staying power
By Jennifer Lieberman
The worst part about starting off as an actor was the waiting. Waiting for an audition, waiting to get cast, waiting in between gigs, jobs, roles…It felt like my career was out of my control. The worst part about starting off as a writer was waiting for someone to read my work, waiting for their feedback, waiting for someone else to decide my work was worthy of a production or publication.
Even though I had the courage to chase my childhood dream of writing and performing in my own films and plays, and moved to New York City from Maple, Canada, I was frustrated that my fate was dependent on other people giving me an opportunity. I fell backwards into producing 2 years after moving to New York. I was part of a theatre company in the East Village and they needed a new producer. After several declines, I was convinced to give producing a shot. It was a disaster. I had no idea what I was doing, I wasn’t prepared for the stress or juggling all the moving pieces. The show opened, against all odds it was a mild success. In hindsight I shouldn’t have kept a role while producing for the first time, but the only reason I was willing to produce was because I was in the show. In spite of it all I pulled it off.
Back then, performing was everything. It actually still is; however, I didn’t give up on producing and got a little better at it with each show. By my third production I realized I had a talent for producing and even enjoyed it. When acting was the only thing I did, I had very little control over my career and long term goals. Producing gave me the ability to spearhead my own productions. That’s why most successful actors have production companies so they never have to wait around; they actively seek out material, productions and creatives to collaborate with.
Today most actors and writers are mulit-hyphenates, they aren’t simply one thing like they were a couple of decades ago. Not all actors write and not all writers act, but many actors and writers wear the producer hat. They don’t sit in a world of ‘waiting to get picked’ anymore; the more they do for themselves the more chances they have at building a following, getting recognized and succeeding in the entertainment business. It is a business afterall. Reese Witherspoon founded Hello Sunshine and adapted popular books from her book club into successful films and series; she sold the company and is now a billionaire. Would she have ever hit billionaire status from acting alone? Zendaya is the executive producer of Euphoria and spearheaded the project as a vehicle for herself, which catapulted her to A-List stardom.
Many artists believe that creativity and business are mutually exclusive, but that’s not true. The most successful artists are the ones who understand business. If you want to make money at anything you are running a business, and more creatives need to understand and lean into that. Knowing the business and how to produce gives actors and writers agency and control of their careers so they are the ones calling the shots, not waiting for the call.
I had been writing scripts since I was a child and had over a dozen producing credits in film and theatre before I had the confidence to produce my own work. My first production sprung out of the pain and frustration of waiting to get picked. I wrote and produced a solo-show after moving to LA to get noticed by an agent, manager, producer or director. That show changed my life. No, I didn’t get noticed, but I pushed myself further than I believed I was capable. I was more fulfilled creating that show in my living room than working on anything I had ever been cast in. I knew I was meant to keep creating my own productions.
I haven’t hit it big in Hollywood yet, but producing my own projects has allowed my work to screen at major film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival Court Métrage and even win some awards. That spirit of creating my own opportunities when doors didn’t open pushed me to self-publish my novel when publishers weren’t interested and even led to me becoming an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author from adapting my award-winning solo-show into a novel.
It doesn't matter where you are in life or what your dreams are, we all have the power to create our own opportunities especially in the digital age. We don’t have to wait for permission or doors to open anymore; if a door doesn’t open, build your own house, or theatre or studio!
You have the power to determine your success. With passion and a commitment to learning a few new skills, nothing can stand between you and your dreams. No one needs to choose you when you choose yourself.
Learning how to execute my own projects on the page, the stage or the screen is the best decision I ever made as an actor and a writer. It’s given me the power to choose the projects and people I work with and gives me the power to stay in the game even when no one else chooses me. The key ingredient is a burning passion to create and no one can teach that or take it away.
Jennifer Lieberman is an award-winning actor, writer, producer and an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author from Maple, Canada. She has appeared in over 30 international stage productions and has produced over 50 independent film and theatre productions. Her short films have screened at several international film festivals including the Festival De Cannes Court Métrage. Jennifer founded Make Your Own Break Ltd. to help emerging actors and writers take control of their careers and create their own opportunities.