Dangerous Territory

The Brazen Careerist blog claims to be "advice at the intersection of work and life." I would say that Penelope Trunk does a great job of that for the modern business world and I really enjoy reading what she has to say. The only trouble is that, well, when you're an artist, where exactly is the intersection of work and life?

I have always felt that the separation of one from the other is incredibly important for sanity, success, and survival. It's good to have a multitude of things in your life; it can't just be about one thing. That kind of single-mindedness could drive a person crazy. I have also heard from many of my mentors in the biz that the most unhappy, boring people they know are actors who have no life outside of acting. It would seem that there must be an intersection somewhere if life and work are two separate entities.

But the reality of being an artist is that life and work bleed into each other, they mix together, and meld, often in very creative and productive ways. Life holds the experiences art draws on to create new realities. There is endless grey area...As artists, it is impossible for us to live in a vacuum independent of our work. I imagine this to be true for business people as well at times, but not in the same way.

How do we exist in this strange in-between place? It's difficult territory to navigate and there is no good guide that I have yet found. I will continue to ponder this question while offering up my thoughts on this and anything else that falls into my head and knocks about for a while.

Keep creating. Keep living.

Saturday Audition Adventures

I went to an audition on Saturday night. I haven't been on an audition in quite some time--for many reasons. So I went. And it was...well, it was.

For some auditions, you walk in, you do your thing, you don't get much back from the other side of the table. And then you walk out and it's done. It doesn't feel like anything has happened. And you don't really feel anything in particular about it; you wonder what you should eat for dinner. That kind of audition. This was very much that kind of audition.

In all honesty, I think I realized halfway through the audition that I'm probably not right for the project. I would certainly do it if I got it, but it isn't really the most appropriate choice for me. On paper, I am intellectually attracted to it. But there's no pull, no tearing at the guts, no have-to-do-it feeling. It's also very sensitive subject matter; I have no immediate personal connection or relationship to it, so speaking the words feels a bit like trespassing. It would certainly be an interesting challenge and it would be tough, but it isn't necessarily right.

And it was bad cold read copy. Sort of. Some of it was. It was the kind of material that is really easy to do poorly. To sentimentalize it instead of to make it a reality.

Anyway, I went in and read through all of the monologue choices. There were way too many, literally there had to have been at least twelve. I got there 20 minutes early (early is on time, on time is late, and late may as well not even bother) and probably spent the first ten minutes just picking a monologue. My point is, it would have been easier if there had been fewer choices. There was no need for that many choices.

I finally picked one, read it over a few times, and just tried to relax. I had total indigestion (more a result of pizza and coffee than nerves, bad pre-audition choice) and just felt icky (okay, maybe some nerves). Eventually I went into the room and sat down and did my thing. On the one hand, I didn't think I was very believable. On the other hand, I didn't think I was totally unbelievable either. I took the minimalist approach and tried to just tell it (which was a traumatic experience, by the way) as much like one of my own memories as I could. I don't know if it was what they were looking for, but it's what I did. And I think I did it pretty well. At least, I definitely felt when I wasn't doing it. In that respect, I was proud of myself.

After that they gave me another piece to read. Same idea, more or less. They didn't really say anything. And I don't know if that was because they'd decided it wasn't worth it or because there just wasn't much else to say. I think it was the latter. So they stopped me partway through the second piece, gave me the rehearsal schedule info, and told me they'd be in touch in the next week or so. Short and sweet.

I may get it, I may not. The audition didn't really give me any indication one way or the other. And, really, I don't much care one way or the other. Which is sometimes a great way to audition, especially if you're just getting back into it. Every audition can't be a matter of life or death. Not that you should treat any audition as less important, but, let's face it, reality says that some of them are. If I don't get it, no worries. If I do, it will be a challenge and I'm sure I'll learn something. Nothing to do but wait and see!

Also, I'm glad I went, if nothing else. It means I started, which is sometimes the hardest part. And now all I have to do is keep the ball rolling...

So if you're thinking about doing something, stop thinking, and just do it. Jump in.

Cliff Notes for the Reluctant Theatre-goer

There is quite the witty article in London's Guardian newspaper about Neil LaBute's show In A Dark, Dark House. The column "What to say about..." is a regular feature, I've just never heard of it. But I love the idea! And it looks as if he's covered just about everything currently playing.

Basically, it pieces together all of the reviews of the play to provide you with fodder for a conversation, should someone ask you what you thought of the play. Very useful against the snooty intellectual types.

It's worth a look and laugh. Oh, and the play sounds quite interesting to. If anyone is in London, check it out.

New Life Skill

I learned how to use Photoshop.

Well, sort of.

Anyway, it was fun and I can do some stuff now. Like make torn paper.

Tina Fey Takes Over the World. Finally.

Above is the cover for the January 2009 issue of Vanity Fair. What could be better? Well, other than the rest of the photos by Annie Leibovitz, there is the article by NY Times writer Maureen Dowd. Check it out here.

Tina Fey is brilliant, in short. She is a woman to watch. Not only is she hilarious, but she is so smart. Incredibly smart. And she's a good person--in the real person sense of that, not in the saintly sense. In a way we can all aspire to and actually achieve, without ever having billions of dollars.

I think she's an excellent role model for younger comediennes and actresses. Not only has she done incredibly well for herself, but it certainly seems that she has done it all without compromising herself in any way. In a nutshell, she is intelligent, hilarious, principled, and someone you can really respect. To say nothing of gorgeous. All in a real person kind of way.

We all need good role models. Add Tina Fey to the list. This is just the beginning!

Did You Know...

Apparently We Will Rock You in Toronto has Ten Toonie Tuesdays ($20 tickets, for the mathematically disinclined). Click here for more info/purchasement. It is best seats, I believe. You have to admit, that is a pretty awesome deal...

The Straight Play Makes A Comeback

This is an unspeakably thrilling thought for those actors (AKA me) who dream of Broadway glory but would sooner die than sing in front of people.

The Globe and Mail recently published an article on how the biz is doing on Broadway--long story short, not so well. But it turns out that straight plays with limited runs (and, frequently, unfortunate big name casting choices) are actually doing quite well. While many big musicals have closed in recent months, including several that had just recently opened, the plays are close to recouping their production costs! This is excellent news...more here.

It makes sense, if you think about it. Plays are generally more intimate affairs. Everything is scaled down. Including the price tag. So to keep one running is less expensive. Granted, they are somewhat harder to market, which leads to certain big stars being on stage who have no real business being there. But they fill seats. A necessary evil, I suppose.

At any rate, I think this is a silver lining, n'est-ce pas?

Dictator Dancing

Bawren Tavaziva is set to choreograph a ballet about Robert Mugabe in England. Mugabe is an African dictator, the current president of Zimbabwe, who has held power in the country since 1980. The ballet will be called My Friend Robert and will be drawn from Tavaziva's experiences growing up in Zimbabwe. He has lived in Britain since 1994. This sounds very interesting; a bit more here.

Fingers and Toes

Babysitting this weekend.
I got paid to go get a free manicure and pedicure.

The catch?
The 2 year old and the 6 year old got their nails done, too.

Yes, I took a 2 year old for her first mani/pedi.
Hot pink with white polka dots.
Super cute.

Another strike looms...

Last winter was the writers. Will this winter be the screen actors?

The Screen Actors Guild has been working without a contract (with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) since the end of June. After months of on-again, off-again talks, they are pushing for a strike vote.

There is a really good piece about it in the LA Times. Basically, it all amounts to one big, bad idea. What SAG is asking for is unrealistic, and more than the writers got last winter. It is hard times economically for pretty much everyone at the moment, big studios included. The strike seems to be a divisive issue within SAG, with many A-listers and others voicing their opposition. Plain and simple: a strike may not get them anywhere and it will halt productions and put people out of work at a time when no one can afford for that to happen.

However, if SAG should vote to strike, ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Artists) will support them. Read about that here. Frankly, if their demands seem unreasonable and they aren't really "fighting the good fight" so-to-speak, wouldn't it be foolish on our part not to embrace all that business headed North?

The dollar is down, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.