From Hofstra to Hollywood , In

Pursuit of the Arts

Jennifer La Lima

Blake Boshnack, a junior studying management at Hofstra, has a very different dream in mind than his major would imply.  In the summer of 2004, Blake entered his third audition for “American Idol.”  Now in its fourth season, “American Idol” has earned its reputation of catapulting its finalists to fame. 

With his soothing, confident singing voice, Boshnack was undiscouraged by a fruitless 2003 “American Idol” audition in New York . He traveled all the way to Washington D.C. and then to Orlando to audition in 2004.  This time he hoped to make it further through the audition process.

From New York to California , reality television is sweeping young adults out of their classrooms and onto the world’s stage.  In pursuit of dreams, some seize the opportunity to leave their structured lives behind and try their chances at fame.

But is reality television a gift to those struggling to ‘make it,’ or a slow disintegration of the old-fashioned hard work it takes to develop a talent, an art and a name in the business? 

“Fame and art have, I believe, very little to do with one another,” said Hofstra Professor of Drama and Dance, Peter Sander.  “It is really only in show business that the two are often confused…  An actor or serious singer… not only need to develop his or her instrument, but also need to be aware and sensitive to the world… An ‘idol’ is one who has, in some way, touched the pulse of the times.”

A singer since the fourth grade, Boshnack achieved All State Choir honors in high school and has a great passion for singing solo before groups of people.  Boshnack believes in the potential offered by a show like “American Idol.”  He plans to pursue a career in music after graduation, while also having his background in management to complement his future undertakings. 

“I couldn’t go through life without pursuing a music career, because it’d be a waste of good talent,” said Boshnack.  “Even though it’s a one in a million chance to be the next Billy Joel.”

Hofstra Alumna Jessica Leigh Johnson, 24 of Levittown , NY , is not staking her future on such odds.  Instead she is chasing her dream of                “My dream at graduation was to one day be a working actor,” said Johnson. “And by a working actor I meant making enough money acting to pay the bills. It's still my dream today!”

            Always a lover of theater, she took her high school experience in the arts to Hofstra. She began in an improvisational class where she practiced walking through an imaginary storm, learned silent movement through miming and many other exercises which would make her more aware of her body and movement. 

“My experience at Hofstra,” said Johnson, “taught me everything I know about handling rejection, executing an audition, preparing a scene, landing an agent, booking a commercial, directing a scene and much more.”

Despite her dislike for the business aspect of acting, Johnson immerses herself in the work that is necessary to land the roles that will ultimately refine her talent.

            With five Hofstra main stage plays, and many student productions under her belt, Johnson has since been successful enough to leave her Hofstra resume credits behind. 

“In the last three years I've worked on enough projects to let my college work go,” said Johnson.  “At present, my resumé states that I graduated from Hofstra with a BFA and lists the professors names that I was fortunate enough to have studied under.”  

            Since graduation, Johnson has appeared in a string of off-off Broadway plays and independent films.  Johnson was featured in this season’s “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” episode “No Exit.”  Although she was featured, her line was cut.  Still, she continues on to the next acting opportunity, without looking back.  This summer, Johnson can be found playing Sukie Sedgwick in Hello Superstar!

“It’s a revamped version of the off-off Broadway play Andy & Edie,” said Johnson.  “The play chronicles a day in the life of Warhol Superstar Edie Sedgwick.”

Johnson continued her education in acting at The School for Film and Television, in New York and at Actor’s Connection. Because it can be very difficult to have a set schedule as an actor, Johnson holds two other jobs as a student teacher and a private tutor. 

 “Each day is different,” said Johnson. “I might be substitute teaching a first grade class one day and the next be on the set of a film, or auditioning for the role of a hooker. It's all very surreal.”

She became a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) in 2004, which protects actors in the areas of wages and working conditions.  Johnson is living the life of a hopeful actress, in a society that has embraced reality television’s outlet for fast fame.  Although she says she would never do a reality show herself, she has no opinion good or bad of the genre, calling it a mere diversion for America .

            Boshnack, however, sees it differently.  For those who are not majoring in the arts, a show like “American Idol” can seem a very good thing.  Those who audition are competing against thousands, many who have extreme talent.

            ““American Idol” is one of the most beneficial things to me in my life,” said Boshnack, “because for someone who wants to be a professional singer, it takes a lot of connections, or a lot of hard work and time to achieve success in the music business.  Its extremely rare as well.”

            Sleeping in a sleeping bag, among what Boshnack recalls as roughly 20,000 people, Boshnack was surrounded by talented voices.  An Orlando convention center, filled with rehearsing hopefuls, made Boshnack realize just how much the ‘It’ factor is necessary to stand out from the crowd.  

The morning of the audition, contenders were called into a room 100 at a time.  Four by four they were directed to one of five tables, two producers sitting at each.  This was the point in his two prior auditions that Boshnack was sent home.  This time, however, he was passed through until finally reaching the casting trio of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

“Randy said that he loved the tone and quality of my voice,” said Boshnack.  “Paula told me I should come back next year and choose a more contemporary song.”  Boshnack remembers the support and confidence he received from both Abdul and Jackson.  He had chosen George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” for his audition. 

 “[Cowell] said it was over the top and corny,” recalled Boshnack.  Still, Abdul and Jackson had encouraging words, and their advice was well-taken.  Boshnack plans on auditioning every year until he reaches the cut-off age of 28.

            Assistant Hofstra Professor of Drama and Dance, David Henderson, believes that a reality TV show, such as “American Idol,” can prove beneficial for some, citing Kelly Clarkson.  Still, he sees the odds as a very long shot.

            “It is a backdoor for one person out of several million,” said Henderson .  “It will not change the art form or the careers of any [except for] that one person who benefits from it.  I have no problem with it; there have been talent contests as long as there have been stages.  This is just the latest version, and it too shall pass.”

For Hofstra students who look forward to a post-graduation life in acting, Johnson suggests working on as many plays as possible.  She also believes it is important to build strong relationships with both professors and fellow students.

“During your summers off stay active,” said Johnson. “Get an internship with a theatre company, casting director or casting agent. Make contacts and keep them. Enter life after graduation realistically. Work hard and persevere.”