A couple of left and right turns within the office got me strolling graciously to the site of the shoot – I was about to make my debut – in acting! Like the professional that he is, there was no room for small talk. He gestures me to stop! Calmly but with the focus of a perfectionist he peruses through the sheets of papers that he’s holding and instructs his assistant behind the camera, then does the same to me. All the while I am thinking to myself; finally it has come. The day has come. Unwarranted it might have been but it was here nonetheless.
For me, confidence is a stain that you can’t wipe off since I blend into and out of situations with undistracted normalcy and relative ease. Since I do not have the luxury of time, there’s was only going to be one take per shot as is often said by directors when the cameras get on and are just about to roll. Now I know why some local actors look like UFOs – Unidentified Flying Objects whilst in the streets, acting is a fete for me today. Never mind whatever programs or adverts they partook in, never made it out of the production studios and if ever, never made it to mainstream media neither their gutter counterparts.
After relative prepping, he utters; in one, two and three-then points at me – that’s my cue to jump into character-after a mini-second, I get to figure. A minute later, thank you. That was good, real good. What? Really? The first shot was over before I even knew. I think to myself, I have so much to say and do. Can’t the shot be a tat bit longer? Nope! There are more shoots to do so walk on over. I in tow follow the crew.
Once through, as I walk to my station I think to myself; the rewards that one is set to get from working not hard but smart more often than supersedes the effort ploughed in; growing you into an addict of work. The essence is; get into your element and love what you do. My check list of milestones is getting shorter. This acting thing I can do all day. I just love it.
