A few of the instructors here at GRAS have often elected to start their classes off with a lesson or anecdote that has been on their minds. Todd is one of them, and this week's opening talk really moved me. He began by discussing time and passion. It may or may not come as a surprise that many folks pursuing any life in the arts are not doing so from purely financial motivations. If something in this crazy world is calling you to act, money is not likely to be the force speaking out. Now, you can very much make a living doing this kind of work (our WGA and SAG-AFTRA brothers and sisters are currently fighting to make that the norm and not the exception).
I've been following the negotiations, and even if you are just starting out as an actor, it is great to see so many like-minded people fighting for a just cause. In the end, the negotiations will hopefully benefit all actors regardless of where they are on their journey.
I feel the underlying point Todd was getting at in his introduction to that day's class is you've got to figure out what it is you really want to do, and never give up on that. Even if acting or another art is something you don't want to do full-time, make sure there is always time to nurture that part of your spirit.
I fully understand and support working a job to allow you the financial freedom to pursue a dream, but deep down, I hope you always keep it in your life. The joy and entertainment that actors, no matter how big or small, can bring to people is deeply invaluable. I believe everyone has something to express beautifully within themselves, and it would be a shame to keep it locked away forever.
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There is nothing groundbreaking that came from my work in class this week. Rather, it was a successful performance gained through hard work and practice. I took every note from Todd to heart and really lived in the silence and moments between the words. Awkward moments and pauses are something that can be quite hard to fabricate, so taking the time to let every line rest before moving to the next, helped a ton.
The monologue was somewhat short and did not call for any draining emotional investment. I knew that this was not likely to be the piece I would work on for long.
However, my performance did prompt Todd to suggest a direction for my next piece. Vulnerability. One problem that can arise from over-practicing and focusing too much on giving