Who Am I Anyway?

I started my class for advanced film acting last night, and the first class was so exciting and thrilling! As someone who lucked out, in some very small roles, in film/soap/t.v., however I have never studied this medium. My teacher is awesome as he is teaching the class as an accomplish director, who has produced, directed, many films and t.v. shows. His knowledge, passion, and love for the film art form was more than displayed on the first day of class. I learned a ton already on the first day of class, and can't wait to grow more as a film actor in the next eight weeks. The class is cool, he said you will never have homework, or wheeling a trunk full of props and clothes around with you through the streets of New York. After doing this a million times, in my conservatory acting class at T.Schrieber. This news was the most awesome thing, a studying actor could receive. The class consists of getting film/T.V. copy from a produced movie or series, and he will "type" cast you with scenes that he thinks is appropriate for you. Then you leave the class with your scene partner, going in the hall or next door to the coffee shop, and finally coming back upstairs with the copy memorized. Then he blocks your scene, and films/directs you, as he films you in three different shots; the close up, the over the shoulder, and finally the full wide/straight lens shot. You will get to feel like you are on the set, in your trailer memorizing copy, and coming up to work, just like a film day is in real life. Then the horrifying part, you have to watch yourself, and be scrutinized. Which is hard for me, cause to me I look fat, I hate what I'm wearing, my skin looks bad, eeeww is that how I speak, LOL, well needless to say, I became very self critical. Which is awesome, because I can do nothing but grow, and figure out what works for me on film. The great thing he said I would learn is who I am as a film actor, and find out what "type" I am, and what is my niche in this crazy genre of acting. I have always been searching for my niche, what am I, who am I, what do I do best, how can I market myself, what do I bring to the table, what is my type? I am thrilled to find out what all this is at the end of this class!!

LEDISI

My blog friends, if you don't know the artist Ledisi, you truly need to know her asap! This women is a divine, passionate, performer with so much soul in her bones, and the voice of our generation! I am in love with her, and the fact that she sings real music. No pro-tools, just a mic, back up singers, and a band. Unfortunately that is rare in today's recording industry. Ledisi in my eyes equals talent, she is anointed with an extreme gift from GOD, that she is utilizing to her full potential. Last night, I went to see this electrifying vocalist, and performer at BB Kings in New York City. I was so entertained, watching this woman who gave me chills vocally. Not to mention performed from her head to her pinky toe! It was pleasing to see an artist who struggled because she was different, and stuck to her guns, and now has a Grammy nominated album! It saddens me that a ton of the main stream don't know this poweful voice, and the beauty of Ledisi. I encourage everyone to buy any of her albums, and be blessed by soul music at it's best. Then go and see her in concert, and be amazed by her performance, respect, passion, love, lust, and happiness for her art form!

The Most Fun On Broadway

Today I went to see a musical on Broadway, and was astonished by what I saw on stage tonight! I went to see the new Broadway musical Fela, and I want to see it again, and again, and again! This show was so amazing, and I felt like I was apart of there world, and was there in the piece with them. I danced, I stomped my feet, I sang, I laughed, I yelled, and most of all had a transforming theatrical experience. There is no musical out there, like this one, it was so clever, different, and fun! One of the major highlights of the show is the choreography, it was extraordinary! I have never seen dancers, dance with so much passion, heart, energy, and soul. I was mesmerized by every step, and amazed by there energy. I had a sense while watching the show that everyone enjoyed being up there on The Broadway Stage, which is rare in this day and age of "marking it" on Broadway! I was exposed to so much talent, and was happy to be in it's presence! I saw the actor Kevin Mambo play the role of Fela, and was so impressed by his performance. His acting was A+, and I'm so blessed to have experienced this evening! Go see FELA asap!

Beautiful People

I think all the beautiful folks hibernate, just like a bear would in the winter. It always amazes me, how beautiful the people are in New York City. When the sun comes up, they come out of those houses like roaches, swiftly, running through the streets of New York City. Roaches aren't beautiful, but I hope the analogy still worked. In the winter, everyone, is busted looking, and maybe you just can't see there beauty underneath the hats, and scarfs. I also think most people must run home after work, because it is so dang on cold! However, right now is a great time to people watch in the city, because the beauties are out and about! I love New York City, and I'm glad I moved back to the big bad apple. The beautiful people, is a major perk for the the city that never sleeps! I know what you are thinking? Random blog entry, lol, but this is what is on my mind! Now the next thing I wonder, is if all these beautiful people running the streets, do they have the same beauty on the inside? Hmmmmm??????

Who Do You Think You Are

There is a new t.v. show that I am becoming obsessed with on NBC. It is called "Who do you think you are", and it just touches at my heart every time I see it. It is a basic story, that follows celebrities as they find out about there ancestry, using genealogist, DNA, and public records. They travel all over the world to see where they come from. This simple story has kept me captivated, and has made me want to even dig further back in my roots. It is also emotionally amazing this show, to watch Lisa Kudrow go to Poland and see where her great grandmother, was picked up by the Nazis, and read the book where it says she was captured, tortured, and burned. Was not only an eye opener, but a heart breaking, powerful moment for Lisa. To watch Mariah, Emmitt Smiths, great great great grandmother, to see the African town she came from, and to go to where she was sold as a slave, and to see how white people paid more for cattle then a slave girl. Now there are some more positive, joyous, imagery, and things that happen on the show, but I will leave that part secret, just in case you decide to watch. These are just small examples of this beautiful show, so far only two episodes, so you haven't missed much. It is very interesting, a history lesson, and heart wrenching tale, that NBC has produced. Which the show has been done before in Europe, and is produced in the states by Lisa Kudrow! Watch it, and I'm sure your heart will be touched like mine!

Health Care

I'm very excited that our Health Care plan is finally about to pass. It took way to long to happen, but better late than never. I'm happy the rest of the democrats got on board, and saw that this plan is a step in the right direction. I'm sick of listening to the conservatives complain about money, and how much this will put "America" in more dept. When all things point to the fact that it may help this countries deficit. We will not know what will happen until we try. Is it a risk, for our country? My answer is yes, but it also will save millions of lives. To me that is more important than some silly money issue or dept. Thirty million people without insurance will be insured, and people with pre-existing problems, who lose there insurance, will still continued to be covered. This plan is on the road to saving so many people's lives. I'm sick of republicans and people who have insurance complaining, because they don't know what it is like, to have cancer, or a major illness, and not have insurance. THIS IS NOT A HAND OUT PEOPLE, GET OVER YOURSELVES! Lives are at stake, we are not playing a game here, and we don't have any more time to play with this. I for once am excited about the system, and praying that it works!

Another thing that appalled me was that on Friday, when democrats were walking in to discuss the change in there vote. The "tea bag party" spit on them, called people Nigger, and Faggot! What? Conservatives are making a fool out of themselves, and making matters worse. Even if you don't like the plan, to stoop this low, and be so blatantly racist, and sexist. This scares and embarrasses me that these people exist today in our country. I'm not blaming all conservatives, or all "Tea Bag Folks" LOL, but the "tea baggers" should be ashamed of themselves. So many better ways, to go about trying to win a fight, than to name call, and such harsh name calling at that. Yay to our brave president, and prayers to the success of this plan. This could be a start to an awesome change in health care in America!

Favorite Quote

"We are what we repeatedly do". "Excellence then is not an act, but a habit"! -Aristotle








Much Love

J.R.