deadlines.

i planned out the next couple of weeks, and then i got really overwhelmed and frustrated because i think i plan too much. i like making to-do lists and planning for tomorrow. i'm over it! i'm over it if it prevents me from doing. it's fine if it's just to make sure i'm on the right track. i'm a bit of a space case, so sometimes i need to put reminders around for me to actually get the jobs done. 

everything is good here. now that i have a minute, i wanted to write about what an amazing time i had with david mamet on friday. he is such an awesome guy with some pretty brilliant ideas. we get him wrong a lot, i think. here are some of my favorite quotes and ideas he shared. read them with an open mind and heart. he might surprise you.

- he talked a lot about fear. he told the story of a drunk searching for his keys underneath the streetlight and a cop comes over to ask him what he is doing. the drunk replies that he is looking for his keys that he lost in the alley. the cop asks why he's looking over here if he lost the keys in the alley. the drunk replies, 'because this is where the light is.' as artists, sometimes we pick the easiest thing, the thing in the light when we need to go looking in the alley - in the unknown. i love this story, and i think i will think of it often.

- jump in.

- what do you need? the script, the actor, you need resolve, you need to eradicate bad or useless habits. that's it. no need to ACT it. 

- stand up, stand still, speak up.

- a great script doesn't need your help, a bad script can't be helped. don't worry about it, it's just noise.

- look at people doing jiujitsu. it's about conservation of energy, it's not about what you put in, but sometimes about what you leave out and going where your partner is. sometimes it's just riffing. 

- the only reason to move is to get what you want.

- analysis: what is the character doing? what's my objective? and what is it like to me? that's it. it's simple. it takes 15 seconds.

- make a simple choice, then go and play the scene.

- hit your mark, look the other guy in the eye, and tell the truth. nothing else to it.

- then how do we know things about the character? we are told them. you don't act your costume, so don't act the character.

- practice. there's a magic 10,000 hours of working at something. you get better like the beatles or other greats. same for acting - practice.

- all acting is a study of lines of power, all acting should be done on the diagonal.

- "you might be able to kill me, but you can't scare me."

- don't wait around for some hollywood asshole to give you a chance, make your own work. "you end up begging someone you wouldn't have a cup of coffee with to play the 3rd junkie."

- we do all the physical and voice training to free your mind. you don't look at anything and think it's impossible.

- don't do it if you don't like it. period.

- jump in and play the scene. a surgeon doesn't stay up all night remembering what surgery is, actors shouldn't either. play truthfully in the imaginary circumstances.

- it's not about playing the doctor, it's about playing the scene, playing the objective.

- we gotta look in the alley to have fun.

- the words can be anything. that's why we love chris walken. 

he also gave us keychains. and i was the summary. he also (may) remember my name this coming friday. fingers crossed. spring break is so soon! i'm seeing patrick and courtney so soon! they can see my new LA life. i hope it is fun. then i get (part of) my family. they get to see my new LA life. i hope they have a good time. i'm planning a couple little things but i think we'll see what happens. i'm over my to-do lists. xo

"JUMP IN." - david mamet.