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
I’ve recently arranged a deal with with ShawTV, the local Cable channel in town, to perform my character, Johnald Slow on a monthly basis. They’d use it for a 7 minute slot on their SHAW TV loops. I’ll be bringing in local guests much I like I did for the Fringe Festival. The difference is that it will have a 3 camera set-up like other TV shows do. This is extremely exciting for me. SHAW TV is a fun local station and I’m glad that they are looking to bring back some local talent to work with them.
Posted: under Comedy Offerings, Johnald Slow, Television
Dec 16 2008
I was hired by the Foodgrains bank to do a monologue for Geoff Hughes’ play Unequal Harvest. We performed it at PTE’s Colin Jackson Studio. The place was PACKED. Read More
Posted: under Theatre
Tags: PTE
Dec 16 2008
Film Training Manitoba brought in the new Red Camera for thier Manitoba Film Training Expo from November 25th-29th. I was hired on to work with actress Hilary Carroll for 3 scenes that shot with the Red Camera. Read More
Posted: under Film
Tags: performance
Dec 04 2008
I auditioned for WJT (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre) yesterday and got a call back today. It was a good to audition for them I didn’t get the part but it was great to work with Michael Nathanson.
I also auditioned for MTC (Manitoba Theatre Centre) for Pride and Prejudice. I met Robb Paterson, the director I must say that I haven’t had as good an introduction for an audition EVER. I’ve heard good things about Robb but I’ve never met him personally. During the audition he got up and met me; he commentted positively on my role choices for the audition and he let me know I had a good audition. I felt genuinely appreciated. I wish more directors acted this way!!!
Posted: under Auditions, Theatre
Tags: audition, MTC, Robb Paterson, WJT
Apr 16 2008
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
Today I start work on Metajets as Crusher. I’ve been working for over a year to get a voiceover on one of DeCapo’s animation Co-Productions. I have a wide range of accents and characters in my tool box from doing years of improvisation and voice and diction work. The Metajets series will have 48 segments apparently which means more work for me as I play the deep voiced and not all that bright character of “CRUSHER”.
Posted: under Film, Voice-over
Tags: DeCapo, Metajets, Voice-over, voiceover
Apr 07 2008
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Posted: under Film, Portfolio, Theatre
Tags: headshots, photo, Portfolio, resume
Apr 07 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
Just did a great show in Estevan, Saskatchewan of Open Prairie. This industrial town loved our take on our show. We also added some nice new touches and updated it with issues around bio-fuel and railroads being stronger. These people were living what we were speaking about.
Posted: under Open Prairie, Theatre
Tags: Acting, Estevan, multimedia, Open Prairie, producer, saskatchewan, Theatre, tour
Mar 28 2008
I took out “Grumpy Gus” from my arsenal of characters I performed at Comedy Loser at the Kings Head Pub last night. He is an angry, grumpy Newfy character who rants with metaphors and language that no one really understands. I half plan him and half improvise him. That’s his beauty. In the middle of the show I came up with this bit about how I saw the means baby seal with fangs like tooth brushes and eyes as big as pool balls who bit the tires on my van. This character has so much potential.
Posted: under Comedy, Theatre
Tags: Acting, Comedy, comedy loser, improv, Theatre
Mar 27 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
