I just imported an entry from my blog, Answers4Actors. As I rereadit I realized that I wanted to wish everyone at Alivenotdead Happy New Year as well.
It feel hopeful here where I am and I hope it does where ever you are too.
Almost everyone I know has had to face a different challenge this year. Something they had never had to face before but what I have seen in everyone including myself that we are stronger than we think. Glad to see that!
Bless you all and I look forward to seeing all of you again soon Jeanne
I wish you a successful new year Actors. May you have exciting auditions. If you are not there yet there are techniques you can improve that will help you be consistent in your auditions.
May you WORK. A LOT.
May you enjoy your work and those you will be working with in all your endeavors.
May you keep your passion for your work or find it if you have lost it!
May you keep learning. Artists always keep learning.
May you decide to improve something in your life - work or personal.
May you share your passion with someone who really needs it.
As I look around this morning, I realize how many things I try to do each year at the holiday time. Even though I don’t get to see my family this year I am blessed with my friends here in Los Angeles and my Iowa roots and my mother in me comes out at this time of year.
Of course, I start baking like my Mom and Grandmother would do. I have, over the years, created my own baking traditions that my friends tell me that look forward to and frankly I better show up with some of this candy for them!
Leading the way is my “famous” White Chocolate Toffee. I actually ran into a friend this year at a function months and months after Christmas and she wistfully told me she missed my toffee. We had not really seen each other at all last year and since I didn’t’ see her at holiday time she didn’t get candy. So I suppose I will make sure she gets some this year even though we don’t see each other much at all.
I always try new recipes each year. I like “mixing it up”. So this year I made my sister-in-law’s Cracker Mix. It has Bugles in it. Some of you may not know this cracker but although you use 4 to 5 kinds of crackers I must find the Bugles or it just doesn’t seem right for me. And hey thank you Albertsons you had them this year.
For some reason this year I made three new chocolate cookie recipes. I like them all but I think the two favorite recipes for me are the Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cookie and the Brown Raspberry Double Cookie. Who can say No to Chocolate, especially a cookie that tastes like a brownie!!!
Some years I get crafty. Sometimes with success. One year I made Sand Candles. This year I found a great deal on Paper White Flower Plants. For those of you who don’t know them, they are a bulb flower plant and usually I only see them at holiday time. I love the scent of the beautiful tall small flowered plants. They don’t last very long. I had to take one over to some friends last time since some of them are already blooming and I couldn’t wait until Christmas. Luckily they are all blooming in my studio where I teach and the smell is fantastic. I am sure some of you how these plants make me crafty but hey I do have to put them in containers and wrap them in tissue paper, right?
I brought out my Aunt Gertie’s ceramic tree and turn the lights on every evening. Yes it is a little shall we say corny? But I love it because it was my Aunt Gertie’s tree in her living room each year and it reminds me of her and Uncle Harvey. They were like my second set of parents especially after both my parents were gone. And of course then I don’t have to buy a Christmas tree.
I hope that all of you have created traditions or continue traditions from your family for your holidays.
I want to wish all of you Happy Holidays whatever holidays you celebrate. I look forward to seeing you in Hong Kong in February. I only wish I could share in your New Year activities, I understand they are beautiful and fun, but maybe I can do that in another year.
One of my most wonderful memories for 2008 was coming to Hong Kong for the first time. It was so special for me. I had always wanted to visit Hong Kong and since teaching actors and artists is my most favorite thing to do coming to Hong Kong to teach made it even more special.
I feel honored to have worked with the Hong Kong artists this year and I look forward to seeing you and working with you again very soon.
So I saw these scientists who did this study with shrimps on a treadmill, you read it right, SHRIMP ON A TREADMILL. Now what is impressive is the shrimps go for hours, like 4 to 6 hours. I want shrimp vitamins!
I saw Clint Eastwood’s film, the Changeling, and was touched by the performances of the actors and story. Angelina Jolie, once again, takes on a difficult role. And once again she handles it with strength and a truth to the character that I truly respect. Seeing this film reminds me again how such a short time ago, women were dismissed, their words and their worth.
A couple weeks ago, I first went to see a dear friend and wonderful actress, Ann Ryerson, in some new plays. I applaud groups who are writing and developing their work. Although I didn’t like all the pieces I appreciate the process that writers must go through to find the “gold” and you do need to get it on its feet at some point with actors and an audience to find out what’s really working or not! So for the Fierce Backbone Preview Night I prefer to share what I liked. Of the 8 pieces I think the strongest pieces were, Hooks, The Course We Set and Cleo’s Girls. The actors in all the pieces were strong and I look forward to seeing more work from this group.
Last Monday night, I had the pleasure of attending the performance of Most Happy Fella by Frank Loesser with the Musical Theatre Guild’s Broadway in Concert Series. I have always loved this musical. The score is so exciting. As usual with this group the singers were strong and soared with the minimal amount of type they get to rehearse. There is one more performance Nov 23 out in Thousand Oaks. Go out and see this group. You will recognize some of the songs I’m sure!
And finally this last week I went to a screening of Slumdog Millionaire. LOVED IT. The description I had been given didn’t tell me about the seriousness of the story. I don’t want to share too much information about the story. I would just like to recommend that you see it. Actors were wonderful and seeing India in this story really touched me.
And just an added comment, (especially for you Dax) so sorry to see Roy Jones get beat like he did. I have always loved to see him fight and this last fight saddened me.
Dear Jeanne
Hope u've had a wonderful holiday! And that this year will be a rewarding and better year for you and your family. Pls continue to sparkle the lives of those who know you and ours who are far away but not so far in thought.:)
No, THANK YOU Jeanne.....words cannot describe the experience you had given me and the utmost gratitude I still feel now. The class was one of those rare moments that really brought a lot out of me... My dad always told me that I should love what I do in life, and do it with passion...and I can understand why you love yours. But its when its mixed with enthusiasm and laughter it then becomes dangerous. It then becomes infectious....and I think you have infected me! :)
Also I should have told you about Mr Chow earlier but I think it was my excitement to get started in the class! Or probably because we didn't have time (I wanted to tell you as the class filtered in). I met him for the first time in July '07 through a photographer friend of my dads, and I was very surprised just how laid back he was....and how tall! He was as almost as tall as me (and I'm tall for a Chinese). He's also a very good landscape photographer, and that was a very big surprise. A surprise because I only ever thought (like everyone else who watches movies) actors were strangely 2-dimensional. It never occurred to me they would actually be 3-dimensional and have a hobby! ;))
Anyways I must stop my giggling.....here's a Happy New Year and a Happy 2009 to you Jeanne! ;))
Although I have been coaching and teaching for many years, my background includes professional work both in musical and acting performances on stage, on screen and in voice over work as well. If you w...
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