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Trust That You Are Enough :)
Nearly every word out of Margie’s mouth was a pearl of wisdom, but none affected me more than the one I chose as the title for this blog. I know I mentioned it in my last post, but it’s still my favorite. I am back home in Montreal now, getting back to my day job, at least for a little while, but there is still so much of my trip I haven’t shared with you, so here it goes, my last few days in Hollywood! Day 2 with Margie was intense, to say the least. It involved ‘living a life’, learning the Haber Phrase Technique, and singing. And the singing…
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The Blogger
Since I have now been named “The Blogger” by Margie, I figured I should probably write another post. I find that this week is flying by, which is sad, because it means the end of my time in L.A. is coming soon, but I am also looking forward to Christmastime back home with my family, where there is snow (to look at of course, because I don’t think anyone likes being cold and shoveling…) To pick up where I left off, last Saturday we had a quick immersion into improv with the talented Tim Bagley. I had read an article in Backstage, written by him, the night before, so I…
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Week One!!!
This week has been absolutely crazy and I am loving it! It actually isn’t done, since we have improv and a casting associate tomorrow, but I don’t know when I will get free time again, so I thought I would write a little something on here. I never really doubted my decision to do the ISP, but if I had, all of these doubts would now be gone. We are a group of 14 ISPers, and each and every one of them is amazing, and so fun to be around. Which is good, because we rarely leave each other’s sight. The program is designed to be intense, and to put…
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I’m Finally Here!!!
I have now been in L.A. for a week and am loving it! (although right now probably isn’t the best time to be writing, as I just said goodbye to my parents, who are flying home now, making me all alone for the next 18 days) This town has a weird effect on me, as my dreams have never felt more realistic or close than they do here, but they also feel extremely far away and unrealistic. I think it is because I am so close to where the magic happens, to all of the Hollywood icons, but I am also surrounded by so many people with the same…
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Self-Management for Actors
So it is not my habit to write book reviews instead of posts, but I just finished Bonnie Gillespie’s Self-Management for Actors, and it is amazing! The book starts out with advice for the actor at the beginning of their career, dealing with things like finding your type, the costs of an acting career, training, resumes, headshots, demo reels and websites. But there is a logical, or hopefully chronological progression that then goes on to finding an agent, a manager…I know the rest of the book is still advice, and I will definitely refer back to it once I become a working actor, but for now, a lot of the…
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Let the Emotion Lead Your Action
This week I discovered how similar acting and dance are. My acting class last night was interesting, to say the least. I am told that there is something about November that makes the students’ and teacher’s brains try to turn off, which leads to fits of giggles and long conversations about the unreachable ideals of Hollywood. I still find we managed to learn a lot, even when we deviated off topic, and really enjoyed it, but I do love the acting as well. I went in there pretty sure I knew my lines, but focusing on saying them more slowly than on connecting with them. Last week I was told…
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Weeds and The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Since I have the Camping Convention next week, Wednesday was my last class with Suzanna for the month of October. I thought I might have to do my audition scene then, so I spent a large part of the day practicing both scenes, the one from Weeds I had to do that night with Luigi, as well as the one from Cheers that I was supposed to do next week. In the end, I only did the one from Weeds, but I would much rather be overly prepared than to get in front of the camera and not remember my lines. Now, as I have said before, I genuinely love…
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We Accept the Love We Think We Deserve
Last Thursday I did something that I had never done before. There’s a first time for everything, and although going to the movies all by myself wasn’t really on my goal list, it wasn’t half bad. I do this thing where I go to the movies and evaluate the staff in return for free movie tickets. I keep losing the movie tickets, so it hasn’t been going as planned, but that was why I absolutely had to go to the movies, even without a date. I chose Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Pitch Perfect, and have to say I absolutely loved them both. I have recently come to the…
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Always Be Prepared…
A long time ago, I had decided I would do something every day to advance my career, be it acting, research, calling people or whatever.A week after making this resolution, I decided it was impossible to do something every day, but lately, I seem to be doing it without trying, just because acting is always on my mind, and my favorite thing to think about. Whenever I am near a computer, I just can’t help looking up headshot photographers, acting advice, actorfest, classes…that isn’t to say I don’t do other stuff and have a life, but I keep feeling like the dream is becoming more real, or concrete. Last Saturday,…
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I Have A Place To Stay! I Have A Place To Stay!
This is what I was singing Monday afternoon when my first choice for a place to stay in Los Angeles confirmed my booking. It is such a relief to know I won’t be homeless once I get there. Plus, it is walking distance from my class, which means I won’t have to get a car, at least not for December. Monday morning, I caved and signed up for casting workbook, since everyone I know who is on it seems to be getting a lot more auditions than I do. I still haven’t entirely figured it all out yet, but this weekend I plan on watching the tutorial. One thing they…