I don't really know what kind of girl I am.
Not that this tragedy can be turned into any kind of a blessing, but it did however give me the much needed inspiration to finally write the entrance essay for Columbia College. And it is the best and truest thing I've ever written. And I can't freaking wait to make a living doing this. Let me know what you think.
On February 14th, 2008, tragedy hit close to home for me. No one ever thinks it can happen to them, and I blindly believed that until three days ago. A number of my closest friends attend Northern Illinois University and although none were killed or injured, they were all still devastatingly effected by the events that occurred that Valentine's Day. As any good friend would do, I did my best to keep in contact with them throughout the night to ensure they were all right. I was unbearably grateful to read a message that night on an internet blog posted by my best friend that stated that her and others in her dorm gathered that night to watch their favorite television show, “Lost.” She said that for that hour they were able to escape from all the chaos and pain and just watch a show they all loved.
It was in that moment that I realized there is no political message or social change that I want to display through my art. I am an actor merely because I want to entertain people, especially when entertainment can distract them, if only for an hour or two, from the reality of a harsh world. I want to make people think and feel anything and everything. If I can bring a tear to their eye and then a second later, make them laugh from the pit of their stomach, then there is nothing I’d rather be doing with my life.
I have no new ideas or concepts. I just want to touch people’s hearts through my work. There is always a moment in a movie that a person can relate to. There is some feeling that you have felt before or some situation that you have lived through. I live for those moments. To be able to say, “exactly.” Knowing that a character is saying what you are feeling. I want people to know that they are not alone, the way I’ve been able to, watching my favorite actors on the big screen. The way Ellen Paige, as the title character, Juno, says, “I don’t really know what kind of girl I am,” or the way I can relate to the hilarious relationship between Will and Grace, played by Debra Messing and Eric McCormack. Being relatable is the most import aspect of a good actor. And that is what I’ve set out to do with my art, relate to people.
The best way to accomplish this is by being in touch with your own and others emotions and thoughts. People are the most interesting part about a movie or a play. Networking and communicating is the most important tool an actor has. You can read all the books by Stanaslavski and Meisner but it does not give you the ability to touch the hearts your audience. I’ve been lucky enough to get to know a number of interesting people while studying at The University Of Illinois at Chicago. Those people have given me more inspiration and more drive to bring what I have to offer to the industry than I have had my whole life. I’m very excited to study at Columbia College Chicago because I’ll be able to benefit from the vast and diverse community it has to offer. When I get to Columbia, I will soak up the intricacies and diverse personality of every person I have the honor of working with. I will listen to their stories and watch their lives unfold throughout the duration of our relationship and I will be thankful for every person and every moment I experience while I am there. And most importantly, I will take what I’ve learned from those people and apply it to my work each and every day of my life.
On February 14th, 2008, tragedy hit close to home for me. No one ever thinks it can happen to them, and I blindly believed that until three days ago. A number of my closest friends attend Northern Illinois University and although none were killed or injured, they were all still devastatingly effected by the events that occurred that Valentine's Day. As any good friend would do, I did my best to keep in contact with them throughout the night to ensure they were all right. I was unbearably grateful to read a message that night on an internet blog posted by my best friend that stated that her and others in her dorm gathered that night to watch their favorite television show, “Lost.” She said that for that hour they were able to escape from all the chaos and pain and just watch a show they all loved.
It was in that moment that I realized there is no political message or social change that I want to display through my art. I am an actor merely because I want to entertain people, especially when entertainment can distract them, if only for an hour or two, from the reality of a harsh world. I want to make people think and feel anything and everything. If I can bring a tear to their eye and then a second later, make them laugh from the pit of their stomach, then there is nothing I’d rather be doing with my life.
I have no new ideas or concepts. I just want to touch people’s hearts through my work. There is always a moment in a movie that a person can relate to. There is some feeling that you have felt before or some situation that you have lived through. I live for those moments. To be able to say, “exactly.” Knowing that a character is saying what you are feeling. I want people to know that they are not alone, the way I’ve been able to, watching my favorite actors on the big screen. The way Ellen Paige, as the title character, Juno, says, “I don’t really know what kind of girl I am,” or the way I can relate to the hilarious relationship between Will and Grace, played by Debra Messing and Eric McCormack. Being relatable is the most import aspect of a good actor. And that is what I’ve set out to do with my art, relate to people.
The best way to accomplish this is by being in touch with your own and others emotions and thoughts. People are the most interesting part about a movie or a play. Networking and communicating is the most important tool an actor has. You can read all the books by Stanaslavski and Meisner but it does not give you the ability to touch the hearts your audience. I’ve been lucky enough to get to know a number of interesting people while studying at The University Of Illinois at Chicago. Those people have given me more inspiration and more drive to bring what I have to offer to the industry than I have had my whole life. I’m very excited to study at Columbia College Chicago because I’ll be able to benefit from the vast and diverse community it has to offer. When I get to Columbia, I will soak up the intricacies and diverse personality of every person I have the honor of working with. I will listen to their stories and watch their lives unfold throughout the duration of our relationship and I will be thankful for every person and every moment I experience while I am there. And most importantly, I will take what I’ve learned from those people and apply it to my work each and every day of my life.