PRETTY?

Yes!  But, so are Kaleidoscopes and Teleidascopes and they are much safer.

That being said, we’re at the gorgeous, atmospheric pool site of our longtime close friends Judy and Jeff Fischer.  Swimming, laughing, major food and streams of company abound. This is our first pause of an accelerated period of time since the end of 2009, which actually was pretty tense as we were packing our three building compound in Woodstock (the Acting Studio portion became a Recording Studio) when we sold at the end of January. We also rented a loft in Kingston, NY to hold our weekly Woodstock Acting Classes until further notice. And we redid the entire New York City Studio at the same time.

2010 has a great ring to it. How did we land? What has occurred? This is the reality check as seen from the poolside reflection…

In my yearly holiday message given at our New York City as well as our Woodstock Studio we spoke about making “uncertainty” part of our experience, which helps us to live on the edge of creation. (Read at this message at: www.SandeShurin.com, by scrolling down to, “2010 Holiday Message.”) Bruce and I lived that message to its max this year. Four moves and one still to come: one out of our Woodstock compound, then we packed and moved out of our  NY Acting Studio and Living Loft while they reconfigured the space. Then we moved twice upstate for our Woodstock classes. Classes continued around the NY construction as we lived life as guests in New City, NY, the same place I’m writing this from but a few months later.

February began in our beautiful new New York space unpacking and moving back in. I started working with Anna Fishbeyn on structuring and Directing, “Sex in Momyville.” Along with the usual Weekly Classes and Private Coaching and then it was off to LA to lead the Star Power Workshop.

In March, we flew to Greenville, South Carolina for opening night of Bruce’s play, “Sada,” which played to full houses, standing ovations, and great reviews. We premiered The Sande Shurin Radio Show (our radio show) – Where Acting and the Arts meet Personal Growth and Transformation, on Voice of America/World Talk Radio.

Ah spring! In April we searched for, found and began negotiations on a new house in Woodstock. And, while Bruce worked very diligently on promoting the weekly radio show I did the outreach for new guests.

May…We actually moved into another new teaching loft for our Woodstock students, still in Kingston. We had three Intensives that month one of them our Monthly Pro-Intensive in NYC and two Star Power Workshops, one in Kingston and the other in our new NYC space.

June… we settled on a price for the Woodstock house. I directed a staged reading of Sada, produced by Randi Shebitz at her fabulous carriage house in Nyack, NY.

Also, in an effort to support our actor’s careers by having them seen by industry Casting Professionals, we resumed our Industry Events Evenings in June, with a free lottery for our students to meet and work for Camille Hickman Associate Casting Director for Lincoln Center.

Which brings us back to the July 4th weekend. This month we will move into our new Woodstock House. I continue to Direct, “Sex in Mommyville,” which opens Aug. 18th at The Flea Theatre in Tribeca NYC. And Bruce begins rehearsal for his role in the play, “A Tomatoe Doesn’t Grow in the Bronx,” by Gary Morganstern.

I have to add that I also gave a few good interviews, did a teleseminar for www.MovieBizCoach.com and got a terrific review from Tim Beachum for my latest book, “Star Power.”

Am I happier with the consistent and extended activity? Richer? Wiser? Perhaps that happens the during the second half of the year. For now I can say that I am feeling safer within and energized by the uncertainty.  And that was the call for 2010….playing out of the box, the excitement of uncertainty, which leads us to living on the edge of creation.

Good thoughts and bright times,

Sande Shurin

Q: I get so nervous before an audition that I sometimes blow a well prepared audition. Any advice on how to get my nerves under control?

Phil

A: Iconic question, Phil, so thanks for asking.

Nerves are a necessary thrust into handling things that need attention. The underlying emotion, FEAR, is what you need to be with and work out. Just know excitement is the other side of fear. Expect to feel fear when you are in unfamiliar territory. And this unfamiliar territory is the place growth takes place in. So fear is not such a bad place to be.

Here are some ways of dealing with the fear:

1) Prepare for the role.
2) “Have” the nerves and move ahead anyway.
3) Challenge the voice in your head and become unstoppable.

Nerves will dissipate as you learn to take action.

Now for some technical ways of using the fear:

1) Breathe…holding your breath creates more fear.
2) Give the fear to your character by using one of the circumstances of the script to justify them. (Referring to the classic “Streetcar Named Desire”. Blanche is nervous being with lower class Stanley. Stanley is nervous that Stella will turn Blanche against him. You can absolutely use this technique for any character for any medium.)
3) Keep your attention on what your character is going for, their action, needs, wants, desires and objective.
4) Be connected to yourself and what the moment and the other characters trigger in you.

Thanks for the question, it is truly Universal.

Good thoughts and bright times, Sande

Click Here to ask Sande your question
and check out the “Ask Sande” archives.

We recently completed the first 13 week series of The Sande Shurin show with Bruce Levy; which is now on hiatus for 13 weeks, resuming September 7th . During this time our archived shows can be heard by going to SandeShurin.com/radioshow. Please feel free to e-mail Bruce and I at SandeShurin@earthlink.net with any questions or comments regarding the show.

During this time our listeners can catch up on missed shows and we are talking with future Sponsors. The cost is very low for a lot of air time. Broadcasting on World talk Radio/Voice America is an expensive venture for us. It’s not even in the same category as the free Blog Talk Radio stations. The quality, exposure, PR, having an engineer and not having to edit is wonderful.

The feedback has been similar. “Uplifting, Positive, Inspirational”.  Bruce and I bring to the show the same unpredictable, risky yet substantial energy that we bring to our lives and relationship.

We’d love you to be a Listener, a Fan, a Sponsor, or a Supporter that spreads the good word.

As I say at the close of every show, “Good Night, Good Thoughts and Bright Times”

Sande Shurin

It’s been a long time since I last blogged. I actually thought I’d take the year off from writing blogs until I saw Bruce writing his soon to be autobiography.  He read a few chapters to me.  My take?  Well, here are a few words I’d use to market it…moving, poetic, scandalous, aware, bold, revealing, transformational and very informative.  So many will learn about themselves from this book of an unusual man.  A story that had to be told!

And mine…  A blog that needs to be read.

More coming,

Sande

The show’s concept, “Where acting meets higher consciousness and Transformation,” explores a weekly topic that is potent for acting, life and personal growth.

The format continues with a weekly guest in either the arts or personal growth and will include call-ins for Sande. “I will answer questions that help with Acting, Auditions, Getting the Job, being Brilliant once you’ve booked the job, having Star Power, Creating Magic Moments, Taking Action, Identity, Transformation, Commitment, Shifting perception, Playing out of the box, Transforming what is to what can be…new possibilities, new opportunities and including any other questions you may have.

There is a special section headed up by Bruce Levy called “Bo’s Buzz,” which is an open market for reviews, views and other current agendas.

I’ve helped people for 30 years to become brilliant artists, create great careers, transform and move forward and I will help do that for you.

I’m really looking forward to meeting you on our new show.

Reminds me of being a kid and having your very own Hook. Your coat hung on a hook in school and you recognized where your hook was and what your coat looked like. Then at home your Hook differentiated you from the rest of your family.

Similarly, my books, Transformational Acting and Star Power! – Defining Your Individual Signature are the literary hooks that add to my distinctiveness.

It introduces my work to actors, other artists and some other very interested people in various cities across the country. They call or e-mail to meet me and sometimes fly in to meet at my acting studios in NY or Woodstock for a weekend intensive. Because the acting technique that I have developed called “Transformational Acting” and many of the workshops that I lead including “Star Power!” and “Break-Thru” have a transformational base, people of many professions do take them and get amazing value.

My books also have a terrific referral aspect for my business, as actors are curious about what others are reading. Within this conversation, many new actors and other people learn about my work and me.

This Hook continues with publicity that I get from being interviewed. These interviews inspire others to buy more books, enroll into my classes and workshop events, and when they learn that I’m a Director (film and theatre) – they send scripts.

I have used this hook on some of the reality shows where I have been hired to appear as an acting coach, including an appearance on “America’s Next Top Model.” One, my book gives me more credibility, and, two, I have actually advertised it on a few of the shows.

So it’s like an ongoing circle. The book increases my status. When I book the job and can advertise it, more people know of me. They buy more books, enroll into my acting studios, call for private coaching, participate in workshops and promote my directing career.

The great thing for me about this is that my books are a great part of my contribution and what I call a shift in acting technique and perception. I love working with the principles of transformation and people.

But this is an opportunity to live on the Edge of Creation. Our normal tendency is to pull back and be informed by our history and patterns. But we have the ability, instead, to be propelled by Self Determination. The good element about living in uncertain times is that we can design this uncharted territory and redesign our lives.

9/11 came and shifted life as we knew it. We changed for a while. Our values were different. But it seems we mostly pulled it together, back in the direction that we once knew.

Hit again for the past 6 years (war) and then the economy, we’re still waiting for life to be “normal” and go back to the way we were.

I don’t think it will ever be the same. I hope it will never be the same. I don’t think it’s supposed to be the same. I don’t believe that’s the lesson.

A pulse of excitement replacing the fear has begun.  A willingness to step forward, accept and live life differently, boldly, and with excitement making uncertainty our new comfort zone.

A new direction… we can shift our perception, get out on the edge of creation, and play out of the box. Living life, not just a copy of life as we knew it to be, but life as it can be. If not, I’m afraid, the messages will keep coming!

We have the ability to turn our lives, the Country, the world around by every new step we take.

Good thoughts, bright times and a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR where all good things are possible.

Sande Shurin and Bruce Levy

The film “Synecdoche” was the answer to the following questions: How do I further develop and have the Actors apply their imagination? How do I get them to boldly MAKE UP THEIR OWN STORY? How do I get them to deeply believe the story they make up? And how do they learn to work on material that is not terribly realistic? Now I had my first approach.

The long term goal for this imaginative work was to facilitate the Actor to be more physical both in action, physicality, and in embodying large physically different roles. This was provoked by Sean Penn’s performance as “Milk”.

So starting with “Synecdoche,” I began talking about working on this highly irrational story. For example, in one scene, a real estate agent is selling a burning house and someone actually buys it. Therein lies the strength and importance of an imaginative story and a strong account of where you’re coming from. I added that we were to find the rationality in the irrational as every character has theirs, however far reaching. Then I added tone. What is the tone of the material? The style? And then quantify your responses, so that your response is spontaneous.  Then look at if it has to be heightened or lessened according to Style, and tone. This was put into their first set up of questions and things to think about.

The second Set Up is:

1) What is going on in the scene? (not the story)  It is actually what is going on in active terms for your
character. (i.e., I’m starting life over again by moving into my new apartment.)

2) What’s my inquiry? What can I do about this? How will I do this?

3) What is the downside? What if I can’t?

4) What’s the upside/the prize when I do?

5) What got me into this situation?

Onto creating a repeatable Physical Progression:  This gives the actor a physical handle on the scene. Also it teaches how you get from here to there creatively; that is from marks to marks and blocking to blocking.

1)    First be very specific about the underlying active time such as: Arrival, settling in.
You will create your repeatable physical progression for that.

2)    What is the theme? Find one that you really relate to and are fired up to talk about.
(You will learn to speak the theme in a way that is relevant to you)
And so it becomes your personal band wagon. I prefer working this on Solo Performance pieces, as the actor is only beholden to themselves and the structure of the piece for movement.

Again a full list for your Set Up: where are you? Not random, a very specific time such as the beginning or end of lunch.

Another aspect to include is the audience: Making contact and having to tell them all of this.  What song and dance does this provoke?  Add some of that to heighten the performance aspect. This can also include walking in an extended way, sounds etc.

Advanced State as preconditioning: State implies your feelings on top of deep pure emotions. It’s how we socialize. Examples of State are: lonely, anxious, thrilled, confused, absorbed, annoyed, disturbed.

Preconditioning for Advanced State:

What state are you starting from right now?

Use the energy of that State for your Character. What State are they in at the top of the scene? Where are you coming from? Is it unrelated to the scene…are you preparing for a visit? Are you taking a bath not expecting what happens next? Are you pitched high for the scene? Let that add to your state.

PHYSICAL LOGISTICS – Are you running, sitting in a limo, in a hot crowded subway?  Allow this too to alter and add to your state.

ATMOSPHERE – Does the atmosphere of the place of the scene make you feel open and alive?  Is it closed and stuffy?  Or open and expansive?  Add that to your State.

Physical Choices – Are you Hungry, drunk, abused, elated, just broke off a relationship, just met a great date???? Raining? Snowing?

CHOICES – For example, in the movie, Almost Famous, the daughter can make a choice to be forgiving of her mom and slowly build towards a fight…Perhaps it’s close to Mother’s Day or her birthday. Or her preconditioning thoughts can be, “One more word and I’ll freak out…”

We then worked on:

REHEARSAL TECHNIQUE – Continues working on the material. (Layering) Everyone worked at the same time, using an area of the room.

Begin by clarifying what it’s about for you. (Your character) I’m moving to a new stage in a relationship…I’m moving to a new location.

Play Ball—close eyes and imagine a toss game of ball…throw, catch, throw, catch…then do it with the words.
Listen, associate, respond, land.

INTENTION
ACTION
TONE
STYLE
QUANTIFY
CHANGES
EXPOSITION, CONFLICT, CRISIS, CLIMAX, CONCLUSION.

Each time we revisit Character, it is through a different lens.

CHARACTER
Character: thus far has been focused on reprogramming your Psyche, Altering the proportions of your qualities and traits, Identity (major identity and your individual signature). Now adding the larger Physically Transformative Character’s.

When you challenge your Wall, you grow/transform. Same with PTC.  They extend you past your comfort zone, therefore opening channels – new experiences, of information, and creativity.

Step 1 is to transform your body.
Step 2 is to link up the physical and psychological. (Emotions also but we will focus on that later)

EXERCISE
1 – Eyes closed. Describe your character physically and feel that in your body. Talk about their life…what’s going on? What’s their world view?

QUESTIONS: To know my character better, what books do I have to read/newspapers, magazines? What streets would I have to be familiar with? What occupation would I have to be able to do? What films would I have to see? What beliefs would I have? What would disturb me? What fears would I have? What would my confidence level need to be?

ON FEET
Talk about the above starting with description of body. Walk around finding where their movement comes from…changes in register of voice, how they sit. Do Mono. Write backstory as it pertains to the actions in the scene, also to character motivation.  Reality talk as the Character weaving the backstory as it applies to their current life.

Part 2 CONCEPT…Example can be deep as Sally Fields’ role as Mom in “Brothers and Sisters.” Past life was a confederate soldier and couldn’t get back to save her family.

CURRENT DRIVE – Wants to keep her family together, safe and sound.

CHALLENGE – Grown up, want their own life, and don’t necessarily get along with everyone. (including yourself)

CONCEPT – Joan of Arc was Napoleon in a previous life.

Part 3

CURRENT DRIVE – To win her battle

CHALLENGE – She’s a woman

Concept is about the character, and also how you play the material.

You can use a simpler Image…An old comedienne, who still wants the limelight and who is past it.

Bar tough gal: To get out to the bars and live it up, married, has to work and make money.

After all of the large stretch work, we brought what was learned into Material and characters much closer and realistic.

BEHAVIORAL ACTION – can be planned. Put the State you’re in into an action…keep being physical with it.

WHAT AM I RESPONDING TO-
Is it your control? Your intimidation? Your confronting? Your questioning/interrogating? Respond and take it into a behavioral action.

This was a big year of learning, getting work and having the opportunity to use all of this at auditions and jobs.

Moving forward for 2010 we will be working on emotions in a grounded way. Also we’ll work on whole scripts, appearing many times within. Again, from very large extended realities, psyches, and emotions to the more subtle and realistic.

It is an absolute passion for me to create a new focus and concept each year and to help people develop, transform and be the best they can be in every given moment.

Life is long, live it well,

~ Sande

I looked at this letter as if it were an artifact from a different time period. I mean, when was the last time you received a letter? Not a bill but a personal note. I would guess that 98% of our communication is online, texts, and cell calls.

When will e-mails be a thing of the past?  We outdate ourselves so quickly, it might be sooner than we can imagine. And what will take its place?  Mental Telepathy? Or instant holographic messages that appear in front of us as we think them into being?

I loved talking with people at our Thanksgiving dinner. Yet I checked my e-mail before and directly after the event. I stand between very much liking the easier and less time consuming communication of e-mail, at my own convenient time, and the humanity of personal connection and laughter. It’s good for the soul.

“Dear Sande,

~ Anitra”

Anitra Frazier
Best-selling author, “The Natural Cat” and Broadway Actress

My appreciation extends to the newest addition to our Acting Studio – Star Power!, the book and the workshop. I am thrilled that the results of the book are increased Star Power, personal growth and a more defined Individual Signature, along with a deeper acting technique.

The workshop is giving people of all professions a new direction or a clearer and more defined blueprint of an already established one.

I love helping people to transform, to be the best that they can be at every given moment, of opening new possibilities for a better life, career, and easier access to creativity.

Star Power! is another vehicle to get us all there. It is my contribution of clarity in these uncertain times.

Let us trust that we are all making our best efforts to help ourselves and others to adapt to these turbulent times and to transform them from darkness and fear to the excitement and adventure of living in the unknown.

Sande Shurin Thanksgiving 2009