Productivity

My PA scene was okay, but I really must do more work on it, especially physically.  I feel like I’m physically restricted sometimes, which is frustrating.  That said, my AA scene with an external went over better than I had expected.  But now I need to find a scene for the third round and begin work on it ASAP!

There was some drama in the (yes) drama department, when two of the most well-known professors decided to refuse to write rec letters for any undergrad due to their busy schedules.  So that sucks, especially since I have classes with both.  Today, I asked a teaching assistant who has seen my work in two classes (and a little bit in a third one) if she would write a letter for me, and she said she’d love to do that.  So that’s great, but I’m upset about not getting a letter from one professor in particular (AA).  He won’t even write a letter for a classmate who he had cast and directed in a show!

Today, I also scoped out books on auditioning, agents, and the industry/business in general.  I’ve requested a bunch of books from the school library (I’m trying to utilize this resource as much as possible before I graduate in January).  I’ve also been using Paperback swap a lot, which is a great tip for broke people whose libraries have limited resources.  There are some drawbacks, such as the varying condition of the books and a limited variety in general of books (although new ones are added everyday).  I just think it’s a great way to save money.  You pay shipping costs to get something new while you get rid of something old.  Everyone is happy!
I did some more research on schools, and I’m trying to finalize a list.  I don’t knowwww, it’s tough cutting schools out of the list, but I know that I can’t afford to apply to more than just a few.  I want to stay in the NYC area, but I don’t want to limit myself.  Also, I think I should find a coach for my auditions.  I asked one professor from school, but she just started rehearsals for something and is too busy.  Ugh. I need to find one last monologue still.

It’s almost Thanksgiving time!  Here are some Thanksgiving break goals:
-do not eat too much!
-go grocery shopping with parents and weasle in some daily essentials along the way that are dwindling down (toothpaste, floss, facial cleanser, hair conditioner)
-read the industry books that are waiting for me at home
-take a look at the plays i left behind and read some more
-try to sell some items on ebay/amazon

I will work out tonight.  woo.

Realistically speaking… an update

Lack of updates!  School is so stressful.

So what’s new?  I’m single!

A friend of mine who is a professional photographer in NY took headshots for me.  The problem is that she took them for free but is very busy, so it will probably take a while before I see anything.  I will probably shell out real money for headshots by someone who does that specifically for a living, but I need to wait until I actually have said money!

The acting classes are going okay.  I present my second scene in advanced acting on Tuesday, and I’m nervous about that because the external work is challenging. I’m in the midst of working on my second scene for the P.A. class, but I’m having some trouble pushing myself into the action of the scene.  I think I need to tweak my as-ifs.  The professor will critique it on Tuesday, so Tuesday will be a nervous day.

As for my applications to grad school… I’m not really sure where I stand.  I e-mailed one of my professors asking for a recommendation letter, but I have yet to hear back.  I’ll see him on Tuesday, but I usually don’t have time to linger around after class to speak with him.  He’s also incredibly busy and, although I know he likes me, doesn’t know me very well.  Blah.  I suppose I can ask other professors for letters, but I thought he would be my best bet to seal the deal on the first one.  So that sucks.

I have doubts about applying.  That’s a lot of money for such small percentage acceptance rates.  And I feel like maybe my (fleeting) youth is something that be used to my advantage if I didn’t go.  Trying to obtain rec letters has been annoying.  Deadlines are creeping toward zero hour.  I don’t know.

I have all of my monologues now except for the comedic contemporary.  I was thinking of asking a professor or two to work on the monologues with me, assess which are the strongest, etc. if I end up applying.

I should be submitting to films in the local area much more often than I have been.  And I’ve been ignoring responses from areas that are annoying to get to via public transportation.  blah.

I’ve been aggressively pursuing test prep tutoring jobs (my target survival job).  One place turned me down, which I expected because my SAT math score was only in the 95%ile but they wanted people with 99%ile scores. At least I somehow managed to get an interview with them. Another interview went okay–I gave one rambling response that didn’t go over as well as I’d hoped.  A third interview (over the phone) went extremely well, and they’ve been chasing after me for an in-person interview.  The problem is that I have to find time to go to NYC again during school.  I have a fourth interview tomorrow.  It’ll be over the phone, and I’m hoping it will go well.  I think that if I somehow managed to work full-time for them, I would get health benefits (which I will probably need, since I don’t think my parents will be able to claim me as a dependent once I graduate this winter).  Annnd on top of all those interviews, I am going to submit my resume to a few more places.  I want to give myself as many options and opportunities as possible before I commit to anything.

I’ve been trying to focus on my academics, but it’s difficult since I can only think about my future.  I’m both nervous but excited.

On & On + Some Support

I presented a scene today in the adv. acting class:  the beginning of Oleanna by David Mamet.  It went over pretty well. I was pleased.  It was encouraging to receive such positive feedback.  We have two weeks to take our professor’s notes to improve it before we present it again.

I updated my former acting teacher on what I’ve been doing, and he was super supportive.

I’m having trouble successfully implementing lessons I’ve learned in my vocal production class.  Even if I relax and do some warm-ups beforehand, I still get nervous (all over again) when I perform.  I don’t think it’s overly noticeable, even though I tend to carry tension in my shoulders.  I’ve been working on that well, I think.  But my mouth becomes very dry when I feel nervous.  Dry mouth makes acting ten times harder than it should be.  Really.  It’s so annoying, and no one seems to be able to help me.  I’m starting to think that the only way to stop the dry mouth may be to stop getting nervous.  I don’t know how realistic it is to stop experiencing that.

I plan on getting head shots taken soon.

I’ve submitted to a few local projects, but I’m a little wary.

I’ve finally gotten around to working on Shakespeare monologues.

Now I just have to find a contemporary comedic monologue, and I will be set.

Oh, and most importantly, I told my mother that I am seriously considering acting professionally (or trying to do so) upon graduation.  Instead of resisting, she told me that she had suspected I wanted to do that once I got into the classes.  She said I’ll probably have to live at home (I live by NYC) and find some low-paying job to support myself financially (duh), but that I should get it out of my system anyway.  That was much easier than I had anticipated.  Then again, it’s easier with my mom.  I don’t know how my dad will take it.  I was so happy that my eyes started to tear.

That’s it for now!

The first few auditions…

I don’t usually discuss an audition with people unless the outcome is favorable.

But, I figure this is my blog.  Honestly is the best policy.

Today:  three auditions.  One lottery.

Audition #1:  An intermediate acting class.  The professor seems very nice and is a well-established actress.  This, I learned from my google skills.  I felt myself rush through the monologue a bit, but later today I learned that I had been accepted into the class.

Lottery:  A bunch of the revered (and super clique-tastic) theater types got in.  So did I.  It’s a course on Practical Aesthetics taught by an extremely well-known professor.  I’m very intimidated.  This course is held at the same time at the intermediate acting class, so I’ll have to choose one or the other.

Audition #2:  An advanced acting class.  I will find out tomorrow if I got in.  If I get into the class, I will definitely take it.  The professor sold me on the course, and it’s geared toward those who want to become working actors.  We had to do our monologues in front of everyone else who was auditioning.  I was less than impressed with all but one or two members of the revered theater clique.  But my delivery of the monologue could have been stronger.  So whether or not I’ll get in is really up in the air at this point.  Two people did come up to me afterwards to tell me they’d liked my monologue. Also, if I get in, I’m not sure if I should take the intermediate acting class or the Practical Aesthetics class in addition.  Along with my other academic courses and extracurriculars, it might be too strenuous a feat.  Or maybe I shouldn’t be such a big baby.

Audition #3:  All of the plays that will be put up in the campus theaters are holding auditions this week.  I met up with a new acquaintance to go audition.  Tonight, I only auditioned for one play.  I KID YOU NOT.  I read that play twice last summer and worked on two of Catherine’s monologues.  The director of the play not only watched me perform my Sooze monologue during Audition #2 for the advanced acting class (he auditioned also), but I’m pretty sure he had been looking over in my direction a few times then.  So when I walked into the audition room this time around, he definitely knew who I was.

Five of us went to audition.  The girls all got a Catherine scene.  I was the only girl to get a Catherine scene PLUS an old woman scene.  My Catherine was okay, but I was losing control of my voice.  The director cut me off before the end, which saddened me.  Then, he leapt across the room with the script and asked me to read from the end.  For a cold reading, it was decent.  There was at least one good moment.  My old woman was daft enough, I think.  I was luckily able to get control of my voice.  I was surprised he asked me to readspecifically for her, since that character is old and I resemble a sixteen-year-old.  Hm.  I think I did well enough to get a callback.  I think my lack of experience may take me out of the running for an actual part.

The fun continues!

Class starts soon – the old monologue

I received an e-mail yesterday about the class I will be taking. It starts next week. It will be small–seven people total. I have to miss two classes, because I will be going on a trip, but I’m afraid I will miss a lot.

I wonder how many of my classmates are native English speakers? The e-mail asked for our ages (so that the instructor can pick age-appropriate monologues and scenes in advance), if we prefer to work in any language other than English, and for us to bring in a prepared two-minute monologue.

None of my acting books or plays have come in yet, so the idea of presenting a monologue at this point is not very ideal. I have one go-to monologue that I always use in times like these. I’ve been performing it for five years, which on one hand means I am comfortable with it. On the other hand, sometimes I feel it to be a bit stale. My original emotional prep behind the monologue stemmed from problems I had with my first boyfriend before we broke up (when I was sixteen!). I also haven’t read the play that it’s from, Grandma Duck is Dead by Larry Shue, in ages! Now, I remember very little from the play, which does not make the monologue particularly strong. So I need to firmly rely on my own instincts, emotional prep, and cloudy memory of the circumstance behind the text. Not great but could be worse. I’ve had the monologue memorized for years and no longer have a text version.

I had been looking forward to presenting a new monologue, from one of the plays I ordered, but this isn’t possible since they haven’t arrived yet. The last time I auditioned with the piece from Grandma Duck is Dead, I was very nervous, still delivered, but didn’t exactly nail it the way I had hoped.

Oh well. I’m going to work out soon, shower, read some blogs, work on my monologue, and maybe scan craigslist for any anglophone acting opportunities.

A New Start

I am starting this blog to keep my thoughts straight.  After six months void of any acting opportunities (I have been studying abroad since January), I finally took some action.  Hours of research yielded a few acting classes (in English) that I could afford.  It’s still fairly expensive, especially with the American dollar in its current weak state.  But for now, I think it’s necessary.

I start one class in about a week and am seriously entertaining the idea of coughing up a fair amount of euros for private coaching.

Living without acting in my life has made me realize how much I love it.  I have become extremely restless without it and recently bought approximately fifty euros worth of plays and books.  I feel differently than usual, not at all relaxed. Something needs to change.

I want to get back in the game, and I need to prepare.

And so, my journey begins.