I have been slacking on my blogging lately, and by slacking, I mean completely just not doing it. This is usually the part of my entry where I sit here and give me excuses for not blogging, but I won't waste my time because noone reads this blog but myself.
Where am I? I am everywhere. I am in your house, I am with the man watching you from a tree outside of your bathroom window, I am with the restroom attendant who takes unjustified pride in his job, I am everywhere. Actually, I am sitting in New York in Schaeberle theatre rehearsing for our show, "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot," in which I play Uncle Pino. Uncle Pino may very well be the most important character in the show. I say one line and sit in the jury the entire time. I am playing an old drunk, and I am going to sit around and sneak sips of my empty Pino Grigio bottle when no one is looking. Really, I make the show. Without me just mindlessly zoning out after stating my one line, would there really be a show? I think not. I am also the understudy for Caiaphas the Elder, and get two performances as him. He is one of the pivitol scenes in act 2, but still, he's got nothing on Uncle Pino.
In preparation for the show, we are not allowed to shave or get a haircut. What does this mean for me? I'd say that at the moment I resemble a homeless person. Instead of looking like a college student, I more so resemble someone with a lazy eye who'd hit you up for change on the subway. Really, I guess I'm just preparing for when I graduate.
I need a job. Life is hard without a job, expecially when you have an extreme obsession with cocaine and cheap hookers. It gets expensive. Coincidentally, this habit has dug me into an even deeper hole, as now I have about 15 child support checks to send out a month. From little Shaniquawayway to big toothless Superfly, I love all of my children equally, regardless of their race, gender, or lack of limbs. I do need a job though. I'm hopefully going to Ireland next semester and they won't let me into the country unless I have 1500 euros in my account by the time I get there.
Speaking of Ireland, has anyone ever wondered how Leprechauns get their gold? They must either be drug dealers or pimps. Have you ever seen a leprechaun working a normal job? Have you ever seen a leprechaun at all? I wonder if Irish midgets ever get mistaken for leprechauns. If I were an Irish midget, I would wear a top have with little black shoes and all that, and pretend to be a leprechaun. Although, again. People would probably be trying to hit me up for hoes and drugs. For real, what else could they do? Be pro wrestlers? I think not. Would you ever buy a car from a leprechaun? Hell no, they'd probably leave rotting cereal in the back seat. Well, I plan on capturing one when I go to Ireland, so I'll be sure to ask him directly.
Well, that's it for now everyone. I've sent my application off to Ireland, so we'll see if I am accepted. I better start getting used to corned beef and cabbage now. At least I don't have to put up with snakes.
Goodnight.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Well hey there..
It's sure been a while, hasn't it? Wanna know something sucky? I just spent a good bit of time typing up this blog, and then Firefox froze on me, so I wasn't able to actually publish it. Now I'm rewriting it, great. I've been meaning to update for a while now, but I've been too infatuated with the picture of Zooey Deschanel in the last post at the top of my page to want to post anything that would lower her out of my site line. Yup, that's it. Obviously. Or it could be that I just had so much to say and I knew that it would take me forever to write a post about everything that I've been doing. You know what, I'm going to say that it's probably more so the second option.
That being said, here I am. I'm back in New York City. The summer seemed to drag on forever, and yet it seemed to fly by. See, I had to get up at the crack of dawn every morning to work at the YMCA, and all of those little kids just shouting things at me and misbehaving.. it was greeeeat fun. Please not the sarcasm in that, as it is not always apparent through the internet. Thank you. That being said, it also seems like I was home in Maryland just yesterday. I was so excited to get back to school, but now I am also excited to come home to visit. That'll be some time soon, I should think.
Right now, it's about 12:30 AM. I'm sitting in my dorm room, overlooking the streets of Manhattan in the sleepy little Financial District of New York City. Everything around here closes around 8:00 PM, so there isn't much nightlife in this part of town. I didn't really have anything else to do, so I thought, why not make a blog? It sure has been a little while, and I really have been meaning to update.
So, I moved in about twoish weeks ago, I think. I say I think because I can't really remember. Time is sort of a blur to me, really. I keep track of what day it is for the most part, but I can't really be bothered with silly things like the month or date. Who needs to know those things? Anyway, I move into my little dorm room, and I now live with two other guys. I shouldn't say little though, because my dorm room is much bigger than last year. Last year, I lived in a space suitable for a terrorist in Guantanamo Bay, but this year, my room is much bigger. It's nice too, we have our own bathroom and little kitchen area. The only downside? Bunkbeds. I really don't like them. Children are severely misguided when they opt to have bunkbeds. As their brains develop, they will realize just how stupid they were for begging for them. Being on the top bunk, you are presented with the constant fear that you are going to fall off, hit the ground, and die. Death by post-matress shock. Living on the bottom bunk, you sleep in a constant state of fear, as you worry whether or not the person on the top (who just may be larger than you) is going to fall through and land on top of you, smothering you under their weight and their mattress. There really is no middle ground. Either way, bunkbeds will kill you. For your information though, I opted for the bottom bunk. For those of you interested in what my room looks like:
It's a little bare in these pictures, but I have put up a lot more stuff since taking them.
So yeah, that's the room. It's no Taj Mahal, but it's alright. I wouldn't want to live in the Taj Mahal anyway, all that gold is extremely tacky. Who designed that thing? Elton John? Probably not. So, school's been going well so far. I take Playwriting, Scene Study, Introduction to Foreign Relations, Math for Life, and Voice and Movement. Math for Life is online luckily, so I never have to show up for it. The only problem there being that if I am lost, there isn't anyone to ask for help. Except for google. Google is pretty helpful. He's a good guy. Playwriting is a really fun class. I'm enjoying it a lot. We've been doing these little exorcises that have been helping a lot. I've actually been meaning to post them, because I think that they are pretty fun. One of our assignments was that we had a minute to write dialogue between two characters, and I chose John Wilkes Booth and Abe Lincoln. It had to start with the line, "You can't do that!" So I did this:
A. JOHN
Hey, you can't do that!
B. LINCOLN
Why can't I?
A.
Because, I just shot you in the head.
B.
So what?
A.
So you can't just get back up after I shot you in the head.
B.
Why not?
A.
Because you have a big gaping hole.
B.
True.
A.
There's blood gushing everywhere.
B.
No kidding.
A.
You should be dead.
B.
Yeah, isn't that a bitch?
A.
How about I shoot you again?
B.
You could do that, but it wouldn't be very nice.
A.
Of course it's not very nice, I'm trying to kill you!
So yeah, those are the kinds of things that we do. It's a lot of fun, and it really forces you to think creatively, and fast. That's as much as I could write in one minute, but I am sure as time go forward, I'll be able to think even more spontaneously. I'm actually going to give you one more of the assignments that we had. At the end of class, she had us write dialogue between two characters. What we had to do, was write dialogue between two characters. They were driving in a warm car while it was raining outside. One turns to the other and begins to say something, but then stops. We had to pick it up from there. This is what I wrote.
A.
We talked it over, we both agreed that this is the best choice for us right now.
B.
I know, but don't you feel like we could be making a mistake? This one little thing is going to completely change our lives forever.
A.
We don't have the money to care for it.
B.
So you're talking about him like he's an object?
A.
Don't you dare say that. I can't believe you.
B.
Well I can't believe your choice of words just then.
A.
I'd prefer to not humanize it. I just don't want to think of it as a living creature.
B.
You really are a piece of work, you know that?
A.
Oh come on.
B.
No seriously. You know what? This is sick. This is something that's going to be with us our entire lives, and you just want to brush it off like it's nothing.
A.
I'm not brushing it off like it's nothing. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY. This was the best plan.
B.
The best plan shouldn't involve having to ending a life.
A.
I'm not happy about it, so can you please just stop blaming me? Do you think I'm proud of this? I've woken myself up at nights just sweating thinking about it. I really wish that we could keep him. You have no idea what it's like for me. I've never had to deal with this situation before.
B.
Look, I'm sorry. Maybe it was the best idea. You're right, we couldn't afford him, he was taking up too much room, and can you imagine all the whining?
A.
Right.
B.
Anyway, this looks like a good spot. No one will ever find your father's body all the way out here.
So yeah, the joke of the scene is that it's not about abortion at all, but rather about murder. Witty, I know, thank you. So yeah, classes have been fun. No complaints so far. However, as soon as I have them, I know that I'll probably be griping to you all.
Moving on, I have some really good news. I auditioned for the mainstage shows here, and I got in! It's a really good thing, because like everyone auditions for them, and I therefore did not expect to get cast. I'm going to be playing Uncle Pino in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. I literally have ONE line. "I believe, because it is absurd! It is certain because it is impossible!" Hah, that's it! That's my line! I'll start memorizing right away! I'm certainly not complaining though. I consider myself very lucky to have gotten in at all. PLUS, I am the understudy for the roles of Pontius Pilate and Simon the Zealot. I've been told that there will be two understudy performances, so I guess that means I'll be getting a performance as each character, which is great because they are both fairly large roles. Also, I get to say amazing lines such as, "I mean, after all brotha', it aint like we lookin' to crucify the muthahfuckah!" Gooood stuff. I've never been an understudy before, so I know I'm gonna have to bust my butt doing that. I'm really looking forward to doing it, it's going to be a true learning experience. I'm extremely excited for the show, and it opens in November at Schaeberle Studio in 41 Park Row. Come see it!
Okay, well, I think I'm going to wrap it up now. Yeah, I have more to talk about, but I think that I'll leave it for a later time. How about I just leave you with a check list of things that I've done so far? Sound good? No? Screw you, I'ma do it anyway
- Got into Last Days of Judas Iscariot.
- Went to see Glen Hansard/Marketa Irglova in concert, met them, got a picture and guitar pick.
- Met Jesse L. Martin, the original Tom Collins in RENT and star of Law and Order, and got a picture with him.
- Bought some apple cider and a meaaan (in a good way) baguette.
- Saw Extract, it was so-so.
- Ate White Castle at the joint for the first time. Made me sick for three days. Great coming it.. explosive coming out.
- Sat around in my room in a stupor of self loathing.
- Played guitar.
- Went to see The Toxic Avenger Off-Broadway starring Diana DeGarmo from American Idol. Fantastic, and hilarious.
- Started making up a Christmas list.
- Made food like every night, and therefore have gained in the cooking of cheap food department.
- I feel like there is a lot more that I've done, but it's slipping my mind right now, so I'll get back to you.
Okay ladies and gents, there you have it. This has been long, right? What did I tell you? I warned you. You didn't want to listen, and that's your own fault. Shmuck. Hey listen, could you leave a comment though? I'd appreciate that.
Oh, so for Halloween, I've decided on my costume. I am going to dress half of my body as Taylor Swift, and the other half as Kanye West. I am going to be Kanye interrupting my Taylor costume. I'll hold up a sign to the tune of, "Yo Taylor, you make a good costume, and I'ma let you finish, but KANYE is one of the best costumes OF ALL TIME!" It'll be great. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, where have you been? I'm also planning a trip to Sleepy Hollow with a few friends to go to the farmers market and haunted hay ride. I know, brilliant idea. It's perfect for Halloween to go to the original Sleepy Hollow of Headless Horseman fame.
Ah crap, you know what I forgot? I did forget something. I also have decided that I am going to study abroad next semester. As many of you know, I've always know that I was going to study abroad, but I was just a bit iffy on when I was going to do it. Well, I decided next semester. I'm going to meet with one of the study abroad advisors on Monday afternoon, fill out the application, and hopefully get things in order. If my application is accepted, I'll get to go. If not, I'll cry, write sad poetry, and try again next year. I don't see it being a problem though, and I think I have a pretty good chance, but we'll see. Cork, IE here I come! Hopefully...
Anyway, more on all of that later. Now since this post is super long and I said most of what I had to say, I can post more frequently, and make them a lot shorter. Alright, goodnight everyone. And by everyone, I mean mom, because you're probably the only person reading this. Maybe Daddy Greg too. Hello to you too then. Actually, Yai-yai, you made be reading this too. Hey to you, hey to Poppy. Hey to anyone that's reading this.
Ok, I'm done. Bye.
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Thursday, August 27, 2009
You're kidding, right?
Holy crap.. could it be? Am I actually posting TWICE within the same week? Wow, I must have turned over a new leaf or something! Or maybe I'm just really bored. We'll go with the new leaf thing, because then it makes it sound like I'm making positive strides in my life, which don't get me wrong, I am, but I am still just really bored.
So I attempted to make jam the other
day. I got the recipe out of a "Self" magazine that had Zooey Deschanel on the cover. I love her, and she's extremely attractive. It was my first time ever trying to make jam, but what I didn't realize is how long it would take. Three hours! Can you believe that crap? I eventually got fed up near the end that intead of letting the strawberries fully melt, I just mushed them up with my spoon. Oops. Ah well, it still tastes pretty good. I mean, it smells horrendous, but it doesn't taste too bad! Not like that time I made bread. I still don't know what when wrong.
I got this book out of the library called "Ultimate Bread", because it sounded pretty badass. Ultimate Bread? I mean, that's epic. That's saying that there is absolutely NO BREAD better than this bread. I had to make this ultimate bread, I just had to. So I look through the recipes, and if you know me, you know that I have a weakness for baguette. It's the only good thing to come out of France. French people, please ignore the blatant American racism. Thank you. So I attempted to make it, and I followed the directions perfectly, or so I thought. Well, when it came out, it wound up having an almost rock hard crust. Coincidentally, it also looked like a rock. It also tasted like matza. I have no idea how it could taste like matza, because I didn't forget to put in the yeast like those wandering Jewish folks in the desert. It was a sad day. My dreams were crushed. I've never been quite the same.
Still, the jam was pretty good.
I need to go to the store and buy some clothes, but I am so picky when it comes to buying things. I'm like Ebenezer Scrooge with my money, because I hate spending it so much. Seriously, when it costs $50 dollars for a shirt, you are thinking, okay, I just worked a full day to buy this shirt. It's bull crap! That's why I hate buying clothes, and hence why I don't have a huge selection of clothes in my closet. It's not like I don't have the money to buy it.. I just really really don't want to spend it. It's terrible, but I suppose I have to get over it. I'm about to head out to the mall, so we'll see how I do.
Alright you cool cats, thanks for reading. Peace!
So I attempted to make jam the other
day. I got the recipe out of a "Self" magazine that had Zooey Deschanel on the cover. I love her, and she's extremely attractive. It was my first time ever trying to make jam, but what I didn't realize is how long it would take. Three hours! Can you believe that crap? I eventually got fed up near the end that intead of letting the strawberries fully melt, I just mushed them up with my spoon. Oops. Ah well, it still tastes pretty good. I mean, it smells horrendous, but it doesn't taste too bad! Not like that time I made bread. I still don't know what when wrong.I got this book out of the library called "Ultimate Bread", because it sounded pretty badass. Ultimate Bread? I mean, that's epic. That's saying that there is absolutely NO BREAD better than this bread. I had to make this ultimate bread, I just had to. So I look through the recipes, and if you know me, you know that I have a weakness for baguette. It's the only good thing to come out of France. French people, please ignore the blatant American racism. Thank you. So I attempted to make it, and I followed the directions perfectly, or so I thought. Well, when it came out, it wound up having an almost rock hard crust. Coincidentally, it also looked like a rock. It also tasted like matza. I have no idea how it could taste like matza, because I didn't forget to put in the yeast like those wandering Jewish folks in the desert. It was a sad day. My dreams were crushed. I've never been quite the same.
Still, the jam was pretty good.
I need to go to the store and buy some clothes, but I am so picky when it comes to buying things. I'm like Ebenezer Scrooge with my money, because I hate spending it so much. Seriously, when it costs $50 dollars for a shirt, you are thinking, okay, I just worked a full day to buy this shirt. It's bull crap! That's why I hate buying clothes, and hence why I don't have a huge selection of clothes in my closet. It's not like I don't have the money to buy it.. I just really really don't want to spend it. It's terrible, but I suppose I have to get over it. I'm about to head out to the mall, so we'll see how I do.
Alright you cool cats, thanks for reading. Peace!
It's been a while..
I know, I keep making promises to update this thing frequently, but I'm obviously a big liar. Not big as in fat, but big as in I tell lies of large proportion. Well, fat too. Anyway, I'm not going to promise anymore that I am going to update this, I'm just going to do whenever I feel. I thought it would be a cool little project to keep updated during the school year, but then I just got too lazy. Plus, I didn't really have much to say.
But now I do.
Summer has been fun. It's coming to a close now, but I've done quite a bit. I'm not going to go through it all, but I made a lot of money, saw Paul McCartney in concert again, visited Texas, Williamsburg, and Ocean City, waged war with foam weapons, and played a few fun shows. School is sneaking up on me. In about two weeks I'll be back in my cozy little dorm in New York City, not cleaning it, and pulling all nighters to finish my school work. Ah, that'll be the day. I am really excited to go back. Not that I don't like it here, because I do, I just miss the freedom that New York City provides. I can essentially go out and do whatever I want, whenever I want. It's like a huge playground, and I'm like a little kid. Except I have facial hair. And I hate kids.
Well, I'm going to go back and listen to the new CD I just bought, The Hares Corner by Colm Mac Con Iomaire, which is quite good. It's original instrumental Irish violin music. I didn't expect to really be into instrumental music all that much, but hey, it's great. Check it out. Hopefully I'll be back again, and more frequently this time, but no promises.
Now to go work on monologues. Oh joy.
But now I do.
Summer has been fun. It's coming to a close now, but I've done quite a bit. I'm not going to go through it all, but I made a lot of money, saw Paul McCartney in concert again, visited Texas, Williamsburg, and Ocean City, waged war with foam weapons, and played a few fun shows. School is sneaking up on me. In about two weeks I'll be back in my cozy little dorm in New York City, not cleaning it, and pulling all nighters to finish my school work. Ah, that'll be the day. I am really excited to go back. Not that I don't like it here, because I do, I just miss the freedom that New York City provides. I can essentially go out and do whatever I want, whenever I want. It's like a huge playground, and I'm like a little kid. Except I have facial hair. And I hate kids.
Well, I'm going to go back and listen to the new CD I just bought, The Hares Corner by Colm Mac Con Iomaire, which is quite good. It's original instrumental Irish violin music. I didn't expect to really be into instrumental music all that much, but hey, it's great. Check it out. Hopefully I'll be back again, and more frequently this time, but no promises.
Now to go work on monologues. Oh joy.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
A little discussion..
Okay, so the Oscars have come and gone. I take pride in knowing that I saw just about every single picture nominated this year for an Oscar (save for the animated films, short films, and documentaries.) I can't say that I fully agreed with everything that won, in fact, most of the things that I wanted to win didn't. That was unfortunate. I was happy for some of the wins though, but the Oscars just reminded me how much I really love acting.
Daniel is one of the greatest actors of our generation. With roles such as Christy Brown in My Left Foot, Bill The Butcher in Gangs of New York, Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans, John Proctor in The Crucible, and the iconic Daniel Plainview in Their Will Be Blood, Daniel never fails to amaze. I'll never forget when I first saw him in The Crucible. I was blown away by his talent, and he instantly became one of my favorite actors. I watched more of his movies, but then I saw his best work, There Will Be Blood. He won the Oscar for his role, and deservedly so. His work in the movie was incredible, and inspiring. The entire movie is a character study, and he completely becomes Daniel Plainview. He is even able to make lines such as 'I drink your milkshake!' seem frightening, rather than corny. There Will Be Blood is a fascinating movie, and he gives such a great performance. I rank it as one of my top greatest performances of any actor of all time. If you didn't know that he was playing the role, he would be completely unrecognizable. Such a fantastic actor. I can't wait for his new movie musical 'Nine' to come out. If he can sing, he'll have proven that he can do anything.
Is it possible to make a list like this without including the great Tom Hanks? He was one of my earliest favorite actors. He is one of the men that was my biggest inspiration to go into acting. His movies were ones that I loved from a young age, and then appreciated even more when I got older. he has given some of the most touching performances that I've ever seen. My favorite roles by him are Chuck in Cast Away, where he actually made me really depressed over a volleyball named Wilson, Capt. John Miller in Saving Private Ryan, Jim Lovell in Apollo 13, Paul Edgecomb in The Green Mile, Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can, Michael Sullivan in Road to Perdition, Woody in Toy Story, and of course, his Oscar winning Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump. I've always loved that movie, and it is one of the most bittersweet movies that I've seen. It's beautiful for his performances complexities and simplicities. He does a spectacular job. I really wish that he would take more roles like these nowadays, and I hope that we see him winning another Oscar in the future. He is an immense talent, and will always be one of my favorite actors. He was one of my earliest inspirations, and will remain and inspiration. Let's not forget, there's no crying in baseball.
Now, I know that you probably think I'm only including Heath Ledger because he died, but no, that's not the case. Heath Ledger was an amazingly talented actor who had so much promise and raw talent, and it's such a shame to see him gone. He is a recent Oscar winner, with two nominations. I first saw him as Patrick in 10 Thing I Hate About You, and I thought he was alright. He really caught my attention though, when I saw him as Gabriel in The Patriot. he gave a great performance, and that was really the start of a fantastic career. He went on to play William in A Knight's Tale, which is a movie that I've seen upwards of a thousand times. I love that movie, and can quote many of the lines. At that point, I really liked him as an actor, and really respected his role choice. I really liked him as Jacob Grimm in The Brothers Grimm, and he was great in I'm Not There. He gained an Oscar nomination for his role in Brokeback Mountain, for a role that took a lot of courage. I really respect him for that choice. When I heard that he would play the Joker, I was excited. I heard that it would be much darker than previous Batman films, and I thought that maybe I would actually enjoy a comic book film for once. His final completed role didn't disappoint, with him earning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the villain. He blew me away, and I really wanted to see him win the award. I'm so glad he did. His Joker is ranked as my greatest film villain of all time. His life was taken way too early, and he had so much potential. He left a strong body of work to be proud of, and will continue to inspire many for years to come. I'm eagerly awaiting his next film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Rest in Peace, Heath.
Johnny Depp is an amazing actor. He brings such beauty to his roles, and such depth. He is another man with fantastic choice in roles. I first saw him as Edward Scissorhands when I was a child, and I was freaked out, but in a good way. From that point on, he has continued to impress me with roles such as Donny Brasco, Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, Ed Wood in Ed Wood, JM Barry in Finding Neverland, George Jung in Blow, Gilbert Grap in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Mort Rainey in The Secret Window, and his Oscar nominated performance as Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd. With the last role, he proved that he can sing, and be incredibly versatile in his roles. I would love his have a career such as his, with these amazing characters. He is long overdue for actually winning an Oscar. Everyone who has seen the Pirates series has instantly been drawn to his talent. His turn as Jack Sparrow was nothing short of perfection. He was actually nominated for an Oscar for that role too (and he deserved it!) Another character actor who can take on anything. His movies have mostly a darker tone to them, especially his movies with Tim Burton. They've formed a great team, and Johnny continues to pump out awe inspiring performances. Again, I go back to the word inspiration. As one of my favorite actors, he makes me want to act.
Say what you will about his personal life, he's an extremely talented actor. Sean Penn has had a great career that's earned him two Oscars (which should have been three). From his first appearance in my house as Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High (thanks for showing me the movie, mom), he has given a few performances that I'll never forget. He was fantastic as Sam Bycke in The Assassination of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Markum in Mystic River, and delivered a truly remarkable performance this past year as Harvey Milk in Milk. His Oscar winning performance in that movie is enough to make anyone feel for the character. The realism that he brought to Harvey Milk was phenomenal, and I can't wait to see the movie again. I loved his performance, and I'm very glad he got the Oscar. His real gem though, is Sam Dawson in I Am Sam. I Am Sam has to be one of the most heartfelt, and heartbreaking movies that I have ever seen. It is all due to his performance as Sam. Again, this performance ranks as one of my greatest film performances of all time. I really applaud him for making such a likable character. The movie was so powerful, and he did a fantastic job. His touching performance definitely solidifies his spot on my top five.
Acting is one of the hardest things that I've ever had to do in my life. You have to clear away all of your inhibitions and put yourself out there, unafraid. It's so hard to not feel foolish during a scene, or to say fully committed, but when you do, it's a beautiful thing. Acting is the best art form, because it's so honest. There are times that I regret the choice that I made, to go into theatre, but for the most part I am completely happy with it. There are very few things that I could see myself doing, besides acting. I have such a drive to want to be like my favorite actors and have their abilities to tell stories, and become the characters, fully living the lives of the characters and animating them. It's such a powerful art, and I am blessed to be a part of it.
I just wanted to dedicate this post to my top five favorite actors. These men have constantly left me in awe of their talent and ability. You may disagree, but they have inspired me personally, and remind me why I love acting. I only hope to someday be in their league, and be able to be as honest and careful with my characters as they do.
And now, here they are in no particular order:
1) Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel is one of the greatest actors of our generation. With roles such as Christy Brown in My Left Foot, Bill The Butcher in Gangs of New York, Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans, John Proctor in The Crucible, and the iconic Daniel Plainview in Their Will Be Blood, Daniel never fails to amaze. I'll never forget when I first saw him in The Crucible. I was blown away by his talent, and he instantly became one of my favorite actors. I watched more of his movies, but then I saw his best work, There Will Be Blood. He won the Oscar for his role, and deservedly so. His work in the movie was incredible, and inspiring. The entire movie is a character study, and he completely becomes Daniel Plainview. He is even able to make lines such as 'I drink your milkshake!' seem frightening, rather than corny. There Will Be Blood is a fascinating movie, and he gives such a great performance. I rank it as one of my top greatest performances of any actor of all time. If you didn't know that he was playing the role, he would be completely unrecognizable. Such a fantastic actor. I can't wait for his new movie musical 'Nine' to come out. If he can sing, he'll have proven that he can do anything.Daniel in 'The Crucible'
Daniel in 'There Will Be Blood'
2) Tom Hanks
Is it possible to make a list like this without including the great Tom Hanks? He was one of my earliest favorite actors. He is one of the men that was my biggest inspiration to go into acting. His movies were ones that I loved from a young age, and then appreciated even more when I got older. he has given some of the most touching performances that I've ever seen. My favorite roles by him are Chuck in Cast Away, where he actually made me really depressed over a volleyball named Wilson, Capt. John Miller in Saving Private Ryan, Jim Lovell in Apollo 13, Paul Edgecomb in The Green Mile, Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can, Michael Sullivan in Road to Perdition, Woody in Toy Story, and of course, his Oscar winning Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump. I've always loved that movie, and it is one of the most bittersweet movies that I've seen. It's beautiful for his performances complexities and simplicities. He does a spectacular job. I really wish that he would take more roles like these nowadays, and I hope that we see him winning another Oscar in the future. He is an immense talent, and will always be one of my favorite actors. He was one of my earliest inspirations, and will remain and inspiration. Let's not forget, there's no crying in baseball.Tom in Cast Away
Tom in Forrest Gump
3) Heath Ledger
Now, I know that you probably think I'm only including Heath Ledger because he died, but no, that's not the case. Heath Ledger was an amazingly talented actor who had so much promise and raw talent, and it's such a shame to see him gone. He is a recent Oscar winner, with two nominations. I first saw him as Patrick in 10 Thing I Hate About You, and I thought he was alright. He really caught my attention though, when I saw him as Gabriel in The Patriot. he gave a great performance, and that was really the start of a fantastic career. He went on to play William in A Knight's Tale, which is a movie that I've seen upwards of a thousand times. I love that movie, and can quote many of the lines. At that point, I really liked him as an actor, and really respected his role choice. I really liked him as Jacob Grimm in The Brothers Grimm, and he was great in I'm Not There. He gained an Oscar nomination for his role in Brokeback Mountain, for a role that took a lot of courage. I really respect him for that choice. When I heard that he would play the Joker, I was excited. I heard that it would be much darker than previous Batman films, and I thought that maybe I would actually enjoy a comic book film for once. His final completed role didn't disappoint, with him earning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the villain. He blew me away, and I really wanted to see him win the award. I'm so glad he did. His Joker is ranked as my greatest film villain of all time. His life was taken way too early, and he had so much potential. He left a strong body of work to be proud of, and will continue to inspire many for years to come. I'm eagerly awaiting his next film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Rest in Peace, Heath.Heath in A Knight's Tale
Heath in The Dark Knight
4) Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp is an amazing actor. He brings such beauty to his roles, and such depth. He is another man with fantastic choice in roles. I first saw him as Edward Scissorhands when I was a child, and I was freaked out, but in a good way. From that point on, he has continued to impress me with roles such as Donny Brasco, Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, Ed Wood in Ed Wood, JM Barry in Finding Neverland, George Jung in Blow, Gilbert Grap in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Mort Rainey in The Secret Window, and his Oscar nominated performance as Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd. With the last role, he proved that he can sing, and be incredibly versatile in his roles. I would love his have a career such as his, with these amazing characters. He is long overdue for actually winning an Oscar. Everyone who has seen the Pirates series has instantly been drawn to his talent. His turn as Jack Sparrow was nothing short of perfection. He was actually nominated for an Oscar for that role too (and he deserved it!) Another character actor who can take on anything. His movies have mostly a darker tone to them, especially his movies with Tim Burton. They've formed a great team, and Johnny continues to pump out awe inspiring performances. Again, I go back to the word inspiration. As one of my favorite actors, he makes me want to act.Johnny in Sweeney Todd
Johnny in Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
5) Sean Penn
Say what you will about his personal life, he's an extremely talented actor. Sean Penn has had a great career that's earned him two Oscars (which should have been three). From his first appearance in my house as Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High (thanks for showing me the movie, mom), he has given a few performances that I'll never forget. He was fantastic as Sam Bycke in The Assassination of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Markum in Mystic River, and delivered a truly remarkable performance this past year as Harvey Milk in Milk. His Oscar winning performance in that movie is enough to make anyone feel for the character. The realism that he brought to Harvey Milk was phenomenal, and I can't wait to see the movie again. I loved his performance, and I'm very glad he got the Oscar. His real gem though, is Sam Dawson in I Am Sam. I Am Sam has to be one of the most heartfelt, and heartbreaking movies that I have ever seen. It is all due to his performance as Sam. Again, this performance ranks as one of my greatest film performances of all time. I really applaud him for making such a likable character. The movie was so powerful, and he did a fantastic job. His touching performance definitely solidifies his spot on my top five.Sean in Milk
Sean in I Am Sam
Well, that's it! I'ma go off to sleep now. Take it easy.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Back for season two!
Hey there bloggers.
So, it's been quite a while since we've last chatted, hasn't it? I figured that after neglecting you all for so long, it's about time that I come back. Honestly, I really was just too depressed over the big election for me to blog. Honestly, can you believe the outcome? Seriously?
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS NOT ELECTED JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT! Man, I honestly didn't see that one coming. I voted for myself and was shocked that I didn't win! See, I had mailed in my ballot, so I just assumed that within days after the election, they would announce my victory. That announcement never came, unfortunately. I had a lot of great ideas for how to deal with criminals, but now nobody will ever know the brilliant things I came up with. Let me give you a hint though, hot dogs. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, too bad.
Obviously, I've been up to a lot since the last update. To go into detail would mean this blog entry being pages long, and I honestly don't want to write that, and you don't want to read it. Therefore, I will just say, it's been a blast. I played CB in Dog Sees God, and it was (I feel) the greatest performance that I've ever given. That was the highlight of last semester, I suppose. It also has led me down a different college path, one to which has me now persuing a BFA in Acting and a BA in Directing. Cool, right? I like to think so. Now let me hit you with a little bit of knowledge. At the moment, I am doing laundry. I very much dislike doing laundry, because it takes forever. That measn that I hav eto sit here and wait for the laundry to be done, and I just don't like that. It's not fun.
But you know what is fun? Thorton Wilder's Skin of our Teeth, which is the new show that I am doing at Pace. It's at the Schaeberle Studio, which is our big blackbox in 41 Park Row. My parents will be coming to see that one, and it's going to great. The director is a great guy, and he's also my acting teacher. He has some really really super cool ideas for the show, and if you see it, (which most of you won't), you will be impressed. The cast is great too. Now me, I'm playing 'Bingo Caller', I know, important sounding, right? I have only like three lines, but I'm really happy to just have the chance to be in such a great production. Plus, I have ensemble roles to do, so that should be fun. One of the little bits we have to do is act like a coocoo clock... oh boy.. Come see it. It's April 1-5, I believe. I'll keep you posted if I keep on posting.
Let us talk about American Idol for just a minute. I will be voting for Normund Gentle, and I hope that you'll be doing the same. He is the fool that is on there joking around every single episode, and he is hilarious. He really should win, or the show is obviously rigged. Obviously.
Went to the sex museum the other day on Valentine's Day, and I really wasn't too impressed. It was actually pretty boring. Not really worth my money, I'd say. Oh well. I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day. It's just not fun.
Hey, here is a shout out to my brother Aaron. His birthday is coming up on the 19th, so happy birthday, even though I am certain that you won't read this. I really only have like two or three readers, which is unfortunate. Read this, people! You'll have fun! I promise!
Okay, so I want to end this post on a positive note here. I want to talk a little bit about my band, Sponsored By Poverty. You know who we are, right? Good. We just released our new Demo EP, which we recorded with Bob Manzo. You can take a listen to it here: www.myspace.com/sbpmd
We're playing a show at Penguins Down At The iGloo in Maryland on March 15th. Let me know if you want to go, so that I can sell you a ticket. We're also auditioning for America's Got Talent on March 13th, so here's hoping that works out for us. A million bucks would really be nice.
I don't think that I really have anything else to say right now. Take it easy, and peace out.
So, it's been quite a while since we've last chatted, hasn't it? I figured that after neglecting you all for so long, it's about time that I come back. Honestly, I really was just too depressed over the big election for me to blog. Honestly, can you believe the outcome? Seriously?
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS NOT ELECTED JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT! Man, I honestly didn't see that one coming. I voted for myself and was shocked that I didn't win! See, I had mailed in my ballot, so I just assumed that within days after the election, they would announce my victory. That announcement never came, unfortunately. I had a lot of great ideas for how to deal with criminals, but now nobody will ever know the brilliant things I came up with. Let me give you a hint though, hot dogs. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, too bad.
Obviously, I've been up to a lot since the last update. To go into detail would mean this blog entry being pages long, and I honestly don't want to write that, and you don't want to read it. Therefore, I will just say, it's been a blast. I played CB in Dog Sees God, and it was (I feel) the greatest performance that I've ever given. That was the highlight of last semester, I suppose. It also has led me down a different college path, one to which has me now persuing a BFA in Acting and a BA in Directing. Cool, right? I like to think so. Now let me hit you with a little bit of knowledge. At the moment, I am doing laundry. I very much dislike doing laundry, because it takes forever. That measn that I hav eto sit here and wait for the laundry to be done, and I just don't like that. It's not fun.
But you know what is fun? Thorton Wilder's Skin of our Teeth, which is the new show that I am doing at Pace. It's at the Schaeberle Studio, which is our big blackbox in 41 Park Row. My parents will be coming to see that one, and it's going to great. The director is a great guy, and he's also my acting teacher. He has some really really super cool ideas for the show, and if you see it, (which most of you won't), you will be impressed. The cast is great too. Now me, I'm playing 'Bingo Caller', I know, important sounding, right? I have only like three lines, but I'm really happy to just have the chance to be in such a great production. Plus, I have ensemble roles to do, so that should be fun. One of the little bits we have to do is act like a coocoo clock... oh boy.. Come see it. It's April 1-5, I believe. I'll keep you posted if I keep on posting.
Let us talk about American Idol for just a minute. I will be voting for Normund Gentle, and I hope that you'll be doing the same. He is the fool that is on there joking around every single episode, and he is hilarious. He really should win, or the show is obviously rigged. Obviously.
Went to the sex museum the other day on Valentine's Day, and I really wasn't too impressed. It was actually pretty boring. Not really worth my money, I'd say. Oh well. I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day. It's just not fun.
Hey, here is a shout out to my brother Aaron. His birthday is coming up on the 19th, so happy birthday, even though I am certain that you won't read this. I really only have like two or three readers, which is unfortunate. Read this, people! You'll have fun! I promise!
Okay, so I want to end this post on a positive note here. I want to talk a little bit about my band, Sponsored By Poverty. You know who we are, right? Good. We just released our new Demo EP, which we recorded with Bob Manzo. You can take a listen to it here: www.myspace.com/sbpmd
We're playing a show at Penguins Down At The iGloo in Maryland on March 15th. Let me know if you want to go, so that I can sell you a ticket. We're also auditioning for America's Got Talent on March 13th, so here's hoping that works out for us. A million bucks would really be nice.
I don't think that I really have anything else to say right now. Take it easy, and peace out.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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