Hollywood Pro Coach on How to Act Clear and Find Space, Bluesky

Aid! I can’t stop exploring!

Dear Remy,

I literally can’t go anywhere without thinking in cinematic terms.

However, it’s not a strange obsession (at least I don’t think it is): I’m a location scout. I’ve been to every continent in the world and was once even chased by an angry bearded seal in the Arctic. I managed to defend it with my telescopic tripod. That’s not a euphemism.

But while I can’t get enough of looking at the horizons and thinking about the panoramic composition (not to mention the distance to the nearest Barry’s Boot Camp for our fittest cast members), all my friends are getting tired of it.

No one will ride with me anymore, and the last time I drove cross-country with my sister to see our parents in Tacoma, she made me promise silence before I even started the engine. It lasted an hour. At my cousin’s wedding, instead of dancing, I went exploring the barn for a moody romantic scene. The best man found me crouched behind a bale of hay, testing the camera angles with my phone.

I’ve realized that I haven’t been on a real vacation in the last seven years… and it occurs to me that it may be because it’s impossible to travel with me.

Remy, I can’t help but feel passionate about my work and I take pride in being active at all times. But is there something about my friends and family telling me to calm it down?

Yours,

Vocation: Location

Dear Vocation: Location,

Your ability to see cinematic potential everywhere is a gift, but one that’s going haywire. You’ve become the movie version of the person who brings spreadsheets to a picnic.

What if your next trip made you completely disconnect from work? Forbid saying phrases like “This would be great for a…” and leave the camera at home. Allow yourself to notice things without the pressure to frame them.

Try something immersive, like a cooking class or snorkeling; It’s hard to explore a place when you’re underwater dodging jellyfish. And if all else fails, consider traveling with film buffs who enjoy hearing you wax poetic about perfect framing. Somewhere there is a travel companion who will be happy to try out the camera angles with you.

From my scenic backdrop to yours,

remy

I’m still trying to figure out MySpace. Now do I have to learn Bluesky?

Dear Remy,

Last year I turned 50, but that’s not the problem I need to talk to you about.

The problem is that all my friends in the industry are moving from X/Twitter to Bluesky… and I just can’t bear to think about another social media platform.

It’s not that I don’t agree with the principle behind why they’re moving, it’s just that I’m too old to manage another web address, another login, another profile setup, another set of phrases peculiar to that particular platform. .

I had just discovered the difference between “quote tweeting” and “retweeting.” Meanwhile, my daughter had to explain to me the other day that “Stories” on Instagram are not literally people telling stories. Apparently people telling stories are called vlogs, not to be confused with blogs, for which you might need a browser to load them, but still a Bluetooth connection would be nice, and a BBL is something different again and has nothing to do with it. do with the Internet. jargon.

Remy, I don’t remember everything moving so fast when we were younger. As a television host, I knew where we stood: We made television, and it was for a national broadcaster or a cable channel. That was it.

Can I opt out of this new exodus from social media, or would it be career suicide to blacklist Bluesky?

Yours,
Overwhelmed in the cloud

Dear overwhelmed,

Social media platforms are like trendy bars: new ones are constantly popping up promising exclusivity and good vibes, but eventually, most of us just want to go back to the pub we know.

The real question is: what value do social networks bring you? If you don’t get joy or a meaningful connection from it, why force yourself to keep up with all the trends? Your audience loves you for your on-screen charisma, not for your hashtag skills or because you know the “Bold Glamor” filter is VERY 2023.

What if you focused on the platforms you really enjoy, or at least tolerate? People connect with authenticity, not algorithms.

Finally, skywriting is not a bad idea. A bold “Watch my show!” over Times Square could be the kind of analog trick this digital age needs.

With good vibes from wherever on the Internet you choose to read this,
remy

I’m a gay actor but I still get straight roles. What’s wrong with me?

Dear Remy,

I’m a gay actor who keeps getting cast in handsome straight romantic leads.

I’ve never been bothered by “making it clear.” It was an exhilarating challenge and I’m good at it, whether I’m a trousers-clad Regency gentleman confessing his love under a peony-covered gazebo, or a financial alpha bro.

The problem is: I just reached a whole new global audience with a very high-profile role (yet another straight man), and I feel… guilty. There are now hordes of straight women on every continent who have become my fans; my team has shown me TikTok chat rooms and comments. In a strange way, I feel like I have deceived you all and that your worship is based on lies.

I haven’t hidden who I am (I’m “out” and in a happy relationship with my boyfriend), but I haven’t exactly rented a sign that says “NOT REALLY STRAIGHT” either.

What do I have to do?

Yours,
Confused by my fan club

Dear confused,

Acting is a gift. It allows you to bring stories to life and touch people’s emotions in deep ways. Your fans are not in love with you, the person, but with the fantasy you help create.

And that’s fine. Fantasy has its place in the world. Your fans don’t imagine themselves at home with you while you do your Sudoku and catch up on your emails; They imagine being courted by the finance brother or the virulent Darcy-esque character you play on screen. Showbiz has a long history of queer men “doing things right” – look at all those 90s boy bands! But we are now in an era where people are allowed to live a little more in their truth. You’re out in real life, and that’s what you have to hold on to..

Could you allow yourself to enjoy this disconnection without feeling guilty? You’re not fooling anyone; you are doing your job and you are doing it so well that it inspires others. When the time comes to take on a role that reflects your full truth, you will captivate audiences in a whole new way. Until then, I don’t think it’s necessary to set aside funds for a billboard just yet.

Sending good wishes to a growing and open-minded fan base.
remy

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Remy Blumenfeld is a veteran television producer and founder of Vitality Guru, which provides business and career advice to high achievers in media. Send inquiries to: guru@vitality.guru.

Questions edited by Sarah Mills.