Creative control, also called artistic control, is the decision making power over the artistic elements of the final product. This can be a movie, a TV show, a short film, a book, a video game…just about any and every type of creative project. When it comes to TV shows and filmmaking, credit for ‘the vision’ tends to go to the director. There is a huge problem with that way of thinking.
What is that problem? it gives the impression that the director is the only one behind the creative elements of a project. That’s not only inaccurate, it’s harmful.
Actors get taken advantage of. A harsh statement, but it’s true. Actors are expected to be grateful for work. But that work can’t happen without them. Actors feel like all they’re good for is, well, acting. Like they have nothing else to contribute, and are only there to be molded to someone else’s liking depending on the project.
Again, harmful. Actors can and should be doing so much more than that! Some may encounter gatekeepers when they try to get more involved. But for the most part, actors don’t even know they have the option to flex their creative muscles!
Branding and Creative Control
To be clear, I’m not saying that an actor’s opinion should trump the ideas of any other major players who are above the line. That kind of hierarchy exists for a reason, because creativity is tied into logistics and finances. Projects can’t begin without a budget, and budgets need to account for-
- Props
- Scenery and location
- Costume
- Hair and makeup
- Practical effects
- Special effects
There are specific types of producers who exist to get those things in order, and keep an eye on them during production. In other words, actors can’t jump in and say ‘Hey what if we added an explosion to this scene?’, not because of how it might change the creative vision, but because the budget won’t allow for it.
The best way for actors to exercise their creativity begins with their acting brand. Branding is something that actors should have complete control over, rather than talent agents and managers. No one should decide your ‘image’ for you, because image and brand aren’t the same thing. There’s much more to a brand than a public image, and if that image doesn’t align with who you are as a person your career is going to suffer.
Not only is branding the best way, it’s the quickest way to do so. Your entire career path as a working actor is heavily determined by your brand. The assets you use, the roles you take, the connections you make, everything needs to line up with your brand. And arguably the coolest thing about your brand is that it’s a form of self-expression. Branding doesn’t have to be complicated and engineered with industry preferences in mind. Branding comes from within. It’s how you introduce yourself to the world. In a sense, your resume and demo reel are like your business card.
Branding begins with introspection and self-awareness, which isn’t easy. You might have to confront some things about yourself that you don’t like, but that’s okay. That’s not something you want to carry around for the rest of your life. And not everyone is going to like you anyway, no matter how carefully polished your brand is. The point of being creative isn’t to please others, it’s to create something that pleases you in a way that you find fulfilling. If other people don’t like the final result, that’s okay. Art isn’t meant to be liked by everyone.
Your brand plays to your strengths, and you get to explore all the ways to express that through the types of characters you play. Let’s say that, in real life, you’re the nurturing type but you’re no softie. You want to protect the people you care about, but you’re not concerned about ‘doing the right thing’. You do things your way. You know, like (spoiler alert!)-
- Logan (Hugh Jackman) in Logan with Laura. He has a history of being a mentor/father figure, and he doesn’t hesitate to get violent. He told Laura not to be the weapon she was created to be, like he was.
- Leliana (voiced by Corrine Kempa) in Dragon Age: Inquisition for her faith. A reformed assassin who enthusiastically turned to religion to atone for her sins, only to become a ruthless spymaster for the leader of her church.
- Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) in Mulan and her family. She defied tradition, and more importantly her family, to protect them – even if it meant killing others and risking her own life.
Very different characters with very different stories, but they all share that common denominator. They break the rules, they get their hands dirty, they defy their loved ones. Not because they want to be rebellious, cruel, and literally murder people. Because they have someone or something to protect.
And those are just three examples! This is what I mean when I say actors should be in charge of their branding. Actors need to find the type of characters they relate to so they can bring authenticity to their performance. Branding is a means of exploring that, and having fun while doing it.
Auditions and Creative Control
Now let’s talk about exploration and authentic performance. 99% of the time you land a role because you audition for it, right? The material you submit to get an audition reflects your brand. Headshots and demo reels need to demonstrate those strengths you’re emphasizing. Like I said, your brand is your introduction. ‘This is me, this is what I can do, and here’s how awesome I am at it!’
Actors should have a say in their assets, but they need to know the right way to create them. No selfies or glamor shots for headshots, no random content on your demo reel. Your agent can’t market you if you don’t have something of use to others (i.e. directors, producers, and casting directors). It needs to be relevant and it needs to look professional, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it. A stronger brand = more fun for you.
Now let’s look at the auditions themselves. There’s this misconception that casting directors are looking for something very specific. Actors need to figure out what it is, and give it to them. That’s not what impresses them though, it actually does the opposite because everyone does it. They want to see something that’s unique and original, but remains true to the character.
Look at the examples I gave above. I mentioned that common denominator, the thing they shared in common. That thing isn’t just a trait. It’s their motivation, it’s at the very core of who they are. The same applies to auditions. That core element needs to be there, but don’t be afraid to mix it up a little.
One of the best examples of this is, without question, Seth Green’s audition for Chris on Family Guy. Looking at the character, he originally went for a surfer dude voice. So did everyone else who auditioned, and that decision was obviously based on appearance alone. Those auditions were surface level. Seth asked if he could try something different, a voice that he and a friend had been playing around with in days prior. It was inspired by Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs, a character who has nothing in common with Chris – not on the surface, anyway. But a distinct voice? That’s something they could share, because it didn’t even touch the characters at their core. And that unique twist was exactly what he needed to land the role.
Production and Creative Control
Branding is where it begins, auditioning is how it grows, but production is the flex. When actors are able to produce their own content they have full creative control. They can produce content for a demo reel, to showcase their brand, to use for an audition, to submit to a film festival…the list goes on and on.
This is what I mean when I say actors are more than actors. Actors are master storytellers. There is no one else on Earth who can bring a character to life and connect with an audience the way actors can. And it’s a skill that can only get stronger with time. If you gain independence to have creative control, that is.
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