The Drawing Board and The Saddle

Hi There,

It doesn’t seem to matter how old I get: September feels like the beginning of a new year.

This “Back to School” mindset has stuck with me even though it’s been a long, long, long (long) time since I’ve been in school. Somehow, every fall, I find myself getting back to work. Or back to studying. Or back to basics. But this year, with our industry in upheaval, it almost seems as though there’s nothing to go back to. But that doesn’t have to mean abandoning the spirit of the season.

In this fifth issue of The Dialogue, I’m bringing you what has always been my favorite part of “Back to School”: The Back to School List. Every year, my school would send out a list of necessary supplies and preparations needed to get through the coming school year. That list was my jam.

While this list isn’t a tactile set of art supplies, it is a set of resources that might give you some solid footing while the world around us remains unsteady. A handful of sites, apps, and other tools to help make this “new year” a little easier to navigate:

• A Question To Ask When Uncertainty Strikes
• Helpful Resources for Scripts and Sides
• Podcasts and Interviews to Fuel Your Creativity

FYI – The waitlist for  On Camera Lab is open. Actors currently enrolled in September sessions get first access to October classes. While all classes are currently full, we will notify actors on the waitlist when space becomes available.

Click here to find out how you can join the On Camera Lab waitlist and be first in line for open spots.

Want to see what On Camera Lab is all about? Sign up for a free one-time Test Drive (details below).

Be well,

JC

“How can I add value?”

Thinking in terms of what I can give and not what I hope to get is one of the most empowering ways I’ve found to approach any situation. Thinking this way instantly moves me from a place of need to a place of abundance.

This works with something as simple as a one-line co-star audition. Looking for ways to add value to the scene ignites your creativity, while trying to “get it right” tends to shut it down.

Right now, we’re all in a state of transition and uncertainty. The arts have taken a major hit worldwide. “What’s coming next in the entertainment industry?” I have no idea. Change, though. That’s certain. And thinking about those unknown changes can be debilitating.

What if instead, we ask: “How can we add value to what’s coming next in the entertainment industry?” The answers are limitless, and empowering.

Add Value to Yourself:

Learn a new skill that will help you play a wider range of roles. Start a study block to take in new thoughts, sparking deeper insight into your creative work.

Add Value to the Industry:

Create content that expresses what you value and share it with like-valued audiences. Take what you find funny and capture it for those who share your taste. Start a hive of creatives from differing backgrounds, telling stories that only they can tell.

Add Value to the Community:

If there’s an issue close to your heart: find an organization that supports it and volunteer, or donate. Even if it’s one dollar a month. It’s not about what you’d do if you had unlimited funds and time – it’s about what you do with what’s available to you now.

You’re a once in a lifetime event. And what you do with your life matters. If you set out to add value, you will create value. Sometimes financially, sometimes in the impact you can have on those around you.

Why not be intentional with the value we create? All we have to do is ask ourselves how. And then take the first step.

Scripts And Sides

Use these sites to track down new material, or flesh out what you’re working on.

https://sites.google.com/site/tvwriting

http://www.script-o-rama.com/

https://www.imsdb.com/

https://indiefilmhustle.com/free-screenplays-download/

https://showfax.com/index.cfm

Acting Apps

Looking for easier ways to accomplish the work you’re doing? Check out these must-have apps for solving common actor tasks.

Rehearsal Pro
https://rehearsal.pro/
Learn lines, markup scripts with photos and text.

Tableread
https://www.tablereadpro.com
Especially great for actors/writers. Have your script read aloud (and you can even add music).

IMDbPro
https://pro.imdb.com/app
Research the rosters of agents and managers, look up the team behind your favorite shows.

In this five minute interview, Larry outlines the work an actor should be doing each day to stay on top of your craft. Larry’s advice has ignited the performances of several Oscar nominated (and winning) actors, including Hillary Swank, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Helen Hunt.

StageMilk: Larry Moss
The Work that Actors Should be Doing Everyday!

“Acting is a gorgeous profession, if you give it it’s due”—Larry Moss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqspj-jL-Q0

I’ve heard from many actors recently worrying how this pandemic will affect their career prospects going forward. If this sounds like you, take comfort in knowing that actors have always dealt with what can feel like career ending moments.

Here are two podcasts that might help you get through this troubling time, and have a few laughs along the way.

That One Audition

Alyshia Ochse’s wonderful podcast where guests talk about their most challenging auditions, and what they do to survive this business of show.
https://alyshiaochse.com/

Dead Eyes

What would you do if Tom Hanks said you had dead eyes? If you’re Conor Ratliff you’d host a hilarious podcast.

https://headgum.com/dead-eyes

In order to feel safe enough to fail, actors need to know their in-class struggles will not leave the training space. Allowing an outsider to observe an actor working in this vulnerable state makes building this trust impossible.

Audits are disruptive and benefit the teacher… not the actor in training. So, it’s not something I allow.

But I also believe you should be able to see the work we’re doing before you commit to signing up.

That’s why I am offering a free On Camera Lab test drive for actors that I haven’t worked with yet.