As an actor it is a fact of your business that when you are not currently filming something, you are out of work. It doesn’t matter how famous you are or how much money you make. This same rule applies to everyone! When your favorite A lost actor is not filming a movie they could find themselves doing a press tour, a shoot to advertise a product, or even creating their own products and advertising those. As an actor, it is important to keep yourself busy. I always take note that I am not only happier when I am busy with acting, but also willing to do more work in every aspect of my life to keep going and to make my dreams a reality.
      When you have accomplished things as an actor, it can seem funny to work on a smaller project. Independent film, an improv show, or even a theatrical show in a small theater can all seem like insignificant jobs. But the truth about them is that they are work, and any work is good work. You can see actors returning to smaller projects time and time again, such as Vince Vaughn in the Indie film that will be released this year, Term Life. He is a hugely successful actor who has worked on a ton of huge projects, and yet he is still doing films that aren’t huge budget- backed by a studio. I am willing to put the words into his mouth and say that he does it for the art.
      Here are the reasons you should keep doing the smaller projects while you work on getting your career to be exactly how you would like it to be:
1)      They’re good practice. If you are not someone who loves taking acting classes, or would prefer to get paid to have direction in you acting, booking smaller projects is great for you because it offers just that. You have the opportunity to practice your craft while being a professional at it.
2)      Networking opportunities (especially where short films are concerned). When you are involved in a project that you really love, even if it is a small budget or what have you, you have the chance to meet a lot of new people. This opens the door to future projects!
3)      Experience. This is a little cheesy but think about your future interviews. When you get a question about how hard you worked to “make it” in the industry you will want to bring this up! “I was booking, but I was working 90 hour weeks because in between filming professional projects I was also doing my own on the side. It’s a tough industry and you have to love your craft to make it.” Okay, so I’ve imagined what I am going to say in future interviews once or twice… maybe more.