Yes, I am in still living and working in South Korea and, Yes, I am still alive...obviously. The real question on everyone's mind (mind included) is, am I in danger living here and, to intensify matters, so incredibly close to the DMZ? My answer? I have no idea. One day I feel great and completely safe, the next I'm scoping out hiding places and heavy blunt objects I might be able to use as weapons in case of an attack. So, it's really a day to day thing here in English Village. We stay on top of all the News stories and receive regular updates from the U.S. Embassy here in Seoul, which, by the way, just sent out an email saying:
"that despite current political tensions with North Korea there is no specific information to suggest there are imminent threats to U.S. citizens or facilities in the Republic of Korea (ROK)"
Ok. Well, that makes me feel a little better. However, I am a little unnerved by the ambiguity of the phrase, "no specific information," meaning that there have been, of course, many threats made by NK but not specifically against places like English Village, perhaps. I hope they're correct. Because I have 4 months to go in this village and I intend to live and prosper while I'm here!
Oh ya, did I mention that I will returning to Los Angeles on or around July 30th? Exciting news, right? That is, unless, I somehow break into the Korean TV and Film industry between now and then, which, by the way, is booming according to all the filming I have seen here at EV. This place is like the Universal Studios Backlot in Korea - almost every weekend there is an entire film crew here filming who knows what so be sure to watch the Korean channel for cameos of EV and, who knows, maybe a few "waygooks" like me that accidentally slipped into the background of a shot...
That's it for now. Until next time,
Keep it real, kind and follow your bliss!
- Brian
Yes, you read that correctly... On June 5th, 2012, I will begin a 13 hour journey to 16 hours in the future. Huh?! I am moving to Paju, South Korea where it is 16 hours ahead of my beloved California and a 13 hour plane flight. "But Why?!" I hear you asking. Well, because I have always had a strong desire to travel the world, learn new cultures, new languages, and hopefully gain the wisdom and well-roundedness that explorers throughout history are famous for. And because I booked a great job there. For one year, starting on June 13th, 2012, I will be acting with a theatre company at Gyeonggi English Village in Paju, South Korea (about 1 hour north west of Seoul). Our aim: to immerse Koreans in the English language through story-telling - i.e. Plays and Musicals. At GEV, all the productions we perform are original works created and developed by the company itself. So, this epic move will not only allow me to see new, exotic and vastly different places but also gain tons of creative experience both as a continuing Actor and also as a Director. And someone once told me that become a better actor, one must become a better director first - and the same is true the other way. Regardless of whether or not that is actually true, I will at the very least be coming back with new skills and a broader understanding of the world.
Bon Voyage!
-BPW
About 9 days ago, the Clifford tour ended in Schenectady, New York and I promptly moved back home to Southern California. There is something about spending countless hours in a tour van trekking across the United States for 5 months that makes you appreciate home so much more...
Well, I'm back! And it's great to be home. Now... What's next?
I am currently waiting to board my plane to Rutland Vermont where I will be spending the next 10 days. The fun part is that the plane is a small puddle jumper equipped with two propellars old school style... Here goes nothing!
Rehearsals resume tomorrow!
Just a quick note...
"Santa" just brought Mr. BPW here a ZOOM H2N professional recorder/microphone. What this ultimately means is that I am one more, large, step closer to recording some great audio demos, both musical and otherwise, for you to enjoy while visiting this site! Yay!
So, please do keep checking back for new special updates. I do go into tech soon so no promises for the next few weeks...
-BPW
In about 3 minutes, it will be Christmas Day! What an exciting time of year. I am currently visiting family and enjoying a wonderful vacation away from the craziness that is NYC... On Monday, however, I leave for Vermont where my current show, Clifford The Big Red Dog, will finish rehearsals and officially open on January 6th! This will be the world premiere performance! (I love being able to say that) Also... the cast and I will be releasing an Original Cast Recording of the Clifford Soundtrack! My very first professional Cast Album. On a side note... I just watched the documentary, "Finding Joe," last night and it was one of the most inspirational and motivational films I have ever seen. It was true Bliss! Not only am I spending time with my wonderful and supportive family and filled with "Holiday Cheer" but I am now completely "Blissed Out" from this film. If you need a pick-me-up, rent or buy this movie online. Findingjoethemovie.comWell... 4 minutes past midnight. It's officially Christmas! One day, hopefully soon, I will record a Christmas album. First, though, I need to record a few demos and post them to this site. I know, I know! SOON! In closing, I'd like to share one of my favorite quotes from the movie: "I want to sing like birds sing.
Not worrying who listens or what they think."-RumiHere's to a spectacular, positive, bliss-filled New Year and "Singing like Birds..." -BPW
Hey all! Tomorrow is my last performance of Metamorphoses at Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier, Vermont. Recently, we have been playing to almost sold out houses as the word of this spectacular production has spread around town! Today or tomorrow I will post a video of the Storm Scene in the Ceyx and Alcyone section of the play. I play Ceyx, a young King, who has decided he must take a sea voyage to visit the Oracle and check in with the Gods to ensure the safety of his Kingdom. During this voyage, the winds, with all their fury, are unleashed by Aeolus, God of the Winds, and combine with Poseidon and his henchman to wreck Ceyx's ship and drag him down to the underworld... Since our production has a much different set in that we have chosen not to have a large central pool, staging the Storm had to be much different than past productions. We decided to utilize all the various levels, platforms, climbable poles, an oval swing, the small pool and our wooden ramp as Story Telling tools to create the world of the Ship, the raging water, the torrential rain and the inevitable wreck and demise of the Vessel and it's men. The video that I will be posting shows the many different phases the Storm went through from the beginning of rehearsal to the end. It is not very good quality as it was taken on my Flip camera but it will hopefully give you a taste of the magical experience Metamorphoses at LNT is... and, after tomorrow, was. In other news... Less than a week from now, I will be living in NYC! Finally! I have been fortunate enough to work consistently since I graduated in the beginning of May of this year and now, five months later, I am finally continuing on with my plan to move to NYC and take my Acting career to the next level. I already have a possible next project that I will be working on shortly but I must keep it all Hush, Hush until it all works out for sure, so keep checking back! I also have Professional Representation brewing and will keep you updated on that as well... I'd like to add a personal pursuits/interests section to my blogs as well so here goes... My current reads: - A Game of Thrones (book 1) by George R.R. Martin
- Aleph by Paulo Cohelo
Most Recent Movies Watched: - Three Musketeers
- Drive
- The Room ("Your tearing me apart, Lisa!")
Current TV Shows I am following: - Boardwalk Empire
- Homeland
- Mad Men (Season 1)
- Terra Nova (guilty pleasure)
That's it for now! Thanks for reading and check back for further updates as my next exc
Sept. 20th I start rehearsals for Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses at the Lost Nation Theatre in Montpelier, Vermont. I'll be playing several characters some of which include: Ceyx, Phaeton (son of Phoebus Apollo), Orpheus and Philomen.
I am SO excited to take part in this production. I have seen this show twice before and have always wanted to tackle this beautiful and poignant play. Plus, the entire stage is a giant pool of water that the characters go in and out of throughout the play. It is based on an adaption of Ovid's epic poem of the same title about several Roman and Greek myths.
For more information and ticket sales, please visit Lost Nation Theater's website at:
www.lostnationtheater.org
On Monday, 10/25/10, I started a Low-Flying Trapeze workshop at the University of Connecticut as a part of my MFA Actor training.
Low-Flying Trapeze is much different than the traditional "Circus Trapeze" in that it only has a single anchor point allowing it to spin and move much more freely around the space and hangs much lower to the stage, usually around 4-5 feet from the ground. It is used primarily as a tool to enhance Dramatic productions and performance pieces rather than for acrobatic stunts. For example, a NYC based theatre company, Matchbook Productions, just finished an adaption of William Shakespeare's Richard II all done on Low-Flying Trapeze! Below is a link to a video example of Low-Flying Trapeze in action!
Leigh Miller, a MFA graduate from the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, CO., is teaching the workshop for the next 2 weeks as well as sharing the CRT stage in our production of A Flea in Her Ear (opening Dec. 2, 2010 at CRT).
I hope to post some pictures and videos of my own Trapeze experience soon! Until then, click play below for a preview.
Yay for publishing my Website!
I hope you enjoy browsing around and please excuse the lack of content, I am still in the process of gathering together all of my Portfolio material.
Check back for updates and please do not hesitate to contact me!
BPW
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