Getting Started - Dream Career

Hello all! If you’ve been following me on TikTok or YouTube, you know I’m on a journey to my dream career that I’m documenting along the way to make sure I actually stick to my goals. As someone with ADHD, finishing something I’ve started can be a serious problem, so this is my way of overcoming that obstacle.

So, who am I? My pseudonym is Sammi Chelle, which is taken from a mix of my first and middle names. My full-time job is Software Engineering. It is a good job – I am good AT my job – but I can’t see myself doing it for another 15+ years. My solution to this predicament is doing a 180 on the career choice and going back to what I love and am truly passionate about: the performing arts.

I’m giving you all this background information, but you’re probably wondering why the pseudonym. That is a strategic career choice because, unfortunately for me, there are multiple people with my birth name in the US and one of them (I discovered via a google search many years ago) at one point worked in adult film. Given where my focus is to be in the voice over space, mainly animation, children’s media, and commercials to start, that could be a confusing conflict if our careers get mixed up.

The Path Forwards

As you can probably guess from my website, I am working on two paths of interest: music and voice over.

Music is something I’ve plucked away at for a long while. You can see some early works released under my legal name here. I figure it is about time I act as a proper recording artist and put some time into real marketing as a DIY musician. I’ve already spent time (and money) getting songs I’ve written properly mixed and have set a release date for an EP called “It’s A Lie”. This is more of a passion project than something I expect to support my financial needs. I also see myself as a recording artist more than a performing artist in this space. Don’t get me wrong, if a great opportunity to perform my music live comes up I would happily take it, but much of my time is focused on the second path of interest. That also doesn’t mean I’m not actively marketing, practicing, and making more music. I am. In fact, I am working with a company to help promote the EP with a focus on the title track, “It’s A Lie” and a track I find very personal, “Lion’s Heart.” The second track had previously been released with a lower quality mix under my legal name, but with the better mix I think it has real potential. If any of the songs from the EP pop off I will look into investing some time and hard earned cash into a proper music video and capitalizing on the success with live performances.

Voice Over is something I can see becoming a full-time career for me that supports my day-to-day life. If I do this right, it is possible to transition away from software. The steps I am following are as follows:

1.      Study up on the business

2.      Get proper coaching

3.      Create a Demo

4.      Market myself and audition

At this point – two weeks into the journey – I am making good headway on the first two steps. I’ve found an agency with a solid reputation to get coaching and a demo through. I anticipate I’ll be ready to create that demo by mid-September. I am also investing time in studying general acting (pretty important to brush up on for VO) and handling myself as a business.  This I am doing through group sessions with the agency mentioned and reading. I just completed reading Sanford Meisner on Acting and am about to start Running a Successful Voice Over Business by Joshua Alexander. The next section is about the book I completed.

Reading Recap

Sanford Meisner on Acting is a dialog heavy book. It is written in a way to give the feeling that you’re in the room while Meisner (affectionately referred to as Sandy) conducts his classes in the later stages of his life. I found it beneficial to read as a supplement to taking acting and script analysis classes in person in the past. Nothing will replace actual practice, but it does help solidify the concepts mentally.

There is one key phrase that pops up frequently, “Live truthfully under imaginary circumstances” (Meisner, 14). That sounds like a grand statement, but it really is quite simple: don’t play at a character, find what makes that character real to you and be that character.

A few main topics are covered in the book, but preparation is the primary focus. What is preparation? It is what you do before a scene begins. To paraphrase, preparation only lasts until the start of the scene. You don’t want to come into a scene emotionally empty, but you can’t hold steadfast to that choice. Your next actions will be affected by the influence of others in the scene, so you need to be open to that influence for things to feel real.

The key exercise used is the Word Repetition Game. It is geared towards getting you to listen to your acting partner to train the concept of “don’t do anything unless something makes you do it.”

A few other points I took away from the book:

·       A good scene has a compelling human problem

·       There are parts we don’t have the temperament for even if we understand them

·       Make the part yours – one exercise shown in the book is to cycle between putting the part in your own words and back to the actual script. This should help with the emotional authenticity

·       A good actor must be able to take criticism

·       Stage directions in plays are for the readers, not necessarily the actors. Throw them out (unless your director wants you to do something specific) and do what feels real in the moment

Now, obviously, every technique has its benefits and drawbacks. I’m of the belief that learning about multiple techniques will help an individual find what works best for them. We don’t all process life the same way, so how could we process displaying a life the same way?

This journey is one I am excited for. One that I hope (manifest) success in. It will take work, but I know I can do it.