Personal statement:
Acting is no exception to the disciplines I’ve taught myself. It’s an intuitive art amid all the technique. If you’d like to acquaint yourself with the product of my technical method, I challenge you to peruse my other work as well, but I wouldn’t be too preoccupied with training as you view my performances. Acting is connecting with an audience, after all, and people like Jennifer Lawrence are largely self-taught, too. I hope to connect with you. My end-goal, however, is to apply my energy and passion to a challenging and stimulating environment and learn under and work with prolific creatives, as well as to challenge the industry itself with my own journey and role as an exception to the rule in many more ways than one.
Reel:
Individual performances:
Short film “The Last House I Ever Robbed”, where I play as “Ryan”. Directed by Shutong Fan and Will Tao.
Playing as “Tom”, a veteran recounting some of his experiences from having served in Iraq, in the monologue, “Fighting In Iraq”, written by Joseph Arnone. In the author’s words:
“In this monologue, Tom talks to a few friends at a bar about his experiences fighting in Iraq.” Note I use many ad-libs in this one and some improv to promote my immersion in the character– does not line up with script in some parts.
Tom is a seasoned combatant and comes across as someone who is emotionally able to tell the tale rather than someone who, for example, actively suffers from the symptoms of PTSD. So, I portrayed him as someone who is able to deal with the memory of his experience as he relives it for a moment for his friends. They are in a bar, after all.
Playing as “John” in the monologue “Man Called John”, written by Joseph Arnone. John suffers from a physical deformity and talks about his recent experience with a fly with his psychiatrist.
In the author’s words: ” John has been seeing a psychiatrist to help him cope with his physical deformity. He shares a recent experience of becoming friends with a fly.”
Note my ad-libs deviate slightly from the original passage for the purpose of being natural.
My portrayal of John was informed by the nature of isolation and the fact that he was seeing a psychiatrist. He had a preexisting physical deformity – not a mental illness – but I felt he would have emotional / mental obstacles as well.
Playing as “Jordan” confronting a loved one in the monologue “It Could Have Been So Much Better”, written by Joseph Arnone. In his words:
“In this monologue, JORDON gives his final goodbye to his father after deciding he no longer wishes to talk to him ever again.”
To clarify, my personal family relationships are fine and I am only fortunate to have such a tremendous support system throughout my life. For a moment I connect with “Jordan” to feel his pain, and perhaps that of others as well.
I ad-lib a bit from the original passage for the purpose of being as natural and authentic as possible. My interpretation was that despite Jordan’s vulnerability, he is still a grown man who could deliver such a verdict while maintaining some degree of composure and stability.
