I shall be using Hugh Jackman as my ‘mentor’ for my own carrier in so far as is applicable and within the scope of this course.
Reasons that I have chosen Hugh Jackman as my mentor.
1. He is Australian like myself.
2. He has a very similar aim in so far as carriers go as myself, meaning an equal interest in both stage and film acting as well as a musical interest. Though my own musical interest is more primary.
3. Both our primary musical expression seems to be done via voice.
4. He does not seem to be caught in the ‘stardom’ as others are.
Commentary on Hugh Jackman’s early life/ establishment of carrier.
Interestingly Jackman did not always wish to be an actor, he initially studied to become a journalist, to that end he completed a bachelor of communication at the university of technology in Sydney. It was only after he completed this degree that he realised that he did not actually want to become a journalist, and realised that he actually had a passion for acting due to the drama class he took in the last year of degree. To tryout acting, he auditioned for a role in neighbours, and in the interim between audition and response he enrolled in WAAPA (Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts), he got into both, and deciding to make a proper go of his carrier and threw himself into his course, turning down the neighbors role.
The message I get out of this is to make sure I have my goals, and not take every opportunity that comes to me, especially the ones that lead me off the path that I wish to take.
After completing his course at WAAPA, he got into a stage role, such as ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and then got a some of roles in various soap operas; Blue Heelers, Law Of The Land Correlli, minor episodes and such.
From his I get that building a name for your self is a very good idea. To make yourself known, and that it is important to make sure you build your name through the right means, not choosing any opportunity that comes your way.
Jackman the moved onto get a number of larger roles on both stage and screen. These roles included parts in two Australian films ‘Paperback Hero’ and ‘Erskineville Kings’ these films were relatively uneventful in terms of Jackman’s success, just another step on the rung. The role that did contribute to his success is his part in the musical ‘Oklahoma!’. This part contributed to his success in that an audience member would become the director of X-men, and he later suggested that Jackman take the role after another actor had to step out.
The story I take from his is that all performances are important, and all should be given ones all. As you never know who will be watching, as he could just have easily gotten a role from the movie as from the stage production. This brings up an interesting point; luck, which is, as I have observed a very real factor in the performance industry, and as with all things concerning luck, one must be persistent in the face of failure, and constantly give 110%. Because in Jackman’s case, the director could just as easily not been in the crowd for his ‘Oklahoma!’ performance, or the actor that did drop out could have not, thus causing his ‘break’ to not occur.
Jackman was hen asked if he would like to take the role of Wolverine in the movie X-men, which was his major break for fame, and from that performance he had roles written for him such as Van Helsing, as well as the other movies in the franchise. And this break also opened doors for him in other movies such as ‘Swordfish’ as well various other movies.
From this I take that that when one gets a break, one should defiantly ride it!
A point I particularly like about Hugh Jackman, and the main reason I’ve chosen him as my mentor is because even after he achieved this massive Hollywood fame, he retained the depth of his carrier, i.e. taking the lead role in ‘The boy from Oz’, and doing such a good job of it that he received a Tony award for his performance.
From this I take that one should continue doing what one loves, even if one has ‘made’ it, don’t get lazy and take the easy path, constantly work in life and do as many things that you love as you can. Success comes to those that work!
In recent times Jackman has taken more roles in various movies, adding more wood to the fire of his fame.
Being that I’m more interested in how to get ones carrier started, I don’t see much to comment on in the sustaining of his carrier, aside from that the method by which he’s going about it is worth of praise, taking mainly if not only interesting and stimulating movies, not ‘selling out’.
References:
http://www.talktalk.co.uk/entertainment/film/biography/artist/hugh-jackman/biography/42?page=2
http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ge-La/Jackman-Hugh.html
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