Well, we are only 4 days into the new year, and things are going swimmingly. My new show has rejuvenated me in ways I didn't know were possible. This might be my favorite actor experience to date, overtaking the #1 position held by "Children of a Lesser God". Of course, it could all go to shit in an instant, but right now I am in such a good place, that I have been inspired!
Whilst at work, it struck me that I really hadn't made a new year resolution for 2013. I've been fickle in the past about making them because I know that I never keep them (along with 90% of the world). I always have loved the idea of NYresolutions, though. The thought that as a new year begins, you're given this clean slate. A world of possibilities is at your fingertips, and you have so many opportunities. You have an entire year! 2013 hasn't even begun! It's such a wonderful thought, yet most of us don't take the opportunity to grab this big break and run with it. I know I don't.
But I am about to change all that.
Again, whilst at work, I was pondering how I could make resolutions that would be good enough to keep. Something that would inspire me so much that I would want to keep them. That's the key for me. I usually don't have an resolutions that I absolutely have to keep; it's just stuff I would like to do to be a better human being. And of course, I do have little personal resolutions that I'm working on to make me a better person, but what I really want to do is make resolutions that will help me become a better actor. The best actor I can possibly be.
And then my brain was all like "WWWHHHAAATTT?!?! That's it, you crazy bitch!"
I don't know why my brain took on a Cher voice, but it did.
Acting, theatre, and everything that goes with it is my absolute first love. Of course I love my family, friends, etc., but every decision I make in my life correlates with my acting career. How can I act more? How do I get better? Where can I go/Who can I go to to make me a better actor? It's what I want to do for the rest of my life; and while I've taken the huge step of moving to Chicago to achieve that, I want to do even more to help in this process of becoming the best actor I can possibly be.
So, my 2013 resolutions are all going to be actor oriented. Goals that I am going to set for myself to better myself as an actor. Some of them will be small/easy goals that I know I can totally do if I just focus on it. Some will be huge. Like, "big, black man!" huge. I might not even get an inch close to achieving it. But, one thing I like about myself is that while I may not be the best at things I try at, you best be sure that I will work harder than anyone you will ever meet. I want to set these goals because even if I don't get close to accomplishing them, at least I can have them fresh in my mind for 2014, 2018, or even 2033. Who knows?
I'll post my list here (because none of them are super secret personal stuff). And, if any of you readers out there, and I'm talking to all 3 of you, want to join in my journey, please do so! There are some resolutions I have that would be great to have a buddy or 15 to help motivate to completion. Most I will have to work on myself, but others are more than welcome. Just message me, or bat-signal me, or whatever. You get the drift.
So, here goes nothing!
Christina's 2013 List of Actor Resolutions!
**Note: I was also inspired by a blogger named Matt Newton, who is an actor/teacher in LA. He listed his actor resolutions for 2013, and I'll probably be stealing some since they are so good. Check out his blog. It's friggin' shweet.**
The easily obtainable...
- Get new headshots!
*While I like my headshot, I really need more variety and better pixel quality for sending to auditions. And the one I have right now is nice, but it just screams "commercial", which I have found out from talking with other actors and casting directors. - Get healthy!
*"Healthy" qualifies for a lot of different things. I really need to eat better, because my diet right now is just all over the place. I want to work on my body as well, since it is a canvas to an actor. I need to start working out, toning up, eating better, and just taking care of myself in general. - Maintain my actor online presence!
*I'm proud of myself for creating my actor website when I first moved here, but I've been bad about keeping up with it. I really need to make sure that it is constantly updated. And, at some point, I want to buy the rights to my website name so it doesn't have 52 extra characters before "christina jones actor.com". I also want to maintain this blog not only for an update about my theatre life, but to be a tool for those considering moving to Chicago. At least if I screw up, someone can learn from it! - See at least 1 show per month (that's not improv/sketch)!
*I really need to see more theatre from all of the different groups in Chicago. I'm good about seeing shows, but the majority of them have been improv. That's not a bad thing at all! It's so easy to do since they play all the time. But, I'm here for straight theatre, so I need to see what else is out there. - Words! Words! Words! AKA Read a bunch of shit!
*If I don't have time to take classes, the least I can do is read from actors/teachers whom those classes would be based off of. I have books that I haven't even touched. I need to read some Uta, some Meisner, and even some more Stan. I'm of the acting mindset that you pick and choose what tactics you like from the different ideologies, so this will be a good way to do that. I also want to read at least one actor related article per week. I feel like backstage.com will be a great help for this.
- Find at least 20 new monologues!
*This one is a doozie. I know everyone says "I'm the worst at finding monologues! I can never find anything! Waaaaa waaaa waaaa!", but seriously guys, I. Am. The. Worst. I'm just waaaaayyyy too picky when it comes to finding ones that I like, especially comedic ones. But, I've been using the same monologues for the past couple of months here, so I really need new ones of all shapes and sizes. I've noticed it makes auditioning so much easier when you have your repertoire that you've worked on for so long and can just pull out if you find out about a last minute audition. This one may take the full year, but I'm going to do it, damnit! - Take classes!
*This one is tricky. The problem I ran into when I first moved to Chicago is that, while classes are totally awesome, they tend to be at the most inconvenient times. I had to drop a class I was in due to too many audition conflicts, and eventual casting conflict. I know I need to take class, and I really want to, I just need to find some that work with my schedule. - Do more film/get a reel!
*I have had very little film experience, and that is one aspect of acting that I absolutely have to get better at. I would love to be able to do commercial work to pay the bills and theatre at night. But, to do that, I need to work more on student films, take acting for film classes, and just get all around better. I just have to. - Audition (or at least try to) for all the huge theatre companies in Chicago!
*This one really doesn't depend on me as much. All the main theatres here have auditions for non-equity, but you have to submit for them to even think about letting you audition. of course eleventy billion people submit, so the likelihood of even getting an audition spot is slim to none, but I'm going to try at least. Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakes, Goodman, Wit, Lookingglass, Red Tape, Dead Writers, etc. I'm going for them all. - Get better at my weaknesses: singing and dancing!
*Dude, everyone here can sing, dance, and act. And, the more time I keep putting off getting better at it, the more opportunities I will miss because of it. I'm not horrible at singing or dancing, just passable. If I want to be the best actor I can be, I have to be at least good at singing and dancing. So, I need to save up for voice lessons and dance classes.
The "bahaha, no way in hell" goals...
- Get an agent!
*I would really love to get the chance to audition for commercials, TV, movies, etc. But, in order to that, I need an agent. And I need a good one. I can start submitting to the agencies here in town, and even invite them out to my shows! And, hopefully, someone will find me and like me enough to use me. - Work at an equity theatre/gain equity points!
*....I know....I know...it will never happen this year...but I'm a-gunna try! - Get at least one line in some major TV show or movie shot in Chicago!
*Again, not happening, but oh well.
Ok, that's all I can think of thus far. If you 3 readers have any more ideas, please send them my way! I think this is a good starting point of what I want to do and where I want to end up. I'm printing this list out, posting it on my bedroom wall, and trying with all my might to accomplish every single one of those goals. If I do, I'm buying myself something nice...like a gold ring or somethin'...
Here's to 2013! The year of the actors!
EDIT:
I've thought of more to add to my list. So this edit is mostly for me. So, suck it!
- Watch every Oscar nominated movie before the ceremony!
*I know there are so many politics that go behind who gets nominated and who wins at the Oscars, but for some reason these actors/directors/movies get nominated for the highest award possible. I want to watch them, observe, and soak it all in. - Get better at remembering important names!
*I have a photographic memory, so I will probably remember your face until the day I die. But for the life of me, I cannot remember names, even 5 seconds after they are told to me. I need to get better at connecting the faces to the names, especially now that I'm meeting so many people involved in the Chicago theatre community. It'll come to bite me in the ass if I don't.
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