I (as I'm sure you might agree) cannot believe that we're 8 1/2 months done in 2010. It's been a year of continuing to learn, work hard and prosper. Here's what I've up to since the last update in June.
- Got another poem published in a blog. This one courtesy of David L. Harrison who has the distinction of being the only (as far as I know) living children's poet to have a school named after him. You can check my poem out by copy/pasting here:
http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/charles-waters-today/
- Was on the receiving end of my first poetry interview. Also courtesy of Mr. Harrison. You can check out my interview by copy/pasting here:
http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/charles-waters-today-2/
- Finished up sending the last of my Found Poems to writer Georgia Heard for her next poetry anthology. At final count I was able to send her around 35 poems. While she will not be able to choose all or most of them for that matter I feel I have a solid shot on something making the cut. Thanks again for asking me to be a part of it Georgia! The experience was challenging and enjoyable.
- Working on a children's poetry manuscript for THE NEW VOICES AWARD sponsored by LEE AND LOW books. This contest is for writers of color to submit their work in the hopes that their manuscript will be published. There's also a cash prize thrown in as well that ain't too shabby. Lee Bennett Hopkins, a legendary figure in children's poetry, encouraged me to take a shot at it so who am I to turn him down? So far it's coming along well I'm proud of the progress being made. I'll give you more information on it after the deadline for submission is over on September 30th.
- I hired a personal trainer! His name is Jeremy Brussard and he's putting me through my paces. I started working out a week ago because, well, I've been lazy about my health. Diabetes and heart disease are in my genes so it was time to get serious about living as long a life as I can. I have HUGE goals and dreams and it would be a shame they were all cut short because I didn't take care of myself. I've also been eating a whole lot better since going organic with my eating habits. My Jack Lalanne Power Juicer is in the mail (my first infomercial purchase ever) so I really feel I'm taking positive steps in making better choices in my life.
- Still doing the Disney thing at IDOL, INDY and WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.
-Received my first residual checks from a SAG commercial I did for Verizon. Wow has that been a lovely thing to happen to me. May I get residual checks from now to the end of time!
- Looking forward to taking a seminar with Lori Wyman on Saturday. Lori is one of the most respected Casting Directors in the southeast. She's casted everything from MIAMI VICE to RECOUNT to THE GLADES as well as over 1,000 commercials. I've been sending my headshot/resume to her for months and am thrilled to not only meet her but learn how to be a better actor on camera.
I don't know if anyone reads these blog postings of mine but I do feel it's important to chart your progression. Let's continue to take charge of our lives and be thankful for the blessings we've received. I'd like to leave this post with a poem of mine. Enjoy.
THIS IS HOW I SEE THE WORLD
This is how I see the world,
I see a lot of pain
Filled with bitter compromise
We can barely maintain.
This is how I see the world,
I see a helping hand
To prop you up when you are down
Across this grateful land.
This is how I see the world,
I see innocence lost
Thanks to greedy egocentrics
Who don’t care of the cost.
This is how I see the world,
I see a steady rise
Of people giving of themselves,
Our world is very wise.
(C) Charles Waters 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Consistancy
Well in the almost 2 and a half months since I blogged things have been busy so let’s play catch up.
ON THE POETRY FRONT
-Got a great response from teachers and poetry lovers for my poem I LOVE BEING ME which was featured on Greg Pincus’ 30 Poets/30 Days blog.
-While on the Greg Pincus thread I had the pleasure of picking him up at the airport when he came here to Orlando for the SCBWI Conference. I took his marketing seminar and learned lots of neat stuff including the fact that I need to start learning by heart more of my poems, perform them on video and post them to my website. I plan on tackling that by the end of the summer as I have other matter to attend to like:
- Putting together a poetry manuscript for the LEE AND LOW book contest. LEE AND LOW is a publishing house that specializes in works about or written by people of color. They’re having a contest at the end of the summer where minority writers submit their work and if selected get a book contract!
-Got an invitation from Georgia Heard one of most respected children’s poets in the country to be part of her upcoming anthology on found poems. Found poems (according to Wikipedia) are a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from other sources and reframing them as poetry by making changes in spacing and/or lines (and consequently meaning), or by altering the text by additions and/or deletions.
The book will be published by the New York publishing house Roaring Book. What an amazing opportunity this is for me! Once again my poetry mentor Rebecca Kai Dotlich put in a good word for me. Georgia told me to send her as many found poems as I want so I’ve sent her at least 25 poems so far (and still counting). She won’t use them all but the more I send the better I feel my chances are of getting in her book.
ON THE ACTING FRONT
-Booked another commercial, this one for Verizon, where I play a Bright House cable service consumer who is complaining about my cable service provider. This was my 2nd SAG (Screen Actors Guild) commercial is 3 months so things are starting to pay of that field. Soon as I get a DVD copy of it I will finally put together my reel (various clips of me acting) that is a MUST in the acting field especially if you (like me) wants to branch out into film, TV, industrials and commercials.
-Continue working at IDOL, INDY, ESPN and SLEUTHS. Those jobs have been good to me and I continue to be thankful for the money I make, most of which I save because in this economy saving your money should be everyone’s middle name.
There is some potential good news on both acting and poetry fronts that I can’t reveal now but will once I hear word. In the meantime be well, work hard and make every day and good one. Peace.
ON THE POETRY FRONT
-Got a great response from teachers and poetry lovers for my poem I LOVE BEING ME which was featured on Greg Pincus’ 30 Poets/30 Days blog.
-While on the Greg Pincus thread I had the pleasure of picking him up at the airport when he came here to Orlando for the SCBWI Conference. I took his marketing seminar and learned lots of neat stuff including the fact that I need to start learning by heart more of my poems, perform them on video and post them to my website. I plan on tackling that by the end of the summer as I have other matter to attend to like:
- Putting together a poetry manuscript for the LEE AND LOW book contest. LEE AND LOW is a publishing house that specializes in works about or written by people of color. They’re having a contest at the end of the summer where minority writers submit their work and if selected get a book contract!
-Got an invitation from Georgia Heard one of most respected children’s poets in the country to be part of her upcoming anthology on found poems. Found poems (according to Wikipedia) are a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from other sources and reframing them as poetry by making changes in spacing and/or lines (and consequently meaning), or by altering the text by additions and/or deletions.
The book will be published by the New York publishing house Roaring Book. What an amazing opportunity this is for me! Once again my poetry mentor Rebecca Kai Dotlich put in a good word for me. Georgia told me to send her as many found poems as I want so I’ve sent her at least 25 poems so far (and still counting). She won’t use them all but the more I send the better I feel my chances are of getting in her book.
ON THE ACTING FRONT
-Booked another commercial, this one for Verizon, where I play a Bright House cable service consumer who is complaining about my cable service provider. This was my 2nd SAG (Screen Actors Guild) commercial is 3 months so things are starting to pay of that field. Soon as I get a DVD copy of it I will finally put together my reel (various clips of me acting) that is a MUST in the acting field especially if you (like me) wants to branch out into film, TV, industrials and commercials.
-Continue working at IDOL, INDY, ESPN and SLEUTHS. Those jobs have been good to me and I continue to be thankful for the money I make, most of which I save because in this economy saving your money should be everyone’s middle name.
There is some potential good news on both acting and poetry fronts that I can’t reveal now but will once I hear word. In the meantime be well, work hard and make every day and good one. Peace.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Elevation
There’s that old adage, “No news is good news,” and well shucks that’s proved true for me since the last posting ... until recently, so let’s play a little catch up.
-Booked my first commercial (actually my first with an actual speaking role). It was for Friendly’s Restaurant where I am partaking in their excellent cuisine with my “wife”.
-Continuing to work at IDOL, INDIANA JONES and ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS where I hosted part of the rebranding ceremony of WWS and met the Governor of Florida Charlie Crist in the process.
-Having the great fortune of award-winning poet extraordinaire Rebecca Kai Dotlich (who has become in many ways my poetry mentor) recommend me to poet Greg Pincus who in turn invited me to submit a poem for The 2010 Edition of 30 Poets/30 Days! During National Poetry Month in April, some 80,000 people visit his blog to read a poem submitted specifically for the event by poets from all over the world. http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2010/03/announcing-2010-edition-of-30-poets30.html. The poem I submitted is called I LOVE BEING ME and it pretty much encapsulates how I feel about the importance of self-esteem.
I cannot possibly overstate what a big deal this is to me. Since 2004 I’ve spent so many mornings, afternoons and evenings (including weekends) reading and writing children’s poetry, making contacts, submitting my work, attending conferences and going to writers group meetings that I’m thankfully gob smacked it’s starting to pay off. The late two-time Academy Award winning actor Jack Lemmon once told another two-time winner Kevin Spacey (who was his protégé) that when you reach the top of the elevator you always send it back down to help more people make their way up. It sure feels like Rebecca saw me in the lower lobby and decided to give me a lift.
-Booked my first commercial (actually my first with an actual speaking role). It was for Friendly’s Restaurant where I am partaking in their excellent cuisine with my “wife”.
-Continuing to work at IDOL, INDIANA JONES and ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS where I hosted part of the rebranding ceremony of WWS and met the Governor of Florida Charlie Crist in the process.
-Having the great fortune of award-winning poet extraordinaire Rebecca Kai Dotlich (who has become in many ways my poetry mentor) recommend me to poet Greg Pincus who in turn invited me to submit a poem for The 2010 Edition of 30 Poets/30 Days! During National Poetry Month in April, some 80,000 people visit his blog to read a poem submitted specifically for the event by poets from all over the world. http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2010/03/announcing-2010-edition-of-30-poets30.html. The poem I submitted is called I LOVE BEING ME and it pretty much encapsulates how I feel about the importance of self-esteem.
I cannot possibly overstate what a big deal this is to me. Since 2004 I’ve spent so many mornings, afternoons and evenings (including weekends) reading and writing children’s poetry, making contacts, submitting my work, attending conferences and going to writers group meetings that I’m thankfully gob smacked it’s starting to pay off. The late two-time Academy Award winning actor Jack Lemmon once told another two-time winner Kevin Spacey (who was his protégé) that when you reach the top of the elevator you always send it back down to help more people make their way up. It sure feels like Rebecca saw me in the lower lobby and decided to give me a lift.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
After Thanksgiving
Whilst stuffing my face with turkey and pie (note to self, better eating and exercise habits in 2010) I've been writing like a fiend coming up with give or take 70 poems compiled over the past 3 months. Some were rewritten heavily to achieve the desired effect others took maybe 2 drafts and that was it. The one thing I'm really proud of myself for is continually writing and finding places to submit my stuff. Here's one of the poems which I'm sure every person can relate to and that's the mixed feelings you may have when you move:
NOVEMBER 1983
This house looks naked without
All of our things strewn about,
I guess today's the day that
My family's moving out.
Goodbye Philadelphia,
Good morning Yeadon, PA.
Treat us as well as Philly
Because we are here to stay.
(C) Charles Waters 2009
I notice Jane Yolen, Sara Holbrook and Charles Ghinga occasionally post some their poems on their blog so I decided to do the same.
Also worked at INDY, IDOL and WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS during the gobble, gobble holiday, I find that work really gives me a sense of belonging in the world, especially when it's work I love to do. May your holiday season be as nice and mine and may you all continue to kick arse heading into Christmas which is LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY! Bokay?
NOVEMBER 1983
This house looks naked without
All of our things strewn about,
I guess today's the day that
My family's moving out.
Goodbye Philadelphia,
Good morning Yeadon, PA.
Treat us as well as Philly
Because we are here to stay.
(C) Charles Waters 2009
I notice Jane Yolen, Sara Holbrook and Charles Ghinga occasionally post some their poems on their blog so I decided to do the same.
Also worked at INDY, IDOL and WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS during the gobble, gobble holiday, I find that work really gives me a sense of belonging in the world, especially when it's work I love to do. May your holiday season be as nice and mine and may you all continue to kick arse heading into Christmas which is LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY! Bokay?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thankfulness
That is something I’ve been embracing more and more since I’ve blogged last. In the past couple of months the work has been coming in pretty darn persistently lately. Here’s a bullet point update for me.
- Had more poems published in SPOTLIGHT ON RECOVERY
- Made contacts with an editor for SCHOLASTIC books and two published children’s writers at the 2009 SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators) conference in June.
- Learned the Director role at INDIANA JONES at Walt Disney World (WDW)
- Now hosting sports ceremonies at ESPN’s WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS at WDW.
- Continue working at AMERICAN IDOL at WDW as a Judge.
- Entertain the masses at SLEUTHS as a wacky security guard named Remington Card.
Now the jobs I’ve worked have not only saved my butt financially but they’re fun to boot. Instead of thinking about when a big payday’s coming instead I now think “be thankful you’re working at all.” Just this little change in thought has made all the difference in appreciating all that I have (loving friends, a car that runs, a roof over my head, hot meals) etc. The more thankful I am the more I notice great things happening for me. The fact I haven’t had a survival job to pay the bills makes me happier than you’ll ever know. While I miss some of the people at the old survival job at Polo Ralph Lauren I don’t miss waking up at 5:30am and moving boxes out of trucks. I don’t miss folding hundreds of items and being reprimanded when I process the clothes slower than they would have liked, and I especially don’t miss throwing out boxes into a dumpster in 95 degree weather and sometimes having to stand INSIDE the dumpster as co-workers hoisted boxes to me so I could put them inside that metal box of depravity.
Also unfortunately there’s been a recent spate of deaths concerning people I’ve either worked with or knew through their spouses. During the memorial services and benefits held in their honor I saw such love, compassion and respect that it really made me think about how delicate the whole shebang called life is. So all in all as I continue to read, mediate, write, work and spend time with friends the overriding feeling I have is one of being thankful, of being alive, of being in the moment, of just being.
- Had more poems published in SPOTLIGHT ON RECOVERY
- Made contacts with an editor for SCHOLASTIC books and two published children’s writers at the 2009 SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators) conference in June.
- Learned the Director role at INDIANA JONES at Walt Disney World (WDW)
- Now hosting sports ceremonies at ESPN’s WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS at WDW.
- Continue working at AMERICAN IDOL at WDW as a Judge.
- Entertain the masses at SLEUTHS as a wacky security guard named Remington Card.
Now the jobs I’ve worked have not only saved my butt financially but they’re fun to boot. Instead of thinking about when a big payday’s coming instead I now think “be thankful you’re working at all.” Just this little change in thought has made all the difference in appreciating all that I have (loving friends, a car that runs, a roof over my head, hot meals) etc. The more thankful I am the more I notice great things happening for me. The fact I haven’t had a survival job to pay the bills makes me happier than you’ll ever know. While I miss some of the people at the old survival job at Polo Ralph Lauren I don’t miss waking up at 5:30am and moving boxes out of trucks. I don’t miss folding hundreds of items and being reprimanded when I process the clothes slower than they would have liked, and I especially don’t miss throwing out boxes into a dumpster in 95 degree weather and sometimes having to stand INSIDE the dumpster as co-workers hoisted boxes to me so I could put them inside that metal box of depravity.
Also unfortunately there’s been a recent spate of deaths concerning people I’ve either worked with or knew through their spouses. During the memorial services and benefits held in their honor I saw such love, compassion and respect that it really made me think about how delicate the whole shebang called life is. So all in all as I continue to read, mediate, write, work and spend time with friends the overriding feeling I have is one of being thankful, of being alive, of being in the moment, of just being.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
I'm Back (like Fast Eddie in "The Color of Money")
Okay this time I mean it. I WILL BLOG MORE OFTEN, not once every 6 months or so. Well if it’s any consolation I haven’t been laying fallow during this lengthy interim. No I’ve been happily driving myself halfway around the twist with various activities that have kept me more than busy.
First off on the acting front I’ve been working at the American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World in the role of Judge #1 or “the hip judge.” So I go by my own name and I judge various singers from across the country who audition at WDW for spot in our show, if they win in one of the shows during the day (which we call the preliminaries) they come back in the evening and sing again in our finale show against the other winners from the preliminaries during the day, the winner of the finale show that evening gets what’s called a Dream Ticket that puts them in the front of the line of any “American Idol” audition in the country. It’s arguably the most high profile show WDW has seen in years and I’m beyond grateful to be a member of the cast. I’ve been subbing the role at least once a week (sometimes a lot more) for the past 3 months. It’s been a godsend to me financially and it’s a fun gig! I mean where else in this beautiful heat filled state of Florida do you get to dress in $800-$1000 outfits, bling yourself up to the ninth power, improvise for about 90 seconds per show (30 seconds per guest performer in the preliminaries, 2 minutes 10 seconds in the finale show), in an air conditioned 1032 seat theatre and get paid for it? Believe me being a judge at Idol rocks.
I had a proud moment a couple of weeks ago at the Mouse. It was during Grad Nite which is when students from schools across the country have WDW to themselves from 7pm-2am to go on rides, attend concerts and have the time of their lives in the weeks leading up to graduation. Well this year Grad Nite was at Hollywood Studios (where I work) and I received a call while I was working at Idol asking if I could work Grad Nite because they needed someone who could get students to attend concerts by these two new musical acts who had low attendance the evening before. So I accepted the gig and proceeded to beg, plead, cajole, jump, run and shout in order to pump up the students to see Mishon (who is like a younger version of Usher) and Wynter (who has lovely pipes like Rihanna). Well their concerts numbers spiked from 10 people per show the night before when I wasn’t there to 230. Needless to say the powers that be at the Mouse were thrilled; heck I was even proud of myself. This had lead me in getting called to more auditions at WDW so I feel that if I just keep working hard something will happen where I’ll get hired to learn more shows on property which diversifies me even more in the Mickey Family.
I continue to host at Sleuths Mystery Dinner show as Remington Guard Wacky Security Guard. I’ve also learned a new show there as well, it’s called “Celestial Manor” and I play a British manor owner named Oliver. There’s a whole lot of tomfoolery and ballyhoo in the show and yes someone gets wacked before dinner is served and you the dinner patron have to guess who did the whacking.
I’ve also been auditioning for commercials like a madman around Florida I’ve attended many a callback as well but haven’t booked a commercial gig yet. My agent is happy with me though because she knows if I keep getting callbacks then I’m getting closer to booking something. I’m getting better at acting in front of the camera and have been attending seminars to learn more about the business. I love theatre so much but it isn’t going pay the bills so branching out from theatre has been a learning experience.
Oh and I’ve got to tell you all some good news, another poem of mine will be published. I’ve now been published 3 times, twice in 2008 with The Evening Sun and Spotlight on Recovery, and now Spotlight has accepted another poem of mine that will be in their spring edition. It’s a poem about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 called “A Diversified Humanity.” They assigned the poem to me late last year and I’m so happy that they liked it. I was also paid for it as well which I used to pay my electric bill.
I’m so excited to attend the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators) conference on June 20th at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This conference gives you a chance to not only show off your work to longtime agents and published writers but to network your fanny off. When I attended 2 years ago an editor at HarperCollins in New York named Kristin Daly reviewed my poetry anthology proposal in 6 weeks. While I ultimately got a rejection from her there’s no way on earth it would have been reviewed that fast if it were say an unsolicited manuscript stuck in some slush pile. That’s what makes the SCBWI conference so vital. They also have workshops that are broken up into tracks (sci-fi fantasy, picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novel, illustration) that are taught by award winning writers and agents for literary magazines. This year I’ll be taking the picture book track, the teachers will be published picture book writer Alison Jackson, published picture book writer/illustrator Janeen Mason and an editor at Scholastic named Jennifer Rees. I plan on bringing a longish children’s poem of mine that would make a wonderful picture book in my humble opinion. With the economy being the way it is I’m SO thankful to have the money to go such an important conference.
I finally realized that besides being an actor I am a children’s poet. This is who I am, this is what I’m about, and I need it like oxygen. To paraphrase Hyman Roth in The Godfather Part II “These are the professions I’ve chosen.” Actually they’ve chosen me; it was like the universe laid down the path and all I have to do is walk it straight and true.
First off on the acting front I’ve been working at the American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World in the role of Judge #1 or “the hip judge.” So I go by my own name and I judge various singers from across the country who audition at WDW for spot in our show, if they win in one of the shows during the day (which we call the preliminaries) they come back in the evening and sing again in our finale show against the other winners from the preliminaries during the day, the winner of the finale show that evening gets what’s called a Dream Ticket that puts them in the front of the line of any “American Idol” audition in the country. It’s arguably the most high profile show WDW has seen in years and I’m beyond grateful to be a member of the cast. I’ve been subbing the role at least once a week (sometimes a lot more) for the past 3 months. It’s been a godsend to me financially and it’s a fun gig! I mean where else in this beautiful heat filled state of Florida do you get to dress in $800-$1000 outfits, bling yourself up to the ninth power, improvise for about 90 seconds per show (30 seconds per guest performer in the preliminaries, 2 minutes 10 seconds in the finale show), in an air conditioned 1032 seat theatre and get paid for it? Believe me being a judge at Idol rocks.
I had a proud moment a couple of weeks ago at the Mouse. It was during Grad Nite which is when students from schools across the country have WDW to themselves from 7pm-2am to go on rides, attend concerts and have the time of their lives in the weeks leading up to graduation. Well this year Grad Nite was at Hollywood Studios (where I work) and I received a call while I was working at Idol asking if I could work Grad Nite because they needed someone who could get students to attend concerts by these two new musical acts who had low attendance the evening before. So I accepted the gig and proceeded to beg, plead, cajole, jump, run and shout in order to pump up the students to see Mishon (who is like a younger version of Usher) and Wynter (who has lovely pipes like Rihanna). Well their concerts numbers spiked from 10 people per show the night before when I wasn’t there to 230. Needless to say the powers that be at the Mouse were thrilled; heck I was even proud of myself. This had lead me in getting called to more auditions at WDW so I feel that if I just keep working hard something will happen where I’ll get hired to learn more shows on property which diversifies me even more in the Mickey Family.
I continue to host at Sleuths Mystery Dinner show as Remington Guard Wacky Security Guard. I’ve also learned a new show there as well, it’s called “Celestial Manor” and I play a British manor owner named Oliver. There’s a whole lot of tomfoolery and ballyhoo in the show and yes someone gets wacked before dinner is served and you the dinner patron have to guess who did the whacking.
I’ve also been auditioning for commercials like a madman around Florida I’ve attended many a callback as well but haven’t booked a commercial gig yet. My agent is happy with me though because she knows if I keep getting callbacks then I’m getting closer to booking something. I’m getting better at acting in front of the camera and have been attending seminars to learn more about the business. I love theatre so much but it isn’t going pay the bills so branching out from theatre has been a learning experience.
Oh and I’ve got to tell you all some good news, another poem of mine will be published. I’ve now been published 3 times, twice in 2008 with The Evening Sun and Spotlight on Recovery, and now Spotlight has accepted another poem of mine that will be in their spring edition. It’s a poem about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 called “A Diversified Humanity.” They assigned the poem to me late last year and I’m so happy that they liked it. I was also paid for it as well which I used to pay my electric bill.
I’m so excited to attend the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators) conference on June 20th at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This conference gives you a chance to not only show off your work to longtime agents and published writers but to network your fanny off. When I attended 2 years ago an editor at HarperCollins in New York named Kristin Daly reviewed my poetry anthology proposal in 6 weeks. While I ultimately got a rejection from her there’s no way on earth it would have been reviewed that fast if it were say an unsolicited manuscript stuck in some slush pile. That’s what makes the SCBWI conference so vital. They also have workshops that are broken up into tracks (sci-fi fantasy, picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novel, illustration) that are taught by award winning writers and agents for literary magazines. This year I’ll be taking the picture book track, the teachers will be published picture book writer Alison Jackson, published picture book writer/illustrator Janeen Mason and an editor at Scholastic named Jennifer Rees. I plan on bringing a longish children’s poem of mine that would make a wonderful picture book in my humble opinion. With the economy being the way it is I’m SO thankful to have the money to go such an important conference.
I finally realized that besides being an actor I am a children’s poet. This is who I am, this is what I’m about, and I need it like oxygen. To paraphrase Hyman Roth in The Godfather Part II “These are the professions I’ve chosen.” Actually they’ve chosen me; it was like the universe laid down the path and all I have to do is walk it straight and true.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Catching Up
Well good grief it's been a while hasn't it? Chalk it up to laziness and hard work (is that an oxymoron on what?) So let's get to it.
HOLY CRAP AMERICA VOTED FOR A BLACK MAN AS PRESIDENT!
To say it was one of the greatest moments in my (and many other people's) life is an understatement. I voted early, spread the word about early voting to my co-workers at my survival job, hung out with Generation Obama soaking up their enthusiasm and hoped for the best. Myself and my dear friends Isabel, Gabriel and their family went to downtown Orlando honking horns hi-fiving everybody in sight and saw more black people celebrate with a fervor that hasn't been seen since Mandela got released from prison in 1990. Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD5knRUfznM
HOLY MACKEREL I SHOOK HANDS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA!
I went to hear Presidents Obama and Clinton at the Heritage Park in Kissimmee, FL last week. In a moment of divine goodness (with lots of help from Isabel) we went straight to the front of the line (actually 2 rows back) from where they spoke. Also heard Jimmy Smits of "LA Law, "NYPD Blue" and "West Wing" fame speak as well. Hearing him speak made me realize even more that actors and politicans are very similar in their talent of inducing a crowd into a frenzy. Seeing Barry and Bubba (I go back a long way with both of them) and hearing them speak was just pure happiness. I was contrasting Bubba's honey dipped voice with Barry's pulsating oratory and hearing them together was like listening to the music of their voices was like being at a concerto. As they were going through the line shaking hands I shook #42's slender hands (which brought back memories of when I shook hands with him back in college over 12 years ago) then came #44 who has massive mitts and a firm grip. What made that night even sweeter was...
HOLY COW THE PHILLIES WON THE WORLD SERIES!
My blessings continue! Before Jimmy Smits showed up I borrowed a hand held TV from a friend of mine and was watching Game 5 of the World Series. Since I was born in Philly then moved to the Philly suburbs at the age of 10 this was a big deal for this Keystone Stater. Since I was in enemy territory I had to play it cool as Floridans keep asking me what the score was. I maintained calmness throughout and when my Fightin' Phills won I yelled out "Yes"! Then told the crowd in a solemn voice that took all the acting skill I could muster "The Rays just lost". I remember when the last Philadelphia sports team won ('83 Sixers) and the fireworks that went off in the apartment complexes behind our home is a memory that still seers in my brain. All hail the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies!!!
HOLY SMOKE I GOT PUBLISHED!
Yes it's true my first poem got published in a magazine called "Spotlight on Recovery" out of Brooklyn, NY. They've also accepted 3 other poems of mine and what makes it sweeter is that they're paying me for them. This is a small, wonderful step towards my goal of making my living through poetry in addition to acting. Speaking of which...
HOLY MACANOLI I'M GOING TO BE WORKING AT DISNEY IN THE NEW AMERICAN IDOL SHOW!!!!
There's a new show at the Mouse called "The American Idol Experience" and it works like this... guests at Walt Disney World will audition for judges and whom ever the audience votes for wins. What they win is all sorts of nice prizes. I will playing the role of one of the judges which will be a hoot. I'll be a sub in the role which is fine by me because they're going to pay me for 7 weeks of full-time rehearsal which will help my financial situation considerably. Also it's another show that I know at the Mouse and the more shows you learn (this will be my 3rd) the more they'll call me to work. I'll also through hard work, positive attitude and networking am going to get a full-time acting gig at the Mouse gosh darn it to heck! I'm still working my survival job at Polo and will give them my 2 weeks notice tomorrow and am still working at Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Theatre as well - a job which I will keep as its flights of whimsy satisfy my silliness.
I still continue to write my fanny off and have read another fantastic book about writing. Anyone serious about the craft need to get thee to a bookstore or library to get "The Right to Write" by Julia Cameron. This book gives detailed, encouraging advice to writers looking to get better at the written word. Also well worth your time is "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg. This gem gently nudges you to get to the pen and pad and get to scribbling through hard earned advice that Goldberg dispenses with love and affection. Last but certainly not least is a book for all you children's poets out there called "Pizza, Pigs and Poetry" by Jack Prelutsky who is our first Children's Poet Laureate. This book literally goes inside this genius's mind to see how he comes up with his poems. His main advice (which can used for all writers) is to keep a journal with you at all times to jot down ideas when they come to you or else try as you might you'll forget them.
HOLY @#$%$$#@! YOU'RE UP TO DATE WITH MY LIFE!
P.S. I'm so proud of my country right now.
HOLY CRAP AMERICA VOTED FOR A BLACK MAN AS PRESIDENT!
To say it was one of the greatest moments in my (and many other people's) life is an understatement. I voted early, spread the word about early voting to my co-workers at my survival job, hung out with Generation Obama soaking up their enthusiasm and hoped for the best. Myself and my dear friends Isabel, Gabriel and their family went to downtown Orlando honking horns hi-fiving everybody in sight and saw more black people celebrate with a fervor that hasn't been seen since Mandela got released from prison in 1990. Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD5knRUfznM
HOLY MACKEREL I SHOOK HANDS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA!
I went to hear Presidents Obama and Clinton at the Heritage Park in Kissimmee, FL last week. In a moment of divine goodness (with lots of help from Isabel) we went straight to the front of the line (actually 2 rows back) from where they spoke. Also heard Jimmy Smits of "LA Law, "NYPD Blue" and "West Wing" fame speak as well. Hearing him speak made me realize even more that actors and politicans are very similar in their talent of inducing a crowd into a frenzy. Seeing Barry and Bubba (I go back a long way with both of them) and hearing them speak was just pure happiness. I was contrasting Bubba's honey dipped voice with Barry's pulsating oratory and hearing them together was like listening to the music of their voices was like being at a concerto. As they were going through the line shaking hands I shook #42's slender hands (which brought back memories of when I shook hands with him back in college over 12 years ago) then came #44 who has massive mitts and a firm grip. What made that night even sweeter was...
HOLY COW THE PHILLIES WON THE WORLD SERIES!
My blessings continue! Before Jimmy Smits showed up I borrowed a hand held TV from a friend of mine and was watching Game 5 of the World Series. Since I was born in Philly then moved to the Philly suburbs at the age of 10 this was a big deal for this Keystone Stater. Since I was in enemy territory I had to play it cool as Floridans keep asking me what the score was. I maintained calmness throughout and when my Fightin' Phills won I yelled out "Yes"! Then told the crowd in a solemn voice that took all the acting skill I could muster "The Rays just lost". I remember when the last Philadelphia sports team won ('83 Sixers) and the fireworks that went off in the apartment complexes behind our home is a memory that still seers in my brain. All hail the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies!!!
HOLY SMOKE I GOT PUBLISHED!
Yes it's true my first poem got published in a magazine called "Spotlight on Recovery" out of Brooklyn, NY. They've also accepted 3 other poems of mine and what makes it sweeter is that they're paying me for them. This is a small, wonderful step towards my goal of making my living through poetry in addition to acting. Speaking of which...
HOLY MACANOLI I'M GOING TO BE WORKING AT DISNEY IN THE NEW AMERICAN IDOL SHOW!!!!
There's a new show at the Mouse called "The American Idol Experience" and it works like this... guests at Walt Disney World will audition for judges and whom ever the audience votes for wins. What they win is all sorts of nice prizes. I will playing the role of one of the judges which will be a hoot. I'll be a sub in the role which is fine by me because they're going to pay me for 7 weeks of full-time rehearsal which will help my financial situation considerably. Also it's another show that I know at the Mouse and the more shows you learn (this will be my 3rd) the more they'll call me to work. I'll also through hard work, positive attitude and networking am going to get a full-time acting gig at the Mouse gosh darn it to heck! I'm still working my survival job at Polo and will give them my 2 weeks notice tomorrow and am still working at Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Theatre as well - a job which I will keep as its flights of whimsy satisfy my silliness.
I still continue to write my fanny off and have read another fantastic book about writing. Anyone serious about the craft need to get thee to a bookstore or library to get "The Right to Write" by Julia Cameron. This book gives detailed, encouraging advice to writers looking to get better at the written word. Also well worth your time is "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg. This gem gently nudges you to get to the pen and pad and get to scribbling through hard earned advice that Goldberg dispenses with love and affection. Last but certainly not least is a book for all you children's poets out there called "Pizza, Pigs and Poetry" by Jack Prelutsky who is our first Children's Poet Laureate. This book literally goes inside this genius's mind to see how he comes up with his poems. His main advice (which can used for all writers) is to keep a journal with you at all times to jot down ideas when they come to you or else try as you might you'll forget them.
HOLY @#$%$$#@! YOU'RE UP TO DATE WITH MY LIFE!
P.S. I'm so proud of my country right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)