New Song! by the New Afterthought

Afterthought

I'm surprised that I've gone so long without introducing Afterthought. It's a Jazz quintet that has really been a big part of my life over the past year. The band has Keyboard, Bass, Drums, and the Guitar. We came together as a bunch of talented, improvision-crazy musicians, and we took our music to venues all over Brampton and Toronto. We've also been looking for producers to help us get an album together.

Many of our songs are either completely improvised, or were recorded when first played, and then kept. But still, our music has matured as much as we have, it seems as though we're stepping up our game for every single song we write, and we're giving all that we have for our audiences.

We're also growing in different ways. Our rehearsals are now semi-open, meaning people who aren't officially a part of the band come and jam with us. It's really the beginning of a larger group, we call it the Diminished 2nds. There are so many crazy things about Afterthought, and to truly learn who we are as a band is to witness us live. For the people of Fletcher's Meadow, this chance will end of Friday, June 18th as we are making our final hallway performance to celebrate the end of a successful school year, and for many of us, a remarkable legacy in the school.  

Afterthought; we play first, and think later. Look out for us now that you know us.

- The Artist

Back to Faith

It has been brought to my attention that I haven't given God the attention that I need to be giving. And I've noticed that every prayer that I give has its own selfish intentions behind it. As a Christian, I have to make this right. I find that I go so long without picking up my Bible, and it ought not be like that. I know that it is my duty to know the word well, and to apply it to every action, every thought, every day. That kind of powerful knowledge can only come out of true commitment, and it's a commitment that I've been called to make, and that I will be keeping.


It's just not enough to be warm for God, and I certainly don't want to be cold, so that leaves hot; a true burning passion to get to know the Lord, that's what I have, and it's what will keep me through troubling times. Especially going off to university, where temptations are multiplied and intensified, I will need that passion to keep me. 

I'll also have to find my way to church each weekend from my new residence home. There are so many challenges that I will need to overcome in the near future, but God is on my side, and in him, all things are possible.

 - The Artist 

...I'll Do It Later...

It's normal for young people these days to be lazy and most will admit that procrastination is a consistent problem for them. Putting off difficult pr unpleasant work comes so easily that people are often unaware that they are doing it. The problem though, is that it just happens to be an extremely addictive habit; It's so hard to break.

Most high school students struggle with procrastination, and adults are sure to embellish their stories of how they worked so long and hard. Actually, psychologists have looked at both the adult brain and teenage brain and they have seen that there is a physical difference. Most teenagers appear to affected by sleeping disorders. This is because of the extreme hours put in even at the high school level. Like I've said before, sometimes, sleep just isn't an option, and that's what is messing up teens mentally and physically. Even a hard-working teen will hit a wall at some point, and though their intentions are good, they may even be considered a slacker for letting up, even though losing sleep was the problem. 

I used to be a big time procrastinator, spinning out a masterpiece at the last moment. The only problem is that the day that I actually needed to rest, always turned out to be the day that I had to cram. Ironic, but I would have to blame myself because there is really no reason to miss simple deadlines, especially when a reasonable amount of time is given.

It's a fact that humans learn and improve on their practiced skills while sleeping, so this goes two ways. Lessons can be reviewed by a student just while getting a good amount of sleep. However, in order to get this valuable sleeping time, a student must first budget their time effectively to make sure that they don't drill themselves into a hole.

- The Artist

Down in Los Angeles

A couple weeks ago, I went on a school trip to LA. The anticipation was huge for this trip, it's like it was only a few hours before i stepped on the plane that it finally hit me; I was going to L.A., where everything idolized by the western hemisphere is located. I went into it dreaming big, I was ready to meet the big  Music Producer or Casting Director. My goal was to gain some good solid connections while I was down there, but unfortunately, I didn't end up meeting the right people, some really nice people though. 

L.A. is  a great place to be and the atmosphere is truly amazing. Everything is big, shiny, and elaborate. it's as if racism or prejudice of any kind is non-existent, it's truly a "no judgment zone" where anyone can easily feel at home. It's true that famous people appear in public, but we really only came across partial celebrities on the trip. However, the biggest name artist that we spotted was Gwen Stefani, she was at the entrance of Universal Studios, playing with her kids in the fountain. It seemed a little strange, but celebrities can get away with anything really. We also saw the leading girl from iCarly at Venice Beach, surrounded by her entourage, and we ran into the twin actresses featured on "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody"


Though L.A. is so amazing, I found that my expectations were a little too high in terms of the magical atmosphere; things weren't quite as glamorous as they appear on T.V.. And there are homeless people at every turn, seemingly at least 5 times what you will see in New York. Since everyone who comes down to LA is some kind of performing artist, a very low percentage of them are actually able to successfully gain employment. It's really a scary thing to imagine myself becoming like them. 

The actors, nor the sets that they work on, are as amazing physically as the final product is. Not that I should be complaining though, it only goes to show the magic that is in filmmaking, the art of finding the golden qualities in the ordinary.


One thing that does live up to it's image is the legendary Kodak Theatre, where the "Oscars" take place every year, and we walked down the path where the red carpet is rolled out, and we stood in the auditorium which, though it was covered up by sheets for protection, managed to leave me in absolute awe. Some other great places we saw were the set of "Ellen," which is also amazing in real life, and "Central Perk," where the main characters of "Friends" hang out all of the time. Desperate housewives was another impressive set to stand on; the entire community was built just for the show with houses, lawns, roads, signs, parks, everything.

Overall, L.A. was a great experience, and the lessons learned and experiences gained from being in Hollywood were priceless. LA offered some amazing moments, and even though we didn't do everything that we planned, being in such a great and legendary place was enough to make it all worthwhile.

-The Artist

Pointless Doubt

At times, I feel as though I'm less than I should be, I've been under the impression that I'm not quite good enough and as a result, I've been ashamed of myself. It wasn't until a couple days ago that I finally broke this, but I have no problem sharing. The root of this insecurity came from thinking that I'm not enough of a man and that I need to be so much stronger. I could feel myself relying so much upon the support of others even in simple tasks, and my ability to even formulate my own clear ideas had been jammed. My mind was trapped and clouded and disoriented to the point where I felt completely useless. It was like I was even failing at the things that I was supposed to be good at. 

What I have learned though, is that I don't have to be enough right now, it's my job to live my life and pick up as I go along. There's no need to rush into manhood, it will hit me when the time is right. So now that I've sorted this out, I can finally return to my regular, alert, mentally-sharpened self; I can finally be a leader because i no longer have to lie to myself to feel alright. It's funny, it feels bad to realize your flaws and it's so easy to let them affect you, but truly overcoming them gives a feeling that is so much sweeter.

The Home Stretch

I'm in my last days as a high school student. It's surprising though because I can't exactly say that I'm sad about it, or happy about it either for that matter. Just about everyone in either depressed  about leaving friends and family, or ecstatic because they never have to come back, I'm really not feeling either to the extreme. I love the atmosphere of the FMSS arts program, It has made me who I am today, helping me on so many levels, but the school as a whole, is still a high school. And like all high schools it's really just a facade of what the real world has to offer, I can't be true to myself in saying that I want to stay here, no matter how much I've grown at this school. And why would I want to stay here when my future is so exciting, with the York University Film Production waiting for me in just two months, it's unbelievable really. 

I'm ready to jump into next year, but for now, I'm held up with my final exams, both the News show that I've been directing, and a monster of a summative, the Artist Promotion Project for the Eminence Production Company. The news report is well set however, everything is moving along smoothly and we should soon finish with success. My concern is that with Eminence, The final exam is not a guaranteed success, I'll be working longer and harder than ever to pull this one of, sleep is a luxury not easily obtained. I was worried about staying in vacation mode after my time in L.A., but this past month has done more than enough to both wake me up, and send me into cut-throat, business mode (It's funny how fast I can shift). These exams are so crucial, because either one has the potential to make or brake my final Average, which needs to stay high if York will remain in my future

Well I'll be hard at work for the final stretch; guaranteed I won't see much sleep for about a week's time, but it will be well worth it in the end.

- The Artist

The Artist Promotion Project

It's been a while since I've posted on Eminence Production Company. We've actually been working on an exciting new project, an artist promotion challenge. Each person is responsible for creating a Press Kit that makets their identity as well as their talent. It has been great, finally using the brand that I've been creating for myself as a way to gain exposure; it's what every young artist should be doing to market their abilities. The kit includes an EPK (Electronic Press Kit), which is just a fancy term for promational video, it also includes a number of artist photos that have been designed into prints, as well as a Personal Impact Statement, recorded to audio.
 The real challenge however, is to be voted the most promising rising artist. To make this happen, we're organizing a press release event, to showcase the members of the company and the goal is to be the most compelling and promising in the eyes of our guest artists. We each will be peforming on the day as well as graciously promoting eachother with the spirit of sportsmanship.
 As for my own brand, I've decided to brand myself as a rising music icon, a prolific saxophonist, and a force to be reckoned with in contemporary Jazz music. I've begun to gather my playlist and my image gallery, and like always, I've been developing my playing style and my image so that I'm constantly improving. The Artist Promotion Project is an exciting one, and I can't wait to see where it takes us.

- The Artist

The Note Wonder

For the last few weeks, I've been putting together a video in my Film & Video class. The video takes on the feel of a news editorial with a leading personality as the host. The purpose of the video is to bring awareness to the issue of Youth who are unproductive, and to let the people of the Community know that there is another way and that wasting their lives away will get them nowhere.

I linked up with an artist named Chris Martin (a.k.a. The Note Wonder), who has an amazing photograpy/poetry blog. The Note Wonder hosts, and interviews some people that have been working to improve the community. The first interview is with Alex Martin, a dance instructor at Cassie Campbell Community Centre who loves to give back to young people. The second is with Jermain Brown, a youth pastor and founder of a youth group named Defined by Christ. Their goal is to turn the youth of Brampton to God. You can watch the video here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=400679786219&ref=mf

The film class will also be making a full news show using all of the editorials made by the class. The great thing is that I've been chosen to be the director of this project. So this will become my news report, and I will lead it to success. I'll keep you all posted on the final product.

- The Artist

Spirit of Joy

Last night, I was at the "Spirit of Joy" closing concert. 20 years since their debut, the choir had shown so much growth. It was a bitter-sweet moment, seeing the last of a group that I grew up listening to, but it was unforgettable none the less.

One thing that I love about "Spirit of Joy" is that they always have amazing guest artists. The first was Daniel Mullin, who was a previous member of the group who had left, but was there for the closing concert. He put on an amazing show, inspired by the old hymns. Both Mullin and the second guest, Sarah Velasco, performed in the classical genre. Velasco is a brilliant violinist who performed a shortened concerto to perfection. 

Just being there and taking it all in made me realize that there was another side to music that I had completely shoved aside and forgotten. Looking at myself, I tend to stick to the penatonic and diatonic scales (music talk, I know) pretty much all of the time, but here, I was being hit with so many combinations, that it made my head spin. I could also see that the choir itself had much classical influence; it really makes me want to brush up on my knowledge of scales and learn some new combinations to take my own music to the next level.

The thing about music, as with all arts, is that no matter how deep into it you can get, there will always be worlds more to discover and improve. As one of my bigger influences, saxophonist Kirk Whalum would say, follow the acronym "ASTWO," meaning Always Something To Work On. There may be a set number of scales, but each can be altered with the shift of a single note, making it a completely new scale of its own. And the possibilities in music are as infinate as the amount of numbers a person can count; good luck maxing out on the possibilities.

So take this influence and go improve your own art. If you believe that you've masterered it (which after this lesson, you shouldn't) challenge yourself by experimenting. Alter individual elements in ways that you haven't tried yet and see the effect it gives. Remember that the possibilities are limitless.  

True Confidence

"Confidence is the power you have over your own personality. It is what allows you to be unafraid in your own persona, to stand tall and easy on your own feet, to accept criticism freely- and at the same time to rise above it."

-Robert Cohen

Confidence, something that everyone wants, few actually have, and many only have for a while. It's 'the slipperiest surface of all,' which is true for some, but for those who really get it, reality is that they can't be held down no matter how hard the world pulls at them, no matter any circumstance they may be in. True confidence in oneself is something that never leaves, because the owner of it just knows.

As an artist, you should be well aware that confidence is what will drive you to success in your profession. Sure you may believe that inspiration gives you confidence, that's fair, but can inspiration carry you through a lasting career? Say you're  a performer, certainly you can rock the house when you're really feeling it, but what if the feeling is thrown off, what if your life takes a hard turn and inspiration is away from your sight? The only way through those situations is knowingwho you are as a person and as a performer.

Confident people are the targets of the insecure, but it doesn't matter because they are able to stand tall even when facing the hard truths, because there is no denial process that sends every insecure person to the bottom. You will know and be okay with your flaws and at the same time, be able to deal with them because they will never have control in your life. 

When you believe in yourself, you will have an authority that allows you to rise above the issues made known to you. Though you may be attacked by others who refuse to accept your success, you will have a stability, a freedom to be authentic, to be true to who you are, a freedom to attack every performance with everything you should be putting out, because you know you can, and because your confidence can't be touched.

I personally have come out of a low in my confidence; I thought for a long time that what I had was perminent, but then I lost it, and I had no idea what it was or how to get it back. Its like I was sure of myself, positive in my abilities and overall, very happy, and then some personal flaws were brought to my attention. As a perfectionist, I naturally began to focus my energy on correcting what was wrong with me. I ended up losing sight of what was making me so happy before, and all I wanted was to make right the problems that I had with myself.

So I fell from confidence to near depression, because I couldn't succeed in making things right, certainly not fast enough, and out of it all came a frustration that wouldn't go away. I do a very good job of hiding things as anyone who knows me can testify to, so while this was going on, it must have seemed to others like an off day on my part, but it felt deeper than that. I had lost control of my reality and felt powerless to gain it back, I was walked over by the people around me, was shaky in all decisions, and I couldn't even think clearly because of the giant problem in front of me that needed to be fixed.

All the while, the solution was simple, yet unbelieveable. The answer to my problem was not to fix it, but to accept it, to allow it, and to allow my true self to return. Through the hard times, it is confidence and knowledge of who you are that will hold your head above water and ultimately send you soaring above the ground.

Confidence is power,

                                                                                             -The Artist

A New Direction: Mental State

This post is on a more personal level than most, it's not exactly about the arts, but If life counts as an art, then I'm still on track. I'd like to take some time to adress the topic of mental and emotional state.

I often find that I'm either on top of the world, that life couldn't do much better to satisfy me and that everything's going great, or I feel under par, like I'm not where I should be, and that I'm being held down by the world. Nothing to fear though, I'm not bipolar, I'm actually very consistent, but like I said, I have my stretches of greatness and of shame.

I usually find myself sinking after I've been at the top of my game for a while, and my life is just starting to feel like a permanent 'high.' What's so great about these stretches is that I get past the point where it's all about me. I love it when I can get past myself and finally live in awareness of what's around me, unfortunately, this can't be every day. Eventually, something always seems to creep up on me and throw me back down to earth, (and not in the way that's cool).

It's really the worst feeling in the world to be amazing at something one day, and by the time the next day rolls around, you've lost what made you so good. It's like you've suddenly forgotten everything that you've been working so long and hard to achieve. However sometimes forgetting isn't really even the problem; sometimes all it takes is a realization that brings back the humility. Don't get me wrong here either, being humble is the way to go, but there are certain things that I'd like to be able to get past and not have knocking in my face all day long.


When I am at my best, it's because I've made a conscious decision to just let go and allow my true self to come out. Forgetting all of my insecurities, my strategies, mistakes, and truly living in the moment is what works best for me. That's why acting is such an amazing thing (along with other performing arts); it demands for a person to give their entire self in order to focus and to be in the moment %100. 


This has been a special post because It marks a new direction for "Insight From the Artist," and now this blog has been officially broadened to focus on anything related to the art of life.

- The Artist

Collaboration

It takes a group effort to make a great production. No matter how close to perfection you can take your work on your own, the work can be so much better by just adding perspectives of other artists to the work. 


I can guarantee that the work will go at least from 5/10 to 9/10 in audience appeal because the target audience expands when multiple artists are working to make the project so much better. I find that when I'm writing scripts, that I can come up with a good plot and some decent ideas, but I have certain weak points (such as applying effective use of allusion). I usually take a lot of suggestions from others to patch the holes in my work. As an artist, don't allow pride or greed to keep your work from it's greater potential.


Its the same with writing music. You can sit down at a keyboard and compose a catchy tune if you have the talent; you might even be able to create a hit song. However, I can guarantee that in order for the song to have the depth to appeal to everyone for an extended period of time (that means not getting played out after a month on the radio), the song must come from many people's hearts. That really is the difference between a hit and a classic, both get popular, but the best art never gets old because of the amazing depth of it's existence.


Little things like the events that happened in the writer's life that affected the story: the time that a book was released, the direct impact that it had on the world once it got out there, the way it changed lives, changed the media, created memories that will forever be attached to the art. These things usually don't happen when an artist relies on their own  input alone for the outcome of the art. 


Filmmakers know this better than anyone. Have you ever seen a one-man film? You may have enjoyed it, I don't know, but I say it's quite amateur and can't be compared to the greats that make their way to the Academy Awards. The rule is that the more collective heart that goes into making something amazing, the more unique and irreplaceable the work will be. The world will receive the product and when they do, it will be the thing that they never knew they were missing, because they will be represented by one of the many hearts involved in the making.

- The Artist

"12 Angry Jurors," The Actor's Process

Less than a week to go until the big it all begins, "12 Angry Jurors" opens May 5th for a matinee performance, and the evening performances will be on May 6th and 7th, show starting at 7:00pm. Tickets are $10 per person, and are running out quickly so act fast to get a seat.


The rehearsal process has been a demanding one, and because we had only a few weeks to pull together such a big production, everyone involved has been at working at this non-stop. We're talking seven-hour after school rehearsals all week long! Remember to add on the solo character building time at home and the full workload of a senior high school student, THIS HAS BEEN TOUGH. 


I'm surprised that I'm even surviving with my regular schedule; I've had to put some commitments on hold, there have been opportunities that I've passed up, and my sleeping routine has been shattered. However, I've learned some great strategies, when I'm drained in the evening, the house is still awake and it's tough to focus, I just bypass the stress of forcing work, and I sleep then. The trick is that I wake myself up in the early ours of the day (1-3am works best) and I then take the time to do some undisturbed work. This is really a rewarding strategy because stress is eliminated, the mind is at it's clearest at 1am. You will have earned yourself a good 5 hours of super-productive time that would otherwise be squandered (along with your sleep). no need to worry about being tired, just plan out the number of hours of sleep you need and take those guaranteed hours instead of allowing the work to cut off your time. 


This has allowed me to take the pressures of the production very well. It has saved me from so much stress, and it's allowed me to memorize a 2 hr script quite rapidly, (and I've found that most of what I remember was rehearsed between 1 and 5 am). The early morning hours can be the most golden for personal alone time, they are truly peaceful and rewarding.


As a cast, we've encountered our share of obstacles; memorizing the entire script is surprisingly, even harder than it seems. But we have pulled it together as of late and now we're moving at full force. MAKE SURE TO CATCH 12 ANGRY JURORS, COMING SOON!

- The Artist

Domo Kovacevic

The Eminence Production Company had another special visitor by the name of Domo Kovacevic. He's a self-made  multi-millionaire! He really just graced us with his presence, sharing his life lessons that helped to shape him.

Domo's story is really amazing; he went from being a young, drug-addicted kid, to a rehab institute, to personal trainer, but he ended up losing his job. And he shared with us that when he learned the secret of earning residual income, his life turned around. Eventually his income grew to amazing levels, and now he claims to have so much money that he doesn't know what to do with it. He took himself to the point where he never has to work another day in his life; he can enjoy his family, vacation, and live a happily retired life at a young age.

What is so unique about Domo is his way of thinking. he believes that a person's body is seperate from who they are, and not only that, he also believes that the mind is no more who a person is than the body. This had me confused at first, I couldn't think of how you could possibly identify a person as something other than their mind or body but it soon became clear that Domo meant people are spiritual beings that need not be defined by mind or body alone.


It really makes sense because so often, people find that their mind is ruining their life. Through experience I've found that insecurity is a product of the mind and nothing else, that a person's perception of reality is based on what they've learned to be true. A person's appearance need not be amazing by the world's standards for them to truly believe that they are beautiful. Likewise, an extremely good-looking person can be extremely self-conscious, believing that they are ugly. 


As an artist, you may allow thinking to interfere with your performance, and it may cause you to fail at creating true art. The goal is to get over yourself, to get in tune with your mind, body and spirit. So make sure take care of your body, quiet the mind, and let your spirit out!

- The Artist

Memorization

Memorization is an absolute neccesity in theatre performance, and It may just be the biggest barrier for any young actor to overcome. As you may know, memorization for theatre and for film are two completely different levels, because when on film, an actor can cheat, but there are no shortcuts in theatre; the actor has to be able to run the entire script straight through in one go.

In the mainstage production that I'm a part of, lack of memorization has been greatly holding us back from moving on with the play. To make it even worse, this play that's giving us so much trouble has to be mastered in pretty much a week's time, though the rehearsal process began only a week ago!

Holding a script is like having a set of crutches, and it's impossible to run with a play like this one when you constantly have to rely on your crutches just to keep yourself from doing a face-plant.

The one week warning has been a huge wake-up call for the cast. We know that until the final performance, this play will have to become our lives. We have to devote our time to work on this memorization until we're strong enough to run on our own, and then it will be all fun from there.

- The Artist

The Filmmaker's Improvisation

The show must go on. No matter what you try to do in the entertainment industry, film, music, whatever, something will always go wrong to stand between you and what you plan to accomplish. For this reason, a film director/producer must be able to improvise.

Time is invaluable, and sometimes, in order to use it effectively (even when conflicts rise), sudden changes in plans may be necessary. Even on professional sets, the unexpected happens to threaten the success of the production. Who's to say that something won't happen to the star, a broken leg, pregnancy, death; all of these throw off production schedules greatly, and usually a director can't wait for things to get back to normal.

Sometimes circumstances may be favourable; if no suitable technology is available and certain wheather conditions (like rain) will make the scene better, then should it not be quickly taken advantage of?

The ability to improvise is a necessity for any film director, and anyone pursuing a career in film must develop this skill if anything, just to stay sane in such a profession.

- The Artist

Special Visit

The Eminence Production Company had a special guest artist this past week, an actress named Olunike Adeliyi. Everything about her was an inspiration, the fact that she is a working actress, the fact that she managed to be successful despite all of the things stacked against her, (being a young, black single mother trying to get an education). But overall, the most inspiring thing about her is the fact that she is from my hometown, and she was a student of one of my current teachers. If a regular person who had it rough could overcome her problems and head for the top of the world, then there is absolutely no reason as to why anyone else can't do the same.


When she was talking, I was just there taking in some of her values. I've noticed that most successful artists that I know of write regularily in journals, accounts, blogs, etc. It's not very often that you'll find one who doesn't; for an exapmle, EVEN STEVE-O (A.K.A. MR. JACKASS) HAS A BLOG. So I figure that there must be something special about regularily writing.

The peace of mind that accompanies writing must be helping these people toward success, or like another one of Olunike's values, maybe it's channeling your thoughts that allows people to know themselves better. Knowing yourself = confidence, especially when it strengthens your values.

 When you can get to the point where you as an artist can confidently interview and filter your potential agents, no doubt; you know yourself well and you trust yourself.


So much can be learned from an artist like Olunike. I was amazed when she told us that while living in New York, she was taught more by the atmosphere than the school that she attended; that she would sit on a park bench and simply allow the city to speak to her. If there's a model artist for emotional awareness and sound inner being, it's Olunike Adeliyi.

- The Artist

Connections

It's important for anyone who is looking for work, whether an artist or not, to gain quality connections. It helps when it comes to getting started  with a career and it adds some greatly needed security.

About a week ago, The Eminence Production Company was challenged with a connections challenge. We split into three groups, and the goal was to see who could gain the most impressive connections in a week (people who we can learn from and/or gain from).

The group that I was a part of managed to get some decent connections, but nothing amazingly impressive. Our best find though, was a photographer who agreed to do a photo shoot of us for free. The challenge wasn't something to be amazed by, and the outcome is still pending, but it serves as a start for the company's ongoing search for connections.

- The Artist

Acting. That's All

I saw a powerful play at the Factory Theatre called "Where the Blood Mixes." If you love raw, honest, true to life acting, then this is a play that you should consider watching.

The actors take no short cuts in their performance; there are no fancy musical numbers, no big love scenes to get the crowd going, but it IS straight intense, raw ACTING. The characters are generally unattractive, and (to be honest) the actors aren't quite on par with the stars in the looks department, but they managed to bring it and demand the audience's attention with their acting alone. The fact that a full auditorium had their eyes glued to a cast that was relatively hard on the eyes is a huge testiment to the skill and performance of the actors involved.

The primary focus of "Where the Blood Mixes" was on the hard issues faced by Canadian Aboriginals in present day life; in this case, children being separated from their parents by the government. Overall, the play was created with a great purpose and it serves it well, spreading the word that there are people out there; our neighbours, who are struggling to survive. This is a play that everyone should go see, for its message, and definately for the acting.

- The Artist

Focus

I find that lately my are always heavy and burning, and my brain feels like a big lifeless rock sitting inside my skull. I guess fatigue is something to learn to deal with when you're looking to get into the industry. Familiar with the phrase, 'work now, sleep (eat, party) later?' That will have to be in my focus if I'll make anything out of a day like today. It's important that I master the ability to stay focused for long periods of time, even when I'm not feeling %100 .

Yes it hurts, but I like to think of it as working out for the mind; the first time you do it, the pain will make you wish you hadn't but if you press through steadily, you'll find that the burn of working out has begun to fade into a mellow, relaxing sensation, an almost pleasant feeling. On top of that, the next time that you work out, it will be easier and the burn will attack you less than it did before. I've been trying this out for that last little while, working out my mind in hopes of one day completely transforming my rock into a lively, working machine, instead of the liability that it sometimes is.

I've noticed that I always have a hard time remembering certain details from the past when asked for them on the spot, and as an actor/writer, I know that I'd better have every experience ready to be pulled on at my discretion. It's for this reason that I hope this 'brain workout theory' works for me. Well I'm actually starting to see some improvement; tough I feel tired and sometimes sluggish to an extent, I find that I can control my brain to move at either 150mp/h or slow it down to 5mp/h which I was really impressed by. I Also find that it's easier for me to articulate my ideas and opinions, and instead of saying 'uhh... umm,' all of the time, I can now start to sound like I know exactly what I'm saying and where I'm going with my points. the brain workout is something that's taking me form being a talented artist who will likely remain idle and jobless for extended periods of time, to being a talented person who is persistent and polished enough to find a breakthrough into the industry.

Temptations like video games and sleeping in have no power when your mind is sober and you've separated yourself from the addiction (yes, laziness is a drug). Start pushing yourlef to focus, and you will find that your desires change when you are able to think and feel clearly, and it's amazing when you are able to think and feel clearly, and take action. Wow, I just went from feeling like a fatigued hospital case, to a clear thinking nerd, just by blogging, what a pleasant surprise.

- The Artist

FMSS Mainstage Production

If you haven't figured it out by now, I guess I should mention that I'm a senior at Fletcher's Meadow SS. I've recently auditioned for the Mainstage Production, which is the play "12 Angry Jurors" (originally 12 Angry Men) by Reginnald Rose.

The play is about 12 people who have been called in, (some against their will), to do jury duty for a case involving a young boy accused of murdering his father. The jury room is hot, crowded and uncomfortable; enough to put anyone in the mood for a fight. Egos cross and tempers fly as time continues to pass and no one is seeming to get anywhere.

I got the role of "Foreman" or "Juror 1," who is the spokesperson/leader of the group. Though his job is to keep order, the circumstances get to him just as much as anyone else.

I can't wait to perform this play!  It will be performed on May 6th and 7th at 7:30pm on both nights. Make sure to get some tickets!

- The Artist

The Spring Movie

I began working on a movie a year ago with a bunch of friends and we have had some success. Half of the movie has been filmed, while the rest will be filmed this summer.

As can be imagined, last year was filled with much excitement, and a lot of stress, because making a movie is a very demanding task. Even a low-budget film requires a level of dedication from each and every person involved in the production. We had just finished filming a movie that was completely improvised and the inconsistency was too much. This movie has a cast of 20 actors plus extras, as opposed to the six actors that we used in the last movie.

The spring movie project has been a lot of hard work and it's only half-way accomplished, but it has promise to be an amazing film when it's all over. You can watch the teaser here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwmjWQfesU4

- The Artist

An Artist's Choice

One thing that has troubled me is knowing that success comes at a price. All people who are looking for the amazing career advancement, the power and the money, must know that it comes at a price. If you want to rise to the top, you have to be ready to put your career first above all other things. Sadly, that even means above your personal life, your family, and even your spouse.

This situation will surely face me when my career in the film industry starts moving. I'll definately want to rise to the top, be the best ever to do what I do, and be a legendary filmmaker. I'll want to win an Oscar and have my moment in front of the entire world, and I'll definately want to be wealthy, living large with millions of dollars at my disposal.

But for me, my biggest dream, my greatest goal is to be happy, and an amazing career on its own will never be enough for me.

I can be the richest man in the world, living in one of my many homes for the weekend, before flying off to Europe for an afternoon just because I feel like it. And It can make me content with my accomplishments, but contentment will never be enough for me.

I'm an extremely competitive person and I refuse to quit until I've achieved my goals, the only thing is that rising to the top of my career is not my number one priority; living a happy, comfortable life with a loving family is. If you asked me to choose between having a wife and having the perfect career, I would actually laugh in your face, because unlike many people, my success in life will be measured by happiness. My family will be first and if it is meant to be, the career and wealth will find their way in, but if anything will be sacrificed in my life, it will without a doubt be the career advancement. Something to think about for all of you ambitious artists out there. 

- The Artist

York U

I just found out a few minutes ago that I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE FILM PRODUCTION PROGRAM AT YORK UNIVERSITY! This is a huge deal for someone my age to have accomplished because many work for years after high school to be able to enter a strong film program like this one. 


I'm amazed because 900 people applied, and only 42 have been accepted. 


Walking in on interview day, I was nervous because it seemed as though every single person had an amazing portfolio, so I was stressed during the long wait to get the final result. But I have gotten into York, and this is the beginning of my career as a filmmaker. 


P.S. The music will never be lost, I will continue to develop all of my artistic abilities, and I'm glad to say that an education York will make that possible for me.

- The Artist

Go Watch "The Hurt Locker"

I've decided to take some time over the March break and see some good movies. I just saw "The Hurt locker," and the movie is really worth watching. A team of American troops in Iraq specialize in bomb detonation, and their team captain is killed in action. The replacement is a corrupt leader who breaks the rules and constantly puts the lives of his crew (and his own life) at risk.

The entire experience of the movie, the visuals and the sound were so amazing that after a while, I forgot where I was and I could've swore that I could taste, smell and feel what it was like to be there as well! I actually still feel like I'm out in Iraq, risking my life for the world, instead of telling people to go watch a movie.


This film was truly an amazing film, and I know it was because two hours in when the end credits began to roll, I was in shock; I had to check my watch because I was ready for the story to keep on going. When it was all over, I could feel the story in my bones, it dug in that deep.


Now I understand why this film is worthy of best picture. Make sure that you go and see it; take it all in!

- The Artist

Finding Your Brand

Every artist should have an identity, a desirable consistency in their performances and in all of their work. When your style develops and becomes memorable and desirable enough, you will notice that your pool of fans is growing as well.


For any of the  sure that are fans of Chris Tucker, I'm sure that you can also tell me why. He bring it every time, and he leaves his audience rolling on the floor with laughter, but would you ever look forward to a movie where he didn't make you laugh? Chances are that the world doesn't want a serious Chris Tucker, but at the same time, if he choses to leave the comedy scene for good, it would be to make himself better and not necessarily for commercial appeal. 


I think it's good to challenge yourself as an artist by moving on to new things, but my point is that when you have a good brand going for you, it would be wise to STICK TO IT.


I personally would never settle for being a "One-hit-wonder." I would see what was so great about my last work, and give it to the public again, in a fresh way, so that they can love it just as much as the last one, or even more. 


So if being quirky works for you, be quirky; if you're great at being serious and intimidating, stay with it because your audience will become your fans when they can see your name and KNOW that they're about to experience something that they love. Consistency is key in building a fan base, so do what you do well, and just keep on getting better at it.

- The Artist

Academy Awards

The Academy Awards. A gathering of the greatest Directors, Producers, Writers, and Actors in the film industry. Anyone remotely interested in even entering the industry should be soaking up the atmosphere of the ceremony.


Though it is an amazing ceremony, I am not particularly a fan of the phoniness of the people involved in the show. Everyone shows up for their own publicity, everyone wants the spotlight, and very few people are "real;" everyone has a face that they throw on as a cover. It's no wonder that Brad and Angelina passed on this year's ceremony; I'm sure they would much rather just spend the time at home watching it with their kids. 


There were some times that threw me off during the show, like when different people got cut off during their speeches. One man was interrupted by someone in his own film, who stole his speech, and a couple others were cut off by the orchestra before even getting the opportunity to have a moment at the microphone.  This is a real shame.


After the years of dedication that lead up to the moment of accepting the Oscar, having your speech cut off is really a nightmare and the producers should be ashamed of doing that to people.


 Though I'm not a fan of the overall attitude of the Oscars, I'm a huge fan of what the show is meant to represent; the years of hard work, the dreams become realities, the priceless stories of lives that have been changed. People who could at one time, only dream of even attending the show, who have now gotten the chance to accept an award for their accomplishments in front of the entire world. That is why I still watch the Academy Awards every year.

- The Artist

From the Heart

I've been listening to a lot of smooth jazz lately and I had a moment of realization; no matter what genre of music you listen to, you will eventually be able to predict how songs will end up sounding. It's hard for me to admit this, but IT EVEN HAPPENS IN JAZZ! 


There are very few musicians out there that that can come out with a fresh sound every time, while holding on to their identity. I've seen too many artists who have an amazing first album or breakout album, that seem to lose what makes them special by the time they are ready to release their next one. 


If you study any artist, you may be amazed by their style and the nuances that make them unique; but after you have consumed their style, you may find nothing left to love about their music. Why is this? It's because many artists run out of ideas and end up writing formulaically so that they can quickly and easily dish out more of their product.


But the artists that will leave their audience in awe every time are the ones that create the music in their hearts and simply allow it to come out.


As Michael Jackson put it, they didn't write the music, they "let the music write itself." This is my personal lifeline when it comes to writing music. As soon as music becomes your science, you better be careful, because it is passion that holds on to audiences. 


Have you noticed that every great artist has at least one epic song? The one that you could never forget, these songs are life-changers, they tell a story, and they could only come from life-changing experiences in the artist's life. In my opinion, sax player Kirk Whalum's epic song is "All I do;" if you haven't heard the song, take a listen to it right now. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFcg8O_P02M]. This is one of my all-time favourite songs because of how amazingly it was performed by the young, but legendary Kirk Walum on that night.


So artists, musicians, from now on, the music that you write should come from somewhere on your heart; if it doesn't, maybe it isn't worth writing.

- The Artist 

Finally Over!

Finally, the storm is over and we can all just be a company-family again. We had been split for a good two weeks, and It's good to finally have everything back to normal now. Today was the day that we had our big show, the one to decide what the identity of our company would end up being, and it was a strong competition all the way.


We anticipated a few problems for the day of the show and we weren't mistaken; there were people missing when the morning rehearsal came around and we were missing some of our decorations. Despite of our challenges on the day, our presentation of the brand was amazing because of the way that our team pulled together in the end.


We ended up winning the challenge and from now on we will be known as "Eminence Production Company." Our mission is to raise the bar for the young artistic community, with the amazing work that spawns form our limitless potential. The new company has been born, and it will make an impact in the entertainment industry. 

- The Artist

The Competition Rises

The production company that I am a part of has been split for about two weeks now and the competition has done nothing but stiffen. What I'm noticing though, is that many people are easily stressed out by situations like this one.


I'm finding that most of my group members are having problems with each other. Some are feeling left out and unheard, while others are afraid that we're behind in production of the branding. We are a day away from the presentation and there is still so much to do. And it isn't as if everything is just for fun; there will be a number of guest artists involved, so there is an element of urgency involved.


I've found myself playing the role of the peace-keeper, being seemingly the only one unshaken by the pressure of the situation. I'm not easily unsettled, so I'm using my gift to help my team stay cool as well. I'll let you all know what happens with the branding very soon.

- The Artist

Fearlessness

This is a good follow up to my post about the experiment that I'll be starting soon. Right now, I would like to introduce you to the idea of fearlessness as a performer.


Whether you're an actor musician, or any other kind of performer, it is necessary that you have the ability to put aside all of the insecurities that you have in your everyday life, and allow yourself to just be in the moment. Imagine an actor who is amazing, conveying the character to perfection; without a doubt, you believe that he is that character. 


Now imagine the same actor stumbling over his words, pausing and trying to remember his lines, and shifting nervously to the point where you yourself are feeling a little uncomfortable. It isn't good for the actor (who will feel like garbage when the show is over, guaranteed), and the audience likely to feel ripped off (assuming that they paid to watch this person act). This is really a situation in which no one can win; no performer wants that for their audience and especially not for themselves either.


I do get nervous when I do things like this, but I'm at a point where I'm more afraid of having regrets than looking stupid in front of people. So when I hit the street with my method acting character, I'll attack the role and become that character completely. When my character finally comes out, he (or she? I dunno) will be %100 real to the people that I run into.


There is no such thing as an embarrassing situation, just an opportunity for an interesting experience.


Fearlessness as a performer is really just leaving everything on the stage, and the feeling of accomplishment after doing this is far worth the risk of failing. So I challenge you to put a little more risk in your life, (especially if you are the type of person who likes to be sure of everything), and give yourself the opportunity to be fearlessly in the moment. 

- The Artist