Acting : On Jealousy Between Actors (and shoving that bitch of an emotion away!) by Zedrick Restauro

I'm sure you've watched a fellow actor play a part and think to yourself I can do so much better. Or heard an actor friend booking a part or getting an audition on something you'd like for yourself and think, I should be getting that. It is natural to be jealous initially, and we've all been through it (YES YOU HAVE TOO, ADMIT IT!) What isn't natural, and is a choice you make, is staying jealous and letting it get the best of you. And it's a very destructive thing: for others and especially for yourself. Jealousy is a negative emotion so powerful and so easy to succumb to. As an actor, you can often compare your progress to another and think, why am I not where that actor is? Jealousy preys on this thought and before you know it you're wishing ill of this other actor and convincing yourself that you deserve that part, not that actor, totally discarding how much work that actor has done or how far that actor has come to make those opportunities possible for him/her to have. Jealousy can also discourage you immensely, being stuck in so much negativity you start focusing on the things you've done that haven't worked, and before you know it you're wallowing in all your doubts. Haven't you ever noticed that being negative drains you of so much energy? On that thought of negativity, I was recently on an audition for How I Met Your Mother and after I had done my read, I ran into another actor in the elevator who was up for the same part and had already read as well. He asked me how my audition went and my immediate impulse was to tell him "It went great! best audition I ever had!" (which would have been a lie). But I made the choice to silence that negative impulse which is really an aim to intimidate and be competitive in an unhealthy way, and told myself, Zedrick don't be a dick and don't be cray. Be honest! So I told him the truth: "It was pretty good." He felt the same and we had a good laugh about how quick the audition was and how it was nothing like we expected. If I don't get the part I hope that actor does. I sensed he was pretty cool and I wish him well. And like myself, I'm sure he has worked long and hard enough to be at a point where he has the resources and the right people around him so that great opportunities, like auditioning for this amazing show, are opening up for him. What we should do instead is wish our other fellow actors well. When you see an actor friend of yours on whichever social media get an awesome audition or book a part however big or small, congratulate that actor, give a proverbial high five by liking that post or giving a celebratory comment. Yes that feeling of jealousy will try to creep in, but shove that little bitch away! You are so much better! This is already a hard enough industry for all of us and we're making it harder on each other by letting petty negative emotions like jealousy get the best of us. Be happy for your fellow actors' achievements and morph whatever envy you feel and make it a challenge for yourself instead to gather the resources you need to achieve that similar level of progress. Make sure your motivations are positive and celebrate with that actor, pray for them, wish them well. Negativity drains us of energy, but Positivity creates it! Be patient, be positive, and work hard because your time will come! Being on Stage32 alone already speaks volumes of how hard you work, being so eager to network, and how truly focused you are on the growth of your career. For more on making a better network and better friends of peers and artists that foster creativity and growth, read this awesome post my friend Stephen Bailey wrote: http://www.stage32.com/post/453232287547400312 Stay positive you sexy artists! ZEDRICK RESTAURO LIKE on http://Facebook.com/ZedrickRestauro FOLLOW on http://Twitter.com/ZedrickRestauro WATCH on http://YouTube.com/ZedrickRestauro CHECK OUT on http://IMDb.me/ZedrickRestauro