Monday, January 31, 2011

Firth of Forth Bridge


My character in The Shadow Box is named Brian and he is a dying patient at a hospice care facility. In a scene he speaks of the work he has been writing. Although most of it is said to be quite bad, it is not revealed in the play exactly how bad or possibly good the writing is.

So, it terms of "method acting" I wrote one of the poems he references in the play, which is described as "an epic investigation of the Firth of Forth Bridge."

Here is what I came up with, perhaps there is some redeeming quality in it:

Oh! Where am I going
with these feet that take me?
Across this steel expanse
marveling over the sea
"It is the Firth of Forth"
I hear a voice say.
How did I get here
Why am I this way?
How are you still standing
oh bridge of mine?
How did they fix you
this time?
I want to be fixed, I really do
What is that bright light coming at me, so true?

-B

I know it seems quite "out there" to write a poem about something that is only referenced in the play, but Brian wrote a poem about the Forth Bridge, so I figured I better do the same if I wanted to have any shot at capturing his character. This poem won't be read in the scene, and the paper it is on will only be briefly shown but it is the invisible work you have to do. Acting is an iceberg, only 10% of what you do is shown to the audience, the rest is underneath the surface. And that which is underneath the surface is what sinks all the ships.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

My date with Midnight

21 years.

The last three years I have spent the midnight of my birthday with three different groups of people. Not a single person has overlapped the years. Take that as you want.

Moving on...

I have gained a lot of eye opening perspective in the last couple days leading up to my birthday. This whole "turning 21" thing has changed me and I know it really shouldn't, I really shouldn't feel any different because what's the difference between 7,664 days and 7,665 days? But I have changed, I do feel different.

I'm being more open. That's the difference. I'm saying "yes." That's the difference.

Want to go check out an abandoned insane asylum? Sure.

Want to go on this bike ride to somewhere you've never been and see whatever is around that bend in the road up there? Yep.

Want to go downtown for your birthday and hit up all the bars and get free drinks? I guess so.

Want to watch a sad sad documentary about life and love on your 21st birthday? Why not.


Live life. Live your fucking life. Say what you want to say. Love who you want to love. Do what you want to do. Be who you are. You know who you are. Don't let anyone tell you anything differently. So live. It shouldn't be that hard, yet it somehow always seems to be.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

life

oh, by the way.

Birthday, tomorrow. This guy.

21.

This almost has of sense of a note to self.

That's sad.

Or something to tattoo on myself, so I can remember it.

That's awesome.

a movie of life

I haven't mentioned one of these in a while so...


Blue Valentine

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

a need

I have been in desperate need of a character for a couple weeks now. Something real that isn't a year or so away.

Today I got a couple characters: Brian from "The Shadow Box" and Torvald Helmer from "A Doll's House."

Now that's what I'm talking about.

It's good to be working again.

Friday, January 7, 2011

a day of days

Today consisted of...

Life changing events in my Acting Methods class...

A Shakespeare piece in Voice and Diction...

Seeing Black Swan...

And then meeting Eddie Jemison at Farmer's Market who told me to "get out" of acting.


Remember this day. Four positive things happened.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2011 Resolution

STREETCAR.

this next year

Spend the eve watching what I'm gonna be focused on for the next year and a half. And now I'm not going to watch it for the next year and a half.

HEY STELLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!