Always Ensemble, Never the Star
The struggle and gaslighting of the theatre industry
Theatre and film are necessarily collaborative arts, encompassing a wide range of technical, creative, and performative roles. If you’ve ever watched the credits of a film, you’ve gained a glimpse into just how vast a production can be. But of course, you don’t recognize 95% of the names in the credits — only the celebrity actors (if any).
Recognizability is scarce in the world of entertainment. That’s one reason that unscrupulous producers will sell “exposure” as sufficient compensation for creative work. (Pro tip: it’s not.) Yet exposure is certainly enticing. How many people bust their ass only to fade into oblivion once the credits roll?
There is a saying that every theatre and film student has heard: “There are no small roles, only small actors [or crew members].” The idea is to not let your ego get in the way of your performance. Rather than wallowing in disappointment, you must fulfill your role because, you know, the “show must go on.”
But let’s be real. We’re all replaceable. Heck, they even replaced Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts. The idea that you shouldn’t act “small” because every role is equally important is both ludricrous and true.
