Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Still Auditioning for life: A Small Comfort :)
Still Auditioning for life: A Small Comfort :): "Hello! It has been so long! I have been doing things though, like rehearsing, filming, going to class and generally being indecisive a..."
A Small Comfort :)
Hello!
It has been so long! I have been doing things though, like rehearsing, filming, going to class and generally being indecisive about what to do for anything...........
Last week I did somthing for my showreel, and even though I wasn't as prepared as I would have liked I knew enough, had enough experience and just let myself not 'think' about it, and did a job that even though I could have done better - I was still proud of.
The lesson to be learned here from my point of view is sometimes we try so hard to get it right, or 'act' or be amazing that we forget how important it isto be real and fresh and interesting.
thoughts?
It has been so long! I have been doing things though, like rehearsing, filming, going to class and generally being indecisive about what to do for anything...........
Last week I did somthing for my showreel, and even though I wasn't as prepared as I would have liked I knew enough, had enough experience and just let myself not 'think' about it, and did a job that even though I could have done better - I was still proud of.
The lesson to be learned here from my point of view is sometimes we try so hard to get it right, or 'act' or be amazing that we forget how important it isto be real and fresh and interesting.
thoughts?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
rehearse rehearse rehearse
Yesterday I rehearsed ALL day. I discovered things along the way. It reinforced the fact that you need to rehearse, and working as a team can give you ideas that you may never have thought of. so yay for rehearsing.
One of the downsides of being a struggling actor/student is being poor and living on rice. One excellent idea is to make a huge dish at the beginning of the week and eat it througout.
Here is an excellent brown rice salad recipe.
Two cups cooked brown rice
One packet of edamame beans ( you can get them at harris farm)
baby spinach
grated carrot
fresh chilli
cherry tomatoes
chopped spanish onion
coriander
walnuts
Mix together and eat :)
So has anyone seen any good movies lately?
One of the downsides of being a struggling actor/student is being poor and living on rice. One excellent idea is to make a huge dish at the beginning of the week and eat it througout.
Here is an excellent brown rice salad recipe.
Two cups cooked brown rice
One packet of edamame beans ( you can get them at harris farm)
baby spinach
grated carrot
fresh chilli
cherry tomatoes
chopped spanish onion
coriander
walnuts
Mix together and eat :)
So has anyone seen any good movies lately?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Wednesday.
So I just spent an hour on ebay when I should have been learning lines. Call it creative license? Please?
Well, I will go learn lines now, just wanted to add something unfinished so I will remind myself to finish it!
also I must endeavour to write something on my blog every day. :)
Well, I will go learn lines now, just wanted to add something unfinished so I will remind myself to finish it!
also I must endeavour to write something on my blog every day. :)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Reviews, inspiration and the like.
So hopefully everyone can read this font?
Anyway, I promised a review, so here it. Sorry It's been so long without a post, I will keep the blog alive, i just need to advertise it, get a billion actors to jump on board with this acing forum!
P.s - A huge thanks to Jeremy for his previous comment, that is exactly what I'm trying to do with this blog, so thanks for the excellent advice and for helping keep the dream alive!
SO, -unusually for me - I had the pleasure of watching two (yes TWO) movies in two weeks!
The first was the fighter. Now, I'm not usually one to get into fighting movies, and I generally don't condone that type of sport ( call it the pacifist in me, or the fact I secretly want to be able to box but would be terrible at it)..... But..... The Fighter is not about fighting. It's about family, dreams, relationships, drug addiction and loss. Christian Bale was brilliant and deserves every inch of his golden Oscar. His portrayal of a crack addict (and from the real footage I've seen) was perfect in his portrayal of Dicky Ward. He brought life to a role others may have swum in audacious self pity in. Bale also - like many of the other films he has done (lets not talk about the dark knight......) wasn't adraid to throw himself in at the deep end and give the role his all. He brought humanity and dignity to Dicky, even though you were never really on his side, you felt you understood him, and always wanted him to succeed.
Mark Wahlberg, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams were all also brilliant, although I so feel this was Bales movie at the end of the day..... Wahlberg however had the softness of a brother living under his more famous, previously successful brother, and the hunger of someone who has never tasted success of his own. The movie draws you in in such a way that by the time the 'fighting' starts, you have forgotten it is a movie about boxing, and you are clinging to you seat not because of Wahlberg dripping blood, but because every thing has led you to want him to win so badly and for so many reasons.
Thoughts?
I also had the pleasure of seeing 127 hours - with a baby I might add who was infatuated with the screen the whole time!
I've always been a huge fan of Danny Boyle, 28 days later is one of my all time favourites, and I even love Shallow Grave - which I'm sure none of you have seen, but you should check it out purely for Ewan McGregors excellent performance. 127 Hours was done superbly, Franco was brilliant, and for a movie that primarily had to rely on visuals and music, there was never a moment where you were thinking 'how much longer to go'. The set up was just enough to get you involved straight away without becoming so involved that when he was trapped you felt you were thinking about the previous scenes. Boyle certainly nailed the claustrophobia of the situation, you felt you were there with Franco - also helped by Franco's brilliant ability to be 'in' the moment, to make you feel you really were watching a man trapped but who you couldn't help. Franco didn't overdo it though, you weren't watching a blubbering mess waiting for someone to help, you watched a man fight, use his brain, his humour and his strengh to come to the decision of cutting his arm off! This was done in such a precise and stunning way that even my non squeamish heart was uncomfortable in my seat - but ib the best way possible, because you were right there with him. Its a shame that 127 hours had such tough competition at the Oscars, because it certainly deserved more recognition.
So, I've been warbling for what seems like a century!
If any one has a question to put to the acting forum, please ask it, and let the discussions begin :)
Anyway, I promised a review, so here it. Sorry It's been so long without a post, I will keep the blog alive, i just need to advertise it, get a billion actors to jump on board with this acing forum!
P.s - A huge thanks to Jeremy for his previous comment, that is exactly what I'm trying to do with this blog, so thanks for the excellent advice and for helping keep the dream alive!
SO, -unusually for me - I had the pleasure of watching two (yes TWO) movies in two weeks!
The first was the fighter. Now, I'm not usually one to get into fighting movies, and I generally don't condone that type of sport ( call it the pacifist in me, or the fact I secretly want to be able to box but would be terrible at it)..... But..... The Fighter is not about fighting. It's about family, dreams, relationships, drug addiction and loss. Christian Bale was brilliant and deserves every inch of his golden Oscar. His portrayal of a crack addict (and from the real footage I've seen) was perfect in his portrayal of Dicky Ward. He brought life to a role others may have swum in audacious self pity in. Bale also - like many of the other films he has done (lets not talk about the dark knight......) wasn't adraid to throw himself in at the deep end and give the role his all. He brought humanity and dignity to Dicky, even though you were never really on his side, you felt you understood him, and always wanted him to succeed.
Mark Wahlberg, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams were all also brilliant, although I so feel this was Bales movie at the end of the day..... Wahlberg however had the softness of a brother living under his more famous, previously successful brother, and the hunger of someone who has never tasted success of his own. The movie draws you in in such a way that by the time the 'fighting' starts, you have forgotten it is a movie about boxing, and you are clinging to you seat not because of Wahlberg dripping blood, but because every thing has led you to want him to win so badly and for so many reasons.
Thoughts?
I also had the pleasure of seeing 127 hours - with a baby I might add who was infatuated with the screen the whole time!
I've always been a huge fan of Danny Boyle, 28 days later is one of my all time favourites, and I even love Shallow Grave - which I'm sure none of you have seen, but you should check it out purely for Ewan McGregors excellent performance. 127 Hours was done superbly, Franco was brilliant, and for a movie that primarily had to rely on visuals and music, there was never a moment where you were thinking 'how much longer to go'. The set up was just enough to get you involved straight away without becoming so involved that when he was trapped you felt you were thinking about the previous scenes. Boyle certainly nailed the claustrophobia of the situation, you felt you were there with Franco - also helped by Franco's brilliant ability to be 'in' the moment, to make you feel you really were watching a man trapped but who you couldn't help. Franco didn't overdo it though, you weren't watching a blubbering mess waiting for someone to help, you watched a man fight, use his brain, his humour and his strengh to come to the decision of cutting his arm off! This was done in such a precise and stunning way that even my non squeamish heart was uncomfortable in my seat - but ib the best way possible, because you were right there with him. Its a shame that 127 hours had such tough competition at the Oscars, because it certainly deserved more recognition.
So, I've been warbling for what seems like a century!
If any one has a question to put to the acting forum, please ask it, and let the discussions begin :)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Keeping the Blog alive!
Acting should be fun........... right? So why do we exhaust ourselves trying to get it right?
I constantly feel tired from trying instead of enjoying the journey and learning to love the process. Maybe it's because its drummed into out heads that we need to be 'good' or 'right' or 'brilliant'. Maybe its because we as artists strive for perfection instead of realism. Maybe its simply because we feel like we wont get anywhere if we are not ticking ALL the boxes?
Whatever it is I endeavour to start loving the process again. Today I worked so hard at getting something 'right' I lost all passion for doing it!
I started working on my showreel scene today, I'm really excited about it, hopefully we will start shooting in a few weeks. Anybody got any tips..........?
Actors please tell your friends about this blog concept. It will only work if we help each other!
Next entry will be a review of 127 hours and the fighter! promise ;)
I constantly feel tired from trying instead of enjoying the journey and learning to love the process. Maybe it's because its drummed into out heads that we need to be 'good' or 'right' or 'brilliant'. Maybe its because we as artists strive for perfection instead of realism. Maybe its simply because we feel like we wont get anywhere if we are not ticking ALL the boxes?
Whatever it is I endeavour to start loving the process again. Today I worked so hard at getting something 'right' I lost all passion for doing it!
I started working on my showreel scene today, I'm really excited about it, hopefully we will start shooting in a few weeks. Anybody got any tips..........?
Actors please tell your friends about this blog concept. It will only work if we help each other!
Next entry will be a review of 127 hours and the fighter! promise ;)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Plans :)
Hi again.
So really want this blog to work! My idea is to get a community of actors together to help each other out and share stories and give tips! I have been trying to advertise it, but actors don't seem to have time to blog..... maybe that should be telling me I'm doing something wrong...............!
So I have a scene planned for my showreel, we start shooting in a few weeks, will let you know how it comes along.
Well, I need to go rehearse now, just want to keep adding to this so I keep up the habit! I do have a lot of friends who think the life of an actor is a romantic one, in my next post will outline exactly how UN-romantic it actually is!
Love Meg :)
So really want this blog to work! My idea is to get a community of actors together to help each other out and share stories and give tips! I have been trying to advertise it, but actors don't seem to have time to blog..... maybe that should be telling me I'm doing something wrong...............!
So I have a scene planned for my showreel, we start shooting in a few weeks, will let you know how it comes along.
Well, I need to go rehearse now, just want to keep adding to this so I keep up the habit! I do have a lot of friends who think the life of an actor is a romantic one, in my next post will outline exactly how UN-romantic it actually is!
Love Meg :)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tuesday
Hi again!
I convinced four of you to read my blog! That deserves a celebration, if I didn't have class in a few hours, I'd pop the champagne ;)
So I spent all day doing class work, tidying my house and making a meal out of pretty bare cupboards. Yet I still feel unproductive. I'm about to leave for rehearsal before class, I need coffee before I do anything I just realised... So I thought I'd just add something to this blog before it becomes something else I start and never finish! Does any body else have the problem of feeling very lazy on a rainy day? I'd be happy if class was cancelled and I could stay in and watch x-files re-runs with a nice cup of tea? No, class isn't canceled, and I bet Meryl Streep never took a rainy day off to watch the x-files. So off to class I go, to perform my little heart out, to learn more pearls of wisdom, to say 'daaarrrhhhhling' a lot and generally be an acting student ;)
Oh I almost forgot I promised a joke.............
I convinced four of you to read my blog! That deserves a celebration, if I didn't have class in a few hours, I'd pop the champagne ;)
So I spent all day doing class work, tidying my house and making a meal out of pretty bare cupboards. Yet I still feel unproductive. I'm about to leave for rehearsal before class, I need coffee before I do anything I just realised... So I thought I'd just add something to this blog before it becomes something else I start and never finish! Does any body else have the problem of feeling very lazy on a rainy day? I'd be happy if class was cancelled and I could stay in and watch x-files re-runs with a nice cup of tea? No, class isn't canceled, and I bet Meryl Streep never took a rainy day off to watch the x-files. So off to class I go, to perform my little heart out, to learn more pearls of wisdom, to say 'daaarrrhhhhling' a lot and generally be an acting student ;)
Oh I almost forgot I promised a joke.............
| Heres a quote from Eddie Izzard :) | ||||||||||||||
| “So the American government lied to the Native Americans for many, many years, and then President Clinton lied about a relationship, and everyone was surprised! A little naïve, I feel!” |
Monday, February 14, 2011
My first post....
Hi!
So I have decided to start this blog for many reasons. Firstly because I felt that there were a million other struggling, lost actors out there who have no idea how to start, what to do or how to feel! Well, I'm not saying I have any kind of answer, in fact I'm probably more lost than most of you..... but by documenting my journey whilst studying and trying to make a go of it I feel maybe I can be of comfort to others who are in the same boat, and hell, lets all help each other hey?! I also started it because I was feeling a little restless and thought the ever attentive void of cyber space would be an excellent way to speak my mind without being interrupted.... So you know I'm not just going to rambling for awhile I guess I should start saying I do have goals and I am going to document my hopes, failures, crying fits, random observations, successes, words of wisdom and the occasional movie review.
My current task is to get more scenes for my showreel. One of the great things about my college is I have access to filming equipment and people who can guide me, I get to work with talented actors who are also my friends, it doesn't get better than that. Why am I only doing this now i hear you ask, (and I can imagine you all frowning by now) - the answer is simply, I was focused on my studies, then I was focused on getting stuff for a reel, then I hated everything I did. So now, for the next few months, I will pull in favours, I will worl my ass off, and I will get something to be proud of, something I won't let myself judge too harshly!
Well, I'm surprised you made it this far, I do have a tendency to bang on a bit too long!
I promise next time I'll tell a joke ;)
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