The Best Rejection I've Ever Received
Just a little bit of a background story, I auditioned for the Advanced acting class at my studio (the video is below, it's a monologue from Julia Robert's character in My Best Friend's Wedding)
But I didn't make it and I was actually REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
So I was a little hesitant to whether or not I wanted to advance... But I mean, I had been wanting/planning to as soon as I was eligible.
However, these past couple of months working on the scenes I had been given, I really felt like I was beginning to progress in my ability to expand my range and if I moved on into the advanced class I wouldn't get a chance to dig further in this particular direction.
I mean, we've seen it all before. Where actors pretty much play the same exact person in everything they do.
So the way I've been taught at this studio and the way I approach a new role is to find where do I relate to this character. If they feel a certain way about something and I don't really relate, usually I have to do some story-telling or make up a back story to help myself figure out why would they feel the way they do and more importantly, what would make me feel the same way as them.
I've had the chance to be a girl with PTSD, a 35-year-old wife and mom, as well as a girl who back-stabs the person she loved the most. None of which describe me and I would have to do a lot of work to figure out what would compel me (as my character) to do the things they did.
These last couple of months though, something happened.
I started seeing myself in these characters and things started clicking about why they said and did the things that they did. And that if I were in their situation... I would've done/said the exact same things. It just made sense and I felt like I knew exactly what they were thinking. Which made me become more and more myself even though I was playing these characters.
It's a trippy feeling when you're doing this role and saying these lines but you just know that if this was happening to you in real life, it's exactly how you'd react.
Anyway, it's been exciting for me to be growing in this way and if I had moved up to the advanced class I would've missed out an the chance to explore even more because I would've been working on other things (comedy, improv, maybe some Shakespeare?) rather than exploring different roles.
Which brings me to how my teacher decided not to let me advance and I feel like this is a testament to how great of a teacher she is and how in tune she is with what's best for her students.
I wanted to share this because it's just amazing to me how much perspective makes a difference. I was actually really excited about the rejection and her email....
#imnotevenalittledisappointed
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Dear Honyin,
Thank you so much for applying for Advanced. I know it will not be happy news to hear that after reviewing your audition I would like for you to remain in the Intermediate Class. I am very, very impressed and pleased with your work. I have full confidence that you will be ready by the showcase in 2017. I also feel that, careerwise, you will be more prepared for a showcase then. And, most importantly, there is acting work I still wish to do to work on your range and the ability to embody a role. You bring authenticity always to your work, thank God for that. I want our next sessions to be about character. Not so much to work on characters, but to unearth more and more aspects of yourself which you are still in the process of discovering. I believe that by rushing to a showcase, you miss out on learning more about who you are as an artist and human, and yet THIS is the most important and valuable thing you offer the industry. So, please be patient with me. You are very talented, and yet, you are still young in this craft, so I hope to help you go further and deeper before you are put "on the market." I hope this is understandable. I am so proud of you.
All my best,
Sonya
But I didn't make it and I was actually REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
So I was a little hesitant to whether or not I wanted to advance... But I mean, I had been wanting/planning to as soon as I was eligible.
However, these past couple of months working on the scenes I had been given, I really felt like I was beginning to progress in my ability to expand my range and if I moved on into the advanced class I wouldn't get a chance to dig further in this particular direction.
I mean, we've seen it all before. Where actors pretty much play the same exact person in everything they do.
So the way I've been taught at this studio and the way I approach a new role is to find where do I relate to this character. If they feel a certain way about something and I don't really relate, usually I have to do some story-telling or make up a back story to help myself figure out why would they feel the way they do and more importantly, what would make me feel the same way as them.
I've had the chance to be a girl with PTSD, a 35-year-old wife and mom, as well as a girl who back-stabs the person she loved the most. None of which describe me and I would have to do a lot of work to figure out what would compel me (as my character) to do the things they did.
These last couple of months though, something happened.
I started seeing myself in these characters and things started clicking about why they said and did the things that they did. And that if I were in their situation... I would've done/said the exact same things. It just made sense and I felt like I knew exactly what they were thinking. Which made me become more and more myself even though I was playing these characters.
It's a trippy feeling when you're doing this role and saying these lines but you just know that if this was happening to you in real life, it's exactly how you'd react.
Anyway, it's been exciting for me to be growing in this way and if I had moved up to the advanced class I would've missed out an the chance to explore even more because I would've been working on other things (comedy, improv, maybe some Shakespeare?) rather than exploring different roles.
Which brings me to how my teacher decided not to let me advance and I feel like this is a testament to how great of a teacher she is and how in tune she is with what's best for her students.
I wanted to share this because it's just amazing to me how much perspective makes a difference. I was actually really excited about the rejection and her email....
#imnotevenalittledisappointed
Dear Honyin,
Thank you so much for applying for Advanced. I know it will not be happy news to hear that after reviewing your audition I would like for you to remain in the Intermediate Class. I am very, very impressed and pleased with your work. I have full confidence that you will be ready by the showcase in 2017. I also feel that, careerwise, you will be more prepared for a showcase then. And, most importantly, there is acting work I still wish to do to work on your range and the ability to embody a role. You bring authenticity always to your work, thank God for that. I want our next sessions to be about character. Not so much to work on characters, but to unearth more and more aspects of yourself which you are still in the process of discovering. I believe that by rushing to a showcase, you miss out on learning more about who you are as an artist and human, and yet THIS is the most important and valuable thing you offer the industry. So, please be patient with me. You are very talented, and yet, you are still young in this craft, so I hope to help you go further and deeper before you are put "on the market." I hope this is understandable. I am so proud of you.
All my best,
Sonya
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