Goals @ MindSay

Yet another great article to motivate actors and other performers, from Jack at Actor Site.  His website is linked at the end of the article and I recommend Actor Site if you are in Los Angeles or thinking of going there for training or work.  For the Actor:  Crying on Cue

 

ps. Recommended resource for anyone in the industry, in front of or behind the camera:  Script Magazine  Though particularly geared for writers, this magazine is a wonderful, wonderful study for actors too.  I learned one thing in Hollywood ... writers have the vision first.  Connecting with writers and the writer's process will make you a better actor.

 

Now....here's Jack's article

 

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HOW DO I DO IT ALL?
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Where can a creative individual find the energy
to do all that it takes to succeed. From one side,
you are encouraged to do three things per day to
move your career forward, and on the other side,
you have to work a "real" job, make sure you have
friends, family, and life, and at the same time
keep your creative spirits up.

To keep your creative spirits up, try to get to the
ACTORSITE DAILY WORKOUTS! It's a fun invigorating
time to workout your acting muscles...

ACTING IS A MUSCLE, YOU HAVE TO WORK IT OUT

Now for another issue....

Some suggestions for more energy:

1. Eat right. Be sure to remember to keep your
diet balanced no matter how busy you are. Remember to
include your leafy green vegetables and lots of fruits.
It will keep your metabolism running smoothly, which
means more energy.

2. Exercise regularly. Remember that exercise
will keep your body "ready for action". It's a
challenge to keep exercising on a regular basis,
but as an actor, remember that your body is an
essential part of the instrument and will
definitely determine the parts you play. Exercise
not only gives you energy and stamina, but it
gives you a look that will move your career forward.

3. Make a decision to Keep your goals in the front of your mind.
Write down your goals, both long term and short
term and stick them on the mirror where you dress.
Repeat your goals daily, and write down new ones
as you see sub goals that will help you achieve
your long term goals.

4. An acting career is a process, not a destination.
The habits you establish now will help you through
the challenges of the future if, for instance, you
achieve quick success and need a strong foundation
to secure your career for the long term, or, on the
other hand, a strong foundation will give you a good
base from which to build a long term career. Work
on establishing good acting habits and you can use
those good habits as a foundation, no matter what
your career path.

5. Be sure to warm up the acting instrument every day.
If you need some suggestions, go to our WORKBOOK
section of the Actorsite and start doing daily warm
ups. If you do your acting warm ups, it will help prepare
you for anything that might happen. Many of you have
an established daily routine to warm up the instrument,
and you are WAY AHEAD of those who do not warm up
the instrument each day.

6. Find daily creative challenges. Each day find a
way to make sure you are challenged creatively. Remember,
to work out a muscle, you have to challenge that
muscle, so remember to challenge your acting muscle
on a daily basis. Work on a new monologue, challenge
yourself with cold reading material that forces you
to work against type, put on the mantle of a new
character...sit down and force yourself to find
new challenges...as you rise to the challenges, you
will find new enthusiasm for your acting goals.

7. And finally, HAVE FUN. Find ways to have fun...
We're here in Hollywood and there are so many ways to
enjoy life here. This is a place where people come from
all over the world to enjoy life, so take a little time
and find the parks, find the hiking trails, go to the
beach, shop on Melrose, go to concerts, etc., find
ways to rejuvenate your creative self through enjoyment
of outside activities.

All the best,

Jack

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Reece Fleming, an 8-year-old boy suffering from leukemia, "married" his school sweetheart, fulfilling his last dream before his death.

He had created a list of ambitions he wanted to achieve before the end of his life, which included taking a ride in a Ferrari, spending a day at a fire station, and having a pirate-themed birthday party. The last thing on his list was saying "I do" to the girl he admired, Elleanor Pursglove.

Reece had proposed to Elleanor several times, and she finally answered yes after learning he only had a few weeks left to live. The plan was to have a vicar present for their vows, however with Reece's condition worsening, the mock ceremony was held at his home. Reece got to wear his favorite shirt, while Elleanor wore a wedding gown.

"You can't really describe in words what it was like. Reece and Elleanor were both very quiet, but there was a lot of feeling in the room," said Reece’s mother, Lorraine.

The young couple exchanged vows, rings, and were even given a marriage certificate. At the end of the ceremony, Reece told his mother, "Mum, I can go now."

After battling the cancer for four years of his life, Reece died the following day.

"Elleanor is missing him a lot. They were both really pleased with the ceremony. It was very special - he just kept smiling at her," said the girl's mother.

This report was contributed by cas 

I don't know what to say, but it's nice :) I have a problem that I never know what to do with something that's good - part of me says leave it be+ enjoy, but I have this illogical compulsion to change everything into something else (that drives my other stuff somewhat) - but logically I don't want to change something that's good - but don't know what to do with - I suppose I have trouble "keeping still" on some levels - but I'll figure that out in time I suppose when I've exhausted myself - i'm more still on other levels (because I feel spent on them) - maybe exhaustion is the key to relaxing - but might as well use what energy I have beneficially before then, rather than deliberately use it up so that I can move on - but it's hard to stop myself, so I suppose it's somewhat automatic, like sometimes I can be too tired to think/deal with something, but when I have the energy I can't stop myself.

It's like I was thinking I try to make stuff not matter so that it doesn't get to me, but in order to make any effort at all I have to make/keep at least one thing mattering. There isn't an obvious logical reason why anything matters, but... stuff does to us all, dunno why but that's how it is. I sometimes lie to myself (for comfort) that something matters less to me than it is really affectimg me - but I can't see that as a bad thing if it helps (and when the time comes that I realise the more honest state of myself, it doesn't hurt).

If I actually achieved everything I was trying to do, and still had my compulsion to change things, I don't know what i'd do - it's almost as if I'm depending on bad stuff a little to allow me to have a cause (and something to do, and fight for, and a meaning), etc - but come that point, I would then be eventually forced to let go of that compulsion and rest, because by that point it would affect my coping in the environment I just created (and people always seek a route to cope as best as possible, and even fight to defend what they're relying on for that) - so in some ways I don't have to worry about it, because at some point I gotta let go of it anyway, I'll just use the compulsion to the advantage of my goals for now

My goal is to not write on here, or my twitter for the rest of the day. It will be insanely hard, but I've been relying on it too much.