Looking beyond Hollywood

You know HOLLYWOOD is really something. It’s a fascinating world / institution. Just like the GRAMMY’s, people of colour heavily criticize it during award season, when it fails to recognize the work put in by the Jordan Peele’s and the SZA’s of the world.

Nevertheless despite the criticism, we still watch and pay close attention to these industries year after year. How can we not? Hollywood, and by extension American cinema, has been the most dominant film industry since the beginning of the 1920’s. The major film studios (Universal, Columbia, Paramount, Disney, 20^thCentury Fox, Warner Brothers) are responsible for the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies of all time.

So it’s safe to say that every actor (or most actors at least) want to appear in Hollywood productions. Many recognized thespians who are not American, have eventually made the transition, fully or partly, to Hollywood.

The actor that I am is no different. I sleep, eat and breathe Hollywood. I’m consumed daily, on how I too, can break into the ever elusive American film world. I have way more obstacles in my path than the Australian, European or Canadian actor.  I’m not complaining, because you know what those obstacles do? They make me want it more.

But it’s important to remember Hollywood is not the only major player here. I / we can be so obsessed by this business, that we don’t realize there are actually other prominent film industries that exist. They also do great work, even though they have less attention (depending on who you ask) on them.

For me, with the career plan that I have planned for myself, staring in American productions is not my end game: I’ve been influenced by several cultures growing up, and I have a wide range of interest. I also just love to act, no matter the place.

Which means that at some point I would like to do a French film (I speak French and it would be great to do a movie where I can just act freely, without worrying about my accent or things of that nature). an Italian film, a Hong Kong action film, a Mexican film etc.

I haven’t only watched Hollywood films growing up. I remember a movie my sister and I enjoyed a lot during our childhood: Astérix et Obélix contre César (1999) (Asterix and Obelix against Cesar).

I was blown away after watching City of God (2002) one of the best movies of all time. My favourite comedy TV show is called Ma Famille, from Ivory Coast. I have too many laughs and fond memories of this show to even go into details. I quote it at least once a week in conversation or even to myself. I quoted it today, while talking with my family.

I also have to mention the unforgettable work of one director that goes by the name of John Woo: Hard Boiled (1992), The Killer (1989), Face Off (1997), Hard Target (1993), there are too many to mention.

Jet Liand his over the top entertaining movies, Michelle Yeoh, The James Bond movies…let me stop. I can go on for days. My point is that it’s not just Hollywood out here. As much as I love, and I do mean LOVE American cinema, I always remember what my Mother tells me: “You don’t have to be in Hollywood to be an actor, Theo.”

I agree with you there Mum.