Drama Dabbler Into One Of The Most Impactful Actors Of This Generation

[The White Belt]

Why do I want to be an actor? For me it's a question of why wouldn't I.

When I was a kid there wasn't a whole lot of space for imagination. My dad always told me to stop dancing in the living room because I look silly, my older brother was always trying to act like a bad ass rather than express himself in the slightest, and my friends were trying to act hard all the time. I'm talking about age 7 - 11 here.

I remember watching the Harry Potter and it just set my imagination on fire, the books did nothing for me, but the films just blew me away. I would sit out on my front garden all day trying to sell my old junk just so I could save enough money to buy the Harry Potter films on VHS. The thing is I thought it was all kind of real, I knew that magic wasn't but I didn't know what acting was, and didn't give much thought to it. I started using computers early on and one day an interview with the Harry Potter kids popped up. I watched it and sure enough I was confused. 'But they are acting differently here... Not like in the film' and then I became aware of what acting was.

I remember when my parents split up and me and my Mum lived in a flat by ourselves for a while without my Brother there or my Dad. During this period we watched so many films, it just took us away for a little bit. For that short hour or two we could laugh, in a horrible situation, and just forget about our issues for a short while, not push them to one side, just allow ourselves some enjoyment. I remember when I first got severe depression. One of the only things I could do was go to an acting class. I went in shaking but two weeks on and I could feel my depression leaving me. I remember watching 'lost in translation' and seeing myself in the scene where Scarlett Johansson talks about not knowing what she wants to do with her life. These are some examples as well as countless other examples of when acting affected me.

But you see this isn't all about me. I want to do this for others. I want to teach kids to be imaginative and fearless, and to never give up, and adults for that matter. I want to enlighten people on how beautiful the world is, but also about its pressing issues, conveying the lives of people in tough situations in order to inspire empathy. I want to make people laugh, smile, cry, dance, maybe just wind down after a long, hard week of work. I want to give an earth shattering performance, something that changes the game entirely. I want my name mentioned in drama schools, my techniques to be used in the curriculum, create films that live on longer than me, or theatre performances that people can't forget.

 

So all I have to do is stop stopping myself. Simple right? Yeah it is. I've procrastinated a lot. I've told myself it isn't a worthy pursuit. I've let nerves get the better of me. Self-doubt, anxiety, etc, etc. All that can make me deprive the world of sharing something that can, and will, be very fucking special. Fuck that. Not anymore. I don't care if I lose sleep. I don't care if I have to work so hard that I want to burst into tears every five minutes. I don't care if nobody believes in me, if they try to put me down, if I make a fool of myself again and again and again. I will do this.

 

As this is my first entry this is the big WHY. The rest of the entries may be simply what tasks I have done but will vary.

 

The start of this part will begin from yesterday, as this is when the journal was supposed to begin.

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Today I practiced my cold-reading for 30 minutes.

- Today I read a play for one hour, and finished it.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- I created a dream board, images of actors and quotes.

- Today I did a 30 minute stretch and 30 minute calisthenics workout.

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 20 Minute Meditation

General notes /Notes of improvement :-

- When you read something good, don't just read it, study it. If it's difficult to study just remember that somebody put

hundreds, possibly thousands, of hours into gathering that information. You always have the very easy version.

- Stop trying to be as good as people, strive to be miles better.

 

 

 

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Took a tour of my local theatre for inspiration.

- Saw a play (The importance of being Earnest) at said Theatre and took notes after of things I noticed in the actors, good or not so good.

- Spent one hour studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Read through and took notes of a play I will perform, 'The Threepenny Opera'.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 20 Minute Meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Stop looking at the lives of people who don't get shit done.

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent one hour studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Read through and took notes of a play I will perform, 'The Threepenny Opera' for 30 minutes.

- Watched and joined in with a 15 minute voice exercise on YouTube

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 15 Minute Meditation

- Went for a 15 minute run followed by a 15 minute stretch.

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Sort out monologues and application for submission to drama schools by the end of December. 

- Begin a five minute affirmation daily routine 'I am a world-class actor'. 

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent one hour studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Read aloud and took notes of a play I will perform, 'The Threepenny Opera' for one hour.

- Practiced a Cockney accent for said play.

- Went to a weekly acting workshop (2 Hours)

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 15 Minute Meditation

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

- Had a short read of Steve Chandlers' '100 Ways to Motivate Yourself'

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Sort out monologues and application for submission to drama schools by the end of December.

- Well done for volunteering to get up a cold-read a scene in front of the acting class. Keep doing that! 

- Don't hold onto your words when discussing a play, even if it sounds stupid, get into the habit of speaking up, yet also don't feel saying nothing and feeling like you absolutely have to come up with something.

- Stop staring at the hot actresses (lol)! You have lots of other, more appropriate, opportunities to stare at hot girls but the acting workshop must be a place of absolute focus.

- Seek critique not praise (But enjoy praise).

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent one hour studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Read aloud learned the lines of a play I will perform, 'The Threepenny Opera' for 30 Minutes.

- Got a co-worker to listen to my Cockney accent.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

- Went down to my local Buddhist center for a mediation and talk 

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- I know you feel embarrassed to do your acting when your brothers around, but don't be. Seriously even if he thinks 'WTF', are you 

gonna' let that make you deprive the world of what will be stunning performances brought about by the ability to make a fool

of yourself in front of absolutely anyone?

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent one hour studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Went over the lines of a play I will perform, 'The Threepenny Opera' for 30 Minutes.

- Cold read '100 Ways to Motivate Yourself' for 30 minutes (Two birds, one stone!).

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  15 minute stretch and 30 minutes calisthenics workoutl

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Good that you are noticing the subtle ways of resistance. Keep pushing! It's better to be on the upper side (what seems like the upper side anyway for now) of the gauge for a while so you can give resistance a well deserved kick in!

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent 30 minutes studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Went over the lines of a play I will perform, 'The Threepenny Opera' for 20 Minutes.

- Went to a local two hour acting workshop.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  20 minute meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Different is good. Even if the workshop is crappy, getting up and acting is the most important part. No matter what the setting. Reading is great but not valuable if it stays in your head and isn't tried and tested in front of people.

- Drop your anger as much as you can. Keep smiling. Come from happiness with whatever you do. Don't go to it.

Edited October 20, 2016 by BeginnerActualizer

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent 1 hour minutes studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Booked a 'Drama School Intensive' day workshop for December

- Brought Kevin Spacey's Masterclass online, watched one segment.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  20 minute meditation

- Workout and stretch

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- When the going gets tough, keep on going.

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent 30 minutes studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Finished another segment on Kevin Spacey's Masterclass

- Took another look around my local theatre for inspiration

- People watched

- Went to the local art gallery and contemplated somewhat the correlation between paintings and performance

- Spent 30 minutes sight-reading 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself (Two Birds..)

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  20 minute meditation

- Went to a half-day meditation workshop at the local Buddhist centre

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Insightful quotes taken from the mediation workshop: 'A beautiful lotus flower comes up and out from thick layers of filthy mud'. ' You can't smooth the rough edges of a block of wood with silk. You need sandpaper'. These quotes are in regard to baring suffering, going through tough times and delaying gratification (self discipline).

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent one hour studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Started reading the play 'The Dutchess of Malfi' for 30 minutes.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  15 minute meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Too much time masturbating. Take one month off. 23rd November.

- Keep pushing and forming new paths. Willpower.  

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent one hour studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Read the play 'The Dutchess of Malfi' for 30 minutes.

- Worked on two drama school monologues for 30 minutes.

- Took a two hour acting workshop (that was very emotional).

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  15 minute meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- So far so good NoFap, one day, hahaha!

- Keep pushing it, creating the new disciplines, good bye to the old. 

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Spent one hour studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'.

- Worked on two drama school monologues for 30 minutes.

- Read '100 Ways to Motivate yourself' aloud for 15 minutes

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  15 minute meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Two days nofap

- Art is hugely important.

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Today I guess you could say was a 'rest' day, but certainly not a purposefully lazy day. I read the play 'Dutchess of Malfi'

for ten minutes, and in the evening I went to a gig which is why I didn't do much else. However at the gig I got to see some supporting

acts perform poetry which I feel ties in with acting, and the main act was a political rapper. Theatre is very political.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  8 minute meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Three days nofap

- Perusing passion isn't a long military drill or a straight trajectory. There are ups and downs and every now and again a 

bit of procrastination is fine, and to be enjoyed. 

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- 30 Minutes on my monologues (Subtext and character discovery)

- 30 minute sight reading '100 Ways to motivate yourself'

- 1 Hour reading Stanislavski

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- 5 minutes affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  15 minute meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Back to 0 days NoFap (Note: if you want to take nofap seriously, don't work in bed in your boxers. Get dressed and work at a table.)

- This week there are lots of events to do with Halloween. Enjoy them and do not punish yourself. Your pursuit is life-long so what's a couple of days here and there gonna do? Nothing negative. Just do what you can.

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Watched a little video on Stella Adler.

- Basically nothing else. (I just want to keep the habit of journaling every day)

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

- Quick affirmations

- Quick visualisation

-  15 minute meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- 1 day Nofap

- Be present, diligent.

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Finished studying Stanislavski's 'Building a Character'!!

- Read 'The Dutchess of Malfi for one hour (Trying to read as diligently as possible).  

- Went to an art gallery. 

- Wrote a rough draft of a poem.

- Brought a book on English language

- Thought about what acting means to me, what difference it will make to people's lives.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

-  10 minute meditation

- Workout and stretch

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Celebrate the small successes!!!!!!!!!

[The White Belt]

What I did today to edge me closer to being one of the most impactful actors of this generation :-

- Watched a 45 minute episode of 'Playing Shakespeare'

- Worked on my monologues for about 45 minutes

- Read the play 'The Dutchess of Malfi' for however long.

Other Success Habits I completed today:-

- Today I looked at my Dreamboard

- Today I expressed gratitude.

-  5 minute meditation

General notes/Notes of improvement/Affirmations :-

- Divide what you want to do into small pieces. Don't be overwhelmed. It is not a straight forward thing. Small effort over a long time is better than burning out over a big effort in a short time.

[The White Belt]

UPDATE: I gave up on this. Dropped it like a bad habit. I don't fully know why, something just felt in-genuine. Maybe I wasn't doing it for me, or maybe I was trying to fill an unfillable gap. Maybe i'll come back to it if it feels right. Who knows?