“The Map Is Not The Territory” . . . and the resume is not the actor

“The Map Is Not The Territory” - Alfred Korzybski

I am both an actor and a director, but I do not have a "name" in either category, except in certain circles. Perhaps because of that, or perhaps because I see the big picture, it is sadly funny to me how many directors and casting directors are afraid to even audition an "unknown".

There is a story about Jack Lemmon coming in to read for the role of Ensign Pulver in the film version of Mister Roberts. When Joshua Logan (who co wrote the play and wrote the screenplay) saw Jack Lemmon audition, he is said to have been so excited by how absolutely perfect Lemmon was as Pulver, that he exclaimed "Where were you when we were casting this for Broadway?!" Lemmon's reply? "Standing outside, trying to get in to see you."

You see, by 1954, when they were casting the film for which he won an Oscar, Jack Lemmon had a bit of a resume, having performed supporting roles for such things as the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, Studio One, and The Frances Langford-Don Ameche show. But in 1947, when casting for the play was going on, he was merely a recently released Navy Ensign, whose college studies had been in "War Service Sciences", dreaming of possibly being a full-time actor. What audacity! Why would any director waste precious time on him?

Actually, the more famous and successful a director is, the *less* he or she generally seems to care about the previous experience of the actor they are considering. Which makes sense, as they may be successful enough themselves to be a "starMAKER", and so be confident enough to seek out new talent. But even the most open-minded of these new directors will need someone to help sort the selections, and may have a casting director who will not bring someone in because they are not confident enough to trust the talent they see, or suspect, without someone else having taken the chance first.

I obviously understand that perusing a resume is a helpful tool in deciding which actors to bring in to the room. However, once an actor is in front of the creative team, and doing good work, then at that point the team being more concerned with “what the resume looks like” than with “what the actor is capable of” can actually be detrimental to the creative process. As I quoted above “the map is not the territory”. Is your favorite vacation spot a place you saw on a map, or a place you have experienced with your own eyes? Do you buy a home based on seeing the floor plan, or based on how you feel when you are actually in the building?

Of course, if someone picked up a scalpel to operate on me who had never before performed surgery, I might indeed be hesitant to undertake his or her services; but many actors who are written off for having a “lesser curriculum vitae” have actually performed brilliant and challenging roles in smaller venues, so they are not actually equivalent to a resident internist, but more to a small town doctor. A surgeon who has performed faultlessly and tirelessly in a country hospital might give equal, perhaps even better, care than a famous surgeon earning a huge salary in a busy metropolitan center.

Yes, sometimes the most talented ARE the ones making the most money in the highest profile jobs, of course, of course. . . but sometimes genius level work is being done under the radar, in all fields, at all times. And that one fabulous perfect role (like Lemmon's Ensign Pulver) that will allow an actor's unique talents to shine may happen at any point in their lives.

Today, I am "kissing to" all the times a chance is taken on hiring someone who, on paper, may not seem to be the best choice, but who has passion and intelligence and spirit and talent.

Yes, yes, yes, this show business is obviously a business, but “on paper” there is no reason for anyone to enter into it (!), and if we don’t honor our higher creative instincts along with our practical financial instincts, then those incredible moments that are the beauty of our trade, the ones that make our business not just profitable, but potentially transformative, can never happen.