EXTRA CRITICUM

Time Mgmt

I started a new job and I've been trying to get into a routine for my creative work. In the past I loosely employed the Pomodoro Technique (work 25 minutes, take a 5 minute break) and found it effective, so I've been doing that and I'm mostly pleased with the results. But I've been wondering what other people do? (Other people meaning you, Dear Reader.)

Do you have a preferred time of day? Do you work for a set amount of time? Every day? Heavy lifting in the morning and reviewing the day's work in the evening? I'd love to hear from artists of all disciplines.

Theresa Rebeck says: Just do it!

Today in her keynote conversation with Gary Garrison, Theresa Rebeck offered her own version of a tune I've been singing ever since I began at the Guild and I felt vindicated. In a big way. Especially in the wake of a particularly rude email I received just moments before departing NYC for this year's conference from a member who characterized my advice as "just plain feeble minded and naive." I had suggested that rather than wallowing for one more minute in his bitterness at a particular theatre having ignored his work, he ought to just take matters into his own hands and put up one of his shows himself.

I sat up straight as I heard Rebeck say that she hopes more playwrights will produce and direct each other's work.

Double Feature! Guitar Innovators: John Fahey & Nels Cline at Cinema Village

Beginning Friday, August 16, you will have the rare opportunity to see a documentary double feature in a theater: In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey and Approximately Nels Cline. But you shouldn’t go to Cinema Village in NYC just because it’s a double bill, you should go to Cinema Village because you will see two good films about two exceptional artists, both of whom happen to play guitar.

 

Cartoon: Branching Out

My First Movie

It's hard to believe that in the last 25 years of being an actor (not counting being cast as one of the eight maids a-milking in kindergarten), I've never really spoken on film.

Sure, I've done the requisite extra work - suffering through a meal-free day and night at Yankee Stadium for Anger Management, and appearing as a blurry dot on the Columbia University campus for Hitch - as well as commercial work for MTV and lots of hosting work for QVC, but if you ever wanted to see me perform a role, really act as someone other than myself, you'd have to come see me in a theater.

That is, until now.

A Public Service Announcement from Me: Please, Shut the F#&k Up!

It went like this. I staked out a good seat at a free outdoor concert. A couple sat next to me and proceeded to talk the entire time legend and national treasure Allen Toussaint performed.