“There cannot be a crisis today; my schedule is already full” - Henry Kissinger


Phew...okay.  Another one of those "too much going on but I need to make an update" updates.  And here we go in 3...2...1...


Acting:

We have just finalized casting for Antigone and our work is definitely cut out for us.  We have had a guest artist from Diavolo and a voice specialist from Cal State Long Beach come to assist us in performance techniques and staging.  Though this is a traditionally classical play, I'm excited by what these abstract elements will bring to the piece.  Oh, and vocal exercises have been great on the abs.  ;)


Stunts:

EPIC Stunts was just picked up for our first project!!!  It's an independent film in the vein of female-themed actioners of the 70's and late 90's.  We're still in the process of signing the contracts and finalizing shooting dates so I'm holding back details until that is set.  And practice starts right when I come back from NY.  YAY pain!


Dance:

Carin has notified me of hip-hop classes being offered through her artisan community/church .  The instructors and alumni have been featured on So You Think You Can Dance.  This will be a great way to continue training as my last class had ended last week.  That end came only too soon as it felt like I was only just beginning to tap into this other creative side of myself that I never knew was there.  From what I've been reading for the group they seem to be very supportive as well as they are passionate so this will indeed be a great direction to take.


Something new?

Introducing my new best friend accompanying me to New York.   For years I had always wanted a video camera to document the many adventures and going's on in my life.


Something random



Taken last night from a shoot with my friend Janet for her theatre piece demonstrating abstract relationships.


See you all when I get back from NY!!!!

I hope that everyone is doing well out there... =o)

Track of the Day

Bibio - Sugarette (Original Mix)

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it." - Sydney J. Harris

And with this new week begins a period of rest.  I've been stressing out for the past month and a half over my agency interview and preparing for it that I was left with little time to collect myself.  Even after this weekend it still hasn't hit me that I now have an agent!  But with this new achievement comes even more work.  As I plow through the employment and tax forms I need to complete and review the casting websites I have to upload my portfolio onto I'm reminded that every step further I take comes more responsibility.  There are now marketing materials I need to create, a website to build, more shots to take... Add to that the rehearsals for Antigone, Mandarin and Hip-Hop classes and stunt training and I have more than a full plate.

I need to remember to slow things down and enjoy this time.  If don't afford these moments for myself I'll go crazy before I know it, even if this all is towards something that I do love.  Perhaps, I'll go back and work on that collage or maybe have a retro game night.  It's been forever since I've played anything...

Now that the group is moving forward, I can finally reveal that I am now a part of the Epic Stunts team!!!  I was introduced to the group by a friend who I had worked with on a show at USC a few years back.  The men leading it are those who have worked in the industry for years and wanted to break off to create their own group of passionate newer talent.  It'll take some caution to not go down that path of being the stereotypical Asian martial arts stunt man but I'll have a chance to do things I've always wanted to do such as wire work, professional fight choreography, crashes, firearms training and much more!  We look forward to have a demo released in the coming weeks.

For the first time in a while I feel winded.  Perhaps my body is still getting used the time change but the thought of lying down on my bed seems very good right now...

I hope that everyone is doing well out there... =o)

Track of the Day:

Bibio - The Apple And The Tooth

“The busy man is troubled with but one devil; the idle man by a thousand” - Spanish Proverb

It's only been a few days but it feels as if I haven't returned to this blog in quite some time. My head spins with all of the things happening right now that I've hardly any time for reflection. For the first time in years, I find myself eager to wake up and get out of bed each morning ready to take on what the day brings. There's a once familiar vigor that has returned coursing through me. Everyday is an adventure learning something new, meeting someone new and better yet...discovering something new in an old friends.

I was approached via ACTS to audition for my first film earlier this week. The role was for the lead in a short that was to be paraded around the festival circuit. After speaking with the producer, I was sent a copy of the script and notified of the filming dates...the same dates that coincided with my upcoming New York trip but after considering that this may have been a great opportunity I responded with my interest knowing that I would have to give up on my trip. Unfortunately, the producers had chosen another actor but if anything is to be learned from this is that I have been tested on my resolve to see my career through. Even just a year ago I would've been much more lackadaisical about this. There will be other opportunities, this is only validation...

Modern dance is incredible!!! Something I've already felt but it took on a new meaning after having our guest artist from Diavolo assist with our Antigone rehearsal on Wednesday. We had sample choreo to pick up and I'm happy to say that I was able to get most of it right away. The choreo itself was just so beautiful and graceful and it was so much fun to make my clumsy body fit into it! It's going to be very interesting to see how this will be worked into the piece.

I spent the day yesterday reuniting with a good friend who has had her own journey since leaving the party scene herself. I had a great time discovering her involvement with theatre at her university. From watching a show there, being amazed at her makeup portfolio, talking about our renewed interests in photography it was great to see these other dimensions of my friend. It had felt as if since announcing my "retirement" from parties I lost many of those who I thought I was close with. It's reassuring to know that some of the great friendships I had in that circle can continue on into something more fulfilling in this new phase of my life.

I was also approached by another old friend who I worked with on a production at USC to train with with his stunt group! They have a practice session going on today that I'm rushing onto after hip-hop so let's hope that this will bring forth new friends and opportunities. Perhaps a fight scene will commence after all!

4 MORE DAYS 'TIL MY AGENCY INTERVIEW!!!

I hope that everyone is doing well out there... =o)

Track of the Day:

Bibio - Lover's Carvings (Leatherette Remix)

"I'm in an agreeable state: busy, enthusiastic, curious." - Isabelle Adjani

Ack!  There has been too much going on the past few days so just a quick update today...

I've finally completed inventory of my DVDs for sale!!!  Nearly 700 films now piled up in the corner of my room hoping to find a home with film enthusiasts who are not looking to move onto Blu-Ray yet.  Now to price them, get them out and then after...   ...going through the games  :::shudders:::

Rehearsals for Antigone have been going well!!  We're still waiting for a translation to be decided on but going through the story I can tell that we've got our work cut out for us.  A dancer from the Diavolo company will be leading our next rehearsal so it'll be great to see how we can be challenged movement wise.  I also have had the pleasure of getting to know some of the cast members better and have been inspired to hear their stories of what brought them to the craft.  There something about the whole collaborative process that sets a fire within me and makes me excited to work.  Perhaps it's being able to pick up on the creative energies of my fellow artists and doing my best to reciprocate it.  The show does not run until June 5 but I foresee some gratifyingly intense rehearsals to come.  This will be a great show indeed.  =o)

Mandarin classes began on Friday and I'm glad to see that I've retained some of what I learned the last time I took class nearly ten years ago.  My friend Carin is taking the class with me and I laugh at the verbal sparring we can play around with once we progress.  There is a surprising amount of industry people in the class which just goes to show that there is always an opportunity to network.  Maybe I should get those business cards done after all...

I had such an incredible time with my first Hip-Hop class yesterday!!!  It felt great to finally begin after waiting to take classes for the past three years.  There are about 25 students in the class with only three of them being guys, including myself.  I'm glad to see that my conditioning from martial arts being put to use in such a new way here.  Just about all of us are just starting off but we have a very encouraging instructor and the choreo was a blast to run through even though we were struggling through a good portion of it.

At least there has been some down time with all the madness going on.  I had the opportunity to play with my camera again when a friend came down from New York to visit.  We were able to snap a few pics on our trip to the Santa Monica pier which I have not been to at all in the past two years.  This shot of him practicing Taiji on the beach below was one of my favorites.  The rest of the pics can be seen here.



The pace of everything is getting only crazier as these projects get underway.  I'm finally getting what I wanted which is to break a path and throw myself into the things I love so these coming challenges are very much welcome.  It's the first time I've ever had to use the calendar to keep track of tasks.  Now back to practicing going over copy since there are NINE MORE DAYS 'TIL MY AGENCY INTERVIEW!!!!

I hope that everyone is doing well out there... =o)

Track of the Day:

Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion - Edge of Spring

You know you're ready for Friday, or better yet for Tiësto when you start dancing madly in your chair at work. Especially when you start popping... O_o OMG I REALLY WANT TO LEARN HOW TO POP!!! I'm listening to this Paul van Dyk track something about it just seems to fit so well... Even with the way that my body moves...it just flows... I WANT TO LEARN NOW....

Yesterday, I just finished filming the first half of the short with Steve. And wow, too many parts of the script hit too close to home. Or rather, it's not the script but the essences of the character that had me dealing closely with my current issues at hand. It was therapeutic though, but having to relive the misery of what happened weeks ago was bringing forth too much tension in the shoot. I had to keep reading a letter I received from her a few days ago to help center myself. Amidst the sadness and even angst that I'm feeling myself I just need to read the letter to remind myself why this is happening to know where she really stands. It's been a few months since I've acted and even then it was quite some time before that! I'll admit I'm pretty rusty but I'll be sure to post the link to the video once it's up.

I had a pretty good feeling coming back from the weekly meetup on Saturday. Andrei gave me some helpful pointers and said that as someone who does not really freehand that I am not too bad. This is probably the most fun that I have had with glowsticking in a while...even before meeting Andrea when I REALLY didn't know what the hell I was doing! I had forgotten about how just right everything feels playing with the light in my hand. Merging myself with the music and the sounds everything was just so intuitive. I have decided that as a goal to push me to better myself for my passion of the glow, I will participate in the ultra-circle this year at love fest!

Coming back from the meetup, I decided to take PCH...from Santa Ana ALL THE WAY to Topanga Canyon then home. I felt so good to meditate once again to everything that has happened. I'm feeling more calm about everything. The sadness is still there but it is not overwhelming me as much as before. One thing is for sure though...I NEED TO GET MY SYSTEM INSTALLED!!!


I'm still sore from Parkour...