So you wanna be a star, move to Hollywood, pursue your dreams? Be an actor, a writer, a director? Make money? Make art? Go to fabulous parties and meet fabulous people?
Well, this was/is my dream, too. I only wish that someone would have told me exactly what I was getting into.
I moved to Hollywood in 1991. I was a theater major in college, but wanted to pursue film directing. The problem was, I had no idea how. No matter where I looked or who I talked to or what I read, I couldn't seem to find a way in. Finally, I got a tip.
A friend from college (Shawn Paper -- he's now an editor on the HBO show, "Girls") said he had been an extra on "Roseanne." I asked him if I could be an extra, too. He said that was easy. He told me where to sign up and I did. Soon I found myself wandering the corridors of the fake high schools from "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "The Wonder Years." From this point on, my story gets messy and long, and to be perfectly honest with you, it's sort of dull. You don't want to hear all of it. And besides, how to be able to become a writer/director/actor is what this blog is going to be all about from now on, anyway.
I can hardly be called a star. But somehow -- with varying degrees of success and with a lot of frustration, humiliation and setbacks -- I've been making a living as an actor/writer/director for sixteen years. Along the way, I've seen a lot of people get hurt, crash and burn, give up, move home and not be able to fulfill their dreams. And believe me, dear reader, I don't this to happen to you.
I want to make one thing clear: I am not an expert, I do not want your money, I have never had a huge hit film, starred in a TV show, or gotten into Sundance. But I do work, I do make money, and I do not to hold a day job. And that, I am extremely proud of. So hop on the bus, let's go for a ride, and I guarantee you that by the end of this journey you'll have a much clearer idea of how to make it in this weird, jaded, annoying and beautiful city we live and work in.
The next post will be about...dun dun dun dun....ACTING!
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1 month ago
Fate, destiny, pre manifested delusions of grandeur. Sounds a lot like I was on the same track when I stumbled onto the set of the Night of the Demons. Wearing a hat that said 10/6 on October 6th. Synchronicity anyone? I've always heard you can't live any bigger than your dreams, and that's why you should dream big. I think we're both on the right track, I just need to realize College is not for me & Rock and Roll is my fucking bag! I keep telling myself the same lie, if I play by their rules then the money will come rolling in. I need to do it Gonzo style and say fuck their mind fucking brainwashing indoctrination into slavery!
ReplyDelete-Mad Hatter aka Darrel Gulfport