Thursday, July 15, 2010
Burgess, the Pigeon
So I haven't been blogging because, My mind is not very clear. Lack of sleep because I'm compassionately taking care of a baby pigeon (a fledgling) that fell on my shoe and now began trying to feed off it... So, using a dropper and baby bird formula this going well. I also give it Bach's Rescue Remedy flower therapy which is 2% booze from flowers... seems to be happy.
Burgess is probably the most well fed (as far as nutrition) in NYC. Burg, has eaten Kashi instant cereal, Baby bird formula (made for designer birds), Blueberries, and Fiber one, a long with a large amount of green vibrance powder mixed with Vita Coconut water. I feed him every 3 hours. I can't wait till I don't have to hand feed, and can pick up food on his own, and he can fly away... He's still pinfeather's in places... Full flight feathers in others...
One wonders what it would be like to play someone who only takes his food if it's syringed into his mouth or have his blueberries put one by one in his craw so he can swallow them. But won't eat on his own... It's a great character study since with his wings down and crossed he looks like a member of the English royal family who never uses his hands and keeps them across his back. Prince Phillip was renown for this, so much that Michael Caine imitated this in ZULU. This was Caine's first film, and he had never played upper class. So he saw Royals don't use their hands, things are handed to them. Worried about how he would come off, he used to sneak in to read the producer's notes... about his performance... until he read "please fire Michael Caine, The actor doesn't know what to do with his hands." - Read his Biography, it's quite brilliant.
So English Royal Family, Pigeons... Where am I going? Oh!
I always loved Benny Hill's Monologue called BIRDS AND BEE'S
Burgess is probably the most well fed (as far as nutrition) in NYC. Burg, has eaten Kashi instant cereal, Baby bird formula (made for designer birds), Blueberries, and Fiber one, a long with a large amount of green vibrance powder mixed with Vita Coconut water. I feed him every 3 hours. I can't wait till I don't have to hand feed, and can pick up food on his own, and he can fly away... He's still pinfeather's in places... Full flight feathers in others...
One wonders what it would be like to play someone who only takes his food if it's syringed into his mouth or have his blueberries put one by one in his craw so he can swallow them. But won't eat on his own... It's a great character study since with his wings down and crossed he looks like a member of the English royal family who never uses his hands and keeps them across his back. Prince Phillip was renown for this, so much that Michael Caine imitated this in ZULU. This was Caine's first film, and he had never played upper class. So he saw Royals don't use their hands, things are handed to them. Worried about how he would come off, he used to sneak in to read the producer's notes... about his performance... until he read "please fire Michael Caine, The actor doesn't know what to do with his hands." - Read his Biography, it's quite brilliant.
So English Royal Family, Pigeons... Where am I going? Oh!
I always loved Benny Hill's Monologue called BIRDS AND BEE'S
I'd reached the age of fourteen and I hadn't started courting,
And my mum was getting worried about me.
She said, "Dad, it's time you told him all about the birds and bees,"
He said, "The birds and bees," and sat me on his knee.
He said, "Now, remember Uncle Joe and that picnic a while ago,
How he went off into the woods with Auntie Pat?
And how I chased O'Reily's daughter and what happened when I caught her?"
I said, "Yeah," he said, "Well birds and bees does that.
"Dad works very hard indeed, well he got ten kids to feed,
Well ten and seven ninths to be precise.
And we all wear hand-me-downs, and as I am the youngest,
And the others are all girls,
it ain't very nice.
Dad said, "It's time that you got wed,"
I said, "I'd rather drop down dead,"
He said, "Now how about old Maude from Ikely down?"
I said, "Maude? Not bloody likely, she's been out by half the chaps in Ikely,
"He said, "Well Ikely's really quite a little town.
"He said, "You've got to get a wife, you can't go on enjoying life,
Or folks with think you're strange and start to frown."
I said to him, "Look, why should I buy a book?
When there's a thriving, lending library in the town."
One day I found a friend, he was up by Badgers End,
A little pigeon fell down by my feet.
His feathers was flecked with red and at first I thought he was dead,
Then I knelt and I felt his little heart still beat.
I cupped him in my hands and I ran home to my mum,
And she said, "Son, I'm as proud of you as I can be.
You're thoughtful and you're kind, and you've got a gentle mind,
And that will do a treat for your old father's tea.
I said, "You shall not touch my bird,"
and without another word,
I took him in my room and I shut the door,
And then I bathed and I warmed him and I nursed him back to health,
'Cause you see, I'd never really had a friend before.
I taught him little tricks,
like playing dead and picking up sticks,
And the village girls, they brought bird seed every day. Oo!
"Dad, you can't come in," I'd shout,
"Or my birdie will fly out,
"But of course I let the village girls all stay.
Well there was Mable from the stable, and Mary from the dairy,
We had a visit by our beauty queen.
And that great big Betty Mavery, and she's got her own aviary,
She's got the biggest parakeets I've ever seen.
Dad said, "You ought to let him go,"
and Mum, she said, "Oh no,You just want to get some shooting practice in.
"But the vicar said, "My son, it really isn't done,
And to lock up a wild thing, that's a sin."
One morning when it was all still,
I took him up to Badgers Hill,
I lost the only little friend I had that day.
Not a word I said, I just kissed his little head,
And I opened my hands and I watched him fly away.
He circled up and 'round, and then he settled on the ground,
And off he went straight up to the sky.
And then I looked and I could see he was flying back to me,
And then he swooped and he pooped right in my eye.
I thought, "That's bloody rude!" and, "Cor, there's gratitude!"
And, "I hope they never cross a pigeon with a cow!"
And Dad said, "Here, there's I see a caper,
I'll go get a bit of paper,
I said, "Don't be daft, he's miles away by now!"
Dad said, "I know you lost a friend, but it's really not the end,
You'll be married and have a family of your own quite soon.
"Well I never said a word, but you see, that little bird
Has lured eighteen little ravers up to my room!
(Spoken as he leaves stage) So if anyone's got a spare cockatoo or an old crow they don't want,I'd be very much obliged, because you know, I could put them to good use.
PS - Benny Hill did a killer imitation of Michael Caine after they worked together in the Italian Job (the original)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
ON AUDITIONING- Part I
If you don't audition well... you can learn how.
But if keep ignoring the problem... you are creating a habit.
This habit you are creating or developing is to become even better at ignoring the problem...
Everything you do more then one time is creating a habit...
Good or bad. It's a habit.
Focus on how your sitting in your chair right now... I bet you almost never do that... And by just focusing on it right now, you probably adjusted to a better more comfortable posture.
Go back and read that again...
You're exercising something... HABIT MUSCLES !
We just made a habit together!
The word habit is a bad word these days. And that's a little sad.
Even "good habit" sounds almost like an oxymoron in today's day and age.
What about "GREAT HABIT ?"
John has a great habit, of making sure he smells good when he comes to set. In fact, I would say John's habit is so well developed, that I can't think of a time when I can remember John not smelling good. Come to think of it, all of John's girlfriends tell me the thing they love about John is how amazing he smells.
You're starting to think this story is a tad weird right?
That's because we assume if someone is exceptional at something like that, then he's got a mental disorder, "a habit": John got put on a drug for OCD and he's stopped worrying about the way he smells. It's great. John smells like dirty laundry and Mott Street on a freakishly hot day all the time now! I'm so glad, John became normal. And we get to hang out all the time now too... because John doesn't have any girlfriends... they noticed his breath smelled like fisherman's warf at low tide! Isn't that super, John kicked his habit!!!
So what is my point? If you know that you don't audition well... your going to have a problem. And it's probably going to lead to frustration... And if you don't confront that, then you're (as I said before) creating a habit... And it's a very status quo comfortable habit because most people think it's ok...
THE HABIT OF IGNORING A PROBLEM IS NOT OK, ESPECIALLY IF THE PROBLEM IS IN RELATION TO YOUR OWN PERSON.
INT. READER'S GUT - RIGHT NOW
But if keep ignoring the problem... you are creating a habit.
This habit you are creating or developing is to become even better at ignoring the problem...
Everything you do more then one time is creating a habit...
Good or bad. It's a habit.
Focus on how your sitting in your chair right now... I bet you almost never do that... And by just focusing on it right now, you probably adjusted to a better more comfortable posture.
Go back and read that again...
You're exercising something... HABIT MUSCLES !
We just made a habit together!
The word habit is a bad word these days. And that's a little sad.
Even "good habit" sounds almost like an oxymoron in today's day and age.
What about "GREAT HABIT ?"
John has a great habit, of making sure he smells good when he comes to set. In fact, I would say John's habit is so well developed, that I can't think of a time when I can remember John not smelling good. Come to think of it, all of John's girlfriends tell me the thing they love about John is how amazing he smells.
You're starting to think this story is a tad weird right?
That's because we assume if someone is exceptional at something like that, then he's got a mental disorder, "a habit": John got put on a drug for OCD and he's stopped worrying about the way he smells. It's great. John smells like dirty laundry and Mott Street on a freakishly hot day all the time now! I'm so glad, John became normal. And we get to hang out all the time now too... because John doesn't have any girlfriends... they noticed his breath smelled like fisherman's warf at low tide! Isn't that super, John kicked his habit!!!
So what is my point? If you know that you don't audition well... your going to have a problem. And it's probably going to lead to frustration... And if you don't confront that, then you're (as I said before) creating a habit... And it's a very status quo comfortable habit because most people think it's ok...
THE HABIT OF IGNORING A PROBLEM IS NOT OK, ESPECIALLY IF THE PROBLEM IS IN RELATION TO YOUR OWN PERSON.
INT. READER'S GUT - RIGHT NOW
FRUSTRATION:
LISTEN TO ME. I DON'T LIKE THIS, SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE. I WANT TO STOP FEELING FRUSTRATED.
Sounds like the begining of a great story to me... In the movie in your head who is playing the character of FRUSTRATION? I'm casting someone sexy, someone who can play someone powerful in a unique way, vulnerable but not at all victimly. Someone who stands out from the crowd.
More in part II ...
In the meantime...
Great books to keep you in the creative waters
The War of Art by Steven PressfieldWhat keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece?The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success.The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline. Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself.http://www.stevenpressfield.com/the-war-of-art/
And:Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg Alan (Arkin) told me Natalie's book was the best book on Improvisation that was never written about Improvisation in '99. I read it whenever I'm blocked. And even my skeptic of a mother loves it... and now she's writing and seeing the world differently with a much more loving curiousity- Seth MichaelWriting Down The BonesFreeing The Writer Within(Shambhala, 1986)The book that started a revolution in the way people think about writing, now available in both standard and pocket size."The secret of creativity, Natalie Goldberg makes clear, is to subtract rules for writing, not add them....Proof that she knows what she's talking about is abundant in her own sentences. They flow with speed and grace and accuracy and simplicity....It's the simple style of a Zen archer who looks like he's not even aiming, yet sends arrow after arrow to the bull's eye, time after time."Robert Pirsig, author of "Zen in the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" http://www.nataliegoldberg.com/books.html
And:Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg Alan (Arkin) told me Natalie's book was the best book on Improvisation that was never written about Improvisation in '99. I read it whenever I'm blocked. And even my skeptic of a mother loves it... and now she's writing and seeing the world differently with a much more loving curiousity- Seth MichaelWriting Down The BonesFreeing The Writer Within(Shambhala, 1986)The book that started a revolution in the way people think about writing, now available in both standard and pocket size."The secret of creativity, Natalie Goldberg makes clear, is to subtract rules for writing, not add them....Proof that she knows what she's talking about is abundant in her own sentences. They flow with speed and grace and accuracy and simplicity....It's the simple style of a Zen archer who looks like he's not even aiming, yet sends arrow after arrow to the bull's eye, time after time."Robert Pirsig, author of "Zen in the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" http://www.nataliegoldberg.com/books.html
Best books on Acting and Improvisation
Best Books on Acting and Improvisation
How to Stop Acting - By Harold Guskin
Improvise - Scene from the Inside Out - Mick Napier
Both these books are very anti-establishment, which I personally like. I feel they both contain advice on some of the best ways to get out of the "being an actor/improviser" mindset and start "being an artist who captures attention" mindset.
These are not books for those that want to do everything by the book, march to the beat of other people's drums, or be a policeman for the "rules of improvisation," or "an acting method or system".
These books best serve the individual. The Artist who knows they are unique, or longs to be unique and struggles with that idea. And, I believe that a true individual is vital to society and for change to happen.
You don't have to do it by fighting the system, you can do it just by doing what you want to do and letting the ripples go out as they may.
"Follow your bliss" - Joseph Campbell
How to Stop Acting - By Harold Guskin
Improvise - Scene from the Inside Out - Mick Napier
Both these books are very anti-establishment, which I personally like. I feel they both contain advice on some of the best ways to get out of the "being an actor/improviser" mindset and start "being an artist who captures attention" mindset.
These are not books for those that want to do everything by the book, march to the beat of other people's drums, or be a policeman for the "rules of improvisation," or "an acting method or system".
These books best serve the individual. The Artist who knows they are unique, or longs to be unique and struggles with that idea. And, I believe that a true individual is vital to society and for change to happen.
You don't have to do it by fighting the system, you can do it just by doing what you want to do and letting the ripples go out as they may.
"Follow your bliss" - Joseph Campbell
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Character's listen through the filter of their Point of View
A lot of people talk about listening in terms of acting. And listening is very important. But no one listens to EVERYTHING.
But here's an example from an Autobiography of how people listen through a P.O.V. Like a filter on a lense, Barrowcliffe reveals how he saw something that wasn't there. Character's often listen this way.
I can only think that I had a highly developed ability to see only what I wanted to see.
I recently reread A Wizard of Earthsea and realized that I'd made an similar oversight in that, despite reading the book six times before, I'd been completely oblivious to the fact that the central character in that was dark skinned as well. The text clearly says so. My preferred mythology was Celtic, cold mountain tops, ancient magic drawn from stone circles, callow youths made old beyond their years by the knowledge that they had to bear, and pale ladies of the mist-filled glades. So that's what I imagined, ignoring Ursala K. Le Guin's explicit, inventive, clear description of a world based on a sort of early Mediterranean/African Culture.
I often think of this when I see people talking about how you "get through" to teenagers. I think the answer is: you can't. They are so immersed in a way that you can't even guess at. They're seeing things that you don't see and missing things that you feel are obvious. It's not far off from feeling enchanted.
- The Elfish Gene, Dungeons and Dragons and Growing up Strange, a memoir by Mark Barrowcliffe
But here's an example from an Autobiography of how people listen through a P.O.V. Like a filter on a lense, Barrowcliffe reveals how he saw something that wasn't there. Character's often listen this way.
I can only think that I had a highly developed ability to see only what I wanted to see.
I recently reread A Wizard of Earthsea and realized that I'd made an similar oversight in that, despite reading the book six times before, I'd been completely oblivious to the fact that the central character in that was dark skinned as well. The text clearly says so. My preferred mythology was Celtic, cold mountain tops, ancient magic drawn from stone circles, callow youths made old beyond their years by the knowledge that they had to bear, and pale ladies of the mist-filled glades. So that's what I imagined, ignoring Ursala K. Le Guin's explicit, inventive, clear description of a world based on a sort of early Mediterranean/African Culture.
I often think of this when I see people talking about how you "get through" to teenagers. I think the answer is: you can't. They are so immersed in a way that you can't even guess at. They're seeing things that you don't see and missing things that you feel are obvious. It's not far off from feeling enchanted.
- The Elfish Gene, Dungeons and Dragons and Growing up Strange, a memoir by Mark Barrowcliffe
Thing's I've said in the ongoing class...
The disease is always fear, but we only treat the symptoms
________________________________________________________
Don't say the question, look for the answers in the scene...physically... Emotionally... Do something to find an answer... Instead of asking, "why are there so many flies in here?" Do something about the flies, kill them, open a window, put up fly paper, ... get your partner to help... if he doesn't how does that make you feel?
_______________________________________________________
It's not what you say, it's what you convey.
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That thing I do is 'cause of you. That thing you do is 'cause of me. - Not a great way to live your life, but it will lock you into your partner and their behavior everytime.
________________________________________________________
Don't say the question, look for the answers in the scene...physically... Emotionally... Do something to find an answer... Instead of asking, "why are there so many flies in here?" Do something about the flies, kill them, open a window, put up fly paper, ... get your partner to help... if he doesn't how does that make you feel?
_______________________________________________________
It's not what you say, it's what you convey.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That thing I do is 'cause of you. That thing you do is 'cause of me. - Not a great way to live your life, but it will lock you into your partner and their behavior everytime.
BACKSTAGE READER'S CHOICE AWARD: FAVORITE IMPROVISATION CLASS/TEACHER
Dear Dramaturgs, Drama Queens, lovers of Drama in general,
I really want to thank Bryan for being my biz partner since 2005.
And my great friend for long before that. A better creative and more loving soul can't be found outside the realm of family.
And Jason for taking over when times got rough.
For all the clients, and all the love, For all the teachers, who taught us something, at anytime.
For those who supported us silently and those with praise, For those that referred others,
All who helped us to go forward and maybe didn't know it,
To my mentors in Improvisation: Jeff Wirth, Alan Arkin, and the late, inspired Gloria Maddox,
To Captain Daniel T. Kaspar, USMC for teaching me the meaning of courage,
And to my wonderful sister,My caring and supportive mother,
And my father, the boldest man there ever was:
S.A.M., Stan "the Man" Alan May
Abundant Points of View to everyone,
Seth Michael
BACKSTAGE READER'S CHOICE 2010 Favorite Improv Class/Teacher: RUNNER UP: Seth Michael May & Bryan Radkte, Acting on Impulse, (917) 805-9899; info@actingonimpulse.org.
"Seth has taught me how to apply the art of improv to my acting." — Jennifer Seeger
"Fun!" — Madeleine James
I really want to thank Bryan for being my biz partner since 2005.
And my great friend for long before that. A better creative and more loving soul can't be found outside the realm of family.
And Jason for taking over when times got rough.
For all the clients, and all the love, For all the teachers, who taught us something, at anytime.
For those who supported us silently and those with praise, For those that referred others,
All who helped us to go forward and maybe didn't know it,
To my mentors in Improvisation: Jeff Wirth, Alan Arkin, and the late, inspired Gloria Maddox,
To Captain Daniel T. Kaspar, USMC for teaching me the meaning of courage,
And to my wonderful sister,My caring and supportive mother,
And my father, the boldest man there ever was:
S.A.M., Stan "the Man" Alan May
Abundant Points of View to everyone,
Seth Michael
BACKSTAGE READER'S CHOICE 2010 Favorite Improv Class/Teacher: RUNNER UP: Seth Michael May & Bryan Radkte, Acting on Impulse, (917) 805-9899; info@actingonimpulse.org.
"Seth has taught me how to apply the art of improv to my acting." — Jennifer Seeger
"Fun!" — Madeleine James
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