There’s a fantastic scene in the film Jay Kelly in which the character of Jay, a movie star (played by George Clooney), meets up with an old friend from acting class, Timothy (played by Billy Crudup). After reminiscing about old times including Jay telling Timothy that he was far and away the best actor in the class (“I could watch you do anything.”) the two have a confrontation in the parking lot. Timothy tells Jay “I can’t stand you. You kind of stole my life.” He wanted to be an actor, but Jay swooped in on an audition, got the part and the rest is history. Timothy gave up acting entirely, got married and is now a child therapist.
The scene got me thinking…why does being an artist (in this case, an actor) have to be a binary option? Either you “make it” in the business. Or you don’t, and have to quit.
Well, it’s not binary.
There’s a third option.
Which is…Have a job/career that pays the bills, doesn’t kill your soul, and in all your free time, make art.
That could be taking classes, doing play readings (Vs. does one every week), making short films or producing a play. Not to mention reading and seeing plays, and watching films.
Yes, the third option requires discipline and focus and sacrifice and commitment. And yes, you may never get paid a single dime for your art.
But no matter what, you can hang your head high knowing that you never gave up on your dream, your love, your art.
And that’s a helluva good option and life.
Go make your art.
Never stop making your art.
The Vs. Studio Blog 
Johnny, calling the option you described “a third option” can make it sound like a compromise. It is not. On a number of occasions I found myself trying to convince anxious parents, who discovered that their child wants to study theater, that one can pursue art without condemning oneself to a life of penury. The reason why parents worry is because to them success looks like George Clooney. Little do they know that George Clooney actually cannot act – I didn’t either until I recently saw him on stage in Good Night and Good Luck. If I were a parent, I would ask my kid this: do you want to be George Clooney or do you want to be an actor? If the answer is the former, I would start worrying. If it is the latter, I would teach my kid financial skills and tell him or her to never give up on art, which is exactly what you are telling your readers. For that is the only real option there is. Thank you. Alex
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Absolutely Alex. Not a compromise at all. It’s a personal and empowering choice. One that I have personally lived and stand proudly behind. Thank you for reading and for your comment.
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