[NoHo Arts District, CA] – This month’s acting blog from Fran Montano of Actors Workout Studio focuses on how to “Stay creative during the strike.”
This is a challenging time for creative people in the business. I get many inquiries asking, “What can I be doing during the strike?” For so many actors, auditions have dried up, work has come to a stop and the creative juices are melting away. I have many actors checking in as they have so much more time on their hands. You need to keep working I tell them.
One actor asked about returning to student films and small independent projects. He wanted to move away from those types of projects, do more advanced work, and get paid as well. It’s okay to go back to those projects if they fit into your schedule. The important thing is to keep working. Keep your instrument in shape. It does several things for you – keeps you creative, alive, and productive.
Here are some suggestions on how to stay creative during the strike:
- Take a class – if you’re not currently in class it’s a good time. There you can work out each week with other creative people and get professional feedback.
- Student films, and independent projects that don’t fall under the contract agreements. It’s ok. Not a demotion or step backward for you. It’s you taking care of your art.
- Gather with others and have home readings, salon performances. Get a few friends and read scripts and plays together. It’s social as well as a chance to work out your instrument.
- Go see plays. The theater is a great place to get nourished and stimulated as well as it supports the arts.
- OK, take a vacation. If you’ve been wanting to take some time for yourself and worried about missing auditions, now is a good time.
- Work on that script, story, novel, song, or painting project that you said you’d do when you have time.
- Donate your time. Volunteer at places where you can serve and help your community.
The most important is, don’t be a victim. This strike is big and could last for some time. It is affecting many professionals, those in the business and many who serve the business. Know that you are not alone in this. Gather with others and keep the work going. The world needs it and will need it even more, and welcome it when this is resolved. Don’t let yourself become jaded. You are too talented.
Till next time.