You Never Know

I don’t act or do movies quite like before, although whenever possible, if an opportunity presents itself, I’ll take it. Also, at some point, I thought it would be another viable option to gain some money quick. Of course, as many of you probably know. Getting an audition doesn’t guarantee you booking the job or in this case a shoot. Therefore, after many auditions sent to me from my talent agency, I was called in for the first time to audition in person for a commercial.

Like any business and opportunity, one solid advice I like to tell others is, “When you get an opportunity seize it…CARPE DIEM! Seize the day!” Whether it’s for an audition or for a job interview, you need to take the first steps to even give yourself an opportunity for whatever it is you are going after.

I learned this after working for a film producer over two feature length films and attending a very particular workshop with Casting Directors in Burbank, CA. First thing is you have to show up and give it your very best, after that you can’t control what happens. I remember when we were looking to cast for the first movie in Hong Kong SAR and time was running out. In the end, the producer grabs a photo out of the pile on the desk, “This one! We’ll go with them. They got the look!”

Yes behind the scenes that’s what happens. That is what can happen. In my opinion, they might not even be the best choice, they were just available. You just never know do you?Another thing, after all, it’s not just one person doing one thing, it’s a number of people doing a number of different things and you are a part of the process…and not THE PROCESS.

This is important because even before receiving the message to come in, I submitted a self-tape to the production. Then after being invited, I went in to do the in-person audition and gave it my best. If you ever want to gain some tips about this process, feel free to reach out to me sometime, I’d love to share what I know with you.

I didn’t get the principle role. However, the production house for whatever reason I may never know, asked if I wanted to participate as an extra. Remember what I said earlier? Perhaps it wasn’t the opportunity that I originally wanted, but it’s still an opportunity to get some work and possibly make some connections, and my newer thing…just have some fun doing something you don’t normally do!

I said yes. It was an outdoors shoot, outside a cafe, and it turned out to be a decent end of summer breezy day. Sun was hot but felt nice. So there I was, after the work to get here, back on set.

At some point during the shoot I looked out the window and noticed something. About 20 yards from where we were filming was a bus stop I was familiar with. You see, it was just a few months back, some time in June that I found myself catching the bus at this stop in downtown to work at the middle school.

In fact, not just one but everyday for about a week I caught 3-4 buses to work and on back home. My car had some issues and I was waiting for our mechanic friend to take a look at it and evenually fix it.

These felt like long days. At times they felt unfair. I remember waking up extra early every morning making sure that I wouldn’t miss the buses and carrying whatever I could on my back and in my arms back and forth with me.

Perspective. This is the word I think of. It is convienent to be able to drive your own vehicle wherever you need to. It felt inconvenient to catch the buses. I felt limited and sometimes trapped as to where I could go and what I could do. The days quickly became very structured and planned out most of the time. However, I told myself, you’ll get it figured out and you’ll have your wheels again soon. I took full advantage of this time to read books, listen to music, or do nothing…okay sometimes I took naps depending on how exhausted I felt. I demolished Jet Li’s book Beyond Life and Death with the time I had riding the buses. Reading a few chapters every day.

As I sat in the cafe, only a few months later, I felt gratitude. Gratitude to have been granted this opportunity. This opportunity to have this perspective. I know that I’m not alone in what I’ve shared about riding the bus and in no way shape or form am I knocking or putting down those of us whose mode of transportation is by bus. Not at all. My Mom used to ride the bus to work for many years, I rode the bus in various times wherever I’ve lived, and respect those of us who ride the bus or don’t. I’m just sharing my perspective.

I want to share the shift in perspective that occurred. I want to share this in the hopes you’d gain something from it too. We never know what situation we find ourselves in life. Somedays it feels like we have full control, freedom, agency to do as we please, and in an instant that can all change, that can all shift, and we feel like we have nothing in our control and find ourselves limited in our actions.

I’ve come to find that reminding myself to practice gratitude and look for I guess the silver lining in everything helps. It helps me gain the perspective that I need to push on, move forward, and put myself in a healthier mindset to navigate those moments that feel tough or more challenging then others.

Here’s the thing though…

I also believe that it is our attitudes and how we choose to take action that sets us up for where we end up. I reminded myself that the situation I found myself, though inside I felt some feelings of failure and negativity, I reminded myself, “This is only temporary and keep going, keep working at it, and things will turn around…you’ll see.”

And they did.

That’s why a few months later, here I was sitting on a commercial set. About to be on camera, though not as a lead, as an extra, doing something I would enjoy, and getting paid, doing something fun for the day.

Sometimes life throws curve balls that challenge you to feel struggle and maybe even bring doubt. Don’t give up, choose to change your perspective in any given situation.

See better for yourself.

Who knows what can happen and where you’ll end up being. Maybe you’ll find yourself sitting from a much different perspective. If not the most ideal, at least a better one.

Keep at it.