Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 5/8/2010

Question
Mr. Plonkey

My name is Brent and I am currently a BFA Acting student at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.  I have just completed my second year of study in one of Canada's most well established and respected theatre training programs and have had 4 years professional theatre experience in addition to this.  Nearing the end of this semester, I found my passion and dedication to the craft diminish quite substancially.  It started to feel like a job more than anything - and I job I really didn't like.  I can attribute this to the long rehearsal/class hours, being in a city where I don't really know anybody outside the theatre community and being in a longterm relationship with a wonderful and supportive young woman who also happens to be a professional actress haha.  Currently, she is finding great work and her career is really blossoming.  I wasn't able to find acting work for the summer this year for the first time since graduating from high school and that also put a bit of a damper on things.  I guess I am just asking you for a few words of advice because right now I am feeling quite lost and unmotivated. I have played some great roles and learned a lot within my training, but I just don't love it like I used to. I don't know what to think.

Answer
Hello Brent, Wow! Yes, I think I know what has happened to you. 1. you already know how to act and the crap they are making you do in school is not really acting (such as script analysis and character analysis and affective memory exercises) Such things are not as complex as acting teachers want them to be. And 2. You are in BIG trouble with having an acting career by entering into a relationship with this actress. First, the relationship will take most of your time and energy that you need for acting and second as I read between the lines here, you are really jealous of her success. Quite frankly that is what breaks up a lot of acting couples. One is successful and the other is not  It is poison to the relationship and the career. I can't help wonder how hard you tried to find summer acting work?? Why isn't your school helping??  I want you to go to my website and read my ebook, The Tao of Acting. Then read anything else on the site you care to read.  I think it might help you. Then write me at the email address on my site and let's get you acting instead of studying acting.  www.kenplonkeyacting.com   God bless, Doc