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Botswana: It's All About Hard Work
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The Voice (Francistown)
OPINION
11 March 2008
Posted to the web 11 March 2008
Kgomotso Tshwenyego
Francistown
Now and again, I bump into someone who'd ask me how the movie business is going. I'm always amused by the question because it doesn't only end there; I'd be asked o mpolelle ga ba batla batho. Although I keep on a straight face, I'm often saddened by this request not because someone wants to showcase their talent as a performing artist but this is a total stranger, someone I don't know and they want me to call them to be part of a production.
Performers work hard and this starts with putting your ear to the ground for casting calls, sacrificing a lot of time which too many people seem not to have. Unless you've been living in happy isolation, you should know that casting calls are usually advertised in local papers.
Many people begin careers in performance for the wrong reasons. They think acting is a glamorous business where someone with little or no experience can make a lot of money with very little effort or can have their face recognized wherever they go. This desire to appear on TV has resulted in people going for phony auditions where they are required to pay. Screen which calls are genuine and those which are scams and that aim at ripping people of their hard-earned money or taking advantage of individuals who want to start a career in the film industry.
Working as a performer is a challenging profession that requires discipline, commitment and lots of hard work. One needs to be prepared to compete against fellow performers for every role and know there is no such thing as a guaranteed part. Considering a career in the performing arts should not be a passing fancy, there has to be a deep-rooted passion for it. You will succeed only if you are serious about being a performer and are dedicated. Bringing a character to life on the screen can give you great joy and personal satisfaction but it also entails personal sacrifices.
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There are several things to keep in mind when auditioning. Casting Directors want you to do well. The casting process is as exhausting and difficult for them as it is for you. They're just waiting for the right person to walk in the room so they can begin production. Don't let the intimidating and often unfriendly environment keep you from doing your best. Have confidence in who you are and what you have to offer. Confidence, just like in any other industry, sells. This in no way means be arrogant. Arrogant people aren't confident. Just because you were cast in a previous production doesn't mean you will be cast in the next production. If you don't get the job, don't beat yourself up; sometimes the reason you don't get hired can be totally absurd or you were just unlucky.
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