Not the house I live in, but the house I've wanted desperately since ... forever. There's this street in Upper Montclair that has fantastical houses, and one of these houses is absolutely perfect in my eyes. It looks like a castle. Walls of windows. And a stone arch that you drive under. I imagine that inside there is a library. It's for sale.
I am discomfitted by this development! It is happening far too soon. According to my plans, the house was supposed to be for sale twenty or thirty years from now (at which point I would be ridiculously wealthy) and then I would buy it and live in it and be happy forever. With a library.
I'm wondering if I should try to go into it and see it. It may be my only chance. Maybe I could ask Ace to go with me. I think he's the only person I know who looks like a potential buyer of this house. I certainly don't!
My House. (EDIT - I'm not sure why the link didn't work. I've replaced it with a picture, that, hopefully, will work. Also, this way you can't see the price, so you won't know how unrealistic my expectations are.)
Other developments!
Today I was called by the theatre! I have been approved to direct! Yeeee! So on Monday, I'm going to go there and read some original plays written by the starving artists of New York City, to see if I would like to, you know, direct any of them. I am really, really excited. Yee.
Furthermore, today I went to the mall. The mall is not my most favorite of places. But I had a coupon for Borders, and it was my intention to purchase a replacement for one of my books that had all its pages fall out and get lost. I made this purchase. I also purchased a swimsuit. Even though I don't really plan on going swimming in the near or even relatively near future. I don't plan on being in the sun. The swimsuit is a bikini. WHAT THE FUCK. I haven't worn a bikini since I was five. This may not actually be true, but it's been a while. See, there were these two-piece swimwear things. And there were these bottoms that could go to either a "tankini" top or a halter bikini top. And I really like the design, so I decided to try both. And I actually liked the bikini top better. WHAT THE FUCK.
Now I'll just have to make sure that my body is fit to be seen in a bikini. At present? It is not.
Saturday
Wednesday
"But he bore a brown scar to the end of his days."
[Begin Spoiler for Lost - the whole first season of the bitch. WARNING: Also talks about VERONICA MARS Season 1. — Highlight to view]
Whatever else you can say about this show (and I can, and probably will, say a lot) you must say this: A man was blown up with dynamite, and a wound was cauterized with gunpowder. That's fucking awesome.
So, okay. Now everyone can talk about how disappointed or not they were by the season. I was honestly getting a little tired of hearing people complain about how nothing ever got explained. The season was not over. Now it is. Have at it. Here's me, though: At 8 miutes to go in this episode, during the last commercial break, I was having a vehement argument with my mother about the fact that there was no way anything was going to get wrapped up in the time they had left. By the time the episode was over? I was cool.
This season had definite problems. That I will say. However, a few episodes back I had decided that this show was a lot like Veronica Mars. Not in subject matter, but in terms of suspense and mystery, and all that. And at that point, I was convinced that Veronica Mars was way better at this style of storytelling than Lost was. However, at this point, I think I was mistaken. I don't think the two shows have the same type of storytelling.
Because in this episode? No, no big mysteries were laid bare. Not really. But that's okay. Because here's the alternative: They wrap everything up at breakneck speed. Everything you wanted to know, you know, there's a huge catharsis, and then ... what? First of all, that would make the planning and pacing of the show super crappy, which is actually what I was afraid was going to happen. Veronica Mars laid out most of its mystery in the very first episode. Then, it gave out revelations and a little more mystery, until finally in the end, everything was revealed. Or, almost everything. The major things. Now, when the new season starts, they will have to start afresh with a whole new mystery, even a new tone for the show.
Lost can't do that. Or, it can, but it would grow stale very quickly. We have here a weird island of mystery. This is the premise of the show. So far, we can guess that this island has at least 250 years ... of mystery. This cannot be solved in 40 days (the time period of the first season). If they solved all the mystery they found, then next year they'd have to miraculous discover new mystery, and solve that all by the season's end. Sorta like Buffy. And that gets cheesy.
I am now, honestly, restored in the faith I had with this show when the season started. I think they are telling a story, and (for the most part) I think they know what they're doing. They need to work on the fine tuning. But overall... I don't know. It works somehow. Somehow in that last five minutes, I was only slightly wiser, but I didn't feel angry or cheated. We'll find out more in the fall. And I will tune in. And ... I can handle that.
Plus, I like the fact that a quick, definitive answer was brought to nothing. Now people have something to talk about and theorize and debate about all summer. And they should, because I do believe there's something there.
Like, Walt! Use your freaky weird child powers! The people in the boat, they're the Others, right? I think we can assume this. Is the girl who threw the molotov cocktail Alex? How long have these people been waiting for a freaky weird child? How many freaky weird children have they collected? Is young Aaron still a freaky weird child like the psychic predicted, and if so, did Walt just decoy for him? Is Sawyer dead? Is everybody else on the raft dead?
Also, the monster. Do we know what it is? No. But apparently it's invisible. Okay! The hatch. Do we know what's in it? No. But apparently it's a big long staircase into the center of the earth. Okay! Is there destiny, or do we make our own? Yes. Okay!
Incidentally, as per that. Remember I had that theory that the island has been bumping off the people who weren't supposed to be on the plane? I'm now wondering, what determines whether or not they were supposed to be on the plane? The dead Joanna "wasn't even supposed to be on the plane" but she got sick, so she was. You could say from this episode that Hurley was not supposed to be on the plane. The blackout, the elevator, the car, the flight attendant, everything seemed to be conspiring to keep him off it. But he kept trying. Did he thwart fate? But then, that guy gave him the scooter. That stewardess and the pilot were nice to him and bent the rules. Those people moved out of the way. Was that fate? Should he have been on the plane, or not? And Locke. They didn't have the special slim wheelchair. (Which, incidentally, I've been in! Woo!) Does that mean he shouldn't have been on the plane? But then the flight attendant offered to carry him on. Since that wasn't Locke's doing, does that mean it's fate? Circumstances not under his control? What about Sayid? He was on the flight a day later because he chose to be. What about Claire? Someone bought the tickets for her and told her to go, and then the pens didn't work, but ultimately she's the one who decided to put herself on that plane. Boone and Shannon were supposed to be in first class. Is their getting bumped back fate, or were they supposed to die in the crash?
Furthermore, it became clear in this episode that the island may not actually like Locke as much as he thinks it does. Or does he?
Anyway, here's what was wrong with this season. As I see it.
1. I know I've harped on this, but the Claire thing. Holy fuck did this bother me. It really, really bothered me. I don't mind that Claire was kidnapped, and I don't even mind that she had "amnesia" and very annoyingly couldn't remember anything. I don't even mind that Charlie weirdly came back to life and also didn't remember anything. What I do mind is that Claire was missing for a week, and everyone carried about their stupid business. Including Charlie who was in love with her, and Jack who has a hang up about saving people. Here's what could have been different: Her abduction time should have been shorter. Nothing they can do in a week that they can't also do in four days. They should have had people show actual concern for her. Like, asking where is she? What do you think's happening to her? How are we going to get her back? There should have been some actual attempt to get her back, or a plan to get her back. The plans could have been thwarted, if we really needed to draw it out, or if we really needed this for any reason. But at the very least, Charlie should have cooked up some hair-brained scheme to rush into the jungle and rescue her, and Sayid and Jack should have restrained him and explained that it was too dangerous. They should have explained TO THE AUDIENCE why it was too dangerous to get Claire. They should have made some attempt to give some sort of explanation as to WHY NO ONE WAS LOOKING FOR CLAIRE! God! Seriously! This was such a major downfall of this season. It really ... gah. Fucking show.
Another major problem: there are too many survivors. In this episode, we have Mr. Arzt telling us that the extras have important stories too. Then he gets blown up. First of all: no they don't. I remember reading an article about Lost where one of the writers pointed out that 47 was the most randomly occurring number. In ... everything. Even though the meaning of life is 42. Whatever. Some number in the forties. Anyway though, this really indicated to me that the reason for that number was simply because it was clever. And they wanted to do something clever.
Now, of course all these people who show up in the background and don't get lines are all due to SAG and money issues. That said? It's fucking retarded. There are all these people that we don't know, never hear about, and can't care about. When the commercials made a big deal about Ethan killing one of the castaways, it turned out to be one of those faceless extras who got a line once and a hundred bucks. And because they had some stupid bit about how supposedly peopel confused him with this other guy ... we're supposed to care. But it doesn't work like that. I can't give a shit about these people that I never see who can't talk. Plus, there are too many people on the island as it is. What would be better? If they had had maybe 20-25 people, and paid them all appropriately. If we learned all their names and stories, and saw them interacting with each other. Not on the level of the regulars, they probably wouldn't get their own flashback episodes, but some recognition of who these people are. Some familiarity with their faces and lives, so that we actually care about all the people on this island, and not just a third of them. Because seriously? There was not one point in this season where they needed all those people. Not when they had to find food, not when they needed to build the raft fast. There was nothing in the story that could not have been improve by having fewer people.
Another thing: the castaways need to stop being so FUCKING STUPID. Like this evening. Charlie starts yelling at Rousseau about how there were never any others. Um. Remember when Charlie was abducted and hanged, and came back blacked out but muttering about "they"? WHAT THE FUCK, WRITERS? There are just too many instances of these people not asking questions, not being smart, not remembering shit they should remember. This is bad writing. It needs to stops. Also, the contrived shit. In this episode, we realized that Arzt was a bit of a dick, and maybe that's why no one wanted to listen to him. Not that we'd know, SINCE WE'D NEVER SEEN THE GUY BEFORE. But when he gave them that snotty line about how they should have left "yesterday"? WELL THEN WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T HE TELL THEM YESTERDAY ! God! That is so fucking stupid! No one in real life would take half the bullshit stupidity that the people on this island give each other. They need to act more fucking realistically. They need to act smarter.
There are also other things that I'll have months to remember and rant about. No one is still reading at this point, anyway. Are you! I look forward to reading months of wild internet speculation. Good night.
Oh, PS. The hatch? Contains love.
[End Spoiler]
Whatever else you can say about this show (and I can, and probably will, say a lot) you must say this: A man was blown up with dynamite, and a wound was cauterized with gunpowder. That's fucking awesome.
So, okay. Now everyone can talk about how disappointed or not they were by the season. I was honestly getting a little tired of hearing people complain about how nothing ever got explained. The season was not over. Now it is. Have at it. Here's me, though: At 8 miutes to go in this episode, during the last commercial break, I was having a vehement argument with my mother about the fact that there was no way anything was going to get wrapped up in the time they had left. By the time the episode was over? I was cool.
This season had definite problems. That I will say. However, a few episodes back I had decided that this show was a lot like Veronica Mars. Not in subject matter, but in terms of suspense and mystery, and all that. And at that point, I was convinced that Veronica Mars was way better at this style of storytelling than Lost was. However, at this point, I think I was mistaken. I don't think the two shows have the same type of storytelling.
Because in this episode? No, no big mysteries were laid bare. Not really. But that's okay. Because here's the alternative: They wrap everything up at breakneck speed. Everything you wanted to know, you know, there's a huge catharsis, and then ... what? First of all, that would make the planning and pacing of the show super crappy, which is actually what I was afraid was going to happen. Veronica Mars laid out most of its mystery in the very first episode. Then, it gave out revelations and a little more mystery, until finally in the end, everything was revealed. Or, almost everything. The major things. Now, when the new season starts, they will have to start afresh with a whole new mystery, even a new tone for the show.
Lost can't do that. Or, it can, but it would grow stale very quickly. We have here a weird island of mystery. This is the premise of the show. So far, we can guess that this island has at least 250 years ... of mystery. This cannot be solved in 40 days (the time period of the first season). If they solved all the mystery they found, then next year they'd have to miraculous discover new mystery, and solve that all by the season's end. Sorta like Buffy. And that gets cheesy.
I am now, honestly, restored in the faith I had with this show when the season started. I think they are telling a story, and (for the most part) I think they know what they're doing. They need to work on the fine tuning. But overall... I don't know. It works somehow. Somehow in that last five minutes, I was only slightly wiser, but I didn't feel angry or cheated. We'll find out more in the fall. And I will tune in. And ... I can handle that.
Plus, I like the fact that a quick, definitive answer was brought to nothing. Now people have something to talk about and theorize and debate about all summer. And they should, because I do believe there's something there.
Like, Walt! Use your freaky weird child powers! The people in the boat, they're the Others, right? I think we can assume this. Is the girl who threw the molotov cocktail Alex? How long have these people been waiting for a freaky weird child? How many freaky weird children have they collected? Is young Aaron still a freaky weird child like the psychic predicted, and if so, did Walt just decoy for him? Is Sawyer dead? Is everybody else on the raft dead?
Also, the monster. Do we know what it is? No. But apparently it's invisible. Okay! The hatch. Do we know what's in it? No. But apparently it's a big long staircase into the center of the earth. Okay! Is there destiny, or do we make our own? Yes. Okay!
Incidentally, as per that. Remember I had that theory that the island has been bumping off the people who weren't supposed to be on the plane? I'm now wondering, what determines whether or not they were supposed to be on the plane? The dead Joanna "wasn't even supposed to be on the plane" but she got sick, so she was. You could say from this episode that Hurley was not supposed to be on the plane. The blackout, the elevator, the car, the flight attendant, everything seemed to be conspiring to keep him off it. But he kept trying. Did he thwart fate? But then, that guy gave him the scooter. That stewardess and the pilot were nice to him and bent the rules. Those people moved out of the way. Was that fate? Should he have been on the plane, or not? And Locke. They didn't have the special slim wheelchair. (Which, incidentally, I've been in! Woo!) Does that mean he shouldn't have been on the plane? But then the flight attendant offered to carry him on. Since that wasn't Locke's doing, does that mean it's fate? Circumstances not under his control? What about Sayid? He was on the flight a day later because he chose to be. What about Claire? Someone bought the tickets for her and told her to go, and then the pens didn't work, but ultimately she's the one who decided to put herself on that plane. Boone and Shannon were supposed to be in first class. Is their getting bumped back fate, or were they supposed to die in the crash?
Furthermore, it became clear in this episode that the island may not actually like Locke as much as he thinks it does. Or does he?
Anyway, here's what was wrong with this season. As I see it.
1. I know I've harped on this, but the Claire thing. Holy fuck did this bother me. It really, really bothered me. I don't mind that Claire was kidnapped, and I don't even mind that she had "amnesia" and very annoyingly couldn't remember anything. I don't even mind that Charlie weirdly came back to life and also didn't remember anything. What I do mind is that Claire was missing for a week, and everyone carried about their stupid business. Including Charlie who was in love with her, and Jack who has a hang up about saving people. Here's what could have been different: Her abduction time should have been shorter. Nothing they can do in a week that they can't also do in four days. They should have had people show actual concern for her. Like, asking where is she? What do you think's happening to her? How are we going to get her back? There should have been some actual attempt to get her back, or a plan to get her back. The plans could have been thwarted, if we really needed to draw it out, or if we really needed this for any reason. But at the very least, Charlie should have cooked up some hair-brained scheme to rush into the jungle and rescue her, and Sayid and Jack should have restrained him and explained that it was too dangerous. They should have explained TO THE AUDIENCE why it was too dangerous to get Claire. They should have made some attempt to give some sort of explanation as to WHY NO ONE WAS LOOKING FOR CLAIRE! God! Seriously! This was such a major downfall of this season. It really ... gah. Fucking show.
Another major problem: there are too many survivors. In this episode, we have Mr. Arzt telling us that the extras have important stories too. Then he gets blown up. First of all: no they don't. I remember reading an article about Lost where one of the writers pointed out that 47 was the most randomly occurring number. In ... everything. Even though the meaning of life is 42. Whatever. Some number in the forties. Anyway though, this really indicated to me that the reason for that number was simply because it was clever. And they wanted to do something clever.
Now, of course all these people who show up in the background and don't get lines are all due to SAG and money issues. That said? It's fucking retarded. There are all these people that we don't know, never hear about, and can't care about. When the commercials made a big deal about Ethan killing one of the castaways, it turned out to be one of those faceless extras who got a line once and a hundred bucks. And because they had some stupid bit about how supposedly peopel confused him with this other guy ... we're supposed to care. But it doesn't work like that. I can't give a shit about these people that I never see who can't talk. Plus, there are too many people on the island as it is. What would be better? If they had had maybe 20-25 people, and paid them all appropriately. If we learned all their names and stories, and saw them interacting with each other. Not on the level of the regulars, they probably wouldn't get their own flashback episodes, but some recognition of who these people are. Some familiarity with their faces and lives, so that we actually care about all the people on this island, and not just a third of them. Because seriously? There was not one point in this season where they needed all those people. Not when they had to find food, not when they needed to build the raft fast. There was nothing in the story that could not have been improve by having fewer people.
Another thing: the castaways need to stop being so FUCKING STUPID. Like this evening. Charlie starts yelling at Rousseau about how there were never any others. Um. Remember when Charlie was abducted and hanged, and came back blacked out but muttering about "they"? WHAT THE FUCK, WRITERS? There are just too many instances of these people not asking questions, not being smart, not remembering shit they should remember. This is bad writing. It needs to stops. Also, the contrived shit. In this episode, we realized that Arzt was a bit of a dick, and maybe that's why no one wanted to listen to him. Not that we'd know, SINCE WE'D NEVER SEEN THE GUY BEFORE. But when he gave them that snotty line about how they should have left "yesterday"? WELL THEN WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T HE TELL THEM YESTERDAY ! God! That is so fucking stupid! No one in real life would take half the bullshit stupidity that the people on this island give each other. They need to act more fucking realistically. They need to act smarter.
There are also other things that I'll have months to remember and rant about. No one is still reading at this point, anyway. Are you! I look forward to reading months of wild internet speculation. Good night.
Oh, PS. The hatch? Contains love.
[End Spoiler]
Bah!
THESE PEOPLE ALSO DID NOT HEED ME: inertia, Zer0 Signal.
Now Sharon and Crystal are on the main page. And those girls are fucking newbies!
Now Sharon and Crystal are on the main page. And those girls are fucking newbies!
But what I really want to do...
I recently sent in a headshot to a theatre that was doing a run of classic Greek/Roman plays. I'm into that sort of thing. Last week, I got a call from this place, and the message said that they wanted to "give me the opportunity" to work on one of these shows. Like, directing maybe. I called them back and confirmed that they had called the right number.
So today, I went into the city for a sit-down type thing. Turns out the artistic director of this off-off-Broadway theatre is all into helping artists make art, and stuff like that. And for whatever reason, she would like to help me make some art. So they want me to direct something. "Has Amy ever directed anything before?" you ask yourself. Um. Not as such, no. Which they seem to be aware of, which is why this would only be a 10-15 minute piece I'd be doing. No more than 30 minutes. They'll call me back on Monday to see what's brewing.
This would take place during the summer, so I think and I think you know that I'm not counting on the series. But they could still call! I don't know! Meh.
I'd be casting and committing, and publicizing. There is no audience unless you generate an audience. Also, apparently as long as I'm working hard and expanding my mind, it might not even have to be any good! The girl who interviewed me said that all actors should be made to direct something. Then they wouldn't be such bitches? Maybe!
I am very excited and confused and nervous and incredulous.
Also - tomorrow I graduate! Holy crap, that came up fast! I haven't even had the chance to break in my shoes. They are black heels. I wore them while I was ironing. Hot, eh? "Hasn't Amy already graduated?" you're probably asking. Yes. Last year. But the ol' Alma Mater only has one graduation walk a year, and I could not be included in last year's. Even though I've really had no interest in this, it will mean a lot to my parents to get to see me do this queer ceremony. All I hope is that there are decent pictures. The robe cost 50 bucks!
So today, I went into the city for a sit-down type thing. Turns out the artistic director of this off-off-Broadway theatre is all into helping artists make art, and stuff like that. And for whatever reason, she would like to help me make some art. So they want me to direct something. "Has Amy ever directed anything before?" you ask yourself. Um. Not as such, no. Which they seem to be aware of, which is why this would only be a 10-15 minute piece I'd be doing. No more than 30 minutes. They'll call me back on Monday to see what's brewing.
This would take place during the summer, so I think and I think you know that I'm not counting on the series. But they could still call! I don't know! Meh.
I'd be casting and committing, and publicizing. There is no audience unless you generate an audience. Also, apparently as long as I'm working hard and expanding my mind, it might not even have to be any good! The girl who interviewed me said that all actors should be made to direct something. Then they wouldn't be such bitches? Maybe!
I am very excited and confused and nervous and incredulous.
Also - tomorrow I graduate! Holy crap, that came up fast! I haven't even had the chance to break in my shoes. They are black heels. I wore them while I was ironing. Hot, eh? "Hasn't Amy already graduated?" you're probably asking. Yes. Last year. But the ol' Alma Mater only has one graduation walk a year, and I could not be included in last year's. Even though I've really had no interest in this, it will mean a lot to my parents to get to see me do this queer ceremony. All I hope is that there are decent pictures. The robe cost 50 bucks!
Monday
Holy shit!
Sorry! Still not about that other thing. The Holy Shit! would be much bigger. But interesting shit keeps happening!
I was watching Darkness Falls on FX. Then I watched a few more minutes of it, because FX also does that thing where they show it twice in a row. Emma Caulfield was supposed to be 22, eh? And the girl who played her younger self, is that the girl who was later in A Series Of Unfortunate Events? I believe it is. Then I flipped over to the TV Guide Channel.
Holy Shit! I know this guy! He was being interviewed, because apparently, he is on Guiding Light. Holy shit!
I went to school with him. Sort of. He was a year ahead of me and in Mason Gross. I've met him a total of three times, and I would be utterly shocked if he recognized my name or face. And ... he's on the Guiding Light!
I was totally shocked, but at the same time, I was not at all shocked. Because this man? Is awesome. Seriously. He was, I think unquestionabley, the best actor at Rutgers the entire time I was there. I had more than a small crush on him. He's just ... gah. I sound like Annie. Anyway. He really deserves this, because he's great. I can't even describe.
Wait, yes I can! This is a short paper I wrote for my last acting class. We had to see all the school's productions and pick one actor from each and discuss their performance. For Two Gentlemen of Verona, I choose Mr. Pelphrey. He was Proteus. I toned down my praise, actually, because both of my teachers were in the show with him, so, I didn't want to make it too awkward, you know?
----
February 5, 2004
In this production, I was most particularly impressed with Thomas Pelphrey. I tend to hold Shakespeare productions to a slightly different standard than "normal" shows, and I really appreciated his performance. He kept his line delivery at a moderate, conversational pace, and it felt like every word was imbued with meaning. He was always clear about what he wanted, and always clear about what he was saying, and what the words that he was using meant to him. I felt he was one of the best in the ensemble at handling the dialogue (other favorites include Heather Kendzierski and Raymond McAnally). I also thought that he was one of the best at keeping up the dialect. It occurred to me during the show that the setting used for the play, 1950s Italy, very much lent itself to the type of poetic and metaphorical dialogue that Shakespeare used. I felt that this was highlighted by his delivery, that he really made it seem both possible and plausible that this character, in that time period, could be using those words. While I liked all the performances, I sometimes got the impression that the two "worlds" weren't meshing as easily for some of the actors; sometimes they were being Italian, and sometimes they were being Shakespearean. He seemed to make everything a believable extension of his character.
I was most impressed with the obvious character work on his part. I've seen him in other shows, and in every one I've seen him play completely unique and different characters. He seemed to embody the role. The mannerisms and even the body movement of the character seemed like it was unconscious and naturally done. If I hadn't already seen him use wholly different movements just as naturally for other characters, I might have assumed that he was cast because his personality fit the part.
I also liked the way he focused on the people he was acting with. His attention to his partner was very evident in his face, and you could tell that he was listening and absorbing what they were giving him. He kept good eye contact. There were some moments that I liked in the final scene, in particular his reactiong to Julia identifying herself and Valentine's denunciation of him. In the latter, I felt a very powerful reaction from him, and when he asks for forgiveness, it seemed to me to be a genuine moment from an honest place. Because of his clearness, he did a good job to make his character understandable in his desires, and as sympathetic as possible at the end. This is particularly a feat in my opinion because his character was largely unlikable and his storyline resolved in a conveniently swift and not very believable manner. The playwright was cleary a hack.
----
A+! Also, Tom Pelphrey helped me realize that the acting training at Rutgers is mostly bull crap. Because he went in great. That's why, even though BFAs aren't typically cast in shows, he was in starring roles as a sophomore. He was great before they got their hands on him, and managed to still be great after they were done with him. Rutgers did not do that. Just so you know.
My mother said that she supposed I'll have to start watching Guiding Light now. MAYBE I WILL!
I was watching Darkness Falls on FX. Then I watched a few more minutes of it, because FX also does that thing where they show it twice in a row. Emma Caulfield was supposed to be 22, eh? And the girl who played her younger self, is that the girl who was later in A Series Of Unfortunate Events? I believe it is. Then I flipped over to the TV Guide Channel.
Holy Shit! I know this guy! He was being interviewed, because apparently, he is on Guiding Light. Holy shit!
I went to school with him. Sort of. He was a year ahead of me and in Mason Gross. I've met him a total of three times, and I would be utterly shocked if he recognized my name or face. And ... he's on the Guiding Light!
I was totally shocked, but at the same time, I was not at all shocked. Because this man? Is awesome. Seriously. He was, I think unquestionabley, the best actor at Rutgers the entire time I was there. I had more than a small crush on him. He's just ... gah. I sound like Annie. Anyway. He really deserves this, because he's great. I can't even describe.
Wait, yes I can! This is a short paper I wrote for my last acting class. We had to see all the school's productions and pick one actor from each and discuss their performance. For Two Gentlemen of Verona, I choose Mr. Pelphrey. He was Proteus. I toned down my praise, actually, because both of my teachers were in the show with him, so, I didn't want to make it too awkward, you know?
----
February 5, 2004
In this production, I was most particularly impressed with Thomas Pelphrey. I tend to hold Shakespeare productions to a slightly different standard than "normal" shows, and I really appreciated his performance. He kept his line delivery at a moderate, conversational pace, and it felt like every word was imbued with meaning. He was always clear about what he wanted, and always clear about what he was saying, and what the words that he was using meant to him. I felt he was one of the best in the ensemble at handling the dialogue (other favorites include Heather Kendzierski and Raymond McAnally). I also thought that he was one of the best at keeping up the dialect. It occurred to me during the show that the setting used for the play, 1950s Italy, very much lent itself to the type of poetic and metaphorical dialogue that Shakespeare used. I felt that this was highlighted by his delivery, that he really made it seem both possible and plausible that this character, in that time period, could be using those words. While I liked all the performances, I sometimes got the impression that the two "worlds" weren't meshing as easily for some of the actors; sometimes they were being Italian, and sometimes they were being Shakespearean. He seemed to make everything a believable extension of his character.
I was most impressed with the obvious character work on his part. I've seen him in other shows, and in every one I've seen him play completely unique and different characters. He seemed to embody the role. The mannerisms and even the body movement of the character seemed like it was unconscious and naturally done. If I hadn't already seen him use wholly different movements just as naturally for other characters, I might have assumed that he was cast because his personality fit the part.
I also liked the way he focused on the people he was acting with. His attention to his partner was very evident in his face, and you could tell that he was listening and absorbing what they were giving him. He kept good eye contact. There were some moments that I liked in the final scene, in particular his reactiong to Julia identifying herself and Valentine's denunciation of him. In the latter, I felt a very powerful reaction from him, and when he asks for forgiveness, it seemed to me to be a genuine moment from an honest place. Because of his clearness, he did a good job to make his character understandable in his desires, and as sympathetic as possible at the end. This is particularly a feat in my opinion because his character was largely unlikable and his storyline resolved in a conveniently swift and not very believable manner. The playwright was cleary a hack.
----
A+! Also, Tom Pelphrey helped me realize that the acting training at Rutgers is mostly bull crap. Because he went in great. That's why, even though BFAs aren't typically cast in shows, he was in starring roles as a sophomore. He was great before they got their hands on him, and managed to still be great after they were done with him. Rutgers did not do that. Just so you know.
My mother said that she supposed I'll have to start watching Guiding Light now. MAYBE I WILL!
Why did no one tell me!
Note: this still has nothing to do with that other entry. Jesus!
They're making The Chronicles Of Narnia into a series of movies?
Seriously. My sister told me about this yesterday morning, as we were doing festivities for Mother's Day. How! This is the absolute first I'd heard about it. How did my sister know and I did not know! She also mentioned specifically that it would be live-action, not a cartoon. And that ruffled my feathers because, of course, there already is a live-action Chronicles of Narnia: the miniseries put out by the BBC in the 80s. Which I totally loved.
I should note that I am nearly as enormous a geek for the Narnia stories as I am for Middle Earth stories. Yes, I'm a girl and girls like fantasy. What to the EV to E - R!
I suppose this movie (s?) are making themselves out to be the definitive cinematic production, in the way that the Lord of the Rings movies were. But is this production going to feature Warwick Davis, Mark of Quality? I somehow doubt it.
Also, the poster, which I saw via AOL, features a young man (Peter, or maybe Prince Caspian?) who looked disturbingly like Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Disturbingly.
They're making The Chronicles Of Narnia into a series of movies?
Seriously. My sister told me about this yesterday morning, as we were doing festivities for Mother's Day. How! This is the absolute first I'd heard about it. How did my sister know and I did not know! She also mentioned specifically that it would be live-action, not a cartoon. And that ruffled my feathers because, of course, there already is a live-action Chronicles of Narnia: the miniseries put out by the BBC in the 80s. Which I totally loved.
I should note that I am nearly as enormous a geek for the Narnia stories as I am for Middle Earth stories. Yes, I'm a girl and girls like fantasy. What to the EV to E - R!
I suppose this movie (s?) are making themselves out to be the definitive cinematic production, in the way that the Lord of the Rings movies were. But is this production going to feature Warwick Davis, Mark of Quality? I somehow doubt it.
Also, the poster, which I saw via AOL, features a young man (Peter, or maybe Prince Caspian?) who looked disturbingly like Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Disturbingly.
Saturday
Fuck that noise.
Um ... this has nothing to do with my previous entry. So we're clear. Because I STILL DON'T KNOW. Trust me, when I know, you will know. Because after all the phone calls I need to make, the internet will be the first one I tell. ... Whenever that is.
No, this is just random. Because I think I need to use this phrase more often. Because it so accurately conveys my sentiments about so many things that I come across every single day.
Fuck that noise.
No, this is just random. Because I think I need to use this phrase more often. Because it so accurately conveys my sentiments about so many things that I come across every single day.
Fuck that noise.
Monday
Reduce peed.
So, I have some whelming news. That I'm mentioning now because the part that required my attention and involvement is now over, and it's all up to the hands of Maybe.
Last week I got a call to audition for a new television series. As a regular. The audition was today. In Philadelphia. So my mother took the day off from work, and drove me down. Incidentally, this is all I have been asking for. Little late, but thank you!
They sent me a monologue of the character I was reading for, which I've been practicing all week. I showed up about an hour in advance, which was good, because after a short wait, they were ready for me. There were five other people there at the time, two girls, one of which I assume was going for the same role, although it was hard to tell, because neither of them fit the description of any characters. And there were some lads.
They were also casting for something else, and one girl who was there for that looked exactly like Holly Marie Combs. It was not her.
I was sat in a chair in front of a camera with the casting agent at a desk behind fussing with papers. I was very nervous. Shit. I didn't really get the beginning as well as I would have liked, but by the end I think I had it up to the level I had when I was practicing. There were some good moments. At least, as far as I could tell. And I got the chick to look up. She was looking at me for the last few sentences of the monologue, which I can only assume is a good thing. Afterwards, she asked me a few things about my address and some entertaining bits of my resume, and told me it was "very nice."
And that's it! Besides this, I spent a nice day in Philadelphia with my mother. We saw the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross's house, the City Tavern, and a Starbucks. I had duck. Not at the Starbucks. We got rained on a little.
Now all I have to do is wait. I'm cautiously optimistic, but mostly nonexpectant. At least what I have to do is done, and I did a good job. I don't know when I'm going to hear back, but you'll definitely know because I'll either be spastically incoherent with joy or, you know, completely normal. We'll see.
Tomorrow I'm going down to Rutgers to get my cap n' gown! ... Because I still need to graduate! Which I'll do later this month.
Today's title is courtesy of the New Jersey Turnpike.
Last week I got a call to audition for a new television series. As a regular. The audition was today. In Philadelphia. So my mother took the day off from work, and drove me down. Incidentally, this is all I have been asking for. Little late, but thank you!
They sent me a monologue of the character I was reading for, which I've been practicing all week. I showed up about an hour in advance, which was good, because after a short wait, they were ready for me. There were five other people there at the time, two girls, one of which I assume was going for the same role, although it was hard to tell, because neither of them fit the description of any characters. And there were some lads.
They were also casting for something else, and one girl who was there for that looked exactly like Holly Marie Combs. It was not her.
I was sat in a chair in front of a camera with the casting agent at a desk behind fussing with papers. I was very nervous. Shit. I didn't really get the beginning as well as I would have liked, but by the end I think I had it up to the level I had when I was practicing. There were some good moments. At least, as far as I could tell. And I got the chick to look up. She was looking at me for the last few sentences of the monologue, which I can only assume is a good thing. Afterwards, she asked me a few things about my address and some entertaining bits of my resume, and told me it was "very nice."
And that's it! Besides this, I spent a nice day in Philadelphia with my mother. We saw the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross's house, the City Tavern, and a Starbucks. I had duck. Not at the Starbucks. We got rained on a little.
Now all I have to do is wait. I'm cautiously optimistic, but mostly nonexpectant. At least what I have to do is done, and I did a good job. I don't know when I'm going to hear back, but you'll definitely know because I'll either be spastically incoherent with joy or, you know, completely normal. We'll see.
Tomorrow I'm going down to Rutgers to get my cap n' gown! ... Because I still need to graduate! Which I'll do later this month.
Today's title is courtesy of the New Jersey Turnpike.
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