In our quest to be in alignment to book, and to determine what influence the actor has over his or her career, we’ve covered the following topics.

• We started with moving from a reactive state to a proactive one, which includes taking responsibility for your own happiness and success.
• We talked about the clarity of what you project, which is bringing together the strengths of who you are with how others see you. 
• We also discussed bringing consciousness to your level of skill, which involves your choices and the execution of those choices.

Now we will discuss where the choices come from that make your work fresh and unique. This involves bringing more consciousness to your level of creativity and the influence you have over it.

What is Creativity?

Creativity is defined as: The ability to use the imagination to develop new and original ideas or things, especially in an artistic context. In the actor’s case, it’s the ability to turn thoughts and ideas into images that will be channeled into interesting and dynamic form.

The Power of Creativity

To say that our creativity is an essential part of our work would be more than an understatement. It is:

• The force that propels us into the unknown
• What creates a personal stamp on whatever we are doing
• What separates us from others
• Where our voice comes from

Our own personal creativity is like a very temperamental child that needs attention. If it doesn’t get the attention it needs, it shuts down or becomes uncooperative. It needs to be cherished, nurtured and respected for what it can bring to you. Without creativity, the actor is reduced to little more than a walking, talking prop and is at the mercy of everyone else’s creativity. Our creativity is what takes us from craftsman to artist.

When our creativity is alive we tend to bring a different look to the material. When it is inactive or stalled, we tend to make the same choices as everyone else. An actor with an inactive or stalled creative mind is at a serious disadvantage in today’s market. I was sitting in with an agent friend of mine a while ago as he brought actors in one after another to audition for his agency. They were auditioning with prepared sides. After dismissing 4 or 5 seemingly competent actors in a row, I asked him what he was looking for. He said, “I don’t know for sure, but I do know they have to bring something fresh to these sides.”

He was right. There weren’t any significant differences in what each of the actors did with their sides. Although each actor worked hard on the scene, there was nothing that set any of them apart from the others.

Everyone has access to the same material. Once they’ve reached a certain level of skill, they will use the same or similar techniques to analyze the material as you do. These same or similar analytical skills will ultimately lead most actors to the same conclusions. So, if your level of skill is similar to another actor, the only thing that will separate you is your level of creativity. An actor needs to be analytical to understand the material, but must cross over to his creative side to turn the material into interesting and dynamic form. Many actors get stuck in the analysis and never make that crossover.

Left Brain/Right Brain

To have more influence over our creativity we have to look at where our thinking comes from. As most of you know, our brain is broken up into two hemispheres: left and right. The left side of our brain is the logical, rational, analytical, and linear side. One of the main traits of this side of our brain is to make sense and give words to what we perceive in a logical way. The right side of our brain is the emotional, artistic, sensual, intuitive, and creative side.

This is a business that demands an equal amount of left and right brain activity. We have to use the left side of our brain to look at sides, copy, scripts or plays and be able to analyze and make logical decisions about it. At the same time we have to allow the emotional and intuitive right side to connect us to this material.

Our goal is to have free access to both sides of our brain. We need to be able to step into the left side when we analyze scripts, set goals and organize our thoughts. We also need to use our right side to access the images that will lead us to feelings and come up with creative actions. Although both are extremely necessary, it’s the right side that we rely on for our creativity.

We live in a world that is geared to left-brain thinking and we tend to tackle problems from that analytical side. For example, we use our left-brain to figure out how to market ourselves, get an agent, or get casting to see us. But the truth is that as long as we only come from this logical side of our brain, we end up doing the same thing that every other actor is doing and getting the same result as most everyone else. When marketing yourself, use your creative side to think outside of the box instead of following the latest fad. Using your right-brain skills to help figure out these challenges will yield much more creative tactics. 

The Source of our Creativity

Imagination is the life force of our creativity. We are the only creatures on earth that have this power. We also have the ability to enrich and expand our imagination or let it lie stagnant.

There are two key components that make up our imagination: experience and observation.

• Experience: The direct personal awareness of or contact with a particular thing. It’s the active involvement with an activity or event that creates the experience.
• Observation: Attentive watching of somebody else’s experience or event.

As human beings we are in a constant state of growth, some more than others. Because of this growth, as well as time, our experiences and the things we have observed begin to fade or disappear altogether. In order to keep our imagination fresh and vivid, as well as influence our creativity, we need to continuously feed it.

Influencing our Creativity

We can influence the level of our creativity by taking the actions of expanding and executing.

Expanding 

To expand our imagination we have to take in new information, new experiences and new images.

By expanding our information about people, places, other cultures, etc., we open ourselves up to new perspectives and new possibilities.

• The Internet is a wonderful resource for new information, and so are libraries. Choose something new you wish to learn about and go for it.
• People within your circle will probably have similar interests and perspectives as you do. Seek people outside your circle of friends, especially older people, who have a wealth of information ready to share. 
• Study psychology or sociology in order to find out about the motivations and social conditions of other people. New information leads to new thoughts, which stimulate new images and feelings. 

In order to gain new experiences, we need to step out of our everyday routine. We have to be willing to walk into the unknown and to go outside of our normal environment.

• Most communities offer a wealth of various cultures and events to explore. Find a local event calendar and pick something new that appeals to you.
• Volunteer at a dog shelter, homeless shelter or retirement home.
• A good way to create new experiences is to challenge your fears, emotional and otherwise. Look at what scares you and see if you can’t come up with the courage to explore it.

There are a multitude of sources for new images. Don’t go to the same old places to see the same old images. Expand by taking in something new.

• Visit new galleries and museums. Make the images you see personal by placing yourself in them. See through the eyes of the artist who created them. See through the eyes of the people who they captured.
• Take in new visual art forms such as dance or performance art.
• Visit neighborhoods you wouldn’t normally go to or architectural sites that you’ve never seen. Try to see things through the eyes of the people who live or lived there.

By expanding our information, experiences and images, we are less likely to become stalled or blocked. Think of it as if you were making daily dinner for friends. Imagine having only a few ingredients to work with. At first it would be fun, but after making the same meal night after night, you would soon grow bored, perhaps lose interest or even become frustrated and depressed. To keep the joy, you need new recipes and new ingredients.

When you do things to expand your imagination, do your best to really let it move you. Notice how you feel in different situations and as you take in new images. Be aware of what you are sensitive to and expand on that.

Executing

Executing is taking images, thoughts, ideas and experiences, and putting them into a creative form. This could be anything from writing, painting, sculpting, dancing or playing music. The form you choose is up to you, but once again, step out of your normal routine.

Create your own personal playground, without judgment or criticism, and let your creative inner child play. It doesn’t matter what you do and money doesn’t have to be an issue.

• There are extremely cheap or free classes at your neighborhood community centers.
• You can make something out of junk parts, create a collage from magazine images, or buy some crayons and a coloring book.
• Learn an instrument, learn to paint or do some mosaics.
• If you have never written, try writing a short story or poem.

Do it just for the pure joy of creating.

Bringing More Consciousness To My Level Of Creativity

Get out a notebook or some blank paper. Read the following partial sentences and complete them by writing 6-8 different endings.  Do this exercise quickly – don’t over think it.  Although this exercise is simple, you may discover some interesting things about yourself and your creativity.

• If I bring more awareness to my creativity…
• If I spent more time being creative, others would…
• If I were to explore new information…
• If I were to explore new experiences…
• If I were to explore new images…
• If I were to explore new art forms…
• I feel most creative when I’m…
• When I think of expanding my creativity, I feel…
• When I’m creative, I feel…

Conclusion

Most of us want to reach the highest level of creativity possible, that’s why we’ve chosen to become artists. Without bringing consciousness to our level of creativity, we will ultimately find ourselves blocked and unsatisfied with our work.

To bring more awareness to our creativity and act on what we learn takes time, energy and commitment. The key is not to get overwhelmed by the task, but to find a balance. Set aside some time, even if it’s only a couple hours a week. Expand your imagination with new information, experiences and images, and find new ways to express what you’ve taken in. You will not only see a difference in your work, but in your overall view of the world. Make the world your playground. Acknowledge the creative child within you – feed it, let it play, discipline and exercise it.

So fall in love with the art of creating. To quote Stanislavski, “love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.”