Being A Christian In The Acting Game - Part 2
Published March 10th, 2008 in Personal Advice. By Kirsten Tretbar | 3 Comments » |
I hope posting the email excerpts between myself and Bethany and Dee, in Part 1, can help a few other Christian actors and actresses realize that they are not alone. I know there are many Christian film and acting groups in LA. One, I believe, meets at the Hollywood Presbyterian Church. And another meets through the Beverly Hills Episcopalian Church, I think. You can also find out more about Christian filmmakers by going to Ted Baer’s Movieguide Website, or also, The Media Wise Family Website; and you can even volunteer to go and work at the Movieguide Awards every year (considered The Christian Oscars) where you will meet many other like minded people like you!
You will find that if you run into any Christian filmmakers or producers or actors, you really are a part of a special club, and doors will open to you, in a sincere and genuine way. Many of the Christian filmmakers out there don’t flaunt their faith, but you will find many kindhearted messages in all of their work; and even if their message in their work, the overt message, isn’t a Christian one, you may be sure when you read their scripts that they have a redemptive value.
Keep this in mind when reading a script. Do the actions actually help to tell a bigger story that you and your heart can believe in? Will your part show a juxtaposition between good and evil? If so, then take it!
What I always say is this: as an actor or actress, you may yourself have to play sinful or crass people, as part of a bigger message that the TV show or Film is trying to make. Just because you yourself don’t do drugs, or engage in premarital sex, or condone stripping or stealing or any other bad practices, doesn’t mean that you might not be called upon to play a “bad boy or girl” in a production — someone who does drugs or wears skimpy clothes. This is not the same thing as condoning sexism for sexism’s sake. I don’t believe in the sexualization of young women. That’s offensive.
But most often, in the context of a story line for a TV show or Film, these “bad guy” parts are used as a way to tell a redemptive story about change and growth in the character’s life. Choosing not to play this part, because you are a Christian, would be like saying you can’t play the role of Lady M because she inspires her husband to kill someone.
Keep this in mind when reading a script. Do the actions actually help to tell a bigger story that you and your heart can believe in? Will your part show a juxtaposition between good and evil? If so, then take it! Remember: even the Bible had villains. Through the evil in the world, we will come to understand forgiveness and redemption. It’s the eternal hero’s quest, sinning, asking for forgiveness, surrendering to God’s will, and then, being reborn. And it’s a story/plot line not only in the Bible, but also in every good script!
Take charge of your career, and do what feels right to YOU! And don’t give up! Your heart and your gut will always keep you safe, happy, and in control of all that you do. And if you’ve got a strong faith, don’t ever let it slip. It will keep you and uplift you forever as you continue changing the Hollywood film industry from within! God Bless!
thanks a whole lot.rading this commentary has so blessed me,especially at a time when i really am confused what to do with my acting talent.God bless you real good.
I’m posting a public reply to a private email here, because it could help other people facing their own callings…
Dear Titi -
Do not give up! If you love to act, if it’s what you’ve always loved, if you are a born performer, then it is part of your calling, and it’s my feeling that all callings are from God. Through our Artistic callings, we act on what the divine spirit has put us in this world to do.
That being said, I would not recommend just giving everything up to follow this calling. You must have chosen LAW as a way
to perform, in a way. As a barrister (is that what you call it in the UK? — or on the African continent?) — you will use your acting in
so many ways I can not even begin to name them.
What I recommend is to really look, pray, and write about, why you chose law. Why? What injustices do you want to change in the world? What drew you initially to study the laws of the world, and to serve others, and change the world for the better? Power? Social change? Parental expectations? Politics? Education? Love of legal issues? Or did you just fall into it?
There are so many ways that you can combine your love of law, morality, ethics, and I presume, social justice issues, with your love
of film, TV, theater, acting, and dramatic performance. Have you ever thought that as someone in the legal profession, you can use theater to change the world? What I mean is that you could combine both of your talents to make changes in laws, and to help others learn from your life and your story.
Here are a few of my ideas for your life:
You could write your life story — book, film, theater piece, and perform it. You could help other young people perform their stories, and talk about how the laws you grew up with either
protected them, or how they didn’t protect them (that is, the people in their stories in their prospective countries) and ways
the legal and/or political system could help to enhance their lives, if things happened differently. You could get some investors together to help you make a documentary film, or even, a feature film script (fiction), or a play, and you could go around the schools in your home country or in the UK performing these pieces, and lecturing. I love public speaking and teaching because it gives me an outlet to act!
Acting is really just “TRUTH TELLING”. It’s probably why you are also into law, because you care about THE TRUTH — also why you
are probably a deep believer in God! It all comes out of the same need to empathize with others and understand and love other people and cultures.
Acting is about telling the world how we are all the same, and how we all have dreams and hopes, and how much love can change the world and make it a better place! Acting and theater is modern day ritual, it’s a ministry in a way if done right! If you are also a devout Christian, why not try to start a Christian/African acting group, and somehow use your experience with law to influence the stories you tell in a very professional way?
Does that make sense?
Why did you chose Law? Why do you love acting? Why do you love God and having faith in God/Jesus?
If you focus on the positives in your life right now, the WHY, the MEANING, things bigger than just YOU, and your need to be in the spotlight as an actor, and think how your insights, your talents, and your brain, can help influence young people, or even, people in positions of power, then you’ll be getting closer to the answers you seek. I think! I am just speaking from my 42 years of experience being on this earth!
I hope this helps! Being a full time actor is very very hard. Even I couldn’t find a way to truly make a living doing it. So I had to work in TV, in production, as a professor, as an acting teacher, and even, selling furniture, and working in sales jobs at stores for years. You are not the only one who feels called, but
also feels let down by their choices. See the similarities in all you love, and have chosen so far, and look at the bigger picture, and look for the meaning behind all your life so far, and what you’ve learned, and God will help to tie them all together.. Ask god to help you find the connections to all of these things, and you’ll
start feeling more satisfied!
And if you just want to have a bit of fun, take an acting class! You’ll love it and it will help you with your creative outlet!
I hope this helps, and your comments and emails are exactly why I write my blog — to help others, in the middle of the night, when they’re having what I call, “The Dark Night of The Soul”
to find a purpose to all the insanity in their lives. Your comments really lifted me up!
I also want to recommend a book for you which could save your life, as you continue to think why you are alive, and why you long to live a more creative life. The book is called, The Artist’s Way, and it’s written by Julia Cameron, and it’s very spiritual and I think it could change your life!
I would also read Letter’s To a Young Poet, by Ranier Maria Rilke, and start writing about your childhood and your life!
All my gratitude and respect, and I will pray that you find some serenity and also, some conclusions to your questions!
Sincerely,
Kirsten
kirsten,
please know that you are such a blessing and a source of encouragement.