Time for classes . . . la partie deux

Visited TVI, located in the Actors Equity Building just off of Broadway & Times Square. They are a major professional training ground geared towards working actors offering classes that range from acting and auditioning classes (basic, intermediate, and advanced) up to TV & Film Casting Director workshops -- these are real auditions, and no one (in their right mind at least) takes these until their audition technique (& confidence and poise) is rock solid. Additionally, they help actors focus on the business/marketing side of their career, again -- advanced serious stuff. It's an impressive place with a lot of resources.

Moi? I'm now obsessed with cold reading (the more I think about it, the more central & fundamental I see it's place in the universe): how does it ALWAYS begin? Bam! Words that you've never seen before are now in your hand. It's like being almost physically intimate with a different person each day . . . it's like that -- it will always begin like that, so how you approach it is a fundamental skill that (if cast or whatever) will set everything in motion. It's cool. It's way more than just a marketing tool, in my opinion. It's not all of "acting," but it is a critical component, having to do with spontaneity & being in/going with the moment in rehearsal or performance (an improv class, throwing myself into the demands of that kind of performance, may help).

I am determined to be the best I can be at this, and if I can get better and better -- that would be heaven.

Today I meet a representative, Kristi, who asked me what I was interested in, and she unexpected told me that she'd like to have me cold read a couple of sides in order to see where I was with cold reading and what class(es) might be best for me. Well, I think all my practice has been paying off -- she thought I might try the intermediate rather than the beginner cold reading class. That was a pleasant surprise, and an intermediate class would have the benefit of stretching me, which I think I need to do now. In any event, next week (Monday & Tuesday), I'll audit both classes & make a gut choice.

On Wednesday morning, I'll try to audit CFP's private acting class -- man, it would be great to have the time and $$ to spend a good part of my week doing this (i.e., 10 or so hours a week, with the right teachers and classes could be -- in fact, I think would be -- very helpful). In any event, I am determined to do what I can with the resources that I have, and I'm very grateful for the opportunities that I do have to formally study and learn. So, I'll just start with where I am and see what that tells me about where I need to go.

Finally, worked with Glenn at bit this last Tuesday, looking for comedic monologues. It was a good session -- I'm still very nervous around an acting teacher/coach (esp. 1 on 1), but this is a sign that I need to be much more proactive in setting the agenda and pace (see the end of yesterday's entry). This is a relationship I would like to develop someday with someone -- that should happen when it's time for it to happen.

So -- finally, I'm addressing the need for training, a goal set in early January of this year. In a way, it's worked out the way I wanted: I wanted some real world experience with auditioning & performing before taking classes, and I found all of that very rewarding, but now I'm starting to flail a bit -- not so much at what I've been doing, but I think at what I want to be doing. I can feel myself trying to stretch now, ready to stretch.