Creative Process...

CREATIVE 

1: marked by the ability or power to create : given to creating <the creative impulse> 

2: having the quality of something created rather than imitated : imaginative <the creative arts>

PROCESS 

1a : progress, advance <in the process of time> 

b : something going on : proceeding

2a (1) : a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result <the process of growth> (2) : a continuing natural or biological activity or function <such life processes as breathing>

b : a series of actions or operations conducing to an end; especially : a continuous operation or treatment especially in manufacture 

 

  It is an interesting thing, the creative process...

I am discovering as I work through mine ever more in depth, that my personal process is a bit scattered and fleeting and wild.  It could almost be likened to trying to capture butterflies in a field of flowers... or the ever changing pattern of sunlight through the branches and leaves of a tree, as a gentle breeze blows overhead. 

The number of things that inspire me are astronomical. There is truly beauty in every moment, even when it isn't pretty. It's a strange way to approach the world, but it makes everything so much more magical. There are times when things can be devastating, but when glimpsed in a certain way they can be beautiful. Life itself, in all it's mystery and difficulty and absurdity, is still a beautiful thing. 

 

This is an image from Oradour-sur-Glane (taken by my friend and a fabulous photographer, Alice Rolland). It was a village or commune in France which was devastated in WWII, when 642 people, including women and children, were killed and the village burned to the ground. This place is absolutely heart-breaking and devastating and scarred. There is an undeniable beauty to the endurance of things and nature, though - evidenced by the shells of the buildings and the belongings left in this place as a memorial, and the slow encroachment of nature. There is green and life creeping up, and growing over things. The village itself was rebuilt right next to the old one. Life continues and remembers the past while maintaining resilience.

This resilience is actually one of the subjects of discussion in acting classes lately. One of the main differences between tragedy and comedy, is the resilience of the characters. When people keep fighting and keep going after objectives in a story, even in the face of dire odds and tragic circumstance, there is real humor to be found there. We as humans find comedy in the things that we can relate to. When you take things to an extreme it can get even funnier. A fine example being the sort of humor found in Death At a Funeral (the original version - I've yet to see the remake). There is a grand example of lots of relatable circumstances and characters in an extreme situation. It was hilarious and absurd. The characters were also absolutely resilient and kept going despite it all. That is comedy. 

I know my post right now is a bit rambling, but like I said, so is my creative process. This is just thoughts, coming from heart and feelings, spinning round in my head, and pouring forth from my mouth and fingers to try and make sense of it all. 

In all of our creative endeavors may we find beauty in strange places, resilience in the face of struggle, and the will to come at life with Open Eyes and an Open Heart. 

Blessings, Love, and Joy.

Changes... and a sudden need to write.

Something inside me is shifting. 

I am growing and changing daily. 

Metamorphosis:

1. A transformation, as by magic or sorcery.

2. A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function.

 

 

That is the nature of my life, for the time being. I am transforming. All of this is of course by the laws of nature, in so far as we are all changing, always. It is also because of my training and education that I began undertaking in August of last year. The second semester of this schooling has just begun. I am in awe of the volume of information that we are given, and even more so at the way we continue to take that information and run with it. 

 

I am an actor. I am an artist. I create in a variety of mediums, but my primary means of creation and story telling and catharsis is acting and dance. My body, my voice, my mind, my heart, and my soul are my tools/instrument. 

 

The gift of acting is truly incredible. That I am compelled to do this by something deep inside of me is a source of wonderment and bewilderment. It is also the only way I think I could do this. It is so very hard. 

 

Not hard in that the actual task is difficult for me, but in the vulnerability it demands while simultaneously requiring tremendous strength. We are mad as hatters. We willfully choose to delve deep into the human condition. Where so many people turn to run from the complexity of emotions and the hows and whys of human feeling, all of it, even the pain, we dive in and wade around in it trying to figure out the hows and whys and wherefores. Then we willingly put ourselves out there in front of the audience to say, "Here. Look. Consider this. Enjoy this. Hate this. Feel something." We can be, when we respect the potential of the craft, bearers of light and shadow. We touch people through the gift of empathy. 

 

My Styles teacher, a wonderful woman that I adore and respect already, argued how absolutely vital our craft is and the necessary gift we provide the world. I have to agree. 

 

I know there is a lot of entertainment available out there, and a lot of movie acting in particular has become the sort of thing that would make many question this. In an industry where there has come to be a prevalence of "personalities" and "faces" that are simply used over again and made famous and wealthy for it, I think some of the respect for acting has faded. The essence of the craft remains, however, and there are some truly wonderful artists in the world. I intend to be one of them.

 

These are things that we have been discussing a bit at school, and my own thoughts and take on things. We are exploring comedy this semester. This focus is saved for the second semester because it really is more difficult than drama. The level of commitment and focus and the stakes of absolutely everything have to be so much higher. The honesty even more so. Otherwise it won't work. 

 

In beginning the journey here, I have had so many thoughts and feelings. There's also so much wonderful information to be had. I think I finally found the spark I needed to start writing again, and actually do something with this blog that I have had sitting on the back burner for ages. 

 

I don't know that anyone will read this. I don't know that it matters. I simply needed to put some words and love and light into the universe. We'll see what more comes along in the future. 

 

Blessings and Light.