I read the Millionaire Woman Next Door (or some title like that) many years ago, and have kept it in the back of my mind. I've thought about adhering to its rules so that I can be a millionaire who also, uh... lives next door. Most millionaire women either inherit the money, marry into it, or start their own company. The first two options don't look very probable, so I thought about starting a movie production company, but I've found that a) the kind of movies I like to watch and make are the small indie films that don't make a lot of money, and b) producing a project is a very tedious job. People love to say they're a producer... it sounds so glamorous! But a producer is just a fancy title for Project Manager, and it's really a stressful, tedious, and boring job. I think it might be cool producing for large budget movies, because what I hate most about it is going around begging people for money or haggling for lower prices and favors. I really hate that. I hate begging from people- it's so demeaning. I either need to change my frame of mind in how I view the whole process, or I just need to stick to acting.
I started painting and sewing last year, and I found that the feeling of accomplishment when I've completed a painting or a pair of pants is very similar to the feeling of wrapping a movie. Just on a smaller scale. But at the end of a sewing project, I'm only out $50 and not $15,000 or whatever. So I kinda like that. But I feel like I'm kind of settling.
I don't want to be a nurse but I feel like I need to figure something out- something stable. I'd prefer to keep acting, but as I get older and out of ingenue territory (where the bulk of the work is), it gets scarier. It's not impossible to find work when you're older... there's still the possibility of booking a t.v. series. But I feel like I need a back-up plan. I guess that's what subbing is for. But that leaves the summers open... I cringe at the idea of being a fifty year old waitress. My poor arthritic hands!
Just thinking out loud here. I think I'll give this acting thing one more year, and then settle on a back-up plan. I pick up my headshots on Friday.
Hey! I think whatever your future plans are you have to give yourself credit for taking the monumental risk of following your dreams. You have pursued a career in acting for over 7 years and have learned more about your craft. Let me know how the headshots turn out.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your decision. Continue to follow your gut and everything will work out!
ReplyDeleteYour friend,
The Hundredaire Next State
For your personality and background, a master's in occupational therapy? Activities of daily living, arts and crafts, working hands on with people, near guaranteed employment, good salary. Been considering it myself.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous... well, technically, I haven't pursued an acting career for over 7 years... to be fair to myself, I left my agent nearly five years ago and stopped actively seeking work... I have performed in films at the request of friends who knew I was an actress and needed someone reliable to show up. But outside of that, I was focusing on producing. But I've yet to permanently shut down the dream... just been on the back burner. Got new headshots this past summer and still sitting on those. Want to take the plunge, but feeling irresponsible, as I should probably focus on repaying relatives and wrapping up post-production. THEN I'll resume acting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kara. Hundredaire, huh? You're better off than I am, my friend... LOL
Anonymous, thank you for your input, but occupational therapy sounds like a nine to five job, which is what I'm trying to avoid. I'll never really truly give up on acting or filmmaking... I'm just giving up on supporting my dream with waitressing/subbing/catering gigs... I hate all of those gigs... so I need an occupation that is flexible and preferably works weekends... which nursing seems to do... but to go through school is so time-intensive, it really means keeping acting on the back burner for even longer, as well as the rest of my life... I'm just tired of putting it on the back burner... wanted to give it a year before I neglected it again! That's what I mean by a back-up plan... not a oh this didn't work out, what else can I do, but to find a trade that is flexible and pays better that allows me to continue down a path that truly interests me...
take the plunge again. i watched "philadelphia" in my hotel room a couple of weeks ago, and guess who had a bit part in it?? bailey from grey's anatomy!!!!!! i only watched the first season but i loved bailey!! and she had all but 20 secs in philadelphia with tom hanks all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteand your back-up plan as in job-that-pays-bills sounds good too. :)
Thanks, Z! Yeah, it's really crazy who you see in bit parts when you watch old movies and videos. I read that Samuel L. Jackson was a dancer in one of Michael Jackson's videos when he was first starting out! Bad, I think it was.
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