Summary: Frank Langella’s 1989 essay, The Demon Seesaw Actors Ride, on the up-and – down existence of actors, has been making the rounds again. It is a frightening article because it lets you into the lives of actors and allows you to see how uncertain their careers can be. While the article is frightening, the situation is even worse than Langella depicted it. You see, his article is about successful actors; actors who have careers and then find themselves out of the limelight with no work and no prospects. The truth is, most actors never even get any meaningful acting work and are never able to support themselves with their acting. The worlds of theatre and film are not a meritocracies. Having a career takes talent, luck, and timing and they all have to come together in a unique harmonic convergence for you. Having a career also means creating opportunities for yourself and not just waiting for someone to discover you and give you your break. The point of this podcast is to remind you that unless you have an undying passion for acting, you should find another career path. The field can be hurtful and unsatisfying…and it isn’t personal. It isn’t even about you. So during the last few weeks of summer, take time to evaluate what you want from your acting career and what you are willing to do to make it happen and to sustain it. And if you decide to tough it out and follow your passion, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get into the playground so you can get on that demon seesaw called acting. Links: The Demon Seesaw Actors Ride Frank Langella
