Protect Your Right to Say, "No"

As actors we're conditioned to be grateful for any role that comes our way. Because booking work for most actors is so sporadic, when an opportunity presents itself we often take it without questioning how the part actually sits with us. I know as a young actor I wrestled with this as well.

But as I got a little older I began to appreciate that as actors, though our options may feel limited, we have power over the following:

-- our work ethic
-- our ability to create our own opportunities (e.g. writing your own films, plays, blogs, etc) 
-- how we react to setbacks 

AND

-- whether or not to accept a role 

The last one doesn't seem so obvious to most, but one thing to consider is the roles you take will be there for posterity. If it's caught on film, you want to be able to look back and hold your head high. And I don't mean every role must be a leading role where you save the day, or triumph over a villain. I'm referring to taking on roles that are in harmony with your personal principles and core values. 

When I signed with an agency in Los Angeles they sent me a questionnaire asking if there was anything I wouldn't do for a role, for which I was enormously grateful. Here's what I wrote:

"I won’t compromise my personal ethics, morals, or core principles. I also will not perpetuate what I perceive to be ethnic stereotypes, or undermine my ethnic heritage.  (i.e. the butt of a one-liner Asian joke in a sitcom, etc.) Also happy to elaborate if there are any questions."

If a role doesn't sit right with you for whatever reason you don't need to take it and you owe nobody an explanation.