What if you got everything you ever wanted? Would you be ready...?

I recently had the privilege of going to an advance screening of the A24 Documentary film "Amy". The film revolves around the tumultuous music career of Amy Winehouse. Now I've personally always loved Amy Winehouse, her music comes from such a painfully honest place. In a world of never ending Top 40 hits, she was the giant middle finger they deserved. For one, she actually wrote her music & secondly she fully owned who she was. Unfortunately, fame has a way of tearing people down & seducing our vices. 

As an Actor I feel I often run into people who are in this business for all the wrong reasons. I.E. They want to be famous... well liked, rich even... but who can blame them. Our society glamorizes fame to a fault. Amy was one of those girls who was in it for all the right reasons, she just wanted to make music. She wanted to feel that creative fix we all crave, that feeling of just being in the moment creating & not thinking of a billion other things. "Just leave me alone & I'll make the music". 

This film really made me appreciate the whole creative process, even the frustrating parts, but also as a welcome reminder of the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for". You can never know of the unintended repercussions of booking that big gig or becoming a huge star. Are you ready for that big break... or will you crumble under the pressure? During the film you come to find the source of Amy's problems which eventually cost her, her life.

As performers, actors, singers, etc, we are often under enormous pressure & when duty calls, we must be able to put on a show! I think we often neglect taking care of our mind, body, & souls so we can handle this immense weight when it comes up, but the most successful people in life are the ones who do. Go see "Amy" on July 10th, 2015... or if you reading this late, I"m sure it's on Netflix or something by now. 

Onward, 

Gabe S.