FILM: Every Little Step

Every Little Step is a documentary following the casting of 2005 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. Parallel to its original broadway story, this documentary gives a sneak peak of how tedious and humbling it is for performers to get into a Broadway show — from lining up in the cold, struggling to make it to the first cut, dance auditions, song auditions, monologues then the excruciating wait for the callbacks.

Suddenly, the movie isn’t just about Chorus Line — it’s about pursuing a dream — the American dream, the sacrifices and what you do for love. I think everyone should see it.

I’ve never really talked much about my job in my blog. Maybe because it’s what I do everyday and I wish to have an outlet for other things. But yes, I am a performer myself. And even if it gets tough sometimes, I am still very lucky to be performing full time and getting good compensation for it. It’s tough being a theater actor back in the Philippines. For one, there isn’t really big money in it unless you get into really big and long running shows which are rare these days. Two, you’re not only competing with fellow theater performers but you’re also competing against showbiz personalities. That one is even more heartbreaking for us who have been training all our lives only to be put on the sidelines by bigger names that keep ticket sales up and draw bigger publicity.

Performing, in general, can be considered a short-lived career. I honestly have no idea how long I shall be doing it and it’s scary thinking about it sometimes because it’s how I define myself: I’m a performer. Of all the things I can do, it’s my 10. Drawing can be an 8 or a 7 but performing? singing dancing and acting? Those are my 10s. And I am happiest doing it.

cue in music: What I Did For Looooooovee……..