Pursuing your Passion

How much are you willing to endure to pursue your passion and achieve your goals.   Each day as actors we are bombarded with many naysayers who believe we should quit and get “a real job”.    In their mind we are in pursuit of a childhood fantasy, and they never stop to realize that the actors they see in their favorite movies, were once in our shoes.   So the question becomes how important is it to you, and what are you will to endure to reach your goal?

This became a reality to me recently as I wanted to just walk away.    No one enjoys struggling.   Not knowing when your day is coming is not an easy pill to swallow.  But I realized that if I quit, I give others the victory.  Quitting for me is not an option.  As I began to reaffirm to myself that my day will come, I was invited to attend the OmegaKayne Intensive Acting Class.  This is where reality sat in for me.  Through this class I realized how bad I really wanted to be an actor.

This class for me was a game changer.   My mental definitely met my physical.  It was nothing like I had every experienced.    As we recited our material in the assigned dialect, our bodies were pushed to the limit.  The monologues were life-changing affirmations.    I began to understand that wanting it was not enough, but I had to be bold and go get it.   Act like I deserve the opportunity more than the next person.   It is about leaving an impression.

I was in search of someone who was going to stretch me, who was going to be brutally honest with me and push me beyond my limits. This class is where I found it. I would suggest this class for any actor who is serious about their craft. You must definitely be willing to be challenged.   If you are not ready to be told the truth then this is not for you. 


My Advice:
1. Seek out a class where you will be challenge.   
2. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and will push you to be your best.  
3. Embrace the idea that "Quitters Never Win". 


If you are an Atlanta actor and would like more information on OmegaKayne's class email inquiries to omegakayneintensive@gmail.com 



Me reciting I AM in a South African Dialect 




Jenna Fischer’s Advice To Actors

Video Submission: Submitting the best you!

            Have you ever had an audition that required video submission?   I am sure many of you have.   With technology constantly growing more and more we are required to do video submissions as opposed to walking into an audition. So one can conclude that if this is the current trend, then we as actors should learn how to sell ourselves via video submissions.  There are things that you can do to increase your chances of landing the role or being asked in.  One just must understand how to properly record a video submission.

            By doing video submissions you have the opportunity to send in the best possible audition.  You can tape your submission multiple times to get the one that shows you best.  Make sure you know your lines and are not holding the sides.  By doing a video submission you have a greater opportunity to build your character.  Here are some additional tips to help you create a great video submission.

 Don’t:

1.     Film in a busy background, ie. Outside, in your kitchen, in the bathroom. The only time you want to use on location shots is in case of reality show audition, where you are asked to show your life.

2.     Film in a place with lots of background noise.  You will be amazed at what microphones pick up

3.     Create a video with props.  It’s all about you.

4.     Use your cell phone.   Yes there are phones that are creating great quality videos, but try to avoid using a cell phone if at all possible

5.     Include other people.  The director wants to see you and you only.

Do:

1.     Use a plain background. A plain wall will do just fine. If you like you can do a blue, black, or green plain background.

2.     Do a few takes to see what kind of background noise is being picked up.  You also want to see if you can be heard clearly.

3.     Make sure your reader, reads softly.

4.     Your video is still and it is cropped so that your faced can be seen clearly.

5.     If you must use an i-phone make sure you videotape if from a landscape point of  view, to avoid your video being narrow.

Here is a video submission that I did May, 2011.