31 Days of Mondays
Issue No. 9, January, 2021
Hi There,
Like a weekend, the end of a year brings with it hopeful anticipation. The promise of rest, festivity (albeit virtual this year), and time to take stock and plan for the coming year.
But then January hits, colliding like a month of Mondays. Motivation wanes. Netflix calls. This year in particular offers a difficult start.
To combat the winter blahs, I’d like to introduce you to a life habit I added to my routine a few years ago that changed my life. I’ve also put together a list of my favorite resources that help me get back on track when the blues come calling.
Thanks for showing up. I hope you find this useful.
Cheers,
Jamie
Creative Work
The You Today is Not the You Tomorrow
I’m going to level with you: as a child, I was not a great student. I was good. Fine. Passed everything. But when it came to really putting in the extra effort…
I did not.
Then I became an adult, discovered that successful people never stop learning, and that if I wanted to teach, I damn well better stay an eternal student to the thing I’m teaching. But how could I remain a lifelong learner? How could I include study in a busy life and schedule? How do you get good at studenting? And what does this have to do with winter blues?
A few years ago, on the advice of countless mentors, I decided to start my days with a one-hour time block dedicated to studying. Things like:
- Breaking down scripts
- Reading about the craft of acting, human psychology, or effective learning techniques
- Preparing practice scenes to spot blocks and traps in the text
- Analyzing performance clips to see what made an audition pop or a performance soar
These study blocks changed my life. By starting off my days with purpose, and with the intention of adding value to those I work with, it became the foundation of all the work I do. And having a clear purpose that resets every morning is the quickest way I’ve found to get out of a funk or fog.
Studying Isn’t Working
As an artist, staying inspired is part of the job.
Starting your day off with a small block of time dedicated to igniting your imagination, empathy, and artistry can help keep you revved up when life has you burned out. Small change. Big impact. I encourage you to give it a try.
Books of Note
The Art Of Possibility
I’ve read The Art of Possibility at least three times, cover to cover. After each read, I feel a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
Seth Godin said, on his list of recommended reading: “if you only read one, read this one.”
Written by Psychotherapist Rosamund Stone Zander and conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, Benjamin Zander, The Art of Possibility lays down a framework for approaching your old thought patters in new ways.
Some of my top takeaways:
- A shift from aiming to be the best in the world to being the best for the world puts the power to add value in your hands.
- Asking yourself “what would have to change to make this possible?” helps reframe most obstacles as temporary and movable.
- “Don’t play the game, be the board.” This is the framework that takes accountability to the next level.
If you’re coming into the new year feeling lost or overwhelmed (or both), The Art of Possibility just might inspire you to kick that feeling to the curb.
Purchase on Amazon:
https://jamiecarroll.me/art-of-possibility-amz
Purchase on Barnes & Noble:
https://jamiecarroll.me/art-of-possibility-bn
Purchase from an Independent Bookseller:
https://jamiecarroll.me/art-of-possibility-indy
Or, check the stacks of your local Public Library.
Voices of Reason
Lessons from the Screenplay
I’m a sucker for a good video essay.
If you’ve been reading The Dialogue, you already know about my love for the video series Every Frame a Painting.
Recently, I’ve been tuning into editor Michael Tucker’s wonderful YouTube series: Lessons from the Screenplay.
Tucker digs into the script and filmmaking techniques used to take stories to the next level.
Watching these episodes is a great way to practice your script analysis skills and turn your film and television viewing into an intentional exercise.
Some of my favorite episodes:
Bonus: now you have an excuse to veg-out online.
Workshops & Seminars
Developing the Role (New Class)
Working actors spend their days on set and in production. They break down scripts and inhabit a character for months, sometimes years.
As an auditioning actor, you’re in a different scenario.
Auditioning actors live and work in two or three-page scenes. As a result, the role-development skills you may have built in college or conservatory lie unused, weakened from a lack of practice.
Developing the Role is script analysis, scene study, and on-camera technique all rolled into one class. This is not an audition technique class. This is a class for building the skills you will need to work on set, and for the long haul.
Class will be limited to eight actors, working with scene partners, on a single role across four classes.
To learn more, click below and I’ll reach out when it launches.