Tom Hanks was presented the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2020 Golden Globes to commemorate all of his remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry through the years. Previously, this honor has been bestowed upon only a few iconic figures namely, Walt Disney, Judy Garland, Steven Spielberg, and Oprah Winfrey, and Hanks was indeed a worthy addition to the list. During his acceptance speech, which later stole the internet’s heart, the actor was seen as extremely emotional, reflecting on the time he was yet to embark on this journey.
Hanks shared, while he interned at Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in the year 1977, he got yelled at a very valuable lesson in life by a director, that stuck with him throughout his elaborate career.
Tom Hanks Once Got Yelled at by a Director
During his acceptance speech at the 2020 Golden Globes, Tom Hanks was visibly moved as tears streamed down his cheeks. Overwhelmed with emotion, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity and continued thanking the people who have played titular roles in his life and then took the chance to share a story that changed his life. As Charlize Theron presented him with the award, he thanked his family, friends, and close ones, and then delved further to share a very valuable life lesson he learned when he was just starting out from director Dan Sullivan.
While at his time interning at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, the whole bunch of 20-something-year-old actors, including Hanks partied the night before work and got carried away in all the booze and glamor of it, so much so that all of them turned up for work late the next day. This made Sullivan furious, Hanks narrated,
“We were showing up for rehearsals, and he screamed at us. Well, he did actually scream at us. He said, “Hey, look, you guys, you guys, you actors, you know what your job is. You know what your job is? You have got to show up on time and you have to know the text and you have to have a head full of ideas. Otherwise, I can’t do my job.” That was the greatest lesson a young actor could possibly ever get.”
The impact of those words stayed with Hanks for countless years, shaping him into the actor he has become today. Thus, years later prompted him to share the story with the world in hopes of inspiring others, just as he was inspired all those years ago.
Tom Hanks Shared Three Life Lessons That Aspiring Actors Must Know
The Forest Gump actor then elaborated on the words yelled by Dan Sullivan years back and explained exactly why it is very important for any actor to remember those words at all times. He said,
“First of all, the head full of ideas, bring anything, try anything. They might not use it. If it stinks, they won’t use it. Am I right Marty Scorsese? If it’s not good… Boy, let’s see the outtakes from that movie by the way.”
He then encouraged actors to embrace the opportunity to share their creative inputs and ideas without hesitation as he explained the second point,
“Knowing the text, and it’s not just your lines, it’s the whole thing. It’s the red dot. It’s the theme of the movie. You’ve got to know it. You might not be right in what the opinion that you bring to it, but you’ve got to come at it with some direction.”
The actor then elaborated on the third and most vital point he believes everyone should follow, especially actors. He stated,
“Showing up on time is one of the greatest liberating acts you can give yourself in a movie. That means those people with radios in the ears don’t need to knock on your door and say they’re ready for you. You’re actually already ready. And you have the liberty and you have the freedom of being there early enough to settle down because when the time comes you have to hit the marks and you have to go there.”
In that heartfelt moment, not a dry eye could be found within the vicinity, as the actor reminisced about cherished memories and later apologized for being a little more emotional than usual. Tom Hanks is an exceptional performer, and fans, without a doubt, will cherish the actor’s extraordinary performances throughout the years in the generations to come.
Source: Elle
