Spring 2016
THE
SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory
IF YOU’RE THE SEED, ARE YOU PLANTED IN THE RIGHT SOIL? By Lee Garlington I was speaking with a client today who just got back from another city after being the lead in a workshopped play she loved doing. This, after a play she did last fall on the East Coast that was one of the highlights of her career. On the way home from play No. 2, her airplane seatmate was, coincidentally, the artistic director of one of the biggest repertory theaters in the country. They had a wonderful conversation for several hours, and she got to go into great detail about the merits of both plays. He took notes. “So what is your plan to get work now that you’re home, in terms of television guest roles and commercials?” I asked her. Her energy sagged. She spoke softly about the lack of opportunities here, her frustration with ineffective representation, a dearth of auditions, the feeling that every time she takes one of these plays out of town, her agents have to be reminded she’s one of IN THIS ISSUE: their clients. We talked a little about what she How to Register 3 could do, came up with for Classes a few steps she can take to get in the audition doors, but Workshop 4 there was a distinct Schedule lack of enthusiasm. “So these strategies we’re discussing for Workshop getting more auditions 5 for guest spots on Descriptions TV shows – is this something you want to Conservatory be doing, or something Rules and 8 you think you should be doing?” I queried. Regulations
2021 N. WESTERN AVE., L.A., CA 90027
Energy begets energy. What you put out there, with passion and consistency, comes back to you.” “
She thought for a moment. “It’s a should.” “Could you, happily, make your living doing theater the rest of you life?” “YES!” she said, her face lit up, the answer out of her mouth before I finished asking the question. If you're watching cable news' coverage of current events, one word comes up, over and over: Authenticity. Individuals who are perceived as authentic are dominating the news. Authenticity resonates. Are you being artistically authentic, doing what you truly want to be doing? Forget, for a moment, what you should be doing, what you hope will happen in the future, or any regrets you have about what’s not happening now. Forget whether or not your dream is “practical.” Right now, how would you like to be spending your time and energy? If showbiz was your oyster, if wishes were dishes and horses could fly, where would you be putting your energy right now? Energy begets energy. What you put out there, with passion and consistency, comes back to you. We’re not in control of when or what form it takes – that’s hard to predict – but your energetic investment is returned to you. “Would you like to be the lead in a series that’s built around you?” I asked my client. “Not a guest star or co-star, but a series regular, the star of the show?” “Well, yeah,” she said, “who wouldn’t?” Here’s the thing: this woman is beautiful enough, talented enough, and young enough that it could happen. Not out of the realm of possibility.
323.856.7736
Continues on next page
CONSERVATORY@SAGAFTRA.ORG