The whole world was taken aback by the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman; the loss was particularly devastating to friends, family, as well as other actors who respected this great artist. His death was certainly an emotional one for many. The pain was tangible. When an actor dreams of being a real artist, it is necessary to find mentors who will encourage growth and creativity and the ultimate improvement in both skill as well as character development. Philip Seymour Hoffman has been understandably given two titles, that of both actor and artist. Sadly, our culture focuses more on fame and money than on actual talent and artistic beauty. With the number of individuals trying to act, the term "actor" has lost a good deal of its meaning. Acting takes real effort; as Philip Seymour Hoffman himself would say, nothing is harder than acting when one truly knows what it entails.
The concept of an actor as artist is one for which I am very passionate. Students who come to our studio striving to transform themselves from simple actors to true artists are often pleased to find that this is a quest that we find most noble, a quest that we enthusiastically help our students to follow and achieve. When I look at a new class for the first time, I gaze out at the students who have all come here with a desire to become the best actor they can be. For many, being an actor has been a dream that has been with them since childhood. The dream of becoming a great actor is common but it is rare for a new student to come here striving for the illusive title of "artist". Only through realizing the hard work that goes into acting and real creativity will most student actors understand that their goal should not merely be to become the best actor they can be, but the best artist as well.
A real artist is always driven by his or her craft; they are powered by their art while still being humble enough to admit that they don't know everything, they possess skill and important techniques but they are always eager to learn more, they are constantly striving to improve themselves, they understand human emotion and empathize with others, and they never allow anyone or anything to interfere with their goals and personal improvement; they start each project afresh and are always focused on the character and not on their own personal needs and wants, they are willing to attempt things that scare and intimidate them, they transform themselves for a role, they are detail-oriented, and they are always exploring new and better ways of bringing a character to life in a very real way. These are the characteristics present in a real artist.
Philip Seymour Hoffman fully embodies all of these characteristics, making him a true artist to be admired. There is no denying that the acting world will miss him and his work. Each day, my soul is energized by my students, individuals who have come here to discover more about themselves as well as pursue the great goal of becoming both actor and artist. I have nothing but admiration for those individuals who give their craft everything they have and constantly work to improve themselves in all aspects of their lives and careers. Being able to hold up Phil as a mentor and artist is a honor that will continue past his death. I have no doubt that his work has made our craft all the more valuable.
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