I have made some amazing contacts, and I am extremely honored and excited. So- I have made the contacts…but what is next? When you first meet the contact, how do you start the interview? Is it formal? If you are going to dinner with a contact how do you get the ball rolling? I am rather worried that I am going to sound like a blabbering idiot!
Any suggestions?
I AM EXCITED!
So, I have been writing to actors in off broadway productions and I got a contact. Amy White is an actor who has been in the musical revue, I love you, you’re perfect, now change for 7.5 years. I am so glad I got something!
We will be leaving for New York a week from tomorrow. I have never written so many identical lists down. I have started to become slightly obsessive over the details of the trip. In every small notebook I own, there are lists and notes for contacts, plays, places to eat, places to go. Even though we have the wiki, I cannot stop writing snippets of details down. My instinct is to run home each evening and get back to feeling comfortable in home base. Being in my home with my family and just feeling safe. I am trying to keep myself incredibly busy and occupied so that I do not think about the idea of being without my comforts (mum, dad, etc.) . I am really excited, but I am frightened. I am sure some think I am completely nuts! I plan to go home on Saturday evening just to get clothes and get another suitcase and such. Mum asked me to stay until Sunday evening and have our regular Sunday roast- I have rehearsal Sunday evening so that is out. I am actually rather glad I will not be staying until Monday morning. I have a couple of intense exams before we leave, and if I stay home- I know I will not want to leave home. I know this is ridiculous…I am 20. I am not going to New York by myself. I have lots of people around me. But Lucia made a great point. No one should be anyone’s mum while we are away. I know she meant: waking people up, having to clean up after people etc…- but when thinking about - I do not want anyone to be my mummy or guardian while I am away. I think this is going to be a really great experience for me, but I am getting a little anxious and frankly- very nervous.
Well, I have not posted for a week. I know that is bad! Since my last post I have been getting my contacts together. I have sent a few emails to some prominent female actors that I really want to talk to. I tracked down Patricia Phillips, the current Carlotta on Broadway. It would be a dream to talk to her and find out how she was able to get to this place in her life where she is able to play such an amazing role. I also have tried to make contact with Shannon Durig (Tracy in Hairspray) and actors that are in the chorus of musical productions to see what their days are like. I am still waiting to hear back.I have made some contacts, however, in the other aspects of my research. I am auditing a class at TVI acting studio and meeting with a recruiter to discuss possible summer programs and internships. I am going to steps studio to ATTEMPT to take a dance lesson. Also I have an appointment with a recruiter from Julliard to discuss an advanced degree in vocal performance. I really want to get a vocal lesson while I am there, but I am not sure where to start with that at the moment.I am getting stressed and I feel a little overwhelmed. I haven’t been blogging about it, but I feel like it would be good to get it out. I got the role of Mrs. Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer. I am extremely glad I got the role. As I read the script magical ideas pop into my head of what I could do (comedic timing wise.) I also plan to change my voice to create a bubbly effect. I am scared though I may not be able to express these ideas I have. I am working with a different director. I am sure that is a great thing, but since freshman year I have gotten into a pattern of how the production is put up and how much leeway I am allowed creatively - and that is a lot. We have begun blocking. The director said she likes to begin blocking first because movement can help with character development. I think that is a great idea and I have never done that before in a process. Yet, I feel a little tense because I want to get to know and work on Mrs. Hardcastle- and I am doing that at the moment with no guidance. I wonder what it is like for actors to go from director to director and have to switch the mode of what they are used to in the process. The director said she does not want to play it safe with Mrs. Hardcastle.I think playing it safe means playing it like Mother Superior or Domina. She said I brought a little Domina into the audition and wants me to take a different route. I have taken a different route - and I am excited to see where it goes. In high school I was given the opportunity to play different kinds of roles. Here at university, I have started to get into playing the comedic relief stock characters. Believe me, I enjoy them immensely! I think it is what I do best. But that is all I know I do best because I have not had the opportunity to do anything different. I think even though Mrs. Hardcastle is that stock like character- I can make some changes to delve into different aspects and personalities of the character. My mum and dad bought me a laminated map of New York City and sent it to me this week. I think they are coming to terms with it. My mum and dad saw the you-tube video and I think my dad was slightly taken a back. Not only from the technology, but he got a little upset. Not mad, like teary eyes. I think they are beginning to realize that this trip is not only going to have a huge impact on my life- but also theirs. Even though we are still close, I think they are beginning to go through the separation process! O well blog more real soon!
Last class we watched all of our two minute digital stories. It went really well. Everyone’s was really different and it was nice to see the variety of creativity in the class. Mine, I feel was really different. I made mine really personal. I do not think there was a right and a wrong- but I talked about some really personal things that I hope some can appreciate and relate to.
Each class, we are asked to read the Washington Post, Style and Arts and the New York Times Sunday Arts sections. We discuss important articles in class and add our imput to the articles. Gregg pointed out that we are not making connections to our work or to our world when discussing the articles. When I read the articles, I take them in- but I know I am not really connecting them to the outside world or our culture. I will start doing that. I understood that we were reading the newspapers for a greater reason than just to see what is going on- but I do tend to read the newspaper just to scan and see what interesting things are happening. After last night’s class, however, I will start to make those deeper and important connections.
Speaking of connections, we started researching last night on who we might want to see and talk for our projects. I am excited to start making contacts- but where on earth do I start!? There are a few names that I have found that you can see on my wiki page- but I know that is not enough. How many contacts/interviews do we need to do? Is there a decent number? What will I ask? I just want to get the ball rolling so I can start cracking down to focus on this project.
The more I think about this class, the more I think this is what I want to do. I was thinking of going to law school- but that is flying out the window because I am so concentrated on this particular aspect of my life right now. I am scared that I won’t make it though. I mean that is a fear for everyone- but I think I could make it into law school more easily than making it in this business. I know I need to have faith in myself- but there is a lot of competition and talent out there. How am I going to stand out? How am I going to make this happen? Can I survive and get through those cattle call auditions? I will make an audition? I have to brush up on my dancing- is it too late to learn? I know I am putting up these obsticles…but they are constantly on my mind. Maybe I will be able to find someone to talk to who will ease my mind…or just validate how I am feeling right now.
Here is my digital story. It took a while to figure how to upload it...but I did it 
So, I was rather nervous to research YouTube and the video aspect of this project. I can shoot with a video camera quite well, but uploading that onto a website is something completely different. With more practice, I am sure I will be able to achieve this technical aspect of this class.
While researching on the website, I came across this lovely five minuite video on New York City and Broadway. When I see media like this, it makes me a lot more comfortable about going to the city. This video reminds me about the reason I want to go to New York. I want to see where I will be potentially living, and I want to see what I may be doing if I am blessed enough to retain those opportunities. I really want to make it that far- I do want to make it to New York City- and I think this class will give me the courage I need to reach that dream.