Originality doesn't come from expressing what nobody has ever expressed before, it comes from being oneself. -- Anonymous
It's amazing how artists are so concerned with being 'original,' yet are terrified of being themselves.
As I myself am guilty of frequently wondering whether or not I am enough, I read this quote to remind myself that being myself is being original, because there is no one in this world who is anything like me nor will there ever be again.
There are many benefits to being both a director and an actor. I'm always telling my colleagues that both disciplines constantly feed into one another, and that I'm lucky that doing one continues to help me think critically about my ability to do the other
I am currently in pre-production and I've been running casting calls. I am learning a ton of do's and don'ts to be aware of when I start auditioning in earnest in the summer.
1. DO know the name of the role you are auditioning for. It seems obvious, but wow, some people don't remember the name of the role they are coming in for and it makes (director) me wonder "Wow, do you even care if you get this role?"
2. DO think about the costume. It seems like the simplest thing, but it's amazing how many people don't, and worse, they come in a costume that is so completely wrong for the role it's distracting. For example, if you are auditioning for the role of an uptight mother, don't show up in a mini-skirt and Converse. If you are going for the role of a rich playboy, don't show up in your Subway uniform (even though I appreciate that you are trying to make the audition time work for you).
3. DO NOT ASSUME. If you don't understand something from the sides, ASK. Sides are notorious for being vague and I can imagine how off-putting it is to walk into an audition with an interpretation of a scene you don't fully understand. Imagine thinking that your brother was your husband, and your mother was your father based on a few lines of out-of-context dialogue. As a director, I not only appreciate, but welcome questions that serve to make the performance better. Not only does it show a thoughtfulness toward the character that goes deeper than just memorizing the lines and stage directions, but I also believe that the more you know, the better you can get it right the first time (and the less work I have to do).
I don't pretend to know everything about everything, and I can honestly say that I've learned so much from all of the lovely people who bravely come in and read for a part. You continue to make me a better actor and director, and for that, I thank you!
Had a fantastic time at the G'Day USA/AACTA Awards show and Gala on Saturday night. It was wonderful getting the chance to celebrate the amazing storytellers that Australia has given the world! I had a blast!
We are definitely living the dream!
I'm not sure how many people follow Humans of New York's photo blog, but this week there has been nothing short of inspiration on it.
By chance, Brandon Stanton, the creator of the blog, met a young boy named Vidal in the Brownsville neighborhood of New York City. When asked who the most influential person in his life is, Vidal responded that his principal Ms. Lopez was the most influential person in his life and this is why:
When we get in trouble, she doesn't suspend us. She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built. And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter.
Wow. Just wow. And if that's not enough to make you feel good, Mr. Stanton then visited Vidal's school to meet Ms. Lopez which led to him doing a profile on Mott Hall Bridges Academy and eventually launching a fundraiser to send the scholars of the academy to visit Harvard. As of this posting, that fundraiser is $12,000 away from raising $1,000,000 which will be used to fund the trip and summer programs for the next decade of students, and a scholarship fund created in Vidal's name with Vidal himself being the first recipient.
Faith in humanity restored.
If you're interested in following this story, check out the Humans of New York Facebook page.
If you're interested in donating, check out the fundraiser's IndieGoGo page.
The great facilities available to us at Chapman University's Marion Knott Studios!
