Well, as you could guess by my major in Communications with Emphasis in Dramatic Arts (aka Theater major, but if Val Winkelman hears me call it that, she'd eviscerate me or something), I want to have a life involved in theater or performing in some way.
Now what, exactly, I'd want to do in theater is up in the air. As long as I am involved in it, I think I will be happy. My top wish is to become a voice actor for Disney, but that's a very long shot. There's something about voice acting that I really enjoy. Your own body's limits are gone; it doesn't matter if you're 5'0", you can be the lead rather than the comic relief. It doesn't matter if your appearances are not ideal for the role. Only your voice has to match up.
This is not to say that it is, in any way, easier. Bad voice acting can entirely ruin a production- even the extras have to sound professional (as many theater-types would say, "there are no small parts- only small actors"), or all anyone will ever remember about the production is that one guy that sounded like crap.
Being able to support myself as a film or broadway actor would be nice, as well, but these, too are very long shots. In fact, it would be harder to do this than it would to become a voice actor. Cost of living in New York would be very difficult to support, and competition is fierce. As for film acting, it seems nearly entirely luck-based to get a role, and someone of my height of 5'6" would not likely get anything to brag about. Not to mention, filming is a very tiring and long process. In the one film I've been in, it took several hours to shoot a five-minute scene. I think the frustrations of screen filming are not worth the benefits unless you're getting paid like Johnny Depp or something.
Failing to become a voice actor, I would be happy being a high school theater teacher. To do this, I will have to take a specific amount of certain classes after I receive my BA. It will be difficult and expensive, but I believe teaching and inspiring children would be a great use of a life. I'll just have to have all of my students sign yearbooks for me. That way, if THEY ever get famous, I'll at least get some money off of that. =P
Monday, February 15, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Internet Opinion
The internet is a double-edged sword, in my opinion, when it comes to its effect on the ideas of its users.
It's probably pretty obvious by now that I do not hold much faith in people, and to me, the internet seems to be a place where the teeming masses join together to agree on entirely uneducated opinions passed down onto them by their mommies and daddies.
Let's take this as an example: on one of my vlogs, I used to make very neutral political statements after days- sometimes weeks- of researching platforms and political history of candidates. I would try to be fair when mentioning both positives and negatives in all parties involved.
Of course, this got only negative attention. Conservatives flamed me for being too liberal. Those on the far left bashed me for being too far right. Apparently, the only opinions the majority of people online can comprehend are black and white, one extreme or the other. People assumed that because I did not agree with everything about their chosen party, I was against their party. Never did I get a comment or video response dealing with arguments supported by facts or research. Instead, most of the responses were from those using slogans and jargon often quoted from heavily-biased news channels. Even worse, these people seemed to attempt to claim these ideas as their own, as if they were intellectual enough to consider the possibilities and come up with original or clever analogies. Eventually, I closed down my political vlog and opened up one for something that seemed to cater more to these people: Entertainment.
However, out of all the crap, one can occasionally find someone else that seems to have a more casual, yet calculating mind out here on the net. The internet- when used by someone that's trying to do more than repeat the cliche phrases they've heard a thousand times- can be an invaluable and irreplaceable tool. People with new ideas can share them, and in turn learn from one another.
Honestly, I think the negatives I've mentioned have less to do with the internet in itself and more with American society in general. We are used to having information spoon-fed to us, and combining this with internet's ability to make uneducated ( yet well-spoken) opinions more accessible, everything looks like it's just going to hell.
It's probably pretty obvious by now that I do not hold much faith in people, and to me, the internet seems to be a place where the teeming masses join together to agree on entirely uneducated opinions passed down onto them by their mommies and daddies.
Let's take this as an example: on one of my vlogs, I used to make very neutral political statements after days- sometimes weeks- of researching platforms and political history of candidates. I would try to be fair when mentioning both positives and negatives in all parties involved.
Of course, this got only negative attention. Conservatives flamed me for being too liberal. Those on the far left bashed me for being too far right. Apparently, the only opinions the majority of people online can comprehend are black and white, one extreme or the other. People assumed that because I did not agree with everything about their chosen party, I was against their party. Never did I get a comment or video response dealing with arguments supported by facts or research. Instead, most of the responses were from those using slogans and jargon often quoted from heavily-biased news channels. Even worse, these people seemed to attempt to claim these ideas as their own, as if they were intellectual enough to consider the possibilities and come up with original or clever analogies. Eventually, I closed down my political vlog and opened up one for something that seemed to cater more to these people: Entertainment.
However, out of all the crap, one can occasionally find someone else that seems to have a more casual, yet calculating mind out here on the net. The internet- when used by someone that's trying to do more than repeat the cliche phrases they've heard a thousand times- can be an invaluable and irreplaceable tool. People with new ideas can share them, and in turn learn from one another.
Honestly, I think the negatives I've mentioned have less to do with the internet in itself and more with American society in general. We are used to having information spoon-fed to us, and combining this with internet's ability to make uneducated ( yet well-spoken) opinions more accessible, everything looks like it's just going to hell.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Warning!! The following blog may contain ideas and comments offensive to Southern stereotypes.
While I've lived all over the east coast, I was too young to remember most of it. My father was in the military, but got out before I was old enough to start forming long-lasting memories.
Through most of my childhood, I lived in Prattville, but due to my father's inconsistent work habits, we were moved all over Alabama during my High School years. This made school difficult, as we went to multiple schools a year.
I remember my absolute worst time in moving was when we moved to Sylycauga... if I'm even spelling that name right. As we were heading towards our new home, we stopped by one of the few gas stations we came across in the middle of the woods. This gas station displayed a brightly-colored posterboard sign in the window that read, as if it were a big deal, "WE NOW SERVE PIZZA!!" I almost started crying at that.
Soon after, we moved to Blountsville, Alabama. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't have a problem with Southern stereotypes. However, the majority of the population in this town were not just typical southerners; they were complete ignorant hicks. The rest of the population were Mexican immigrants, so given my choice in people to hang out with... well, I learned Spanish. Given, not all of the white population there were total hillbillies, but everyone at least hung out with people of those type. I figured learning a second language would be MUCH easier than trying to get along with people that couldn't understand half of the things I tried to tell them anyway.
We moved back to Prattville after my father was caught cheating on my mom with a toothless trailer-park-bound redneck woman named Teresa. There I remained until I joined the army. After six months training in Kentucky, I was stationed in Ft. Hood, TX.
The only reason any of the area around Ft. Hood flourished at all was because the most-populated military base in the U.S. was there. Because of this, almost all of the businesses catered or advertised to military personnel. Living there was neat. Because of the military, you had people from all walks of life and all areas of the U.S. Unfortunately, this also meant you had people with driving habits from all over the U.S. You could almost guess by looking at a liscence plate just how long the light would be green before someone finally decided to go, or if the guy was gonna even going to stop at the red light.
I was deployed to Iraq for a year, so you could say I practically lived there. Of course, the fact that people were constantly trying to kill me may have slightly negatively affected my opinion, but I honestly liked many of the customs in that area.
Anyway, after that, I was sent back to Ft. Hood, then when I got out of the military, I moved back to Prattville. I kind of need to wrap this blog up, so no pretty shiny all-inclusive ending statement of this blog for you!!
While I've lived all over the east coast, I was too young to remember most of it. My father was in the military, but got out before I was old enough to start forming long-lasting memories.
Through most of my childhood, I lived in Prattville, but due to my father's inconsistent work habits, we were moved all over Alabama during my High School years. This made school difficult, as we went to multiple schools a year.
I remember my absolute worst time in moving was when we moved to Sylycauga... if I'm even spelling that name right. As we were heading towards our new home, we stopped by one of the few gas stations we came across in the middle of the woods. This gas station displayed a brightly-colored posterboard sign in the window that read, as if it were a big deal, "WE NOW SERVE PIZZA!!" I almost started crying at that.
Soon after, we moved to Blountsville, Alabama. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't have a problem with Southern stereotypes. However, the majority of the population in this town were not just typical southerners; they were complete ignorant hicks. The rest of the population were Mexican immigrants, so given my choice in people to hang out with... well, I learned Spanish. Given, not all of the white population there were total hillbillies, but everyone at least hung out with people of those type. I figured learning a second language would be MUCH easier than trying to get along with people that couldn't understand half of the things I tried to tell them anyway.
We moved back to Prattville after my father was caught cheating on my mom with a toothless trailer-park-bound redneck woman named Teresa. There I remained until I joined the army. After six months training in Kentucky, I was stationed in Ft. Hood, TX.
The only reason any of the area around Ft. Hood flourished at all was because the most-populated military base in the U.S. was there. Because of this, almost all of the businesses catered or advertised to military personnel. Living there was neat. Because of the military, you had people from all walks of life and all areas of the U.S. Unfortunately, this also meant you had people with driving habits from all over the U.S. You could almost guess by looking at a liscence plate just how long the light would be green before someone finally decided to go, or if the guy was gonna even going to stop at the red light.
I was deployed to Iraq for a year, so you could say I practically lived there. Of course, the fact that people were constantly trying to kill me may have slightly negatively affected my opinion, but I honestly liked many of the customs in that area.
Anyway, after that, I was sent back to Ft. Hood, then when I got out of the military, I moved back to Prattville. I kind of need to wrap this blog up, so no pretty shiny all-inclusive ending statement of this blog for you!!
YouTube Benchmark
My YouTube page ( http://www.youtube.com/TheJokezOnYou ) now has five-hundred subscribers. I'm glad- that vlog takes a good deal of effort, and there's no telling how much money I've spent putting costume and props together.
This isn't THAT big of a deal; some of the more popular people on YouTube have thousands of subscribers. However, I get no endorsement from YouTube as these more-popular channels do, so I'm pretty satisfied with this.
This isn't THAT big of a deal; some of the more popular people on YouTube have thousands of subscribers. However, I get no endorsement from YouTube as these more-popular channels do, so I'm pretty satisfied with this.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
C&C
We've gotta do another comparison and contrast-kinda thing. Alright, alright. Here we go: Johnny Depp and Gary Oldman.
As an actor, I of course have role models that inspire me. Among these, I believe it was Gary Oldman and Johnny Depp that had the greatest effect on me.
In a way, the two are very similar actors in that they could both play practically anything, and play it well. I had watched The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional, and Batman Begins long before I realized Gary Oldman had played major roles in the two former films. In the same way, it is difficult to see the same actor behind Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, and Jack Sparrow. The two are both very superb actors capable of tackling extremely different roles.
However, they greatly differ once publicity comes in. Ah, yes, the teeming masses whose collective opinion sadly effects so much. Johnny Depp, despite being in his forties, looks much younger and more dashing than the aging Gary Oldman. Because of this, Johnny Depp is much more widely known. While Willy Wonka and Jack Sparrow may hardly look the same at all, people still know precisely who is behind the makeup and vastly-different smiles.
Oldman, on the other hand, does not seem to garner much attention. You can practically sell a movie simply by casting Johnny Depp. Only people that actually pay attention to more than big names in their movies would even know who you were talking about with Gary Oldman (until you mention what roles he's played in several of their favorite films).
While I believe they are equally talented actors, public opinion does have its effect: Johnny Depp is much more wide-known than Gary Oldman.
As an actor, I of course have role models that inspire me. Among these, I believe it was Gary Oldman and Johnny Depp that had the greatest effect on me.
In a way, the two are very similar actors in that they could both play practically anything, and play it well. I had watched The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional, and Batman Begins long before I realized Gary Oldman had played major roles in the two former films. In the same way, it is difficult to see the same actor behind Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, and Jack Sparrow. The two are both very superb actors capable of tackling extremely different roles.
However, they greatly differ once publicity comes in. Ah, yes, the teeming masses whose collective opinion sadly effects so much. Johnny Depp, despite being in his forties, looks much younger and more dashing than the aging Gary Oldman. Because of this, Johnny Depp is much more widely known. While Willy Wonka and Jack Sparrow may hardly look the same at all, people still know precisely who is behind the makeup and vastly-different smiles.
Oldman, on the other hand, does not seem to garner much attention. You can practically sell a movie simply by casting Johnny Depp. Only people that actually pay attention to more than big names in their movies would even know who you were talking about with Gary Oldman (until you mention what roles he's played in several of their favorite films).
While I believe they are equally talented actors, public opinion does have its effect: Johnny Depp is much more wide-known than Gary Oldman.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Food Comparison
Uh-oh. You got me started on food. I'm going to have a hard time deciding what to compare and contrast, because there's just so many foods I love. I guess instead of comparing two similar restaurants, I'll compare apples to oranges and instead compare my favorite Asian place to my favorite Mexican.
Jose's is a restaurant chain with three local places- one in Montgomery, and two in Prattville. The second store in Prattville opened a few months ago, less than a mile from my home. You can probably tell that this made my stomach happy (and my wallet miserable). Jose himself is very active in greeting customers at whichever restaurant he happens to be overlooking that day, and that gives the place a very down-to-earth feel. For the price, you get plenty of food (my favorite being quesadilla con pollo- a chicken quesadilla). However, it's the service I like most about this place. Waiters are friendly and learn your name if you are a constant customer. I can usually walk in to my sweet tea already on the table I'll be eating at.
My favorite Asian place, however, is much different. It is a buffet, and the staff doesn't seem to recognize you from one visit to another. I guess the thing that keeps me coming back to this place- Buffet City- is the Mongolian Barbecue. You get to choose your uncooked ingredients, and hand them to a chef who will cook it in the sauce of your choice. This is included in the price of the buffet, so you get a lot of quality for the price.
I guess in comparison, I like the service of Jose's better, the food at Buffet City better, but they are both definitely worth the price.
Jose's is a restaurant chain with three local places- one in Montgomery, and two in Prattville. The second store in Prattville opened a few months ago, less than a mile from my home. You can probably tell that this made my stomach happy (and my wallet miserable). Jose himself is very active in greeting customers at whichever restaurant he happens to be overlooking that day, and that gives the place a very down-to-earth feel. For the price, you get plenty of food (my favorite being quesadilla con pollo- a chicken quesadilla). However, it's the service I like most about this place. Waiters are friendly and learn your name if you are a constant customer. I can usually walk in to my sweet tea already on the table I'll be eating at.
My favorite Asian place, however, is much different. It is a buffet, and the staff doesn't seem to recognize you from one visit to another. I guess the thing that keeps me coming back to this place- Buffet City- is the Mongolian Barbecue. You get to choose your uncooked ingredients, and hand them to a chef who will cook it in the sauce of your choice. This is included in the price of the buffet, so you get a lot of quality for the price.
I guess in comparison, I like the service of Jose's better, the food at Buffet City better, but they are both definitely worth the price.
Minor Update, I guess.
Classes are going alright, I guess. I really need to refocus myself, though. During my first semester, I was extremely eager to succeed in class. That motivation doesn't seem to be their anymore.
I guess this is mostly due to my Reading 0700 class. Despite the fact that I passed my English Placement Exam (with flying colors, none-the-less), I still have to take Reading 0700 as a provisional student.
During the first day of this class, the instructor read out-loud to us a sixth-grade level picture book. I find this irritating. I do have some learning difficulties, but those difficulties lie in mathematics. My English isn't perfect, but no one's really is.
I guess I find this annoying mostly due to the fact that I feel it is a waste of my limited G.I. Bill. Furthering the irritation is the fact that the class cannot affect my GPA due to its remedial status. URRRGGGGHHH. I'm taking an easy "A" course for nothing!! I talked to my advisor about it, but the class cannot be waived (she was, however, very apologetic about this).
This has me somewhat unmotivated in my classes. So Meh.
I guess this is mostly due to my Reading 0700 class. Despite the fact that I passed my English Placement Exam (with flying colors, none-the-less), I still have to take Reading 0700 as a provisional student.
During the first day of this class, the instructor read out-loud to us a sixth-grade level picture book. I find this irritating. I do have some learning difficulties, but those difficulties lie in mathematics. My English isn't perfect, but no one's really is.
I guess I find this annoying mostly due to the fact that I feel it is a waste of my limited G.I. Bill. Furthering the irritation is the fact that the class cannot affect my GPA due to its remedial status. URRRGGGGHHH. I'm taking an easy "A" course for nothing!! I talked to my advisor about it, but the class cannot be waived (she was, however, very apologetic about this).
This has me somewhat unmotivated in my classes. So Meh.
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