Just One More Thing to be Thankful For

Youtube.

Ok, so this past weekend's issue of the NY Times Magazine had an article where a number of writers were asked to name their favorite or most memorable onscreen moment from that year and "This American Life" contributing writer, Starlee Kline, wrote about this youtube video that I don't even want to spoil by describing. The quality isn't great, but just watch it and then watch it again. It's amazing. Feel free to share your own favorite onscreen moments of the year, and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Taking Over

So I know I just finished raving about Charlie Kaufman and "Synecdoche New York," but I just saw another rave worthy performance so I just have to put it out there. If you have the opportunity to be in New York between now and Dec 14, you have to see Danny Hoch's new solo show "Taking Over" at The Public Theatre. (and if you can't make it to NYC at least check him out on youtube) His current show is about gentrification in Brooklyn and he plays a whole bunch of characters-- including a Dominican taxi dispatcher, an African American woman sitting on her stoop, a French Real Estate Broker, a Midwestern Hippie girl selling her wares---all totally dead on. I was just in absolute awe of this guy as a performer, and a bit jealous, as I often am when I see people just absolutely rock so hard in whatever they do, but mostly I was inspired.

It feels so refreshing to see good performances, especially good theatre, which I'm often so critical of because it's my medium of choice. And as an aspiring solo performer, I left the show feeling so charged up with possibility. There are so many stories to be told and part of the thrill of a solo performance is watching that one person embody such an array of people--it goes back to the basic core of storytelling, and when it's done well, it's absolutely mesmerizing.

I often feel reserved about my own solo work--like I don't have a strong enough point of view--there's not some big social or political issue that I'm commenting on, but seeing "Taking Over" was a reminder of the basic writer's axiom- write what you know. Danny Hoch is a third generation New Yorker, grew up in Queens and has lived in Williamsburg since 1990--he writes characters that are a part of his life. I don't need to go interview Israelis and Palestinians in order to create an effective piece- I can just write from my perspective and my heart. I know that's getting a little cheesy, but I think sometimes it's good to remind myself artistically and personally that it's all in there, that
"you are already whatever you seek to be." -Kelly McGonigal

A Conversation with the Audience

Charlie Kaufman... This guy is awesome. Definitely check out the above interview with Charlie Rose- it was filmed right after "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (one of my all time fav movies ever) came out and it was supposedly the first interview he'd done. I just recently saw his directorial debut, "Synecdoche New York" which I highly recommend and I just can't stop thinking about this guy- I find him such a fascinating and inspiring artist.

One of my favorite parts of this interview is when he's talking about the kinds of movies he's interested in making and he talks about theatre as a live medium vs. film as a dead medium and that he's drawn to creating films that will provoke a conversation with the audience. You can't leave one of his films not wanting to talk about it, and to me, that is the point.

Why should we make new works of art, music, film, theatre if we don't have something to say to the audience or at least to elicit? What I love most about him is that he totally challenges your notion of what film can be--he just explores the medium to its max and that is exciting to me. I leave his films wanting to be more creative and original and bold and inventive.

So go see Synecdoche New York and let me know what you think of it.

Back in BK

I bid my adieu to Cleveland yesterday after having our closing performance of "Goldstar, Ohio" and now I am back in my cozy apartment with my boyfriend in Brooklyn. It was truly an honor to work on this important play and I only hope that many more people across the country will have the opportunity to see it in upcoming years. I hold a special place in my heart for Cleveland, not so much for the city I would say, as for the number of awesome people that I met there.

So now it's back to the grind. My boyfriend very accurately predicted that I'd be really happy to be home on Sunday and then by Monday I'd be freaking out about jobs. He knows me too well. I am trying to invoke a new mantra of being Patient, Positive, and Pro-Active. It's going ok so far. I have a meeting today with a good lead for some tutoring work and I'm going to put up a bunch of tutoring fliers in my neighborhood and walk around and see what kinds of other part-time job opportunities I can scrounge up. As for upcoming acting opportunities, we shall see.

So yes it's scary to not really know where my income is going to be coming from but I feel privileged to be able to pursue what I love, and for the moment, that is enough. Tonight I'm going for a walk with a friend in my fav. place, Prospect Park. Yay!

My Love/Hate Relationships with Social Networking Sites

So after lots of pressuring from friends and family, I finally joined Facebook today, and I felt a little excited, a little overwhelmed, and a little turned off, which was pretty much my exact experience with Friendster back in the day. I like the idea of being able to easily communicate and check in with a wide network of friends, but invariably, after a little while spent surfing around, looking at peoples' profiles, pictures, etc, I just want to get off the computer.

I guess part of it is that I really prize actual interaction- seeing people in person, talking on the phone, and I make great efforts to keep that up with the people in my life who are important to me. I don't know. I have lots of nostalgia for old timey things and as much as I love the benefits of the internet and cell phones, sometimes I long for the simplicity of life before these things when you could just go out for a walk and take in the people and surroundings and not be reachable and not be surrounded by people plugged into things. But I also want to embrace technology and I think it's really cool that people are using Facebook to reconnect with their friends from elementary school and studying abroad and stuff. So, in closing, I want to be open to the Facebook experience and I would love to hear from people about what they like about it, but for me, the jury is still out.

Ohio Favs

Nov. 4th Columbus, OH




Pretty Lakewood Trees and Obama Signs



This rules!



Awesome

President Obama

I'm kind of beyond words right now. I spent 12 hours volunteering for the Obama campaign today in Columbus and watched the returns on CNN with my Dad, and when Ohio was declared for Obama my phone was flooded with text messages. I have never felt so personally invested in an election and when Obama made his speech I must have cried like 10 different times, tears of admiration and hope and relief and awe and just pure happiness. My parents both said they've never seen an election like this, and it truly feels like we are on the cusp of a new era. Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see who he chooses for his cabinet and how he deals with foreign leaders. A president I can look up to and be proud of...I can't wait to wake up tomorrow.