Kevin Bacon’s insights on the industry and creative process are worth listening to as someone who has achieved so much success in their career. In a recent interview, Bacon discussed his perspective on creating and the changing landscape of the film industry.
One of the things that Bacon emphasized was the importance of generating your material. While waiting for someone to offer you a role or project can be tempting, taking the initiative to create your work can lead to more significant opportunities. Not only does it increase the chances of getting something made, but it also allows for a deeper exploration of what you want to do creatively.
Bacon also noted the technological advancements that have made creating and producing films more accessible. In the past, investing in equipment like cameras and editing bays was a significant investment, whereas now, everything can be done on a laptop. This democratization of the industry has opened up opportunities for more people to get involved in filmmaking.
Of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has experienced a significant shakeup. Productions have shut down, and many projects have been put on hold. Bacon shared that he tries to approach this time with a sense of gratitude for what he does have rather than focusing on what he’s missing out on. He also talked about his strong work ethic and how he maintains that despite the shutdowns.
Another interesting point that Bacon brought up was his love of the road. Despite being known for having a stable home life, he and his wife often feel the need to be on the move, bouncing from place to place for work. He recognized this is a common thread among many creatives but wasn’t quite sure why that was.
As a songwriter, Bacon has explored the idea of being on the road in his lyrics, but he acknowledges that it’s a theme many others have used before him. Yet, he still finds it an intriguing concept to explore.
Ultimately, Kevin Bacon’s perspectives on the film industry and creative process provide valuable insight for anyone pursuing a career. His willingness to create opportunities, adapt to changing technology, and maintain a strong work ethic even in difficult times are all qualities that aspiring filmmakers can learn from.
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Summary of Transcript:
The video is an interview with actor Kevin Bacon, who has starred in many movies. The interviewer asks about the impact of the film industry shutdown on Bacon’s career, to which he responds that he tries to focus on being grateful for his privileged lifestyle and health. Bacon talks about his strong work ethic and tendency to take on any opportunity. He also discusses his love for traveling and being on the road, which he describes as a “tour bus” life, even before becoming a musician. He explores this idea further in his song lyrics and admits that he’s not sure why he enjoys it so much.
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Summary of Description:
Actor Kevin Bacon discusses the concept of connection that underlies the “Six Degrees” meme and talks about his successful acting career built on long-lasting relationships. He also discusses his realization that his strength is being a character actor and his process for inhabiting his roles. Bacon discusses the importance of playing together and creating your material, even if you’re not a budding producer, and discusses the protocol for returning to work during the pandemic. Bacon emphasizes connectivity as a fundamental need of people and nations.
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Source Description
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The legendary actor Kevin Bacon is one of those rare individuals whose fame seems to have transcended his name or image. It’s as if he has entered the ether as a meme: “Six Degrees of….” In this episode of Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu, Kevin Bacon discusses the need for connection that underlies the “Six Degrees” meme and shares the story of a successful career built on connection and long-lasting relationships. He also talks about realizing that his strength is being a character actor, not necessarily a leading man, and describes his process for inhabiting the roles he plays so well.
SHOW NOTES:
Kevin is quite thankful that he can live a very privileged lifestyle [2:16]
Kevin describes life on the road as an actor [5:26]
Absence really can make the heart grow fonder [8:37]
Kevin is excellent with not being a lead character in a movie [11:45]
Kevin talks about playing a character that is pretty similar to him [14:43]
Marriage is something we put on a pedestal, but statistically, it doesn’t usually work [18:06]
Kevin advocates that playing together helps his marriage more than the work they put in [22:09]
Kevin was so hungry to be famous, but he is ambivalent about being famous [27:06]
Kevin felt strongly connected to other actors in theater but not in movies [30:29]
Kevin describes the sense of family in independent films and theater [35:40]
Kevin discusses the protocol for returning to work during the pandemic [41:47]
Kevin advocates creating your material even if you aren’t a budding producer [45:04]
Kevin gets asked to play roles that are all over the map [47:47]
Kevin describes his process for inhabiting a role [50:36]
Kevin and Tom discuss what it means to be a producer or a director [54:52]
QUOTES:
“My theory about the acting thing for me is to use yourself and lose yourself. Because of every part I go into, what else do I have to use but the experiences I’ve had? But I want to lose myself in the role. I don’t want to feel like it’s Kevin.” [13:09]
“It’s really about that hunger that we have for connectivity, as a people, as a nation, as a global entity.” [30:10]
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