Progress...
9 March 2018
Soooooooo I just had my first session with my mentor, Cameron Rhodes. It was awesome! Such a great guy. He talked about some great stuff that he'd learned over the years, and talked about something that he had been taught recently - the concept of an "energy champion": essentially (from my very quick conversation on this) shaping the language that we use about ourselves to have a supportive voice rather than a critical one or something that is weighted heavily towards self-judgement.
I'm 6 weeks into the first term, and have had multiple tutors: each week presents new challenges, new ways of thinking and even new ways of even being, all tools to be added to our "actors toolkit" - all stuff that we're taking out into the world, not only as actors, but as human beings.
Some of the stuff that has really stuck with me in the last few weeks is around failure, and fear of failure, perfection, and self judgement. One of the concepts that I am particularly interested in was our voice coaches comments around "growth versus fixed mind learning". Again and again we all keep coming back to trying to adjust our way of thinking - one which has been inground systematically by our schooling (don't get me started) - and learning to taking risks and allowing ourselves to "make mistakes" or to "fall flat on our faces" in order to grow.
Pretty much taken straight from the conversation and words of wisdom from Cam, we have revised one of my goals for this term. My challenge to myself for the remainder of the term is to really surrender to the moment, take bigger risks and when I feel I'm on the edge of something, follow through and don't worry about the "potential for failure". There are no rights or wrongs - just learning.... and if there ever were a place to be taking those risks and taking myself into the unknown, it's drama school - right here, right now, at The Actor's Program.
.... funnily enough finding the right image to go with this post took almost as long as writing it... so many to choose from, but I think this one is most appropriate - for drama school.
