New Year, New You

SAG-AFTRA’s MOVE L.A. Committee ended 2018 by helping L.A. members prepare for a smooth entrance into a positive new year! Organized and moderated by event chair Nina Brissey, The Thriving Actor: A Guide to Productivity and Fulfillment for Actors panel drew a full house of SAG-AFTRA members to 5757 Wilshire Blvd. on Nov. 29. The discussion focused on performers’ unique understanding of productivity and fulfillment, and panelists provided helpful tips for reconciling the artists’ habitual struggle to balance their deep sense of emotional commitment with the taxing spiritual and mental challenges that this work can produce. Panelists included actors J. Teddy Garces and Austin Highsmith, actor-therapist Carol Potter, actor-motivational speaker Stuart K. Robinson and casting director Paul Ruddy.

Robinson affirmed the simple fact that the industry is a tough business with no specific success formula and, unlike any other profession, actors are their own product that require maintenance to stay their best. Actors must learn to harness their strong sense of emotion without allowing it to dominate them. For this reason, Garces emphasized the importance of cultivating interests outside of performing that provide joy and a restorative break from the demands of an acting career. He recommended working out as a hobby that provides an ideal release for negative energy; a guaranteed mood boost, given the endorphins produced from physical activity; and the satisfaction of productivity. 

Highsmith offered another productivity practice that pairs creativeness and structure: Plan your week. Assign one day of the week to plan your schedule at the beginning of each new week and consider categories of time you need to make for yourself. For instance, schedule time for your career, side hustle, personal activities, downtime and, most importantly, unforeseen events. Designating space in your weekly schedule to deal with life’s hiccups will reduce the stress they cause and generate more spare time.

In addition, making time for social and community activities are essential elements to self-care, but often are the first area we consider eliminating when reallocating time from one need to another. Holding yourself accountable to a predetermined schedule will help ween you off that detrimental habit. With networking crucial to an acting career, social outlets are beneficial in multiple ways. Getting involved in theater, joining a new acting class or exploring SAG-AFTRA programs are all ways to make new connections that lead to friendships, collaborations, new projects and more opportunities to do what you love, particularly between gigs. Even volunteer opportunities are productive, humbling and spirit-building social outlets.

The important takeaway is not to fool yourself. The career path of an actor is a difficult and endless hustle, but one we can’t live without. In order to best hone your craft, operate your business and nail that audition, organization and self-care are critical. Do it for yourself!

Click here to watch the full panel online.

Photo: Rear, from left, panelists Stuart K. Robinson, Austin Highsmith, J. Teddy Garces, Paul Ruddy and Carol Potter at SAG-AFTRA Plaza for the MOVE L.A. panel The Thriving Actor on Nov. 29, 2018. MOVE L.A. Committee Chair Ellen Crawford, left front, with event organizer, fellow MOVE L.A. member Nina Brissey, who moderated.