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Welcome to the B. Blog! What's happening right now with me will ALL be seen here. Upcoming performances, auditions, any and everything to do with my journey as a professional actress.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Fix Your Face.

June 22, 2015- Fix Your Face.

Imma go 'head and put this out there, and for the record I think women are definitely more guilty of this than men, but our facial expressions speak way before our mouths.

This is easy: have body awareness. Nonverbal cues are real, people. And hey, not only check yourself on them, but be cognizant of those around you as well. Read body language and gestures. Use your sense of awareness to gauge a situation prior to engaging. This is a very simple principle for anyone to follow. As artists, we are asked to project what we see through the medium in which we choose i.e. film, photography, music, dancing, etc.

As a performer, facial expressions are just as important to my element of performance as what comes out of my mouth. Connecting the two are what most actors seem to forget. You can be full of emotion verbally but physically you are a blank canvas or vice versa. To be honest, this very fact alone is why I think every actor, green (new) or not, should invest in their craft and take classes. You won’t know what your downfalls or areas of improvement are until you put them to the test . Get in front of an industry professional or on a simpler note: just take a look in a mirror.


Brit

Twitter: @Broadway_B

Friday, June 5, 2015

Healthy Artist, Happy Artist.

June 5, 2015- Healthy Artist, Happy Artist.

A healthy artist is a happy artist. And being healthy is not just a physical thing. It has so much to do with your mental state of mind. Keeping yourself at bay. 

A little transparency coming at you: I used to be an extremely angry person. Like down to the core, “a true firecracker, sharp tongued, always on the edge” kind of woman.  I would use my tongue and say WHATEVER I wanted when I wanted it. Of course, my bubbly personality was the perfect counter to this, as I used to call it, alter ego. But it took me mentally strengthening myself to figure out that all of that built up animosity was because... there were things that I was highly upset about within myself that I didn't have control over. I didn’t know how to deal with them or let them go: events of the past, broken hearts, lost friendships, lack of family support. The big one: people would say and talk to me ANY kind of way and I never stood up and defended myself. I didn't know how to speak up for me. I can go on and on. It even transferred over into my acting. 

I remember going to a workshop and the presenter noticed my love for my craft right away. She saw my skill set and vivaciousness, but she knew I had deep secret. Something I tried to keep underwraps but gradually was boiling up. Thinking about it, she actually hit the nail on the head when she said that this was easy for me. Being angry or high strung on emotion was a natural for me. Not spiteful or hateful, but just immensely frustrated. She could point out that in me. How? Later, she revealed that was a symptom that she used to possess as well, and earlier in her acting career she was typecasted into certain roles. I never want to get to that point. Nevertheless, I became frustrated with her. She knew I had much talent and was blind, at times, by anger. And she was right: my temper used to give me headaches and depression. Terrible anxiety attacks. Exhaustion. I lost people who were close to me because of it. To others, like directors or other actors, they thought it was brilliant! “Look at the power and performance!!” Surprisingly, I was good at mellowing out in public and at work but MAN, to the people who knew me—it was another story. 

The day Brittney decided to take control of her anger is the day my "alter ego" died. I sought out help for myself. I didn't want to be that "angry black woman" in real life. (Laughs) Seriously I only want to portray her as a “character” and then put that chick away . It's crazy how now when I get upset... I feel so out of my body. It is so foreign for me to escalate and go off the handle like that anymore. 

And now as an adult I can smile to myself. Well about a couple of things:

1) I have learned to balance myself and use my experiences and personal traits in my characters as a choice and NOT as a “go-to”

2) The unhealthy stage of rage is not a part of me anymore.

I share this to help you know and understand that you must take care of yourself. No one else will give you the care you need like you will for yourself. Keep your mind and body in shape.


Brittney

Twitter: @Broadway_B

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Identity.

June 2, 2015- Identity.

How do you identify with the world and things around you? Are you more of a hands-on person or the silent observer in the corner? Nothing is wrong with either, of course. But ask yourself how do you approach the world at large? Some people would say that actors don't identify with their surroundings or others fully because we are always in "character" or taking on a facade.

Funny: the very way we learn how to emulate and embody characters is to be one with our environment.

Ask Yourself: Is your identity yours? Or is it what others have made you feel like you are? I am asking this because as artists we must be able to have our own identity. Know who we are and what we represent. And yes, over time your interests will change; it is inevitable. I am not saying you have to know every facet of yourself right now, but aim to have your art represent who you are at your truest.

SIDE BAR: This is my 100th Blog entry! I am so proud of this minor yet meaningful accomplishment in my life!


Brit