I just finished reading Mindy Kaling’s second book, Why Not Me? and the final chapter totally resonated with some feelings I’m having right now regarding hard work and entitlement.
…You need the tiniest bit of bravery. People get scared when you try to do something, especially when it looks like you’re succeeding. People do not get scared when you’re failing. It calms them…But when you’re winning, it makes them feel like they’re losing, or, worse yet, that maybe they should’ve tried to do something too, but now it’s too late. And since they didn’t, they want to stop you. You can’t let them.
-Mindy Kaling
My theatrical agent dropped me. This is the first time this has happened to me, and honestly, it’s scary. I feel like I don’t have a net, like I don’t have a reference, that I don’t have access. And it’s true. I don’t. But in the less than 5 days since I found out I was no longer a theatrically represented actress, I have hustled more than I ever have. Auditions have been taped and sent in unsolicited, drop offs have been made, and pitch calls and emails have gone out. I feel incredibly proactive and hard working right now. It takes guts to call casting and pitch. It takes guts to put yourself on tape and be vulnerable. And for that, I am proud of myself, and I deserve any of the goodness that comes from this. Grateful, yes. Humble, absolutely. Just as hard working? You better believe it. Be brave. This is your career- no one else is gonna do it for you.
thethriftyactor 