Abel Brainz Digest, Vol. 1 (from May 9, 2023)

Greetings!

You asked for it, you got it! This is the first volume of a newsletter I'm planning on sending every week (!!) I'm not sure where I'll find time, but let's give it a shot and see what happens. 

What's All This About??

     This newsletter will be giving you the unnecessary and necessary details of improvisation, how improv relates (or doesn't) to everyday life. It will have movie clips, music, and everything else that could possibly be in my brain. That being said...

Let's Get This Party Started (Right)

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: The Writer's Strike (cue the ominous music)

Regardless of how much we know or don't know, this is an Variety article chock full of information but not overwhelming. 

After you digest that, rest assured this strike is another great opportunity for us (actors and muggles alike) to be curious. If you've ever worked with me before, you know that being curious is a fundamental concept I often bring up in class. This can also apply to everyday life and "big deal" moments like this. 

What is a union? To spare you my attempt, This History channel page is pretty comprehensive.

Why do I want to be an actor?

Whoa. Abel. Take it easy. I know, we barely know each other and we're getting deep. 

We can ask ourselves this question because it's a valuable opportunity to be vulnerable about why we love this art so much. 

So, ask yourself, why are you doing this? Why do you spend all that money on classes and headshots and more classes and self-tapes and gas and food, not knowing when, or if, you'll ever book something. 

I do it because I love it. I feel alive in front of the camera, in front of an audience, and I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything. 

Maybe our reasons are different, but that doesn't make them wrong. They're just different. Okay, stepping down from my soap box. 

What can I do during the strike?

Study! Train! Revisit that COVID hobby! Join the softball league you've been putting off because you thought it might interfere with acting!

Whatever we decide to do, ideally we can make sure we are taking care of ourselves. So, if you're feeling like taking class, take class. If you feel like playing some Call Of Duty for a week straight, play it!

Remember when I said train or study?

You can always sign up for classes at Drama Inc.  or any other acting studio you've heard good things about. 

This is quite a lot for the first volume. I'll stop while I'm ahead, but mainly so I have material for the next one. 

Thanks for reading!

-Abel