Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Marvels Avengers Assemble Review
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Thursday, 26 April 2012
Money saving tips!
Being an actor for most of my adult life, I know what a recession is like. Here's 5 tips on how to survive it...
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
So you want to act...
It's the age old question: Do i go straight to drama college or do i get a degree in something more solid and if by the end of my degree i still want to act, go study in *London?
What to do...
When i left school at 17, i had no idea what i wanted to do. It was 1996. I couldn't even decide if i preferred Blur or Oasis. I was still playing football at a decent enough level but i had also been introduced to a guy called Al. Alcohol. He was a blast. Still is...but in less frequent amounts. I found him mostly at parties with my local Drama Group. He was the Tyler Durden to my Ed Norton. With the frequency of rehearsals for various shows, i had a choice to make. Continue playing footie with the lads...some of whom would assume i was gay because i "did that gay sh*t on stage!" or continue doing shows with a group that had lads but also some pretty good looking girls in it too...who happened to like the "Gay sh*t!" and coincidently, were familiar with my mate, Al!
Decision made!
It was around this time i got my first paid gig. A musical called Requiem for Julie. It was a comedy. I'm joking, of course. The Rupert Guinness Theatre, Dublin, was the venue for my professional debut. What a buzz that was. Getting paid to do something i loved! From there, i went into another show. This acting lark is easy!! Do a show. Party like tomorrow is never coming. And move on to the next gig.
I had a slight problem though. I never had any focus. By the time the second show came up, I had started a Journalism course. I have no clue why! But of course it clashed with rehearsals and i dropped out. My folks, slightly worried that they're youngest was living a more Bohemian lifestyle then his 3 predecessors, asked me what i was doing with my life. I DON'T KNOW! STOP ASKING ME STUPID QUESTIONS!! That response was brought to them by Puberty. "Go to college, get a qualification and if at the end, you still want to do your acting, you can do it." It was as if they had rehearsed the answer to their own question! Which is ironic. Considering they had to 'rehearse a line' that would stop me acting & send me to do something 'normal.'
So off i went to do Computer Applications in college. I excel-d! BOOM!! Sorry, couldn't resist. Truth is, i didn't really. I did what i had to. Got my Diploma and left.
The following years were spent going from job to job (the Celtic Tiger had just been born along with the Cappuccino & Ciabatta). There were intermittent breaks from the proper job world to go on stage. I was consistently inconsistent. Culminating in leaving Ireland for New Zealand on a Gap Year then coming home and finally saying to myself: Get an agent and do this properly. I was 25. And i did. I haven't had a proper job since. I finally had a focus. What i didn't have was 3 years training in London or similar. Still don't. I did do a course in the Gaiety School of Acting, though. And although i'm doing relatively well, i wish that back in my late teens / early 20's, i'd had the foresight and ambition to go and study in London.
It's hard to know what you want when you've just left school. But wanting to be an actor is something that is in you. Like wanting to be a Nurse or a Teacher. We do these jobs because we love them (most of the time!) I've met people that say to me, "I wish i'd given it a go." Is that who you want to be?
The way i see it, you have 3 options:
1) Do your degree in whatever and by the time you're 21,22 you'll have it and you are still young enough to do your training as an actor
2) Go straight to London. Do not pass go. Learn to act, daaaaling!
3) Don't follow your heart and live with a regret!
I've gone about being an actor arse-ways, if truth be told. But i'm here now. And i love it (mostly). If i could go back, i'd do option 2 (I couldn't bring myself to typing "Number 2"...Oh wait, i just did!!) I was never intelligent enough to get a degree! You probably know what you want to do. It's the courage you're looking for!
*I've used London. It could be anywhere that has excellent training.
What to do...
When i left school at 17, i had no idea what i wanted to do. It was 1996. I couldn't even decide if i preferred Blur or Oasis. I was still playing football at a decent enough level but i had also been introduced to a guy called Al. Alcohol. He was a blast. Still is...but in less frequent amounts. I found him mostly at parties with my local Drama Group. He was the Tyler Durden to my Ed Norton. With the frequency of rehearsals for various shows, i had a choice to make. Continue playing footie with the lads...some of whom would assume i was gay because i "did that gay sh*t on stage!" or continue doing shows with a group that had lads but also some pretty good looking girls in it too...who happened to like the "Gay sh*t!" and coincidently, were familiar with my mate, Al!
Decision made!
It was around this time i got my first paid gig. A musical called Requiem for Julie. It was a comedy. I'm joking, of course. The Rupert Guinness Theatre, Dublin, was the venue for my professional debut. What a buzz that was. Getting paid to do something i loved! From there, i went into another show. This acting lark is easy!! Do a show. Party like tomorrow is never coming. And move on to the next gig.
I had a slight problem though. I never had any focus. By the time the second show came up, I had started a Journalism course. I have no clue why! But of course it clashed with rehearsals and i dropped out. My folks, slightly worried that they're youngest was living a more Bohemian lifestyle then his 3 predecessors, asked me what i was doing with my life. I DON'T KNOW! STOP ASKING ME STUPID QUESTIONS!! That response was brought to them by Puberty. "Go to college, get a qualification and if at the end, you still want to do your acting, you can do it." It was as if they had rehearsed the answer to their own question! Which is ironic. Considering they had to 'rehearse a line' that would stop me acting & send me to do something 'normal.'
So off i went to do Computer Applications in college. I excel-d! BOOM!! Sorry, couldn't resist. Truth is, i didn't really. I did what i had to. Got my Diploma and left.
The following years were spent going from job to job (the Celtic Tiger had just been born along with the Cappuccino & Ciabatta). There were intermittent breaks from the proper job world to go on stage. I was consistently inconsistent. Culminating in leaving Ireland for New Zealand on a Gap Year then coming home and finally saying to myself: Get an agent and do this properly. I was 25. And i did. I haven't had a proper job since. I finally had a focus. What i didn't have was 3 years training in London or similar. Still don't. I did do a course in the Gaiety School of Acting, though. And although i'm doing relatively well, i wish that back in my late teens / early 20's, i'd had the foresight and ambition to go and study in London.
It's hard to know what you want when you've just left school. But wanting to be an actor is something that is in you. Like wanting to be a Nurse or a Teacher. We do these jobs because we love them (most of the time!) I've met people that say to me, "I wish i'd given it a go." Is that who you want to be?
The way i see it, you have 3 options:
1) Do your degree in whatever and by the time you're 21,22 you'll have it and you are still young enough to do your training as an actor
2) Go straight to London. Do not pass go. Learn to act, daaaaling!
3) Don't follow your heart and live with a regret!
I've gone about being an actor arse-ways, if truth be told. But i'm here now. And i love it (mostly). If i could go back, i'd do option 2 (I couldn't bring myself to typing "Number 2"...Oh wait, i just did!!) I was never intelligent enough to get a degree! You probably know what you want to do. It's the courage you're looking for!
*I've used London. It could be anywhere that has excellent training.
Saturday, 21 April 2012
I've started Vlogging!
AAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!
Here's my first couple of Vlogs that i posted on YouTube over the last few days. Now don't judge me too harshly! I'm still getting the hang of it. But what better way to learn then just doing it...kinda like loosing your virginity really. Practice makes perfect...well...!
The one below is basically a video version of my Blog "Tell Me Why I Don't Like Mondays."
This one is my very first Vlog. The one that I will look back on fondly when i have 73 billion followers and think "Ah, i remember that one. I was so young and naive!"
If you're a YouTuber - please SUBSCRIBE to my Channel www.youtube.com/anactorsguide2galaxy and feel free to SHARE the link with whatever Socail Media site that it is you use! Help me get to that modest figure of 73 Billion :) And remember, i'm not just an actor. I'm a person too.
Thanks,
Karlos.
Here's my first couple of Vlogs that i posted on YouTube over the last few days. Now don't judge me too harshly! I'm still getting the hang of it. But what better way to learn then just doing it...kinda like loosing your virginity really. Practice makes perfect...well...!
The one below is basically a video version of my Blog "Tell Me Why I Don't Like Mondays."
This one is my very first Vlog. The one that I will look back on fondly when i have 73 billion followers and think "Ah, i remember that one. I was so young and naive!"
If you're a YouTuber - please SUBSCRIBE to my Channel www.youtube.com/anactorsguide2galaxy and feel free to SHARE the link with whatever Socail Media site that it is you use! Help me get to that modest figure of 73 Billion :) And remember, i'm not just an actor. I'm a person too.
Thanks,
Karlos.
Monday, 16 April 2012
How to Get Up in the Morning When You're Unemployed
Sometimes i hear people on Sunday evenings give out about the weekend being over. I can relate to that. I like weekends. Makes me feel like everyone else is in my world: A ly on in the morning. Free to do what you want in the afternoon. And perhaps a cheeky pint or two in the evening.
The reason they're giving out though, is in complete contrast to why i don't like Mondays. For in the 9 to 5 world, Monday spells the beginning of another working week. And yet, that is what i yearn for when i'm "in between jobs": Waking up and heading into a rehearsal. That's the problem with this business though - for the majority of actors out there, there's no consistency.
But there in lies the challenge. It's far too easy to let Monday come along and hang over you like a giant grey cloud of self pity! Being an actor in Ireland can be quite depressing. I'm sure it can be in most countries. The work is scarce here. And what doesn't help is that the weather is bloody awful a lot of the time!
Not only do Mondays come around once a week...they're quickly followed by Tuesday. With Wednesday close behind! It's remarkable how difficult i find it to motivate myself on a Monday. Especially if it's a crappy day outside. Waking up to rain lashing down, in an empty house, with no job to go to is depressing. No matter what business you're in! But motivate myself, i must.
So what is the key to over coming the Monday blues for an out of work actor? GET YOUR ASS OUT OF BED! Make a conscious effort to get up (it does help to be conscious). Get washed, fed and do something pro active! It doesn't matter what it is. Just make sure it's something you can look back on at about 5pm and say, "I'm glad i did that!" and that it makes you feel good about yourself.
A few years ago, i was in a pretty bad place psychologically. Nothing major. But just feeling down everyday. I hadn't worked in about 6 months. And as each day came and went i started giving myself a hard time. Feeling pretty worthless and ready to pack it in...acting that is...not life! I decided to talk to my brother about it. He came around and gave me the advise i just spoke about. It was simple. Get out of the house and do something. Sometimes the biggest problems can be resolved with the simplest of solutions. I vowed to stop waiting by the phone for my agent to call (which was a bit ridiculous anyway, considering i have a mobile phone).
That talk helped me back then. And i still live by it. Now i write when the mood gets me (which isn't as often as i'd like). I'll try learn a new song on the keyboard, go to the gym or even just meet up with a friend for lunch.
Time, in the wrong frame of mind, can be destructive. Keep yourself occupied and you'll be fine!
The reason they're giving out though, is in complete contrast to why i don't like Mondays. For in the 9 to 5 world, Monday spells the beginning of another working week. And yet, that is what i yearn for when i'm "in between jobs": Waking up and heading into a rehearsal. That's the problem with this business though - for the majority of actors out there, there's no consistency.
But there in lies the challenge. It's far too easy to let Monday come along and hang over you like a giant grey cloud of self pity! Being an actor in Ireland can be quite depressing. I'm sure it can be in most countries. The work is scarce here. And what doesn't help is that the weather is bloody awful a lot of the time! Not only do Mondays come around once a week...they're quickly followed by Tuesday. With Wednesday close behind! It's remarkable how difficult i find it to motivate myself on a Monday. Especially if it's a crappy day outside. Waking up to rain lashing down, in an empty house, with no job to go to is depressing. No matter what business you're in! But motivate myself, i must.
So what is the key to over coming the Monday blues for an out of work actor? GET YOUR ASS OUT OF BED! Make a conscious effort to get up (it does help to be conscious). Get washed, fed and do something pro active! It doesn't matter what it is. Just make sure it's something you can look back on at about 5pm and say, "I'm glad i did that!" and that it makes you feel good about yourself.
A few years ago, i was in a pretty bad place psychologically. Nothing major. But just feeling down everyday. I hadn't worked in about 6 months. And as each day came and went i started giving myself a hard time. Feeling pretty worthless and ready to pack it in...acting that is...not life! I decided to talk to my brother about it. He came around and gave me the advise i just spoke about. It was simple. Get out of the house and do something. Sometimes the biggest problems can be resolved with the simplest of solutions. I vowed to stop waiting by the phone for my agent to call (which was a bit ridiculous anyway, considering i have a mobile phone).
That talk helped me back then. And i still live by it. Now i write when the mood gets me (which isn't as often as i'd like). I'll try learn a new song on the keyboard, go to the gym or even just meet up with a friend for lunch.
Time, in the wrong frame of mind, can be destructive. Keep yourself occupied and you'll be fine!
Friday, 13 April 2012
A Week of Madness!
It's rare to be involved in a show that receives standing ovations night after night. Previous to directing Our House - The Madness Musical, i had only ever experienced it once when i was in the play version of The Shawshank Redemption in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. That is an experience i will never forget. 5 weeks playing to packed houses in a twelve hundred seater theatre. The most beautiful theater in the land. And every night a standing ovation. Incredible!
The difference with this show is that it's in a local Community Hall and the cast doesn't include anyone from HBO's The Wire! Instead it is made up of Nurses, Bankers (the nice kind!), Teachers, IT professionals, Salesmen and numerous other 'normal job' type people! Similar to Shawshank, however, is the commitment and professionalism that this young cast & crew have brought to the production. And the energy they exude is felt throughout the entire hall with many of the audience commenting at the interval "I'm exhausted just looking at them!"
This is a local group putting on a Musical for the local community. It's the group i popped my theatrical cherry with 21 years ago. They're the reason i am now full time (well, as much as you can be full time in this Industry!). They gave me my first writing gig. My first Directing gig. Suffice to say, i hold the group very close to my heart.
And that's what makes this week so special for me. I've not just been asked to direct a show for a local Musical Society. I'm directing a show where I am surrounded by people that I've grown up with. Mates i've made for life! People who have let me kip in there house so i can 'sleep off' the too much drink i had at a party when i may or may not have been slightly under the age limit! Infact, there's one guy on stage who i remember as a fetus!!
This is why this show means as much to me as being in the unforgettable Shawshank. And this cast deserve every ovation they get. The only downside is, there's only 4 performances!
The difference with this show is that it's in a local Community Hall and the cast doesn't include anyone from HBO's The Wire! Instead it is made up of Nurses, Bankers (the nice kind!), Teachers, IT professionals, Salesmen and numerous other 'normal job' type people! Similar to Shawshank, however, is the commitment and professionalism that this young cast & crew have brought to the production. And the energy they exude is felt throughout the entire hall with many of the audience commenting at the interval "I'm exhausted just looking at them!"This is a local group putting on a Musical for the local community. It's the group i popped my theatrical cherry with 21 years ago. They're the reason i am now full time (well, as much as you can be full time in this Industry!). They gave me my first writing gig. My first Directing gig. Suffice to say, i hold the group very close to my heart.
And that's what makes this week so special for me. I've not just been asked to direct a show for a local Musical Society. I'm directing a show where I am surrounded by people that I've grown up with. Mates i've made for life! People who have let me kip in there house so i can 'sleep off' the too much drink i had at a party when i may or may not have been slightly under the age limit! Infact, there's one guy on stage who i remember as a fetus!!
This is why this show means as much to me as being in the unforgettable Shawshank. And this cast deserve every ovation they get. The only downside is, there's only 4 performances!
Leixlip Musical & Variety Group present
OUR HOUSE - The Madness Musical
April 11-14th
St. Mary's GAA
Leixlip
Co Kildare
Ireland.
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Alice in Funderland
On Thursday night i went to Ireland's National Theatre, The Abbey, to see Alice in Funderland. It's part of a new initiative myself & a friend have set up to do more "Actory things." Like go to talks given by writers or Directors. Or like Thursday, just go to see a show. You see, when i'm not working in a show myself, i get incredibly lazy and stay at home of an evening and look at what fantastical things my 400+ "friends" on Facebook have done during the day. Things like getting stuck in traffic. What a craaaaazy time they had the night before or my personal favourite - pictures of a baby in the, OMG...CUTEST OUTFIT! Not to my surprise, my mate was doing something similar. So, to ween ourselves off this horrible addiction, we decided to get more pro-active and be more "Actory!"
Alice in Funderland was our latest escapade into the bright lights of Dublin City. I had heard absolutely nothing about the show, which i like, to be honest. Then i have no preconceptions wandering around my head telling me that they "promise" not to pop up and prejudge whatever it is i am about to see. Lying b*stards!
We booked the tickets that evening. I say "we." My mate was supposed to book them the day before but in reality booked them on the car journey in, thus getting us 2 glorious seats, one behind the other in the back corner of the theatre! Thankfully The Abbey is quite forgiving, in that, wherever you sit you still have a relatively good view.
The show starts. It's a musical. But it doesn't open with a song. And even when the first song appears, it's not a 'show tune.' I like it already. In actual fact, i like it before i even hear the first note of a song. The opening scene is brilliant! The dialogue zips along in a very familiar conversational way that i would think everyone in the theatre can relate to at some level. Siblings arguing! And there are some killer one liners...serious killer one liners! A tone is set and i'm pretty happy with the sound of it!
Look, I'm not going to go into any in depth analysis of the various themes the show may or may not have. Or use words that will need you to pop up to your Google search box and type in to find the meaning of. I'm no good at that type of thing. Hence why i'm writing a blog and not a review for The Times (which incidentally gave it a great review that included some words i didn't entirely understand but did get the jist of).
The basis of the story is: Alice goes to Dublin for her sisters Hen night, gets split up from the gang of girls she's with, meets a boy in a club who she wares the face off before he disappears home to Hartstown. Sounds normal enough, doesn't it? But this ain't Dublin as we know it. The show proceeds to dish out outrageous character after outrageous character on a seemingly never ending conveyor belt of mentalness! Alice is in a surreal world of witt and utter bizzareness that for, the first hour and twenty minutes, has you strapped in and screaming don't stop! But it does stop. For 15 minutes while you have the choice of a drink, smoke or toilet break...or maybe all three if you can fit them in. Due to queueing, i could only fit in the latter. Mind you, it was nothing in camparison to the queue for the Ladies. I'd say there are still some girls waiting to 'powder their nose', such was length! I love been a bloke!
The second act is that bit slower. And intentionally so, as i found out from talking to some of the cast afterwards. I do think that it loses something, though. Purely because Act 1 is so fantastic. Maybe i was expecting too much from Act 2. But why wouldn't i want more considering what preceeded it?! I don't feel hard done by, though. But i do feel we could get to the courtroom scene a bit sooner and maybe lose a song. But hey, that's the beauty of Theatre isn't it? We can all see the same thing, yet have a thousand different opinions!
The great thing about Alice in Funderland is the cast have that buzz about them that infects the audience and leaves us in no doubt they worked their asses off for the last 6 weeks to get this show in shape - and evidently love every minute of it! As my mate put it, and i too fell prey to this illeness - he was suffering from Actor Envy!
For me this show has to be seen. And be seen by many. It deserved it's full house. And hopefully the fullness will continue over the run.
Book here: http://www.abbeytheatre.ie/whats_on/event/alice_in_funderland/
Alice in Funderland was our latest escapade into the bright lights of Dublin City. I had heard absolutely nothing about the show, which i like, to be honest. Then i have no preconceptions wandering around my head telling me that they "promise" not to pop up and prejudge whatever it is i am about to see. Lying b*stards!
We booked the tickets that evening. I say "we." My mate was supposed to book them the day before but in reality booked them on the car journey in, thus getting us 2 glorious seats, one behind the other in the back corner of the theatre! Thankfully The Abbey is quite forgiving, in that, wherever you sit you still have a relatively good view.
The show starts. It's a musical. But it doesn't open with a song. And even when the first song appears, it's not a 'show tune.' I like it already. In actual fact, i like it before i even hear the first note of a song. The opening scene is brilliant! The dialogue zips along in a very familiar conversational way that i would think everyone in the theatre can relate to at some level. Siblings arguing! And there are some killer one liners...serious killer one liners! A tone is set and i'm pretty happy with the sound of it!
Look, I'm not going to go into any in depth analysis of the various themes the show may or may not have. Or use words that will need you to pop up to your Google search box and type in to find the meaning of. I'm no good at that type of thing. Hence why i'm writing a blog and not a review for The Times (which incidentally gave it a great review that included some words i didn't entirely understand but did get the jist of).
The basis of the story is: Alice goes to Dublin for her sisters Hen night, gets split up from the gang of girls she's with, meets a boy in a club who she wares the face off before he disappears home to Hartstown. Sounds normal enough, doesn't it? But this ain't Dublin as we know it. The show proceeds to dish out outrageous character after outrageous character on a seemingly never ending conveyor belt of mentalness! Alice is in a surreal world of witt and utter bizzareness that for, the first hour and twenty minutes, has you strapped in and screaming don't stop! But it does stop. For 15 minutes while you have the choice of a drink, smoke or toilet break...or maybe all three if you can fit them in. Due to queueing, i could only fit in the latter. Mind you, it was nothing in camparison to the queue for the Ladies. I'd say there are still some girls waiting to 'powder their nose', such was length! I love been a bloke!The second act is that bit slower. And intentionally so, as i found out from talking to some of the cast afterwards. I do think that it loses something, though. Purely because Act 1 is so fantastic. Maybe i was expecting too much from Act 2. But why wouldn't i want more considering what preceeded it?! I don't feel hard done by, though. But i do feel we could get to the courtroom scene a bit sooner and maybe lose a song. But hey, that's the beauty of Theatre isn't it? We can all see the same thing, yet have a thousand different opinions!
The great thing about Alice in Funderland is the cast have that buzz about them that infects the audience and leaves us in no doubt they worked their asses off for the last 6 weeks to get this show in shape - and evidently love every minute of it! As my mate put it, and i too fell prey to this illeness - he was suffering from Actor Envy!
For me this show has to be seen. And be seen by many. It deserved it's full house. And hopefully the fullness will continue over the run.
Book here: http://www.abbeytheatre.ie/whats_on/event/alice_in_funderland/
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