Ceara Comeau's Blog: Lessons From A Struggling Writer - Posts Tagged "acting"
Acting Authors
Another month in the books, and what a month it was! I started filming the short YouTube series, “The Sadie McAllister Files” with my Book Sisters Productions partner, Killarney Traynor. It has been a month full of filming, set design, and interviews!
And in the mix of all the excitement and packed schedules, I had some time to sit down with the actresses of this series and talk to them about their characters and life outside of the film. One, in particular, struck a chord with me.
I was speaking with Elsa Kurt, another fellow author. And one question that came up was how she felt acting and writing actually work together. Last month I talked about how writing and filmmaking could go hand in hand, but what about the acting part? Elsa believes that acting and writing help each other out. And I got to thinking about the origins of how I began writing, I remember being thirteen years old and listening to music in my parents' big backyard. I’d find myself jamming out to whatever song I felt fit a scene I was trying to write. The next thing I knew, I would be acting out a character with my “invisible” acting partner (which usually ended up being a tree or an unsuspecting squirrel).
Throughout this month, I have found myself reflecting on that time. And during the moments where I have to actually act in a scene for “The Sadie McAllister Files,” I feel like I’m in my backyard again, but I traded in the squirrels and trees for lights, camera…and of course, people.
And in the mix of all the excitement and packed schedules, I had some time to sit down with the actresses of this series and talk to them about their characters and life outside of the film. One, in particular, struck a chord with me.
I was speaking with Elsa Kurt, another fellow author. And one question that came up was how she felt acting and writing actually work together. Last month I talked about how writing and filmmaking could go hand in hand, but what about the acting part? Elsa believes that acting and writing help each other out. And I got to thinking about the origins of how I began writing, I remember being thirteen years old and listening to music in my parents' big backyard. I’d find myself jamming out to whatever song I felt fit a scene I was trying to write. The next thing I knew, I would be acting out a character with my “invisible” acting partner (which usually ended up being a tree or an unsuspecting squirrel).
Throughout this month, I have found myself reflecting on that time. And during the moments where I have to actually act in a scene for “The Sadie McAllister Files,” I feel like I’m in my backyard again, but I traded in the squirrels and trees for lights, camera…and of course, people.
Childhood Dreams
Imagine this…
It’s summer of 2006 and you’re driving down a lonely road in the rural town of Acworth, NH. About ten miles back you convinced yourself you were on the right track to your destination. But now, the road has become narrow, a river is to your right, and thick woods to your left. There seems to be no one around for miles to ask for directions. You slow your car down as it bounces over some unexpected potholes. You’re about to find the next available U-turn when you look off to the side and see this grand, beautiful yard. But that’s not what catches your attention. It’s the thirteen-year-old girl who appears to be dancing to the beat of her own drum, literally. You think it's nice that she’s getting fresh air and has no care in the world, but you continue to drive on by, seeking your destination.
That little girl barely noticed you, she didn’t have a care in the world because she was not in this world. She had her headphones in her ears listening to a song that resonated with a story she was writing. And, she wasn’t dancing—she was acting. She was imagining how her characters would respond to a scene while at the same time imagining the actors who’d play the roles in the future live-action movie. This girl had so many dreams—this girl was me!
If you had told me all those years ago that I’d be filming my pilot episode in that very same backyard, I’d have been so confused and probably doubtful, “Who’d care about my Amber Oak stories?” I might have said. If you’ve followed my blogs, you probably have noticed that my writing journey has been a long and bumpy one, and one that will never be over as I am always writing still in some way or another.
The truth is, filming had been something I always wanted to do. In fact, when my mom found out how to self-publish my work when I was 15, I was honestly indifferent. Publishing didn’t matter to me so much as imagining the people who’d become the characters in my head. I found so much joy in my friends helping me act out scenes.
As I get ready to start filming this coming weekend, I reflect back even on the journey of getting into film. It was bumpy as well and I’ve faced so many challenges already. But the support from my friends, family, and even cast has been so encouraging. Even though I’ve been planning this for months, it feels so surreal to me. The characters aren’t imaginary anymore, they’re real.
Ever since I finished the last “Amber Oak” book, something had been nagging at me, I’d work on other stories and it’d be fun for a while, but I still kept thinking back on Amber and what she’d be doing right now. I’d ask myself the “what if's” and two summers ago I could almost hear her say to me, “My story isn’t done yet, it’s just beginning!”
I’ve met a LOT of people on this long journey to making Amber become real. And every single one of them helped me in their own way. So, to those who gave me my “wings” and to those who taught me how to use them…Thank you!
It’s summer of 2006 and you’re driving down a lonely road in the rural town of Acworth, NH. About ten miles back you convinced yourself you were on the right track to your destination. But now, the road has become narrow, a river is to your right, and thick woods to your left. There seems to be no one around for miles to ask for directions. You slow your car down as it bounces over some unexpected potholes. You’re about to find the next available U-turn when you look off to the side and see this grand, beautiful yard. But that’s not what catches your attention. It’s the thirteen-year-old girl who appears to be dancing to the beat of her own drum, literally. You think it's nice that she’s getting fresh air and has no care in the world, but you continue to drive on by, seeking your destination.
That little girl barely noticed you, she didn’t have a care in the world because she was not in this world. She had her headphones in her ears listening to a song that resonated with a story she was writing. And, she wasn’t dancing—she was acting. She was imagining how her characters would respond to a scene while at the same time imagining the actors who’d play the roles in the future live-action movie. This girl had so many dreams—this girl was me!
If you had told me all those years ago that I’d be filming my pilot episode in that very same backyard, I’d have been so confused and probably doubtful, “Who’d care about my Amber Oak stories?” I might have said. If you’ve followed my blogs, you probably have noticed that my writing journey has been a long and bumpy one, and one that will never be over as I am always writing still in some way or another.
The truth is, filming had been something I always wanted to do. In fact, when my mom found out how to self-publish my work when I was 15, I was honestly indifferent. Publishing didn’t matter to me so much as imagining the people who’d become the characters in my head. I found so much joy in my friends helping me act out scenes.
As I get ready to start filming this coming weekend, I reflect back even on the journey of getting into film. It was bumpy as well and I’ve faced so many challenges already. But the support from my friends, family, and even cast has been so encouraging. Even though I’ve been planning this for months, it feels so surreal to me. The characters aren’t imaginary anymore, they’re real.
Ever since I finished the last “Amber Oak” book, something had been nagging at me, I’d work on other stories and it’d be fun for a while, but I still kept thinking back on Amber and what she’d be doing right now. I’d ask myself the “what if's” and two summers ago I could almost hear her say to me, “My story isn’t done yet, it’s just beginning!”
I’ve met a LOT of people on this long journey to making Amber become real. And every single one of them helped me in their own way. So, to those who gave me my “wings” and to those who taught me how to use them…Thank you!
Childhood Dreams
Imagine this…
It’s summer of 2006 and you’re driving down a lonely road in the rural town of Acworth, NH. About ten miles back you convinced yourself you were on the right track to your destination. But now, the road has become narrow, a river is to your right, and thick woods to your left. There seems to be no one around for miles to ask for directions. You slow your car down as it bounces over some unexpected potholes. You’re about to find the next available U-turn when you look off to the side and see this grand, beautiful yard. But that’s not what catches your attention. It’s the thirteen-year-old girl who appears to be dancing to the beat of her own drum, literally. You think it's nice that she’s getting fresh air and has no care in the world, but you continue to drive on by, seeking your destination.
That little girl barely noticed you, she didn’t have a care in the world because she was not in this world. She had her headphones in her ears listening to a song that resonated with a story she was writing. And, she wasn’t dancing—she was acting. She was imagining how her characters would respond to a scene while at the same time imagining the actors who’d play the roles in the future live-action movie. This girl had so many dreams—this girl was me!
If you had told me all those years ago that I’d be filming my pilot episode in that very same backyard, I’d have been so confused and probably doubtful, “Who’d care about my Amber Oak stories?” I might have said. If you’ve followed my blogs, you probably have noticed that my writing journey has been a long and bumpy one, and one that will never be over as I am always writing still in some way or another.
The truth is, filming had been something I always wanted to do. In fact, when my mom found out how to self-publish my work when I was 15, I was honestly indifferent. Publishing didn’t matter to me so much as imagining the people who’d become the characters in my head. I found so much joy in my friends helping me act out scenes.
As I get ready to start filming this coming weekend, I reflect back even on the journey of getting into film. It was bumpy as well and I’ve faced so many challenges already. But the support from my friends, family, and even cast has been so encouraging. Even though I’ve been planning this for months, it feels so surreal to me. The characters aren’t imaginary anymore, they’re real.
Ever since I finished the last “Amber Oak” book, something had been nagging at me, I’d work on other stories and it’d be fun for a while, but I still kept thinking back on Amber and what she’d be doing right now. I’d ask myself the “what if's” and two summers ago I could almost hear her say to me, “My story isn’t done yet, it’s just beginning!”
I’ve met a LOT of people on this long journey to making Amber become real. And every single one of them helped me in their own way. So, to those who gave me my “wings” and to those who taught me how to use them…Thank you!
It’s summer of 2006 and you’re driving down a lonely road in the rural town of Acworth, NH. About ten miles back you convinced yourself you were on the right track to your destination. But now, the road has become narrow, a river is to your right, and thick woods to your left. There seems to be no one around for miles to ask for directions. You slow your car down as it bounces over some unexpected potholes. You’re about to find the next available U-turn when you look off to the side and see this grand, beautiful yard. But that’s not what catches your attention. It’s the thirteen-year-old girl who appears to be dancing to the beat of her own drum, literally. You think it's nice that she’s getting fresh air and has no care in the world, but you continue to drive on by, seeking your destination.
That little girl barely noticed you, she didn’t have a care in the world because she was not in this world. She had her headphones in her ears listening to a song that resonated with a story she was writing. And, she wasn’t dancing—she was acting. She was imagining how her characters would respond to a scene while at the same time imagining the actors who’d play the roles in the future live-action movie. This girl had so many dreams—this girl was me!
If you had told me all those years ago that I’d be filming my pilot episode in that very same backyard, I’d have been so confused and probably doubtful, “Who’d care about my Amber Oak stories?” I might have said. If you’ve followed my blogs, you probably have noticed that my writing journey has been a long and bumpy one, and one that will never be over as I am always writing still in some way or another.
The truth is, filming had been something I always wanted to do. In fact, when my mom found out how to self-publish my work when I was 15, I was honestly indifferent. Publishing didn’t matter to me so much as imagining the people who’d become the characters in my head. I found so much joy in my friends helping me act out scenes.
As I get ready to start filming this coming weekend, I reflect back even on the journey of getting into film. It was bumpy as well and I’ve faced so many challenges already. But the support from my friends, family, and even cast has been so encouraging. Even though I’ve been planning this for months, it feels so surreal to me. The characters aren’t imaginary anymore, they’re real.
Ever since I finished the last “Amber Oak” book, something had been nagging at me, I’d work on other stories and it’d be fun for a while, but I still kept thinking back on Amber and what she’d be doing right now. I’d ask myself the “what if's” and two summers ago I could almost hear her say to me, “My story isn’t done yet, it’s just beginning!”
I’ve met a LOT of people on this long journey to making Amber become real. And every single one of them helped me in their own way. So, to those who gave me my “wings” and to those who taught me how to use them…Thank you!
Be Your Own Actor
Well, the first episode of Amber Oak is a wrap and the premiere dates are set. I gotta say, now that things are winding down, I’m so happy to get back to writing. Of course, mainly writing scripts, but to be honest it feels like I’m taking a little vacation. Lately, I’ve been getting so many ideas for future Amber Oak scripts and some ideas for the third book in the trilogy. It may have a lot to do with the amount of creative inspiration I’ve been around.
I’ve always said that people inspire me and that stands true to this date. I have been around so many actors with this first episode and seeing them put their all into the character they portrayed—even adding to their character—that’s been so inspiring to me! With the scripts we have planned for next year, I started thinking to myself, how would the actor act this out or can I see them acting this way?
I think that a part of this new endeavor isn’t just writing scripts or trying to take the story and put it into script form, but also how I think the actor would act the scene out. Whenever I used to write stories, I would always imagine the most famous actors I could think of and wonder how they’d work the scene. Now, I’m doing the same thing, but it’s a tiny bit different than I expected. Sometimes the dialogue that I write sounds different in my head than when I have someone say it, and in a way that helps me iron out my writing a bit better. When I was younger, my dad would always tell me to read my stories aloud to hear if there were any inconsistencies or issues. I never had the patience for that, but now, I’m forced to think heavier on the dialogue than anything else. There have even been times on set where the actors look over a line that they’ve memorized and say, “Wait, did I memorize this line wrong?” and come to find out, I just wrote it in a weird way.
So, all this to say—to my fellow writers and aspiring writers…regardless of what kind of story you are writing, make sure your writing makes sense. It’s great to imagine famous celebrities acting out our worlds, but it makes it a whole lot easier if the writing (particularly dialogue) flows smoothly. So, be your own actor and act out that scene! 😊
I’ve always said that people inspire me and that stands true to this date. I have been around so many actors with this first episode and seeing them put their all into the character they portrayed—even adding to their character—that’s been so inspiring to me! With the scripts we have planned for next year, I started thinking to myself, how would the actor act this out or can I see them acting this way?
I think that a part of this new endeavor isn’t just writing scripts or trying to take the story and put it into script form, but also how I think the actor would act the scene out. Whenever I used to write stories, I would always imagine the most famous actors I could think of and wonder how they’d work the scene. Now, I’m doing the same thing, but it’s a tiny bit different than I expected. Sometimes the dialogue that I write sounds different in my head than when I have someone say it, and in a way that helps me iron out my writing a bit better. When I was younger, my dad would always tell me to read my stories aloud to hear if there were any inconsistencies or issues. I never had the patience for that, but now, I’m forced to think heavier on the dialogue than anything else. There have even been times on set where the actors look over a line that they’ve memorized and say, “Wait, did I memorize this line wrong?” and come to find out, I just wrote it in a weird way.
So, all this to say—to my fellow writers and aspiring writers…regardless of what kind of story you are writing, make sure your writing makes sense. It’s great to imagine famous celebrities acting out our worlds, but it makes it a whole lot easier if the writing (particularly dialogue) flows smoothly. So, be your own actor and act out that scene! 😊
