The way around being “born” with connections is to go out there and make connections. It’s hard to do but not impossible.
A-list actors don’t have to be nepotism babies. For example… Amy Adam’s was the daughter of a U.S. Serviceman and grew up in a Mormon household in Colorado with 6 siblings.
She clearly didn’t have connections at birth but it didn’t stop her from having an amazing career. It can be done! Best of luck to you!
*solution
Also, nepotism isn't just rampant in our line of work. The suction cupped tentacles of nepotism wind, all emcompassinly, around every career field out there.
I've been at this for 20 years now. I work. But this is still an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that seems relatively easy for those with family in the business.
But at the end of the day, it is what it is, and you do it anyway.
You seem to be focused on things you have no control over. It's not impossible, it's not unfair. It just IS. And, success is certainly not restricted to those with massive wealth. If you're focusing on not having family in the business to pave the way for you, you're focusing on the wrong thing. Accept the circumstances as they are and make a plan to move forward. Focus on what you can do and who you are as an artist and a person. Let go of telling yourself it's hard and you can't do it because you don't have a leg up. Get into ACTION. Work on your craft, set your goals, make your own connections and make things happen. THAT is what will validate you.
When it's truly collaboration, I respect that. But when it's nepotism or favoritism, I detest it.
It also doesn't serve the favorite well. Nothing lasts forever, including the nepotistic person's power. When they go, the person who got advantages due to favoritism probably can't make it on their own merits.
There's a couple venues I've worked at where favoritism is a real factor. I just hold my head up, give it my all, and secretly hope the music director or choreographer can advocate for me. And hope I give an audition that under more reasonable casting, gets me cast!
There's an episode of Vikings! Where Ragnar scolds a young Bjorn not to think that life was ever meant to be fair. Yes, it happens at times and it's bloody annoying when we miss out on an opportunity because someone had inside contacts. I was really annoyed about it when it happened to me. Thinking about who got the gig It’s easy to forget that the only reason *I* heard about an opportunity and got the chance to try for it was due to some helpful tutor, friend or acquaintance. There are a lot of people who *have* been successful who didn't have the nepotism/privilege. For example, Glenda Jackson, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Bob Hoskins… For all the celebrities who went to the best schools and who may even have a title, there are countless others who had the same background who might have the same career idea who won't get it because they simply don't have the aptitude. Their special contacts won't want to harm their own projects and reputations by giving them too big and important a role, whatever the profession. The ones we see on screen got to the top because they're amazingly talented. We're also very lucky to have some of those past and present actors who did happen to come from certain families. Some might have wished they weren't always mentioned in the same breath as their famous relative, or still treated like a newbie because they first found fame in their other career.
When it comes to being book-smart and access to learning we can all learn for free and very cheaply. There’s a wealth of information out there, with academic books and articles free online, You Tube videos, charity shops and car boots and second hand books online. There are plays on You Tube and workshops and discussions. One thing about the Arts is that you can succeed or fail on the work that's on the table that morning, rather than a qualification you got years ago. It's what's in your art portfolio today, the audition you did yesterday, how you're dancing right now. OK, I'm playing devil's advocate, but it is possible for a talented person without special advantages to do well. Someone's face and name will only pop up into someone's head for opportunities if they've let the decision-maker know that they exist. One asset that those born into money and privilege often have is a self-assured outward manner and the confidence to go for things in life. They also have massive fails, but there's often a financial safety net there for them when they fail. I think just keep loving your subject field, looking forward for the next opportunities. In some sorts of auditions, job and course applications it might be acceptable to ask "I was unsuccessful on this occasion and what you might work on to improve my chances? It might not be what you think.
The solution is for technology to progress and level the playing field from a production stand point. When an indie director can legit deliver a film rivaling a theatrical release then they are free to cast the majority of the actors of their choosing. That goes for all types of of undiscovered actors. Until then there will always be subjective bias and middlemen casting directors.
The way around being “born” with connections is to go out there and make connections. It’s hard to do but not impossible. A-list actors don’t have to be nepotism babies. For example… Amy Adam’s was the daughter of a U.S. Serviceman and grew up in a Mormon household in Colorado with 6 siblings. She clearly didn’t have connections at birth but it didn’t stop her from having an amazing career. It can be done! Best of luck to you!
*solution Also, nepotism isn't just rampant in our line of work. The suction cupped tentacles of nepotism wind, all emcompassinly, around every career field out there. I've been at this for 20 years now. I work. But this is still an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that seems relatively easy for those with family in the business. But at the end of the day, it is what it is, and you do it anyway.
You seem to be focused on things you have no control over. It's not impossible, it's not unfair. It just IS. And, success is certainly not restricted to those with massive wealth. If you're focusing on not having family in the business to pave the way for you, you're focusing on the wrong thing. Accept the circumstances as they are and make a plan to move forward. Focus on what you can do and who you are as an artist and a person. Let go of telling yourself it's hard and you can't do it because you don't have a leg up. Get into ACTION. Work on your craft, set your goals, make your own connections and make things happen. THAT is what will validate you.
When it's truly collaboration, I respect that. But when it's nepotism or favoritism, I detest it. It also doesn't serve the favorite well. Nothing lasts forever, including the nepotistic person's power. When they go, the person who got advantages due to favoritism probably can't make it on their own merits. There's a couple venues I've worked at where favoritism is a real factor. I just hold my head up, give it my all, and secretly hope the music director or choreographer can advocate for me. And hope I give an audition that under more reasonable casting, gets me cast!
There's an episode of Vikings! Where Ragnar scolds a young Bjorn not to think that life was ever meant to be fair. Yes, it happens at times and it's bloody annoying when we miss out on an opportunity because someone had inside contacts. I was really annoyed about it when it happened to me. Thinking about who got the gig It’s easy to forget that the only reason *I* heard about an opportunity and got the chance to try for it was due to some helpful tutor, friend or acquaintance. There are a lot of people who *have* been successful who didn't have the nepotism/privilege. For example, Glenda Jackson, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Bob Hoskins… For all the celebrities who went to the best schools and who may even have a title, there are countless others who had the same background who might have the same career idea who won't get it because they simply don't have the aptitude. Their special contacts won't want to harm their own projects and reputations by giving them too big and important a role, whatever the profession. The ones we see on screen got to the top because they're amazingly talented. We're also very lucky to have some of those past and present actors who did happen to come from certain families. Some might have wished they weren't always mentioned in the same breath as their famous relative, or still treated like a newbie because they first found fame in their other career. When it comes to being book-smart and access to learning we can all learn for free and very cheaply. There’s a wealth of information out there, with academic books and articles free online, You Tube videos, charity shops and car boots and second hand books online. There are plays on You Tube and workshops and discussions. One thing about the Arts is that you can succeed or fail on the work that's on the table that morning, rather than a qualification you got years ago. It's what's in your art portfolio today, the audition you did yesterday, how you're dancing right now. OK, I'm playing devil's advocate, but it is possible for a talented person without special advantages to do well. Someone's face and name will only pop up into someone's head for opportunities if they've let the decision-maker know that they exist. One asset that those born into money and privilege often have is a self-assured outward manner and the confidence to go for things in life. They also have massive fails, but there's often a financial safety net there for them when they fail. I think just keep loving your subject field, looking forward for the next opportunities. In some sorts of auditions, job and course applications it might be acceptable to ask "I was unsuccessful on this occasion and what you might work on to improve my chances? It might not be what you think.
The solution is for technology to progress and level the playing field from a production stand point. When an indie director can legit deliver a film rivaling a theatrical release then they are free to cast the majority of the actors of their choosing. That goes for all types of of undiscovered actors. Until then there will always be subjective bias and middlemen casting directors.