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The Road To Somewhere Part 2 |
Where do I want to be? The road I want to take is the path to professional acting and filmmaking. I know, I know...like the critics and naysayers always say, "Oh, that's a tough field and really hard to break into." That's the same song and dance I heard from countless others throughout my life, whenever I did share a dream or ambition. In hindsight, I spent too many years listening to others tell me how hard things were to accomplish and how the dreams I had were so challenging because of A, B, C or Z, or whatever their worldly knowledge was professing at the time. I knew that, but I bought into the difficulty and created unwarranted fears and a sense of pre-spawned failure.
Why? Why did I listen to voices of reason surrounding my dreams, when I should have been listening to my own heart and gut all along. Oh how I wish I could travel back in time and talk to the young boy, the young man I was and have a do-over. The reality is...I can't. I get it. What I do get is that I have the ability now to listen to my heart- my gut, and follow a road or a path that can get me where I want to go.
I still hear the naysayers talking and telling me how hard it is to make it here and there, but the beautiful part of that is I don't listen anymore. There are countless others who live vicariously through their egos and profess the odds, successes, and failures of others. Not this time. This time, there will be one voice, one person responsible for my success and failures - me.
With that said, I will follow the patient and noble example of the turtle...slow and steady wins the race. As I watch and learn carefully from the successful actors and actresses who have made their way to the big screen and syndicated tv and cable, I study and plan the path that will move me in their direction. I recently went and saw Spiderman 2 at theaters with my son. I was inspired once again to see the number of older male actors who play supporting and significant roles in these and countless other films. As I sit watching, beyond the goosebumps, I am inspired, encouraged and enthusiastic to continue to study and perfect my craft as an actor.
I often joke with people as I share my experiences as an actor, telling them that there are the A-List actors and actresses we all know about. I tell them I am starting out as a Z-List actor and am slowly and patiently working my way up. I have been fortunate to have been in a variety of 25 features, short films, student films, web series, and television productions. Some as an extra and the rest where I have had the privilege to learn as a character actor or lead actor. That's not to brag and as far as I'm concerned, to me, it's not a competition. I compete with myself to make myself a better actor with each new opportunity. Each one I can honestly say has be a great experience, helping me to learn and grow as an actor. Where I am now? I'm growing. Filmmaking and acting are truly subjective. One person's perspective is and can be completely different from another's, and that's what I absolutely love about my chances to make this a successful career.
I will be my greatest critic and we are usually hardest on ourselves when it comes to judging and assessing our successes. I'm guilty of it myself, but I know that as long as I am moving in a positive direction to improve myself, my skills and my vision to be successful - the sky is the limit. I also know and adamantly believe that how I interact and treat those around me will directly and undoubtably affect my successes as well. It all goes back to the idea of karma again. What comes around, goes around and simply put, treat people the way you want to be treated. Humbly speaking, I do that every second I can and I hope that I'm making a difference in the lives of those people, and am making their lives better for the experience.
So again, where is the road I'm taking? Right now it circles Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I plot a course for film markets that are growing and thriving. Austin, Texas? New Orleans, Louisiana? I don't know, but I do believe there are many roads to L.A. and Hollywood, and that road is different for each person. One year? Two years? Three years? It doesn't matter. I believe things happen for a reason, and they happen when they are meant to happen. Right now, this moment, my role is as a 'real father' for my son. In the meantime, I will take new roles as I'm able, and will continue to grow and learn with each experience.
Thanks for reading.
Best Wishes,
Matt
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