker/agent who I haven’t met in person yet, so this was my introduction to her. You know what, she didn’t seem to care too much about how awkward or inhibited that I may have thought I was. We all care too much about too much. People have their own worlds and lives to worry about. I’m not proposing that we categorically disregard all other people’s opinions, but man is it freeing if we could. Ironically, the more I tried to look cool and not awkward, the more I looked uncool and awkward on camera. Finally, after a few embarrassing takes and a nudge from my friend taking the video, I just said, “Who cares?” and did an almost totally uninhibited take. I sent this one over to the booker, and she was much more responsive with her, “Thank you.” Or so I think.
2. There’s something for everyone.
I look and sound terrible on camera. This is connected to number 1. Wow, I have no idea how I have been able to do this for a living partially. I was reminded of how strange-looking I am. But, there’s really something for everyone. Someone will accept and appreciate you, so don’t sweat it. Just be nice to people.
Hopefully, some people will eventually appreciate my word vomit.
