Waiting for the Call!

I was anxiously waiting for a call from a director.  I was hoping that my hard work and dedication will get me hired in one of his next productions.  When he finally called, he was not, "hey beautiful and talented JC, I would like to hire you for my next show."  But, in reality, it was, "Hey JC I think you should take my workshop I'm teaching."  $$$

(Part of me thinks, "of course I got this type of call - of course I did. ")

On the other hand, I'm kind of burnt out from teachers.  I mean, to tell you the truth, my past teachers have not been all that supportive or at least not the type of support I would have hoped for.  So I've been wondering where I was going to go study next.  'Cause I definitely need a certain type of environment to study in.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not insulted by the fact he asked me to pay to take one of his classes.  When I'm working I don't take classes, because I'm working on my craft on stage and I spend all the time doing that. But when I'm not working I always get myself to a class.  I'm always learning.  

It just wasn't the call that I wanted.  I wanted to be hired for his next show. And I wanted to get paid as an actor. 

Well anyway, I entertained the possibility of working together. But, I thought, how will I know if our acting is the same type of acting.  So I decided to ask him a question on what his thoughts were on a certain performance we had both seen.  Unfortunately, our opinions differed greatly, in fact a lot.  So how can I now study with a teacher that I know has a different opinion of the actor I am or want to be.   

Should I give this director/teacher a try (Although the cost he was asking was high for me).
After all it was disappointing because I was expecting a call to be hired rather than a call that would drain my pocket book. Perhaps I'll learn something new about myself or even get better.  Now I am being very optimistic.

What do you think?

But first,  I am looking forward to a vacation in July.    jc

I'm just not that adventurous without acting.

Perhaps I should be more adventurous in my personal life. I am quiet calm I would say.  I mean my favorite thing to do is hang out at home and watch a movie with my loved ones.  But this means that I get really comfortable and stay indoors.

The only way of really being adventurous is in my acting. I will travel to and go anywhere for, and if it wasn't for acting I wouldn't really get to see all these amazing things around me.  I'm just not that adventurous without acting.

I know some people say, make sure not to make your life, acting, but that is impossible.  I am always

working, always and when you get popular you work even more. There is no time for hanging out and having a good old time.  The time that I do have I spend, marketing,  learning lines, rehearsal, preparing, relaxing until shoot day.

When someone tries to push me in my personal life out of that comfort I don't do well either.   I will go at my leisure I cannot be pushed to do something I haven't done before like Surfing, just as an example.  It had to be done like I am learning a new thing and step by step slowly until I get used to it.

Anyway, thank you acting for being the adventure in my life.

Marketing for Actors

 At an early age I was shy about the things I really wanted.

When I first started in my entertainment career I was really shy on set and even though it was the best thing in the world, I spent a lot of time at aww of everything around me.  Everything was new and I enjoyed watching the Producer yelling all the important last minute executive decisions to getting lunch for everyone in production.  I got to do a lot of wonderful things, one of them being riding a golf cart as fast as possible on Capitol Hill lawn in Washington D. C..

What I exuded in eagerness I lacked in ability to make lasting connections. As an actor or a person who works in the entertainment industry, these connections are important.  You never know when they will pay off down the road.  And you will make friends for a lifetime.

How do you do this without coming out desperate, or just plain awkward and naive? You have to market yourself.

The most important thing on set is knowing who is who.  Hint: One way to know this on the set of a film, in an independent production, is by looking at their walkies.  Most of them halve the name and position of the crew written on a white tape across it. 87% will be wearing the proper walkie. So if the director approaches, casually look at his walkie and then you'll know his name.

Now you you've let him know you are smart, you know his name.  You can even introduce yourself and bam, you are a golden child.  People love when you remember their name.

The most important thing on set is knowing who is who.  Hint: One way to know this on the set of a film, in an independent production, is by looking at their walkies.  Most of them halve the name and position of the crew written on a white tape across it.   So if the director approaches, casually look at his walkie and then you'll know his name.

Try to remember people's names so you can use this again when you casually walk past each other.
Google Hermine Hilton, a expert on memory writes book on memorizing names, she has helped me.
Begin by doing this marketing campaign for you, you will get a great reputation.

Good luck,

JC

Pictures on set for The End
 

Mother Your Light Shines Forever In My Heart

"Mother your light shines forever in my heart. Over and over you sacrificed your needs for mine. There will be my endless devotion to your love. Holding the weight of my challenges in your hands.  Even though I didn’t understand.  Repeatedly you forgave me and held me in your arms."   

by JC Cadena

On Mother’s day we honor our mothers for all the sacrifices they have made for us.  They have unconditionally given their bodies, their hearts, their lives, their love,  so we can live and rejoice.  I will reflect and honor her memory on this day.  If you are lucky enough to have your mother close, this is the day to tell her how special she is.  I encourage you to get sentimental, a hug, a kiss on the cheek, a single flower, a poem, to show a feeling of love or gratitude.

It’s not how big your gift is, but how big your heart is. Make that day special for her.  Just as she made you feel special on those days you felt low.

Tell her about the special memory you have.  Perhaps you still remember that day you felt sick or sad and she made  your favorite meal to heal you.  Or she bought you that toy, you really weren't suppose to have.  Tell her that now.

On this day its about our expression and respect for her.  If you are hesitant; perhaps, you've distanced yourself from her.  On Mother’s day break that wall and tell her you love her.  This is it.  This is your chance.

Honor her as the Greeks honored their mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele.  Honor her as the faithful were lead back to honor the mother church. And honor her the best way you know how, let yourself be that child that cried for her and love her.

Working Hard - Yep We Do That!

Playing "Rosa" in Sabado Mornings, by playwright, George Corbin, has been a very rewarding challenge.

With any play, I fall back on knowing that I am talented and  that I can get things done, meaning I can act and I do it well.  But, this attitude is the attitude that gets me in trouble.  Just because God gave me talent it doesn't mean I'm exempt from having to do the homework.  I still have to study and put in the practice time. And I have to go over the script again and again so that its fresh on my mind.

Whoever those people are that don't have to the homework, God Bless them, cause that is not me.


I've realized that, yes,  I have to put in the work when it comes to acting.  That means turning off the TV when I'm going over my lines, reviewing the script, getting together with my partner in order to run lines and initiating those phone calls to get together.

And I need to refraining from any extra curricular activities, if you know what I mean. Plus, I need to get rest in order to be my best.

To be honest its tough to work independently, to have to push myself and not fall sleep and watch TV like I really want to.  But I have to say, the effort I put in is rewarding, when the audience connects with the character you are portraying.  Like on today's performance, a member of the audience shared with me that I had made her cry.  The playwright was in the audience and I turned around and I told him,  "George we made her cry". We were both happy.

Regardless of all the hard work, lines will sometimes slip by.  I'll talk about that on another blog.

If you haven't heard,  I am from Ecuador and recently my country had a 7.9 Earthquake which hit the coast.  That emotional weight has been tough on me but  I've managed best as I can.  It wouldn't be right if I didn't even mention this because its part of my performance.

What is the lesson for today boys and girls.  Well, it is do the homework.  If you want to be the best, you have to work and work hard and then and only then will you be the best.

Now, what are you waiting? Do your homework.

JC


I will be playing Rosa for one more weekend, April 29, 30 and May 1st, 2016. For more information or to buy tickets please go to     http://tinyurl.com/sabado-mornings

To donate to help Ecuador after the earthquake go to: 
 https://www.redcross.org/donate/disaster-relief  

Count Your Blessings!

"I am so excited." These words I have been using a lot on every video I've been making.
But it is true to how I have been feeling about my life, EXCITED.  I look at my life and realize how blessed I am for having all that I have.  I think it is important for one to count blessings.  I usually do this in the morning and it has made me appreciate my life that much more.

Our breath is a blessing, waking up in the morning is a blessing, the sun shining on our skin, is a blessing. And I'm that much more blessed that I get to follow my passion.

I've been working on one project and another project right after. Currently, I am working on my next
project, SABADO MORNINGS, an original play by George Corbin, directed by Melvin Ishmael Johnson, starring yours truly, me... JC Cadena.  I will be performing the two first weekends of the show March 22nd March 29.

I discover something new everytime I step on stage.  I become aware of so many different things.  I've discovered the actual "play" within the play.  You know what I mean, right?  Play, the verb, the action of playing, and playing on stage.  That is happening with me and "I am so excited," about it.  It reminds me of my childhood, how I played in the mud, played in the sand and had the most fun.

If you are striving to be the best as I am with acting, I hope for you to have the same discoveries I have had.  I hope you enjoy and play on stage, just like you played completely when you were a child.

Now what are you waiting for, go play! Count Your Blessings!


JC

SABADO MORNINGS - by Playwright George Corbin Starring "JC Cadena"
I will be playing Rosa for one more weekend, April 29, 30 and May 1st, 2016. For more information or to buy tickets please go to     http://tinyurl.com/sabado-mornings

To donate to help Ecuador after the earthquake go to: 
 https://www.redcross.org/donate/disaster-relief 

Sabado Mornings - I'm performing, come check it out.