LOVE Now or Never

This is my last blog for the year, I want to say thank you for reading my blog.  And taking the time to get to know me better.  I will be sharing with you my year in a few scattered words. My hope is that after I've shared you will share your year with me.


     I have learned so much this past year.  I've made what I believe are smart choices with my career.  I've learned to follow my instincts.

I've met new people.  I've strengthened my friendships. Some friendships have taken a few steps back.  I hope they will come back at some point soon, down the road.

My beliefs have gotten stronger.  I know what I stand for now: animals, natural beauty, inner beauty and passion.  Is there anything else?

I have conquered some of my fears.  I have found courage to stand up to them.

I find intriguing that the things I've revisited take a different meaning now.  I understand lots of things much differently, better.

I've learned to pay attention to "thoughts", they have so much power over our lives.  We indeed build what we think.

As an actor it is a different story to come from a happy place in order to share, than from a place of hurt. I am not using my emotions to be the character. I am borrowing those emotions and not reliving a dreadful experience.  I'm more in the moment.

My wish for you in the new year is to LOVE, now, today, not tomorrow.

Remember to share in the comment section below.

Sincerely,

JC

The "C" Words; Choice & Commitment

I had the great pleasure to perform a stage reading for "Sabado Mornings," written by George Corbin & Directed by Melvin Ishamel Johnson, developed at the Robey Playwrights Workshop.  The performance was on December 11th, 2015, at the Moments Theatre in Los Angeles at 7 pm.  In this two character play I was one of the leads.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.  

A Stage Reading is done when the production team, in this case the writer and director, take time to get feedback for their work.  They get actors to read the play to audience members and ask for feedback on what works and what doesn't. 

With "Sabado Mornings" there was one rehearsal which included the Writer and Director.  They went over stage cues and the rest was left up to the actors.  I needed to make CHOICES.  

What are CHOICES: As an actor you must make choices.  These choices have to make sense.  They can be bold, but must pertain to the plot of the play.  For example, for the character of Rosa, I made the choice that she would speak with a Mexican accent because throughout the play the playwright sprinkled in Spanish words.  I gave Rosa a big personality.  She needed to have it to keep the dialogue flowing.  She was a talker, inquisitive. She asked a lot of questions.  I gave her some childlike traits. She laughed a lot and wore her heart on her sleeve. 

Choices once made have to have your COMMITMENT.  You must commit to your choices and believe in them so that your audience will believe in them too.  If at any point you are hazy about your choices, the audience will feel your uncertainty.  

The reading followed with an open discussion.   

The audience was asked for their opinion about the play.  A lady in the audience commented that my character seemed "too young" to be partnered with Eddie the male lead because he was a 50 year old man who  ends up having a love affair with Rosa.  She mentioned that perhaps the role of Rosa needed to be recast with an older woman.   She felt that Rosa seemed too young to have this type of love affair.  

The moderator then asked the actors about their opinions.  I mentioned I enjoyed the play enough to follow it all the way to the end because the characters were so interesting, they weren't boring.  But I did feel I had to address the topic brought up by the audience member.  It was a valid point.  The role did describe Rosa as 45 years old.  And I am a bit younger.  I was quite aware of this issue.  But I had made my choice to commit.  I only had one week, one rehearsal.   I needed to carry the beat of the play, keep it up, keep people from getting bored.   I chose to make her youthful because she had to show passion and excitement for the little things.  Rosa was also very happy to talk to anyone that will listen to her long enough.    

I felt my choices were valid, they were based on fact.  I stuck with them and I was happy with my performance.  Of course, there is always room for improvement.  I felt perhaps the lady in the audience was focusing on my age instead of my performance which might mean that as an actor I wasn't doing my job.  My goal is always to have everyone in their seats relating to my character and listen to what my character has to say.  

What have we learned today?  

An actor must make choices and commit to them.  And, there is always room for improvement.  

I welcome any questions you may have. 

jc