His slight southern accent and quiet demeanor exemplifies an actor from somewhere in the south; or just bordering it. Peter Lewis has had an interesting acting career. After growing up in Louisville Kentucky he was accepted and eventually graduated from the Yale school of Drama. Not only had he met and studied with many great actors there, he continues to maintain friendships today.
One such actor is Edward Norton. Together they worked with Bruce Dern in the film, “Down in the Valley.” Other great actors include Robert Dinero from the movie “Stone” and “Untraceable” with Diane Lane. His Television credits include “Mad Men,” “30 Rock,” and “Law and Order,” to name a few.
Apart from a successful career he’s had an interesting life. During our photo session he talked about the day he called in sick to work. That wasn’t an ordinary day. He was working on the 40th floor in the World Trade Center the day it was attacked on September 11, 2001. Fortunately, a stroke of luck (or destiny) had him call in sick that day. He was also fortunate in that he survived a life threatening illness.
His life experience, from Yale, to being a survivor, all contribute to his depth in acting. You can see his work on IMDB.
In this newsletter he share some tips with actors as an acting coach to help on their path in acting.
Tips From Peter Lewis
First of all, if you don’t HAVE to do this, then don’t; because it’s a hard life being an actor. It’s filled with uncertainty, emotional and financial insecurity; and the constant rejection that you face does have a residual and cumulative effect on your psyche and sense of well being. If you can find purpose elsewhere, then I would urge you to follow that path. If you think it will all be ok after you’ve “made it”, then you are in trouble. From what I’ve observed, it only gets harder.
There is only one legitimate (and sane) reason for being and actor; and that is because you HAVE to, it is who you are. It is a passion that you just can’t escape from. As the great poet Rainer Maria Rilke said, “Go into yourself. Search for the reason that bids you [act]; find out whether it is spreading out its roots in the deepest places of your heart, acknowledge to yourself whether you would have to die if it were denied you to [act]. This above all — ask yourself in the stillest hour of your night: must I [act]? Delve into yourself for a deep answer. And if this should be affirmative, if you may meet this earnest question with a strong and simple “I must,” then build your life according to this necessity: your life even into its most indifferent and slightest hour must be a sign of this urge and a testimony to it.”
A teacher who had a tremendous influence on me as an actor was a woman named Deborah Aquila. When asked once what advice she would give to a young actor just starting out her answer was quite simple — and profound: “Be persistent and stay spiritually centered”. I can think of no better advice for someone just starting out. You will need to be persistent. Of all the qualities you must possess as and actor persistence is the one thing you cannot be without. And you will need to be centered in order to keep getting back off the floor after every bad audition, every rejection, every year where there was no work, every disappointment of which there will be many.
Learn your craft. Be relentless in finding out who the best teachers (and schools) are on both coasts and work with them. Commit to that process and if necessary make it a life long journey. …And know what it is that your instrument needs. The right teacher for your best friend might not be the teacher that you need. Know yourself. Know your weaknesses. Work on them. Turn them into strengths.
Breathe and learn to live in the present moment. That’s what we do as actors. And in order to do that in our work we must be able to do it in our lives.
Listen. Learn to be the best possible listener you can possibly be. And have compassion for those you listen to. Being an actor means having a big heart.
And finally, if you MUST act then remember these words from the great Martha Graham:
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time. This expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.
No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”
Good luck! Break a leg.
