What does it mean if an actor is "still a little green"?
Last night, I met with an agent from a starter agency, and for the first time I heard that I am "green". She didn't seem impressed, and just said my read, for a scene I had been previously been commended on, was good (bs for,"you didn't impress me" lol). She asked how long I have been acting, and I responded that I trained for 2 years and have been auditioning for one year. She then said I am "still a little green." I asked if green had to do with training, and she responded yes, that meeting by casting directors I can get direction, which helps.
Even though I am young, I took being green as a negative thing even though I've heard of great actors being green. What exactly does it mean to be green and how can one become less green if they are struggling to book professional work? Though she is just one person and it is the first time I heard that advice, being "green" is something I would certainly like to work on then to develop as an actor and make leeway in the business overall.
Posts: 156 | Location: NY | Registered: August 01, 2012
You are still green if you haven't booked a lead in a FF, guest star on a series or had numerous commercials. It will take years of training and booking before an agent or director will not consider you 'Green'. It isn't a putdown, just a fact that you are inexperienced. Keep at it and maybe in 10 years or so noone will consider you green. Are you booking student and independent shorts? Commumnity theatre? Only leads/supporting if you are trying to put together a resume. Do a dozen or so to get your feet wet. I mean it. Then co stars on series for credits. It will take 4-6 years of booking before the green status starts to fade. Greak legs kid....
No clue what "green" is but I can only guess that it would be a positive compliment saying that are you are "good to go".
But it seems like the agent is saying it in a derogatory sense. Maybe he means a green actor is one that stays in the green room? An understudy type actor that isn't good enough to book the lead, but has talent enough to be a second string?
I don't know. I hope that helped. Anyways don't let one agent's opinion change your outlook as an actor.
There are three kinds of people you will meet in this business:
1. People that will love you no matter how horrible you are. 2. People that will hate you no matter how good you are. 3. People that are indifferent.
Our only job is to convince the indifferent people that we are good. We can do nothing about the former two people.
Posts: 61 | Location: New York | Registered: March 30, 2011
No. Green is not good to go. Unfortunately, the best comparison I can come up with is bananas. You don't eat green bananas because they are not ready yet.
If someone says you are green, you are not ready yet, in their opinion. And remember it's their opinion only.
It means you are too new, and need more training before you'll be ready for them. However if they use that term, usually it means you show some promise, and they think you can get better with that training and work.
Posts: 87 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: May 10, 2011
Originally posted by gettothetruth: No. Green is not good to go. Unfortunately, the best comparison I can come up with is bananas. You don't eat green bananas because they are not ready yet.
If someone says you are green, you are not ready yet, in their opinion. And remember it's their opinion only.
It means you are too new, and need more training before you'll be ready for them. However if they use that term, usually it means you show some promise, and they think you can get better with that training and work.
Gettothetruth has accurately defined what "being green" is. It's industry jargon for NOT ready.
Posts: 2774 | Location: LA,CA | Registered: May 06, 2009
Originally posted by gettothetruth: No. Green is not good to go. Unfortunately, the best comparison I can come up with is bananas. You don't eat green bananas because they are not ready yet.
If someone says you are green, you are not ready yet, in their opinion. And remember it's their opinion only.
It means you are too new, and need more training before you'll be ready for them. However if they use that term, usually it means you show some promise, and they think you can get better with that training and work.
LOVE the banana analogy. You know the banana will eventually be ready to eat ... but not right now.
Posts: 481 | Location: New York | Registered: June 28, 2011
You are in a field where taking things, internalizing them as negative, is going to destroy you. I would suggest developing a thick skin, appreciating constructive criticism is the toughest thing to do, but must be done in order for us to mature and grow. break a leg.
Posts: 302 | Location: New York | Registered: October 27, 2006
Just to add something here... you just met an agent, don't give too much credit to what she/he says. Of course you're a "little green" (or you wouldn't even be asking what that means), she didn't need to tell you that. In fact, telling you that was uncalled for.
Some agents will tell you how wonderful you are, only to never get back to you. Other agents will try to put you down, some more aggressively and some with a more polite subtlety. What possible pleasure they can derive from it, escapes me. A few will treat you very business-transaction-like, not caring either to be nice or to be mean (and that's a way of being mean, and I don't know how far those people can go in a networking-centered profession). And a few will be the well balanced professional you expect them all to be.
Just chill and trust yourself. And keep going.
P.S.: By the way, reserve your best poker face for those who try to put you down. Even act interested. You can laugh after you get into your car; those people are usually the ones that are put down by the industry itself.
Posts: 293 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: June 12, 2011
Interesting points on greenness. The way I've always understood it is that the slang term was originally coined by the military to mean unproven and inexperienced - i.e. "green" - troops. Like in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, the Germans made it a point to focus their attack on a previously quiet sector of the line where the Americans were acclimating entire regiments of green troops to the front. They knew that large numbers of them would fold from the shock and were generally right although some did stand and fight quite valiantly.
Posts: 172 | Location: La La Land | Registered: March 28, 2009
Hey Jekyll - you're fine. You're 23 (saw that from a different post) and you're putting one foot in front of the other. Green is okay, we all started there - not being signed because you're "green" is part of the path. Just keep building your resume, and moving forward. Yes, the early years are tough, but you'll get through it - we all did. Here's a little something for you -
“Good Dog, Bad Dog.” The story goes that there’s a good dog on one shoulder and a bad dog on the other. All day long there’s a dog fight. The good dog reminds you you’re doing great, she’s proud of you and to keep up the good work. The bad dog says you’re worthless, hopeless, and without talent. All day long, there’s a dog fight . . . Who wins? The one you feed.
Remember that. Feed the good dog . . . and strive for excellence, not perfection.
You're on an excellent learning curve - how to survive yourself (your fears, the seeming lack of opportunity). Being an actor is hard work, not the glamour that the glossy mags portray. Stay clear, and just keep doing the next indicated thing.
Break 'em, honey
Posts: 28 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: March 16, 2012
Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. I know I am green; I graduated the conservatory less than a year ago, and I haven't yet booked any professional work. And I continue to take classes. I'll say this though- I've had over 100 auditions in one year and this was literally THE FISRT time I ever heard that I am "green."So, I definitely took her feedback in, but I am not internalizing it- I've taken it with a grain of salt. And she did treat me like a "business transaction." Oh, and she gave the older actor after me the same feedback. I've mastered the poker face, I now need to master not internalizing everything. I love the bananas quote! I will ripen one day : ) You are all very helpful with your own unique, personal insight. Thanks!
quote:
Originally posted by Celebration Jones: Hey Jekyll - you're fine. You're 23 (saw that from a different post) and you're putting one foot in front of the other. Green is okay, we all started there - not being signed because you're "green" is part of the path. Just keep building your resume, and moving forward. Yes, the early years are tough, but you'll get through it - we all did. Here's a little something for you -
“Good Dog, Bad Dog.” The story goes that there’s a good dog on one shoulder and a bad dog on the other. All day long there’s a dog fight. The good dog reminds you you’re doing great, she’s proud of you and to keep up the good work. The bad dog says you’re worthless, hopeless, and without talent. All day long, there’s a dog fight . . . Who wins? The one you feed.
Remember that. Feed the good dog . . . and strive for excellence, not perfection.
You're on an excellent learning curve - how to survive yourself (your fears, the seeming lack of opportunity). Being an actor is hard work, not the glamour that the glossy mags portray. Stay clear, and just keep doing the next indicated thing.
Break 'em, honey
Posts: 156 | Location: NY | Registered: August 01, 2012
