Graduation is upon us. Well, not exactly "us." We're only rising juniors, so we still have plenty of time to figure our lives out. You seniors, on the other hand, need to make some snap decisions. Where do you want to work? What do you want to do? Where do you want to live? What type of antidepressants do you want to take? Anyway, we're here to tell you that there's nothing to worry about. Just become an actor! The pay is great (unless you're not actually an actor, but a waiter), and it's super easy to get a movie role. You don't even need a drama degree! Here are some Hollywood life lessons.
Make new friends, but keep the old
In college, Jonah Hill wrote and performed in his own original plays. Yet, he did not realize his true dream (to be a film actor) until he met Rebecca and Jake Hoffman. The Hoffman siblings introduced Hill to their father, two-time Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman, who gave Hill an in. Hoffman encouraged the 20-year-old Hill to audition for "I Heart Huckabees" (2004). Hill got the part and he has since risen to fame.
Hang on to family ties
When Jeff Bridges won the Academy Award for Best Actor this year, he congratulated his father for "turning [him] on to such a groovy profession." Papa Lloyd Bridges had his own television show and would give roles to Jeff. They say that Hollywood is all about knowing the right people. Stars like Ben Stiller, Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland have their parents to thank for opening up doors. Connections are just as important in the real world. If you're still looking for work, maybe there's a family friend or an aunt who knows of a job opportunity. Or she may at least know a good place to get pastrami on rye.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again
Quentin Tarantino is one of the most recognizable directors in Hollywood. Maybe it's because of his brilliantly controversial films. Or maybe it's his quirky personality. Or maybe it's because he looks like he was beaten with an ugly stick. But this "QT-pie" wasn't always famous. At the tender age of 17, Tarantino dropped out of high school and, planning on pursuing a movie career, enrolled in acting school. In one of his classes, he had to perform a monologue. He decided to write his own, and found the writing process to be far more enjoyable than acting had ever been. In that moment, he realized that writing and directing — not acting — were his true calling. So don't worry about whether your job fits your major, because in all likelihood, your interests will change. People say that you can discover yourself in college, but you are just as apt to find your craft 10 years from now. We're almost 20; we know these things.
Don't be afraid to try new things
Rob Brown was a high school student when he saw a flier for "Finding Forrester" (2000). The film needed extras, and Brown needed some fast cash to pay his mother for a $300 cell phone bill. You know how mothers can get. Brown stepped on set, and several auditions later, director Gus Van Sant cast him as the main character alongside Sean Connery. Since then, Brown has acted in several feature films and is currently starring in HBO's newest hit series, "Treme." Now, we're not saying people are going to provide you with free opportunities, except for those people at Costco who hand out the cheese cubes on a stick. But if you try something new, you just might find your passion. Even if it is working at Costco.
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Zach Drucker is a rising junior majoring in International Relations, and Chris Poldoian is a rising junior majoring in Spanish. They can be reached at Zachary.Drucker@tufts.edu and Christopher.Poldoian@tufts.edu.
