Learning and Loathing

Workshops et al.

Hello everyone, and welcome to Sally Horton's 2300 brain after a very hectic week. Essentially, I just couldn't say "no". Yes, I'll bake cookies for the cafe; Yes, I'll work extra hours, go to that show, attend jazz class; Yes, I'll meet up for coffee, walk the dog, take that promotion; Yes, I'll attend those auditions.

As you can see, these are all really good things. So how could I say "no"? There comes a point in time when you Have to say no, and that is usually when you're home alone crying, wondering how your body could get so tired, your brain so slow. 

How I wish I could have a cry right now, to release all the stress and recuperate. Maybe writing this post will get me emotional... fingers crossed.

Positive Outcome from My Baking Endeavour

Gary Pillai

Among the many accomplishments I achieved this week, one notable encounter was that with Gary Pillai, actor extraordinaire. He was organising a workshop in association with National Theatre Wales, TriForce Productions and Monologue Slam UK. Look him up. Game of Thrones is on his credits (and I believe his character emerges this season; let's keep our eyes peeled, shall we?). The workshop was incredibly helpful. Of the monologue that I wrote, he made some simple suggestions to focus it.

"Do you want him to stay or leave the room?"

I said "leave",

and that's all it took. 

Rather than meandering through the words, trying to discern my feelings towards the person I was addressing, I was like, "I'm angry, so get out. Now."

It turned into something so different. So tangible.

Gary Pillai, Ya'll!!!! Oh, and Sally Horton. She's okay.

Jim Arnold

I attended a Musical Theatre workshop with this prestigious casting director for Pippa Ailion Casting. The workshop reinforced a lot of things I learned at RWCMD, but most importantly, it got me on his radar. He chatted about having to choose actors to be seen for Wicked, and he said they received 3500 submissions this time around. Having to whittle that number down to 300 seems near-impossible.

In terms of song choices, he asked everyone to bring 2 so he could choose. I was the only person he asked to sing both songs. I feel like this is a good sign; that I was promising in the first and he wanted a different angle. Surely?!? Actually, definitely. I chose my favourite songs to sing, so there was no doubt in my mind that I was enjoying myself; ergo, everyone else could relax too. No matter how impressive the song, an anxious actor is never a pleasure to watch. Take note, Y'all.

(having to explain that I'm from Virginia to heaps of different people all week has increased my southern speech tendencies, y'all).

That Love Life Everyone Keeps Asking About

Remember that obscure status I wrote about doing something naughty out of love? Yeah, get over it, guys, I'm not going to say what I've done. I won't even say whether it was for the love of a person, place or thing! Hehehe, you're welcome to inbox me with your guesses. I'd be curious to see what you think is important to me...

Yes, Tommy and I go out to restaurants together and share food. No, Tommy and I are not a thing. LOL!

Yes, I hang out with James and Matt a lot. Again, No.

Oh, Vangelis (my guitarist/bassist friend who I posted about last week) says thank you for watching his video. He had 60 more views last week than normal, so that's a plus! He is taken, btw, engaged to be married. So don't go asking about him either!

Pretty much that leaves the bloke who tried to get me to have a drink with him by waving amicably at me from a beer garden- I stopped because there was such familiarity about him, I was trying to place who he was in my head, only to realise that he was a bearded doppleganger of an ex... lol - but then he called me a scallywag, and although that is enticing, I had plans with Jules so had to leave him hanging.

Sally's 2355 brain:  What is a scallywag anyway? Sounds dirty.

Sal's 2358 brain:  thank you, +Julia Kelly, for making time for me this evening, even though it was only 20 minutes.

Sal's 2359 brain:  let's take this final minute of Mother's Day (US/Aus) to thank our dear mothers and motherly figures.

and Cinderella's magic is exhausted. Until next week... zzz