Robert DeNiro’s advice for actors

And how they apply to illustrators.

Bob (Robert Dinero) was at Cambridge on the 22nd of March. I wasn’t. But through the magic of YouTube , I was able to listen in on the Q&A session.

When asked for advice for young actors this is what he said.

Take a chance at auditions, even if you know you won’t get the part. And when you’re there, take risks. Don’t do it for the director, but for the casting director. Because you probably won’t get this job, but the casting director will be able to say, I know someone who doesn’t this ‘thing’.

And sometimes, you might get lucky.

As an illustrator I do my own auditions in the form of tests, the industry is different but the principles are the same.

1. Take chances

2. Impress the gatekeepers

3. Sometimes you could get lucky

You need to take chances as part of a system, not a specific goal to get a specific gig.