Hello Everyone!
Because I’m a slave to the machine called SEO, I will be sending out bi-weekly newsletters from now on. 😊
I’ll try to keep them interesting, inspiring and informative!
Here goes!
Class News
Sessions started a few weeks ago with a mix of returning actors and those new to the work. Everyone’s excited and inspired – working on challenging material. I’m so happy to be back in class trying out new ways to teach the exercises and useful approaches for actors’ bodies, voices, hearts, imaginations, and minds.
Congratulations to two wonderful actors who were in class the past year!
The marvelous Taelor Lewis-Joseph was accepted into the 2024 CFC Actors Conservatory!
… and the amazingly talented, intelligent and brave Andrea Werhun, who continues to push boundaries. Recently she was featured at TIFF in Sook-Lin Lee’s Paying For It. She received a glowing review for her work in the TIFF description. It’s being featured at the Calgary and the Vancouver International Film Festivals!
Viewing Suggestions
I coached George MacKay for his first major role eight years ago. He has become a dear ‘Art Friend’. He’s constantly pushing himself as an actor, joining unusual projects and accepting roles which are huge challenges and stretches. I was astounded by his work in the highly-rated Femme, which I finally saw. I couldn’t believe this closeted, violent and deeply vulnerable character was the easy-going, charming George I know so well!
Another inspiring film for you to watch: I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale. There are wonderful interviews with Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, and others. You can see how Streep was influenced and how her connection to this amazing actor enriched her art.
I’m currently watching The Morning Show. I didn’t think I’d be that drawn in, but the writing is so good and the acting so committed, that I’m thoroughly enjoying it!
Here’s the next section of my ABCs of acting inspirational thoughts
7 | Always Be Committing Part 1:
Like musicians and dancers, actors are artistic athletes. They require a daily work-out routine that encompasses warm ups for the voice and body. Many actors do not understand that this search must come from a focused clarity of exploration and a stringent life of discipline. Actors are usually volatile and deeply sensitive people; they might manifest this volatility with extreme expressiveness, or they might mask it with shyness, but the volatility is there, nonetheless. It is imperative that actors develop an artistic routine early on in training. And this physical/vocal/emotional exploratory routine can ground an actor throughout a life in the art.