What is every man's dream? To pursue to the fullest extent that which he finds most pleasing. In other words, to do what you love. But most of us have to settle for doing what we love in our spare time. However, there are those of us who throughout time are unwillingly or unable to accept anything less.
Gene Hackman was such a man.
When Hackman was 24 he attended the Pasadena Playhouse for 3 months. Although it has since closed down, the Playhouse was once a prestigious drama school and was widely respected. After his short time spent there, he was given the lowest mark EVER to be awarded to a student (1.3/10). This was not some adolescent kid on the internet giving a critical review. No, these were fully fledged professionals who had collectively acquired enough experience and education to accurately - or as accurately as anyone could get it - determine any given students' potential.
Yet when Hackman heard their results, did he pack it up and turn to other pursuits? No. Instead, he moved to New York and wholeheartedly pursued his dream.
Here's the big kicker: he didn't receive a notable job for EIGHT YEARS. Eight years without a morsel, a nibble, nothing. That's eight christamases and thanksgivings where your relatives ask you what you've been up to, and your only response can be, "well....I'm still working on my craft..." Eight years watching other people go on to do things you still are only dreaming about. Eight years feeling like everyone has been right, and you're not good enough. That's almost 3000 days.
After that he recieved bit parts in tv shows and movies and theatre productions until 1971, when he was 41 and he appeared in the French Connection. He moved to New York when he was 25 and toughed it out for 16 years before he got his, "big break".
Here's the part where this story will ruin me.
I love acting. I love it. I love reading plays. I love rehearsal. I love dress rehearsal. I love hearing about other people's experience within the field. I love taking classes and learning new things about acting. Even if it's just a simple limerick used to loosen the tongue. And yet, my love does not mean that I will find success. In all honesty, I could be terrible. I could be the worst actor anyone has yet to behold. Have you ever seen those American Idol contestants that belt out a song and afterwards everyone tells them how unbelievably bad they are? And then they tell off the judges, declaring how one day they will regret turning them down? That could be me.
Before I had read the Gene Hackman story, if enough people would have told me I was terrible, I would have seriously considered switching careers. However, now that I know what he went through and how he persevered, I don't believe I can. I'm going to keep reaching for it no matter what, although it might be the very thing that ends up destroying me.
Deriving happiness from passion is pure, no one worth a shit would deride you for that. If it's truly what you desire then proceed, come hell or high water. Usually the kicker is that when given this advice someone realizes they might enjoy writing, painting or some such but aren't willing to sacrifice to do it. They want to do it, but they want to live comfortably while doing so. Often people want to be the ideal of the painter, not the painter who walks to work and eats ramen habitually.
Maybe you'll find success and maybe not. At the very least you'll be able to say you tried, and that's a hell of a lot more than many people can say.
Let me put it this way: would you prefer to have a easy time so you can do something you hate for the rest of your life or to have a hard fight so you can do what you love for a living?
I know the answer for that just like you do. So get to work.
By the way, I'm a musician. You might imagine my parents face when I told them that I wanted to do music for a living... But I managed to convice them that music was really my passion. After that I worked hard. Very hard. Nowadays people pay me to play music and to compose some music on the side. I have my house, car and married one month ago. I can tell you for sure that if I was doing anything else I wouldn't be by far as happy as I am now.
edit - 'Suntan' from Michel Camilo (pianist). A little theme just to uplift your spirit.
On August 02 2012 14:04 Antimatterz wrote: How is pursuing your dream going to ruin you? If it gives you happiness, then it is fine.
To follow a dream is a great and terrible thing. It brings the greatest of joys and most terrible of woes. It brings untold and unavoidable suffering, and at times the darkest of despairs, all for an intangible. Is it worth suffering for a dream? That depends on the dream and on the man enduring the suffering. However, if you have the passion for it, there is nothing more fulfilling than to finally achieve what you have always dreamed.
On August 02 2012 14:04 Antimatterz wrote: How is pursuing your dream going to ruin you? If it gives you happiness, then it is fine.
To follow a dream is a great and terrible thing. It brings the greatest of joys and most terrible of woes. It brings untold and unavoidable suffering, and at times the darkest of despairs, all for an intangible. Is it worth suffering for a dream? That depends on the dream and on the man enduring the suffering. However, if you have the passion for it, there is nothing more fulfilling than to finally achieve what you have always dreamed.
True, the reward is great but the risk is huge, risking health, relationships, coffers, progression in an at least reasonably rewarding profession...pursuing a dream is not a good idea unless you are exceptional, and for every Gene Hackman there are thousands of people languishing in failure.
On August 02 2012 14:04 Antimatterz wrote: How is pursuing your dream going to ruin you? If it gives you happiness, then it is fine.
To follow a dream is a great and terrible thing. It brings the greatest of joys and most terrible of woes. It brings untold and unavoidable suffering, and at times the darkest of despairs, all for an intangible. Is it worth suffering for a dream? That depends on the dream and on the man enduring the suffering. However, if you have the passion for it, there is nothing more fulfilling than to finally achieve what you have always dreamed.
True, the reward is great but the risk is huge, risking health, relationships, coffers, progression in an at least reasonably rewarding profession...pursuing a dream is not a good idea unless you are exceptional, and for every Gene Hackman there are thousands of people languishing in failure.
EPT
