Words and pictures.

Two quick things:

1) There are some interesting comments on my blog (and elsewhere) this morning. I would encourage everyone to check them out. See my blog post "Budgetary Fallout 2009" and Praxis's post "Canada Prizes for Arts and Creativity." Check the comments sections. Opposing view points welcome. Discussion is necessary. It's really the only way progress is made.

2) Check out Chase Images. He was a "blog of note" a few days ago and his images are incredible. I'm a sucker for a good photographer. He shoots a Canon, but we won't hold that against him. He lives in the Adirondacks and offers a variety of photography services. Mostly, I find his images of winter ethereal.

I am not blogging because I'm reading...

Why this picture? Meh, why not?

Today I haven't been up to speed on blogging. And last night I was too yoga-wrecked to write anything. Also, I feel like I have a ten second attention span right now. It's great for Twitter, not so hot for blogging (and if you haven't yet joined Twitter, I think you're missing out). So today I am just reading all the interesting things all of you out there have to say. There are lots. I am not linking to them. Because I'm lazy. But I did reorganize my little sidebar business (look to the right) with all kinds of fun links, so if you click one (or two...or twenty) chances are you will find something interesting.

I am all attention deficit-y because tomorrow is my last day at the day job (heartbreak) and I am trying to get six million things done. Actually six million. That is in no way an exaggeration. I'm also freaking out because I have auditions next week and if they go well I might be able to trick someone into paying me to act (YES!!!). And, finally, I will be sort of unemployed on Monday. Which is daunting and exhilarating at the same time. There is just so much potential...

I am curious, though, what do the rest of you out there do for your day jobs? And, what do you do when you don't have one? Other than the obvious, which is look for one. This is new territory for me, in many ways...as is just about everything...and I am always interested in what other people have to say. How do you deal with all kinds of free time and no real structure when you're used to having not enough of the former and a ton of the latter?

Budgetary Fallout 2009.

"If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."

Lilla Watson, aboriginal educator and artist

So the budget is in and it hasn't toppled the government. It isn't perfect, but it isn't completely useless, either. And Arts and Culture are once again worth investing in, thank goodness. Which means that now the argument is about who gets how much and why. When it was announced yesterday, where the funds for Arts and Culture were being allocated didn't seem quite clear. And with hundreds of millions in new funding, the cuts from September still stand.

I don't claim to be an expert on the topic, by any stretch of the imagination, but the whole thing seems, well, shady. In a word. While I am obviously a proponent of supporting up-and-coming artists, the plan by Luminato's founders to use government funds for a "Canada Prize" sounds more like another lousy reality TV show and I, personally, think their claims that it will make Toronto "a cultural capital on the international stage" are crap. Not that I couldn't personally do with $100,000, but I would rather see that money invested in one of the city's independent theatre companies to create artist in residence programs or training programs. I'm sure they could use it just as much as I and, the truth is, it would probably go farther. It is training and ensembles and hard work that create "stars" not contests.

And, at the same time that they have added funding for programs like this, they haven't done anything about the cuts that could have helped groups like Theatrefront, featured here in the Globe and Mail for their show Ubuntu. The quote above is from this article and, I think, says it all. I think what they do, this exchange and collaboration aimed at creation across international and cultural borders, is far more likely to put us on the global stage than some half-baked contest where one person wins some cash.

But I guess you have to admire the political pull those Luminato guys seem to have. I'd love to know how they managed this second coup. How did they decide that this project, tied to Luminato, was worthy of a giant cash infusion and not the programs they cut funding to that helped Canada to have a footing on the global cultural stage? Why not give money back to the programs you cut from now that you're giving cash away? Being a government, Ottawa seems not to believe in transparency when it comes to money. And this is the biggest issue with our spending in general. I think Rick Mercer put it well in his rant on Tuesday night, "if they have to spend the money, fine, but only if the fog lifts and the sun shines in."

Praxis Theatre blogs, produces, and parties. All astonishingly well and with a sense of humour.

This past Friday I was privileged to attend the sold out opening night of Praxis Theatre's production of Stranger, a show developed in three workshops over two years. I've been waiting to tell you about it until I could link to my thoughts on the production (which were committed for posting on The Theatre Centre Blog). Fortunately, Stranger runs until February 8, so there is still plenty of time for you to see it--but I wouldn't put it off any longer. Anyway, I won't go too much into my thoughts on it here since I've already written them elsewhere. I will say, though, that I enjoyed writing about it almost as much as I enjoyed watching it.

I am also linking to J. Kelly Nestruck's review at The Globe and Mail. I disagree with his judgment of the show, but I respect his opinion and I do think he makes some valid points. I would also be curious to know, from the creators at Praxis who I imagine will see this at some point, why does Praxis keep "selecting novels by authors who were equally adept as playwright?" I imagine there is a good reason (and I like the selection), I'm just interested in the conversation. Why this play now?

But what I really wanted to write about on my blog with regards to Praxis and Stranger is the reception they held after the show. It turns out I know someone who knows someone, and I was strongly urged to come to the opening so I could make new theatre friends. Well, I'm glad I listened. Because I did make new theatre friends. And laughed, a lot. It turns out they know how to throw a pretty good party, in addition to writing that blog and you know, doing shows. So here are some highlights from my night out with Praxis:

You know the awkward feeling you get at first when you're at a party where you don't know anyone? It kind of started out like that. Because after my friend left, I really didn't know anyone. And everyone was celebrating. So I was kind of the outsider (appropriate to the theme of the show, I guess). But it didn't take too long to get over, especially when I met he of the blog, Michael Wheeler ("You must be BFG." Oh goodness...). Mr. Wheeler was very kind and made some introductions, which I very much appreciated.

The people at Praxis are smart. I miss smart people. Smart about theatre people. Don't get me wrong, my friends are smart. But it's a different kind of intelligence. And it seems like much of team Praxis has studied and/or performed all over the place. It's a very cosmopolitan (though in a non-pretentious way) bunch. I too have studied in various places. It was nice to hear about their experiences outside of Toronto and then coming back...

In one conversation, I commented on how I don't really know what the difference is between the industry (I hate calling it that, but it is) in New York and the industry here in Toronto. My source (who I will not name out of respect to her privacy) told me it could be summed up in a single sentence: In New York, everyone wants to see the new face and to put you out there, in Toronto, they don't. She told me she still has difficulty getting a general audition with a theatre company in the city after many years. And that so do many other very talented people. While I think this is, frankly, disgusting, it's also a relief in some respects. It is not just me. It is, apparently, the way the theatre world works in Toronto (note to self: change the way the theatre world works in Toronto). I don't think it's a good modus operandi for a thriving theatre community, but at least when you know where you stand, it's easier to know how to proceed.

And then I met another associate of Praxis who had me laughing so hard I had pains in my sides. She was lovely. And we discussed theatre programs for kids in Toronto; she is working on starting one. We talked about how most that exist are severely limited, to be exact. I've actually interviewed with one such program and was told I don't have enough experience (me, the summer camp counsellor with the B.F.A. in theatre). The limitations are imposed by programs looking to employ teachers with an interest in theatre and not theatre artists with an interest in teaching; there is a distinct difference. It was nice to have a conversation with a like-minded individual.

I went home smiling. Aside from seeing a good show, I met some great people. I was reassured that I am, in fact, doing the right things. And I was reminded that a career in this city in what I want to do is all about diversifying. So, I advise anyone who can to go see Stranger and to hang out with Praxis, either online or, better, in real life. They're all smart cookies and they have a lot to offer. I am grateful that they shared so generously with me. And I hope to see them again soon! You all have a standing offer from me to buy you coffee/beer/lunch for the privilege of picking your brain.

John Updike.

John Updike, Pulitzer-prize winning novelist, passed away yesterday at the age of 76 after battling lung cancer. Updike is best known for his Rabbit novels. His writing has been met with both disdain and praise from critics and readers alike. He had a talent for poeticizing the every day. Learn more from his obituary in The Globe and Mail or in The Toronto Star.

On a personal note, Updike is someone I've been meaning to read for a long time. He even published a new novel, The Widows of Eastwick, last year and a book of short fiction will be published this year. Given that life is short, I think I will get to it. Also, I think the above posted is a charming picture.

When it rains, it pours.

When today started, I had one audition booked for next week. The kind that I just scheduled, not submitted for. Now I have three auditions booked for next week. With two on the same day. And I got them from submitting. And now I'm all panicked and agitated.

I don't consider auditioning to be my strong suit. And very, very rarely do I find it fun. I need to get over all this, I realize. But I wasn't expecting to have to do it all next week. And one totally threw me off since I submitted to them in, I don't know, October maybe?

I am, of course, prepared for none of it. Which is my own fault, without a doubt. I think I know what I am going to do for each one, so we're a step ahead of last time already. But I would hardly say the plan has formed beyond that.

But, of course, I've already thought about what would happen if I got each of them. Or any of them. Jumping the gun, I know. I can only do one of the three projects (if I'm fortunate enough to land any of them) because they're all theatre and they all interfere with one another. As luck would have it, too, it then becomes a matter of prioritizing: one is a good career move (I think), another is a good financial move, and the third is a consolation prize but would definitely make me a better actress.

Nothing happening in your career is frustrating. But something happening in your career could be just as challenging...

Getting an audition is just the beginning of the battle. If you're fortunate enough to get a foot in the door, what do you do next? This is what I'm still learning. And I will let you know what I figure out.

Politicians are tricky creatures.

All this budget previewing is getting old. It's an obvious attempt to lessen the impact of a giant deficit when the government officially announces it today. I'm not sure it's going to work, but every article I read about what's already been revealed suggests that the actual announcement will be without surprises, having already been covered ad nauseam by every major news outlet in the country.

The latest is Team Harper's attempt to make nice with all of us who care about the arts. You remember, all those people he insulted back in September. Apparently now Arts and Culture have been deemed worthy of $160 million over two years. I, for one, am skeptical that the Harper government has learned the value of the A&C sector, if you will. I think it smacks of throwing money at a PR problem in the hopes it will then go away.

And I'm not so sure of claims by James Moore, the new Canadian heritage minister, that if everyone else votes against the new budget "it will clearly show they were liars when they presented themselves as protectors of artists." While Arts and Culture are important, I don't think any of us flatter ourselves to think we are the top priority in any government budget. If the Bloc, the Liberals, and the NDP vote against the budget, I can't imagine it will be taken as a personal hit against artists so much as opposition to spending money we don't necessarily have.

But I could be wrong. What do you think?

Two coffees in and no hope for brilliance.

This is my favourite thing on icanhascheezburger today. Super smart, I know.

Some days I arrive at my blog directly, some days it's in a roundabout fashion. Today is the latter. I blame the plethora of interesting things on the interweb. Also, I just spent some time contemplating Praxis Theatre's production of Stranger, which will be posted soon somewhere else. I will link to it then. But the short version is that it's a really beautiful, well-done show and you absolutely should not miss it.

In other news, Mary Louise Parker's latest foray onto a Broadway stage has been met with a not-at-all-good review in the New York Times. This breaks my heart because I think she's wonderful (I would secretly really like to have her career). But the real reason I am linking to it is the tone of the review: it just sounds so disappointed. There is nothing worse than having to write about a show that you so wanted to be good and it just isn't.

Also, as we are in the midst of award show season (ick) I thought I would note that someone has actually seen all the Academy Awards best picture nominees. And it definitely isn't me. Kathryn Laskaris managed to sit through all five in one weekend with her 16 year old son. Read about it here. And I really want to see Slumdog Millionaire.

But tonight I am going to see Bride Wars with my good friend, Pilates Pocahontas (because pilates is basically what she is doing with her life and she looks like Pocahontas). I cringe a little just typing that. I enjoy Anne Hathaway, but I am not optimistic. This was not my idea. But I'm hoping it will, at the very least, be fun. Wish me luck.

I promise more meaningful posts when I regain the ability to focus. And I have another audition coming up, so that should be entertaining. Meanwhile, go see (or do) something exciting and tell me about it!

And I thought I was lost and confused...

I don't have a whole lot to say today and was planning (am still) to tinker with my blog formatting (I am still new at this, I don't speak html, and I don't love el blogo yet). Then I was bored and surfing the web and I saw something I felt merited blog postage.

So, my current day job contract is up at the end of the coming week (anyone hiring?) and, as a result, I am hunting for new opportunities. In the course of investigations I have, of course, been through the classifieds, and what should I come across but multiple posting with titles like "Serious actor launching career" or "Actress/Model seeking work." I click on them because I am intrigued. I refuse to link to them because I am appalled.

Basically, they are all the same thing: several bad photographs (some semi-nude, almost all suggestive) of people who look like they haven't got a clue, an email address, a list of their skills and "training," and links for websites, resumes, etc. So I follow a few of them because I really want to know who thinks that posting on classifieds is going to get them a "serious" acting job. Some have taken acting classes, it seems, but not necessarily from reputable teachers/schools. And whoever told one girl that she needed to list her measurements on her resume should be banned from advising all aspiring actresses in the future.

It is so easy to be taken advantage of in this industry. And I don't know whether people chose to post this information in the classifieds on their own or if someone suggested it (I am not under the impression that anyone has ever gotten a real acting job like this, please correct me if I'm wrong), but it's kind of pathetic. And mostly sad because, well, it doesn't seem like these people have any idea about how to get the ball rolling (and I say that as someone who is frequently also at a loss). I don't even know what else to say, I wasn't aware that people did this.

This isn't, obviously, a well thought out post...more of a ramble, really. But, I guess my point is, don't we all, in this community as well as others, have a responsibility to help along the next generation? To mentor those who haven't yet accomplished what we have so they don't wind up deluding themselves or looking silly? I believe so. And while I haven't come that far, I certainly have tried to help those I can (and my little protege is doing quite well on her theatre school audition tour). And I am always looking for someone to show me the way...So, if you are in a position of some power or if you know anything at all, get out there and share the wealth. So people don't post crazy things in classifieds and so I don't lose my mind.

39,560 reasons to invest in the arts...

Theatre Passe Muraille, one of the birthing places for many of Toronto's independent theatre companies, announced yesterday that it finished its fiscal year with a $39,560 surplus. This followed a year when the financially strapped TPM had to call the city of Toronto in for help. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's pretty impressive.

Even cooler than that is TPM's membership in the Creative Trust program, which will match their surplus to create a Working Capital Reserve Fund. They will continue to match surpluses for the next two years in order to grow this fund. Basically, this translates into the continued success and health of Theatre Passe Muraille and more opportunities for all of us theatre artists (and audiences) here in Toronto.

This is proof, too, that investing in the arts can pay off and that theatres are sustainable. Isn't it nice to hear good news amidst all the economic doom and gloom?

As a thank you to their Toronto audiences, TPM is offering all tickets to their current production, them & us, for $15. For more details on this, click here. To read the whole press release, click here. And, in case you needed one more, here is the story on Torontoist, too.

It's nice to know that there are people out there who believe the arts are worth supporting. And that not all of them are necessarily artists.

All the best to Theatre Passe Muraille for another great year!