Jeff Seymour's Lessons for "The Real Life Actor"

If you've ever been on a film set one of the first pieces of advice that you are given is, "bring a book." There's alot of down time and reading a book helps while away the hours. Especially if you are background.

Background is just an industry term for being an extra...all those people in the background of a scene that you shouldn't be noticing. This background player has been seen on screen at a bar with a copy of Malcolm Lowry's Under the Volcano, riding the subway with a copy of Lao Tse and this past week walking a downtown street carrying Jeff Seymour's The Real Life Actor.

If you've acted before, Seymour's book will make you rethink your craft. If you are just starting out, The Real Life Actor will open your eyes.

To Theater or not to Theater...

Red, red rows...

It's not a question of
Whether I go to the theater or not.
It's a matter of access.

I don't know what I will want to see
Or when I will want to see it
As I can't anticipate
My moods. My desires.
Or even my whims.

Shakespeare's All The World's A Stage

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,

Charles Bane Jr.'s The Chapbook — Homeless Vet on Congress Avenue

I can see that when traffic
at your corner’s stopped,
and flashing lights in blue and red
signal the arrival of our escort,
you will be disconcerted;
soon, an altar boy will be beside you
and staring down at his calm face,
you will calm in turn.

America

Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,
And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth,
Stealing my breath of life, I will confess
I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!

On the Road in Texas: The Mariachi of Cibolo

Por Ruben Vazquez...

The Mariachi of Cibolo
tells me his history
and the history of mariachi
over shots of tequila
poured in his garage.

I Am Canadian

Happy Canada Day from Canadian, Texas.

"I'm not a lumberjack or a fur trader.
I don't live in an igloo
or eat blubber
or own a dog sled.

And I don't know Jimmy, Sally or
Suzy from Canada,
although I'm certain they're really, really nice.