The Power of NO
Acting Career FAQ - The Power Of No
By
Bob Fraser
When I first started writing and producing for TV, my
agent was a very wise man and a straight-shooter named
Leonard Hanzer.
Leonard was a smart and cultivated man, who understood
the concept of Unique Selling Proposition well before
the market geniuses figured it out. (In fact, to my
knowledge, Leonard actually invented the term "show-
runner" while negotiating a contract for my partner
and I. We wanted more money - they offered us a
"better" credit. Leonard got us a lot more money
and that unofficial credit.)
Anyway, Leonard represented some "heavy hitters" in
those days: Henry Winkler, who needs no introduction;
Susan Harris, one of the finest writers ever; Hal
Cooper and Rod Parker, the guys who made Maude a huge
hit - and when we first met with him, hoping to
convince him that we were worthy of his skills, he
said a brilliant thing:
"The only power that talent has in this town - is the
power to deny services."
I knew we were in good hands when he said that, because
that is at the core of my own philosophy. In short, my
philosophy is this: A career is built with an audience.
Period.
When "other people" attempt to move your career in a
"different direction," they are messing around with the
primal force. This cannot be allowed – and your only
recourse is in that little two-letter word - "no."
Unfortunately, our craft (or art in some circles) is
grounded in, based on, and dependent upon a very
different word - "yes."
A critical ingredient of all forms of show business
is the audience's willing suspension of disbelief.
The salient word in this bedrock concept is "willing."
Our main job is to convince the audience to suspend
their natural skepticism – and to go along on our
journey, willingly. In short, we need them to say
"yes" to our show.
Thus from the beginning of writing (or developing in
some circles) the story - "He is lost." "Yes, and he
is hungry." "Yes, and the wolves are closing in." "Yes,
and the aliens are landing nearby." "Yes, and because
the aliens save him, they all learn to live with each
other..." - all the way through the final production
of the movie, play, tv show, or podcast thingamabob -
believe me, the word "yes," will always be in constant
use.
This is HOW we have learned to play.
This is HOW it is done.
Viola Spolin, Stanislavsky, Sandy Miesner, David Mamet,
and many others, have catalogued and explained the
absolute necessity of collaboration (saying "yes') in
doing what we do - and most of us understand that it's
fundamental to acting (or performing in some circles).
It just cannot be done effectively in any other way.
We must CREATE that willing suspension of disbelief. The
trick (or method in some circles) we all finally learn -
and always use - is... get the audience to say "yes," by
saying "yes" ourselves.
But - and this is a biggie - this business ("this
Broadway, this Hollywood, this West End, this Bollywood,
this ... Show Biz") is another kettle of corn entirely.
In business, it is critical to use your power. And in
our business, as Leonard Hanzer so aptly put it, the
only power you have is in denial of services. The
ability to just say, "no."
However, we are steeped in "yes" attitude and because
of that, we often get in trouble when it comes to the
business end of our careers.
That is why I advise all actors to start practicing
to say "no" immediately. This is not a power that
comes later - along with the limo and the red carpet,
after you've started making good money - it's something
that you must start building now, from the ground up.
What to say "no" to - that is the question.
I don't think anyone will dispute that one must have a
serious commitment in order to achieve a career in show
business (in any field, really) - and an explicit
definition of what one is trying to accomplish is the
first step on the road to serious commitment.
In other words, you must have standards.
Don't worry, you can make up your own.
(Please don't take the route of some recent rock stars
- "If the producer does not provide 3 gross of brown
M&M's in a Queen Anne broth tureen, the artist may
refuse to appear" kind of bull - but do realize, that
this part of getting your career off the ground is
totally your responsibility.)
I think that a professional actor's minimal standards
should include, "I'm doing this for money." Because,
after all, remuneration lies at the very heart of the
definition of 'professional.'
All of which is to say; once you truly understand what
it is that you want to do ... to all other things, just
say, "no."
Do you want to make money? Say "no" to working for free.
Do you want to stick by your principles? Say "no" to work
that does not support what you believe in.
Do you want to do Union work? Say "no" to non-union work.
Do you want to do drama? Then pass on that supporting role
in National Lampoon’s The Age of Reason.
Do you want to do comedy? Okay, simply say "nej tack " to
Swedish films.
I think you get the point.
Yes? No?
Bob Fraser is an actor, writer, director, producer and
author of The Acting Career Courses On Your Computer:
You Must Act! and Headshot Secrets Revealed.
http://www.youmustact.com/
http://www.headshotsecrets.com/
His monthly ezine for actors - Show Biz How-To is free.
Visit the site to subscribe.
http://www.showbizhowto.com
==============================
By
Bob Fraser
When I first started writing and producing for TV, my
agent was a very wise man and a straight-shooter named
Leonard Hanzer.
Leonard was a smart and cultivated man, who understood
the concept of Unique Selling Proposition well before
the market geniuses figured it out. (In fact, to my
knowledge, Leonard actually invented the term "show-
runner" while negotiating a contract for my partner
and I. We wanted more money - they offered us a
"better" credit. Leonard got us a lot more money
and that unofficial credit.)
Anyway, Leonard represented some "heavy hitters" in
those days: Henry Winkler, who needs no introduction;
Susan Harris, one of the finest writers ever; Hal
Cooper and Rod Parker, the guys who made Maude a huge
hit - and when we first met with him, hoping to
convince him that we were worthy of his skills, he
said a brilliant thing:
"The only power that talent has in this town - is the
power to deny services."
I knew we were in good hands when he said that, because
that is at the core of my own philosophy. In short, my
philosophy is this: A career is built with an audience.
Period.
When "other people" attempt to move your career in a
"different direction," they are messing around with the
primal force. This cannot be allowed – and your only
recourse is in that little two-letter word - "no."
Unfortunately, our craft (or art in some circles) is
grounded in, based on, and dependent upon a very
different word - "yes."
A critical ingredient of all forms of show business
is the audience's willing suspension of disbelief.
The salient word in this bedrock concept is "willing."
Our main job is to convince the audience to suspend
their natural skepticism – and to go along on our
journey, willingly. In short, we need them to say
"yes" to our show.
Thus from the beginning of writing (or developing in
some circles) the story - "He is lost." "Yes, and he
is hungry." "Yes, and the wolves are closing in." "Yes,
and the aliens are landing nearby." "Yes, and because
the aliens save him, they all learn to live with each
other..." - all the way through the final production
of the movie, play, tv show, or podcast thingamabob -
believe me, the word "yes," will always be in constant
use.
This is HOW we have learned to play.
This is HOW it is done.
Viola Spolin, Stanislavsky, Sandy Miesner, David Mamet,
and many others, have catalogued and explained the
absolute necessity of collaboration (saying "yes') in
doing what we do - and most of us understand that it's
fundamental to acting (or performing in some circles).
It just cannot be done effectively in any other way.
We must CREATE that willing suspension of disbelief. The
trick (or method in some circles) we all finally learn -
and always use - is... get the audience to say "yes," by
saying "yes" ourselves.
But - and this is a biggie - this business ("this
Broadway, this Hollywood, this West End, this Bollywood,
this ... Show Biz") is another kettle of corn entirely.
In business, it is critical to use your power. And in
our business, as Leonard Hanzer so aptly put it, the
only power you have is in denial of services. The
ability to just say, "no."
However, we are steeped in "yes" attitude and because
of that, we often get in trouble when it comes to the
business end of our careers.
That is why I advise all actors to start practicing
to say "no" immediately. This is not a power that
comes later - along with the limo and the red carpet,
after you've started making good money - it's something
that you must start building now, from the ground up.
What to say "no" to - that is the question.
I don't think anyone will dispute that one must have a
serious commitment in order to achieve a career in show
business (in any field, really) - and an explicit
definition of what one is trying to accomplish is the
first step on the road to serious commitment.
In other words, you must have standards.
Don't worry, you can make up your own.
(Please don't take the route of some recent rock stars
- "If the producer does not provide 3 gross of brown
M&M's in a Queen Anne broth tureen, the artist may
refuse to appear" kind of bull - but do realize, that
this part of getting your career off the ground is
totally your responsibility.)
I think that a professional actor's minimal standards
should include, "I'm doing this for money." Because,
after all, remuneration lies at the very heart of the
definition of 'professional.'
All of which is to say; once you truly understand what
it is that you want to do ... to all other things, just
say, "no."
Do you want to make money? Say "no" to working for free.
Do you want to stick by your principles? Say "no" to work
that does not support what you believe in.
Do you want to do Union work? Say "no" to non-union work.
Do you want to do drama? Then pass on that supporting role
in National Lampoon’s The Age of Reason.
Do you want to do comedy? Okay, simply say "nej tack " to
Swedish films.
I think you get the point.
Yes? No?
Bob Fraser is an actor, writer, director, producer and
author of The Acting Career Courses On Your Computer:
You Must Act! and Headshot Secrets Revealed.
http://www.youmustact.com/
http://www.headshotsecrets.com/
His monthly ezine for actors - Show Biz How-To is free.
Visit the site to subscribe.
http://www.showbizhowto.com
==============================
posted by Dominique Jackson @ 6:30 PM
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