Being Breathed

I am starting to hit a sort of block... perhaps it's because I haven't been in any scenes for about a week... Acting is like working out, you have to consistently be working on something or else you lose the acting muscle.

I saw Clive starred and directed by Ethan Hawke.  Even though I was never a fan of his work, I think it's admirable that a t.v. actor wants to be in plays that probably won't break the bank.

I would expand and talk about this play... but it's Brecht inspired and it's strange and you would have to watch it to really understand what I am trying to say.  Ethan's performance was pretty raw, not really appropriate for Broadway but a smaller venue, I thought it was fitting.  Vague? Yeah... well... every performance in theatre is one of a kind and what I saw was a subjective experience.  You gotta love theatre. 

As an artist, you have to make choices between money and your art.  Of course you should always choose the ART but the bottom line is you gotta make a living somehow and I am not willing to sell my body or sell out for a six figure salary. 

I am glad there is so much theatre in New York that is affordable to go see, so I am going to make an effort to go out there and see actors work.  

Today, in my Alexander technique class, Daniel Singer, my teacher said something (it isn't the first time he said something similar, but with a class like this, you have to be told several times before you ACTUALLY get it) that made me go "Huh?".  

So in his Daniel Singer way (he's sorta like Yoda... or the Dalai Lama.  He very serene), he told our class that "You are being breathed."  He told us that instead of being arrogant, tell yourself that the cosmos and the universe is doing the breathing for us.... 

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS... But if I had to try to imagine the cosmos and the planets making me breathe, I do feel as though I can breathe larger, wider and more expansive.  

I need to start taking this technique seriously because all my teachers raves about it and I do want to look amazing on stage without looking like I am putting any effort (you are actually not suppose to use any effort Ariel...) 

I wish I can explain this class better to people... so I need to do more outside research on this topic.

On the side note- I AM GETTING SO ANXIOUS MEMORIZING MONOLOGUES.  But I think I stress myself out because there is so much pressure as an actor to find the perfect monologue because that's how you showcase your talent. It's like telling the judicators "HEY THIS IS ME AND I ONLY GOT ONE MINUTE TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING SO PLEASE BELIEVE IN ME AND GIVE ME A JOB."

I don't know why I'm composed but it's most likely because I have a bunch things going through my head such as: scenes, monologues, job applications, scholarships, to go home or not to go home...

I need to get my shit together.