Acting-month 2

I started my second month of learning how to act in New York.
The same studio, teacher, time. Couple of new people and much smaller group-of six.
That's actually great for the six of us-more stage time, more personal attention.
These classes are just o.k.most of the time, but necessary to get to the next level-scene study. That is when the real work starts but we need to have tools for it.
So we're learning basic acting tools. And it's a craft, believe me.And more difficult than I ever thought.But at the same time, easier.
Let me explain, at least a bit.You can not be caught acting. You have to look natural,feel natural, sound natural to your audience. And in order to do that,you need to become the character by really getting to know yourself.A little bit scary, right?
It's also a good therapy.
So we were doing all these exercises today--Meisner technique(if that's how you spell his name-too tired to Google.)--picking clues up from your partner, reenacting, reconstruction some experience, motivating ourselves to build a house of cards. Literary.
At the end of the day, it was educational, somewhat silly, very funny and tiring.But again, necessary for the next level.

Is anything ever free?

I had quite a diverse, interesting and consequently a short day. I have no idea how it can be almost 6:30 p.m. now?!
My mom woke me up at 7.47 a.m. delirious because she got a free ticket to the States! "I'm so happy," she chirped on the phone. "This is the greatest gift anyone can give me."
She holds me responsible because I was the one who wrote and mailed two letters of complaint to an airline,that treated my Mom like a piece of luggage last year.
It took it a year to acknowledge their assesness, and offer her a free ticket.
"You earned this," she added. "What would you like me to buy you?"
Hmmm...in Serbia, you show love through food, first and foremost,and then through gifts.
I couldn't really think of anything else, besides what she's already bringing me-hazelnut chocolate spread and minced biscuits.
"Just come over," I said modestly. "I don't really want anything else. Or need."
It's true. I do have everything I need. Well, kind of. At least materially...Well...
I do want a house on the beach. And a place in Belgrade. And...I know there was something else? And I want to see almost the whole world.Oh, yeah, I really,really wanna fly first class!!!
But those are big things. She can't get me those. I have to get them for myself,if I can.
O, yes, and I would love to shop at Chanel and Dior,and Tiffany's!

Sister Cities

I saw a great play tonight-- Sister Cities. It's a small production of a screenplay written by a woman, directed by a woman, and it's about five women. A real shot of feminism. But it was interesting, funny and moving. Good acting too.
It could not have been more than 30 people in the audience. It was definitely the smallest theater I've seen. The set was really impressive-it looked like you walked into someone's house. The warmth of it, very genuine-- pictures on the walls and the fireplace, the furniture, the mess, the den with books and paper, computer, stairs that lead to upstairs we never see, the kitchen bar with every day home stuff on it, vodka in the liqueur cabinet, chips and Fig Newtons...
All four sisters were good at their characters-all completely different as sisters often are. But these four actually have different fathers. And a very selfish mother, who apparently used men as tissues. I said used because now she's in her 60s and gravely ill.
This totally disfunctional family has a lot to tell. And it does. This play is all talk, but in a good way. There's barely anything there, any type of action except for the conversations, very serious ones.
Men barely touch this moment in life-only one character has her husband placed on a pedestal, while some of the others don't have anyone, or think of men as Ken dolls-something to play with and leave behind when they grow out of it. One of them has a failed marriage behind her, but a successful career. They all are selfsufficient.
There was a talk with the actors afterwords. A nice bonus. They're hoping people will hear about the play, and maybe, maybe give it more attention. I think, it deserves it. It's contemporary, interesting, with all the necessary elements for success-makes you laugh, makes you think, makes you enjoy it. Having said that, it's not perfect. The acting in the beginning really looked like acting, and it shouldn't. Couple of times through the play as well. But in their defense, it seemed really hard to do it, with the rollercostar of emotions throughout.
If you can, see it. You won't regret it!

Lost in New York...

Have you ever felt lost? Not physically,in space, but just lost,you know, in life?
Well, I've been feeling like that today.
The rainy New York morning didn't exactly help. And I am one of those people who depend on the sun. Really depend on it. We all do, more-less. The lack of sun makes us depressive.
That's how I've been feeling today. I've been wandering the streets of New York, looking for the sun. I knew where I was, but I wasn't sure where I was going. I felt so alone. And the city has lost its charm.
I know that things go up and down, periodically. I know that you have to get lost once in a while, in order to find yourself, or be found. But neither happened to me today.
I guess it takes more time.
I couldn't think of a single thing, easily achievable and accessible at the time, to give me pleasure, to pick me up. I guess "things" don't really do that. We just fool ourselves.
Anyway, I do feel better now. It will be a new day tomorrow, after all. Maybe the one where I'll finally find myself. And whatever I'm looking for...

Fall, rainy book...

An awfully rainy New York day today. Not as cold as yesterday though. But still,less pleasant.
My g-friend and I decided-it's a perfect day for Moma. So, I entered Moma once again. It's makes it easier being a member and all. And being able to walk to it. And being so close to the great shopping...Actually that's the dangerous part.
But despite my guest's big shopping appetite, I've been very well behaved. I haven't bought almost anything for myself! I'm bought a gift at Bloomingdale's, and ordered couple more online. But,again, proudly, nothing for myself, while my g-friend was shopping the city off.
Actually, I just remembered,I did buy a set of espresso or Turkish coffee cups today. I couldn't resist, even though we don't drink either. But the guests will enjoy them! As well as I will... by possessing them.
I'm talking about these hand-painted coffee cups, with (of course) cats on them. But they're very artsy!
So except for Moma, and At Home, I spent the rest of the day at home, still looking for a job and resting with my Crossing Jordan.
We had pizza for dinner, Patsy's. And watched the Millioner.
Nothing too exciting! Weather permit!
But I did decide that I should start writing my book next week!
It's the perfect time. I'm still not working, I have an idea, and a small, new notebook.
And it's fall after all!

Dog with shoes

Well, the summer in New York is gone alright.Unfortunately. I love this planet but I hate the cold. So global warming or not, I liked the unseasonably warm weather.
I also love how crazy New Yorkers are.I wonder, is it the chicken or the egg?Are New Yorkers crazy because they live in New York, or crazy people come to live in the friendly, natural habitat?
Let me elaborate. I SAW A DOG WITH SHOES yesterday. In the middle of the Midtown. Lex or 3rd and 50s.I almost cried for not having the camera with me.
This little dog had blue shoes on, and he was crossing the street with a blond, young woman on the leash;-)I couldn't help but laugh. Not too loud though. I didn't want her to think I'm laughing at her, just at her dog, with shoes.
I've seen dogs with clothes before. That's kinda common here. But shoes? Well, that takes the cake.
Actually, it seemed to me like the little guy was having problems adjusting the the fashion. Or to his crazy owner. He was walking kind of clumsy. Maybe she didn't want him to get his paws wet and dirty? It was raining after all. Or maybe she was Serbian and worried about dog's ovaries?
It was one of those miniature dogs, brown, cute, with long ears. Not the hot-dog. Sorry I don't know more about dogs.
I wish I had a camera!!!You trust me, right?

Long way from Midtown to Chinatown

My g-friend really made me know New York yesterday.
The initial plan was to go to the Union Square, and then to the Village for one of Cafe Reggio's great cappuccinos.I thought the plan was good, you know, enough for one day.O h, no, not for this hungry lady. She wanted to see the world and she wanted it yesterday.
"Look, Soho is so close to us," she said pointing at the map. "Can we go there?It's such a beautiful day!" She got that right. It was plain gorgeous in the city yesterday. Sunny, 74, just beautiful. "O.k.," this pushover said, sadly looking at the few last drops of the cappuccino. "Let's go."
So we went to NoLiTa, Soho, Little Italy, even Chinatown during our attempt to see Tribeca. "Do you know what Tribeca means,?" she asked excitingly. "No", I said, exhausted. "Triangle below Canal!!!"
But we never got to the triangle. Instead we stumbled upon one the dirtiest,shadiest neighborhoods of New York, where Asian looking people were telling us something every which way we looked. If this is Tribeca, I thought, I don't wanna see it!But we were probably in some outskirts of Chinatown.
We did have a great pizza in Fanelli's and famous Tartuffo and Tiramisu in my beloved Cafe Roma. Tired or not,I wasn't going to deprive her of Cafe Roma's calories, once we were in Mulberry street...