The Value of What We Are Learning
As actors our body's are our instruments...these should be the notes 
There isn’t just one way to learn. Some people pick things up better visually while others absorb more information in a lecture. Consequently, it is fair to assert as well that there is more than just one way to teach. That fact that we get so many different creative styles in one school hadn’t really hit me until recently. Our teachers are giving us more than enough tools to jumpstart our careers as actors.
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March 10, 2010 No Comments
Tim Burton @ The MoMA
Tim Burton is my childhood.
Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Batman. These are the movies I’ve loved for years. I watch them over and over and they never fail to delight or entertain me.
I will be the first in theatres when Alice In Wonderland opens, just as I was with Sweeney Todd, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Big Fish.
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March 8, 2010 1 Comment
Theater Code of Ethics – Part 3
…and finally, here are our last few goals — for now!
7) I will assume Responsibility for my FEELINGS. I will accept that I make a choice to have an emotion.
I will accept that everything I do in life is for myself. I will stop apologizing. I will take care of myself first, for only then can I be truly useful and loving to someone else.
Well, these need more discussion don’t they? We had a long discussion in class just to narrow our goals down to these topics. Hopefully, students will comment on the blog and add their wonderfully insightful thoughts on their own journeys. That will be something to look forward to.
March 5, 2010 No Comments
Let’s Get Creative!!
In Process class we are often asked to write our own scripts to perform, how much fun is that!! You can really get your creative juices flowing.
If you’re anything like me – you walk around with your head in the clouds, day-dreaming, making up little scenarios in your head — well, it’s time to put those thoughts to paper and get all that good stuff out for the world to see.
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March 3, 2010 No Comments
How Are You Doing?
You know, at times I wake up in the morning asking myself what the hell am I doing here? Worry hits me smack dab in the face. I’ve got bills to pay, food to eat, a life (mundane as it may be) to live. Then I think, why do I even bother getting up? Should I just go back to Houston? I sluggishly walk to my tiny shower in the tiny bathroom. Lather up and worry more. Get dressed in, more than likely, something that doesn’t matter and truck on to the Q train…
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March 1, 2010 No Comments
What’s Out There
Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal
Crazy Heart: The film is O.K., but go for Jeff Bridges. Check out the way he drives! This is what is meant by “making specific choices.”
Streep and Baldwin
It’s Complicated: Not Streep at her most interesting. But check out the first scene with her friends at dinner. Notice her tasting/judging her glass of wine while another character is in frame and talking. This is an example of “dead on character choice” but an excess detail that does not help the screenwriter achieve her “objective for the scene.”
Streep and Skillet
Julie and Julia: Meryl Streep IS the character! Go watch her to be amazed. However, I dare anyone to guess how she got where she went. It’s sheer genius.
February 26, 2010 No Comments
Theater Code of Ethics – Part 2
And here we continue working on our list of ethics/behavioral goals for the theater… in fact, they make nice goals for LIFE don’t you think?
4) I will SUPPORT the ensemble, and give COMPLIMENTS.
5) I will release Self-Judgment and DEFENSIVENESS to become the best I can be.
6) I will accept being vulnerable and not always need to retreat into a place of safety. I will strive to be bold and free!
I’m so proud of my class for coming up with these exquisite goals. Feel free to enter into a dialogue with us. Is there something you agree with or want to argue against? We’d love the chance to deepen our understanding of these complex issues as we self-analyze and try to become better people/better artists.
Thanks for joining in. Eileen
February 24, 2010 No Comments
From Screen to Stage
Scarlett Johansson in a ‘View from the Bridge’
Theatre has for a long time hired Famous Screen Actors to bring in the crowds to its performances, and does even more so during this bad economic time. At the moment people don’t have the spare cash to go see a Broadway show on a whim, so to make the shows more appealing, our favourite stars are treading the boards.
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February 22, 2010 1 Comment
Warming Up My “Cold Read”
High fives and back slaps all around; I’m coming up to the 1 month mark of spring semester! And man, second semester at NYCDA is like the main course of a good meal; the appetizers were tasty, but now its time to really eat!
Now out of this gumbo pot of technique we stew in daily (and the food metaphors end….now), I’ve noticed that the ability to give a great cold read is a very important skill to have…indeed.
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February 18, 2010 2 Comments
Theater Code of Ethics – Part 1
PART 1
The theater has a long oral tradition of passing down a code of ethics from one generation to the next generation. These codes of behavior range from the practical to the superstitious. Never miss a performance. Never cause a curtain to be late. Never speak the name of the Scottish play in a theater – or you’ll have to go outside and run around the building three times, and I believe salt throwing is involved, but I’m not exactly sure how.
Many theaters have actually formalized this process by writing their own Code of Ethics and having their company members sign the code and take an oath of allegiance to uphold its principles. In 1945, for example, the Circle Players (later the Players’ Ring) wrote such a code of ethics, and have inspired the NYCDA Theater Department to follow in their path. We are currently striving to define and clearly state our goals. How do we want to proceed to be the best actors we can be — the best people we can be? Here’s our beginning draft.
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February 16, 2010 2 Comments
So…..lets give it a go.
Ok sooo, first Blog…………….. what to say…what to say?????
My good friend Sierra Blaze is telling me to write about her…she’s telling me this as she proceeds to make shadow animals on my dorm room wall and then look at me with hope filled eyes and ask “Am I cool”?
Well, Sierra let’s just put it this way…I think that this is the most I am ever going to write about you.
So we’re about 5 weeks into second semester (first if you’re a January starter) and I have to say I am surprised at how quickly I fell back into the flow of things after 3 weeks away in my leafy little hamlet of Oxfordshire England.
It’s like I never even went away, and in spirit I don’t think I did.
Granted my parents were concerned when I viewpointed my way to the tree on Christmas morning and my grandfather was also rather worried that I had contracted mono, I had to tell him “No, granddad, that’s just on breath”
Ohhh how I longed to be around like-minded classmates, I knew they would never look at me like I was insane as my sister did when I asked her if she would like to emotionally prep together before opening our Christmas presents.
In all seriousness though, I couldn’t wait to get back and I’ve already got a feeling about this semester, it’s gonna be a goodie.
So let’s work hard and enjoy it.
In closing I want to leave you with a few little movies that I’ve seen lately, which if you haven’t already seen I insist you immediately run on out and go purchase tickets to see (or seeing that we’re all poor students, at least sneak into.)
1: The Lovely Bones, Stanley Tucci’s performance is reason enough to see this movie alone. Me and my best gal pal Janelle Cwik took ourselves along to it last week and proceeded to sob heavily the entire way through.
2: An Education, what a lovely little gem of a film. Carey Mulligan is enchanting and the fact that it stars Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina means it can’t really go wrong.
If you don’t know who Alfred Molina is he played Doc Ock in spider-man 2 and if you don’t know who Emma Thompson is YOU SHOULD!!!!
3: Precious, if it were up to me Monique would have the Best Supporting Actress Oscar already. She blew me away. The movie was harrowing, real and at many times humorous. A real contender.
Watch Them!!!!
So I’m going to bid you farewell now, but I want to leave you with these few words of wisdom…… “what time is it?”…….”it’s early”.
Take from it what you will.
Take care one and all
Liam Nooney
xxxxxxxxxx
February 9, 2010 6 Comments
On the Sidewalks of New York
How funny was James Beckstrom the other day? Did anyone else run into him in the hallways after he had seen Gerard Butler on the street? I thought he was going to explode with joy.
Or, how about the second time he ran into Mr. Butler?
Or the third?!!
Frankly, James, I suspect you of stalking Gerard and you should probably expect a restraining order very soon.
To prove that he and Gerard have become best buddies lately, James has been kind enough to share a photo with us here at Blog Central. So cute!
Respond to my blog, please. Send me a photo and win a prize!
Got a story? Tell me what famous person you’ve run into on our wonderful sidewalks of New York.
January 25, 2010 3 Comments
New Year’s Resolution!
Do you feel like you need to do something new with your life, try something exciting, adventurous? Then why not treat yourself to the best acting training in New York City? Joining The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts will be the best present you or anyone else could ever get you.
I know I keep saying this in my blogs but I really do love this school! The training you receive is amazing, the networking that can be done is another brilliant tool to get into the business and the part that I’m really looking forward to is my Final Reel, where a professional director and crew come in to shoot the scenes. I can’t wait!
This is just the best experience; if there is any school that can prepare you for the acting world, it’s this one. One of the most important things about the school is that they they are realistic and they don’t candy-coat how tough it can be in this business. You are taught how to survive, which I think is the best lesson. They also tell you how amazing the business can be, as all the teachers have all been, or still are, working actors.
So go ahead make coming to this school your New Year’s resolution!
January 14, 2010 1 Comment
Secret of the First Semester (#1): Keep Running, Baby!
For those of you readers who are in school with me and have just finished midterm week: congratulations!
Can you believe how quickly time has passed? It happens every year and I’m always baffled. Where did it go? But, every year, several things become crystal clear by midterm. First, you’ve learned a lot. Sometimes it seems like a little too much! But don’t worry, it will all integrate eventually. Information needs to settle down in your brain and simmer. Like a good beef stew. (I’m cooking right now, can you tell?) And second, the work is hard and takes stamina. There’s no rest for the weary; or, at least, not until December 19th!
I’m currently teaching some truly marvelous students. And one of the things that makes them stand out in my eyes is their dedication. They don’t just do an assignment, they go above and beyond. They do extra. I ask for A. They give me B, C, and D. How do they do it? There is so much work and so little time. Here’s what some students have shared with me about how they have managed to be so successful:
* “I have to get 8 hours of sleep a day. Absolutely. No bargaining. Just do it. You’ll have the energy to get through the week. And you won’t get sick!”
* “I think of this as a marathon — you don’t get to slow down and rest until Christmas break. So keep up the pace.”
* “If you work really hard now, and succeed, yes, you’ll be exhausted at the end of the semester, but you’ll respect yourself and feel genuinely proud of the work you did. You’ll know you can do it! You have what it takes!”
What’s your secret to success? Share, please!
Or, what’s your downfall? What’s keeping you from meeting your goals?
Respond to my blog…there’s probably someone out there with a helpful idea, or at least someone’s shoulder to cry on!
January 7, 2010 4 Comments
Born to Act!
As crazy as it sounds we all were ‘Born to Act!’ Some people would say “I can’t act to save my life.” But this isn’t true; we spend every waking day acting our way through life.
For example, think of a phone conversation with your best friend. It’s going to be a lot different than a conversation with your boss. Don’t you always find that you change when you’re around older people or young kids? We treat them differently, we act differently. We also act according to our surroundings. We are taught certain standards by our parents and by society on how to behave, i.e not shouting in a library!
We are also taught to behave appropriately according to our gender. Back in the day, young women were sent to finishing schools. They were to taught to behave and act like Ladies and how to learn correct etiquette.
I’m sure you’ve heard sayings such as “that wasn’t very lady-like” or “act your age.” Watch how people act under different circumstances; look at your friends and family. People watch! It’s tons of fun!
“Why are you acting like that?” means “Why are you behaving like that?” Acting is behaving. Remember that when you’re in class!!
December 18, 2009 6 Comments
