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So it's a public holiday and I'm working - but I need the money and I get to update my blog whilst pretending to look busy so its not too bad...
Anyway to the point of my entry, I've learned something very valuable over the last few weeks.  If your excited about something, other people will get excited too.  What does this mean for actors (and musicians and artists and writers and the like)?  Well, it means that if you want to get something up and running, or if you have an excellent idea but aren't really sure how to go about it, or if you want to JUST DO SOMETHING.  Chances are, you know somebody else who will want to help, or do it with you, or give you an opportunity to be involved with their project.  This is so important because - lets face it -none of us can actually do it on our own, we need to collaborate, we need to brainstorm, and we need support.  Many people have surprised and delighted me in their willingness to help with projects and devote their time to something that was just an idea and is now a full fledged plan.  This makes me happy, excited and proud all at once!
So I suppose the moral of my story is that we all must work as a group, support each other and we can make our dreams come true.
Wow, I should write a self help book....

uh oh.

Oh dear.
I just did thething I really didn't want to do.  Start a blog, get really excited about it, tell everyone to read it, then just kinda, well, stop.
I didn't mean to stop, truly I didn't.  I hid behind the excuse of being busy, or my internet wasn't working, or I would do it tomorrow.  In hind sight I should have started this Blog now.  I have finished a major part of my studying, and am about to launch into the scary world of no longer being an acting student concentrating on my craft, but as an actor trying to get people to pay her (although actually I'd anything for free right now....) to do some of this elusive 'acting'.
So this is a entry to say please please please keep reading, keep giving tips, keep the blog sharing dream alive.  I'm about to leave work so I cant write my review of 'The skin I live in' right now, but I will when I get home after having dinner with a few of my fav gal's.
xox 

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?

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?

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. :)

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 :)