The Art of Persistence | Vishal Vashishtha | TEDxMAIMS

Key Concepts

• Journey in Acting: The narrative traces the speaker's progression from an aspiring actor to a seasoned professional.
• TV as a Training Ground: The initial phase of the career involved extensive work in television, providing practical experience.
• Evolving Goals: A shift from seeking work to desiring depth in storytelling and character development.
• Vulnerability: The contrast between its appeal on screen and its challenging reality.
• Digital Transition: Moving from traditional media to online platforms like YouTube.
• The Importance of "Why": Understanding the underlying motivation behind pursuing acting.
• Living Truthfully: The core principle of acting as "living truthfully in imaginary circumstances."
• Real-Life Learning: The realization that genuine life experiences are crucial for acting.
• Success Factors: The interplay of luck, talent, and consistency.
• Self-Worth: Detaching personal value from external validation like auditions and rejections.
• Taking Action and Owning Choices: The proactive approach to career and life.

The Journey from Audition to Acting School

The speaker recounts the beginning of their acting journey in Kolkata in 2013, starting with a simple audition for a TV show at a friend's house with just a camera and a dream. This led to their first TV show opportunity shortly after their family moved into a new apartment. Within a week, they were in Mumbai, on set, pretending to be an actor. Twelve years later, they stand before an audience, no longer pretending.

Early Influences and the "Go with the Flow" Mantra

During school, the speaker was active in stage performances like dance dramas and elocutions. This naturally led to pursuing a B.Com honors degree and joining the college dance team. The mantra at the time was "do what you love," with no concrete plans. This approach extended to their parents, who, despite uncertainty about the speaker's career path, agreed to fund their acting course in Mumbai.

The Reality of Acting School and the Initial Struggle

Upon entering an acting school in Mumbai, the speaker was told, "The day you decide to be an actor, you are one." This initial feeling of achievement was soon followed by the harsh reality after the three-month course: no auditions, no producers or directors seeking them out, and no scripts. They were left with their "newly acquired tools" but no immediate need for them. The speaker emphasizes that "work" at that time extended beyond just acting, involving actively seeking opportunities by entering spaces where work might be found and inquiring about projects. This often involved long commutes across Mumbai, from Thane to Borivali, and then by local train to areas like Andheri or Churchgate, sometimes with a specific audition in mind, and other times just to experience the city's energy and cinematic feel.

Television: The Ultimate Training Ground

The speaker found that television provided exactly what they needed: not just payment, but also constant engagement and an unparalleled training ground. They describe working 12, 14, or even 24 hours straight without complaint, arriving on set, facing the camera, catching the light, giving cues, responding to other actors, and delivering lengthy monologues. While acknowledging that daily soap dialogues might not be the most realistic, they found that with conviction, they could be effective, as evidenced by their own career progression.

The Fading Thrill and the Desire for Depth

After seven years and three TV shows, the speaker was on their fourth show, which unfortunately shut down within three months of its release. Despite subsequent opportunities, the initial thrill of television began to fade. While life in Mumbai was good – working, being independent, living with friends, and making memories – the speaker realized this wasn't the ultimate destination. A significant shift occurred when they started feeling a lack of pride in their work, with acting becoming "muscle memory rather than magic." This led to a fear that their success, which came relatively quickly, might disappear just as fast, causing emotional drain, restlessness, and vulnerability.

Redefining the "Why" and Seeking Deeper Stories

The speaker's goal shifted from simply working to seeking "more depth in stories," characters with "layered emotions," and work that "made me feel something." They desired stories and characters that were "raw, little closer to life." This realization brought a sense of sincerity. Recalling a teacher's definition of acting as "living truthfully in imaginary circumstances," the speaker understood the necessity of "living truthfully in real circumstances" to achieve this.

Re-engagement with Craft and the Leap to Digital

To navigate this new phase, the speaker returned to acting classes, focusing on physical movement, vocal work, script and character study, and understanding subtext. This period was marked by a "new set of excitement and a whole new set of insecurities and doubts." It was time for another "leap of faith" – to go digital. This led to landing a YouTube series.

A Jaw Fracture and a Period of Reflection

During a significant plot twist, just as the speaker was about to enter the office building for the first reading of a YouTube series, they fainted due to a sudden drop in blood pressure, resulting in a jaw fracture and being forced into silence. This led them back to Kolkata, where they spent time at a local cafe with a diary and pen, writing down thoughts and ideas, which they describe as a "basic survival instinct or strategy."

Returning to TV and the Emergence of FilterCopy

After two months, with low funds and even lower pride, the speaker returned to TV, acknowledging it wasn't a failure but lacked "absolute joy." They decided to revert to the old strategy: "do the work to get the work." This led to an opportunity with FilterCopy, a platform known for "funny, relatable slice of life videos." The speaker was recommended to play a Bengali boy in one of their videos, which they auditioned for and secured. This marked something new and exciting, allowing for exploration.

Breakthroughs: Clutch and Garabsi

After several sketches with FilterCopy, the speaker finally played the protagonist in their first web series for YouTube, titled "Clutch," which was based on esports. A few months later, an audition script for a show called "Garabsi" resonated deeply, instilling a "weird strange confidence." The producers and directors also saw potential, and the speaker found themselves on set for the show, which was about returning home and proved to be a significant project for them.

Feeling Seen and the Feature Film Opportunity

Upon the release of "Garabsi," the speaker's wife organized a home premiere, and their parents binged-watched it. Friends, some of whom had known the speaker for over two decades, congratulated them on their acting for the first time, making the speaker feel "truly seen." Subsequently, a respected screenwriter recommended them for a feature film, a "level up" opportunity, where they played a college student aspiring to be an entrepreneur.

Working with Legends and the Power of Storytelling

The speaker then had the "immense honor" of working with the legendary director Mr. Sudhid Mishra on a project, alongside an "amazing bunch of actors" and "equally amazing human beings." Through these diverse experiences, the common thread was the unique engagement with characters and living in created worlds. The speaker attributes this ability to "empathize" and make these experiences feel "real," like "alternate universe" or "time traveling," to "good storytelling."

Acting as a Relationship and Real-Life Learning

The speaker concludes that acting has transitioned from a career to a "relationship" that they want to "nourish," acknowledging its "highs and lows." They believe that "real acting classes, workshops, real life, those genuine small moments of living" teach more about "presence, awareness, and the craft of acting" than any formal workshop.

Navigating Self-Worth and External Factors

After 12 years, the speaker questions the constant pursuit of projects, attaching self-worth to auditions, and the cycle of rejection and validation. They recognize that success involves factors beyond their control, such as casting directors missing audition tapes. The pervasive influence of social media and the desire for "everything" are also acknowledged, with the realization that "no one literally no one has everything."

The Importance of Pausing and Self-Care

The speaker practices hitting "pause" to reassess their desires. This pause involves activities apart from acting, such as going home, swimming, walking, reading, having a drink with their wife, or conversing with friends. They express gratitude for the privilege of doing what they love and making a living from it, recognizing its preciousness.

Success: Luck, Talent, and Consistency

Success is defined as the best combination of "luck, talent, and consistency," with the optimal pairing changing depending on the situation. The speaker emphasizes that despite efforts, external factors play a role, and it's acceptable. The focus is on taking action to the best of one's ability, making choices, owning them, being brave, and having fun. They celebrate both wins and losses, rest, breathe, and laugh, advocating for living a "great one." The speaker identifies themselves as Vishal Vashish.