Coming Along Well, Apparently

Friday was my 3rd session with Susan Grace Cohen. I love every minute. I learn so much from her experience with other students and industry professionals.

She tells me stories of the industry... how she taught Justin Chambers (Grey's Anatomy), Karen Allen, etc. She was offered to work with Michelle Williams on her new movie depicting Marilyn Monroe, of which she could be up for an Academy Award....
She tells stories of students that she teaches at NYU and at the Lee Strasberg Institute and how they are so much different, some childish and immature. Instead of humbly accepting an assignment or task from which they would efficiently learn, they question it and question its relevance to their work. Come on people! Don't question, just work and trust that your teacher is an expert in this.

Colleen and I were talking the other night how i have the ability and willingness to learn. I absorb as much as i can and do so with an open mind and humble heart. I don't want to challenge my teacher, i want to learn from her and challenge myself. That is the way to learn. And apparently it's been paying off. Susan wasn't wary to let me know how impressed she was that i was progressing so quickly and picking things up so fast. Let's just say she gave me very good remarks at the end of the session, and i am so humbled and grateful.

It even got me to wonder where i should be this next year, thinking maybe i should stay here close to NYC, keep learning, and seek work as a bona fide actress -- instead of going back to school for a year and a half. It seriously got me thinking.

Ultimately, i'll get my degree.. which is good, not just because of the college degree and all, but because i think the pacing will help me adjust to the life i will be leading in a year or two. I don't want things to go too fast or i won't even know how to deal with it.

So, i'll work on these 2 new monologues she's given me (i've just been working on the one monologue for 3 sessions, and i think Susan's pleasantly surprised that I am ready for a lot more than that). i'll get acquainted with reading through an entire play with an artistic eye and creative mind. The play is Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams. I've ordered it from Amazon and we'll see how it goes. Mission? read through a few scenes, put it down, come back to it after a day or two, read a few more scenes, repeat, etc. I think the point is to gradually become familiar with the characters and mood of the play... we shall see!!!