★ News from September 2004:
Not too, too much of importance to report right now other than work on my book.
Right now, I have drafts out to select readers to look over what I have so far (roughly 235 pages, or about the first half of the book), and while they're looking at them, I'm spending time away from writing the book and more on developing some of my specific ideas.
Most of the ideas I have on improv are set; surprisingly, that has turned out to be the simple part. The tougher part is really honing in on the dynamics, step by step, in order to mathematize them accurately and then apply them to game theory, then to other fields like unification (string theories) and psychology. I find I spend a couple days on an idea and then break through, sometimes making a plethora of breakthroughs at one time. I keep a pad of paper with me and I am constantly gazing into it and scribbling some bizarre diagrams which may not mean anything to you, but mean a hell of a lot to me.
I got to coach a couple new improvisers tonight and it was great, as I got to refresh my basic theories about improvising and teach them to people new to it, and somewhat terrified of it. I've come a long way! I felt very relaxed in describing the dynamics, specific, and both confident about the ideas and comfortable with them. The only challenge was slowing myself down! I get so excited sometimes my thoughts go zillions of times faster than my mouth and I have to stop myself to think more slowly.
This process is wonderful. I am trying to secure funding so that I can concentrate my research time much better. I should have a grant application out by the end of the week or so, and I will be looking into other grants and funding opportunities. I would like to finish this book so that I can concentrate more on my acting career--this book is so important to me that it's taking precedence in my life (and needs to--perhaps it needs to take even more precedence).
That's about it. If you're interested in my book, send me an email just to let me know. I feel this book has broad, multidisciplinary appeal, and if you've been following my endeavor with intrigue, I'd love to hear from you.
Cheers!
September 16, 2004
(Thursday)
This morning I auditioned for a New York Stock Exchange industrial with fellow improviser Maggie Kemper. In attendance was Casting Director Barry Shapiro.
September 17, 2004
(Friday)
Today I worked on an anti-tobacco commercial entitled "Voice" for Truth in the Grand Central area.
It wasn't your ordinary commercial. This commercial had a renegade feel to it. We were filming in front of the Altria building, home to cigarette giant Philip Morris. We were instructed in no uncertain terms to avoid stepping on the sidewalk surrounding the Altria building, as apparently a lawsuit had erupted from a prior commercial in which that was allegedly done.
I'm not completely clear on the specifics of the commercial, but from what I understand, it was supposed to go something like this:
A truck pulls up to the Altria building. Young-adult activists from Truth unload speakers, a backdrop, and two podia--one on the Altria side of the street, another on the opposite side of the street. The one on the Altria side of the street had an "A:" on it; the one opposite had a "Q:" on it. From the Q podium, a Truth speaker introduced a friend of hers--a older woman who had had a tracheotomy, presumably because she had smoked. The older woman used a voice amplifier to talk. She apparently spoke about her voice, the "voice" that Philip Morris supposedly "wanted" her to have. The podium on the Altria side of the street was empty, left for an executive from Philip Morris to comment. No one from the building came down to address the older woman or the Truth activists.
September 20, 2004
(Monday)
This afternoon I had a fitting for a Marshall's commercial I'm shooting on Friday. The commercial is entitled "Wrap It Up, Glitz," a festive Christmas-season commercial. The fitting was at Believe Media.
September 22, 2004
(Wednesday)
This afternoon I attended a go-see for Photonica.
September 23, 2004
(Thursday)
This morning I auditioned for the roles of Reily and Nelson in the independent film Stick it in Detroit. In attendance were Executive Producer/Director Robert Phelps and Casting Director Katya Blichfeld.
This afternoon I learned I'm booked for print work on Monday with Photonica. Yea!
September 24, 2004
(Friday)
This afternoon I worked on a Marshall's commercial at Silvercup Studios East. The commercial is entitled "Glitz," a festive Christmas-season commercial. I worked with my friend Margaret Baker.
I also booked two days on an NBC promo. It shoots this weekend.
September 25, 2004
(Saturday)
What was booked as two days became one day of work today on a promo for NBC's fall lineup. The promo is for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Third Watch.
September 27, 2004
(Monday)
This afternoon I did print work for Photonica. The photographer was Brad Wilson.