Favorite Tragic Mono's

 - Tell Me Your Story -

In my 2010 Acting Academy class my teacher has prepared an assignment for us called Favorite Tragic Monologues. The objective is to find a famous person, research about them, and find some tragic things that they went on in their life and then create a monologue about them. After the monologue is created you must perform it. Costumes, lights, sets, pre-show music and everything. This monologue has to leave our teacher more then impressed.

I found this to be a difficult assignment. In the process of finding these famous people and their life stories you also have to make sure these people have a similar look to you. There look is important because you will be performing as them or whomsoever you choose. You can admit that finding someone who looks somewhat like you and always has a good story behind it is very difficult.

So far i only have one person in mind. Betty Shabazz (Malcolm X's Wife). I do plan to keep on researching more people in order to get this monologue down packed. For me searching for someone to do is the hardest part but i think once i found my person, writing the monologue would not be that hard for me. When i have found more people to do i will report back in and continue my blog. Until then stay tuned.

Thank you for staying tuned in. So i have done some research and have come up with a couple of names i found interesting and thought i could work with. Most of these black women were born in the slavery days. The names follow Lil Hardin Armstrong, Marita Booner, Gwendolyn Brooks, Old Elizabeth and Betty Shabazz from my earlier suggestion. Each of these women have an interesting story but i have grown found of Old Elizabeth's story. Sadly there is no picture of her and there not sure of her real name or surreal name. Here is a list of each person of what there known for.
Lil Hardin Armstrong: first major woman jazz instrumentalist; part of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band; marriage to Louis Armstrong and promoter of his career; part of Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens recordings.
Old Elizabeth: emancipated slave, wrote and published an autobiography
Gwendolyn Brooks: poet laureate of Illinois; first African American to win Pulitzer Prize (for Poetry, 1950)
Marita Bonner: Harlem Renaissance writer

Down below if you click on their name it will direct you to a link of their biography.

Betty Shabazz

Marita Bonner

Gwendolyn Brooks

Old Elizabeth

Lil Hardin Armstrong

Anger Is A Wasteful Emotion

We yell. We scream. We fight. Were angry and can't seem to think right. 

Our mind and judgment is clouded. Our actions and words become violent.

Suddenly a nice charming person becomes disrespectful and unpredictable.

No one knows what your capable of. No one knows whats to come.

Once your friend and now your enemy.

You start attacking everybody and now they've turned on you.

What do you do. Your family and friends won't talk to you.

All it took was one stupid move. What makes it worse is that you can't remember.

You can't remember why you were so angry. You can't remember what made you lash out on everybody.

You were just so angry that nothing mattered to you anymore.

Your safety didn't mean anything. Your emotions were uncontrolled. 

Your friends and family couldn't stop you. Nothing else mattered to you.

 You just wanted to go crazy on everybody and by the time you came to you senses it was too late.

You've already hurt somebody. You've already hurt the people close to you. 

The people that mattered to you. Your anger took control and made your heart go cold.

Anger is a wasteful emotion. Anger is an emotion that only brings hate and bad reputation.

But how do we control our anger. That's one thing we have yet to master.

Artical Precis

If you are currently acting or looking to become an actor you should continue reading this blog. I was reading this article about "How to get rid of memorized vocal patterns" and i would like to share it with you. Basically the whole topic was giving advice and methods on what to do to get rid or your vocal patterns. They find this important because they say, getting rid of memorized vocal patterns is the basic element of good acting. We all want to be good actors. Some people will do pre-planned acting. As actors you do not want that, You always want to make it seem as if that’s how you’re really feeling at that exact moment. A good actor will just study their lines, figure out how they should say their lines and then rehearse them the exact way every single time. Wrong. You do not want what you say to sound predictable.

Here are some methods to avoid memorized vocal patterns:

• When rehearsing, don’t say your lines out loud
• Run through your lines in your head instead
• Get familiar with your lines enough to have them memorized in your head that way when you perform, your performing it fresh each time. 
• Try not to over prepare yourself 
• Rehearse your lines but say it in a robotic voice
• Speak each word in each sentence with the exact same monotone inflection

These are some good pointers for you to follow if you feel your one of those people who have a memorized vocal pattern. Everything should be fresh and real and that’s exactly how you want it to be with no vocal patterns. If your already in the habit, now would be a good time to break that habit.    

If you wish to read the full article: click here  

My Photoshoot

Amazing news everyone. I just had my first professional photo-shoot. It was an experience i will never forget. I felt like a real model. Lights in my face, getting my make-up done, wardrobe and everything. I even got the chance to take photos on the rooftop with the beautiful view of downtown Toronto.

It was so nice to have the wind blowing in my hair while he took photos of me. I felt real nice, like a real professional. The poses were beautiful and the looks were all right. At first i was a little shy to smile because i personally don't like showing teeth but would you believe after 5 min past by, I was all teeth for the rest of the photo-shoot. My photographer was loving it.

My hair stylist complimented me on a lot of things. He loved my hair, my smile, the complexion of my skin and he even loved my white skinny jeans. These guys had me laughing all day.  My cheekbones were killing me. We talked, we laughed, we took photos, we did hair, and had a fabulous time. I would do it again if i ever get the chance. Which i will, because this is now my path. Bring on the Lights, Camera, and Action. Look out world. Here I Come!

-Photos Coming Soon-

Why Did I Choose Acting

I fell in love with acting. I fell in love with playing different characters. I fell in love with the idea of being on t.v. I fell in love with the motivation to get better in the hardest industry out their. I fell in love with the hard work and the great results. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION.  I fell in love with it all, but why?

I am a movie fanatic. I love watching movies and i love to re-act them, it's just what i do. Watching a lot of movies is part of the reason why i fell in love with acting. Your wondering how, aren't you? Just like everyone else I too have a role model. I too have someone to look up to and think about when i act. Watching her movies allows me to connect properly with my acting side. It makes me feel to go further and further in my acting. I want to one day become as good as her. Who am i talking about? Angelina Joli.

Angelina Joli grew up in LA. Her father was the amazing Academy Award winning actor Jon Voight. Joli also has a brother named James Haven who directed five student films she was starred in. Angelina trained at the Lee Strasberg institute. She was in a lot of stage productions, I too want to be in a lot of stage productions. That will be one of my goals to complete. Angelina was also a model in London, New york and LA. She began modeling at the age of 14. I also have an interest in modeling.

Ange is an Oscar award winning actress. An icon to me. I believe the movie that boosted up her career was Tomb Raider when she played Lara Croft. She performed some of her own stunts in these movies. I also want to be starred in action movies. Action movies is what really gets my attention. Other movies that also gave her a boost in her career are Hackers (1995), Fox Fire(1996), True Women(1997), George Wallace(1997), Gia(1998) and Girl Interrupted(1999) - really good movie. Angelina had years of acting training, from the age of 11. No wonder why shes so good. Not only that she had parents who were actors, the talent and genetics just flow right into her body. It's like she was made for this business. Acting basically became her life.

Joli is a great humanitarian. She goes around the world helping who ever she can. She's a superwomen like Alica keys. I love that she has a strong heart for aiding people and especially attending to children. Angelina is a mother of 6 kids. 3 of which she adopted and 3 that she gave birth too. Her love for people in need never stop. I also want to connect with the world around me and help children, teens, and women. I hate to see people struggle. Which means i hate to see myself struggle. That's why it's so easy for me to never give up. I am a competitor, i hate failing in things i do. This is why i always have to press on, this is why i always try to win, win, win in life. Nothing should become impossible for me. There is always room for possibility and success. Even if i fail, i know i did at least try more than once. Angelina Joli reminds me of me. She's also a person who likes to fight for what's right. I believe she too is also a competitor and does not like to fail in things she does.

My role model. My inspiration. My favorite. Angelina Joli is my Iconic Actor. 
She is the reason why i choose acting.

"Therapy? I don't need that. The roles that I choose are my therapy."- Angelina Joli. 

Acting Professionally By: Robert Cohen

Robert Cohen writes a guide book for inspirational people looking to turn pro. In this book he states the reality of the acting business and the blunt truth. No lies, no beating around the bush. Robert Cohen just comes right out and says it all. He does not write about it to put you down or to ruin your dreams but only to make you open your eyes and to really see if this is what you really want. He also gives plenty of advice for acting. I want to share a little about his book with you.

Getting into the acting business is real tough. Most likely the toughest profession to get into. Robert Cohen does not consider the acting business to be a profession but instead a club. He calls it a club because only a handful get the chance to make it in. It is a very slim chance for anyone to get into the acting business. It's a cold hearted "club". Actors get paid thousands/millions just for starring in a film and millions more for starring in Academy Award winning films. It's a lot of money to live of off, but the people who get paid big time money are big time people. Big time movie stars. Superstars to be exact. As a beginner you won't be making that kind of money any time soon. Your basically at the bottom of the food chain and you will stay there until you get this gig or cast that will help you make a name for yourself. Not even just getting a name for yourself is enough. You could get into the business but who knows for how long. Your position isn't stable it's always up and down-in and out.You got to be everything they're looking for. Robert Cohen says " The number of people who actually become self-supporting through acting alone is probably no larger than the number who win the lottery or a seat in the U.S. Senate. Acting is one big competition and you do have chance at it as much as everyone else.

If your going to be try and be in this "club" then you got to know how to take criticism and how to handle rejection and stress. You also need to know how to pick yourself up. Nobody out their is going to be able to hold your hand anymore and show you the way. No body's going to be their to tap you on the back and say good job at your audition and keep up the good work. There won't be anyone to help you point out what your doing wrong and what you need to fix or work on. Your going to be all alone in this business. You got to know how to make it on your own.

You have to be passionate about this career and you have to really want it. You have to be willing to make sacrifices. Shockingly Robert Cohen says "wanting success isn't enough, studying for it isn't enough, and no amount of dedication or commitment will, on it's own, get you into the casting office"."No. you're going to have to work harder than you ever have on your acting, and to work even harder on learning how to present yourself-and represent yourself-in the job market". Hello. Are you awake yet. I hope you have opened your eyes wide and started to pay attention because this guy's serious. Well that was a short summery in the book on chapter one-The Way It Is. If you are really serious about acting then i suggest you buy this book and read it before you find out the hard way.

Iconic Actors

To be iconic is to be powerful at what you do. To be spiritual and to love what you do. You put your heart and mind into every little thing. You work hard to be able to leave a great impact, not only on your self or the people around you but on the whole world. Iconic actors/actresses do just that. These actors have wonderful integrity. They have the power to make you sit there and cry after you have watched their movies. Whether it be a sad, happy, funny, dramatic, romantic, or action movie. It's just the way they make it feel and seem so real. These are the people who really understand the essence of acting and what it means to find it and use it.

These actors are the ones who watch their own movies over again and look to see if there was anything they could of fixed or improve on. They know how to better themselves through there acting skills. Such talented and remarkable individuals.  Because of their phenomenal acting skills and movements they are known to be legendary people.  They care about their work. They care about how it will have an effect on themselves or to the people out their in the world. If they did not care then there work would not be as good. It would not be stellar and they certainly would not be labeled as legendary.

Academy Award winning movie stars. Movies stars that make the box offices sky rocket. The actors who make billions off of one film. They were able to put their all into their work, they took their work seriously because they know what good comes of it all. The hours, days, months with hardly any sleep was worth it all for them. Day after day having to get up early in the morning and not being able to rest till pitch black darkness hit them was worth it all.  Do you think you have what it takes to give up days and hours of rest and still give 100 percent on filming days? Can you take that risk? Well if you want to be stellar and be the best of the best that is exactly what you have to do. These iconic actors suck it up and do their jobs, they are amazing.

These actors learned it all. They learned it, consumed it and performed it. They executed everything that they were ever taught. From the basics right to the complicated acting lessons. They did it all. They took the criticisms, they noted everything from their acting teachers or professors, they dealt with the stress and became unstoppable.

Now imagine you did all that and was serious about what you do. Imagine you were legendary. Imagine what it's like to be legendary. Everybody knew who you were and looked up to you. There is no need to imagine, you only imagine something that is not possible. You may have a slim chance a very slim chance but that does not mean it is impossible. What do you have to lose. Mine as well get out their and start working on it. Work as if you are a legend and sooner or later you will become that legend.

Lets try and get out there. Let's be legends like Audrey Hepburn, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Joli, Rita Hayworth, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Brad Pit, Halley Berry, Jet Li, Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, Denzel Washington and many more. We can be legends too.

Click here to see a list of iconic movie stars
Click here to see pictures of iconic movie stars

Why Do We Pretend?

There are times where you act like everything is okay. So you try and pretend things didn't go that way. But then you realize it did and Things start going the wrong way. How do you fix it? How do you make it go away? 

Fine. I Admit It. I'm Falling and I Can't find my way. So now what do you have to say? I'm falling because of you. You only see things your way. The way you expect things to go. So when i tell you the truth. You through it out the window. You ignore me. You don't listen to me. All of a sudden your not trying to hear me.

You wanna act this way. Go ahead. But listen to this. The more you ignore me the more you're pushing me. The more you push me the more i grow angry. The more angry i get. The more my heart forgets. It forgets why i ever fell for you. It starts to see the new you. I might be wrong. Not the new you. But maybe the person who you really might be. The one you hid from me when you first approached me. 

Where is that person. Where is that person i fell for. This isn't you. I can't handle you. But it's okay. It doesn't matter. Because you don't know how i feel. You don't know how i feel because I'm only pretending everything is okay. I'm only pretending things didn't go that way. So it's okay. Keep ignoring me that way.

Too Close

Yesterday around 4:15pm i was on my way home from school. I had just come off the bus and began walking toward my street. There was a million things going on in my mind. I continued walking and came to a cross walk. I looked at the cross light and it was telling me it was my turn to go, so I continued walking. Then something told me to look up, so i did. I glanced at the red light facing one side, then i glanced at the green light facing the next. I thought nothing of it and kept walking, and in a split second it hit me that it's not actually my turn to go but i could of sworn that the cross walk said it was my turn to cross but apparently it didn't and before i could think to run across the street. BOOM. A car screeches right in front of me haling to a stop. I almost got hit by a car. I went home and thought to myself, saying i could of just died right there. I could of been gone in a second, dead on the ground, who would know? and if not dead paralyzed or seriously injured. From that day i could not get that feeling thought provoking matter out of my head. WOW. This is the third time i almost got hit by a car. The first time was when i was on my bike, the second time was when i stupidly stopped to pick up the pencil i dropped right in the middle of the road and this incident was the third. Could you believe that. I was too much in my mind that I did not pay attention to what was going on in front of me or in the world. It's time to be more alert and focused, so my life could be spared.

Define Love

What is the definition of love? How does one define love?
To be in love and to love someone is consider two different things.
To define love you would have to be in love. But what is it to love someone.
How do you know the love you feel is real? Is it the butterflies you feel inside, or is it the pain you feel and the tears you shed on the outside. Or is it when you cant stand to be far apart from each other?

The single thought of just having each other warms your heart and gives a breath of sanctification.
So much dedication, to the relationship, bringing two opposites or exact replicas together for a perfect fit.
What does it mean to be qualified for a perfect fit? To have a perfect relationship?

You may say it's impossible to have a perfect relationship, but is it? What makes a relationship?
The first time you laid eyes, the very thought of your lover makes you smile and laugh, the jealousy, the sacrifice, the fights, the make-ups, and even the break ups, the i hate you's and i love you's. The lies and the truths, and lets not forget the forgiveness. There's your perfect relationship.

Everyone wants to find "the one". So they could fall in love and settle down. Do you think that's what it means to be in love? To be able to settle down with that "perfect" one. Love. To be able to spend your life with that one. To put a vow in marriage and be able to fight through all hell that breaks loose. To be able to put things in the past and not look back. To over come and conquer. To Love one another. So now tell me, are you in love or do you just love? And have you yet defined your love? Because not everyone has the same definition of the love you create with "that one".

Thanksgiving

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name".  Psalm 100:4

Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for all that has happen. A day to prove that our God is able. A day to thank god for the many blessing that come with this special occasion. He made it able for our family and friends to come together and reunite with each other. A chance to feast around a table and enjoy all of the delicious cooked meals. It's a time to put all your troubles aside and just smile and laugh with the loving people you're surrounded by. A time to catch up with your "long time no see" family members and friends. A day were our hearts our warmed and filled with all of the love flowing through the air. A deep breath of relaxation.Thanksgiving is also a day to go around helping people and making sure they also have a blessed thanksgiving. A day to give to the people who may be struggling. A day just to help one another. A time to thank God for all the people in your life. A time to thank god for providing meals for our family and fulling our belly's. Thanksgiving is a blessed day. A wonderful day. If only everyday was a day like today. If only every day people were filled with happiness, joy and love with smiles upon their face. If only we were always close to our families and not so far away. Good times. I wish they never had to go away. I wish Thanksgiving could last just one more day.

Peace Is Within

Looking into the distance, I close my eyes and take in the silence.
I leave my mind with my thoughts and allow my smile to show on the outside. Nobody knows why I'm smiling so I just laugh and keep everything to my self. Such happiness can only be shared between me and my God not anyone else. So leave and let me smile and enjoy my self. Only God Knows what it's truly like to be at peace with yourself.

This Is My Testimony

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON  THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PARISH, BUT HAVE EVER LASTING LIFE". JOHN 3:16.

God is my father, my best friend, my savior, my provider, my keeper, my maker and my healer. I give him praise at all times for 'He' is the one who gave me life. For he is the one who sacrificed his son and his all for not only me but for all of you in this world today. God is the almighty one.God is the reason why we can wake up in the morning, God is the reason why we can breath, eat, sleep, crawl, walk, run, jump for joy in his good grace, yell his name and give him praise. Not a day goes by where i forget to give him thanks for his merciful ways. I am so glad I'm in my right mind. We may not see him but that doesn't mean we should ignore him. For he is real and we must answer to him. For we are his beautiful creations, and how would you feel if he was to ignore us, his children. How would you feel if one day he just decided to stop answering our prayers because he grew tired of us. He grew tired of all the hatred and peoples sinful ways. He grew tired of us not following his ways. Everyday I pray for Gods covering. Everyday I pray so my faith grows strong so that i can one day stop making sinful mistakes. We are human and full of flesh and this is why we struggle from right to left. If we accept God as our king our father our savior then he will come into our lives and fill our spirits with his ever lasting love. Love. A love so strong and beautiful that only he can give to us. A love not a mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend can give. He forgives you of your sins, He watches over you, He listens to you, Hes there for you, He protects you, He never goes behind your back, He gives you the help you need, He never gives you more than you can not bare, He will help you carry your burdens because he hates to see you carry them alone. He loves you for all eternity. He hates no one. Who in the world can do all those things for you. who in the world can treat you like how he treats you. Nobody. So why not give him praise. Why not sacrifice the pleasures of sin to be in his great glory. What is it that your afraid of. There's nothing. The Devil is a liar. Don't Let him Bring You Down To A Place You Don't Belong. You and I belong in the gates of heaven. Up There is our true home. Lets accept him and follow his ways so we can all go home. 

"I've made up my mind to go God's way the rest of my life - It's time for you to make up your mind"

To A Special Women

 'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.' This was a message shared with me and now i want to share it with you.

When I say that 'I am a Christan', I am not shouting that I am clean living. I am whispering ' I was lost but now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say 'I am a Christan'. I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say 'I am a Christan'. I'm not trying to strong. I'm professing that I am weak and need his strength to carry on.

When I say 'I am a Christan' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting that I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say 'I am Christan' I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far to visible, but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say 'I am Christan' I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon his name.

When I say 'I am Christan' I am not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received Gods good grace somehow!

Be Blessed, Be a Blessing.

My Bucket List

Have you ever really thought about the things you wanted to accomplish in life before you "kick the bucket". Things you've been dying to do someday but you never quite knew when it would happen. Creating a bucket list is more like a goal setter. Everyone should create a bucket list and try to accomplish most things before you "kick the bucket". Stop saying i wish i did this or i wish i could of done that. Put it on your list and do it. Make it a priority. Below i have created my own top 10 bucket list. You don't necessarily have to do a top 10, you can create a top 20, 30 or 40...how much you desire. Go ahead and give it a try. I did.

 

1. Build a stronger relationship with the lord

2. Get casted by a director/ star in movies, commercials and print ads

3. Write a book and then have it Published

4. Create at least 150 poems or more and have them published
5. Graduate from high school and college

6. Get hired by a good paying job
7. Retire my mother and help out my family

8. Attend to the less fortunate

9. Become an interior designer/ Design my own house

10. Purchase one of my favorite cars

11. Purchase a condo
12.Travel to diferent parts of the world
13.Do some humanitarian work
14.Become a mentor to a particular group of young females
15.Settle down into marriage
16.Have a family
17.Have a full day spa treatment

18. Adopt a child in need of a family