mentor -- men·tor
\ˈmen-ˌtȯr, -tər\ - someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person as defined by Merriam-Webster's dictionary. Dictionary.com's version of mentor [men-tawr, -ter] is defined as a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.
"So what is it that you want?" my mentor asks.
"To be a working actor who can live off of acting work along," I replied.
"Let me ask you another question. What if you were working and making a living off of one-liners. Off of co-star roles alone. Would that be enough? Would you be happy?" he asks.
I pause. I know the answer to that but didn't I just say I'd wanted to be a working actor? And in his scenario I'd be a working actor...
Months earlier when the email came through from East West Players A.C.T.S. organization letting members know that applications were being taken for those who were looking for mentors I paused. Having lived and worked in Los Angeles "in The Industry" for years I've been lucky enough to be a mentor to many newbie actors myself. But what about those of us who aren't new and had a good bit of experience?
Now, I'm so glad I just bit the bullet. The benefit of having someone more experienced that you is that sometimes they are asking the "right" questions. You think you are -- but then you get stuck and their years of experience beyond your own help give you new eyes. I wanted to move into the next level of credits, guest stars, from my plethora of co-star credits and I felt stuck. This mentorship has provided a chance to move through this feeling.
My time with my EWP ACTS mentor gave me a new attitude towards a lot of different things. My personal passion (writing and directing) projects, my acting, the business of acting (which is totally different from the craft of acting), and the balance they take in my life.
Even though our official mentoring time is over. My mentor and I are still friends. We check-in with each other now and again. Great things are happening for him and he's so grounded and generous I know it couldn't happen to a better person. And when I feel like I'm not moving forward or I don't know how to approach a problem this mentorship has taught me to remember that sometimes a shift in attitude can make a HUGE difference. Sometimes, all you need to do is take a look with a different pair of eyes.
