Dear Toni,

All my friends are involved in movie videos right now. I had offers to do a few music videos but I turned them down, because I wanted to be a big time respected actress.  The reason why I am reluctant to do music videos is because they make them -- the actors or dancers -- look like groupie video hoe’s. I feel they just don’t get any respect for the real roles they may want further down their career.  What do you think Toni?

Clarissa Williams

Dear Clarissa,

I don’t agree with you about music videos.  I think a good actor can stand out in whatever they do.  A lot of actors work in music videos that go straight to video.  I do not think that actors are judged on how the movie or video is distributed.

Clarissa, you seem to feel strongly against this, so I would suggest you not do these kinds of video movies.  Please remember some great actors got their careers started in videos.  Courtney Cox got her start in a music video with Bruce Springsteen, and she certainly didn’t turn out to look like a hoe  -- as you put it -- in fact she became famous on the TV show Friends and is now a well respected and talented actress.  I would recommend to any actor given the opportunity to be a part of a good music video; it brings the actor to the attention of the public and music videos are hot right now.  Just pick carefully what you do in them.  Make sure you are proud of your work and don’t let anyone manipulate you into doing something you might feel is beneath your dignity.  Take control of it and do what feels right to you.

Thank you for taking the time to write.
Toni Attell

Toni Attell is a hypnotherapist and acting coach. For people interested in her acting classes please call (818) 787-8685. For hypnotherapy go to www.hypnosis4you.net