The Study of Acting as an Art, Craft, and Business -- Passion & Profession -- film, music, production, inspiration, gaining confidence, tv/movie extras, interviews, news, how-to's
This past year has been a lot of hell but I'm slowly coming back. Maybe I'll mention it at some point but for now, I'm just excited to post this because it has been a year and i am finally excited enough about something in my life again. And what do you know? It's story, music, acting! And I am rejuvenated, at peace, and excited about life again.
I picked up again on One Tree Hill after a few year stint of not watching it after Payton and Lucas left. I'm back in it and I'd forgotten how great it is. Tearing up, getting emotional, scared, laughing hysterically, or getting super excited about life, it inspires me. This one is freaky. It is a nightmare sequence. I would say viewer discretion is advised. But, it's hilarious too.
This. This is it. I love music and acting. And here we are. This song inspired some excitement in me that I haven't known for the past year. I can do this. I can do this life the way I want.
Both of the above clips are from Season 8 Episode 6 (a halloween episode, i might ad--my absolute favorite holiday)
Lip-singing with headphones in watchin the video above... feelin good and lovin it.. you can play the video above at the same time so there's actual audio. i just wanted to post this becuz it's odd but i felt so good i don't care!
OMG i had to share this. i seriously laughed out loud for a long time in the middle of the night while watching this. i freaking love zooey deschanel. and justin long in this is so exceptional:
And so it goes on a Saturday night. I was going to go see Snow White and the Huntsman. I'm still going to see it. But, instead of seeing a movie, I made one.
We started about 10:40pm until final editing and uploading at 3:45am. How's that for a super saturday?
I've been watching Bones and i've skipped a lot of episodes to get to the closer dynamic of Booth and Brennan, but the point is...
I haven't posted in a while. I've been hopeless and unmotivated about acting recently, with everything else going on and feeling inadequate, out of shape, and unlearned. But, during the near end scene of episode 7x06 i was re-impassioned.
It's like i listen to a song superimposed over the montage of visual intrigue (irony, sadness, cleverness, edge, dark, raw depth) and i don't even know how to describe it. You hear a song that empowers you and gives you feeling and therefore life and purpose. This may be my favorite song now.
It makes things clear--that feeling of purpose and passion. It feels good. "There's something at work here." With the song and video montage, i see the actors in character... there's no dialogue, just action to a soundtrack. This reminds me of what is in my future. Playing a character that is so valuable and loved, doing these actions with so much meaning behind every expression.
This is the song. I couldn't find the scene itself on youtube but click here for the episode link (song starts 38:18).
So i'm a little late on the uptake but a friend just introduced me to this video and i love it because:
1) mostly because of Ke$ha's eyes at the beginning when they turn all freaky-like:
"..when the dark of the night comes around
that's the time that the animal
comes alive, lookin for something wild..."
2) its based on the known tune: "there's a place in france where the naked ladies dance. there's a whole in the wall where the boys can watch it all."
3) halfway through the video is colored powder party like the festival of colors
This is to be an extra in the movie. No audition is required. Just bring a 3x5 pic and a pen and your good to go. For more info and the official online posting click here.
Casting All Types in
Moab, Utah
Sunday, April 1st, 2012
Your arrival time: 10:00am, 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm
Moab Valley Inn
711 S. Main Street
Moab, Utah 84532
I missed going to Moab today. It's a 3 and a half hour drive to Moab.
So i'll do the second option of sending in my pic to the CA office. I hope i'm still picked for the movie. How cool would this opportunity be?! I should have just sucked it up and drove to Moab. I didn't realize how big a movie it was though, now i really wish i went.
'The Lone Ranger' has a budget of upwards 200 MILLION dollars and is set to release May 2013. Armie Hammer [Mirror, Mirror; the Social Network] plays the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp plays his right hand mand, Tonto.
Today, I noticed a similar...... resemblance. I had no idea that Elder Baxter was an observer.
Alright alright, nobody get your panties in a twist. Elder David Baxter (of the Quorum of the Seventy) was diagnosed with brain cancer, and that's why he looks like an observer. All due respect goes to him and his family during this time. It's just... i can't deny the truth, whether its PC or not.
Oh and also, hello David Archuleta in the MTC Choir
click here for more info on speakers and schedules for the 182nd annual LDS General Conference;
and here & here for more info about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormon; LDS)
Was watching Veronica Mars the other day. Love that show. Kristen Bell is awesome -- strong character, love her sarcastic readings.
In an episode there's a guest star,
Erin Chambers (clickhere for her IMDb). I just found out that apparently she graduated from BYU. I don't know if she's an active member, but isn't that cool?
I first saw her in that one disney movie "Don't Look Under the Bed." That was SUCH a good movie with imaginary friends and creepy cool stuff... wow good times. that movie was from 1999. Erin Chambers was 20 years old; her character.. 14 years old. YEAH. Watch the movie:
General Hospital. It's so weird how she's got an Irish accent in this. wweeeeeiiirrrrd. and i don't know how accurate it is. It all sounds toooooo irish if you know what i mean.
Errand of Angels. haven't seen it. i will now. she looks so good in this.
She sorta reminds me of Brittni from my acting class:
i love starting to watch shows when they've already got like 5 seasons out. that way i don't have to wait a week or for stupid hiatus to end. I've been catchin up on the big bang theory.
"Okay baby-doll pink, let's see if you can cover up the fact that i got my dad's feet." ... the episode i just finished watching: THE BIG BANG THEORY S3E22
finally! this is the episode that explains why the elevator is broken!
omg i love this show. the writing and acting is so funny. Jim Parsons is exceptionally impressive and Kaley Cuoco is soo great. Sometimes--rarely--she misreads a line or isn't owning her craft, but for this show it's fine. she's always entertaining and on occasion, she has the BEST READINGS more than any other comedic actress. like this one from S2E11 (try to ignore the sound delay and subtitles):
"That's what you took from that?!! The guy is married!"
I am loving that reading. Just awesome. The explosion of shock, the slight voice crack on "That's," the wide-eyed stare, the head tilt and gesture forward. So great.
Olivia starts to remember her old life, before the observers took away the memory of Peter ever existing. She remembers her love with Peter and wants him to treat her like she is his Olivia, not some "other-timeline Olivia." 32:12 - 32:52; 33:44 - 34:00
"Look, in case you were wondering it's hard for me too.
You know, I keep expecting to see that look in your eye
and it isn't there.
Or it is, and you're pulling back.
[You say you're confused]. I'm confused, too.
I feel incredibly close to you.
I feel like I know you better than anyone else in the world,
and then when you look at me it's like none of that is true.
I want you to behave naturally.
I want you to treat me like you know me better than anyone in the world too,
because you do."
[you don't understand how this is happening]
"I don't understand it either, but whatever this is, whatever the cause, i told you i'm not scared.
I like the feeling.
Sorry for the "t" in there april (since ur the only one reading this), but there's no other way to say it that shows what i'm trying to convey. I tried "shiz" but it didn't work.
It seems that the best things always come when you're not looking for them.
This one came when I just decided to watch Silence of the Lambs for the first time with my friend. Such a good choice. This movie was definitely a good example of a strong female character. Such presence and power. And yet, layered with a very potent vulnerability. Take a look.
I am so going to try this monologue out. It is a lil intimidating though.. i mean it's Jodie Foster. Can you get any better? Won't stop me though. Will try it out. You may be saying, "this isn't a monologue." well, all you have to do is take out the dialogue of the other character (and if it sounds good) then you've just made it into a monologue.
I had the opportunity to participate in a commercial shoot today. One of the benefits of being part of the advertising program.
I changed into that shirt, was shot at 3 different angles, was directed, was made to look good, etc. etc. Wow was that fun. I loved every minute. There were several takes from each angle and position.
They could have been more specific with what they wanted, but they were sorta just going with the flow of it so whatever. :-)
From start to finish it was probably a couple hours, and this footage is only for a 5-second time slot in the commercial. That's production for ya.
The commercial is for a campaign for Stride Gum.
In this scene, my co-worker and I are ditching work for a minute to play mop hockey outside. I say "Nuckle Puck!" and hit an empty water bottle, then cheer, then get caught by the boss. Basically the campaign shows all of the fun mischief stuff happening... "why does the mayhem have to stop?"
It was all volunteer, but it was soooo great... this feeling of being on camera, being directed, being used and getting real on-camera acting experience.
Also, fun fact. The guy in the top left is part of the Tessa Barton band, whom i think will be big. They are in my previous post Networking: Industry ppl I've Met so far. I had no idea, but he's in the BYU advertising program just like myself. His name is Chaz. Cool stuff.
I was part of the LDS Film Festival for the second year. Each time was the 24 hour film making marathon. There's a theme, object, and line that they give you at the beginning of the 24 hours, then it's go-time and you have to incorporate that criteria into your film.
2012 [2nd year to participate] -- Theme: Anniversary; Object: a cake; Line: "I really want to..."
Team: Moroni Taylor, Jared Garrison, Billy Machin, April Garrison. I produced it. I definitely had a bigger role this time around than last year. I also helped the film concept with April and came up with main dialogue. I was also the main voice actor. I played the character, Loretta. Take a look.
This year's films were a step above last year. We did not win this time around, or even place, which is bull, but whatever.
2011 [1st year to participate] -- Theme: generosity; Object: a dollar bill; Line: "What more can I..."
Team: Moroni Taylor, Clifford Taylor, Jared Garrison. My role: i basically just produced it. Entered the contest, burned it onto disc, and handed it in. All the manual labor took place in CT with Moroni, Clifford, and Jared in animation. Here's the video:
It was pretty cool. There were about 30 entrants and we placed 2nd. We won $150. And I got a cool filmmaker badge.
In first studying how to read lines from a script, I searched available online screenplays and available movies I could watch on my Netfilx account. From that I decided to take a look at acasting that would be similar to my own: a casting like Jennifer Lawrence's [X-Men First Class, The Hunger Games, Winter's Bone]. So i found Winter's Bone, 2010 Best Picture & Best Screenplay Sundance Film Festival.
Before I started watching the movie, I read the the first 25 (of 73) pages of the screenplay and read the part of Ree (Jennifer Lawrence). I tried to read for Ree to see how I would be that character versus how Jennifer Lawrence portrayed her in the movie.
First time I read through the first few pages, there's a simple line that Ree says to her younger sister: "Mornin." I tried reading that several different ways: happy, hyper, sad, indifferent, angry, sisterly... but the truth is that you can't just know the character from one line or how you should say it in that instance. That's where the director comes in. Or, if you don't have the director, make sure you've read the story thoroughly then decide for yourself. Or be who you are and decide that THIS is how you see the character, because it is YOU.
Also, each individual line is not a chance for you to prove yourself, it's a chance to show who you're character is and what she is going through.
Above is page 10 from the screenplay Below is the trailer for Winter's Bone (there're a couple lines from this page that are said in the trailer)
That was my first real understanding of how to interpret a script. I realized that you need to have an understanding of the character and what her true actions/emotions would be, given the imaginary circumstances. It is a way of defining the character yourself, and not just imitating someone else (which is one of the ways you get trapped and lose your creative self).
It sounds a lil' complicated, but you can learn quite a bit from this process of reading it for yourself and comparing objectively. Key word: objectively. There's no sense in being critical of yourself. You are learning and therefore making progress no matter how it seems.
1. Research the Pros--professionals are professionals for a reason... they know how to work the business and get noticed for their talent and acquired skill! No wonder they have become stars. They deserve to be stars! I came across some celebrity auditions. Impressive if you ask me. Thought i'd share. Very cool. I love love love these actresses. Oh! Speaking of which, never feel embarrassed for liking or wanting to emulate anyone you admire, no matter how different or unusual (or on the other side of the spectrum: mainstream or fad-like) it may appear to be. You are an artist, so appreciate and aspire like an artist.
Not to mention, i came across this blog that is written anonymously by some successful actress. Check it out. It helps to visualize yourself being successful in what you love too! http://theworkingactress.com/
The Following Videos:
1st is Emma Stone for Easy A. [monologue]
2nd is Sandra Bullock (not sure what for). [monologue]
3rd is Rachel McAdams for The Notebook [dialogue with Ryan Gosling].
2) Know How to Deal: too many young people (girls and women mostly) are taken advantage of in the acting biz. Know who you are and what you will and will not stand for.
i came across this suuuper disturbing video. it's a couple of students acting out a scene from When Harry Met Sally.. then the teacher takes it wayyyyyyyyyyy too far. I wanted to yell at this girl and tell her that's it's okay for you to stand up for yourself! if you FEEL like something is wrong, then it probably IS wrong.
CAUTION: this is TV-MA for sexual innuendo and strong language.
although it has very mature content, it sure makes me thankful for my strong sense of right and wrong. it's good because it prepares you to react properly in a situation like this, instead of just being in complete shock and confusion. now ain't no way in hell i'd allow an acting teacher treat me this way.
btw, i later found out it was in the Sundance Film Festival '09. So it's not actually real.. i think.
Had to postpone production of "Wayward" due to a massive snowstorm in OCTOBER. We got 14 inches of snow, which wouldn't have worked for filming. No power since Saturday and won't have it until ETA this Saturday. So post-production will also be delayed for another week.
"Wayward" production will happen soon. I'll keep you posted.
Till then, I thought I'd mention how Halloween was ruined. No trick-or-treating happened in town and the house was cold and dark. I did get a chance to charge my computer at town hall. So we watched Casper, then I watched Scream 4, which I realllly liked. It had the perfect melt of cheesiness, freakiness, and rhythm. I really liked Emma Roberts and Hayden Panetierre in it. I had to fast forward really fast through it first so i wouldn't be terrorized watchin it through for real. It worked! I wasn't scared after, yet i still got to appreciate the twists, turns, and ghost-face scares.
I watched the making-of and commentary. It gave good insight to what goes on in an actor's mind on set and while filming. For example, Hayden mentioned how she panics if she only has a one-word line in a scene (i.e. --"Kirby, what's your favorite scary movie?" --"Bambi"). Although the scene is not about you or about you saying this one word, you still want to say it the best way you can with the most effectiveness.
