Adapt Or Die

(photo credit: E. L. Nagode)

So, you have a gig and have a few days to work on a character. Then, you show up on set and the director doesn't like the character you've spent so much time and energy to develop. What do you do? Simple. You adapt or die.

The piece you are a part of is the director's baby, and, as often is the case in the world of short films, the director is also the writer and/or producer. So what if the character you've developed is rejected, adapt it to what the director wants. Use your skills and (hopefully) experience to achieve what is being asked of you and not only will the director be happy, but you will be, too. That character that was rejected is still there and more than likely can be put to use on another project. Or even pieces of the character.

I know it seems cliched, but thinking about rejected characters in these terms is all part of the positive attitude you need to have in order keep most, if not all, of your sanity in the insane world known as show business. I know what happens if you cannot adapt enough: you don't get called back. I recently went in for an audition with the most delicious Southern accent of all time. After greeting the director, he promptly informed me that he decided he didn't want the character to have an accent after all. I did the scene but was very uncomfortable, unwilling to fully adapt, and consequently didn't get a call back. But, it was a valuable reminder that you must be ready for anything, that you must adapt or die. Metaphorically, of course.