trying to fit in being myself
When I started to try to get film roles, no one wanted me. I didn’t fit any brand. I wasn't tall enough, pretty enough, bulky enough. Back then there just wasn’t a cornucopia of roles for off-beat, quirky 20-somethings. So, I did background work. Some people love background work; I find it tedious and unfulfilling.
I finally got a few
meaty roles in a few independent projects and, after years of that, landed an agent.
Through him I got a nice recurring role on TV One’s “Love That Girl”—a perfect
fit for my off-beat, quirky look and style. We all thought this was the
beginning of a new trajectory in television. But, what we both learned,
eventually, was that off-beat, quirky roles remained far rarer than the hunky, handsome
heroes and winsome pretty boys that make up the bulk of male roles in film. The competition for the few crumbs was fierce and the roles often went to "known" names.
That’s changed a bit
in the last decade or so with the explosion of new entertainment platforms
creating a much wider variety of material—often aimed at niche markets. Sure, hunky handsome heroes and winsome pretty boys remain at the top of the food chain,
but there are a lot more opportunities for those of us outside that domain of pedestrian
pulchritude: those of us who fit in with Steve Buscemi more than Tom Cruise.
I’ve been
fortunate enough to find directors, producers and audiences for my unique
brand. But it took years—decades, in fact—and I’ve still got more to do. The point of all this to remind any of you pursuing this career—or any career in entertainment or the arts—that this is a long game and there are many ups and downs. So my advice would be to tell you to enjoy whatever you can, wherever you are and (as the title of this
entry spoils) keep pushing forward.
Best of luck on
your journey!
