#intermediate acting

[jackfeldmet]

After attending my final acting class at SRU, I am incredibly grateful I had the opportunity to participate in such an amazing class where I was able to learn so much. My fellow classmate Jen and I will be performing our scene at the showcase at Empire Tea and Coffee in Newport.

[bobcatactors]

Classmates and Social Media: I've Made a Terrible Mistake

So, now that the semester is ending, and to an even more specific extent, our class, it seems we’ve all decided to add one another on social media and be bestest buddies. And it got me to thinking a lot about the relationship between classmates. So let’s dive in.

It almost struck me as odd that we’ve all waited to do this until the very end of the semester. At first I thought, “Oh, these people are only doing this because they feel obligated to. This is all just the formality of class ending.” Which, may or may not be true. I honestly don’t know. However, I did come to one sorta of revelation that disproves that, as well.

I think the reason we waited is because we didn’t have to think about the finality of class ending until now. We saw each other twice a week, at the very least. So there was no pressure to have this extended communication. Now, however, that won’t be happening anymore. It’s almost like we took our relationships for granted. Not that I think we did, just food for thought.

I personally look forward to seeing many of you in the future. It was a fun semester, probably one of the, if not the most, fun I’ve had. So I hope everyone keeps in touch and stuff and things. Except you. You know who you are.

~Best Wishes, Jude McCloud

[bobcatactors]

Au Revoire, Neil!

So here we are. Practically the end of the semester. We've had our last class (for now) with Neil Patrick Stewart. And I don't know about everyone else, but I had an absolute blast this semester. I won't get too gushy and emotional quite yet, but I just want to reflect on a few things that made this class so enjoyable. Neil made us take risks. Not allowed us to, not asked us to, MADE us take risks. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn't. But either way, we had to try something new an unfamiliar. And that, to me, is exactly what theatre is about. You have to try things and evolve in your work. You won't always get it right the first time, and that's okay. As long as you keep trying. It's also been such a great experience working with someone who had done so much and can give us a real world perspective on some of the things we do. As someone who hasn't auditioned or made a resume in quite some time, it was nice to be reminded that I eventually will have to start up again. You can't just stay in school forever, after all. Well, you CAN, but I know I personally don't have that sort of cash. So yeah, it's been a great semester, I hope to run into some of you in the future. Most of you, in fact. Some of you I got to know, some of you I didn't. But either way, I hope all goes well for you in the future, and I'll be rootin' for ya. ~Best Wishes, Jude McCloud

[bobcatactors]

Commercials: The Theatre Actors Nightmare

So, doing the commercials exercises was a very interesting experience. Not only did it provide exposure to a different type of acting that it would seem many of us are unfamiliar with, but it also allowed me to wrap my head around some of my own notions that I had previously held.

As someone who learned very early on that you have to turn yourself up in theatre, I've always been big and loud. You have to be. Like Neil said, you have to reach the back row of the balcony to effectively be a theatre actor. So when presented with an opportunity, albeit a forced one, to tone it down, I think it really allowed me to simmer down and play with some of the things I like to do. Facial expression, acting with only a particular part of the body, and a few others. It's just such a change from my usual set of tricks, so to speak.

I personally am very excited to learn more about acting for film and television. I'm gonna be taking the class next semester, to allowing myself to explore this seemingly new set of skills will be a fun, challenging experience!

On a non-class related note, I'm really excited to see A Midsummer Night's Dream this week! Neil on stage? Please and thank you! Hope everyone gets a chance to see it, as well.

~Best Wishes, Jude McCloud

[bobcatactors]

Auditions and Resumes: Here Comes the Real World!

So, now that we've all "made call backs" for the part in class, we need to being a resume. And to be honest, this gives me the jitters a little bit. As someone who has never really done a professional audition where they weren't pretty much guaranteed a part, it's a little unnerving realizing how important auditions are.

Of course, that doesn't mean I let this show. But regardless of my ability to keep a cool head and calm demeanor, it still feels like a storm raging inside sometimes.

I'm really glad Neil is presenting us with the opportunity to get this experience. I was having a conversation with someone after class about how they aren't sure what to put on a resume because they didn't have a lot of experience. And it got me to thinking about my own experiences and what I myself will put on my resume. It's been so long since I've had to do one.

All of these things aside, I'm having a super great time in this class. This has been one of my best experiences here at Texas State. I only think it will get better, and I hope the same is true for all my classmates!

~Best Wishes, Jude McCloud

[bobcatactors]

The One Role to Rule Them All

Well, here we go. First post. Let’s make it a good one.

So, I don’t think I can really talk about one part in particular for this. Mostly because I can’t think of a particular show in which this part would be what I will be talking about. But nonetheless, I do know what kind of part I would like to play.

I would want to be the villain. Now, I know that sounds super simple, but there’s so much more to it than that. I want to be the kind of villain that you can understand there motivation, the kind that you can almost say, “Oh yeah, I know why this guy is doing this, and as much as I know he is the bad guy, I don’t want him to be.” I want to be the kind of person who isn’t bad in nature, but is made that way by an outrageous circumstance. There’s so much more to it, but I’m gonna try and keep it simple for sake of not making this post excruciatingly long. But now as to why.

This kind of part for me would not only be the kind of part I would get pumped up and excited for, but also one that would be a challenge. The thing about it that makes it exciting is that I’ve always wanted to play this kind of role. Ever since I got involved with acting, it’s been something I’ve desired. Sadly, most people don’t look at me and see that kind of role. What they do see, I couldn’t tell you, but it’s not that. So I want to do it to prove I can do it. To show that I’m not just someone you can type cast. But there in also lies the challenge.

I would have to surrender to the role. I’m not the kind of person who really is a bad guy. I’m a stupid little pushover who wants to make people happy. And the challenge would lie in letting that go and really giving into this part that would probably through the process be very uncomfortable. It would be a journey of releasing a lot of inhibition I have to be able to play this person who is almost the exact opposite of my actual self.

But yeah, that pretty much sums it up in the short. But I think it was a good first post. Hope everyone else is getting by okay and can find a good way to write about their own roles!

~Best Wishes, Jude McCloud