What Now: Preparing for Life after Graduation

As my time in college comes to an end I look back on the theatre training I’ve received, and notice that certain critical tools needed to survive as an actor are missing from USC’s theatre curriculum. Even basic knowledge related to the business end of becoming an entertainer is barely ever mentioned let alone material for a course. For instance, whenever an actor goes on a professional audition they must take with them a headshot and a resume, this much may be common knowledge, but there are a variety of headshot layouts and formats to choose from. A headshot that is appropriate for a commercial audition does not look nor cost the same as a headshot for film, stage, or modeling. And in a line of work as competitive and difficult to enter into as acting, one simply can’t afford to make such errors. Thus, I have decided to use this blog entry to propose my plan for the use of the funds awarded through the 2007 College Dean’s Prize.

For those who haven’t heard of the Dean’s Prize, it is a monetary award given to three students with the most feasible and useful proposals for bettering the education received at USC. The award was created in accordance with USC’s role and mission, to create an environment that will produce intelligent and fruitful thinkers, capable of contributing to society. Thus, the universities strategic plan lays out guidelines for achieving this goal. The guidelines, though roughly condensed are researching areas of importance in fields of study, learning the global concerns of these needs and teaching how these two aspects are necessary to success in the workforce.

Keeping these concepts in mind, there are many changes that could be made to the school of theatre that would greatly improve the program. The most important area of change is that of practical business knowledge. None of the courses cover aspects such as finding agents, mailing headshots to casting agents, what an appropriate audition piece is and perhaps most important the types of roles you as an individual should pursue. Considering that the majority of working actors, actors who have no other form of employment to supplement their income, earn between thirty-eight thousand and fifty-six thousand dollars a year according to Vault.com. After subtracting the necessary living expenses everyone must pay along with non-fixed monthly bills. Then deduct from that number basic acting expenses such as photographer fees, head shot and resume printing, envelopes and stamps for mailings, acting workshops and finally gas expenses for driving to and from auditions and one will note that most working actors are living close to the poverty line in America. People such as Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, who become superstars and are able to get millions of dollars per project, are the exception to the majority of working actors, Therefore, I think a course focused on the practicality of entering into the film, television and stage industry would be greatly beneficial for young aspiring artists, many of whom only learn of the difficulty of making ends meet after it’s too late to consider choosing a different major. Currently, no other undergraduate theatre program not part of a performing arts college, teaches such important, practical lessons which may account for the remarkably high number of hopefuls who quit the industry.

While the professors in school of performance are talented actors none of the performance based courses are taught by directors. While the lessons taught by a more seasoned performer are useful, nearly every professional acting job comes with a director shaping an actors performance. Some of the best theatre programs in America, like Julliard or the New Actor’s Studio, have directors as well as actors instructing theatre students. Even long time rival UCLA, hired Peter Sellars pictured on the right famous for his innovative work as a director, to teach young actors entering their theatre program. Having professional directors on staff to teach acting classes is crucial because it gives the actor the opportunity to learn what a director expects from them, and how to work in conjunction with them, lessons that become necessary after graduation when one begins seriously auditioning.

In order for USC’s theatre program to grow, more focus must be placed on the business side of acting. Hiring successful directors to teach acting is only one way in which to improve the department. Currently there are no resources for graduating students to go, in order to find an agent or audition for television or film parts. Granted this is an industry where ones success really depends on ones own determination, but considering that USC is located literally minutes from the largest film studios in the world, it would be simple to publish directories for students listing locations, names and numbers of genuine agents, photographers and performance workshops.

In utilizing the Dean’s prize to create contact lists and entertainment industry business classes, USC’s theatre school would be offering its students information that no other performing arts program in America offers, which would help to enhance the reputation of the theatre program. Additionally by hiring working directors as acting professors, SC will be advancing the theatre school to the level of more prestigious performance programs. More importantly they will be better preparing students for what awaits them in the professional world, thereby improving their chances for employment and in turn improving the reputation of the school of theatre.

More than Studious: An Ideal Honorary Degree Candidate

As the spring quickly approaches bringing with it countless outdoor graduations, and even more graduation speeches this year I find myself amongst the multitude of confused graduates, finally receiving my bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from the University of Southern California. Of the distinguished presenters to the class of 2007, one honorary degree recipient will address the graduates with a speech meant to encourage and inspire through real life example. In light of the personal connection I feel to this year’s commencement, I have chosen a nominee whom I feel would be an ideal recipient for USC’s Fine Arts Honorary Degree.

According to the university’s website the degree is meant to, “elevate the university in the eyes of the world by honoring individuals who are widely known and highly regarded for achievements in their respective fields of endeavor.” With this in mind I nominate actor, writer and director Tim Robbins pictured at the academy awards, for the honorary degree in fine arts.

While Robbins’s successful career in the entertainment industry fulfills the requirements for distinguishing him in the fine arts, he has thus far won an academy award for acting and was nominated as a director. He has produced and directed many successful films and plays. However, it is not merely this which prompts my nomination. In addition to being a provocative and intelligent artist, Robbins is an active philanthropist participating and supporting several charities whilst remaining an outspoken human rights advocate. Regardless of whether his opinions are socially acceptable or not, he has never allowed himself or other artists to be censored, and continues to exercise his freedom of expression in his work.

Raised in New York City, his father was a folk singer and his mother was a magazine publishing executive. Robbins was introduced to the stage performing protest songs along side his father at a young age. He joined the Theatre for the New City at twelve and remained an active member for the next seven years, as well as participating in high school productions. He briefly attended the State University of New York at Pattsburgh, before moving to California and enrolling at UCLA as a theatre student. While working to pay for college and attending class, he made time to co-establish and participate in a theatre troupe with some of his fellow students called The Actor’s Gang. Founded in 1981, the group is one of Los Angeles’s longest running theatre organizations best known for its provocative and controversial productions, including pieces by Bertolt Brecht as well as new works written by local authors.

While The Actor’s Gang is now considered a success, its early days were less certain, causing Robbins to begin taking work as a screen actor in order to fund the struggling theatre group. Within a short period of time Robbins film career began to take off, eventually earning him several accolades including an Academy Award and several Golden Globe nominations for his performances in The Shawshank Redemption and Mystic River. Aside from being a talented actor, Robbins has also received honors for his work as a writer and director, as in his film Dead Man Walking, which garnered several awards. Despite commercial success, Robbins remained loyal to his roots in the theatre and The Actor’s Gang, continuing to produce socially relevant plays.

But it is perhaps his philanthropic work, particularly in the area of America’s political involvement in foreign nations that has generated the majority of the media attention surrounding Robbins. His politics have even gotten him banned for one year from the Academy Awards. Ironically enough, Robbins and partner Susan Sarandon would only be invited back to the awards the following year because they were both nominated for their work in his film, Dead Man Walking. In recent memory, Robbins has come under fire for his dissent regarding the war in Iraq and the Bush administration. Causing him to once again go on the defensive regarding his personal politics, eventually inspiring his latest work entitled Embedded a theatrical piece based on true events that occurred during the US occupation of Iraq prior to and during the Iraq war, Tim is pictured performing in the piece on the left.

The President Emeritus of the University of Iowa and Dartmouth, James Freeman writes that, “In bestowing an honorary degree a university makes an explicit statement to its students and the world about the qualities of character and attainment it admires most.” I feel that in awarding Tim Robbins with an honorary degree in fine arts the University of Southern California would be telling the student body that what matters is not merely ones success in life, but remaining faithful to oneself and ones beliefs. Regardless of whether his views were popular or accepted by the majority, Tim Robbins has always followed his own moral compass, listening first to his own heart. Though his political views may not be mainstream, and his profession as an entertainer may not be widely respected by many attendees of the graduation ceremony. What possible message could be more important to new college graduates entering an uncertain future? What ideal is more important for a university to convey, than trusting in oneself? Especially given the influence a university has in creating the adult the young graduate has become? Bearing this concept in mind, I feel that Tim Robbins best embodies this idea, and is therefore deserving of the honorary degree in fine arts.