The coronavirus has certainly taken its toll on the motion picture industry. Countless projects are either waiting to be greenlit or have financing in place with hopes of going into production in the near future. However, no one is sure how this contagious virus will play out. Is it a matter of months before we get a vaccine or efficacious therapeutics? Or a matter of years? Scientists seem to be at odds on this issue. So, how long will it be before we can all get back in the casting rooms and on set? Hard to say, but none of us really have any control over that particular dilemma.
However, what we do have control over is our own efforts and our own actions. For instance, an actor posted the following tweet on July 7th:
“To anyone who feels like they ‘wasted’ the time during quarantine because they didn’t write a book or learn a second language or get their bodies in shape, I have good news: Quarantine ain’t over, get back inside.”
How’s that for a glass half-full kinda guy?! But that’s Denzel Washington for you—always acknowledging the silver lining in any given situation, even amidst an ongoing pandemic.
After studying journalism at Fordham University, Denzel discovered his passion for acting. He cut his teeth on the television medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1989, and he went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor with his portrayal of Tripp, a runaway slave turned Union soldier in the 1989 film Glory. The 1990s proved to be a very successful decade for the son of a preacher man, as he starred in many critically acclaimed films, including The Hurricane, Remember the Titans, American Gangster, and The Bone Collector. In the 2002 crime thriller Training Day, Denzel slayed the role of Alonzo, a dirty cop wreaking havoc on the mean streets of Los Angeles. His unprecedented portrayal of the duplicitous lawman earned him the Oscar for Best Actor as well as tremendous cache in the industry.
And how did the humble actor achieve such an amazing career? Well, his tweet on April 30th gives you an idea of the mindset it takes to succeed in a very competitive business:
“You wouldn’t plant a seed and then dig it up every few hours to see if it has grown. So why keep questioning yourself, your decisions, and your hard work? Stop overthinking, have patience, and keep watering your seeds.”
If you’re an actor or an actress struggling to make it in the television and film industry, you need to start following Denzel Washington on Twitter. You’ll find a rich inventory of knowledge and wisdom written in poetic verse with loving consideration which will take your breath away. Take his post on April 26th:
“Some of the best advice I’ve come across: Don’t ever attach yourself to a person, a place, a company, an organization or a project. Attach yourself to a mission, a calling, a purpose ONLY. That’s how you keep your power & your peace. It’s worked pretty well for me so far.”
Tell me you don’t need some of that inspiration in your life!
To boot, for the past twenty years, Denzel has been cementing his legacy as one of the most talented, soulful, and prolific actors of his generation. And he’s not stopping anytime soon. Just consider his tweet on July 10th:
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”
COVID-19 has visited many challenges upon good people across the globe, and it has most certainly hit the entertainment industry hard. But we are a strong lot, and we are not easily discouraged. Concerning the darkness that can emerge from quarantine, Mr. Washington had this to say in a July 9th tweet:
“I don’t think people realize how much strength it takes to pull one’s self out of a mentally dark place. So if you’ve done that today or any day, I am proud of you.”
So, if you’ve gone through a hard time these past few months, and you’ve come out the other side, just know the great Denzel Washington is proud of you. And if the blues take a hold of you yet again, just remember Denzel has something to say about that as well:
“Staying positive doesn’t mean you have to be happy all the time. It means that even on hard days you know that there are better ones coming.”
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