Day 4 in LA

I just realized that I've started numbering the days like I'll be here forever! I kinda wish I didn't have to leave, I'm milking every last minute possible. I am actually excited to get back home because I'm feeling a little tubby after all the food and no workout.

So today was random. I was going to have a surprise--but alas, it was not meant to be. The first night I was here in LA I met a photographer that was willing to do a headshot photo session for free, so we arranged to meet up today and do some shots, but when I went to meet up with him, his phone went straight to voicemail and wasn't where we agreed to meet. That's okay though, it's good for me to learn that not everyone here is quite "together" and "on top of it". Needless to say, it was good because I ran into a guy who recommended me to a place to get my car's oil change done (Mom, don't tell dad that I didn't do it before I left ABQ....).

After that, I went by this casting workshop office that I saw earlier in my trip. They audition people before they can attend the workshops they host so I thought, "Hell, why not!?" I kinda felt that they might take anybody (when I was waiting they were talking to a guy that sounded new by the questions he was asking) and I didn't try my hardest during my audition read. She liked me, and so now I can attend workshops they host. With their membership fee, I also get to submit tapes to casting directors and get feedback from them. So we'll check that out.....

I headed down to Downtown LA to meet with my mentor Dallas Travers!! Woo!!! I got to meet with her at her office and it was so cool. She autographed my book. So that was awesome! Meeting her really helped me understand her philosophy and had me grasp a better idea of how to apply it. She asked me what I was up to, what excited me, and just followed everything that she preaches.... totally amazing. She is a cool idol.

I still had some time before my acting class with Ryan Glasgow and so I hit up a local strip mall that was close by. I grabbed some jamba juice and sat writing "thank you" notes to people that I've met with. I ran into a guy who was the Second Unit Camera for the show 24. He was telling me about his experience of working on a documentary in Cambodia and Hawaii. It was really cool to talk with him about how his work and everything has been going.

And then I had Ryan's class, which was really really really really really really really really really good! It opened up my eyes a little bit. I laugh because the one thing that sticks out is when he mentioned "You have no self esteem which is perfect you've got that covered, but you need to develop your ego." Okay, Ryan. Being full of myself is probably going to be the hardest thing I ever do, but I trust ya--cuz you understand me. Like you said, the no self esteem and the high ego is what creates the cycle of art. It was really refreshing to work in front of someone who hasn't seen me work and is also in the big city. Why? Well, this is what he had to say...

So Ryan's wisdom said that I have this need to preplan my re-acting. When I first started playing out the scene, he said that my partner was gifting me things, but I'd go, "Um, no..." and deny what energy was given to me and react how I wanted to. He thought I had a lot of theatrical training because I was playing to the audience. He is the first coach to tell me I didn't have to play open. He made a good point stating that the camera is going to be right there in my face the majority of the shots so if it's not required to play open with a 4th wall, I don't need to "acknowledge" it. Now between these two comments i concluded if I connected and looked at my partner it would eliminate the majority of the error. I think not knowing the script enough was a very minimal issue, but I'll play around with that when I get back to ABQ. We did the scene multiple times and the more I looked at my scene partner the more I started catching and bam! The scene worked, I worked, I got out of my issues and I know I did well. He applauded my effort to be a quick memorizer (even if I flubbed a few lines--it was my first class!), I have a good voice, and the creativity is available. He said when I come back he wants to put together a monologue so I can get my ego in check and to work on some technical auditioning things. I'm excited to see how that turns out. I'll be back, for sure!

I really liked Ryan. I saw him all the time on "Reel Deal" on www.virtualchannelnetwork.com and found him a little intimidating, but he's really a nice guy. He purposely writes the scenes in class to be verbal gymnastics so it allows the verbal growth in believing every syllable. He really would stress about why you're saying what you're saying. Competitive auditioning is what he works on to get everyone up to par. Really cool, Ryan.

Well, tomorrow is my final day in LA this time around.... I'm going to get my eyebrows threaded with my friend and audit John Kirby's class. I was going to check out Lesly Kahn's class, but it got filled before I could join so, next time on that one! She's one I do want to check out because it appears to be more comedy than anything. But I have a feeling next time won't be so long from now........But I got a bundle to do in ABQ before I head back here.....

I might have to start a donation fund.... lol........Just KIDDING!!