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August 11, 2009

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August 11, 2009

Exclusive advice from William H. Macy

August 11, 2009

William H. Macy recently told my friend Kim that if she kept working hard, getting herself out there and not burning any bridges she’d know everyone she needed to get anything done by the time she was 31.

No. Not via twitter.
Backstory: My friend Kim, witty Kim, is a reporter for Broadway.com. As such she interviews stars of the stage like “Call me Bill” Macy about their upcoming projects. In a recent interview with the Academy Award-nominated actor (Best Supporting, Fargo) Kim decided to go out on a limb and ask W.H. about his experience starting The Atlantic Theater Company with his long-time best friend David Mamet.
The Atlantic Theater company was founded in a studio apartment on a broken futon over whatever the late ’70s version of Ramen Noodles was (frozen quiche?). Macy was an “actor” from nowhere with no work to speak of. He had previously studied veterinary medicine. Mamet was a “writer” no one had ever read who got into the industry by working as a busboy at Second City in Chicago. Macy met Mamet at Goddard College in Vermont which is not to be confused with Yale because it’s not Yale — or really even that good a school at all.
Point being — these were not Steven Speilberg’s kids — or Steven Speilerg’s neighbor’s kids….or — enough — they weren’t in any way connected.
Back to the interview.
Kim leveled with Bill to qualify her question. She explained that she’s currently going through that same process of starting a small theater and arts production company — the now solidly on its feet Effable Arts (fan them on Facebook!) with a group of actor/writer/producer/artist friends.
And then owing to a good mood, fatherly-feeling, or love of witty women — Macy dropped some serious knowledge on Kim. He walked her through his process. He recommended what her next steps should be. He told her to not look back and not take no for an answer — and for a Danny Tanner-inspired finish he hit her with that pearl of wisdom about keeping contacts and bridges strong so you have everything you need for success by 31.
I have not a single idea about where I’ll be when I’m 31 years old. I’m not even sure I could tell you where I want to be then, so it’s hard to imagine that if I just keep doing what I’m doing, knowing who I’m knowing, and not pissing anyone off that come the big 3-1 I can place a few calls and the puzzle pieces will jump into place.
It’s hard for Kim to image that too, but that hasn’t stopped her from founding the theater company (with fellow No “No” For An Answer talent Brad and Meredith), reaching out to every contact she currently has, and laying the ground work for a network of 24-27-year-old go-getters who will — if all goes according to plan — all turn 31 at some point in the next five years. How famous they’ll be — how famous she’ll be — how famous William H. Macy will be then is question mark. But how any of them will be if they do nothing instead of something is a given.
So with that — William H. Macy and I recommend you go directly to EffableArts.com, see what Kim, Brad, and Meredith have going on, and hell – why not contribute $5 to help them make it happen (Donate! on the top nav bar). Part of that donation will go toward helping them stage my very first play over Labor Day weekend. (September 5th — details online!).
And yes, I do intend to tell people that I wrote a play because William H. Macy told my friend Kim I should.

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