My Declaration of My Artistic Freedom

I Susan Romanoff believe that Art represents the Best of Humanity.I hereby dedicate my life,energy,time and creative abilities to inspire others as I have been in my life by the power of Art and Artists to make this world a more tolerant, beautiful ,and loving place.

I believe so strongly in the power of language to change the world. Words have power and connected to story can unleash the very best of mankind. Our world now so needs the healing redemption of our Art. I am deeply committed to all stories that make us all feel less separate from each other. My passion has always been for humor. I just love it and look for it everywhere!!! I want more stories of powerful women.Women with strong voices to help all our young people to value and learn to use the power of their voices.

I commit to having the courage to continue my artistic journey no matter the difficulties. To believe in my own power to achieve my goals. To create with fierce imagination and discipline the beauty I feel about this earth and life so others can feel it too. We are all made better for the sharing. With great love, Susan

Nakeisha Daniel's Declaration of Artistic Freedom

I, Nakeisha Daniel, strive to fulfill my purpose as an artist by exploring the boundaries of my imagination with reckless abandon and igniting the spark of creativity in all whose paths I cross. Upholding my artistic integrity with every project. Challenging the limitations put on artists of color by society.

I am committed to the service of those in need of healing by using my artistic gifts to bring a spirit of joy and hope into their lives. To empower the future artists of tomorrow by sharing my story and giving them the courage to find their own voice. To educate those in need of creative guidance by continually seeking out new opportunities to learn and grow.

I respect the universe and all the creative possibilities it offers. I give thanks to the child within. I honor the connection with my creator.

Nothing to it but to do it!

Sequencing. Trusting your gut. Learning as grown ass smart people.

 

Thinking about our call this afternoon I wanted to offer this answer. I try to give people the skills to make their own decisions.  

So as far as how detailed your personal artistic Constitution should be or your power statement. I think you have to do it and get some feedback and tweak it to make it work for you. I always think specificity is way better then being general.

Our goal is to create as authentically as possible every time we use digital media- warts and all. short of abusing our own psyche.

Gary Vaynerchuk uses Aston Kercher as an example Of a television actor who used to social media to build his brand to the point of being much more powerful throughout the entertainment industry. 

The blog is a personal space where you can be extremely vulnerable. LinkedIn is not that space. So I think it's important to be appropriate to the tool that you're using. IMDB  not a personal space.  Twitter is somewhere in the middle.  And probably the best platform to communicate with anyone who is not in your artistic Circle and yet you want them to be. All of these communications happen over time like real relationships and must be built on authenticity.

It is best to conquer one platform at a time. To take them all on at once is the equivalent of moving to a big city and joining every theater company before you've gotten a lay of the land.   you would quickly become exhausted and overwhelmed and probably end up hating theater companies altogether.

Getting yourself overwhelmed and frustrated so that you drop out or quit is a sophisticated cunning form of resistance or fear. In Do The Work by Steven Pressfield he takes on resistance which he says is universal and called forth in us creatives when we take on Education, a program or any the pursuit of any calling. LOL

Great.  Pressfied offers many allies one of which I want you to try on.  

1. Stupidity.

2.Stubborness

3.Blind Faith

4. Passion

5. Assitance

6. Friends and Family.

I would suggest number 1.

““ Ignorance and arrogance are the artists and the entrepreneurs indispensable allies. She must be clueless enough to have no idea how difficult her enterprises going to be–and cocky enough to believe she can pull it off anyway.

How do we achieve this state of mind?

By staying stupid By not allowing us ourselves to think.”
— Steven Pressfiled, DO THE WORK

Hear me out. 

Don't think. ACT.

That's all Pressfield.

The point is to start before you are ready. Do not overthink.  TRY IT.  The lesson is in the doing. 

Twitter which is where I suggest you put your power statement. Join and read tweets of people that you like. I will include a link list of some industry folks.

The most important thing for you to do now is to gain hold of who you are and what you are contributing to the market. Get your mind right.  

Taking yourself digital will be  process.

Some people come to the program with various amounts of experience and tools in place.  That is to be expected. Respect your personal journey. 

Remember. There's no behind in  "acting in the digital age" aka AIDA. You can only move at your own pace. And if you compare yourself to where others are you want to fall into the old compare and despair. 

 

Mad respect.  More to come.

Roz

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD A STARTER LIST INDUSTRY FOLK.  

Suz says Hi!

Hi Rosalyn! Yesterday’s call was great!! and I learned how much I do not know!!! So How do I find out about what all these services involve, what each one’s purpose is and how to join? Should I just Google each one?I just ha ve to shelve the embarrassment of not being yet on any i.e.: Facebook, Instagram , Twitter? Are there any others you recommend? Am I ready for them as I have no demo, reel yet?? Are still photos of me acting useful.. maybe for the website?? Although I may need new headshot. Are they strictly for promotion?Most of all how do I familiarize myself with them? Linekdin is free and a lot of people use that too?? Bye for now. Hope your audition went well!!! Love, Susan

A great response from Susan to the question.... Why are you not sharing?

By sharing, I mean, until now why have you not jumped into the social revolution (twitter, facebook et al)  If you are sharing then this does not apply to you.  But if it does.  What has held you back....  This is Susan's response.

SO HONEST

I was saying it’s the “exposure issue” The enormity of the internet and all the nuts out there too!! You cannot control or safeguard who you are
sharing with…It’s the “throwing the spaghetti on the wall syndrome… and let’s see what sticks posture” It feels so random AND so anonymous…The initial fear is of one’s lack of confidence
that they are worthy and interesting… or maybe you just risk it all and do it and see what comes back….???

Thank you Susan.   You stir the pot.  More later....

So... what about you?   

Perri Yaniv's Declaration of Artistic Freedom

I, Perri Elbaz Yaniv, promote the will to create and recognize the need to work hard in order to recreate ourselves by *facing our challenges *and applying our sense of curiosity to the world. I am committed to *constant growth* by striving to improve our craft of acting, economize my sense of business, and deepen the connections to our own humanity every day by staying aware of opportunities to help others.

I am committed to bringing my best work to this industry by working *diligently, consciously, consistently, and creatively *by expanding my awareness and utilizing my best tools as an actor, and to generate working opportunities for other actors as a writer, director and producer.

I honor the Artistic Process as Divine, and strive to make the Realization of Creative Potential as Ritual.

www.perribazyaniv.com

How to avoid overwhelm... For Susan

Susan said she was feeling overwhelmed. She also asked about how much time the friend had to commit to.

You only need a friend sometimes. Not all exercises require a friend.  If you are shooting on your phone and don't have way to hold it.  They friend comes in handy.

The friend- does not have to be a big deal.  When I ask a friend (usually my non-acting neighbor who loves theatre.) to help me shoot an audition or read with me. I always say… 

"Do you have 45 minutes to read with me?   From 9- 945pm.  NO PRESSURE.  (I love you the same if you say no)"

I spend 15 minutes warming up.  SO I don’t waste their time.  Then I set a timer so they can leave at the appointed time.

  
Sometimes I get my neighbor or husband to read with me. My neighbor tends to be easier than my husband.   Someone to read with for your rehearsal is great.  But if push comes to shove I use the iPhone app called REHEARSAL made by David H. Lawrence. He's an actor and the app can be recorded into so you read with it.  Very clever .
 

All The equipment is available on AMAZON for the homemade studio.  

TAKE YOUR TIME.

Look at the humble studios other people set up. 

 

The way to keep from feeling overwhelmed is to plan to do  only what feels good.  A little stretch is good- PAIN is not.  

Most of all.  Stay PLAYFUL and keep your humor about the tech. Come back  another day if you get frustrated. 

And best of all.  ASK FOR HELP when you need it.  

TOP saying mean things about yourself if your tech goes wrong.  Treat yourself with the kindness you would treat a friend with. 

Carry on!

 

ROZ