little helena’s big adventure…

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I was also lucky enough to have 2 coffee meetings today. one with John Miller and another one with Shannon Kear and her friend Emily.

the first meeting was with John. John was such an interesting guy. Steve, Mitch, Karen, and I sat down; and to be honest the conversation started off slowly, but John really seemed to get into get. He kept saying that he had been trying to think of stuff to tell us. It was fantastic to think they he was kinda nervous about our talk, just like we were.

John had some really great advice. He was fabulously blunt about the business. I would much rather I get a clear cut idea about what is ahead of me, rather than a sugar coated one. John said you really have to want it; everyone else out there wants it just as much as you…or more. People are jerks out there, and you need to protect yourself . Being a professional actor is lifestyle that never ends. it a lot about getting your self out there- self promotion. John even told us that some people pay people (agents, managers) to meet with them; to sit them down and make them listen to you.

John talked a lot about his film career; and also about the difference between LA and New York. He said LA is great, focused a lot on film, nice weather, but everything is spread out and you have to drive every where and there is horrible traffic haha. New York is its own world. Everything is so quick and hands on… new york is where its at. There is so much going on, and there always will be.

Our next coffee meeting (after eating Lunch at a great burger place called Paul’s- Da Burger Joint) was with Shannon and Emily. Latera, Emma, Steve and I had a grand adventure just getting to Gregory’s Coffee. Then we found these two gorgeous girls sitting by the window and we sat down. They were so personable and seemed really excited to talk with us. They really gave me a great perspective about living in the city. They both came from different areas; Shannon from the west coast (CA) and Emily was from Pennsylvania. Shannon even gave us great company for New York apartments. Both of the girls talked a lot about working with film/commercials, and also working with SAG. They had so many random stories to tell us, and that really made everything seem really comfortable; also that everyone makes mistakes and they learn through those mistakes.

today i got a great amount of information and….caffeine haha.

today was full of so many things. we started off this morning with a meeting at the Looking Glass Theatre. We met with the Rapscallion Theatre Collective. They were a great group of people. You could see just from talking to them the amount of passion they had for theatre. It was great to see an off-off broadway venue. We got to look around the theatre and see the conditions. It reminded me a lot of our black box. It seems like a great place to start off, to get your feet wet. We met with Lauren-Reinhard Tiongson, and also the rest of the board of Directors, which consisted Christophe Anderson, Reynold Malcom Hewitt, and also other members of the production team. There were in tech week, so they were bouncing around the theatre.

we started off with the introductory conversation: our names, what our focus is, etc. Really quickly the conversation got really fun. They asked a lot about our class, and they really loved our program. It was great to hear someone on the outside who really want to hear about our department. But of course, we were there to hear about their experience. So we talked a lot how they started their company, and what kept them going. We had a great converstion and it lasted for about an hour and half. It really didn’t feel like that long.

Some of the things that I remembered from the meeting vaired from really broad advice and really great stuff that I had never thought about. Lauren talked a lot about Off-Off Broadway and how that its driven by the passion. Laruen said its, “not about the money, causee there just isn’t any.” They actually seemed to enjoy Off-off Broadway more, because there was so much more creative expression involved. Lauren said that theatre is a responsibility. Essentially a responsibility to bring art and creation into the community, and also a responsibility to yourself, to satisfy your creative need.

I loved how they talked to us really realisitcally. They were pretty blunt about the business, and that it definitely a business. You must be realistic, and know your limits and know how far to push your self. They said don’t be afraid to audition for something you might not get. Who knows, the director may have an idea about a character…but you could change it…

One of the greatest things Christophe said was that, “New York is an island, dont burn your bridges.” The buissness is so fosuced on networking and working with people, and name dropping. You have to make your experiences really positive and strong. You have to stand out; be confident but not that cocky.

The one thing they kept pushing was to keep active. You must keep honing your craft; take classes, workshops, community theatre, etc. You have to constantly keep auditioning. You would much rather be waiting to hear back from 5 people rather than just one.

over all, I had a great time chatting with these people. They had such comradery, and it was great to hear that they went to the college and then came back to NY to start this theatre company. It made me really excited, maybe i could start a theatre company with friends- haha sounds great, crazy… but great.

today was a day full of adventures…. we started off with one idea, but had to change- cause we got lost.  i’m glad we got lost.  i would much rather get lost sooner than later, and have the looming feeling of the time that I get lost in the big city.  we (Later, Karen, Steve, myself, and Talya for part of the time) planned on going to the HB Studio to audit a class.  but alas, we missed it cause we were lost and couldn’t seem to find bank st.  We wandered around and stopped by the New School info desk, Parsons info desk, and then eventually got our bearings and found HB.  we were so happy when we found it- it was so gratifying. we took pictures outside the building to capture our achievement. we eventually went inside, and they were so nice about everything, and we got the class schedule and planned to come back and sit in on a class.

then we wandered a block and got to the New School of Drama.  we went inside and met with a cheerful woman for admissions, she answered our questions very graciously and full of information.   from the building we could see water, so the next obvious choice was to go to it.  we took beautiful pictures of the scenery and board walk.  it was such a beautiful day and it was great to be outside, and in New York.

we grabbed a smoothie and then Latera, Karen and I got to Battery Park… wandered around, saw an acrobat jump over 4 volunteers, saw lady liberty from a distance, and then decided to take the Statton Island Ferry.  We saw lady lib up closer and got pretty chilly while standing on the deck.  We walked around the area- the best part was seeing all of these kids getting out of school. we heard so many different dramatic conversations in a bout a 15 minute span- hilarious.  ( i dont miss high school) haha.

we eventually ended up back Mid town, and had a second to run back and upload my pictures cause my camera was full- eek. and then headed off again… this time to T. Schreiber Studio.  Karen and i went to their Information Session, and got to speak to the whole faculty.  The people who work there are full of so much energy.  I love it, the environment they have created is so warm and exciting.  One of the things that Karen and I were most exciting about the beginning classes for film.  I’ve always wanted to try film, i’ve never really had the opportunity to try.   This beginning course is so flexible, and the people there really now how to work with people with many different ranges of experience.

we rushed back towards the theatre where we going to see Gypsy  with Patti Lupone.  it was a great experience, It was great to see a Broadway legend, that so many people respected on stage.  There may have been some trips and mistakes in the show, but in some ways thats something I liked.  It made the show more relateable- we all make mistakes…sometimes the curtain doesn’t close- so what, you find a way to close it.

today was full of so many things….so many people, so many steps, so many subway stops, and so much fun.

this jackson pollock painting really affected me when we went to MoMA yesterday. once i stood in front of the painting, i couldn’t move. I love art and going to fantastic museums, but I have to admit, I have never had an experience like what happened to me yesterday. i felt like i was about to cry, or about to laugh, or just be silent. there is so much depth in the painting, and so much you can possibly see. I felt like I could look at the painting for hours. I think i might even go back to the MoMA just to look at it more. some people may not get, or just appreciate, or even love it. you can see whatever you want… thats why i love it.

well today has been crazy… the first day was full of so many things. we started off with breakfast provided by the hotel, and then headed out to explore the city. Steve, Talya, Jenn, Layton, Sommer, and I headed off to times square to do the tourist thing. we all took so many pictures…ugh i felt like such a tourist. the city looked amazing, and we had so much fun. we had an even greater adventure getting our metro tickets. then we headed down to Canal st. and “shopped.” then headed closer to the theatre and had a great lunch at the Yummy House- it was yummy, what a surprise! haha

then we had a matinee of The Seagull, with Alan Cumming and Diane Wiest. i love both of them, and me and my mum have been a huge fan of Diane Wiest for so long. I was soooo lucky to be able meet both of them and also a number of the other actors after the show.

the next show of the night was Next to Normal, it was a musical.  the set was great, and it was definitely a different musical. i feel like i  can’t say much about the musical, i liked the musical, but didn’t necessarily love it.  the story threw me for a couple loops, but i did enjoy it.

well here we are….we finally made it. right now i am sitting in bed at 2:16am after doing so many things. lets see…it all started at 9:30 am when i woke up this morning. made final checks and got money from the atm… and then met up at duPont. we then boarded the bus to take us to washington dc. the trip seemed like it lasted 20 min- POOF! we were in DC. we then waiting in the city for about an hour, got snacks…then boarded the DC to NY bus.

the trip started off pretty smoothly and Steve and i basically just munched on food the whole way, and laughed, and just had a good time. the drive seemed fine until we started to get close to the city… then traffic. we were stuck outside the Lincoln tunnel for it seems like forever. the city was right in front of us… i could see the beautiful skyline so close, but yet so far.

then eventually got to the hotel, and literally dropped things off, had a slice of pizza and then ran out the door. we walked really quickly through the streets till we got to the theatre. i love the city. the feeling of a city is so invigorating… i love it. we made it to the theatre and then i finally took my seat to watch Spring Awakening. I’ve wanted to see this so for so long, and it was a great way to start the trip off. i remember reading the play in History of Theatre, and I’m so happy to have seen this great rendition of the piece. we had a great take about the show once we got back to the hotel (after a very brisk walk in snow/sleet/rain)

the talk ranged from the lights, the music, the piece, etc. one thing that i thought was intriguing to me was that I made this connection that the “students” (audience members) that sat on stage we connecting the world of the play to the world of today… i really wish i could have been on stage. it would have been a whole new prospective.

i really wish i could give some more incite… it is a bit too late, and it has been a long day. i still can’t believe we are actually here- so much has happened and its only the first day, can’t wait to see what will happen next.

Painting by Marcel Duchamp

Toe upon toe, a snowing flesh,
A gold of lemon, root and rind,
She sifts in sunlight down the stairs
With nothing on. Nor on her mind.

We spy beneath the banister
A constant thresh of thigh on thigh–
Her lips imprint the swinging air
That parts to let her parts go by.

One-woman waterall, she wears
Her slow descent like a long cape
And pausing, on the final stair
Collects her motions into shape.

X. J. Kennedy

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we talked about this painting this morning during my principles of design class.  I had never heard of the painting or really the artist- Marcel Duchamp.  His “work and ideas had considerable influence on the development of post- World War II Western art, and whose advice to modern art collectors helped shape the tastes of the Western art world.”  I was lucky enough to have my computer in class, so I could look up the picture.  I love how broken down the piece is.  Even with the broken aspect of it there is great cohesiveness and unity.  There is such elegant movement.

later today, i checked out the book “The Theatre Posters of James McMullan” from Gregg’s library.  I started looking through it and found a quote from Jim McMullan that really connected with me and what I felt in response to the painting “Nude Descending a Staircase.”

Jim McMullan: “I don’t invent from thin air, but from my response to real physical information…The vitality of the human body, closely observed in its idiosyncrasies, is what has always fascinated me about the posters of Toulouse-Lautrec…the body itself became a quickly understood gesture like the movement of a mime or a dancer.”

I can see what he is talking about,and I can see it Duchamp’s work as well.  The human form has obviously been a subject for design and art since there was art; and it will continue to be.  Personally, i’ve always been daunted by the human form.  I’ve taken classes and workshops and had live models… there is so much to take into consideration when drawing each line.  If it is off by just a centimeter the whole shape is off.  I love the words McMullan uses: vitality, idiosyncrasies…etc.  I also greatly admire Toulouse-Lautrec.  I can see admiration for Laurtrec in McMullan’s work.  There is such focus and attention payed to the emotion behind the body position and facial expressions.  So much is said with so little.

I was lucky enough to be able to talk to Jim McMullan for about 20 minutes this past Friday.  The converstaion started off slowly and kinda generically.  I could tell he had answered these types of questions many times before; and he was hoping for more intriguing and personal questions.  I reasured to him that I didn’t want to sound like a broken record and what I really wanted to hear was his story, not just a formula as how to make it as an artist.  Be bluntly told me…”You just have to be talented.”

This made me question though… what exaclty is talent?  Some people are so talented, but are never really “discovered.” I thinks a combination of being talented, of course; but also being in the right place at the right time.  Jim McMullan told me that he was working at drawing book covers, and doing theatre posters just came about because a friend (another artist who designed theatre posters) passed along his name to the Lincoln Center Theatre.

My conversation with Jim McMullan puts things into a more “blunt” perspective.  Jim was very to the point.  He said he’s always been a devoted reader, and is focused on the “density of writing” and interested in “serious dense subject matter.”

He’s very grateful that he’s had the opportunity to do what he does.  He describes designing the theatre posters as a way to reach the audience and pull them in. Each poster is an identity- an opinion.  He also told me something that I never really thought about before. The posters make the the actors feel good about the production. It’s true- I love seeing the posters…i love seeing them go around campus, and people stopping and looking at them.

I had a really great talk with him, and I’m so grateful.

free time…? what is this? i actually have free time.

(this is a koala napping… i thought it was appropriate…)

well its a lovely Tuesday afternoon, and i just woke from a wonderful nap. I can’t remember the last time i was able to have a nap. Obviously since the show isn’t running this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday… i actually have some time to get things sorted out in my life haha. Things have been so hectic, its weird to have a time when it’s not now. I dont really know what to do with my self.

I hope this break will just give me the motivation and rest I need to finish the play as strong as I possible can. This past weekend was rough. There were nights when I was really proud, and really did want to perform for the audience…and then some nights were a little less- not that shows were bad, but I just didn’t feel like we were doing it complete justice. i really want to finish the show of with a bang. i want my emotion and strength to be at high point (and not speak too fast, to follow a note hah) I really want to push myself to prove to myself, to gregg, to whole cast and production team that I can be Joan, and give my strongest performance yet…

wish me luck, actually lets hope i break appendages…

alright…well the show has opened. it went well, and i am proud of the show. the road has been rough; very rough…but sadly, and some what thankfully, the end is near hah.

i know a lot of people have been coming out of the theatre not know at all what they just saw on stage. the play is weird. i know this. i heard about kids coming out of the theatre and saying, “how am i going to be able to write 3 pages about that?..” still, i think you could write many pages about this piece. Not really just the piece, but the idea behind it. what if the world really boiled down to a world where everyone was against one another. but i really hope it makes people think, at least.

its funny- i have a hard time describing the show. when people ask…”oh, whats it about?” i always seem to be a little loss for words. i usually say- its an interesting anti-war piece. i had a really different experience working on this show. i think its some-what refreshing that i can’t describe the show very well. it has many different and important ideas behind it: relationships, family, war, struggle, survival… and the list could go on and on…thats probably why is so hard to describe…its amazing how caryl churchill can put so much into only 50 minutes…