The Great Acting Blog: “Define An Aesthetic”

The Great Acting Blog: “Define An Aesthetic”

We are living in an era where there are more people offering themselves as actors than ever before. You can try to get ahead of the game by turning yourself into a great actor, by striving to be better than everyone else. But you can only be so much better than everyone else. As I’ve mentioned before, you don’t need to be a great actor to get work, you don’t really need even to be competent. You’re just as likely to be cast because you have the right colour hair as you  are because of your acting prowess. Further, acting isn’t like sport where the best is clearly denoted by the number of victories. No, art is highly subjective – one man’s genius is another man’s fool.

We are also living in an era where it is possible to make a viable feature film with a crew of literally one person. And it’s never been easier to find an audience for that film. The industrial model isn’t the only option anymore. We don’t need to hope that someone gives us permission to work anymore – we can take it upon ourselves.

Am I talking about “creating your own work”? No, I am not. I’m talking about defining an aesthetic. This, I believe, is the next great step for acting: many independent actors creating unique, individualistic styles. Like Buster Keaton.

This idea is constantly met with resistance, with complaints that it’s impossible, that you need to be a genius.

You don’t need to be a genius.

If I keep banging on about this idea it is because I believe it to be true.

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