I just had an interesting conversation with a lovely lady called Briony. We were discussing ideas for a play to take to Edinburgh Festival next summer.
I had just read an article saying that this year over 50,000 people applied for Drama School in England alone. For the last few years it has only been around 20,000. Why the sudden surge? Are people more talented? Deluded? I don't know. All I know is that I got into one. What does that say about me? Was I just lucky? Do I have what it takes? I don't know. All I know is that I enjoy being on stage and will do what I can to get where I want to be, but I guess I'll find out soon enough whether it was justified or just luck...
This conversation brought about the issue of Britain's Got Talent, Big Brother, X Factor and even Come Dine With Me. Fame doesn't just require talent but balls. You may know you're not great but you can get onto any of these shows for being absolutely terrible: Andy Warhol's 15 minutes of Fame idea has become more relevant than ever before. I guess what I'm trying to say is that despite all the talent around there is an awful lot of shite to wade through to find it, and every year the heap of shit seems to get bigger and bigger.
How has 20,000 become 50,000? Who do we blame for this? The media? YouTube? Ourselves?
As an idea I feel it is incredibly relevant today but unbelievably challenging to tackle considering I will be assessing the business that I so hope to become a part of. For all of you actors, singers, dancers out there ask yourself one question: Do I deserve to be where I am now?
Anyway this is an idea that can be expanded or dismissed, its just an idea I'm throwing out there. If anyone has any ideas how to expand it to a show or if its already been done please leave a little comment and let me know what you think.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Monday, 1 February 2010
Audition monologues
I am about to embark on a traumatizing week of auditions. I have a week left to prepare and I'm unsure what my classical piece should be. I have looked at King Claudius from Hamlet but then I started worrying about age etc. Opinions anyone? Should I change?
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Viva Las Vegas
Just got back from Las Vegas after spending New Years there, and I had a fantastic time. Firstly, I should point out that it was nothing like Swingers, Leaving Las Vegas, Fear and Loathing, Showgirls, Casino, The Hangover etc. etc. etc. Secondly I should point out I was with my family. Not that this was a bad thing in fact it was great, but secretly I wished I could live out my Swingers moment or wake up in a hotel room and the sofa would still be smoldering...
I had to share a room with my sisters.
Part of me feels that I missed out on a part of Vegas that's constantly been shown in the movies. Sadly though this wasn't the movies as my sister pointed out when I innocently wished I could win back the 50 dollars I just lost, to which she replied "don't be stupid this isn't the movies". I would've shrugged this off if she hadn't been the one winning my money at the blackjack table.
Blackjack is the game of the devil: one moment you're splitting your cards, doubling down and winning twice as much and the next moment you're being hauled from the table because some anti social fool has busted out and taken that card you needed *cough* my sister and you've called her a cunt. Whatever you do never ever use this word, in fact, I'm sorry if this word offends you, but now I'm going to desensitize you from this monstrous word: Cunt, cunter, cuntish, cunted, cunting, cuntics, cuntatron, cunternator, cuntanian, cuntastrophe...If you're still offended well then I really can't help you.
This unsavoury word got me in a little bit of trouble there, and the dealer threatened to call security. Telling them that it was okay and she was my sister didn't seem to help... Fortunately after a few minutes of glossing up my english accent and apologizing profusely to the dealer -not my sister strangely- the games continued and I was still 100 dollars down. Vegas sucked for about 5 more minutes and then boom! In two hands I won all my money back. I was god! Lord of the blackjack! I was so fucking money! So I played on, winning, losing and then bang I lost 50 dollars again; Vegas sucked...
It didn't really. One of the best things about this eccentric and extravagant place is the people; there are some weird and wonderful characters on the strip. A group of people I met were a bunch of Christians just in front of the lake outside the Bellagio. As I walked past they told me I was going to hell; I laughed. They didn't like that. So I explained that only God could pass judgment and that if Jesus were here today this would be one of the first places he'd catch a plane to. That seemed to upset them even more (Now, normally I wouldn't be scared but they were wielding hefty signs), and they retorted by saying Jesus would never come here because we're all sinners. Thank god for my A* in Divinity. I talked to them about how Jesus came to save the wicked and not the good etc. etc. etc. Our conversation ended when I decided to tease them as they followed me up to the Bellagio. They asked if I had accepted God and Jesus into my life. I said no I hadn't because Allah was the one true God and Mohammed his prophet. I ran inside before I was stoned to death.
I met a man who openly said he shot someone because he was getting abusive -remember they carry guns in this country my dad reminded me as I went to go drinking one night - and a woman on the plane who had claimed to have won 4000 dollars. She gave me 50 dollars just for being polite and English; she was very drunk over 30 and probably a lady of the night but she gave me money so how could I possibly judge her. I did half expect at that exact moment a Christian to jump out of the toilet brandishing a "YOU'RE GONNA BURN IN HELL"sign and beat her and I to death. If I hadn't received the fifty dollars I would've welcomed the beating, a Wisconsin Farm girl's voice can be grating after 4 hours.
I had fun in Vegas but not in the way you normally see it. I will return though with some friends and without family to live out my dream of winning big, marrying a stranger in an Elvis chapel, swimming in the Bellagio fountains, waking up not knowing where I am, who this stranger is sleeping on my arm with Jeremy 4 eva on her arse, a 100 dollar chip in my mouth and absolutely stark bollocks naked.
Next time people, next time.
I had to share a room with my sisters.
Part of me feels that I missed out on a part of Vegas that's constantly been shown in the movies. Sadly though this wasn't the movies as my sister pointed out when I innocently wished I could win back the 50 dollars I just lost, to which she replied "don't be stupid this isn't the movies". I would've shrugged this off if she hadn't been the one winning my money at the blackjack table.
Blackjack is the game of the devil: one moment you're splitting your cards, doubling down and winning twice as much and the next moment you're being hauled from the table because some anti social fool has busted out and taken that card you needed *cough* my sister and you've called her a cunt. Whatever you do never ever use this word, in fact, I'm sorry if this word offends you, but now I'm going to desensitize you from this monstrous word: Cunt, cunter, cuntish, cunted, cunting, cuntics, cuntatron, cunternator, cuntanian, cuntastrophe...If you're still offended well then I really can't help you.
This unsavoury word got me in a little bit of trouble there, and the dealer threatened to call security. Telling them that it was okay and she was my sister didn't seem to help... Fortunately after a few minutes of glossing up my english accent and apologizing profusely to the dealer -not my sister strangely- the games continued and I was still 100 dollars down. Vegas sucked for about 5 more minutes and then boom! In two hands I won all my money back. I was god! Lord of the blackjack! I was so fucking money! So I played on, winning, losing and then bang I lost 50 dollars again; Vegas sucked...
It didn't really. One of the best things about this eccentric and extravagant place is the people; there are some weird and wonderful characters on the strip. A group of people I met were a bunch of Christians just in front of the lake outside the Bellagio. As I walked past they told me I was going to hell; I laughed. They didn't like that. So I explained that only God could pass judgment and that if Jesus were here today this would be one of the first places he'd catch a plane to. That seemed to upset them even more (Now, normally I wouldn't be scared but they were wielding hefty signs), and they retorted by saying Jesus would never come here because we're all sinners. Thank god for my A* in Divinity. I talked to them about how Jesus came to save the wicked and not the good etc. etc. etc. Our conversation ended when I decided to tease them as they followed me up to the Bellagio. They asked if I had accepted God and Jesus into my life. I said no I hadn't because Allah was the one true God and Mohammed his prophet. I ran inside before I was stoned to death.
I met a man who openly said he shot someone because he was getting abusive -remember they carry guns in this country my dad reminded me as I went to go drinking one night - and a woman on the plane who had claimed to have won 4000 dollars. She gave me 50 dollars just for being polite and English; she was very drunk over 30 and probably a lady of the night but she gave me money so how could I possibly judge her. I did half expect at that exact moment a Christian to jump out of the toilet brandishing a "YOU'RE GONNA BURN IN HELL"sign and beat her and I to death. If I hadn't received the fifty dollars I would've welcomed the beating, a Wisconsin Farm girl's voice can be grating after 4 hours.
I had fun in Vegas but not in the way you normally see it. I will return though with some friends and without family to live out my dream of winning big, marrying a stranger in an Elvis chapel, swimming in the Bellagio fountains, waking up not knowing where I am, who this stranger is sleeping on my arm with Jeremy 4 eva on her arse, a 100 dollar chip in my mouth and absolutely stark bollocks naked.
Next time people, next time.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Ataque de Panico
One I forgot to mention. This guy just got a 30 million dollar deal to make a movie because of this short film. Does he deserve it?
I loved Avatar
There I said it: I LOVED AVATAR! The public liked it, yet they can't get over the story and how terrible it was. I won't defend it because it was a pretty standard story that was predictable to the end, but I wasn't there for the story. I won't spoil anything for you but if you've seen Last of the Mohicans or Dance With Wolves then its that. Not a bad story just not very original. What I was excited about was Cameron back doing Sci-fi -watch aliens- where he belongs.
If you knew anything about this movie you know that Cameron has been making this movie for about 12 years now; he developed the technology for it! By god does it pay off though. The CGI in this film will blow your mind; I didn't even see it in 3D. That's on my to do list for the new year. That's right you heard correctly, I am going to see this movie again because it was porn for the eyes. What does this mean for future films? JC has set the bar high with Avatar. Michael Bay I hope you're paying attention after the travesty of Transformers 2 because this is how you do CGI. Even new comers are finding better ways to create special effects, just watch this District 9 trailer to see what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6PDlMggROA
If you've not seen Avatar or District 9 go rent it, buy it, borrow it or steal it. Just watch them
Comic con Black beauty reveal
Seth Rogan you're a funny guy but this leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth
Friday, 25 December 2009
The superhero bandwagon
Hollywood seems to have found its new genre of movies: the comic book.
As we enter 2010 the last decade has been filled with several new comic book franchises: Batman, Iron Man, Sin City, Wolverine, Spiderman and The X Men to name a few, and it looks like Hollywood has know intention of stopping. I recently read a blog at http://www.empireonline.com/ that was discussing who should be cast as Captain America: Aaron Eckhart seemed to be getting the popular vote, as well as Will Smith. Personally, I think Val Kilmer would be good casting, or an extremely bulky Leonardo DiCaprio. In truth I just hope they do not attempt to make this movie. Yet it seems inevitable with the looming Avengers film to be announced in the new decade.
I can only hope that films like the Green Lantern, Thor, The Green Hornet, the sequel to Wolverine Origins as well as many others can meet the success that Iron man, Sin City and Batman had. Unfortunately, this will probably not be the case. Can you honestly see Seth Rogan as a crime busting hero? Absolutely not.
Hollywood has seen the future and it lies in the comic book fan base. No matter how terrible these movies will be I am definitely going to see them. Why? Because I'm a fan. When Spiderman broke box office records could you honestly say it was a great film? No it wasn't, and the only reason it did well is because its Spiderman.
I'm not against all comic book movies; I loved Batman, Sin City and Hellboy. Heck, I even liked Blade.
2010-2020 is going to be a very interesting decade for the comic book film as more and more are released. I just hope that Hollywood does them justice and delivers a decent film. I can only hope.
"Shhhh. My common sense is tingling"
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