I need to change the look of this site. I meant to do it a while ago. This look was just supposed to be temporary. But things come up. You know?
I’m in Orlando at SETC. Drew and I have watched almost 500 theater students audition for summer work. It’s exhausting. Why? Our theory is that it’s because they’re not that entertaining. Everyone’s monologues sound about the same. Everyone’s songs sound about the same. Everyone moves the same. Everyone talks the same. And the worst part is that it’s not how people really sound, move or talk. How is your performance based in any kind of truth or reality when you look so fake, like your acting? It is encouraging to talk to other Christ-lovers down here doing their thing. It’s also nice to touch base with the other two members of our Christian theater triumverate: Tonya from the Holy Land Experience and Sandy from Sight and Sound. By the way, Sight and Sound will be opening their second theater in Branson, MO in 2008. Some of you should consider checking them out. It is also great to see friends and even employees or former employees down here checking out other stuff. It’s good for them and good for us for them to be doing other things. They become better which makes us better. After all, we’re not Shakespeare. That’s for sure.
Which brings me to: this time of year at Student Life. It’s recruitment/hiring season. This is never easy for me. It’s tough to find the balance in making the right decisions. The decisions that best serve the company and the individual which ultimately results, hopefully, in the decision that best serves God and that He desires. I actually mean that. That’s the approach I take. Still, it’s never easy and sometimes it can suck. If people really had insight into the process and what all we go through, I think they might feel differently about us. “Respect” and “appreciation” are some words that come to mind, though from what I hear, “fear” and “resentment” and “pride” are words that are probably more fitting for how people feel. How can I live with myself?
The first meeeting of the Church for Birmingham didn’t go that great. It was definitely a learning experience, though. There’s still a lot of decisions to be made, and I find myself often thinking what have I got myself into and does God really want this of me. These questions are both exhilerating and humbling, which I believe is a good place to be.
I read Rob Bell’s book, Velvet Elvis. You should go get it and read it. Or you can borrow my copy.
I’ve also been trying to grow in my theater education lately. Mostly by reading. I’m currently studying Viola Spolin’s method of teaching improv, which is the method that led to the founding of Second City and that they continue to teach today. It’s fascination. I went to the wrong school. Or else I worry that I need to go to another one. I think that’s more for validation. I shouldn’t keep feeling the need to apologize for doing the type of dramatic work that I do. But I do feel that way. Argh!
The Oscars are Sunday night. Predictions? Acting awards for Hoffman, Witherspoon, Clooney, and Williams. Writing for Brokeback and Crash. Director: Ang Lee for Brokeback. And best picture: Crash. That’s right. Brokeback won’t carry the same punch on the small screen, which is how so many members view the noms. Anyway, that’s what I think. I’m currently downloading the shorts that are nominated from iTunes. We’ll see how they are. (Again, thanks for the iPod).
All right. That’s a good post for now. I’m really trying to recommit to this thing.
Holla.
Your predictions are pretty fair, but I’m always suprised by the winners as I am the nominations. Have you seen brokeback? I figure that you have since Larry McMurtry wrote the screenplay. I think we all figure out we went to the wrong schools. That’s because we really didn’t know what we wanted. I don’t want to be a professional student. Teaching theatre has become more of an education than any class I ever took. I remember in one of my classes that I was performing a monologue and some of my students said that it was actually the best acting they had ever seen. They were so suprised by that. But so was I because I had never performed with such a deep understanding and intensity before. That’s when i realized that the teaching and the repitition had developed me so much more than I knew. But it does make me want to go back. I would definitely do things differently.
sorry the Church thing didn’t go well. You know, Kenneth Hagin also had a challenge finding the right church to be at, didn’t listen to God and pushed for one, later finding out that God had a better one for him, and when he found the right church, then things took off for him.
I am praying that you come across the right church. Sometimes the delay seems horrid, but it is God’s way of getting us even better prepared for the right one.
Heather
Speaking of the Academy Awards…guess where I am… Im in LA. Staying in Beverly Hills. Last night went to Hollywood and saw Lindsay Lohan, Brittany Murphy, AND got hit on by Pappa Roach. Today I am going to where the Academy Awards is going to be!!!! hahaha Fun Fun…
Love you and miss you so much.
oh by the way…i dyed the bottom layer of my hair PINK and i now have a PINK nose ring…crazy crazy.
love you
Capote is still showing at the Regal 10 Brk Highland, btw.
Maybe you guys are coming over to our place for the Oscars…?!?
i really like rob bell. i will be getting that book soon.
Concerning SETC:
Scott & I had a theory too. It’s this: Every person that walks across that stage requires an investment. I have to invest in them in order to decide whether or not to call them back.
Investing in 800 people over two days sucks.
We started with availability. If they didn’t have availability we put a big black X over their number. We took books, cpu games, we checked march madness scores on our phones. Anything to keep from investing in somebody who couldn’t work for us in the first place. After that we did some other stuff that probably nobody cares about.
The burden of leadership is something I have always tried to avoid. Making the kinds of decisions that you mentioned…hiring, firing, affecting people’s lives. But sometimes you can’t avoid it. God calls your number. Sounds like he’s calling yours.
Great call on the Oscars. I was hoping that Crash would win best picture, but I figured it would be a Brokeback Oscar. Your faith is stronger than mine. I do have faith in your decisions as it pertains to hiring, however, I do not envy that task.
nice predicting on the oscars (though
you’ve heard/read this before now).
but who’d have ever guessed … it’s
hard out here for a p***. i mean, it’s
definitely my favorite original score.
ever. but who would have guessed!