Building Confidence on and Off Camera

Matt: 00:00:00

All right.

Matt: 00:00:00

Welcome back to the Faith and Family Filmmakers Podcast.

Matt: 00:00:04

I am your host, Matt Chastain, and I am so excited to be continuing the conversation with David Thompson.

Matt: 00:00:10

If you heard the last episode, there's, I don't know how you, anybody who heard the last episode could not be eager for this episode to come out to continue this conversation, especially anyone, in the, Christian filmmaker world or just, any, you know, Actor who happens to be Christian.

Matt: 00:00:24

I can't imagine this not being something that you want to hear the second, episode because, um, You when we start talking acting, That's when our passions truly come out.

Matt: 00:00:32

If you're a real actor, And you don't just thrive on conversations about acting, then it's time to give yourself a heart check, right?

David: 00:00:39

Right.

David: 00:00:40

yes, and, and, acting should be truth.

David: 00:00:43

Otherwise, it's acting.

David: 00:00:44

Acting is relating.

David: 00:00:45

I'm not going to go back to ancient Greece and say, Okay, Socrates, you know, Plato, you're wrong.

David: 00:00:50

they call it acting, so that's what it is.

David: 00:00:52

Okay, it's a farce But ultimately, it's a way of expressing and acting.

David: 00:00:55

Your body through words, because every time you feel something, it's innate, it's just, you express it with your body.

David: 00:01:02

you're not this terrible Alexa, you know, you just, you move, and in him I move, breathe, and have my being.

David: 00:01:09

I forgot what scripture that is, but there you are.

Matt: 00:01:12

I love how you, you can actually find some of the best acting coaching advice from scripture.

David: 00:01:17

Isn't that the truth?

David: 00:01:18

Absolutely.

Matt: 00:01:19

goodness.

David: 00:01:20

Yeah, you act, you know, I have faith.

David: 00:01:23

Well, why don't you step out, because I'm afraid well join the club, but step out anyway, go to that audition.

David: 00:01:28

You know, God is with you.

David: 00:01:30

he's the master of the universe, and if you know Jesus, then he is your father, so he knows you're nervous.

David: 00:01:37

Everybody's been nervous.

David: 00:01:39

That's because you live in a body.

David: 00:01:41

Do it anyway.

Matt: 00:01:42

Well, again, like from the last episode, being nervous is some small form of suffering.

Matt: 00:01:47

Well, that's a gift.

Matt: 00:01:48

That's a blessing, right?

Matt: 00:01:50

as

David: 00:01:50

It

David: 00:01:50

is.

Matt: 00:01:51

followers, we follow the, the one who suffered more than any of us ever will.

David: 00:01:54

Yes.

Matt: 00:01:55

suffering is a blessing if we're doing it for his glory.

David: 00:01:57

Yeah.

David: 00:01:58

Amen to that.

David: 00:01:59

You know, we're supposed to be light and salt.

David: 00:02:01

Which brings me, and I do remember, I see prayer works.

David: 00:02:04

What you said earlier, um, God will put, since you're a light.

David: 00:02:10

Now, learned this from my mom, who is in heaven now.

David: 00:02:13

She said this, you know, well David, Um, when you're uncomfortable because God is using us because you're a light.

David: 00:02:19

And where do lights shine?

David: 00:02:21

And I go, what?

David: 00:02:22

I young.

David: 00:02:24

And she goes, in a dark room.

David: 00:02:26

Lights aren't needed in a lit up room.

David: 00:02:29

So he played

Matt: 00:02:29

outside in the daytime.

David: 00:02:31

Right?

David: 00:02:32

So what are you doing?

David: 00:02:33

I don't know.

David: 00:02:34

I'm looking for light, you know.

David: 00:02:36

But, that's where you shine, in the darkness.

David: 00:02:38

Now.

David: 00:02:39

I gotta say this, you're talking about Christian acting and things like that.

David: 00:02:43

yes, you're playing this role, okay, but is honoring your body and honoring God, you gotta ask yourself this, or is it honoring your ego?

David: 00:02:51

Everybody has one, and if you deny it, you're lying.

David: 00:02:54

You know, uh, it started with the fall, but Lord, do you want me doing this?

David: 00:02:59

You know, and you listen, and I have so many friends out there, love them dearly, you know.

David: 00:03:05

It's controversial, but they're gonna do it anyway because God is leading them.

David: 00:03:08

it's a balance.

David: 00:03:09

It's like a teeter totter, And you have to balance.

David: 00:03:12

You know what it balances with?

David: 00:03:13

It balances with this.

David: 00:03:15

The, manual

David: 00:03:15

from Immanuel.

Matt: 00:03:16

up a holy bible for those of you just

Matt: 00:03:17

listening

David: 00:03:18

the manual from

David: 00:03:19

Emanuel,

Matt: 00:03:21

So you're a coach, and I think a lot of times actors certain skills you learn later.

Matt: 00:03:26

But I always tell young people who act, I'll send them this, there was this show Ricky Gervais did years ago called Extras, in which he played a guy who was always an extra on set, and it gave him a chance to bring in guest stars, brilliant actors, and interact with them in a different way.

Matt: 00:03:39

And the actor has always played ridiculous.

Matt: 00:03:42

Ridiculous versions of themselves there's this Sir Ian McKellar his character is in a play by Sir Ian McKellar And he sits down and Sir Ian McKellar has this ridiculous monologue about what acting is and it's it's absolute parody But I think it's even though it's parody.

Matt: 00:03:57

It's one of the greatest like It's so simple.

Matt: 00:04:01

It takes it down to the simple.

Matt: 00:04:02

He's like, how do I act so well?

Matt: 00:04:04

What I do is I Like he's saying something so profound, I pretend to be the person I'm playing in the film or play.

Matt: 00:04:11

You know, and

Matt: 00:04:12

it's like, no, That's pretty much it,

David: 00:04:14

That's funny.

David: 00:04:14

It's it is.

David: 00:04:15

It's true.

David: 00:04:16

Once you start to And it takes time, just like growing, you know, um, Once you start to poke fun at yourself, Then you really have got a handle on something, you know, because otherwise you're afraid, What if I fail?

David: 00:04:32

Well, guess what?

David: 00:04:33

if you stop, then you fail.

David: 00:04:35

Trying, if you're trying, you can't fail, it's impossible.

David: 00:04:39

you know, it's like, I like Yoda, you know.

David: 00:04:40

Ooh, do not try, only do.

David: 00:04:43

you do,

Matt: 00:04:44

Good Yoda, good Yoda.

David: 00:04:45

you do, and learn what you have learned.

David: 00:04:48

That's profound, it's like, in other words, if you learn bad, do good, you plant new seed, and you reap that new harvest.

David: 00:04:58

You know, yeah, there's always time, as long as you're breathing, to turn yourself around.

David: 00:05:03

and that goes for acting too, you know.

David: 00:05:05

I've had, um, I teach voiceovers, theater, and film, and it's like, theater, I grew up with, love theater, and It's a good brother sister relationship, definitely different, but the same family, to switch over to film.

David: 00:05:20

And if you did film, then it's like an expansion, like an accordion,

David: 00:05:24

okay?

David: 00:05:25

Alright?

David: 00:05:25

Uh, stage is like, you pull it apart, you know?

David: 00:05:29

And it makes that hideous, beautiful sound.

David: 00:05:31

And then, unless you know how to play it.

David: 00:05:33

And then, with film You have to take all that energy

David: 00:05:38

that you put into it, like Shakespeare, for example.

David: 00:05:40

I've done Shakespeare on stage.

David: 00:05:42

And then you locate, you locate it from your toes up to your, sternum, to the top of your head.

David: 00:05:49

That's where your energy goes.

David: 00:05:52

it's different, like it's both a family, brother and sister, but it's still different.

Matt: 00:05:57

That's awesome.

Matt: 00:05:58

I was going to ask you about kind of that difference between film and stage, um, because I think a lot of, a lot of potentially great actors, they'll get their first opportunity on stage because there's just more opportunities for stage.

Matt: 00:06:09

my daughter is a good example, okay?

Matt: 00:06:10

when she was six years old, she was in a movie and she was really good in it.

Matt: 00:06:14

I mean, she was just naturally really good.

Matt: 00:06:16

Um, I wasn't gonna cast her.

Matt: 00:06:18

But she started crying when she found out that I was gonna go try to cast somebody else.

Matt: 00:06:21

And I said, okay, fine, I'll videotape you doing an audition.

Matt: 00:06:24

And saw it, and I was like, whoa.

Matt: 00:06:25

I said it to the producers, and I'm like, look, I don't wanna be that dad who's, you know, like, just is convinced his daughter's great, and they're like, She's got the role.

Matt: 00:06:31

I'm not even auditioning anybody else, but she's not found that stage acting doesn't feel that her performances in stage acting as good and I think it's because you know She's not an extrovert not a giant extrovert.

Matt: 00:06:44

for her acting as being it's not perfect And a lot of times on stage acting, especially I think with young children, it's about who can be the biggest and the loudest and the biggest performer more so than who can actually service the character.

Matt: 00:06:55

And so she gravitates more toward film acting.

Matt: 00:06:58

And so I, I think that's something that people need to understand the difference.

Matt: 00:07:01

Because then when you get stage actor who comes on your set, you gotta bring him down so they don't overact, right?

David: 00:07:07

exactly, no, 100%.

David: 00:07:09

Um, it's local, it's, when I say local, it's um, the camera.

David: 00:07:14

The camera is this little eye.

David: 00:07:16

Thank you, Thomas Edison.

David: 00:07:17

This camera is a little eye that's focused on you.

David: 00:07:20

And you can be in the air in headlights and you're not really, unless you're Ferris Bueller's Day Off, you don't look at the camera, Right.

David: 00:07:27

You can tell this to your daughter.

David: 00:07:29

how old is she now?

David: 00:07:31

Okay, 14.

David: 00:07:31

All right.

David: 00:07:33

The camera is your, could be anybody, but it's not a camera.

David: 00:07:37

The camera always, Like Michael Caine, the camera will always love you.

David: 00:07:41

It will always love you, you know.

David: 00:07:43

So, with the camera, make your camera, um, your worst enemy, or your friend, or that terrible uncle that you love to hate, hate to love.

David: 00:07:52

make it whoever, even a person who's gone to heaven, and you miss them.

David: 00:07:56

Make it that.

David: 00:07:58

And then, you're not talking to the camera, you're looking at that person, the soul of that person.

David: 00:08:04

And it takes time.

David: 00:08:05

I say this, your imagination is everything.

David: 00:08:11

Knowledge is good.

David: 00:08:12

Imagination is more important.

David: 00:08:13

Einstein, that was his quote.

David: 00:08:15

But you close your eyes and you go into that recess of your subconscious where all the books are stored of your life.

David: 00:08:23

And you start picking out, you know, the short novels or the novelettes or whatever you're picking out.

David: 00:08:28

and then you, grab hold of a character, a person, that is in, was in your life.

David: 00:08:32

and then you open up.

David: 00:08:33

It's no longer the camera.

David: 00:08:35

Why?

David: 00:08:35

Because you went back to where, the power of your subconscious.

David: 00:08:40

You pull it out.

David: 00:08:42

Because your conscious mind is wonderful.

David: 00:08:44

That's how we do things.

David: 00:08:45

That's how we move.

David: 00:08:47

But the moment you close your mouth And I can't do it without telling you your subconscious kicks in

Matt: 00:08:52

Mm

David: 00:08:53

and your BS belief system kicks in, you know And and then you're led by your subconscious, you know, and that's I'm getting deep again.

David: 00:09:01

I hope you don't mind

Matt: 00:09:03

Not at all, and I think that's, uh, maybe I'm wrong about this, but I feel like that's where, that's where God communicates to us most clearly is through that subconscious.

David: 00:09:09

Yes, amen to that

David: 00:09:11

There's a there's something called the comfort zone and then now it's not my quote.

David: 00:09:16

It's JP Sears from YouTube.

David: 00:09:18

I love him

Matt: 00:09:18

I love JP.

David: 00:09:19

Yeah, yeah, he's so out there, and he doesn't care, know, he speaks the truth.

David: 00:09:25

But he said, your coffin zone,

David: 00:09:28

that's where you don't grow, you know, And that's a tragedy, it's like what Jesus said when he looked over the, the rolling hills of Jerusalem.

David: 00:09:38

Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I wanted to do so much for you, but you would not.

David: 00:09:43

What does that mean?

David: 00:09:43

Well, you would not accept me, and you would not believe.

David: 00:09:46

Because he can only move as you believe,

David: 00:09:49

you know.

David: 00:09:49

The more you believe, I'm scared, but I'm going to do it anyway.

David: 00:09:53

And God probably goes, Yeah!

David: 00:09:56

You see him?

David: 00:09:56

You see her?

David: 00:09:57

You know.

David: 00:09:59

then, amazingly, I astounded every day.

David: 00:10:02

If you don't move, he can't move.

David: 00:10:05

That's his word.

David: 00:10:06

And words create everything in our lives, and that goes for a script too.

David: 00:10:10

if you want to know a character, look at the script.

David: 00:10:12

Breathe life into the script, and, and also It's not all about you.

David: 00:10:17

How do the other characters in the scene relate to you and how do you relate to them?

David: 00:10:23

You know,

Matt: 00:10:23

I love it.

Matt: 00:10:24

I'm going to try to sum up what you just said,

Matt: 00:10:26

because that's kind of what I

Matt: 00:10:27

always try to.

Matt: 00:10:28

Yeah.

Matt: 00:10:28

It sounds like of the things you're saying for, for actors who are, you know, struggling to, know what to do and to, accept criticism or to accept quote unquote rejection.

Matt: 00:10:37

It sounds like the best advice that, that I hear from you is that if you're not struggling, if you are comfortable, you're not doing this right.

Matt: 00:10:46

We shouldn't be comfortable as actors, we shouldn't be comfortable as Christians, but as actors, I hope you're not comfortable.

Matt: 00:10:52

Get, get, Kirby Smart, I got a University of Georgia, uh, shirt on here, I'm in Athens, Georgia.

Matt: 00:10:57

But one of the things he always tells his players, get comfortable being uncomfortable,

Matt: 00:11:01

Because if you are uncomfortable, are you, even, you know, you're not growing.

David: 00:11:05

That's really good.

David: 00:11:07

Be comfortable being

Matt: 00:11:09

Mm hmm.

Matt: 00:11:10

Yeah,

David: 00:11:10

uncomfortable!

Matt: 00:11:12

Yeah, exactly.

Matt: 00:11:13

I want to talk a little bit because I think that um, I want to hear opinion as an actor and your advice as an acting coach I think we all know Christian film genre has gotten a lot of criticism over the decades for bad acting.

Matt: 00:11:29

Um, some of it is, I think, warranted.

Matt: 00:11:32

A hundred percent warranted.

Matt: 00:11:34

I've seen some awful performances, but we're Christians.

Matt: 00:11:36

We're not supposed to critique each other's performances.

Matt: 00:11:39

We're supposed to be nice.

Matt: 00:11:40

They're serving Jesus,

Matt: 00:11:41

you know, but, but I, I think we owe it, we owe it to the craft and we owe it to God to bring better performances.

Matt: 00:11:48

However, there are plenty of really great performances and great actors out there.

Matt: 00:11:52

There's a series, if you haven't seen it, Vindication, um, that our buddy Jared is producer, director.

Matt: 00:11:58

There's some really great acting.

Matt: 00:12:00

The lead, um, Todd Terry in that a brilliant actor.

Matt: 00:12:04

So there are plenty of examples we can point to.

Matt: 00:12:06

The Chosen, great acting.

Matt: 00:12:09

but obviously people watching this or listening to this may not be quite at that level yet.

Matt: 00:12:13

So how do they take the path towards, you know, Jim Caviezel or, or Kevin Sorbo in their quality of acting versus ending up in that kind of bad actor Christian zone?

David: 00:12:24

How much are you willing to sacrifice?

David: 00:12:26

There's time, can't be replaced.

David: 00:12:28

Energy can't be replaced, because in lieu of time, depending on how you, let's be practical, if you stay up two extra hours scrolling through Facebook and you wake up tired, that's your fault.

David: 00:12:37

Okay?

David: 00:12:38

but money can always be replaced.

David: 00:12:39

It's a tool and a reward.

David: 00:12:41

You know,

David: 00:12:41

that's

David: 00:12:42

what it is.

David: 00:12:42

that's all it is.

David: 00:12:43

It's nothing more than that.

David: 00:12:45

but what you're saying is, I have to say this, a very good friend of mine, Christian, um, director, he lives in, Santa Rosa, California, California.

David: 00:12:53

Can I mention his name?

David: 00:12:55

Okay, Christopher Sean Shaw.

David: 00:12:57

he did the um, church people film.

David: 00:13:00

Yeah, but he told me, because I was, I've known him since 2014, I was talking to him and we were really getting into it and we're talking about Christian films.

David: 00:13:08

And it was like, it was kind of dicey, but I had to bring it up anyway, because I know, I want to know the truth, I want to know what's going on, what I'm seeing, whether it's right or wrong.

David: 00:13:14

So, he said.

David: 00:13:16

Well, you're pretty accurate, David, and I'll tell you what.

David: 00:13:18

Some Christian films, you said respectfully I say, but some Christian films are directed by the pastor, who is not a director or an actor.

David: 00:13:28

In other words, they're giving them, they study, they're good with their lines and everything else, but it's the performance, I'll say the performance, is flat,

David: 00:13:37

you know, and it's indicative.

David: 00:13:39

And the lighting is, is not the way it should be, you The sound is usually great, which is everything, but

Matt: 00:13:47

Agreed.

David: 00:13:48

does not show the truth.

David: 00:13:51

Lighting, I know a cinematographer, too, lives in South Carolina.

David: 00:13:55

his name is Josh Osley.

David: 00:13:57

Osley.

David: 00:13:58

A U S L E Y.

David: 00:14:00

Fantastic.

David: 00:14:01

Amazing.

David: 00:14:01

Amazing.

David: 00:14:02

Uh, lighting guru.

David: 00:14:04

You know, he would

David: 00:14:06

say thank you, but enough, David.

David: 00:14:08

Um, he's done the Avengers, he's worked with, people from, um, a lot of different big films, Black Panther and stuff.

David: 00:14:14

Good Christian man.

Matt: 00:14:16

Well, we've got to have him on the podcast.

Matt: 00:14:17

I'm going to need

David: 00:14:18

oh, 100%.

David: 00:14:19

He's great.

David: 00:14:20

I've interviewed him myself.

David: 00:14:22

but yeah, Christian films, just like any other film, in order to bring out the truth, yes, okay, pastor, you wrote the script, and that's great.

David: 00:14:30

but now, you know, who are the people in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood, okay?

David: 00:14:35

You need other people in your neighborhood to come in that know that is trained in this.

David: 00:14:40

Maybe they're a thumb, like the Bible says, maybe they're a foot, I don't know, but you can't do it all by yourself,

David: 00:14:47

okay?

David: 00:14:47

They have an eye for it that you haven't cultivated, and that's okay.

David: 00:14:52

You know, all 12 disciples had a different assignment to do, you know?

David: 00:14:57

Um, God made the body.

David: 00:14:59

He didn't make one finger.

David: 00:15:01

We'd look pretty odd.

David: 00:15:02

You know, but yeah, that comes from Christopher John Shaw.

David: 00:15:05

That's why, and it makes sense to me now, because I can see it when I watch certain films.

Matt: 00:15:09

Yeah.

David: 00:15:10

Okay, they need a coach, or they need a director that has that, you know, I don't know, third eye, whatever you want to call it.

David: 00:15:16

But that sense of sensitivity that God gave to them.

David: 00:15:20

And then everything runs a lot smoother.

David: 00:15:23

It's, otherwise it's so much work, and then you come up with something that's average.

Matt: 00:15:28

I agree.

Matt: 00:15:30

The performances are average.

Matt: 00:15:32

I find, tell me if you think this relates from the writer to the director to the actor.

Matt: 00:15:35

I find that, one of the biggest challenges we have as Christians is, even if the pastor didn't write it, we all, there's this, there's this, Tendency to want to be the pastor as a writer, as a director, as an actor.

Matt: 00:15:47

In other words, pastors preach expositionally.

Matt: 00:15:50

And as we know in writing, what do they say?

Matt: 00:15:52

Exposition kills cats is what they say and save the

David: 00:15:55

Yeah,

Matt: 00:15:56

And we're, whereas we need to be communicating through subtext.

Matt: 00:16:00

And I think that's true for the writer, for the director and the actor.

David: 00:16:04

it's true.

David: 00:16:04

It's very true.

David: 00:16:05

you just answer your own question, if I may say.

David: 00:16:08

because exposition is writing, and it's, it's, you know, whole curve of the whole writing process.

David: 00:16:13

The climax, the denouement, the beginning, and the, everything in between.

David: 00:16:17

but, After the writer is done, then it's handed over.

David: 00:16:21

Yes, you work with them.

David: 00:16:23

But it's handed over to a person you can trust that happens to be the director.

David: 00:16:27

And then the director hires the actors, which are always last, by the way, everybody.

David: 00:16:31

Okay?

David: 00:16:32

Even in animation.

David: 00:16:33

Okay?

David: 00:16:33

that's why characters in animation look kind of like the actors, because, you know, it's pretty deep.

David: 00:16:40

But anyway.

David: 00:16:41

So, and then you work as a whole.

David: 00:16:43

You work as a whole.

David: 00:16:44

God made the family.

David: 00:16:46

Yes, biological family, absolutely.

David: 00:16:48

But he also made different families, like the family of actors, family of football players.

David: 00:16:54

halfback can't do a quarterback's, job.

David: 00:16:56

They can't do the job of the coach.

David: 00:16:58

No, you have to delegate.

David: 00:17:00

That's the word I'm looking for.

Matt: 00:17:01

Delegation.

David: 00:17:02

You Jesus is the master delegator.

Matt: 00:17:04

Yeah.

David: 00:17:05

You know?

Matt: 00:17:06

Lemme ask you this . This is a challenge that actors are facing these days, big time.

Matt: 00:17:11

'cause you say, we need to be good at what we do and not try to do what we don't do.

Matt: 00:17:15

However, these days a producer looking at a cast, looking at a casting producer has a fiscal responsibility to the investors.

Matt: 00:17:23

The investors put a lot of money behind this movie and so.

Matt: 00:17:27

The producer and the director, there's always going to be this kind of clash between do we want an actor who's going to bring in more revenue, a well, a more well known actor, or do we want an actor who's going to give a better performance?

Matt: 00:17:39

And those things do not always align.

Matt: 00:17:41

In fact, almost always they go the other way.

Matt: 00:17:43

Especially, these days it's about social media following.

Matt: 00:17:46

So how good as someone at, marketing themselves on social media, that person is going to.

Matt: 00:17:51

always with the producer have a higher chance of landing the role than the better actor because the producer has a responsibility and god bless them it's a responsibility they have to take seriously or else they and the director don't get to make more movies but still then now the actor is like so i can't just be an actor I've also got to be a self promoter.

Matt: 00:18:09

I've also got to become an influencer.

Matt: 00:18:11

I've also got to grow my social media following to the point that if I'm in your movie, that you're going to guarantee a certain number of, ticket sales, that's a tough position for an actor to be in when they just want to be an artist.

David: 00:18:20

They should not be that, and that's why there's like not two fingers on the hand, there's five.

David: 00:18:25

Well, four plus the thumb.

David: 00:18:26

Like, for example, I coach,

David: 00:18:29

okay?

David: 00:18:30

But I also micromanage.

David: 00:18:32

I also help my students find roles they want, that fits them, that fits their faith, fits their personality, their physical type, absolutely.

David: 00:18:41

The best way, yes, social media is alive and not too well, you're out there and you're connecting with people and that's wonderful, however, ultimately, ultimately, ultimately, you've got to get up off your comfy chair, okay, and you need to get out there and muse with people and talk to people and go to mixers and film festivals.

David: 00:19:00

A lot of my students go to film festivals, you know, go, just go.

David: 00:19:04

You don't know who you're going to meet, okay, and who's going to like you, who's not.

David: 00:19:08

Don't anticipate all that.

David: 00:19:10

Competition starts where?

David: 00:19:12

In the head first.

David: 00:19:13

Never, ever does it start with anybody else because it starts with a thought.

David: 00:19:16

You know, I wish I could be like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

David: 00:19:19

Why don't you go to the gym?

David: 00:19:20

You know?

David: 00:19:21

Okay, well, be who you are.

David: 00:19:24

Ask God to connect you with the right people.

David: 00:19:27

spend more time in his word, okay, I'm talking to the choir here, but, um, spend more time in his word, and he'll guide you and make your life easier, and connect you with the right people at the right time, and then people will see, did you get so much accomplished so quickly, Jesus?

David: 00:19:44

Do you know them?

David: 00:19:45

Let's sit down for a cup of coffee.

David: 00:19:46

If You.

David: 00:19:46

know, um, don't get all tied up so much in, oh my, here we go.

David: 00:19:51

likes and comments.

David: 00:19:53

That does not define who you are.

David: 00:19:55

It's a post.

David: 00:19:56

Stay away from it.

David: 00:19:58

Okay?

David: 00:19:59

Go out in the real world.

David: 00:20:00

You're not a walking emoji.

David: 00:20:02

Express your face.

Matt: 00:20:04

Yeah.

David: 00:20:05

Take time.

David: 00:20:05

My brother's great at that.

David: 00:20:07

He's an author.

David: 00:20:08

He makes friends of total strangers in like three minutes.

David: 00:20:11

He reminds me of an Andy Griffith, you know.

David: 00:20:12

But, you go out and you're alive.

Matt: 00:20:16

Yeah.

David: 00:20:16

simplify it.

David: 00:20:17

It is simple.

David: 00:20:18

And believe it or not, there's work out there.

David: 00:20:23

Don't go for, you know, this great big Marvel superhero movie.

Matt: 00:20:28

Mm.

David: 00:20:28

you know, their stair steps that you have to

Matt: 00:20:31

Yes.

Matt: 00:20:32

Yes.

Matt: 00:20:33

Amen.

David: 00:20:34

they're so important.

David: 00:20:35

Al

Matt: 00:20:35

Yeah.

Matt: 00:20:36

Yeah.

Matt: 00:20:37

Amen.

Matt: 00:20:37

Yes.

David: 00:20:37

everybody.

David: 00:20:39

You're born, you grow, and then you die.

Matt: 00:20:42

Yes.

David: 00:20:42

are you doing with your life right now?

Matt: 00:20:45

Yeah, so our job as actors is not necessarily to go get a role, it's to grow as actors.

Matt: 00:20:52

So

Matt: 00:20:52

wherever you are now, grow to the next level,

David: 00:20:55

Exactly.

Matt: 00:20:56

God'll take you somewhere.

Matt: 00:20:57

Well, David, where do we find you on social media?

David: 00:21:00

Uh, DavidThompsonCoaching.

David: 00:21:03

co Not CO, I'm in CO, it fits better on the phone.

David: 00:21:05

uh, David Thompson, You know, on Facebook, Instagram.

David: 00:21:09

Um, I have a show I call Real Actors, Real Answers.

David: 00:21:13

Uh, it's an interview that I do.

David: 00:21:16

Um, I'm all over the place.

Matt: 00:21:17

search David Thompson, we'll find David

Matt: 00:21:19

Thompson.

Matt: 00:21:20

You stay away from X, I guess, is that what you're saying?

David: 00:21:22

yeah, that I don't understand it anymore, you know, and then TikTok, it's too complicated.

David: 00:21:29

But, I have like four YouTube channels and, uh, look up acting coach David Thompson, and then there's my mug and I'll be there and you can

Matt: 00:21:37

Find you in all the ways.

Matt: 00:21:39

Awesome.

Matt: 00:21:40

Well, David Thompson, thank you so much for joining us here on the Faith and Family Filmmakers Podcast.

Matt: 00:21:44

This has been an absolutely delightful, informative, and really inspiring, uh, couple of episodes with you.

Matt: 00:21:51

So we just can't thank you enough, for helping us kind of broadcast the word to actors on how we can, uh, grow as actors, grow as humans.

Matt: 00:21:59

And all the light God's light through us.

David: 00:22:02

Amen.

David: 00:22:02

Thank you.

David: 00:22:03

It's been an honor and privilege.

David: 00:22:04

Thank you very much.

Matt: 00:22:05

Absolutely.