I’m finally in LA taking training in the Chubbuck Techinique. It’s been a ride to get here and I’m extremely excited. Two months of intensive craziness. I’ve found family here that I didn’t even know existed. I’ll definitely let people know of my experiences once I’ve gone through it all.
I took Ben Davis’ class in Winnipeg for three separate intensive weekends that he came out for last year. I hear the one in March is already SOLD OUT. As it should be!!! It is DAMN good. That is why I am here. The Chubbuck Technique is based on 12 techniques that can help an actor focus on the inner life of their character and apply it to themselves. It isn’t the only method but it’s one that makes a lot of sense to me. Plus, it was a good reason to come to LA. I really hate the idea of coming out here with no purpose.
So on Monday I start. Very Very nice!!!
Posted: under Training
Feb 28 2010
I just took a workshop with Mark McKinney on comedy writing for a TV series. It was a pure joy to take. I mean one on one questions with Mark McKinney. How could I say no. He is one of my top favorite comedy performers and sketch writers. He’s a Canadian whose taken the plunge in many areas and made it work. Plus he’s a really nice guy.
We met him coming off the plane and my wife is the co-ordinator at FTM who brought him out. Off the bat he was kind but not flamboyant or a constant talker as some performers are. It was obvious that he was a deep internal thinker. Once and awhile on our way home he’d let off a few quips here and there that gave off resinence of his comedic wisdom. But it wasn’t until the workshops that my mind was blown.
The workshop wasn’t a terms and best practices workshop. It was a hands on, axe to grindstone experience.
We integrated 5 new scenes into a show from “Less than Kind” based on side character stories that were visible but never seen in the show. Later on, we actually got to have the actors, Ross McMillan, Michael O’Brien and Brook Paulson read our work.
We re-wrote each scene in collective groups probably 3 different times. It was fullfilling, then collaborative, then ego breaking, then pride killing, then absolutely fulfilling. I woke up EARLY on second day of the workshop.
Mark would bring in hilarious characters out of no where in the middle of his speach. He was also keenly aware of “Scene Tone”. Does this match what came before or what came after. Usually I like to write a scene to see what happens. He stands at the front talking about what happens in a scene as he’s there. The scene just pops out. It’s a beautiful thing to watch. I’m the kind of person that finds the best ideas in the writing experience. It may be that the writing experience is so old hat to him that this isn’t true for him. Or maybe that’s just who he is.
I certainly got a lot from this workshop. One statement which rings true, and you see it in the work of “Less than Kind” is: ”Comedy is drama interrupted and drama is comedy interrupted.“
I concur.
Posted: under Comedy Offerings, Training
Nov 13 2009
Took a fantastic workshop with Ben Davis on the Ivana Chubbuck Technique. This guy rocks. Basically the Ivana Chubbuck takes most of the things from the traditional “Actor’s Handbook” and completes what it is driving at. Ivana’s work can be seen evidently on “Monster’s Ball” with Halle Berry.
Everyone at the workshop was quite impressed with what Ben got out of us after 2 days. There’s chapters in her book that round you and prepare you for being an in an authentic way. Some examples include: Substitution (Substituting elements in the scene from real elements in your life), Inner Object (making an object come alive by connected it to something that has meaning for you), Doings (using real objects in a scene like you would in real life), and Inner Monologue (what are you thinking versus what you are saying?). These are positive elements that I will now add to my tool belt. They can also add to the fun of the rigorous task of memorizing.
I hope to further more of this technique in the near future.
Posted: under Film, Training
Mar 27 2009
Just took a great workshop from Casting Director Jackie Lind
through Film Training Manitoba. She was so positive and really gave everyone involved some real authentic feedback. She demistified a lot of the casting process and made auditions seem easier to attain. Read More
Posted: under Auditions, Film, Training
Jan 19 2009
Sean Garrity joined us at the Drop-In this week. We had about 18 participants who did audition pieces. There was just enough time to get through everyone. As a director I really like his way of working with the artists. He likes doing both the 2 person scenes and improvised scenes in the audition process to A) help him develop the scenes and B) get a chance to see how the actors connect with one another. He also feels that the INTENT of the character is more important than getting the DIALOGUE perfect. He shows a real faith in actors which is why I think Lucid turned out so well. I realize that not all directors are like this and many come from a technical background but I can see the advantages in allowing the actor to add content.
It’s amazing to have this award winnipeg director in Winnipeg who is so giving and so committed to his work. Thanks Sean.
Posted: under Training
Tags: Acting, actor's drop-in, audition, sean garrity, Training, Winnipeg
Apr 09 2008
This was the best show of the tour we’ve had to date. We performed in Estevan, Biggar and Quill Lake, Saskatchewan. Working with David Dick, Colin Loat and Luke Friesen was fantastic. These guys were absolutely stellar. We did a lot more interaction with the audience on this tour. I wants asked a guy in the show: “Anyone like on the farm?” one guy piped up, “Yep, only 1 mile from town!”. “That’s great,” I said, “best of both worlds”. I took a moment to think about it then added, “..as long as the town’s still there.”
We got fantastic acclaim, 2 standing ovations from 3 shows, houses of over 200 people each night and InterVisceral Productions was able to make a profit out of the whole trip. Others don’t reallize a tour like this takes 2 years to plan. I don’t know where we’ll go next but I really feel it made a huge impact on those who watched. The Economist bit was worth spending an extra weekend to update.
Keep your eyes open, we may bring it back to Winnipeg for one more glorious show.
For more on Open Prairie visit: www.openprairie.ca
Posted: under Actor's Training Centre of Manitoba, InterVisceral Productions, Theatre, Training, Uncategorized, Voice-over
Tags: Acting, InterVisceral, multimedia, Open Prairie, production, Theatre, touring
Mar 31 2008
At training this week with Jeff Skinner and the Acting Advanced class I had this great scene with both Ashley and Arden. Jeff pushed me really hard. I played a guy who escorts a women to her apartment. Their conversation is odd and a lot is going on underneath. Her husband has died but they have been in love with each other previous to that marriage and it’s starting to re-kindle. The conversation involved a real desire yet this understanding that now was not the time for them to be together. It was powerful yet awkward (Like I said, real). Getting into the reality was essential and I became more and more vulnerable yet remained more still. This was difficult for me and took me to a great new place. It seems so easy when you think about it. But in reality, it’s not. I love it when I get to jump cliffs.
Posted: under Actor's Training Centre of Manitoba, Film, Portfolio, Training
Tags: Acting, Film Training Manitoba, jeff skinner, screen, Training
Mar 25 2008
