Be Liberated by the Randomness of it All

Last night I caught a screening of, All the President's Men, the 1976 political thriller about the Watergate scandal. The film is a classic and stars two of cinema's most prolific storytellers in Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. As someone fascinated about history, politics, and film All the President's Men really captivated my attention the first time I saw it several years ago.

The first go around I remember marveling at the writing and at Hoffman and Redford's chemistry. Two actors at the top of their game, I remember thinking. Hoffman later said in preparation for the film he and Redford memorized one another's lines in addition to their own because they felt Woodward and Bernstein were the kind of guys who finished each other's sentences. The proof is in the pudding because they each deliver brilliant performances.

But last night as I saw the movie for the second time all I could think about was how terrific all the supporting actors were. Everyone was excellent. I took solace in how much talent there was in this industry and even began to consider the randomness of who "makes it" vs. who doesn't. 

Redford and Hoffman are undoubtedly great storytellers, but so was everyone else in the film. No one was less marketable, talented, or I suspect worthy of commercial success.  

A lot of young actors go mad trying to figure out what the "X Factor" is and how some actors progress in their careers, while other equally talented ones don't. I've found it's simply a big waste of time trying to come up with some algorithm or wrap your head around something beyond reasoning.

Instead, why not be liberated by the randomness of it all? Some people are just in the right place at the right time through no fault of their own and so what? It doesn't mean your talent or what you have to contribute is less valid. It simply means a few breaks didn't go your way. 

The important thing is to continue finding platforms to share your unique voice regardless of the outcome.