Re: Books into Movies
David L. White (d-white@nwu.edu)
Fri, 11 Jul 1997 09:34:29 -0500
>
>This offers another question: If this Salinger had aspirations of
>becoming an actor (which is probably the most visible and outgoing of
>occupations) what would make him turn into such a recluse. Did he lose
>faith in the commercial world? Any ideas?
Speaking as someone who has been an actor for far too long (okay, I'm only
28 but I've been doing it since I was 6 or so.) this makes a lot of sense
to me. I got into acting as a means of expression and a way to connect with
people and I have had a lot of trouble embracing the self-promotion of it
all. Of course I enjoy performing for people and I'm certainly not above
the arrogance it takes to enjoy a compliment or a good review, but I love
it for the craft. It's something that I know how to do and (after 7 years
of training) I think I'm fairly decent at.
The trouble is, making it in "the biz" involves so much self-promotion that
I absolutely loathe. (I know I'm getting personal, here, but what the
hell.) I also had something of an emotional breakdown following graduate
school a few years ago and although I'm fine now and have continued to
perform, I've also taken up writing and constantly fantasize about
publishing and leaving the public eye. (and all of this BEFORE I began
really diving deeply into JDS's work)
I probably will never do this. I love the stage (and Shakespeare, in
particular) too much to leave it. But I swear to God, some of the awful
people you have to deal with, including critics (as far as I'm concerned,
the most reprehensible profession in the art world) agents, and other
actors who, long ago, complete forgot how to enjoy WATCHING theatre, make
it seem so futile. Of course not everyone is like this. In general, the
older I get the more people I run into who have been able to balance life
and art, but for a young person who probably gets into theatre for the
expressive aspects (like JDS?) in can be really disheartening.
How awful that JDS found himself even MORE in the public eye as a writer
than he ever would have as an actor.
Any other actors on the list? Any thoughts?
David White