Prepping to Memorize Script

The next information is from several sources. Those sources are: education I received at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts;  lessons learned from Hermine Hilton - America's Memory Motivator; and my personal overall experience on memorizing text, specifically script.

There are so many things an actor must do in order to perform to the utmost.  Primarily, the actor must prep to memorize text.  Many actors neglect to prep and end up running memorized lines as wrote and without any emotion and without any meaning.  This is not to say the actor may not eventually get to the emotional performance required by the text.  It may happen.  But we are not here to be eventual type actors.  We are here to BE the Best of the Best right now.

In Prepping to Memorizing Script,  an Actor must:

1) Read script without prejudging the character

JC Cadena - Actress www.jccadena.com

2) Research names, terms and dates mentioned
3) List how other characters speak about your character
4) List what your character says about your character
5) Research Author

The five steps above will lead you to this next crucial point - You must understand and comprehend all that your character is saying.

Remember  the author thought of every little detail when writing the story.  Understanding the meaning with in the lines gives you a naturally beautiful moment of discovery at the early stages of rehearsal.  With practice this will enable you to walk right into the character's emotion.

If you are still not clear about some meaning in the character's speech or actions, the director is always your script friend.  Don't be timid about asking for direction.

Once you have prepped you can now begin to memorize your lines.

On my next blog, I will cover,  memorizing - the process.  I'll will share with you some helpful hints toward a memorization flow, with mimimal stress.

Social Media Etiquette: Like for Like, Follow for Follow, Delete for Delete

There has to be some kind of "social media etiquette " over all of our current waves of communication. I am suggesting one:  Like for Like, Follow for Follow, Delete for Delete.!

In today's social media phenomena everyone is still figuring out how it all works.  How to become the next social media sensation.  It seems, in order to succeed, it requires; timing,  familiarity with each media platform, and an honest product and a genuine

Justin Bieber @JustinBieberRoast @ComedyCentral 

demeanor.  You have to win your audiences by content.  Not by your nudie pictures.  However most people are more concerned with numbers and averages.  That seems to now become the name of the game.  How many numbers, friends do you have on FB, or Twitter, how many on Instagram, YouTube. What are your averages, what is your fame value, likes per page, acclaim value, etc, etc, etc.


A lot of people are just concerned with numbers. Scenerio: They will like you, you will like back. After a few days they will delete you.

These folks, "trolls", (in definition they are trolls since they are messing with you) are only concerned with how many people are following them or liking them or whatever.  You get my point. You are just a liability to them.

These trolls are not big celebrities, remember we are not talking about Justin Bieber here.  (He was found on YouTube.)  We are talking about people who count on the fact that most people won't delete them back, and in average most won't.  Until now.  My favorite little app right now is "Followers".  A free app.  It kindly tells you; all your trolly friends (not requited).  And guess what - little Trolly friend - if you have deleted me after you asked me to like you, I'll DELETE YOU.  Ha ha.  'Cause you are messing with my averages!

So, kids,  remember social media  etiquette:  Like for Like, Follow for Follow, Delete for Delete.
I will like you if you like me.  I will follow if you follow me and the big one ...  drum role please ...  I will delete you if you delete me.

Of course only until I become big and famous and only the true will survive.  *wink*

People Love a Sad Story

The Loss of Love is something we can all relate to.  It's life.  And I, like many others lost that love, often in the most dramatic ways.  These experiences have changed my life and possibly created a different outcome.  I have morned that loss.  And I have cried many times alone. Invisible tears.

I, however, have always worn a smile regardless of how I felt inside.  I didn't talk about my feelings

with anyone and "acted" as if whatever had transpired, this emotional failure, didn't bother me at all.  But it did, to a very high degree.  Other people saw this as a sign of uncaring on my part, even though most of the time someone had done harm to me.

I recall an experience.  My high school boyfriend and I attended a party with all our good friends, including my ex best friend who had cheated with my current  boyfriend (at that time).  It was an uncomfortable scene.

I did what I had to do, I partied to keep myself from the situation.  Of course after many drinks I had to go to the bathroom and, unlucky for me,  I ran into her.  Now,  this all happened very quickly; she started talking to me, grabbed me, pulled me into the bathroom and locked the door!!! Yes, the

bitch locked the door.  I was in disbelief.  I thought she was joking.  I tried to open the door.  She got in front of it and basically wrestled me away from the door. She was forcing me to talk to her.

And trust me, the only thing I was doing was sitting at one end of the restroom sofa. I was scared as fuck.  I hoped my silence would make her let me out,  ASAP.  I tried to remain calm, but inside I was screaming.  She talked at me for the longest time and to this day I can't really remember what she said. All I was concerned with was getting out.  I was suffocating.  I was anxious.  I was trying to keep from freaking out.

Finally she let me out !!! I, RAN OUT.

Guess what?  When I ran out everyone ran to her and asked her if, "she was ok."  As if I had forced her into that room and locked the door on her.  I had been so frightened while she held me hostage and so scared of what she could do to me.  Although she was the culprit, it was I who was later referred to as, calculating, bossy, flirty, and a tease.  I was so upset.  But of course I could not verbalize or show it.  Even my boyfriend didn't ask if I was ok. Everyone's attitude towards the "hostage" situation made me more upset.  I managed to ask him to take me home.

I suffered the betrayal but because I didn't react, everyone blamed me

for everything.

I have always been the second smallest everywhere I've gone. People have always tried to bully me.  Most of the time I've managed to stand up for myself.

I can't tell you all of my sad stories,  but what I can tell you is,  I'm not my sad story.    I don't want a pity party.   I don't want that to define me though it is of course part of me.  Although at times I'll be misunderstood,  I stay strong, be a leader,  not too stubborn, not too naive and always be a good person.

Today I am a trained professional actress and today is my story, not my past not my bad experiences not my sad story.

 Regardless, I will always carry a smile.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words - Audition Technique

The saying, Actions speak louder than words,  is true in daily life and it holds true for audition technique.

Every actor needs to come up with a technique that works best individually for him/her,while in the room.  And I feel I've finally perfected the technique for me.

The best audition technique I've had and use is a compilation from different classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

As part of our reading curriculum students were given a book titled, Actions Actors' Thesaurus, "designed to extend the actors' vocabulary when Actioning the text".   I use this book as a guide for every audition I go on.  As a result, I am more comfortable, more aware of the role and more in control of my senses.

My instructor,  Lauren Bertoni of Actors Comedy Studio, https://www.actorscomedystudio.com coached the class to look at the "sides" text

and next to it name the action that fits the text on every sentence.  I use the Actions Actors' Thesaurus to help me with this.  This method keeps the guessing out.

It takes some practice but it's worth it.   All of sudden you are examining, studying the text and it's fun!

After you rehearse your sides with the actions words you picked in mind, the performance comes naturally.

A few steps to sum up everything after 1) Actioning the text is 2) establish were you are 3) establish were there is a beat change in the text 4) summarize what is going on in one sentence. Put it all together and presto chango you have a great audition technique.

It's as easy as it sounds.  If you have any questions remember to send me a message I'll be happy to help further, but really contact Lauren Bertoni, she is great!

Next we will talk about memorizing text, naturally.

Tomorrow May Never Come! We only can count on the Power of Now!

The Power of Now! Not tomorrow.  As Tomorrow May Never Come!

When I spoke with my ex, he asked me what I was doing.   I hadn't spoken with him for a while. At the time I was going to actors conservatory, American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  The words from my exbf were: "Keep taking classes and I'll help you out when I'm big", while he had just cancelled a meeting we had scheduled earlier. And he had just told me about a movie he was producing.

My reaction was, is: if he can't help me now that I'm starting out why would he help me later.  Or best yet: I am pushing myself on this acting career.  What if I make it big, why would I want to work with him later.  Because he will have time for me then? Because he doesn't mind helping me then?

Support needs to come now.  Support to help with my career is very much appreciated in the present.  And there are many wonderful, beautiful people who have and are supporting my choice to pursue my passion.  Some monetarily and some emotionally.  And of course the help of my Supreme Being, cause without him I wouldn't be here. Thank You.

I am currently with an agent, a manager, and a coach.  I am constantly auditioning.  I'm always performing on stage or film.  I'm doing this now.  I'm making it.

I don't understand why some of my friends talk about "oh I'll do it later.  Oh I'll look for an agent later. I'll learn how to dance later.  I'll show my music, pictures, projects later".

The Power of Now is Now! Not tomorrow. You can start today doing the smallest thing. But you can't wait to be perfect to start.  We only become perfect when we are not scared to fail.  When we put ourselves out there, that is when we grow.

Tomorrow May Never Come! We only can count on the Power of Now!

Beauty Tips In Malibu Chronicle from JC Cadena

I am so excited to share; Malibu Chronicle All Good News has printed once again my Beauty Tips. I am so happy about it. The publication is so beautiful from cover to cover.

The pages pop, they are bright, colorful and the content is something I truly believe in.  So positive and creative to keep you happy and healthy.

I am so proud to be part of Malibu Chronicle.  There are many amazing people writing for the magazine, Veera Mahajan, Tommy Hawkins, Hermine Hilton and little me is there as well. Click the link to read it: Malibu Chronicle All Good News Magazine

I hope you enjoy the magazine and read it cover to cover.

Aging is something I have always been concerned with. Earliest memories were from when I was so little I was losing my baby teeth.  Don't ask me why or how but I was concerned.

I use my Beauty Tips articles to share what I know works.  They are good tips for both men and women. Try them and let me know what you think.

Thank you Malibu Chronicle

#malibuchronicle #beautytips #cadena3 #happy

To My Ladies on Superbowl Sunday

Shout Out to my ladies who don't know anything about Superbowl Sunday. Just like me!

Superbowl day and lots of people are excited.  But I don't really care.

I don't even know who is playing or what time it's going on.

I'm not that impressive knowledgable lady fan who can talk the talk with the rest of the guys.

I have never been that girl and I've stopped trying.  But good for the girlies who have it in them to pay attention (to those long what is it 10 hours) to a pigskin ball.  The game: a football tossed from one side of the field to the other.
Men get injured; NO HEALTHCARE is set up for these athletes for their health issues during their career, or their families.

What I do know; I have an audition at 10 on one side of town and a show at Noon in Hollywood.  You could say I'm playing my own kind of football, I guess.  If you get the analogy.

Honestly, I'm celebrating the real reason this un-official holiday was made up. To eat, and binge on our favorite foods and snacks.

Yeah, America!, we can get fat and get heart disease together (1 in 3 women will suffer from Heart Disease).  So just like all my fellow Americans I'm making sure I'm eating all my favorite foods.  Yes sir, I'm binge-ing.  Next I'll be sitting or laying down probably watching a movie on Netflix on my iPad, while everyone around me is rooting for their favorite team.  Of course I'll pause just in
time to watch the half time show.  But really why wasn't #Beyonce back this year.

Shout out to my girls on this Sunday.  Heed my words, this too shall pass.

#netflix #superbowlSunday #cadena3