Episode 1: Art, Humility and MichAgan?
As many creatives and those who have taken the road less traveled can attest, one of the questions we’re asked most is... "so, why acting?" Well, first off, this is akin to asking someone why they are the way they are. It's easy enough to simply say I love or have a passion for it, but to give the real response would require much more depth and time than most who ask this are willing to devote. However, since this is my blog and time is of no concern, I figured I'd give it a whirl and hopefully entertain along the way. I believe three memories above all others can be reflected upon as pivotal moments in my development as a creative human.
Memory #1: Music
I was first introduced to piano at the age of 4. We owned an organ at the time and a few of my older siblings as well as my father played. They laid the ground work with basic music theory, and I went on to research the 'old school' way to fill in the gaps (here's looking at you, card catalogue). I loved playing. I didn't need to be told to, I would just sit for hours a day learning music. Which was impressive considering how much I also loved sports, Intellivision (for the uninitiated, think Atari) and general frolicking outside with friends. I began learning musicals, as my older brothers were performers, and would spend many hours with the headphones on meticulously learning every note in a given song until I had it memorized. Funny, because these days, I have very few pieces memorized as I always rely on sheets, if for nothing else than a comfort blanket. I'll never forget the first day I took the headphones off and played out to the house. I don't recall exactly what was said, but it was something along the lines of... "who the hell is playing the organ?!" Many of my friends took piano lessons and subsequently gave it up within a few years, so my parents feared my love of the instrument would also wain if I was enrolled in private lessons. It wasn't until middle school that my parents bought an old, vintage, baby grand piano that they still own today. It was bought for the family, of course, but I still consider it the greatest gift I've ever received. Outside of studying music theory in school and despite having taught others to play, I've still yet to have a formal piano lesson; perhaps someday.
Memory #2: Acting
I am truly fascinated by Shakespeare and began reading his work at the ripe old age of 11. My mother took me into a quaint, little book store while on vacation in Philadelphia and told me to pick out a book. After perusing awhile, I happened upon Charles and Mary Lambs' "Tales from Shakespeare," which was a collection of his most popular work in short story form; palatable for my 5th grade education level. My mother said, "are you sure this is the one you want?" For some reason, with no hesitation, I was sure. I later went on to study iambic pentameter and everything Shakespeare in college. Back to the fifth grade though. One of my first ever performances was in a historical play about the continental congress and the revolution. I don't recall the name, but it had all the major players... Washington, Adams, Franklin, etc. It was like '1776' lite. Of course, I desperately wanted the title character of George Washington, as he had the most lines and, well, vanity. I still remember being told I got the part and the feeling of absolute joy that followed. Onward to the performance. Spoiler alert: I was terrible. Sure, I learned all of my lines and I recited them to perfection, but acting it was not. Also, little did I know I'd be sporting tights and a true to the period wig (of course my antique collecting mother had those items at the ready). Talk about signing up for more than I bargained for. That said, it ended up being an incredible experience and has become one of my favorite childhood memories.
In other news, I went on to wear the same tights for Halloween that year, when I portrayed a French painter. Apparently, I was a glutton for punishment and ridicule. Ha! No, actually, it was this year in particular when I learned a very valuable life lesson. I initially feared friends and others would laugh at me for my Halloween costume and for dressing up in period garb for the play. That couldn't have been further from the truth. My friends admired my confidence and conviction, which only gave me more confidence in my choices, despite being initially apprehensive. Of course there was a little laughter from my best friends, but that was to be expected (I was certainly laughing), and there's a big difference between laughing with and laughing at someone. The takeaway: You do you! There's no finer example of this than in New York City, the melting pot. It's the mecca for doing your own thing. Ok, back to acting. This foundation gave me a real appreciation for the theatre as well as it's vast history. To this day, my favorite part of the process is the rehearsal. The historical research, the playing, collaborating and quest for honesty and truth is where I feel the most at home. The performance is of course the end result of fleshing out the play in rehearsal. The ability to tell a story to people in such a profound way as to have an impact on their lives, however small and fleeting, is what it's all about. This is why I became an actor.
Memory #3: Storytelling
I've always loved books. It's an incredibly imaginative medium. In all my years as a student, whenever a teacher asked for someone to read aloud, as many of my classmates would attest, I was always the first to offer my services. A solid understanding of grammar and an inherent ability to spell were and continue to be powerful allies, which I believe are an incredible asset to a narrator. However, fun little side story... I was in the 2nd grade under the instruction of the wonderful Mrs. Ladd. Advanced for my age across all subjects and brimming with confidence. Part class clown, but mostly just a fun-loving, sweet kid. Always one of the first to turn in a quiz or test, thinking the speed of completion was a badge of honor. One morning, I sat down to take a routine spelling test, navigating through it with ruthless efficiency. Later that day, before Mrs. Ladd passed out our graded papers, she stood at the front of the class with a slight smirk on her face. After giving the greatest set-up of all time, she asked me to properly spell "Michigan" aloud to the class. Now, being the smart little cookie I was, you'd think I would have seen this coming a mile away. But nay, she so expertly crafted this set-up to appear as though I was the only one to correctly spell our home state, and knowing I'd take the bait, center stage, to show-off my perceived superior intellect to the class. I proceeded to spell "M-I-C-H-A..." All of the sudden, a few snickers and giggles began pouring out from my classmates as I realized at that moment that I had been duped. It was I that was the only one in the class to misspell "Michigan" on the test. I later received a wink and a hug from my teacher, Mrs. Ladd. Although it was a highly embarrassing moment in front of my friends, even then I could appreciate the importance of humility. That awkward and humbling moment aside, I was a natural when it came to reading. I could read fast while still comprehending, accurately discern the nuance and intent of the author, and didn't often get tripped up by complicated words or phrases. I also think I have always had a knack for getting the tone and emotional tenor across to the listener. In essence, I've always been a story teller, whether telling my own or sharing others. It's forever been a comfortable place for me. Voice-over in all forms is essentially just that; story telling. One of my favorite quotes, although I can't for the life of me find the source, is... "Acting is make-believe, and if you make-believe well enough, the audience will make-believe too."
The Deathly Hallows…?
These three memories combine to form the Deathly Hallows. Well, OK, not quite. However, I do love me some Harry Potter. Needless to say, art and creativity have played a large role in my life as no doubt they have to varying degrees in most people's lives. I've found a home in doing voice over work, and it's easy now to see why. I believe it encompasses many forms of art... imagination, acting, musicality, storytelling, performance, timing, collaboration, etc. These attributes are a common thread through nearly every form of voice-over. Everything from audiobooks to commercials to explainer videos and the like. I'm shaped by all the experiences in my life and bring that knowledge and wisdom into every project I take on.
For those who know me, I'd just like to say that I deserve a gold star for completing this first blog post without relying on the crutch that is swear words to emphasize points and highlight humor. I can't promise similar restraint in future posts. You're welcome.
