WRITTEN BY A LOS ANGELES WRITER AND CASTING DIRECTOR.

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A LOS ANGELES WRITER AND CASTING DIRECTOR. >>AND I JUST HAD ONE OF THESE THIS MORNING;:((

I’ve mentioned Bitter Actor Syndrome a few times in the past couple of years, but I don’t know that I’ve ever actually gotten terribly specific about what it is and how it can impact your ability to get cast and, perhaps more importantly, your career longevity.>>>>One of the comments I made a few weeks ago at a panel discussion I moderated was that your energy walks into the room before you do. This is not new information, of course. Most people who observe social interaction at various levels can tell you about “vibes” that enter spaces before an encounter between two parties. Call it an aura, a mood, energy, whatever. It’s fascinating to observe the shifts in tone the room takes in an average day of casting sessions, as actor after actor comes and goes. If your energy is toxic, we’re going to feel that and possibly get defensive toward you before you even begin your audition. We may not know why, but we’ll say later, “He just rubbed me the wrong way.” Because this sort of thing can be one of those obstacles that stands between you and the role — and it’s an obstacle you control — let’s look at how Bitter Actor Syndrome begins and how to prevent it.>>>>How Actors Become Bitter >>>>People in general become bitter when they believe the world owes them something they’re not getting. Someone who has “done everything right” and still “gets nowhere” risks becoming bitter, simply due to the fact that he or she has that perception. A little myth-busting: There is no “doing everything right.” Not in this business (and not in life, really). Everyone has his or her own path and every actor will share a different story about the road and its obstacles, even if the destination each actor reached was the same. There is also no “getting nowhere.” Even if you stand still, you have made some progress just by attempting a career in this industry. People who do not value the very fact that they made an effort at something that is very difficult tend to become bitter quickly. Most bitter actors do things like compare themselves to others of their age, of their type, of their look, from their hometown, who they see in audition waiting rooms, who they see accepting Oscars. Of course, non-bitter actors will do a little comparing too, but they don’t obsess on comparisons. They observe them. When you find yourself overly concerned with how someone else is doing, ask yourself if you are obsessing or observing. If you can’t tell, here’s a tip: Observation is fleeting and judgment-free. Obsession sticks around a long while and packs loads of judgments. Absolutely, a little competition can be a good thing! You can find yourself extra-driven by seeing something that your peer is doing very well and then challenging yourself to reach that tier of accomplishment too. That’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about those hours of non-productive mind-taffy thoughts that do not lead you to work harder but instead lead you to the bottom of a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. JUST CONCENTRATE ON YOURSELF, BITTER PERSON