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“We treat the body rigorously so that it will not be disobedient to the mind.” -Seneca “Art is choosing to do something skillfully,caring about the details,bringing all of yourselfto make the finest work you can.It is beyond ego, vanity, self-glorfification,and need for approval.”― Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being “The cave youContinue reading “Your Artistic Misogi Awaits”

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” -Anton Chekov For the screenwriter… A useful exercise after completing your first draft is to go back and see how much dialogue you can eliminate. Challenge yourself to convey each scene’s intent and purpose without the characters uttering aContinue reading “The Silent Film Exercise”

Speaking of great movies and great scenes, John Huston’s Fat City (based on the Leonard Gardner novel of the same title) is a must watch. I just purchased the blu-ray and this scene has been on repeat viewing for me. Susan Tyrell’s portrayal (she was nominated for an Academy Award) of a boozy alcoholic mightContinue reading “Fat City”

“He said to me, ‘I want to do the best acting I’ve ever done,’” Trier says of Lie’s preparation for Worst Person. “He’s gotten better with his craft, and he’s gotten even braver about exposing deeper emotions.” -Joachim Trier, director of The Worst Person In The World on actor Anders Danielsen Lie in Vanity FairContinue reading “And…Scene”

For the actor… If you want to be vulnerable to the other person, you first have to care deeply about everything they say and do to you. It all has to affect you. In many cases to wound you. If you’re not feeling anything, go back to the relationship. Who is this person to youContinue reading “You’ve Got To Care”

“Be good, be goodBe good, be good, be goodBe good, be good, be goodBe good, be good, be good (Johnny)Be good, be good, be goodBe good, be good, be goodBe good, be good, be goodBe good, be good, be good” (Johnny) -song Be Good Johnny by Men At Work “No matter what, my task isContinue reading “Be Good. Do Good.”

One of the many great things about producing is you get to create the sandbox for so many artists to come play in it. We’ve been doing “Tuesday Nights At Vs.” each week for over five years now. I continue to be blown away by the immensely talented actors, writers, directors and artists who showContinue reading “Sandbox”

For the actor… Speaking of not getting fooled by feelings, don’t prioritize your emotions over the audience’s. For you can “feel it” up there, but if they don’t feel anything out there, then it doesn’t matter one bit.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Viktor E. Frankl Feelings are good. They exist for a reason. They serve as guideposts. But they’re not the end all, be all. And sometimes, our feelingsContinue reading “Don’t Get Fooled By Feelings”

“We create in service to art, not for what we can get from art.” -Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way Of Being When you detach and always make it about the work–not yourself–you’ll never get too high or low. Not too high when you’re being praised. Not full of yourself. Because you realize youContinue reading “The Work”