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Melanie Cruz More at IMDbPro »

11 items from 2011

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The Last Week

2 August 2011 10:24 AM, PDT

As I enter my last week of 100 Characters 100 Days, I am aware of a feeling of loss creeping upon me even though I haven't been to bed before at least midnight if not more like 2 a.m. ever since I started the project.  To give myself permission to create, to fail, to flourish, on a daily basis has been Amazing!  Though I am often exhausted when I begin filming, it makes my artistic soul thrill to know that it won't end the day without being expressed.  And now it's coming to an end.  

My dad would laugh to hear that, as I am nothing if not creative.  One show just ended and another opens in a week and a half, I am in the midst of writing a screenplay that I'm excited about, I have started reading the Koran for another role, I've been called back to a show, I »

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My Dirty Little Secret

10 July 2011 11:03 PM, PDT

A friend recently asked me how I keep creating my characters on a daily basis, and I told him my dirty little secret . . . just do it!

What can I say?  Nike has it right or as the motto at the Writers' Boot Camp (where I am currently taking Basic Training) says, The secret to writing is writing.  Yeah, earth shattering, I know.  But the key is to let go of the idea that you have to be brilliant.  Is it any wonder that when you sit down to write, paint, create, etc. with the idea that whatever you're doing has to be brilliant, well, nothing happens?  Way too much pressure to allow the creative juices to flow!  

Creativity is like a little kid.  It gets grumpy when you don't play with it, whiny if you ignore it, and downright angry if you put too much pressure on it to be a certain way. »

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The Role of the Artist

17 June 2011 2:36 PM, PDT

First, a Huge shout out to the SAG Foundation!!!  If you are an actor and haven't yet checked out their site, you are missing out on some great Free opportunities.  From casting director workshops, to life workshops to voice over opportunities, they are a great resource.  I participated in an event through their Life Raft series last night called Identifying Your Type with Mark Atteberry.  

Mark was charming and had some great information to share with a packed room, but he said something that caught me off guard.  Something to the effect of, "I went through a period after 9/11 where I wondered what I was doing . . . shouldn't I be doing something more important like being a policeman or a fireman or someone who actually does something?"  He reconciled this for himself in recognizing the ability we have as actors to take people outside of their grief.  

I would go even further. »

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Day 37 - A Kick in the Head

7 June 2011 1:28 AM, PDT

Okay, so I am sort of kicking myself in the head right now.  Not that that is actually anatomically possible, but if it were . . .  After yesterday's high, tonight felt like I was phoning it in.  If you haven't checked out Day 36, please do.  I consider it my best work to-date, maybe ever.  I can't take the credit because I just listened to the voice that told me I needed to portray that character.  Her grief was a visceral thing that kept begging to be explored.  

Tonight, I went in with a preconceived notion and thus didn't find the stillness that allows for true character channeling.  Sigh.  I almost filmed a second character, but that would have been breaking the deal I have with myself.  No second takes.  No redos.  Once I hit record, that's it.

I'll have to take it in as a learning experience--oh joy;-)  It's a reminder »

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Day 32 - The Artist Emerges

2 June 2011 1:04 AM, PDT

 

I'm not going to lie--tonight started out rough.  I got back from the amazing experience of watching The Music Man at the Los Angeles Theatre in downtown La, and I had nothing other than a great outfit.  I dawdled, I stared at myself in the mirror waiting for inspiration to strike . . . nothing.  Sat down, put the camera in the tripod, had an idea that inspired no passion.  Kept reminding myself what Darrin says about just opening your mouth and trusting.  Stumbled upon the first line about having had a gallery opening and it just felt "right."  This was it, this was the idea that was begging for expression on this particular evening.  

It all comes down to trust.  Trust in yourself, trust in God (the Universe, the Powers that Be, the Spirit, whatever moves you), trust that abundance is everywhere--even in your artistic ideas and thoughts.  I didn't make a commitment to perfection for 100 days, »

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Day 29 - Permission to Fail

30 May 2011 3:27 PM, PDT

I was talking to a friend yesterday who is an artist as well, and we were discussing the pitfalls of perfectionism.  It's so easy to get in our own way by holding on to something until it's perfect.  As difficult as it is, we need to give ourselves permission to fail.  What?!?  Permission to fail, you say.  But I can't fail.  People will see and never hire me again.

I went through a similar conversation with myself last night as I went forward with filming Day 29 using an accent that was not one I've worked on in the past and am not completely comfortable with.  For any Spaniard watching Day 29, there may be some wincing, but here's the thing:  I Know that I have a good ear.  I know that any accent requires work to get to where you want and need to be.  Given time, I also know that »

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Day 26

27 May 2011 1:22 AM, PDT

So I started out getting ready tonight with one character in mind, but as I got dressed in my costume I realized that what I originally started planning no longer felt right.  The wig and costume that I had decided on were creating a completely different character from what I had first envisioned--the whole outside-in version of acting.  I let go of my original intent, trusting she'll return at a later date if necessary.

I had a mini-epiphany yesterday about substance abuse and artists.  I believe that the artist, when creating at the highest level, serves as a channel to the God within, the Holy Spirit, the group conscience . . . call it what you will.  In order to become a channel of this nature, you must empty yourself of ego and allow space for the other to come through.  

My choice is to create this space through a sort of conscious letting go that, »

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The Quarter Mark!

26 May 2011 12:33 AM, PDT

I just filmed my 25th character, which means that I am a quarter of the way through my actor challenge!  Woohoo!  Only 75 more to go;-)  What a ride it has been thus far, and I'm sure it will only get more interesting as I continue on in the days ahead.

Had a blast filming tonight--such a fun character!  I crack myself up, and will hopefully not be alone in my laughter once I've uploaded my latest creation. 

Okay, wow, that's all I've got.  The brain cells have shut down for the night, and I am running on battery back-up.  Just wanted to share my excitement at hitting the quarter mark!  Oh, and I purchased www.100characters100days.com today, so stay tuned for a new website . . .

Your Botticelli Buffoon »

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Day 24 - Averting a Mind F*%^

24 May 2011 11:54 PM, PDT

So, I do the ultimate perfectionist no-no yesterday or the day before and start to think about 100 days and the fact that I still have almost 80 days to go.  When confronted with this knowledge, my brain starts to kick into panic mode.  76 days left?!?  What am I going to do for them?  How am I going to keep coming up with new characters?  What if I can't think of any more characters?  What if all of my characters are the same?   You get the idea.

Knowing myself well enough to avert the pending mind f*%^, I take a deep breath and tell myself, "One day at a time.  All you have to worry about is one day at a time."  Whew!  Creative crisis averted and the tightness in my chest dissolves.

Thus far, my butch-er characters from Day 22 and Day 19 and my call girl from Day 9 have gotten the most hits. »

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Days 18 and 19

21 May 2011 12:25 AM, PDT

About to pass out I'm so knackered (had a lovely time with a British girlfriend of mine this evening).  Amazing, though, that in spite of said tiredness--managed to kick out a character that may be one of my favorite yet.  Day 20 is uploading as I type, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see;-)

Shout out to Darrin Yalacki for yet another wonderful improv class last night!  He called me out on some habits and inspired me to push myself even further when it comes to my characters.  Check out his show Operocka at iO if you get the chance.

Day 19 found me channeling a butch woman who has just filed down her chipped tooth and is concerned her girlfriend won't like it when they kiss.  You can check it out here:

 

Day 18 found me as a strong Southern woman from the 70's dealing with her husband's infidelity »

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100 Characters 100 Days

18 May 2011 4:16 PM, PDT

 So, I was hearing crickets at the beginning of the year in regards to acting.  After booking House and Big Love and going to callbacks for Medium . . . a whole lot o' nothing.  After several months, I start to get twitchy.  A latent dissatisfaction seeps into my bones, and I find myself questioning life and what the heck I'm doing out here.  Dream, schmeam.  It's time to get real, whatever that means.  

Now, being of a generally happy disposition and having a deep-seated belief in proactivity (yep, made that up right here on the spot) as being one of the keys to a fulfilled life, I start to ponder my situation and what I can do.  Ponder, think, wonder, hmmm . . . and I come up with 100 Characters 100 Days.  

For the next 100 days, I will film an improv monologue as a different character every day.  In order to avoid the pitfalls of perfectionism, »

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11 items from 2011

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