Film Acting

Today, Wednesday, was my ten hour schedule at school. First class was Mesiner Technique, which went until 1:00. After an hour long break, we had Voice and Speech. For the past couple of weeks, we have been working on speaking on our breath. To test our new knowledge of this technique, we rehearsed and performed, individually, the poem by Earnest Hemingway about Paris.

"Paris was a very old city

And we were young

And nothing was simple then

Not even poverty

Nor sudden money

Nor right

Nor wrong

Nor the moonlight

Nor the breathing of someone who lay beside me

In the moonlight"

Everyone's performance was outstanding and Eileen was very pleased with our work. Apparently my performance had at least three of my buddies close to tears!

After another hour long break, we came to the last class of the day--Intro to the Camera. Up to this point in the learning process, the class has been fairly simple and easy-going. However, today showed me (as well as the others) a different perspective of the filming process. As I performed my scene (only a page in length), I couldn't help but feel just like a robot on a set. So many thoughts were going through my head, and all of them were fueled by the need to "hit my mark." Walk to the couch. Look at her. Stay in frame. Sit on the couch. She creeps you out. Lines. Get up and walk to your next mark. Don't move too fast. Lines. She creeps you out. Exit.

Acting in film is about turning a robotic series of rehearsed movements into something organic... something human. I have a newfound respect for film actors.

While Waiting for Meisner...

Sitting here in the eating area of the school. Brought the laptop (obviously) to keep myself occupied during the two and a half hours between Movement and Meisner Technique. What was for lunch? Peanut-butter sandwich, Nature Valley bar, a bag of Nutter Butters and some water. Delicious!

Movement today was super tiring! Our abdominal workouts have gone from extreme to EXTREME and I'm not smelling any better (luckily I brought my Cool Water body spray, ooh-la-la). Next week, Mr. McNabb is breaking out the camera for our short scenes we've been rehearsing. We have to dance (a very staged dance) while speaking lines that have been given to us. Now, it may seem simple at first, but you soon come to realize that getting your freak on and talking about how Navour almost purchased a nuke from Libya are two entirely separate things.

In Meisner, we are still working on being truthful in our reactions by occupying our minds on a specific action while our partners attempt to engage us in conversation. Fun!

New York Moments

To Central Park

Saturday Fun

The Upcoming Weekend

I think I'm going to go spend some time in Central Park tomorrow (with or without anyone). I've developed a way of not planning things and just letting life happen. It's worked out pretty darn well so far! So we'll see what happens. I'd like to take the camera to the park, maybe even a sketchpad and a pencil, work on some breathing exercises or get some reading in...

My hair is almost long enough to slick back! Although the front is a tad askew for some reason... Might have to get it evened out in a week or so.

On Wednesday, we had a quiz in Intro to the Camera. Pretty sure I aced it, as did practically every other one of the 17 students in my group. We're all slowly, but surely, learning the intensity of the filming process and how meticulous it all is. The short scenes we shot were only about 30 seconds in length. Each one took about 15 minutes of filming time, due to placing of set pieces and marking.

Film Genres has taught us a great deal on Rom-Coms (Romantic Comedies) and how they have drastically progressed since the 30's. Today we watched clips from "It Happened One Night", "Some Like It Hot", and "Annie Hall".

Movin' Along Swimmingly

Hello, all! Things are still movin' along swimmingly here in NY. Classes are keeping me busy and friends are keeping me even busier.

On Friday night, AJ, Geoff, Sierra and I went to get some ice-cream, cuz... well, we needed some.

As I've mentioned, Geoff, John and AJ and I are still in the works of getting a story put together for filming. Hopefully one of us will be struck with a brilliant idea sooner or later that will pull everything together.

I've been getting several comments on the photos I've been taking (from people I don't even know). Geoff tells me there are several people asking him if "the guy who took those pictures" can "take my head-shots." Looks like I might be doing some of my own photography in my spare time as well!

Time for bed. Got a ten-hour class day commin' up. Good night! Love you guys!

An Idea Is Born

I finally got my first work-out at the gym today, and boy was it satisfying! I felt more fit simply being on the elliptical for about fifteen minutes. Geoff joined me; we tried out the sauna afterwards and were both very pleased with it.

After getting all cleaned up, went to my good friend Sierra's room to watch Wall-E with her. Definitely a feel-good kind of movie.

At about nine o'clock, Geoff, John and I began our plotting... for filming of course. We quickly agreed that we should start off with a simple screenplay, possibly thirty minutes in length and fairly easy to shoot. John is already demonstrating the outstanding qualities of a director, which is really exciting. As soon as we decided to start coming up with a theme/message we want to get to our audiences, John took a glance at a poster hanging in Geoff's room of a skateboarder in mid-air after having shot up a ramp. The caption below says "Today the sidewalk, tomorrow the sky." John didn't even hesitate to suggest "possibilities and being open-minded" as our message.

We spent a good couple of hours sitting in the darkness of John's room coming up with ideas for a story. By the end of the night, we came up with a pretty decent concept that will continue to be worked upon, but is for sure going to happen. Hopefully writing will begin by the end of October (or sooner) and filming will take place in the dorms.

Extraordinary Friday

Today was a blast in classes. Film Genres is becoming more and more enjoyable with each session. Pete lectured us today on becoming aware, as artists and actors, of what's going on around us in our current day in age. "There's nothing more interesting than a room full of artists who are involved," he said. Afterwards, we watched an hour-long AFI video on Romantic Comedies and how they have developed since the mid-thirties. Lastly, we watched most of Bringing Up Baby with Katharine Hepburn, one of the most amazing classic screenplays I've seen.

Lunch was nice and relaxing. Geoff, John and I decided to start getting some prioritizing done this weekend and see what we can start doing about spare-time filming. I presented John my script and he was very anxious to read it. Hopefully we will get together later on tonight.

My excitement for Actor's Lab just sky-rocketed. Our homework was to bring in an object that holds particular personal meaning in our lives. We sat in a circle to share our objects with the group and discuss what they mean to us. The objective was to bring out an emotional state that would further guide us onto a set path for our monologues and teach us how to live moment-to-moment. There were lots of tears the entire two hours of class, and the quality of these monologues was sharpening at an alarming rate. Although only about half of us were able to present, Ruth was blown away by our work and class ended on a very successful note.

Thursday (Off Day)

Thursdays are always interesting. Hardly anybody has Thursday off from school except for I and the people in my group... the people in my group and I... I sat at my desk, in front of my laptop for about 70% of the day, replying to emails, checking facebook, finishing homework... I kept getting distracted by the television. First, Invasion came on with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Not a bad movie, I must say. Kind of strange, but interesting nonetheless. Then Max Payne came on, with Mark Whalburg. Not a good movie, I must say. Poorly acted. There was a quick reference to V for Vendetta, so I put in V for Vendetta and watched that all the way through. There are very few movies out there that get me to tears, and V for Vendetta is one of them. Lost, while a television series, is another...

Geoff, Janey, A.J. and I walked on over to Trader Joes a few hours ago. Wow! The prices were absolutely unbelievable, and nearly every one of their products is organic. I felt healthy simply being there. Might take a few minutes to get to, but it's well worth it! On the way back, I ate a large turkey club wrap that was only four bucks!

Trip to the VMAs

To the VMAs and Afterwards (Pictures)

Movement... MOVEment...

What a day, and it's only 4:34 p.m. right now. I didn't have to go into school until 1:30 this afternoon, so I had some time to relax in the room, eat some cereal, open packages of food sent by the momma and the aunt Jan.

Movement class today was extreme. We've been working on various types of stretches as well as workouts for abs and arms. Balancing is a big part of... well, everything in that class. Ultimately, it's a very exhausting two hours, but boy is it going to be worth it down the road. Already I'm beginning to notice a change in my posture; I correct myself as much as I can if I find I am leaning on one foot or the other. Mr. McNabb told us by the end of the year we will all be about an inch taller do to all of the stretching.

One of the exercises we did today was an arm and neck work-out. He came around to each of us to check our progress. After complimenting me on my work, he asked, "you've had dance training, right?" I told him I had not and he replied very enthusiastically, "excellent work, you're a natural." Confidence booster!

Last night a small group of us went to the VMAs (Video Music Awards) to star-see. Didn't actually see much, but I've got a little bit of it on film for you all to see shortly. Take care!

9/11 Rain

September 11, 2009. It's a very quiet morning here in New York. No sirens are wailing in the distance, no corse sounds of construction across the street. Just the prolonged sound of nothing ringing throughout the city. I took a gander out the window to check the weather for today. It is raining.

Snow?

So yesterday, Tuesday, we noticed that there was SNOW right outside the school, along the sidewalk! Actually not, it was salt being pored by a film crew to give the impression of snow. The film is called "Going the Distance" and we found out this morning that the actors starring in it include Justin Long (Mac commercials/Live Free or Die Hard) and the one and only Drew Barrymore! Justin Long shot a scene talking on a cell-phone right outside the school, early this morning.

More Pics

(From left to right) Andrew, Geoff, Katie, Lauren, AJ

Pics, Pics, Pics

Unfortunately the school does not allow us to take pictures within the building. No worries, I've got plenty of pictures of the buds to go around.

A New Crew

Not even two weeks in. The timidness is still a bit fresh and the food is still scarce.

However, fate continues to pull me into situations that boost my confidence and my excitement for the film industry. Yesterday, Sunday, Geoff introduced me to John, who's also attending SFT. John's ultimate goal is to become a director, and he's more than serious about it. Geoff, John, AJ and I have decided to form a crew and start using our free time making stories/filming movies. John expresses the concept. Geoff, AJ and I write it. And then, we act...

New York Moments

My First Journal (Actor's Lab 1)

ON USING THE TEXT

It has always astonished me as to how wise actors we see every day on television can make such bold and intelligent decisions. They make the reaction seem so simple and believable. This week, I was shown a short scene from the movie Juno, and in this clip, I was able to dig just a bit deeper into the understanding of how an actor might make a decision for reaction based upon the text.

Paulie (Michael Cera) steps out of his house with the fullest of intentions to go running with his fellow athletes. He is surprised to find Juno (Ellen Page) sitting in a lounge chair on his front lawn. Even more startling, she informs him of her pregnancy and that he is the father.

Instead of an exaggerated and dramatic outburst of worry, Michael Cera made the decision to react quietly… very quietly, and in shock. His following words after this moment of hesitation is simply, “what should we do?” I thought to myself, why did he choose to stay quiet and calm? Why was his reaction so subtle? And then I realized that his reaction was not subtle at all. The reaction was all up in his head, and in his gut (obviously not so visible to the audience).

Now, Paulie is a sixteen year-old boy. Most boys that age are still at quite a low level of immaturity, but his words—the text—suggested otherwise. “What should we do?” Paulie has been presented with a situation that is, to most, considered quite frightening (or at least alarming). His words, what should we do, give reason to a quiet and delayed reaction when Juno announces her pregnancy. At first, he feels the terror in its most raw of forms, and several questions of ‘what if’ could have been passing through his mind. But he knows that this is an adult situation and calls for an adult attitude. He does his best to fight past the shock and stays calm (even if only on the outside), and out of this process of thought, he decides to ask, “What should we do?”

I have not seen Juno before, but this one scene has inspired me to dwell further into the texts or scripts/screenplays I will analyze in the future.

One Week In

The mamma and the papa made their way back home to Houston yesterday morning around 10:00 a.m. The New York lifestyle is growing very rapidly into a simple "home-sweet-home" coziness. Classes have been moving along "swimmingly" and effectively.

In Meisner Technique, we study and explore Sanford Meisner's teachings on acting truthfully through imaginary circumstances. The exercise we have been practicing is dealt between partners. Through repetition of what the other person is saying, we learn to exchange not words, but emotions.

In both movement classes, we challenge our bodies to go beyond the status-quo and bring out the several different possibilities for creating a believable character.

In both voice and speech classes, we learn the proper means of breathing and working our vocals, which will ultimately lead to an expertise of rhythm, pitch, resonance and more.

Actor's Lab is time for studying the teachings of Uta Hagen and Constantin Stanislavski. Our first exercise was to study a simple television script about Heinz Ketchup and practice bringing it to life.

Introduction to the Camera for Actors is a doozy... Our basic homework is to watch films, go see plays, read scripts, and read screenplays. Last night we were given a demonstration of the various roles on a film set, such as camera operators, sound mixer, assistant director and assistant coordinator (and of course the actors themselves).

The only class I have left to be introduced to is Film Genres, where we study... film genres.

All-in-all, life's been pretty great here so far. I guarantee winter's going to suck, but... I've got plenty of hand sanitizer.