Archive for November, 2010

Last week of class, and it’s fair to say that I’m exhausted, both mentally and physically. It’s been demanding, and it’s not over yet. I was fortunate enough to get my scene up from Marty, and I learnt a lot from Sam’s direction during the performance. On the few days off I’ve had, I managed to sneak off down the driving range; catch up with some friends and family; and make time to see The Social Network. If you haven’t seen it yet, then I suggest you do at your earliest opportunity. Jesse Eisenberg’s lead performance is captivating and David Fincher’s direction overcomes the slump he found himself in when made those horrible Jodie Foster and Brad Pitt flicks.

I’ve also had to shuffle around my final ten albums of the year, mostly because of a certain late release, and because I found the time to listen to a couple of records I’d not got around to listening to until recently. Having time away from reviewing makes a huge difference. Oh, and I didn’t win the live reviewer of the year award – that went to a chap from The Independent. You know the one – he’s the one who makes a big deal about having that hair.

Started reading Arthur Miller’s All My Sons last night – it’s brilliantly written, and an enthralling read. Woke up today to find snow on the ground. After the tube strike prevented me from getting to class yesterday, I hope this snow won’t have the same effect. I’ve been wondering what drama project to investigate next, but whatever it is, I guess I’ll need headshots to access them, so I’ve arranged that with my friend Darren Salanson.

I’m really looking forward to the holidays.

Arr. So, at the end of the first week of class, I’m off to the Bath Film Festival with Gillian and Sam for a Q&A on Self Made. Well, that’s just tonight, but afterwards, I’m meeting friends who come from a time when it didn’t cost £9,000 to get a useless degree. I used to work for an arts group down near Bath, so – if I’m lucky - I may also get to see people from those days too.

I’m guessing my time will be split between Bath, Tiverton and Exeter. Very much looking forward to it, as it’s been a bit of a week. Class got off to a solid start, and it’s been mentally easier to get involved. However, because I’ve not performed basic relaxation for a while, it’s my muscles that have provided the main blocking  issue. My neck and spine felt constricted with tension (most likely destroyed by all my daytime desk jockeying), and every movement was sore. A little tension was released, and for one minute I was altogether more lucid from the respite - connected. But that didn’t last long enough to get any real work done. I need to keep working at it, and loosen the joints. I’m looking into some osteopathy as I couldn’t get to see my acupuncturist when I was last in Birmingham.

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After some deliberation, I’ve decided to take Sam’s main class again. Starting next week, it’s an intensive four week investigation into character and the self. I first took class after Self Made wrapped earlier this year, and followed it up with a mid-term session. They were both highly useful and vital experiences, but challenging. I suppose it’s the challenge I relish most when it comes down to it, but working with text, a scene partner and a director is also highly rewarding.

I’m under no illusions that this will be an gentle stroll through uneasy territory. A powerful process, I find that method within the context of class is markedly different to the processes undertaken during the filming of Self Made. However, Sam is an excellent teacher, and works incredibly hard to drive the best out of his students. What he offers up in that room at the Rag Factory is the opportunity to be creatively free and drop the everyday ‘civilian’ shell. That, by itself, took me a full three weeks to get a grip on the first time around.

I can’t imagine there’ll be time for much else to feature on the blog till December and, though I had some ideas for it, that mixtape will simply have to wait.

[Additional] Interestingly, Sam wrote a piece for What’s on Theatre.com