Book Review!

I got my first book review.  Wow.  Awesome, huh?  But as in everything that happens in my life, I relate it back to my art.  Let me start with the review was wonderful.  Well, really nice.  And I wanted more.  I wanted fame and fortune from my little review.  Darn.  There's that voice saying, "YOU MUST BE POPULAR CINDY IF YOU ARE TO BE VALUABLE!"

Popularity.  Like in the musical WICKED - I too must be popular.   This issue has haunted me since I was a fat eighth grader - alone - and lost.  Here I am years later with a happy marriage, success of some kind under my belt and still that 13 year old girl runs my life.  Her unfulfilled needs determine my happiness.  What is that?  When do I move into today and live in this moment and this time?  How many joys have I trounced over cause I didn't live now?  Cause she screamed - YOU'RE NOT ENOUGH!

Acting is so much about living in the now.  Being completely present.  Reacting as if all of this has never happened before.  It's a life lesson isn't it?

So.  Let me begin again.  My book got reviewed.  Te he.  And this person liked it.  And wow.  My book got reviewed.  Whoa dude. I wrote a book and it got published and now people are reading it and recommending it.  Neat.  It feels good.

And to my fat eighth grader I say, "thank you" for surviving those really rough years.  And I love you.  But you can let go now.

Oh and here's the review

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/ibw/dec_11.htm#Theatre/Cinema/TV

Valentine's Day

17th Century France


The three of us are in CYRANO.  The classic story written by Edmond Rostand about the man with the large nose who falls for the beautiful Roxane, yet can't tell her of his love.

This is the first time that all three Koblers will on stage together.  It's a dream come true. But it's been an arduous journey and I think it's taught me that the reason for what you do is more important than the doing. Cause if the reason isn't strong enough,  you won't stay with it.  Ah, love can rein supreme!

THE SHOW IS PLAYING AT THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE THEATER.

Are cliche's getting a bad rap?

So you're stuck.  You need to create a character and you got nothing.  Zip.  Nada.  Nyetski.  The muse is on hiatus and the deadline approaches.  What do you do?  What do you do?

This is where a tried and true character may be a gift to you.  Especially if you use it as a jumping off point with the very simple question - "why?"

Okay, follow:

Let's say you are playing a cheerleader and nothing fresh comes to mind.  All you can think of is a vacuous brainless bubble.  "But everybody does cheerleaders that way!" 

Maybe.  But they don't have that magical question do they?  They don't know to ask themselves, "Why?"  But you do!  Ha!

"Why is she a bubble?"  She's exhausted and hepped up on caffiene.  Why is she exhausted?  She slays vampires?  (wait already been done - but do you see how just a few simple "why's" can spin you into a new direction).  She can also be exhausted cause she's really a klutz and she has to practice 24/7.  Why is she a cheerleader then?  Cause she has one artifical leg and she's trying to overcompensate. 

Or she's exhausted cause her parents are fighting all the time and its put her on the verge of tears.  Why are her parents fighting? They are spies from another planet.

I know, I know, you want to ground this in reality.  But don't fight the cliches.  Especially if you're stuck.  They can be a great place to begin. 

This works in writing too.  And life.  How many times do we judge someone based on what they look like or do?  And if we were to take it one step farther, ask why are they that way, maybe we could have more compassion.  Hmmmm.  Or at least laugh at ourselves....

Characters can be created with a tweek of the voice

Okay, maybe this is a bit of shameless promotion, but this Youtube link was created by my son Finn; it's called  Shailick (check it out) 

But he got me thinking - playing with your voice can help create a character.  Especially if you're stuck. 

Okay, so here's the game...

Go to the mall. 
Sit and watch people.
Find someone who strikes your fancy. 
Now imagine the voice they'd have.  How would they sound?  Would they have a deep voice?  An accent? 
What would he talk about?  Be silly about this.  (oh but don't stalk - that could lead to jail time and a whole run of voices you'd rather not be impersonating.)

When you're watching this person.  Ask yourself:

How are they moving?  Fast or slow?  Heavy or light?
What are they doing?  Shopping happily?  Clinging to mom's arm? 
What's the energy they are putting out?  Angry?  Joyful? 

And here's the key question.  What do you think they want?  What's their intention?

Now see if you can pull that all together into a voice. 

And then last, go to any store counter and use that voice.  What's the reaction?  How do you feel using the voice?  (aside from silly) 

Finn looked at our dog Waiter.  He knew the pup didn't do much and he was sweet and funny.  Waiter's voice in the video reflects that. 

I know this seems like an actor's game, but I think we can use this idea as writers.  After all, aren't narrators characters in our story?  But who is this person telling the tale?  And what do they sound like?

Acting Games

I love this game cause it gives you a chance to dimensionalize your character. 

Here's what you do - just say, "please and thank you" oh and hold open doors for people.  That's it.  Do this for an entire day. Be polite. 

Okay so how did that feel?  Did you like it?  Did you feel weird?  What kind of reaction did you get?  Do you want to do this again tomorrow?  Hmmmmm. 

And the final step is apply your newly found mannered-ness to your character.  Whenever there is opportunity to be polite - be polite.  Does this quality fit your character?  One time?  Maybe two or three times?  Maybe your character is polite all the time? 

Remember, every character, even the darkest Vampires have something redeeming about them.