Life: Calling, Mission, and Testimony

Life: Calling, Mission, and Testimony

by Mario A. Campanaro

One very important point I always emphasize at our studio is that life will always be the most potent, informative, and powerful acting teacher any actor will ever study with. Life itself gets all the credit and acclaim. What we do—this thing called storytelling (or living)—is a mirror or reflection of life. It reflects the human condition from generation to generation. We will always connect with the things we can relate to, and those things will always serve as the stimulus that creates stories.

Because of present circumstances, I felt compelled to share a very critical season in my personal life with one of our classes, along with an important lesson I learned from those circumstances. Due to a severe chronic illness that I fought for many years—often in secret—I almost lost my life on a couple of occasions. I also lost friends, family, my career, my joy, happiness, and even love.

During this time, the one thing I had to do was essentially isolate myself for ten years—to protect myself and my immune system. Yes, ten years. That isolation, that loss of time and life, created a craving that I knew was my calling. Everything I missed out on became my mission. That long, difficult, and often frightening test became my testimony.

The opportunity I was given during that “downtime” allowed me to understand people, circumstances, and life in a way I couldn’t have before. Everything before came easily—until it didn’t. Those circumstances forced me to stop doing what I loved (my career as an actor on stage and screen) and gave me the chance to study the very thing I loved from a completely new perspective. It forced me to witness and understand humanity through a compassionate lens. It forced me to slow down, ask questions, seek answers, and bear witness to others and their pain with a broader view.

Most importantly, it forced me to relate. It completely changed me as a person, actor, and teacher. I was able to see and understand stories in a way I never thought possible. It deepened my relationship with the work, my understanding of characters, and why they do what they do based on the circumstances they face.

Why do I bring this up now? Because during this crucial time in all of our lives, it’s important to remember these three simple yet powerful statements:

What you crave is your calling.

What you miss is your mission.

What you are tested by will be your testimony.

What we are experiencing in the world right now will inevitably create stories—human, beautiful, complicated, layered, heart-wrenching, and victorious stories. Every one of those stories deserves to be heard and witnessed. Each of our stories is backed by the pain we have endured and the struggles we have faced. And all of what we have done to try and overcome that pain and suffering informs our journey.

Tough times and circumstances always test our most vulnerable points, and they reveal what needs our attention and awareness. Our observations and understanding of ourselves and the human condition will ultimately guide how we live truthfully and authentically in our work as actors. This process can often feel inconvenient, difficult, tedious, and maybe even heart-wrenching, especially when there isn’t an immediate payoff.

But the more we stay on track, the more we persevere, the more we continue to refine and cultivate our craft, the more we grow, and the greater the payoff will eventually become. It's about pushing through, even in moments when we feel like we can't go any further. It's not about avoiding the challenges but facing them head-on—being disciplined in our approach to what we want to achieve as artists.

As artists, we must hold ourselves accountable, remain focused, and commit fully to the process. We do this because we love what we do, and because we know there is greatness within us that is worthy of doing the work we love with all our heart and soul. With that invested, mindful commitment, we must remember that the word "ACT" means to do. The artist perseveres even when the impulse is to crumble. The artist moves forward and creates, as creating is the very nature of being an artist.

Our work, this thing called acting, is not for the faint of heart. It is not "substance-less"—it is pregnant with the human condition. In our darkest times, we, the audience, are moved by you, the actor, in our homes or other venues where your work lives. This is why we must take our work seriously and with responsibility. Don’t forget what you do, why you do it, and what it serves. It is a rite, a responsibility, and a gift—and it matters.

Our darkest moments will often be the greatest inspiration for our most important artistic endeavors.

Copyright © 2025 Mario A. Campanaro, All rights reserved.