"Can you shave your head?" The moment that decides whether you can seize an opportunity as an actor

About a year after I started attending an acting school.

Following independent films and stage appearances, a professional film directorbegan producing a short film with us.

1. Professional Film Director

The director assigned to me was someone who primarily worked on V-Cinema.

Moving from acting under the guidance of acting school teachers and film course classmates to acting under the guidance of a professional director meant the level of expectation was completely different.

If I could perform well here, it might lead to a chance to appear in future films produced by the director.

I felt I couldn't let this opportunity slip away, so I put my heart and soul into the film production.

2. First Meeting with the Director

My first meeting with the director was in an audition format to decide the casting.

Thinking this was my chance to land the lead role, I started with my self-introduction and pitch.

Then, the director asked an unexpected question.

Can you shave your head?

It was an unexpected question, and since it required me to shave my head—which would reveal my head shape, a source of insecurity for me—I was shaken.

I don't think a shaved head would suit me...

Are you kidding me? This is professional work.

In that moment, I was cut from the lead role.

3. Aftermath

I was cast in a supporting role, and while filming progressed, the regret of having "refused to shave my head" stayed with me.

I was disappointed in my own lack of resolve as an aspiring actor for reflexively refusing, never imagining that shaving my head would be a condition for the lead role.

Because I had turned down the director's request, I couldn't shake a sense of distance, and I lost the precious chance to build a connection with a professional film director without ever becoming close.

Summary

It was an experience that made me keenly realize that whether or not you can seize an opportunity as an actor is decided in a single question-and-answer session.

Ever since then, I have made it a point to say "I can do it!" no matter how unreasonable the request, which has been incredibly useful in my life since.

I am glad this incident happened during an acting class rather than at a truly important audition.

Thank you for reading this far!

◆ Click here for my self-introduction♪