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You may not know her face or her name, but Karen Ceesay represents the most common type of actor, the working actor. Indeed, most actors gracing our screens large and small have work experiences and careers much more like my college roommate Karen Ceesay than Denzel Washington, Viola Davis or George Clooney. They absolutely love their craft, but their “career path” is likely anything but well defined. Without question, pursuing a career in the hyper-competitive film and television industry is not for the faint of heart.
Ceesay has been fortunate enough to take advantage of the exploding film and television industry in Georgia that has generated jobs not just for actors but also for crew members and others throughout the media production life cycle. “People are moving here in droves from Los Angeles, New York, all over to get in on the industry because this is where it is and it’s more accessible here than in LA or NY,” Ceesay explains. “Streaming is what has created so many more opportunities.”
Reflecting back on her tumultuous but exhilarating thirty-year career as a working actress—going on hundreds of auditions, scoring small roles in films like Rings, Last Vegas and The Internship and eventually landing recurring roles on the major hit shows Stranger Things and The Walking Dead while still struggling financially—she offers five pieces of advice to budding actors as they pursue a craft marked as much by difficulty and disappointment as recognition and reward.
1. Explore Other Interests
Let’s face it – being on a film or television set is exciting, and it can be easy to get somewhat drawn to that idea, but Ceesay warns against that. “Have other interests and other things in your life that bring you joy because this career won’t likely do that long term” she insists. “You can’t depend on the whims of a career in acting to fulfill you so be sure to explore other personal passions.”
It's also important to remember that the industry can be really hard on your ego so the best self-care is not allowing your identity or success barometer to be completely controlled by the number of call-backs you get or shows you book. Remember that just because you love acting or improv or comedy, that space doesn’t have to be your only love so don’t forget to also lean into other areas of curiosity or passion. Long term success as an actor typically requires a lot of rejection, and that can be difficult to metabolize well if you don’t have other areas of your life that are nurturing your spirit (not to mention your bank account).
2. Identify Multiple Potential Income Sources And Plan Strategically
Ceesay recommends planning a foray into acting strategically by staying at your traditional/day job for as long as possible—buying what you may need, taking classes, getting great pictures, figuring out how you might transition to part time work—before taking the leap. She also recommends identifying multiple potential streams of income since acting jobs are so inconsistent. If you’re struggling to identify options for alternate income sources, Ceesay suggests asking yourself the following questions:
· What do you do now that you can eventually earn an income from?
· What are you already doing as a side job/hobby - how can you increase that income?
· Can you take on a different position at your current job?
“The goal is to get as much control over your time as possible but have enough money to cover all of your expenses,” she explains. “If you don’t have an agent yet, stay at your job. Stay at your job until you get to the point where your job is getting in the way of the work you are booking.”
The challenge is not just finding other sources of income but finding ones that offer the flexibility to be available for auditions, shoots, etc. “In the early years of someone's career, they may have a job with regular hours and just find ways to fit in acting gigs as they can,” she explains. “As our careers progress and become more demanding of our time, we usually have to find part-time or temporary work to supplement our income. The best situation for most is to find ways to be self-employed which allows us to control how we use our time.”
Over the years, Ceesay has found ways to leverage her acting talents and experience as alternate income streams. She’s earned additional income by conducting private coaching, facilitating acting workshops and writing and producing projects of interest. “Many people find industry related jobs with flexible hours like photography, demo reel editing, website design, self-taping studio support or working in areas completely outside acting,” she says.
3. Have Realistic Expectations
Just because your friends think you’re hilarious or your mom swears you look like a movie starlet, don’t delude yourself into thinking that casting directors are just waiting for you to show up so they can offer you the part. This business is truly a business and oftentimes, it’s a harsh one.
“Being cute isn’t enough. Desire alone isn’t enough,” Ceesay insists. “Don’t expect things to happen immediately. Instead, expect it to take a long time.” Actors rarely drive the broader process or set the timetable. There’s very little within the actor’s control; everything is last minute and immediate. You have to just be prepared for that because it’s the norm. It’s also important to know that the nature of the work tends to be short-lived and sporadic, so as you envision booking gigs, think one or two lines shot over one or two days, not spending weeks on set shooting a movie followed by another.
“I am in the union and all of my rates are negotiated by my agent and that money is great, but I booked three jobs this year and that is considered good,” she says “Many people don’t book anything for years and then it’s just one thing. They can be great, just not right for the role. But then that role comes along that they’re perfect for. Only one person can book each job. That’s why it takes so long—you gotta wait your turn.”
4. Do Your Homework and Hone Your Craft
As someone who studied theater from her preteen years through college (graduating from Spelman College with a degree in drama), Ceesay is a strong advocate of learning your craft. While cracking jokes with your crew might seem like sufficient preparation, it’s actually not. If you don’t have any acting background, take classes and get as much experience as possible. Ceesay also warns, “Don’t stay in the same class with the same instructor for years—get variety.”
While you don’t need years of classical training for smaller roles certainly, learning about all aspects of the production process can help you be better prepared overall. “You need to know where to stand and who the PAs (production assistants) and ADs (assistant directors) are,” Ceesay explains. “As you move up the food chain, continue training.” If you’re interested in more significant roles, consider layering on improv classes once you’ve completed some acting training. If you’re serious about a career as an actor, never stop training.
5. Understand That Talent Alone Isn’t Enough
While talent is important, it certainly won’t guarantee success. “There are plenty of people who are moderately talented and have long term successful careers while there are others who are very talented who have very little success,” Ceesay insists. “Talent may be fourth or fifth on the list of requirements to book a job. What’s more important is how hard you push yourself, how well you network, who knows you, etc.”
Beyond talent, directors and casting directors also focus on work ethic, reliability, flexibility and consistency. The business tends to be very relationship driven in part because decision makers want to work with known quantities who will be reliable. It’s much riskier to roll the dice on someone who may have had a great audition but remains a complete mystery in terms of their punctuality, attitude on set, responsiveness to requests, etc.
Actors who are flexible and able to rearrange their schedule on a moment’s notice or turn around an audition tape really quickly are more desirable. “It’s not uncommon to get called to audition the next day or to have to do multiple auditions in a single day.” Because opportunities can be so sporadic, working actors are oftentimes expected to make themselves available with little notice.
While some may dream of becoming a professional actor, that dream can seem like a nightmare absent realistic expectations or proper preparation. There’s no scripted playbook for how to make a living acting, but if you’re talented, passionate and willing to work hard, it can certainly be done. Remember that “success” will look different for different people. Some will become celebrities; others will have recurring roles without becoming mega stars and still others will just have just a few lines in low budget productions, but for many, the joy and excitement of doing what you love is well worth the sacrifice.
