Clever words are not profound.
Wise people are not quarrelsome.
Quarrelsome people are not wise.
Those who are intelligent are not ideologues.
Those who are ideologues are not intelligent.
The enlightened never hoard anything.
They share their possessions.
The more they give,
the greater their abundance.
The Great Integrity is the physician of the universe
who heals without harming, and how acts without contention.
This quote has been on my mind for some time. And I suppose, I use this concept to navigate the perils of pilot season. The way to stand out is by letting your inner light shine, not by forcing yourself upon scores of managers and casting directors.
I was recently invited back to 30 Rockefeller Plaza this month to participate in a sketch for the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. It was unexpected, but extremely fun. And while I can't say for sure the reason why I stuck out to their casting lady, (a very gracious and pleasant studio rep) I can say that somewhere along the line I made a favorable impression. Sure, I try to be gracious and crack a joke here or there if something occurs to me. But I never go out of my way to try and appear witty or 'on' so to speak, something that I notice a lot of the other actors spending much of their time doing.
First and foremost, the way to make a good impression is professionalism. That is hands down the best tool an actor has at their disposal. They have to know that you're reliable, and they have to know that they can depend on you and your word. This is a very fast paced business, and trust me, if you do not understand the concept of a time sensitive work environment, then you will struggle to make it anywhere in the entertainment industry.
Often you can stand out the most by simply being efficient. And thats not to say that casting people don't like charismatic people, everyone does. But thats not enough, and I'm not even sure if thats the main thing. Being prepared, being reliable, but most of all being on time; these are things that make you stand out. If everyone does their homework, then the process is extremely fun and exciting in its fast paced work space. But when actors show up concerned about the wrong things it makes the process a headache for everyone involved.
Better to fill in the demands of a scene, than to look 'sexy' on camera. Better to be profound in a handful of words, than to be clever in a diatribe. That is the Tao of the industry.
