Because 4-Year-Olds Apparently Need Legal Guidance

Every once in a while, a good commercial will break through the drone of sex-fuelled advertising to get my attention.  Nissan has just put up a great one.



It's fresh, it's different, and it's just like so many little boys out there playing with their toy cars.  I genuinely like it.  But here's my issue with it.

No, no - THIS is my problem with it:

Now I know it's a rule that you have to legislate for the dumb, to ensure you won't get sued because somebody with nothing better to do tried to duplicate your stunt.  But what 4-year-old boy that you know would take the time to read, think about and then follow the advice being given to him on the screen?

We live in an overly-cautious world - but for god's sake, can't we use our brains?  I am so sick to death of seeing "Dramatization.  Do not attempt" on commercials that are trying to be fun, witty and to actually appeal to some people's intellect instead of waving breasts or fast cars or dunce husbands in our faces.  Every time I see one of those warnings, I want to scream "YES!  PLEASE DO IT!  HELP THIN OUT THE GENE POOL A BIT!!"

Or is it just me?

Alright, I Am Frustrated

I try to stay positive about looking for work as an actor, because I know full well what I’m up against as someone who isn’t a Size 0.  But today a conversation with my agent threw me for a bit of a loop.  She told me that she wasn’t able to submit me for anything lately, even though there’s quite a bit of work these days, because the pilots that are being cast are pretty much looking for the same small group of actors they always are.

I’m not saying that every casting director in the world should run out and cast fat people for every production.  Hell, I wouldn’t do that when casting my own projects.  I did an interview for a national entertainment show a few years back when they did a spot on plus-size actors, and they asked me why it’s so hard for larger actors (especially women) to find work.  And I still have the same answer that I did then.  People want to see fantasy in their day-to-day TV and film viewing.  Why else would we have high-end soaps like Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives?  I personally like shows that have characters that are much closer to real life, but those shows don’t tend to last long.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be an actor any less.  So why do I keep doing this to myself?

Because for me, acting is the most incredible experience.  There’s something electrifying about crawling inside a character and bringing them to life, feeling all their drama and emotion, and then letting it all fly away when you’re done.  Sometimes it can be an exploration of the human experience.  Other times, it’s just silly and it makes you laugh until you pee yourself.

Either way, it’s not something that I’m about to give up on again.