Hello dear Blog and lovely readers,
Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote!
Firstly, I have been lucky enough to receive more funding for my trip to London. This time from the Ian Potter Foudation: Cultural Trust. With this extra help, it means I am able to afford my whole tuition and accommodation for the eight weeks that I am studying at RADA!! This is a huge relief for me and I feel very grateful!
So once again, I must say a huge thanks as this project would not be possible without the help of the Queensland Government through Arts's Queensland Career Devlopment fund
(to read more about it, look here http://www.arts.qld.gov.au/funding/career-dev-grant.html )
And the Ian Potter Foundation:Cultural Trust ( to read more about this look here http://www.ianpotterculturaltrust.org.au/funding-guidelines )
I've just been in the latest Youth Arts Queensland Newsletter and I'll be blogging about my expeirence with them aswell!
http://www.yaq.org.au/index.php/yaq-young-artist-profile-claire-pearson-actor-writer-producer?utm_source=YAQ+newsletter+subscribers&utm_campaign=f92cb69d48-YAQ_newsletter_18_May_20115_17_2011&utm_medium=email
So, the last preparations are happening. I am buzzing with excitement at the thought of the people I'll meet and the places I'll see. But mostly what I'm going to experience in this course on a personal level. I think for me, this time is going to be a huge reminder for me to know why I do what I do. For artists, and from my experiences of being an actor- times can get tough. When you're not getting parts, when you can barely pay rent and things aren't looking good- you do think- why am I doing this? I could have studied something far more conservative, got a stable job, have a dog and eventually own a house. Nothing is wrong with that- that's what most people do- and then you have the other thoughts like others being able to afford things you can't and the same people having experiences an artist may not be able to have, especially on a financial level.This can be easy to get distracted by. But in the end,I know if I were doing something else. If I distracted myself by trying to do something else I think I SHOULD be doing, it will always come back to this!
And...if it were all about the money, if it were all about security, one does not become an actor. Some actors get lucky, but most don't. Most just keep going, gig to gig and will never be a movie star or what most of the public deems "an actor"(for most people, and understandably, it is only big blockbusters or tv series that they see actors perform). But again, if it were all about that, acting is not the job for you. But to me, not even doing Acting just "for fun" is a good enough reason. If it's a hobby, sure, and of course, it's fun, that's why you want to do it. But there are too many hard moments to be doing it every day, in a profesional sense, just "for fun". There is more to it. It is the stories. It is about sharing. It is about education. It is about making moments and scripts, and plays and films that people relate to. It's about going through hard moments and seeing the good and the dark side of human nature, and finding out that no one is perfect.
It's about trying to find out what makes the world go round. That allows you to discover something new about yourself, or the person watching it to do the same.
The other way I get through the tough times (because, don't get me wrong, there are great times, big times, high times when everything is fantastic you feel great!Like say, right now, me getting these grants and going over seas) but then through the hard times, I always remember that I am not just an artist, but a business too- that I have a skills I need to wrok on everyday. So, this is why this training is so important to me. After doing this course, I will have another experience under my belt, another wave of inspiration and determination pumping through my blood! And become aware in so many ways why this is what I know I want to do. I don't care what people do with their lives, as long as they know they are doing something that will make them happy in this short life!
It's just nearly two weeks before I leave, and I am very nervous and scared, but also incredibly excited.
I'll keep you up to date where else I'm featured about the trip and of course when I arrive how everything begins at RADA!
Hear from me soon
xClaire
