Take Ownership Of Your Craft

Okay,

So seeing as there are over a million students in the New York City region who are home today due to inclement weather, I figured this would be a great opportunity to catch up on 'ye ol Blog...

A few nights ago, at school we had quite a successful reading of Lydia Diamond's "The Bluest Eye" sponsored by The 'Yard and Juilliard's Black Student Union. Juilliard actors, alums, and professional actors came out to support and be a part of the reading. We also had a Bake Sale for BSU with proceeds going to the club's 3 week teaching residency in Botswana this summer. We've been working really hard to save up money for the Botswana trip. I'm really excited about it, because it'll be a wonderful opportunity for my work on the Ancestral Story to take shape. I also know that I'll be in a place to learn so much...I'm sure it'll be life-changing and I'm very open to all its possibilities.

We just finished our showings earlier this week on Monday. I was extremely happy during the process of rehearsal for "The Hard Sell". I felt like it was a great opportunity to begin using all the tools we've been learning in Voice and Speech and Alexander Technique...really a chance to put it all together for ourselves and see how it can influence the quality of our work. I feel like this is the first time I told myself in the beginning of a rehearsal process: "Carolyn, you need to use everything you know to see how it can affect your work. That's why you're here, to learn and to practically apply what you're learning." And I feel confident knowing that I put all my eforts towards doing that. In our Voice class, we got some tough love from our teacher telling us that we need to start taking ownership of our craft. To stop looking at ourselves as just students, and to realize that we are becoming artists with an assortment of vital tools that we need to consistently utilize. Just as a painter knows the exact type of brush he needs to use to create a forest landscape, we have specifc tools we can use to make a story clearer, more engaging.
When she said that, it clearly rang as a call to action. I came back to school because I told myself I wanted to have a set of tools that would allow me to feel fully equipped as a performer. Now I'm realizing it's about more than just feeling fully equipped, its about using those tools so consistently that at some point by an observer, it may seem "effortless". When truly, having the tools allows you a way into any type of text or work. It creates more possibilities...always.

And then there's what's beyond technique...there's instinct. It's easy to forget about that when you're in an academic environment, and you begin to forget what it means to trust your gut. But I know one thing that I am always growing in as well is trusting my choices as an actor and really going aftter them boldly. That there is no "range of correct choices", that it really is essential to take risks in order to discover something totally new. And when you take that risk, its not just liberating for you as the actor, its a chance to free your character as well. I think this next quarter, I'm going to make it my goal to take some greater risks in the rehearsal room and to come into rehearsal with some secific ideas. Theatre is all about collaboration, right...well, now I've just figured out that I have to have ideas in order for the collaborative process to really function at its best!

Lastly, today marks the beginning of Spring Break...Hallelujah! I'm so ready for the time off. More than likely, I'll still keep myself very occupied. I'm planning on getting my coaching business up and running again for this semester. If you're reading this blog and you or a friend need monologue coaching, let me know. Also, if you need to chat with any of my past clients, I can always connect you with them so you can find out a little bit about the way I like to work.
Feel free to contact me at cms4@juilliard.edu if you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment.


Love and Blessings to you all!
-Carolyn