I recently got a letter from a young actor in Kentucky.
She wrote that an agent in Atlanta had told her she
was definitely cut out to be an actor - that she had
"the look."

But to get started she would need classes and pictures
which the "agency" would happily provide - for a fee.

Then, a friend of hers, who has been acting "for years"
told her that she wasn't very talented and that without
talent she would waste a lot of time and money chasing
after a dream. The 'friend' went on to explain that
talent was the main component of all successful acting
careers.

This young actor got two pieces of bad advice.

The first bit of advice was from a scammer, running a
scam - period. The second bit of advice is the one I'd
like to talk about - because it was uninformed, mean,
and just plain wrong.

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary defines 'talent' thusly:
1. a gift committed to one's trust to use and improve;
from the parable of the talents, in St. Matthew; hence
any natural faculty, ability or power. 2. a special,
superior ability in an art, mechanics, learning, etc.

While I agree in theory with Webster - there is a common
misconception among some 'helpful' agents, teachers,
talent managers and (unfortunately) actors, that there
exists a natural actor gene - or as Webster puts it,
"a special superior ability."

Since all human beings act - behaving, emoting, reacting,
listening and slipping in and out of attitudes every day
(all skills of a professional actor) ... why is it that
these "special superior abilities" are rarely quantified
or explained?

The idea that some people should just forget it because
they aren't "talented" - or that others should go ahead
because they have "the look" - needs to be dispelled
by those of us who know the truth about what it REALLY
takes to have a professional acting career.

I never address the question of whether someone is cut
out for the business of acting because I have learned
through long hard experience that I don't know who is -
or who isn't - going to succeed.

I don't really believe that anyone can say. There are
just too many variables.

As William Goldman so aptly put it, "Nobody knows."

This much I do know, I have seen actors who were clearly
"talented" or "gorgeous" end up teaching second grade -
and people with little "talent" or who were, to put it
nicely, "looks challenged" - go right to the top.

Telling a young (or even not so young) actor that it's
all about "talent" or "looks" is not only not correct,
it's not very smart.

When I first started my acting career, I couldn't act
a lick. And I'm far from a babe magnet. But I've made
millions as an actor - and many more millions hiring
actors.

My point is simply this: Any reason to go ahead - or
give up - should be questioned thoroughly.

Common sense tells us that if acting were a "natural"
ability there would be no need of acting teachers,
acting coaches, or "acting tracks" at universities.

Of course, acting is not an easy business. It is more
difficult than most professions. But the gap between
"talented" and "not so talented" is as thin as Paris
Hilton's resumé.

As everyone who reads my stuff knows, I try to make it
very plain that this is really hard work. Few achieve
stardom. More actors can achieve a career, but it is
still a small percentage of those who think they'd
like to act professionally.

Not all of the successful actors on screen and stage
are "natural talents" or even passably good looking.
Some are just better at the business part - or they
stay at it longer than others.

As I point out in my acting career courses, there are
specific steps you must take to have real success.

The first step is to rid yourself of all the 'walls'
you build up - or allow others to build. Because it
is those 'walls' that keep you from taking the steps
you need to take, to accomplish your dream.

As with all dreams (sports, music, writing, dance,
architecture, medicine, or having the biggest ball
of string in the world) - it will not become real
without ACTION on your part.

If you believe that there are 'reasons' you will or
won't succeed, you simply won't do what needs to be
done. That's why I say (not to be too obvious) ...
You Must Act!

Don't accept any 'reasons' to pursue or give up a dream
without a complete investigation into whether those
'reasons' are real - or an illusion of reality.

The truth is: REALITY IS NOT OPTIONAL.

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Bob Fraser is an actor, writer, director, producer and
show-runner on such hits as Full House, Benson, The
Love Boat and others.

He's been a regular columnist for NowCasting.com,
ActorsLife.com, and many other sites. He's also
a featured speaker at AFI, SAG Conservatory, Equity
Library Theatre, UCLA, USC, Actors Creative Network,
Film Industry Network, Women In Film, and many more.

Subscribe to Bob's free newsletter that's especially
designed for actors, Show Biz How-To, by going here:

http://www.showbizhowto.com/asuboffer.html

You can check out his acting career courses at the
following sites:

http://www.youmustact.com

http://www.hypnoticaudition.com

http://www.theagentcode.com

http://www.headshotsecrets.com

http://www.anactorworks.com

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