Memorization and things of that nature

So I'm sitting here in a starbucks with ai  living example of birth control running around causing headaches and tempers and headaches to rise.  I'm here asking for this punishment because there are just too many distractions at home.  I wony focus as hard surrounded by all my toys and such.  So I'm  here....distractes by this child who desperately needs to be restained and wondering..

What do you do to memorize lines? What are you tricks, tips, habits?  What works for you?

For me personally, I write my lines over and over killing many a tree in the process.  Something about being forced to go at a slower pace with every word and every line helps to cement it in my brain.  And with Shakespeare, where every syllable counts, its become very useful.

Also blocking rehearsals.  Moving through the space while saying my lines is just as powerful of a memory charm. Perhaps its part of muscle memory. 

So those are my main two memorization tools.  Of course I love the help of a friend running lines with me.  But these I can do on my own.

Yours?

1918 The radio show is live!

It's been some time since I've last posted.  It happens.  I went away for some much needed sun and relaxing.  Be jealous all of NY, very jealous.  The day of departure it snowed...again.  Landed in sun.  It was a nice respite from work and swords and cold.  But now I'm back and have jumped right back into the thick of it.  Which for some reason is thicker than before.

So I'm back in rehearsals which are going really well.  We've started full runs and we still have a week and a half of rehearsals before opening.  Someone is in a good place.  Although last night's rehearsal was a bit of a..where am I? kinda rehearsal.  I'm pretty sure I said all my lines, perhaps not in the right order.  But they were there.  intention?  See that open window? Right out.  Even the Macbeth/Macduff fight, which I've felt really confident in, last night was a bit off.  But again we are in a good place. We are in a good place.  Tonight is another combat rehearsal and then I have some major line work to do.

In other news, and perhaps more timely, episode 1 of 1918 is out there live for you all to hear!!!

And here is the Link!

I'm quite proud of ep 1.  next week, episode 2.  So hurry up and listen and get ready.  If you all like...free download on ITUNES.  Just saying.

We've also already got our first review of the piece which you can read right here.

I quite like this quote "her brainy Allied scientist sidekick, Henry Isotope rendered with hilarious aplomb by classical thespian Patrick Pizzolorouso" 


Thank you Captain Radio.  Thank you. Depending on how we're received and feed back and all that great stuff, we will get to continue making more seasons.  So please, share.  Tell the world.  Enjoy!  And thank you for the support!

In a completely different direction I had a very productive yet frustrating workshop with Mark Gindick...Amazing Clown and friend.  I'm trying to set a piece to the Hungarian Rhapsody.  I've got the kernel of the idea but it needs a ton of fleshing out.  I always find it intimidating working with him because I'll say something and then he'll do it.  Flawlessly.  But much headway was made.  It's not the type of clowning you're thinking of.  I had a guest sitting in the rehearsal space with me who is not a fan of clowns, but soon realized this was red nose, not white face circusy "IT" clowns.  They calmed down and kinda enjoyed it.  A lot.
So I think I have good ideas, it's a matter of turning the ideas into a full fledged story.  And cutting down my music.  It's WAY too long.  But thank you garage band.

So it's been a long week and soon to be another.  But today is a full free day of...well..learning lines.  But at least it's not a tempest like last night here in NYC.  Right?

And lastly...this is turning into to a list of things.  But I met with the ever busy Sarah to finally get the ball rolling on her website.  She is one of the most consistently working actresses I know.  And just working in general.  But she has no online presence, save for her blog.  That will change.  Oh yes.  We both managed to meet up for an hour between clowns and swords and rehearsals and talked about some basics behind what she is looking for.  So hopefully that will be up and running within the next month or so.

And now off to run lines.  Lines Lines Lines

Macbeth rehearsals, 1918 the radio show, and just a nice little update.

So much has been going on, It's hard to know where to start. This year started with a bang, then a pop, but now we're up and running again.
Real quick..survival job laid me off.  But don't worry.  I'm elated.  My time is my own again.  And I have a few things in the works/on the horizon that could garner me some funds.  It's not all terrible.  And I'll pimp myself out as back ground for an easy day's worth of work.  I hate it...but I'll do it.

So in the land of Patrick the actor, this is the first full week of rehearsals with American Globe.  I cannot tell you how much fun I am having.  I've railed on this before and I will again I'm sure, but its sad that being treated as a professional is such a rare thing in this artistic world.  I hate having to point out those few times when I'm appreciated and not treated like second class.  American Globe is amazing to its actors.  The small staff that runs it can not be anymore amazing.  I hope hope hope that I do not screw this up in some way.  I want a nice long loving relationship with this company.  I walk into rehearsal and instantly feel..."ah, my people."  So yes, rehearsals have been going really well.  And the combat rehearsals....hello thighs on fire.  But it's a good pain.  Stage combat, and maybe more specifically, weilding a sword really does come back to you after a few minutes.  I can hear my mentor's voice in my head yelling obscenities when I make juvenile mistakes.

also..I like that my internal combat voice is that of my mentor.

But it's a good sign that I know when I'm wrong.  I didn't forget this stuff, and it wasn't tainted by some crazy outdoor fighting styles.

So we dove right in learning the final fight between Macbeth and Macduff.  There is a bit i'm rusty on, but it's coming up.  Some things just feel natural, you know?  I just have to get these moves into my body.  That, and learn how to handle the hilt of the freakin claymore.  It's more sword than you need.  But then again, Macduff defeats Macbeth...I should have a badass sword, no?  I should name it.....anyway.  The first fight rehearsal I left soaking wet.  Drenched with sweat.  And I loved it!  I hate the gym.  I've tried.  but I just can't go.  Put me in a studio and work on fight choreography and I'm your man.  I'll take fighting over gyming any day.  So far the fight is a rough skeleton that will be filled in with so much good stuff I can't freakin wait.  There are some great moves to show that these two guys are seasoned combatants.  They're just hacking away at eachother.  Good time.s

And scene work has also been going really well.  It's mainly been some basic blocking rehearsals, but we've been able to delve into character fodder as we're looking at traffic patterns and going over the text in these.  I know the real work hasn't come yet, and I'm both scared and excited.  Macbeth is so well known and people think it's so easy.  Um..Macduff's children and wife are brutally murdered.  He also is the first to see the king in all his dead gorey goodness.  There is this horribly sad rage behind his eyes.  I'll find it.  Along with getting my mouth around the line "Oh Horror Horror horror."  Yeah, good luck with that.

In other news, the trailer for the radio show I'm in dropped this week.  You can download it for free here...ITUNES!!!!  or you can go watch the video version of the trailer at the website for 1918.   Just click on the "episodes" link.  This is the amazing project that elevated me to AFTRA status.  So thank you!

The episodes themselves will come out on March first...we're getting so close to the deadline and I cannot wait to hear the finished product. I believe our director and producers are working on some final edits this weekend.  Support radio theater people!
At least check out the website.  There is some great content on there and hopefully will be more soon.  Like the episodes themselves.  Exciting times, I told you.  In case I never mentioned what it's about fully, here is the blurb about the show:

It’s 1918 and aliens have crash landed on the planet.  At the climax of World War I, Axis and Allied scientist are racing to find uses for alien technology.  Triplanes and Sopwith camels are rigged with laser systems.  Believed dead after being shot down, Manfred Von Richtofen, the infamous Red Baron is restored to health as a cybornetic robot and enlisted to aid Germany in it’s quest to fight the return of the aliens.  But the key to their quest lies in the hands – or rather the voice – of a talented, capable and tenacious vocalist, Evelyn Ceriwyn, and the bumbling, but charming scientist, Dr.Henry Isotope. 


Guess who I am....The bumbling but charming scientist, Dr. Henry Isotope. I like it.  It's a good name.


Also this week I've been working on my first website commissioned by dancer/choreographer Seth Miner.  I really do love working for my fellow artists.  Dancers, actors, anyone in our field.  I've never worked on a dance site though so I'm doing my best to try to instill a sense of movement.  Because after all dancers move.  Right?  So you'll be seeing a link to the finished product shortly.  I hope to have it finished by the end of the month as long as we can get all the information in on time.  The only problem with artists is that we're all so busy.  So deadlines sometimes come and go and are replaced with projects.  It's all good.  The interwebs aren't going anywhere.


Ah, yes.  And I also picked up some more headshots.  I went with my alternate look this time.  Something new for a while.  Thank you reproductions.  They really are the best when it comes to printing.  I tried to go to my corner copy place....don't ever do that for headshots.  ever.  I'm not sure what they printed out, but it sure didn't look like me.  So yay reproductions and thank you for all you do.  The photos look awesome and i'm looking to trying them out for the first time physically tomorrow at an audition for an Independent.  We'll see how that goes.


And now I must be off to memorize some more lines.  Our script is cut.  A lot.  But that doesn't make memorization any easier. 


longest blog post ever..methinks.  you're welcome.

Truths I've learned on a film set.

Just spent some time doing annoying BG work for the FX show Louie.  Great show to work on, small crew, small production, big heart.  And the people working it were very organized and fun to be around.  Even Louie himself.

I've noticed, I'm sure on past shoots but mainly during this one, a few truths about people and film-making.

1) If a scene is being filmed and there is a monitor somewhere on set to watch it on, people with be drawn to that monitor to watch the scene being performed. It's being acted out right in front of you, LIVE.  You know, almost like theater.  We're drawn to a little screen.  I watched tonight as we all collectively would watch the monitor until the camera swung around to focus on us.  I understand watching the play back...but while it's being performed live?  I don't get it.  (but was also drawn to it myself)
Maybe its the idea of looking at how it will look on TV, or maybe we like looking at things that appear to be tiny so we feel huge!  Like a Gulliver complex.  Hell yeah I just coined that.

I get that the crew...specifically the director is looking to see how it will look on the screen.  But the scene being filmed was at a rock concert.  There was a band playing.  A damn good band, right in front of us.  But instead of watching them everything squinted and craned their necks to watch a small monitor.

2)No matter how hungry anyone is on the set, they'll eat whatever is laid out from craft services.  This was a small budget shoot, so it was really just snacks.  We weren't scheduled to be there long enough for a lunch or dinner break, so there was pretzels and water, juice, coffee, tea and chips.  People still ate.  And ate they did.  I'm not faulting anyone.  It's not a bad thing.  I had juice.  But its the idea of "free food?  I'm in.  What is it?  I don't care it's free!"

3) the worst part is the repetition.  Over and over again.  Especially from my crappy aspect as just scenery.  We filmed a second scene which took place outside in the 19 DEGREE WEATHER!!  It wasn't too bad.  The standing still and waiting to repeat the scene is whats so painful.  You start to feel the cold through your shoes.  And normally, in average human temperatures it's just tiring doing the same thing over and over again. So here we are freezing and repeating. Freezing and repeating.  Wah Wah, I'm complaining, I know.  But you try it.  Did I mention we were filming in front of an open fish market?  Yeah...Now who was suffering.

4)There is always one crazy person.

5)Likewise, there is always one know-it-all who is too cool for school.  We're extras, get over yourself.

And that's all for now.  Here's to blending in to the background until I get some decent parts!

Sick as a Dog

I have't blogged in too long.  I love to write but sometimes time just creeps away from me.  A quick catch up, I just closed a show at theater for the new city, dropped out of a disorganized student project .. Almost a year of being dragged along, about to start rehearsals for Macbeth with american globe, I'm sick!!!! For over a week now and doing all I can to get better.  (emergen-c your powdery goodness is my new best friend), and ive been knee deep in html code for a new radio show's website.  I'm keeping busy.

Just damn this cold.  

Learning lines its always fun when you're head is a cloud shaped fog.  Yum

More to come, but there is the short of it.  Did see an amazing piece of theater last month I shall write about.  Its good to know good stuff is out there, with so many people just rehashing the sane old stuff.

Off to medicationland!

oh..ps..just blogged from the new blogger app for droid..it's..well, it's new.  So it needs help.

Jobs for Actors

Everyone has their little trick, or secret about how to work the system.  You know, pay rent and audition.  Rehearse and be able to eat at the same time.  It gets tricky being an artist without a trust fund.  I should go to that audition, but I need to work so I don't freeze in the snow.  I do like having an apartment, and warmth.  And food.  And a jacket.

Sure there are servers and temps and some people have managed to get jobs at theaters themselves.  That's great to be able to at least work around the hub of your artistic endeavor.

Well I find myself in a state of employment re-evaluation and am here to say...I do web design.  I do it fairly well.  And fast. And inexpensive.  I say this not as someone looking for work...althought I am...all artists should have a home on the web.  All of them

 It's a place to showcase your work, dance footage, sculptures, reels.  Anything.  A presence online is one of the biggest tools so many people either discredit, feel they can live without or just plain can't afford.  Well if you don't use  me, please use someone.  I'm happy to help consult, or build.  Whatever you're looking for.  And being artists..we're starving, right?  Some for art, but all for money.  So I'm inexpensive.  Let's talk.

I cannot tell you how many auditions I've gone into where the casting director actually did some researched and watched some of my videos, or referenced a photo online.  It helps people.  It really does.

So here is what I do.  Web Design.  Post cards? I'll help.  Business cards?  Yes, those too.  Help with your resume?  Let's make it look amazing.  And of course, get it all online.

Let's design your home online.

Starting Things off Right and other New Years Sounding things

So I've officially neglected my poor little blog here over the past few weeks.  The new year is off to a crazy start, so I've been a little distracted.  As all you people whom I follow know, I just now finished reading all the posts I've missed over the past few weeks.  But now I know all about your lives.  Soo...here is mine.

2011 has been amazing. I don't really go for resolutions.  I prefer to make afirmations? State "I'm going to do this, or that will happen."  I also believe in the power of writing things down.  Makes it feel more important if you write down, "I'm going to land a commercial agent."  Its there. Looming at you.  Taunting you.  Forcing you to mail out those lovely little packages.  And off they go!

So I have my personal list, one of which is repeated every year.  Basically, I will build off what I've done this year and step up from there to the next level.  Well...I think I've already done so.

First off, 2011...I'm booked through May.  Yeah...sounds good, right?  Probably make room for some small projects here and there, like that skills reel...damn you time stop slipping away from me!!!  But I'm booked for almost half the year.  Currently, thanks to my "friendanager" Samantha Mason I landed a role in a new piece at Theater for the New City.  Damn spiffy credit.  And not much of a time suck either.  I'm on stage for 15 minutes.  I timed it.  It's great, in and out.  It's about waiters.  So most of us can related to the dialogue.  And so this is my month of January.  In a basement decorated like a bar at TNC.  I don't mind.  It's fun so far.  We opened last night and will run through the month's end.  If you get a chance, come check it out..Age Out is the name of the show. INFO!!!!

After that, as I think I've written before, I head into rehearsals with the American Globe!  Woohoo.  Playing Macduff and Duncan in..you guessed it..Macbeth.  I get to chop of the bastard's head.  Who wouldn't want that?  I'm itching to get to our first readthrough/rehearsal/orientation next Saturday.  You can bet I'll be telling you how it went.  I freakin' love Shakespeare.  I really do.  And the man's been good to me.  I can't think of a better way to spend 3 months this spring.

Speaking of Shakespeare...send some good vibes my way this weekend.  After the MTA trying its hardest to make me miss my audition for Virginia Shakes yesterday....CALLBACK!  For Guildenstern.  Seriously, better and better as the year unfolds.  Sunday I have an audition for Texas Shakes, so just roll over those good vibes, k? Thanks.

Last huge thing..I'm not officially hovering around all three unions.  I've been EMC for quite a while with Equity.  Which suits me just fine.  This time of year it's slow for stage.  Most things are cast...(see my year through May)  At the end of last year I joined AFTRA thanks to a project I was in going union.  Gotta love that.  And this past Wednesday...remember that whole thing about waivers for sag and all that good stuff?

Number 3 in the can!  That's right.  I'm now SAG-Eligible.  Not 100% yet, the paperwork is being filled out now.  But this past wednesday I earned my last one.  Being an over the top studio audience member for a web series.  Thank you Webseries.  Thank you!  So what's that mean for me?  I can join SAG.  Whenever I want.  And it means that I can now submit to everything and anything.  SAG and NON-SAG.  Cause I can basically join if need be.  So rock on!  Happy 2011..I see good things for not only me, but all my friends.