ACTOR’S TOOL-KIT #20
By Bob | August 28, 2008
Here’s another in the on-going series of posts from Bob Fraser that I’ve been featuring.
THE TRUTH ABOUT INSPIRATION
by Bob Fraser
In our little part of the business world we hear the word inspiration a lot. “His performance was inspired.” “Her voice inspired a generation.” Not to mention the claims of inspiration we lay claim to, when we relate our own successes … or once in awhile our qualified failures - which the French call “success d’estime.” (Please don’t write in about spelling, I don’t really know a lick of French.)
My humble opinion (LOL) is that there are many mistaken notions about the entire concept of inspiration and what it means to those of us who ply our trade on “the boards.”
For instance, there are those actors who don’t believe in inspiration at all. Who think that everything we do is a function of methodology, rules and plotted out behaviors. Not to put too fine a point on it … they are just wrong.
Or those of us who think that inspiration will come out of the blue, like a bolt of lightning, a falling Granny Smith, or a brilliant performance by Pauly Shore. They are also mistaken.
Most at risk are those folks who believe that inspiration is a gift from God. They are almost right - but generally use their belief as an excuse to skip over the most important part.
THE GIFT MUST BE OPENED
No matter who (and let’s not discuss the various Entities who might be the benefactor to our muse) gives us the gift of inspiration, it is important to recognize that it is a gift. And, as with all gifts, inspiration must be unwrapped, opened and used - for it to have any impact on our actual results.
Like a set of golf clubs, a food processor or an exercise bicycle, your inspiration won’t help you at all - if it’s left in the box it came in, and never used.
Here’s where many of us ‘come a cropper.’ We are often inspired to write the great American screenplay, but somehow never manage to sit down and start typing. Oh, we can tell you about our “great idea” until the cows come home - but pages are not forthcoming. Those of us who act, too, are subject to this ’slothful’ phenomenon.
One week we are a flurry of crazed activity, doing all we can to pursue our dream of performing success. But the next week we vegetate in front of the idiot box (pick your poison … TV, Playstation, or computer), or we waste time at parties filled with other actors, like ourselves, who are doing their best to remain calm, collected and - above all - cool. Oh, we will hear a lot of “balloon juice” at these conventions, which generally never helps our forward progress an iota.
There is just no question that we all get inspired, it’s true. Almost constantly, in fact. But we, invariably, forget the dictum of Thomas Edison (who was probably not the first to say it):
“Success is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration.”
The truth is that too many of us have a half-right, totally wrong or grotesquely twisted vision of inspiration - which is why we often expect it to do more than it’s required (and limited) 5%.
Worse, because of our less than perfect understanding of this phenomenon, called inspiration, we generally don’t even bother to find out how to use it. Believe me, inspiration must be USED - to have any value at all.
So how to use inspiration?
It’s my deeply held conviction that you must use it to encourage yourself - to convince yourself - to exhort yourself - to compel yourself - to shame yourself if necessary - into DOING the other 95%.
In other words, it’s in the DOING of the 95% where inspiration shines. DOING always results in something real, something concrete, something special, something useful - in other words, something worthwhile. Even failing at what you DO, has great lessons to impart.
If you don’t believe in inspiration at all, or you totally depend on it for forward motion, or you think that it is the “be all and end all” - then take my word for it, inspiration is as useless to you as a Christmas fruitcake from my Aunt Imelda.
My advice? Get inspired - but then get sweaty, too. It’s the only way to enjoy our precious gift.
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Topics: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover | No Comments »
Yet more updates on Don LaFontaine
By Bob | August 27, 2008
On the Voiceover Universe, updates have been posted both yesterday and today …
OFFICIAL UPDATES FROM DON’S BEST FRIEND OF OVER 30 yrs, Paul Pape
August 27, 2008 - UPDATE 2:12 PM PST (5:12 PM EST)
He’s doing good…continuing to stabilize and improve slowly but
surely. Lots of reason to be optimistic. It’s really good to see him
making progress.August 26, 2008 - UPDATE 5:24 PM PST (8:24 PM EST)
To all of Don’s friends in the Voice-over Community:
Don’s condition continues to stabilize. There is significant progress
and while he has quite a ways to go yet, there is every reason to keep
the faith. Many of you have expressed your feelings and chosen to
respect the privacy that Don and his family need right now. One could
ask no more of you. This show of respect is deeply appreciated by
those closest to the situation. Don and I often remark that we are
more brothers at this point than just best friends. Yet, as your
outpouring of support shows, Don has many “best friends.” He is
clearly important to us all .Don’s wife, Nita, read every single comment that has been posted and
was truly touched and strengthened by your words and prayers. Please
see Nita’s response below. As for me, please accept a simple “thanks”
for being there for my ol’ pal.Sincerely,
Paul Pape
————————————–
To all of you beautiful voice angels,
I am overflowing with gratitude for the responses you’ve sent on
behalf of Don and our family. I read each of your comments and tears
of joy fell with each sentence, prayer and good wish. It’s so easy to
live your life in pursuit of your dreams and not realize how you are
affecting others in a positive way; that in some way by living your
dreams you inspire others to pursue theirs. I am so honored to have
you all praying and rooting for us during this time. Don is a
warrior, larger than life, but in all this he is always slightly
amused that you find him some sort of “guru”. He never gets used to
that and lives his life with a kindness, humility, and dignity of a
“small town boy who done good”. Your kindness overwhelms me and fills
me with great peace. My husband is a great man to me not just because
of his work and the trail he’s blazed in your business, but because he
is so generous of spirit, a terrific husband and father, and the love
of my life. Thank you for being in our village of believers and
pray-ers as Don works his way back to the mic! I’ll be sure he knows
of your kindness.Peace and blessings,
Nita
Wife of Don
I’m very glad to read these excellent updates, and continue to pray for complete and swift restoration.
Topics: General, People | No Comments »
Josh Keaton featured on Vox Daily
By Bob | August 27, 2008
Stephanie has an in depth interview with voice actor Josh Keaton on Vox Daily.
Topics: General, People | No Comments »
Further update on Don LaFontaine
By Bob | August 27, 2008
My friend Dave Courvoisier has posted a couple of notes with the latest about Don. I hope you’ll keep praying. I am.
Topics: General, People | No Comments »
Tune your instrument
By Bob | August 27, 2008
Karen Commins, one of my voiceover friends in Atlanta, writes about the connection in her life between playing the harp and voiceover work. Very much worth the moments it will take to read.
Topics: General, People | 2 Comments »
Pat Fraley video highlight from Summit 2008
By Bob | August 26, 2008
Dan O’Day’s Summit 2008 featured voiceover star Pat Fraley on Saturday afternoon. Just prior to his session at the Summit, Pat sat down with Dan for a quick chat. You can see the video on Dan’s blog in a post from last Tuesday.