The Difference Between An Actor And A Star
Bob Lefsetz is one of the sharpest voices in music right now. I don’t mean his singing voice – I can’t say I’ve ever heard him sing – but rather his sharp and critical take on the industry.
In his newsletter, the Lefsetz Letter, Bob’s audacious manner and strong POV combine to offer truthful and incisive takes on the shifting sands in the music business.
(Speaking of newsletters, sign up for mine if you’d like me to send you tips about how to navigate Hollywood and further your career.)
Bob’s got tens of thousands of subscribers, he’s been a regular contributor to Variety, and he’s survived feuds with everyone from Gene Simmons to Taylor Swift. The man is a legend.
Bob recently made a post on Lefsetz Letter cataloguing the traits of two different types of musicians. I was inspired by the simplicity and elegance with which Bob laid out his case studies, and saw a lot of parallels to the film industry.
So, with Bob’s permission, I’ve composed my own dual portrait of two different types of actors: the Star and the Journeyman.
STAR
Goes for immediate success.
ACTOR
Thinks about the long haul.
STAR
Walks into auditions with arrogance.
ACTOR
Walks into auditions with confidence.
STAR
Sees certain jobs as “beneath them.”
ACTOR
Understands that an important role can come from anywhere.
STAR
Takes the role with the biggest paycheck.
ACTOR
Takes the role that benefits them as an artist.
STAR
Hangs their pride on one role.
ACTOR
Always moves forward from job to job.
STAR
Sees themselves as someone to know.
ACTOR
Works hard to get to know others.
STAR
Complains the game is stacked against them.
ACTOR
Takes failure as an opportunity to work harder.
STAR
Desperately tries to network with those above them.
ACTOR
Takes time to help those below them.
STAR
Tries to emulate what’s “hot” in the industry.
ACTOR
Finds what they have that no one else has.
STAR
Only plays one type of character because it works for them.
ACTOR
Endeavors to diversify their work.
STAR
Signs with the biggest agent in the industry.
ACTOR
Signs with the best agent for them.
STAR
Leaves building their brand to a manager.
ACTOR
Takes an active and collaborative role in building their brand.
STAR
Uses social media to show off their success.
ACTOR
Uses social media to connect with fans.
STAR
Spends all their money on luxury purchases.
ACTOR
Invests their money back into their career.
STAR
Sees themselves as a celebrity.
ACTOR
Sees themselves as an actor.
STAR
Lives for awards and trophies.
ACTOR
Appreciates recognition but knows that’s it only a small part of their life.
STAR
Sees an end goal to work towards.
ACTOR
Sees checkpoints in a lifelong career.
STAR
Does it for the fame.
ACTOR
Does it for the work.
For more tips about how to grow your acting career, sign up below: