Archive by Author

Directing Reel

Leave a comment Continue Reading →

Sanford Meisner – The Theater’s Best Kept Secret – A Documentary in 7 parts

Grabbing this from John Ruskin  – an intimate look at Sanford Meisner through a documentary in 7 parts. John is a wonderful teacher and someone who was fortunate to have been chosen to be Sandy Meisner’s first apprentice, then taught at the Neighborhood Playhouse; now John runs the Ruskin School and Theatre, its LA representative.   […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →

Spotlight on: Gabriel Luna

A talented actor or other such artist who’s recently grabbed my attention: Gabe came to my attention very recently in casting the Syfy TV pilot, Rewind. He seemed to come out of nowhere and blew us all away. He’s from Austin, Texas and starred in a film, Dance with the One, out of Texas, directed […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →

The Secret to Success in the Audition Room via “my Backstage article”

Backstage Article by Risa on The Secret to Success in the Audition Room Have a read — wrote this for Backstage this week. “… We’re hoping for and needing you to show up completely in control, self-possessed, fully who you are, ready, and eager to work. We want to see you. We want to know […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →

In the Company of Naked Wounds

“to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.” – e.e. cummings As 2011 became 2012 loads of ‘end of the year’ and ‘new year’ writings materialized […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →

Spotlight on: John Pollono

A talented actor or other such artist who’s recently grabbed my attention: John Pollono photo by Kris Korn John Pollono came to my attention a few months ago when I saw what was the best piece of theatre I’ve seen in years. He not only wrote the play – Small Engine Repair – but starred […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →
Ryan Gosling and Dead Man's Bones 2010

Opening the Door to our Artistry (from Brains of Minerva)

I wrote this article is for Brains of Minerva in August 2010, one of my favorite sites. I want to share it as it’s something, in reflection, I strongly believe: Read below or Article: What is it about what we do that we love? What makes us do this thing? This acting thing. How much is it artistry? How […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →

Gaslight – A message to Women – You Are Not Crazy (from a man)

This is an article for all women. And men oughta read it too… taking on the burden of “something being wrong” with us. We are not crazy, no matter how easy it is for others to convince us that we are. Or weak, or too emotional, too sensitive, too defensive… have a read… by Yashar Ali […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →

The Thanksgiving of Community

I’ve never really gotten this Thanksgiving day thing… as a Canadian I wasn’t raised with it and it always seemed forced and obligatory.  Yesterday I was dreading it – ritual and consumption without meaning.  But this morning I woke very early, slipped outside into the quiet of daybreak, and breathed in the expectant air of […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →

The Essence of Myself

I’m in need of seeing myself. Really looking in the mirror and recognizing who I am.  I sometimes try to do that – and recall acting exercises from college – but easily get confused, tense, scared. I see my mother. I see my “face” with its deep lines and baggy jaw, but I don’t know […]

Leave a comment Continue Reading →