Friday, December 18, 2009

Facing Rejection









I have watched all of the six seasons of Entourage. This HBO series delves into the lives of a rising Hollywood star and his coterie: two childhood friends; a struggling, older actor-brother; and a hotshot, socially offensive agent.

There are some significant insights you can glean from the series. Firstly, it explores the purpose and dreams of his team. Do they continue to live off his earnings? Do they have their own plans to develop and grow as individuals? Do they live in the shadow of the golden goose? The underlying theme of social parasites and friendship is hinted at more than strongly in the subsequent seasons. Age and maturity also factor in as they seriously reflect on their individual lives.

Secondly, as actors have to audition for their parts how they handle rejection? How do they continue to stay optimistic when they face a barrage of rejections? Is there a threshold for one’s patience and self-esteem when constructive criticism becomes too hard to swallow? How does one stay positive and forward looking when the going gets tough? How do you manage your emotions when you get a bad review? What if the most brutal truth comes from your agent or best friend?

Lastly, Entourage deals with relationships. How do you manage personal and professional relationships? Can you mix personal and professional relationships? Is consultative decision making the best way to go in a team? Are relationships based on pleasing others, and accommodating to your friend’s needs? Do we have close friends because we fear our loneliness? How do you manage overwhelming egos? How do you manage your values like integrity, honesty, and trust?

Do give some thought over these questions.

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