MIND CANDY 020: HUNGRY????

MUSIC:   "Pray (Quo Vadis Remix)" by Every Little Thing
TIME:   1:18 PM

HELLOOOOOO....long time; not talk, eh?

Well, actually, what happened was my FTP server was being a super diva with me, so I actually neglected fixing or working with it for a while, which is why I haven't updated my site or my blog in a while.

Reason why I haven't blogged in a while, either, is because not only because of the super diva behavior of the FTP server, but also, because I wanted to get away from the computer.  Yup!  I wanted to do more than just "blog" about things that have been happening, and for the past couple of weeks, I've been doing some endless studying on a couple of things.  Let's just say, I needed a break from the computer -- BIG TIME!!!!

During my blogging hiatus, I actually discovered a way to make, create, and edit videos, and ever since I opened my site up, I've been WANTING to do a video introduction.  I just didn't know HOW to do it.  But my friend and website/graphics program consultant, Angel, rescued my worries on that note, so when I finally get a chance to do some playing around and fiddling, I am so gonna do a video introduction for my site! =) 

I know, it's not overly important or neccessary to do a video introduction for a website, but the thing is this:    I am pretty camera shy, and I feel rather awkward about my voice.  So, I don't always enjoy looking at myself on my computer screen (from the crazy random videos I shoot when I'm out with my friends in Jersey) and I don't hate my voice, I'm just not used to hearing it.  My voice is odd.  Some people say I have an accent.  Some people say I don't -- it's just flat, standard American.  Some people in New York think I have a Jersey accent.  Some people down here think I am on the verge of developing a slight New York accent.  One person told me I have a "half-assed New York accent".  And another person said I sound "street smart"...I have a sweet and innocent look, but I sound "street smart". XD

I personally don't think I have an accent, but I do have the tendency to drop a few words that make me sound like I'm from either Jersey City or Brooklyn.  For example, it's very hard for me to say "idea" without it sounding like "idey-ar"....and I can thank my family from Jersey City for that one.  And I noticed that when I say "NEW YORK", it's VERY hard to just say "YORK".  My "New York" sounds like "New YAWRK".  They say it all depends on how you roll your tongue, too.  But anyway...reason for the video blogs is because I guess it gets me used to being in front of the camera....and plus, maybe it would help me get away from stuttering a little.

We'll see....

ALSO, a little bit of a confession:  I've been on Weight Watchers for the past 20-something weeks, and all together, I've lost a total of 22.8 lbs!  I feel awesome!  As a matter of fact, here's a before and after picture on the bottom:

I really didn't want to post that picture, because the before picture of me is rather embarrassing, makes me cringe, but in the second picture, that was actually when I dropped down to 18 lbs.  Of course, four more pounds lighter than I am in this photo, I'm more slim now than I am in either one of them.  Luckily, for me, my face hasn't changed all too much, because my face is naturally round as it already is.  For a while, I feared that I would have to contact Matthew (Sussman) again to get my headshots re-done, but it just so happens I don't -- thank God! 

Actually, besides watching what I'm eating without depriving myself, I've also started doing YOGA, which is becoming a second passion of mine next to acting!  I don't take a class or study with anyone at the moment.  What I do is I do the DVDs in the privacy of my home by Rodney Yee.  The great thing is that they are pretty effective, and despite what anyone says or thinks about yoga, you actually DO get a great workout from doing even the simplest poses.  When I first started them, OH MY GOD -- I'd be sore EVERYWHERE!  Now a days, I don't get as sore, though.  I am a little more limber than I used to be, but I can't really twist myself into a pretzel.  But yoga's really meditation, is supposed to relieve stress.  I really, really enjoy it!  LOVE IT!!!!  Meditating is great, too, and comes in handy when it comes to performing, too.  I calms your nerves, helps you relax, ease your fears.  It's something that I'm really new at, so I'm still working on it.  Takes time to master and I wouldn't call myself a full-time yogini yet, but...I'm getting there!!!!

SPEAKING OF performing, another reason why I've been absent is, because I've been studying "Collected Stories" by Don Margulies.  The play's coming to Broadway, which is really cool.  It's an AWESOME play!  I really connected with Lisa Morrison, the protege of Ruth Steiner, and for the past couple of weeks, I've been going over my slides over and over again, developing a backstory to this character.  The tough thing with this play is that each act takes place either a couple of months or years later than the previous one, so I had to develop events that happened in between each part.  Some plays take place within only a few minutes or a few hours after each even or even a day or two.  Despite the challenge, I was able to get creative and paint this picture of her life as Ruth Steiner's student -- from being just another face in her class to her personal assistant (who takes a lot of verbal beatings from her mentor/idol) to becoming a personal friend.  I'm not going to go over what happens.  If you read it, you know.  I'm REALLY enjoying studying this play A LOT!

Lisa and I share a couple of qualities, which makes it easy for me.  There are somethings we don't.  Either way, I can't wait to present it to my coach.  I'm not sure how he'll react to how I've been working, but all the years I haven't really taken my craft as seriously as I do now-a-days, I guess you can say I'm making up for now.  I'm not expecting a big praise from my coach and I'm not expecting to be perfect, either.  I'm going to give it my best shot, though!  First, though, I have to send out an email to him...or I could call him!  Then again, I never know when a good time to call would be, because I know Alan keeps himself busy, like almost everybody in this industry does, including myself! =)  Then again, there's a reason why voice mails exist incase he isn't available, right?  XD  I have put a lot into my studies by far, so it MIGHT pay off.  If he feels it needs more, then I'm willing to give more.  It's hard studying by yourself, in absolute solitude.  I know, people say you should practice with friends, but as they would say in Meisner, words are just words.  As an actor, your job is to bring your character to life, make their lives REAL to you.  You don't make a character's life real just by memorizing words, because your lines can't be "just words", they have to have a specific, clear meaning to you.  You have to know what makes you happy, what makes you sad, how certain things, places, events, and other effect you -- what do they mean to you?  And you develop this from either the strength of your imagination OR you can weed it out from your own personal experiences.

All right, I think I said just about enough now!  That's what I've been up to!  I plan on doing more with my website as soon as I find the time to do it.  It's great to be back and it's great to be able to blog again!

Be well, everyone! =)

That's enough candy for now!
Cristina
http://www.cristinacho.net/