As part of the course we got to attend the BFI London Film Festival and we went to see a Belgian art film called The Last Winter. It was beautifully shot in some stunning landscapes but incredibly boring. I don’t mind slow films that much, but if the pace never changes even slightly then it’s bad news for a tired work-laden acting student on a Monday afternoon. I did stay awake; I struggled, but I did.
Shooting our 3minute film with no dialogue was a great experience. Our choice of location was ambitious to say the least: Westminster. On two occasions we were stopped and questioned by the police and both times they were very friendly and understanding. We got some lovely shots with Big Ben in the background and some background extras from the hordes of passers-by gave more than funny looks during the scenes with us fighting beside the road or pretending to jump off the bridge. It’s so public, so busy and so noisy that we would never normally be able to do any filming there, so I’m glad we took this opportunity.
We had a particularly intense movement session on Friday, by the end of which about a third of the class were in tears. It was quite draining because we pretty much didn’t stop moving for two hours, and I suppose it started to unlock emotions because we were moving to some pretty powerful music. At the end I felt strong compassion for my classmates but also strangely alienated: the session seemed to unlock cheerfulness in me rather than sorrow, so I was sitting there grinning like an idiot amidst the tears and sniffs! But we had a big group hug at the end of it, so that was fine.
I went to St Helen’s church this week by a friend’s recommendation. It is a great church, bigger than I expected, and I felt very welcome. I had a really exciting chat with a filmmaker who has just entered the same competition I entered some years ago called ‘Enter the Pitch’. Register to vote for his pitch here:
http://www.enterthepitch.com/1319711920.pitch
He mentioned an article he had read entitled something like ‘God is back in Movies’. These are exciting times. More than ever before Christians need to get involved in the film industry: Hollywood is turning from superficial superhero spectacles to meaningful Biblical Blockbusters. In the next few years we will see epic realisations of the stories of Noah (directed by Aronofsky), David & Goliath (starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Taylor Lautner), Moses (directed by Spielberg) and the poem ‘Paradise Lost’ (directed by Proyas – who directed I, Robot). In the past Biblical epics have been huge commercial successes and let’s also not forget that many in today’s cinema audience may never have heard these stories. Believers need to be present in every area of the industry to ensure that the truth and meaning of these powerful stories is maintained. This is why I’m pursuing this career, and it's no coincidence that this is happening now. I really sense that something huge, and more exciting than I could have imagined is just around the corner. God is revealing Himself to a new generation through cinema, and He's gathering an army of His people to make it happen. And what makes this so exciting and exhilarating is that He's called me to be a part of it.
My aunt, Judith, sent me an apple tree sapling for my birthday and this week I planted it in our little back yard. The story with my flatmates is that in fifty years time the tree will be really big and there’ll be four different students living here. Then one day a famous actor will turn up at their door and ask to see his apple tree!
Monday, 31 October 2011
Monday, 24 October 2011
First Not First Week
At the start of this week we discussed ‘type’ a bit which was very interesting. I was excited (and relieved) to discover that the roles I would suit (according to my tutor) are exactly the kind I want. The ‘nice guy’, the soldier/officer, the best friend, upper class roles, period roles, Mr Darcy… I am my own ‘product’ and as a beginner this ‘type’ is what I have to sell myself as. Score! What are the odds that I would have looks and personality that exactly match the characters I really want to play… The fingerprints of God again.
We’ve started our first performance project for which we’re in groups of five. Our task is to write, shoot and edit a 2-3 minute short film with no dialogue, on the theme of ‘time’, where all five of us appear in a significant role. This is familiar territory for me and it’s strange to be the youngest inexperienced actor in the class and yet in my group to be the one with the most technical knowledge. It makes me so appreciative and thankful for the course I’ve just completed and reminds me how much I did actually learn from it.
I’ve started on some extra evening classes working on theatre scenes. I think it’s a good idea, on a course so focussed on screen acting, to keep practising theatre on the side. In the future I would definitely try for some work in theatre if it was a good role, and if it paid. Also it was refreshing to get to work on a script and actually do some acting. It was an opportunity to take all the teaching in movement, thoughts and objectives, relaxation and breathing, and actually practically apply them.
When it comes to meals I’m quite proud to say I’ve been dabbling in the culinary arts more often than not. I pack myself a lunchbox every day without fail so I can make sure I’ve got a good supply of high energy fruit and nuts, and because it’s cheaper. When at home my two favourite dishes are omelette and toasties, mostly because they’re quick and easy, and there is scope for lots of variety in toppings. My philosophy is, as long as I don’t find myself eating the same thing too regularly then I’m doing alright. I’m learning that there’s lots of fun to be had in the kitchen. I think my next experiment will be Egg Rosti…
The church search continues. Last Sunday I went to the Metropolitan Tabernacle – what used to be Spurgeon’s church. This was another big one but hugely different from Holy Trinity Brompton. It was a very traditional service format, led solely by the minister, and with old organ-accompanied congregational hymns. Everyone was smartly dressed, mostly in black suits, and I was ushered briskly to my seat where everyone sat in complete silence waiting for the service to start. I must have looked somewhat out of place sauntering through in shirt and jeans, with a rucksack slung over my shoulder. But it is a good church, even if only because the sermons are amazing. Peter Masters is the minister there and he is brilliant. Both the morning and evening address was a solid challenging message that gloriously uncovered the deep truth in the passage. Masters has authored many books and leaflets also and I took some of the free handouts away with me.
This Sunday my experience was somewhat less encouraging. I went to St Columba’s Church of Scotland and it was a sad affair. I went in hope that perhaps here in London our nation’s church had not suffered the same fate as so many congregations on native soil. Alas my hope was in vain. It’s vacant, the pews were mostly empty, the average age was over sixty, and the seven or eight young children were thoroughly patronised during the children’s address before being removed. I was encouraged to see one smiling young-ish lady in front of me until I discovered it was also her first time. The service was more similar to the style of Paisley Abbey than a normal parish Kirk, they even had a half-decent choir, but the sermon was tragically hollow, speculative and in no way related to the passages that were read. Maybe it was just the shocking contrast to Peter Masters but during the ‘sermon’ I felt a sudden urge to stand up, turn to the scattered congregation and yell, “Please, don’t listen to him. He’s preaching his opinion. Listen to the Word of God. It is Truth!”… I didn’t. But I squirmed through his whole ‘feel-good mumbo-jumbo’ and belted out the hymns as loud as I could.
It struck me that here was a representative picture of the whole Church of Scotland: it is vacant – leaderless or misled, lost and uncertain; it has abandoned the Word of God – picking and choosing from God’s Truth, joking about sin, conforming to society; and it is dying – congregations are small and old, the younger generation are not being reached, and the whole institution is splitting, crumbling, and falling apart. We have strayed so far, but I believe it is not too late if we are willing to turn back to God, put His Word firmly at the centre of everything and lift up Christ as the Head of the Church. I earnestly hope and pray that He will not let the Church of Scotland fall but will restore it. The nomination committee at St Columba’s have chosen a possible new minister who will be preaching there in a few weeks. He’s a Macleod so that’s got to be a good sign!
It’s funny how some things are the same no matter where we are; like the taste of chocolate. As I finish writing this I am eating some chocolate. We’ve come to an agreement in our flat; chocolate is good. It’s true. And it reminds me of Christmas…
We’ve started our first performance project for which we’re in groups of five. Our task is to write, shoot and edit a 2-3 minute short film with no dialogue, on the theme of ‘time’, where all five of us appear in a significant role. This is familiar territory for me and it’s strange to be the youngest inexperienced actor in the class and yet in my group to be the one with the most technical knowledge. It makes me so appreciative and thankful for the course I’ve just completed and reminds me how much I did actually learn from it.
I’ve started on some extra evening classes working on theatre scenes. I think it’s a good idea, on a course so focussed on screen acting, to keep practising theatre on the side. In the future I would definitely try for some work in theatre if it was a good role, and if it paid. Also it was refreshing to get to work on a script and actually do some acting. It was an opportunity to take all the teaching in movement, thoughts and objectives, relaxation and breathing, and actually practically apply them.
When it comes to meals I’m quite proud to say I’ve been dabbling in the culinary arts more often than not. I pack myself a lunchbox every day without fail so I can make sure I’ve got a good supply of high energy fruit and nuts, and because it’s cheaper. When at home my two favourite dishes are omelette and toasties, mostly because they’re quick and easy, and there is scope for lots of variety in toppings. My philosophy is, as long as I don’t find myself eating the same thing too regularly then I’m doing alright. I’m learning that there’s lots of fun to be had in the kitchen. I think my next experiment will be Egg Rosti…
The church search continues. Last Sunday I went to the Metropolitan Tabernacle – what used to be Spurgeon’s church. This was another big one but hugely different from Holy Trinity Brompton. It was a very traditional service format, led solely by the minister, and with old organ-accompanied congregational hymns. Everyone was smartly dressed, mostly in black suits, and I was ushered briskly to my seat where everyone sat in complete silence waiting for the service to start. I must have looked somewhat out of place sauntering through in shirt and jeans, with a rucksack slung over my shoulder. But it is a good church, even if only because the sermons are amazing. Peter Masters is the minister there and he is brilliant. Both the morning and evening address was a solid challenging message that gloriously uncovered the deep truth in the passage. Masters has authored many books and leaflets also and I took some of the free handouts away with me.
This Sunday my experience was somewhat less encouraging. I went to St Columba’s Church of Scotland and it was a sad affair. I went in hope that perhaps here in London our nation’s church had not suffered the same fate as so many congregations on native soil. Alas my hope was in vain. It’s vacant, the pews were mostly empty, the average age was over sixty, and the seven or eight young children were thoroughly patronised during the children’s address before being removed. I was encouraged to see one smiling young-ish lady in front of me until I discovered it was also her first time. The service was more similar to the style of Paisley Abbey than a normal parish Kirk, they even had a half-decent choir, but the sermon was tragically hollow, speculative and in no way related to the passages that were read. Maybe it was just the shocking contrast to Peter Masters but during the ‘sermon’ I felt a sudden urge to stand up, turn to the scattered congregation and yell, “Please, don’t listen to him. He’s preaching his opinion. Listen to the Word of God. It is Truth!”… I didn’t. But I squirmed through his whole ‘feel-good mumbo-jumbo’ and belted out the hymns as loud as I could.
It struck me that here was a representative picture of the whole Church of Scotland: it is vacant – leaderless or misled, lost and uncertain; it has abandoned the Word of God – picking and choosing from God’s Truth, joking about sin, conforming to society; and it is dying – congregations are small and old, the younger generation are not being reached, and the whole institution is splitting, crumbling, and falling apart. We have strayed so far, but I believe it is not too late if we are willing to turn back to God, put His Word firmly at the centre of everything and lift up Christ as the Head of the Church. I earnestly hope and pray that He will not let the Church of Scotland fall but will restore it. The nomination committee at St Columba’s have chosen a possible new minister who will be preaching there in a few weeks. He’s a Macleod so that’s got to be a good sign!
It’s funny how some things are the same no matter where we are; like the taste of chocolate. As I finish writing this I am eating some chocolate. We’ve come to an agreement in our flat; chocolate is good. It’s true. And it reminds me of Christmas…
Monday, 17 October 2011
First Week
Tuesday was my first day of classes and it was AWESOME! We had a Movement class at 9am followed by Acting followed by a short lunch break followed by Voice until 1730 (and that was an early finish). I was on my feet (bare feet) the entire day and it was invigorating! I felt alive. This is it, this is what I came for, this is what I've been missing for three years. This is 'work' as God intended it; mental and physical toil together. This is the antidote to all those days in the Academy sitting on hard chairs in large movement rooms for a class; but sitting, not using the space, educating the mind but not the body, losing connection with my physicality, core and even emotions. Now, wonderfully, I have this opportunity, a year, to waken up my body and reconnect. It’s going to be a challenging year of taking risks, making brave choices and being open and honest. Integral to an actor's work is the ability to be totally truthful, not ‘acting’ or faking things but simply being…
Wednesday was an 8.45am start, just to shake things up a bit, but in general the days are nine to six. Real nine to six! Then we have homework from all the various tutors so evenings are quickly filled up too. It’s busy, it’s craziness, but it’s so good.
All the tutors are brilliant at what they do. Each are very specialised in their field (e.g. movement, voice, camera, dance) but also have a clear awareness of how their ‘piece’ fits into the jigsaw of the overall actor’s process. They are focussed and passionate and there is always something to get excited about in every class. The classes are usually at least two hours long, but it doesn’t feel like it. Once there is a group of committed people working hard together, time is often left at the door. And my classmates are great; varied and fascinating people, genuine and open, and hardworking. I’m often surprised at how aware they seem to be of themselves (and in contrast how unaware I am of myself) and how well they can articulate their thoughts and feelings. So far I have been contributing very little, which worries me a little, but perhaps that will change. Most of the time I find myself going through a whole class and just listening; taking in what the tutor and others are saying.
It’s exhausting work. Draining, but in a good way. I tend to notice it when I’m going to sleep or when I get up. My body feels different, I’m more conscious of a body-mind connection, my general awareness is slowly opening up and I feel like I’m breathing in more of life. Which has its down-sides. I woke on Sunday morning with a really bad sore throat, which soon transferred itself to my nose and is now a regular cold. I don’t get ill very easily, but clearly this has been a lifestyle change significant enough to catch my immune system off-guard.
I’m continuing my search for a church; I’ve tried Holy Trinity Brompton – it’s big and trendy and BIG. I received a welcome from the legendary Sticky Crumble (Nicky Gumbel), and that was quite an experience. Being at their student service was literally like being at a rock concert with the loud band, lights, smoke, the works. Part of the importance of church for me is being able to mingle with people of all different ages, because I’m with students all the rest of the time. So I don’t think being part of HTB’s Student Population is what I need. It’s cool, and it’s not me.
There is so much to tell, so much going on and so little time even to reflect as I am doing now. But I must endeavour to keep finding the time. It is important; even just to remind myself I’m really doing this, that it’s really happening. Praise God.
Wednesday was an 8.45am start, just to shake things up a bit, but in general the days are nine to six. Real nine to six! Then we have homework from all the various tutors so evenings are quickly filled up too. It’s busy, it’s craziness, but it’s so good.
All the tutors are brilliant at what they do. Each are very specialised in their field (e.g. movement, voice, camera, dance) but also have a clear awareness of how their ‘piece’ fits into the jigsaw of the overall actor’s process. They are focussed and passionate and there is always something to get excited about in every class. The classes are usually at least two hours long, but it doesn’t feel like it. Once there is a group of committed people working hard together, time is often left at the door. And my classmates are great; varied and fascinating people, genuine and open, and hardworking. I’m often surprised at how aware they seem to be of themselves (and in contrast how unaware I am of myself) and how well they can articulate their thoughts and feelings. So far I have been contributing very little, which worries me a little, but perhaps that will change. Most of the time I find myself going through a whole class and just listening; taking in what the tutor and others are saying.
It’s exhausting work. Draining, but in a good way. I tend to notice it when I’m going to sleep or when I get up. My body feels different, I’m more conscious of a body-mind connection, my general awareness is slowly opening up and I feel like I’m breathing in more of life. Which has its down-sides. I woke on Sunday morning with a really bad sore throat, which soon transferred itself to my nose and is now a regular cold. I don’t get ill very easily, but clearly this has been a lifestyle change significant enough to catch my immune system off-guard.
I’m continuing my search for a church; I’ve tried Holy Trinity Brompton – it’s big and trendy and BIG. I received a welcome from the legendary Sticky Crumble (Nicky Gumbel), and that was quite an experience. Being at their student service was literally like being at a rock concert with the loud band, lights, smoke, the works. Part of the importance of church for me is being able to mingle with people of all different ages, because I’m with students all the rest of the time. So I don’t think being part of HTB’s Student Population is what I need. It’s cool, and it’s not me.
There is so much to tell, so much going on and so little time even to reflect as I am doing now. But I must endeavour to keep finding the time. It is important; even just to remind myself I’m really doing this, that it’s really happening. Praise God.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Dewar Arts Award
Check out my profile on the Dewar Arts Award website:
http://www.dewarawards.org/ArtistDetails.aspx?ArtistId=341
“Renaissance man” – I’m loving that! The biography was not written by me I hasten to add. Strange to think that only a few months ago I was browsing those previous winners thinking, I really really hope they’ll give me something… And they did. Yay!
http://www.dewarawards.org/ArtistDetails.aspx?ArtistId=341
“Renaissance man” – I’m loving that! The biography was not written by me I hasten to add. Strange to think that only a few months ago I was browsing those previous winners thinking, I really really hope they’ll give me something… And they did. Yay!
Monday, 10 October 2011
First Times
Humid rain dropped from a grey October sky onto the fiercely perspiring brow of a young man dragging a huge wheeled-suitcase into Glasgow Central Railway Station. Even on the smooth station floor his heavy luggage, his whole life in a bag, seemed to heave against him, pulling away from the life ahead, urging him to return to the familiar. But there was no turning back now. With barely a minute to spare – soaked in sweat – he threw himself, his luggage, his life, onto a train bound for London and found a seat. Arms and hands throbbing, shoulders tensed, unable to even sit back because of the warm moisture dripping down his back, this lonely traveller sped off… into the future.
Wonderfully glamorous. And if I thought getting to the train in Glasgow was hard then getting to my London house – navigating the underground whilst sufficiently laden so as to render me almost completely immobile, and eventually trying to get a taxi but with no credit on my phone – was almost outside the realms of possibility. Still, I made it, and seemingly with energy to spare as that same night I accompanied Jill and Amy, my two American flatmates, swing dancing (!) and then, briefly, to a house party where I met a couple of my soon-to-be classmates.
The next day was Sunday and I took the opportunity to attend All Souls, the church where Christianity Explored began, and hear Rico Tice preach. It’s a big church, with a major emphasis on Internationals, and as a visitor I felt extremely welcome and at home. Of course, vast quantities of the people that walk through the door every Sunday are probably visiting, there for the first time, and this is a very foreign concept to me and must be hugely challenging for a church. But All Souls is a good church; Bible-based, mission-focussed, and very friendly and welcoming. If I wasn’t so keen to experience some other churches in London I would just settle there now.
The next day was my 21st birthday, and I spent most of it cleaning and tidying my very dusty bedroom. Starting a new life can be very fun and satisfying; deciding how to arrange the bedroom, where to put everything, what system to use in the sock drawer; discovering the kitchen, the shower, whether the living room couch is comfy, fixing the broken drawers… It can also be exhausting; one thing I’m completely tired of already is spending money. I thought I brought a lot of stuff with me but there is so much still to get. Bedding, towels, food, tickets, stationary, clothes, food again- it just never stops. My funds are rapidly running out and I’m already living on borrowed money because my loan is taking its time to come through. It’s a good exercise in managing finances… and patience.
My first week in London was full of ‘first-time’ experiences: my first time meeting my three flatmates – Markoesa (from Holland) is the third and also a classmate; my first time meeting the rest of my class, which was somewhat daunting as most have tonnes of experience and have been working for years (I think I’m the youngest… yikes); my first time walking around Central as an official registered student; my first time in a London theatre – saw ‘No Naughty Bits’ about when Monty Python went to America, which was pretty rubbish and a cold reminder of what I’m up against in this industry, namely: mocking moral boundaries equals comedy; my first time visiting London Zoo, where I watched a pair of highly bored lions for a while; and of course my first time in a London cinema, where I saw The Lion King 3D which was awesome and where the lions were decidedly not bored.
So far it’s all been great but I’m rather impatient to get started on what I actually came for; my course! Even now it’s hard to believe that I’m actually here and this is actually happening. That God would open this door in the first place is truly amazing, and now that I’m actually walking through it I sense that He’s been ‘in the shadows’ all along, preparing me. How magnificent to be serving the King! But it’s going to be hard, that much is guaranteed. I’ve decided on a verse I’m going to hold onto throughout this year:
“‘They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 1:19
Wonderfully glamorous. And if I thought getting to the train in Glasgow was hard then getting to my London house – navigating the underground whilst sufficiently laden so as to render me almost completely immobile, and eventually trying to get a taxi but with no credit on my phone – was almost outside the realms of possibility. Still, I made it, and seemingly with energy to spare as that same night I accompanied Jill and Amy, my two American flatmates, swing dancing (!) and then, briefly, to a house party where I met a couple of my soon-to-be classmates.
The next day was Sunday and I took the opportunity to attend All Souls, the church where Christianity Explored began, and hear Rico Tice preach. It’s a big church, with a major emphasis on Internationals, and as a visitor I felt extremely welcome and at home. Of course, vast quantities of the people that walk through the door every Sunday are probably visiting, there for the first time, and this is a very foreign concept to me and must be hugely challenging for a church. But All Souls is a good church; Bible-based, mission-focussed, and very friendly and welcoming. If I wasn’t so keen to experience some other churches in London I would just settle there now.
The next day was my 21st birthday, and I spent most of it cleaning and tidying my very dusty bedroom. Starting a new life can be very fun and satisfying; deciding how to arrange the bedroom, where to put everything, what system to use in the sock drawer; discovering the kitchen, the shower, whether the living room couch is comfy, fixing the broken drawers… It can also be exhausting; one thing I’m completely tired of already is spending money. I thought I brought a lot of stuff with me but there is so much still to get. Bedding, towels, food, tickets, stationary, clothes, food again- it just never stops. My funds are rapidly running out and I’m already living on borrowed money because my loan is taking its time to come through. It’s a good exercise in managing finances… and patience.
My first week in London was full of ‘first-time’ experiences: my first time meeting my three flatmates – Markoesa (from Holland) is the third and also a classmate; my first time meeting the rest of my class, which was somewhat daunting as most have tonnes of experience and have been working for years (I think I’m the youngest… yikes); my first time walking around Central as an official registered student; my first time in a London theatre – saw ‘No Naughty Bits’ about when Monty Python went to America, which was pretty rubbish and a cold reminder of what I’m up against in this industry, namely: mocking moral boundaries equals comedy; my first time visiting London Zoo, where I watched a pair of highly bored lions for a while; and of course my first time in a London cinema, where I saw The Lion King 3D which was awesome and where the lions were decidedly not bored.
So far it’s all been great but I’m rather impatient to get started on what I actually came for; my course! Even now it’s hard to believe that I’m actually here and this is actually happening. That God would open this door in the first place is truly amazing, and now that I’m actually walking through it I sense that He’s been ‘in the shadows’ all along, preparing me. How magnificent to be serving the King! But it’s going to be hard, that much is guaranteed. I’ve decided on a verse I’m going to hold onto throughout this year:
“‘They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 1:19
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