living a slo life in the fast lane

Int. San Luis Obispo, Oddfellows Hall -- Day

JAMES CROMWELL stands in front of an audience in the hall's main room, talking about acting.

Cromwell

It's like being born again, when you step onto that stage. When you're standing behind the curtain, hidden from the audience and the light of the stage is two feet in front of you; it's as if you haven't been born yet. But once you step out from behind that curtain and into the light you are born again. Renewed, reinvigorated, a new person coming from the darkness and blinded by the light. Having to relearn how to walk, talk, sit, stand, breathe even. Everything is a new experience.

I now understand what Mr. Cromwell was talking about from that day I first heard him speak these words. Last night we had tech rehearsal for Can Can and Cromwell's words was what I was thinking about just before I stepped from behind that curtain and walked to my mark as the bright lights cued up.

Last night's rehearsal was the best one for me yet. We had a short run through a few hours before and it was off book and I was absolutely horrible. Forgetting the cues, the correct line sequences and it was just awful. So what did I do for the two hours between first rehearsal ended and tech rehearsal began? I practiced. Which allowed be to give my best for the tech rehearsal. Now I just have to do what I did for that three more times: the dress rehearsal/preview show, and the two performances on the weekend.

This is going to be a busy week. By the end of the weekend I will have preformed the show at least three more times, have studied everyday for calculus and finished my final, read a play, made an art exhibit for my theatre class, finished two econ assignments and studied for my econ final in hopes of being ready for the final on Monday morning.

And then final's week starts.

a day in the valley

Green Valley Cafe for breakfast. Saw the grandparents midday. Did some school work on economics and got an A. Watched The Rookie, The Strangers, and Zodiac.

The rest?

Maybe read a play for work, The Birthday Party, may practice my lines.

The valley ain't so bad.

a day makes all the difference

Yesterday I got my stage directions that I have to incorporate into my performance. Let's just say I was a little overwhelmed. 41 lines of dialogue, 25 different stage directions, in the dark, talking to an invisible interviewer, seventeen minutes long, with no cuts, performed in front of a live audience.

Rehearsal yesterday was by far my worst one yet. Trying to incorporate all the new stage directions into the lines of dialogue resulted in a robotic performance. I felt like the lowest rung in the muck and mire of mediocrity. If you could mix horse shit, dog shit, pig shit, cat piss, a frat guy's puke, and the piece of gum on the bottom of my shoe together... you would only have a slight glimpse of my rehearsal yesterday. I was so down after that I started to question everything. Whether or not I want to really act. Or only be a writer. Or do neither and go back to the thought of agent or manager.

So what did I do? I practiced.

And today was another rehearsal. The stage directions were seamless. The lines flowed in the EX GI's voice. When I was saying them, it was as if I was no longer myself and had finally switched over, from me to the character.

Within a day I went from almost quitting acting, (having this one act being my first and only performance), to feeling the best I have ever felt about it.

What a crazy mind I live in.

searching for a character...

Went and saw Angels and Demons tonight. I thought it turned out to be a really good thriller. Then I started thinking about Dan Brown's character Robert Langdon and other writers and their characters. I mean when you think about it, if you can create ONE great character then your work is at least half way done for you.

Just listen to this: Stan Lee had Peter Parker, Matt Murdock, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Thor, Bob Kane and Bill Finger had Bruce Wayne, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had Clark Kent, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby had Steve Rogers, Dan Brown has Robert Langdon, Michael Connelly has Harry Bosch, Clive Cussler has Dirk Pitt, Thomas Harris has Hannibal Lecter, Tom Clancey has Jack Ryan, and Ian Fleming had James Bond. AND THAT'S ONLY NAMING A FEW! The list goes on and on.


The character is the answer to the writer's question.

off book

Haven't had rehearsal since Monday and for the next one tomorrow our director wants us to be off book. Looks like I have some practicing to do.

Be back in a few hours...

The Curious Case of...

Watched Benjamin Button's life tonight.

Although many people I've talked to say that it was just okay, I thought it was great. Could eventually go on the list of one of my favorites.

Maybe that's just cause I can relate to it a little more.


P.S. I also watched Terminator Salvation today. The streak continues! Four summer movies in four weeks!

GWH

That's what I'm going to start calling it from now on, and by "it" I mean Good Will Hunting. I watched it tonight AGAIN, and guess what? NO SURPRISE, still the best film ever written. There is not a single weak line of dialogue. I could probably watch it for another 100 years and not get sick of it. Other people in my dorm wanted to watch it and I was like "I don't know, I've seen it like a million times." But then I watched and am sure glad I did!

So great!

It makes me want to start writing the sequel.