This is my first post on the craft of acting, which is wild considering it’s this thing I love and have spent well over 10,000 hours doing, so I’m pretty good at it per Malcolm Gladwell. To whit I spent a hefty amount of the past two weeks on a showcase panel using my talents to give actors feedback for their auditions. I’m also celebrating, from the sidelines, the positive reception to a movie I Read more
Tabula rasa has been a favorite word since high school. I love a fresh start; the promise of fresh and new. I’m also a creature of habit. My morning routine is my favorite part of my day. I love my Ayurvedic ablutions, yogic stretches, cup of hot water to flush the system — and of course the ritual of coffee. I love a good ritual. I’m intrigued by fasting rituals but I’m not especially suited Read more
Sitting on the A train, heading downtown from Harlem. Living my dream. Heading to a niche New York eatery and an evening of art. From this dream I would edit the 12 hours spent in an emergency room in Queens. Hours full of distant moans and pleas for God, hallways lined with beds and curtains creating makeshift rooms, and glaring lights at 3am. But that’s the thing, I spend so much – too much – Read more
Procrastination is a weed in my garden of projects. And clutter is catnip to my procrastination. The calendar says to start writing at 10am. I’m doing well with time, enjoying a nice unhurried breakfast and savoring my second bowl of cafe au lait. I wash up and make my bed– a rebellious act of self care– which is when I notice the sun hitting the fire escape perfectly. Perfect for laying my sneakers out to Read more
My intention was to post a Mother’s Day tribute this morning and then have a day of self care. This is the 18th Mother’s Day without her. My grief is now adult sized. It’s matriculated through the stages (a few times). We take a vote, my grief and I, and decide to get out into the sunshine, even if it is just en route to indoor activities. When grief was younger it would sideline me Read more
pART won Feed yourself art. Feast on it. This is my advice to any artist. Most importantly seek art that is outside your discipline. When young actors used to ask me for advice I always told them to read. Some people are intimidated by books, don’t be. Read anything. Read short stories, magazine features, newspaper articles; variety is good, drink up all the words you can. Learn that synonyms are hues of a word. Expand Read more
This resurrection business is a tough gig. But I’m not claiming to be the second coming of anything so I think three weeks to bounce back is commensurate with a messianic three days. While it’s not been a biblical time, unlike the rain we’ve had ALL WEEKEND LONG, it’s been a Dickensian three weeks. Best and worst and everything in between. Taking a cue from the weather I’m going to play with garden metaphors as Read more
What a time it’s been. Flying at the speed of light we’ve arrived at spring. Or so it feels. I took a pause, Rip Van Winkle style and awoke to signs winter is finally over. Unlike the notorious RVW, I emerged rather well preserved if I may say. The trick was following old Voltaire’s advice. I turned my focus away from the social media circus (such a challenge when there are so many smart and Read more