Many years ago, I was woken by an 8 a.m. phone call from someone asking, “What role would you like to play?” Having no idea what on earth he was talking about, I wiped my eyes, sat up and tried to clarify. “Sorry, who is this?” The voice enthusiastically continued, “What’s your ideal role?”
Turns out this guy was briefly a student of mine years earlier and he wanted me to write some scripts, get my crew together, act with him, edit the material, and provide it to him for his reel. I suppose he was thinking it would be an opportunity for me to play a role I’ve always dreamed of playing but I was already writing, acting in and directing my own plays and short films, so I wasn’t seeing a return for my investment.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind him asking but in that conversation, I asked at least five times what he was talking about. What he wanted. In the end I had to say it for him. So no, I don’t mind the asking. But I do mind the timing, the presumption, and the subterfuge. Acting like he was in some way doing me a favor was the kicker. This was not polite, this was not respectful, and this was not professional. It is, however, a great way to
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