Beautiful People

You know, one of the hardest things you can probably do in your life is be yourself, your true honest-to-god self, in a room full of strangers. I admire everyone I saw yesterday with the balls to do that. Congratulations, you've just taken a big step towards becoming the best actor you can be by simply being true to yourself.

There is something incredibly magical and beautiful about people once they just let themselves go. I couldn't stop smiling yesterday. My cheeks actually started to hurt after a while.

Wow, I don't smile enough.

I learned so much from watching other people perform. It continues the trend I was experiencing by being an assistant teacher to a class of green actors. It really teaches me a lot about myself.

For instance, every fear or nervous energy that would creep up on me, creeps up on other people too. I'm just like everyone else. I'm not "special". I'm not alone.

And yet, people all have different ways of coping with their fears. In that sense, we're all different. We all bring something unique to the table. We're all "special".

Pretty neat, huh?

I Know Shit!

Due to an incredibly hectic audition/casting today, Claudia was swamped and needed someone to fill in for her class tonight. After failing to find a suitable replacement, I was asked to do the seemingly absurd: "Hey! Why don't you teach the class?"

Exsqueeze me?

So I had a brief itty bitty moment where I held my breath and a variety of excuses came tumbling out: I can't teach, I wouldn't know where to begin (answer: class outline); They don't want to see me, they want a professional (answer: duh, you are a professional - oh right!); Why me? (answer: why not?); How the heck am I suppose to fill up three hours of class time? (answer: introductions/annecdotes/slating/resumes/scenes/more annecdotes/and if in doubt, bring up the artistic situation, or lack thereof, in Ottawa - a whole semestre could be filled on that topic alone)

Those brackets were the actual answers I was giving myself to my pathetic excuses. I started feeling better, excited even. I gleefully excused myself from the audtion situation to go "prep" (ie. put labels on video tapes) And you know what? My class rocked! I realized that I know stuff, way more stuff than I ever gave myself credit for and I didn't even need to bring up the situation with the arts in Ottawa.

The enthusiam in the class was contagious. All these fresh-faced wannabee professionals with their eagerness to learn, to absorb everything, and to work. And they laughed at my jokes! I was pumped.

At the end, I asked a few what they thought of class before telling my assistant how this "wasn't bad for my first class." A few students overheard me.

"Really?" they said. "I could have sworn you'd be doing this forever."

I feel so proud right now.

That's a Wrap!

I know it's been a while since my last post, but throughout most of that time I was either sick or working at a booth in the St. Laurent Shopping Centre.

I spent the entire weekend at an ACT table telling people about our upcoming classes. It made me realize somthing. I really like talking about acting with people who show a genuine interest in the matter. Then again, that's probablty the case no matter what subject you may be talking about.

Today, I also got a phone call from my OLT director. It seems the theatre company she's involved with will be holding auditions next week and she wanted to know if I'd come in and read. Being asked to audition for something is always incredibly flattering and I said yes immediately. Like some other people, I don't really want to say too much and jinx my opportunities, so I'll let you guys in on the details when I know more.

In other news, the MOW I had been toiling on is finally done and tonight I will be attending my first professional wrap party.

You know what that means?

OPEN BAR!

I was given some friendly advice to not indulge too much... at least not until any producers or directors might have left the room.

Here's hoping I don't make an ass of myself.