At an audition for a large-budget feature film today, where hundreds(though I'm told thousands in total showed up), I retreated to a "Starbucks" for a chilled green tea to wait for my call. Of course, several dozen other audition-ees were present, and we made conversation with one another during the afternoon.
At one point, I mistakenly assumed that a young woman and her husband were there to audition, and remarked on it.
Her husband said "Well, that depends, what's it for?"
He was playful, but I could see the hope in his eyes....and I got similar comments, all afternoon, from folks who either "heard about" the film auditions going on, or wandered up to ask me what I was auditioning for, could they audition, could their child audition, etc.
Famed acting-teacher, actress and writer Uta Hagen was right: there's no "Respect for Acting".
Imagine, kids, an engineer in a lobby area, waiting to see a potential employer, and dozens of folks wandering up, asking if they could "go in" to get hired, too. Except NONE of them has ANY experience as an engineer. Or a musician auditioning for a band, and folks with no experience in music, asking to audition. It would be preposterous.
Really, kids, it's a job. We train, work hard, and study to do this. Really.
My audition felt good. The film concerns a young man's struggle with his identity, and he finds redemption through his poetry and rap music. My love for poetry and for the spoken word has me quite excited about this particular project. I won't know if I am in the call-backs(for you not in "the biz", this means the "finals" from which they will cast the film), for about two weeks, but at least I got to read for the role I really want, and I got asked to stay and read a bit more, and that's always good! I can't say what the role is, but it would be a really meaty role, and one in which I would grow tremendously as an actor.
For now, give respect to everyone for what they do.
Whatever the job is, respect the job, and those who do it.
Peace, kids.
Showing posts with label Actors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Actors. Show all posts
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
I guess putting good vibes out there, works(re: my last post)...
Wowsers! Looks like I will be playing the role of "The Mother" in a short film written, produced and directed by, ATL-area director, Reggie Price. I don't want to give too many details, but let me tell you, it will require lots of "internal work" by me, because I'll be playing a mother addicted to various substances, whose three daughters suffer the consequences of that addiction.The family is bi-racial(I'm the "white" part of the equation), and I think this short film effectively addresses the cost of "dis-connecting" as a family(the father abandoning the family, the mother's subsequent addiction).
The film ends with some resolution and closure for the family........and when this short-film does get developed into a full-length feature film, the racial differences may be fleshed-out a bit more.
The mother's role (I have only a few lines in this "short film")will also be expanded.
Shooting begins in a few weeks! :)
Peace, kids.
The film ends with some resolution and closure for the family........and when this short-film does get developed into a full-length feature film, the racial differences may be fleshed-out a bit more.
The mother's role (I have only a few lines in this "short film")will also be expanded.
Shooting begins in a few weeks! :)
Peace, kids.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
WW II Anniversaries;Acting;Bravery in acceptance and going forward
The anniversary of "Battle of the Bulge" was only days ago. (Yesterday)Saturday, June 6th was the 65th Anniversary of "D-Day"-- the landing on the beaches of of Normandy. My Grandpa Reed Allender fought in both, and I spoke of this some weeks ago, when we celebrated Memorial Day.
But I think we can celebrate the bravery many individuals display, in their everyday lives. This past Friday, I was fortunate to get to volunteer for Screen Actors' Guild, by working as an official "greeter" to welcome the six dozen or so Executive Directors, and Presidents of all our regional SAG offices. Many were faces you would recognize from various television shows and feature films--character actors and actresses whose names you might not know, but whose deft skills have intrigued you, and made you laugh or cry. Among the many actors I met was one fellow I saw being led by a guide-dog. He did not appear to be visually challenged. This actor, though, is completely blind, having lost his sight gradually, due to a retinal disorder, at age 26. I discovered these details when I decided to approach him at our "mixer" held on Friday night, at the cool Max Lager's in downtown Atlanta. I asked him if once he's cast in a show or film, if he had his lines put on audio, and then listened to them, in order to learn them. He said he does not do that. He's deaf in one ear, besides being blind. And then, he proudly displayed the device he uses to "translate" his lines into braille. He "reads" the words, by feel. So, just like the rest of us, he makes that emotional connection to the character he's playing (in discussing his preparation and research for the roles he's played, it's obvious he's a "method" man)and then memorizes the lines.
He had a few darkly humorous stories, too--he explained he knew it was "time to stop driving" when an officer pulled him over, and when asked for his license, the actor handed him his VISA-credit-card. Apparently, he was stopped because he had been, as the officer said, "all over 3-to-4 lanes."
I listened intently as he described plays he's performed in, including his recounting of portraying the character in "Waiting For Godot" who goes blind at the end of that play....but this actor was still a sighted actor at that time.It would be a long time before he would lose his sight.(All us actors know the famous quote:"Every role becomes a part of you." In this case, the quote was suddenly chilling.)
What do WW II heroes, and an actor losing his sight,and part of his hearing, but continuing to act, have in common? In both cases, there were great odds against success. Most believed the Allies would be defeated, too.
There are many who would wonder how an actor afflicted with blindness, could survive in a business known for superficiality, for labeling people, putting them in categories, and even predicting defeat for those who don't meet stringent, sometimes ridiculous guidelines.
He survived(and indeed, has thrived!) because he does not allow his "conditions" to limit him. When I asked him if he uses the word "challenged" to describe his blindness, instead of "handicap", or "limitation", he said:
"It's just inconvenient--I think of it only as an inconvenience."
I kept thinking about how often I am not pleased with something about myself(usually something fairly superficial, like my hair!).I kept thinking about all the times I haven't auditioned for a show, because I lacked confidence--even when others encouraged me to try-out. I kept thinking how this is a person who inspires me to do more, to do better--not because he's blind, and partially-deaf, but because it does not matter to him, that he's blind, and partially-deaf.
This actor has gone against the odds of winning, braved the stage and screen, and continues to act today(he's probably close to 60 years old now). He confided that he loves writing, too.
So here's to heroes. The ones who fought in WW II, and the heroes who set examples, who break barriers, who feel no boundaries.
Peace, kids.
But I think we can celebrate the bravery many individuals display, in their everyday lives. This past Friday, I was fortunate to get to volunteer for Screen Actors' Guild, by working as an official "greeter" to welcome the six dozen or so Executive Directors, and Presidents of all our regional SAG offices. Many were faces you would recognize from various television shows and feature films--character actors and actresses whose names you might not know, but whose deft skills have intrigued you, and made you laugh or cry. Among the many actors I met was one fellow I saw being led by a guide-dog. He did not appear to be visually challenged. This actor, though, is completely blind, having lost his sight gradually, due to a retinal disorder, at age 26. I discovered these details when I decided to approach him at our "mixer" held on Friday night, at the cool Max Lager's in downtown Atlanta. I asked him if once he's cast in a show or film, if he had his lines put on audio, and then listened to them, in order to learn them. He said he does not do that. He's deaf in one ear, besides being blind. And then, he proudly displayed the device he uses to "translate" his lines into braille. He "reads" the words, by feel. So, just like the rest of us, he makes that emotional connection to the character he's playing (in discussing his preparation and research for the roles he's played, it's obvious he's a "method" man)and then memorizes the lines.
He had a few darkly humorous stories, too--he explained he knew it was "time to stop driving" when an officer pulled him over, and when asked for his license, the actor handed him his VISA-credit-card. Apparently, he was stopped because he had been, as the officer said, "all over 3-to-4 lanes."
I listened intently as he described plays he's performed in, including his recounting of portraying the character in "Waiting For Godot" who goes blind at the end of that play....but this actor was still a sighted actor at that time.It would be a long time before he would lose his sight.(All us actors know the famous quote:"Every role becomes a part of you." In this case, the quote was suddenly chilling.)
What do WW II heroes, and an actor losing his sight,and part of his hearing, but continuing to act, have in common? In both cases, there were great odds against success. Most believed the Allies would be defeated, too.
There are many who would wonder how an actor afflicted with blindness, could survive in a business known for superficiality, for labeling people, putting them in categories, and even predicting defeat for those who don't meet stringent, sometimes ridiculous guidelines.
He survived(and indeed, has thrived!) because he does not allow his "conditions" to limit him. When I asked him if he uses the word "challenged" to describe his blindness, instead of "handicap", or "limitation", he said:
"It's just inconvenient--I think of it only as an inconvenience."
I kept thinking about how often I am not pleased with something about myself(usually something fairly superficial, like my hair!).I kept thinking about all the times I haven't auditioned for a show, because I lacked confidence--even when others encouraged me to try-out. I kept thinking how this is a person who inspires me to do more, to do better--not because he's blind, and partially-deaf, but because it does not matter to him, that he's blind, and partially-deaf.
This actor has gone against the odds of winning, braved the stage and screen, and continues to act today(he's probably close to 60 years old now). He confided that he loves writing, too.
So here's to heroes. The ones who fought in WW II, and the heroes who set examples, who break barriers, who feel no boundaries.
Peace, kids.
Friday, January 16, 2009
More on Art--A Secretary of The Arts, to be exact!!
I've posted already today, on painter Andrew Wyeth's passing.
I've been thinking about how we are quite primitive in our support for the arts. Read how we can become a much more civilized society, with true support for the arts--and artists--by clicking on to sign the petition(sent to me by eternal friend, Jeanne Adams)below.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.
www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html
Happy New Year!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Peace, kids.
I've been thinking about how we are quite primitive in our support for the arts. Read how we can become a much more civilized society, with true support for the arts--and artists--by clicking on to sign the petition(sent to me by eternal friend, Jeanne Adams)below.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.
www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html
Happy New Year!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Peace, kids.
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