You Get What You Tolerate

The opportunities you get in your life will organize around the standards you set for yourself. This took me a little time to figure out.

One area in my life where I needed a little fine tuning was as an actor. When I graduated from drama school I was chomping at the bit to take Broadway by storm. I was so earnest in my desire to grace the stages of the Barrymore and Schubert theaters I overlooked what I was willing to tolerate in order to get there.

In time, my relationship to the industry evolved. I started to place greater emphasis on living a well-rounded life than finding the perfect agent. To me this also meant traveling, volunteering, reading widely, taking bold risks, and honoring my core values.

By the time I arrived in Los Angeles I was quite comfortable in my own skin. I took things less personally and realized there was more to life than getting the perfect headshot. Though it was still my goal to be a professional storyteller, I realized you can want something without needing it. This all led to a healthy outlook on the types of roles I was willing to audition for and what I wasn't willing to compromise on en route to a dream I'd had since I was 11 years old. So when my new agent in Tinsel Town asked me in a rather lengthy questionnaire what I was not willing to do for a role, here's what I said:

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 any questions.  Fortunately, it’s never really been an issue.  I really appreciate you asking!

Figure out what you stand for and protect it all costs. You get what you tolerate. 

Get Comfortable With "No"

Remember, failure is ONLY feedback. Get cozy with hearing, "No" because ultimately...

Our screening committee enjoyed the opportunity to view your film and gave it careful consideration. We regret to inform you that we will not be including your film in the 2016 Boston Film Festival. 

Dear Nicholas, 

Thank you for submitting your project to the 2016 San Jose International Short Film Festival. Unfortunately, we are not able to include it in our program this year. 

Dear Nicholas Maccarone, This is a difficult letter to send, and probably even harder to receive. You're receiving it because you submitted Communication to the Port Townsend Film Festival, and regretfully we will not be screening it this year.

Thank you for submitting your film for consideration for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Unfortunately we were unable to find a place for your film in this year's Short Cuts programme.

Dear Nicholas Maccarone, 

Thank you for sending us the screener of Communication for consideration. 2016 was another terrific year with around 700 International Shorts submissions, of which 32 were accepted. We had more high quality shorts submitted this year than ever, and regrettably with a limited number of spaces available there were only so many we could fit in. There were a lot of difficult decisions, an unfortunately, we were unable to find room for everything. I sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause you. 

Dear Nicholas Maccarone: 

Thank you for your interest in the Margret McBride Literary Agency. 

We have reviewed the information regarding your project, and after careful consideration, we do not feel our agency is the right home for your project. 

Dear Nick,

Thank you for querying me about your manuscript, TO THE PROSPECTIVE ARTIST. I've read your sample pages and I'm sorry to say that the project just isn't a perfect fit with my current needs.

Thank you for sending me a query letter describing your work. After careful evaluation, I have decided that I am not the right agent to represent your work. I can only properly represent materials that greatly excite or interest me. 

Dear Nicholas,

Thank you for your query and interest in representation by Martin Literary Management. I regret that MLM is unable to take you on as a client at this time. 

...we will have to decline your kind offer to publish your book on acting.

Again, many thanks for your interest in Timber Press. We wish you the best of luck in finding a suitable publisher for your book!

All you need is one, "Yes." Go forth. Undaunted.