(no subject)
Last couple have days been spent in Rome. It kinda goes without saying, but Rome is absolutely beautiful. Really stunned by the history and sheer importance of the place. Less impressed with the tourists, and my general lagging sense of wanting to be in the country..but at least it was pretty! Have had a couple of really cool schools, which again has helped. The kids in Italy are absolutely crazy, and the show is lots of fun. It is literally riotus by the end of every show (in a good way) and trying to exit the school is always a chore. There is always hoardes of kids, fighting to get your autograph and get there picture taken with you etc. It sounds really pretentious and dickish to say it, but i can completely understand how celebs can get sick of it. Some days, it is just really tiring and you want nothing more then to have a drink of water and rehydrate, but you've got 1500 pieces of paper to sign! Having said that, celebs get paid a lot more, have chosen to be put in that position and can get one of there entourage to go get the water for them!
My little bro got into NCO (The National Childrens Orchestra.) That's really cool and i'm mega proud.
The open air shakes never e-mailed me back...but the recruitment did specify snail mail. So i guess it's to be expected. The day i get home, i need to send off my CV etc in the post. I need to not get complacent. I'm pretty much going to be needing to start earning money again straight away.
-----------------------
Likes
Seeing all of Italy. More of Italy then most Italians will ever see in a lifetime.
No Cleaning, Making Beds etc
The money!
The shows.
The kids- when they are fantastic
On a good day, signing autographs etc
New town every day.
All the free time.
Dislikes
The money!
The kids- when they are dicks.
On a bad day, signing autographs etc
New town every day.
All the free time.
Complete lack of independence.
Being homesick.
Having to eat Italian food, ALL the time!
Being stuck with the same people all the time.
No discotecas.
Hotels, as soon as you arrive, are judged on-- is there Sky? What are the towels like? How far away are the beds away from each other? is breakfast provided? how near is the nearest internet point?
And as it happens, I think the dislikes won out. I've had enough. We were meant to come home today, so in fairness to me, we have done the tour now...and we are into extension time. I've been increasingly unhappy over the past week. A ridiculous situation has occurred in which our Italian tour manager has paired together with one of the actresses. This does not sound like a big deal, but when 4 of you are travelling around in close proximity to each other...to have two people together seriously fucks up the dynamic. To add to comedy value, the two have got together in secret, and everyone knows but it's just not spoken about. I have seen them snogging before from afar though- so i definitely know that it's on. As a result, they go for all there meals together. I have had enough of the American girl, Christina, and so a lot of the time I go and eat alone. Eating alone is fine, and i am used to it -- it is sad though when it is 3 meals a day and in beautiful places like Siena.
It's not all been doom and gloom though; Some happy memories;
On the highway on the way to Torino, the traffic was so bad that we came grinding to a halt. Literally a complete stop for about 2 hours. Hence, I got out the car, and went walking along the highway with a Sombreo on my head, handing out breadsticks that we happened to have stolen from the hotel. When I got to the end of about half a mile stretch, someone told me there had been an accident. On my way back to meet the others, all the cars were asking me what had happened. I had to explain about 200 times that there had been an accident, and that the traffic would be another 2 hours. It doesn't sound like a fun experience, but it was awesome. And one of the funnest times, weirdly.
One night, when looking for a club, i stumbled into a private party in Southern Italy. In fact, it was an 11 year olds birthday party...but all the kids had gone home (apart from the 11 year old) and it was just family and adult friends late at night. I just asked for directions, and as soon as they heard my voice/language...they went mental. and i mean mental. Screaming, shouting, partying. Shoved wine into my hand (which they couldn't understand why i wouldn't drink!), gave me cake and demanded that i dance and sing for them etc This went on for a couple of hours, and was a really warming experience.
One night, in a club, (one of the 3 times that i managed to find a club in the whole bloody country) i was given free cake whilst on the dancefloor. Random in itself. I ate the cake, and then put the plate on what i thought was a table. Turns out it was a chair, of where a man had his coat- next to it. He goes mental. Grabs the plate and throws it at my face (was a paper plate...!) and screams at me. Security see it happen and dive on him...When they hear that i'm english, they take even more pity on me....and chuck the guy out. Major scene caused.
Walking along in Sienna, I made eye contact with a cute guy. This goes on for a while untill eventually I talk to him. He's gay, called Claudio and he's 32.
I'm not dating Stuart...but I would feel bad betraying him even at this stage....so i did not pursue. However, we did go for a walk in the park and he spent an hour or two showing me round a park in Siena and it was just a nice, pleasant change.
One show we went to, there was no stage or space, in this particular school. We performed in the hockey stadium....on the pitch.
The amount of free shit i've got from people just being nice..not charged in mcdonalds, a scarf from a kid, a whole tray of diet cokes from a vending machine man (luca!), and all sorts of other stuff.
Getting lost every morning on the way to the venue, is always a joy and a chore. We whizz around the busy morning traffic asking directions, yelling at people out of windows and getting lost. The Italian way is not to have a sat nav and not even to provide maps. We are told the location in a town, and we have to ask directions all the way. Admittedly, most of the time to find the town is easy, as you just head on the autostrada...but sometimes the actual streets can be a little confusing.
I watched the whole of Six Feet Under while i've been away. Hands down the best TV show in the world. ever. I'm sure i'm going to watch it a fair, few more times...it was simply stunning though.
Italy has not been nearly the experience i was hoping it was going to be. It's still been a very good experience, just a different type of experience. Reflecting back, I think it's been a negative one-- but i don't regret it. And weirdly, I would do it again. I have already spoken to the director..and for more money, and good supportive cast mates, I think it would be a lot of fun. It's just a shame that the group really didn't bond, and the highlights have all been a bit dulled by this and the whole experience has been the most lonely i've ever been.
I feel like it's ended almost my first year chapter in London well. It's exciting to be just starting out with Stuart, and also I really want to jump into another job pretty soon-- and then my acting career ball, and adult life ball, i guess, will really be starting to roll.....
--------------------------
Home has been fun. It's been so great seeing Christian and Pete. Life with Stuart seems like it might work out. He's so lovely, sweet and nice and in many ways perfect. Something just doesn't seem quite right at the moment...but hopefully i can work through that.
I went for an audition for a London Agent yesterday. I was pleased with myself for even getting the audition. It involved a fair bit of phone calling and weedling. I got there-- and he asked me what i could have to show them. I suggested Blood Brothers- he liked the idea. He said what else?
Dorian Gray? No. Dr Jekyll? No. Mr Hyde? No. Theseus? No. Oberon? No. Skinlad? Maybe- anything better? Macbeth? Ooooh. Can you do the dagger speech?
It just so happened I could do the dagger speech- but it was just so bizarre that i listed 8 different monologues before he actually settled on one! I was just lucky that I had a few going on, at this point! :)
Then though, he asked me if i was a singer. I said No. He said can you sing? I thought what the hell, just say yes. So i did. So he asked me to.
In fact, he asked me specifically to sing "No Kids Out on the Street Today" from Blood Brothers...which i don't know all that well. I sang it, and he said that i did a lot of note dodging.
I left the audition, and realised that another one bites the dust.
NEXT!
---------------------------
This morning, finally got round to watching Art of Suicide with Christian. Don't know what to say, really. It was just. Just. I dunno.
---------------------------
My little bro got into NCO (The National Childrens Orchestra.) That's really cool and i'm mega proud.
The open air shakes never e-mailed me back...but the recruitment did specify snail mail. So i guess it's to be expected. The day i get home, i need to send off my CV etc in the post. I need to not get complacent. I'm pretty much going to be needing to start earning money again straight away.
-----------------------
Likes
Seeing all of Italy. More of Italy then most Italians will ever see in a lifetime.
No Cleaning, Making Beds etc
The money!
The shows.
The kids- when they are fantastic
On a good day, signing autographs etc
New town every day.
All the free time.
Dislikes
The money!
The kids- when they are dicks.
On a bad day, signing autographs etc
New town every day.
All the free time.
Complete lack of independence.
Being homesick.
Having to eat Italian food, ALL the time!
Being stuck with the same people all the time.
No discotecas.
Hotels, as soon as you arrive, are judged on-- is there Sky? What are the towels like? How far away are the beds away from each other? is breakfast provided? how near is the nearest internet point?
And as it happens, I think the dislikes won out. I've had enough. We were meant to come home today, so in fairness to me, we have done the tour now...and we are into extension time. I've been increasingly unhappy over the past week. A ridiculous situation has occurred in which our Italian tour manager has paired together with one of the actresses. This does not sound like a big deal, but when 4 of you are travelling around in close proximity to each other...to have two people together seriously fucks up the dynamic. To add to comedy value, the two have got together in secret, and everyone knows but it's just not spoken about. I have seen them snogging before from afar though- so i definitely know that it's on. As a result, they go for all there meals together. I have had enough of the American girl, Christina, and so a lot of the time I go and eat alone. Eating alone is fine, and i am used to it -- it is sad though when it is 3 meals a day and in beautiful places like Siena.
It's not all been doom and gloom though; Some happy memories;
On the highway on the way to Torino, the traffic was so bad that we came grinding to a halt. Literally a complete stop for about 2 hours. Hence, I got out the car, and went walking along the highway with a Sombreo on my head, handing out breadsticks that we happened to have stolen from the hotel. When I got to the end of about half a mile stretch, someone told me there had been an accident. On my way back to meet the others, all the cars were asking me what had happened. I had to explain about 200 times that there had been an accident, and that the traffic would be another 2 hours. It doesn't sound like a fun experience, but it was awesome. And one of the funnest times, weirdly.
One night, when looking for a club, i stumbled into a private party in Southern Italy. In fact, it was an 11 year olds birthday party...but all the kids had gone home (apart from the 11 year old) and it was just family and adult friends late at night. I just asked for directions, and as soon as they heard my voice/language...they went mental. and i mean mental. Screaming, shouting, partying. Shoved wine into my hand (which they couldn't understand why i wouldn't drink!), gave me cake and demanded that i dance and sing for them etc This went on for a couple of hours, and was a really warming experience.
One night, in a club, (one of the 3 times that i managed to find a club in the whole bloody country) i was given free cake whilst on the dancefloor. Random in itself. I ate the cake, and then put the plate on what i thought was a table. Turns out it was a chair, of where a man had his coat- next to it. He goes mental. Grabs the plate and throws it at my face (was a paper plate...!) and screams at me. Security see it happen and dive on him...When they hear that i'm english, they take even more pity on me....and chuck the guy out. Major scene caused.
Walking along in Sienna, I made eye contact with a cute guy. This goes on for a while untill eventually I talk to him. He's gay, called Claudio and he's 32.
I'm not dating Stuart...but I would feel bad betraying him even at this stage....so i did not pursue. However, we did go for a walk in the park and he spent an hour or two showing me round a park in Siena and it was just a nice, pleasant change.
One show we went to, there was no stage or space, in this particular school. We performed in the hockey stadium....on the pitch.
The amount of free shit i've got from people just being nice..not charged in mcdonalds, a scarf from a kid, a whole tray of diet cokes from a vending machine man (luca!), and all sorts of other stuff.
Getting lost every morning on the way to the venue, is always a joy and a chore. We whizz around the busy morning traffic asking directions, yelling at people out of windows and getting lost. The Italian way is not to have a sat nav and not even to provide maps. We are told the location in a town, and we have to ask directions all the way. Admittedly, most of the time to find the town is easy, as you just head on the autostrada...but sometimes the actual streets can be a little confusing.
I watched the whole of Six Feet Under while i've been away. Hands down the best TV show in the world. ever. I'm sure i'm going to watch it a fair, few more times...it was simply stunning though.
Italy has not been nearly the experience i was hoping it was going to be. It's still been a very good experience, just a different type of experience. Reflecting back, I think it's been a negative one-- but i don't regret it. And weirdly, I would do it again. I have already spoken to the director..and for more money, and good supportive cast mates, I think it would be a lot of fun. It's just a shame that the group really didn't bond, and the highlights have all been a bit dulled by this and the whole experience has been the most lonely i've ever been.
I feel like it's ended almost my first year chapter in London well. It's exciting to be just starting out with Stuart, and also I really want to jump into another job pretty soon-- and then my acting career ball, and adult life ball, i guess, will really be starting to roll.....
--------------------------
Home has been fun. It's been so great seeing Christian and Pete. Life with Stuart seems like it might work out. He's so lovely, sweet and nice and in many ways perfect. Something just doesn't seem quite right at the moment...but hopefully i can work through that.
I went for an audition for a London Agent yesterday. I was pleased with myself for even getting the audition. It involved a fair bit of phone calling and weedling. I got there-- and he asked me what i could have to show them. I suggested Blood Brothers- he liked the idea. He said what else?
Dorian Gray? No. Dr Jekyll? No. Mr Hyde? No. Theseus? No. Oberon? No. Skinlad? Maybe- anything better? Macbeth? Ooooh. Can you do the dagger speech?
It just so happened I could do the dagger speech- but it was just so bizarre that i listed 8 different monologues before he actually settled on one! I was just lucky that I had a few going on, at this point! :)
Then though, he asked me if i was a singer. I said No. He said can you sing? I thought what the hell, just say yes. So i did. So he asked me to.
In fact, he asked me specifically to sing "No Kids Out on the Street Today" from Blood Brothers...which i don't know all that well. I sang it, and he said that i did a lot of note dodging.
I left the audition, and realised that another one bites the dust.
NEXT!
---------------------------
This morning, finally got round to watching Art of Suicide with Christian. Don't know what to say, really. It was just. Just. I dunno.
---------------------------