Natalie Joy's Musings

3/25/2005


This is more or less a test... to see if I'm technologically advanced enough to post a picture to my blog. Though, it does serve another purpose... now you know (or are reminded of) what I (and Stewart) look like! Posted by Hello

(un)Originality

Though I really should be doing homework, I've decided to blog-about a bit... hoping that it clears my mind of useless information (for you to read) and allows the smart "me" to peak through (which you won't see... at least today.)

I was reading my friend Kris' blog yesterday, after creating mine, and realised that my title is not at all original. I thought I used the word "musings" because I like it... now I realise that it's actually in the title of his blog and that I must have assimilated the word, used it as my own and forgot how completely uncreative I actually am.

I have to be honest - I've been going through a serious creative block recently. Ok... if I'm going to be really honest, it's not a recent event but a 7 month long one!!!

I'm in month 7 of my Masters degree in Directing for the Theatre. Coincidence?

I'm doing all the work, the readings, the practical exercises...
I'm getting great feedback and construction criticism...
The students are eager and happy to work with me...
Then why has my favorite saying become "There's nothing like a MFA in Directing to make you feel like you can't direct!"

My friends tell me that I'm too hard on myself, that it's difficult to be creative when you have such specific time constraints, that I should just shut up and enjoy myself since I'm only one of two people who are in this program, that loads of people would kill to be in my shoes.

Maybe this is just a rite of passage. You know, how some poet can't write unless they're in a state of depression. Like playwright's who can't create unless they're so poor they're writing their scripts on scraps of paper napkin. Like arts students who complain so much about their lack of inspiration that they procrastinate by writing uninteresting blogs about how difficult their life is when really they should buckle down get some work done and stop complaining!

oh...

A bit of positive news...
I will be stage managing for Sable and Batalion during the Fringe Festivals in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton. From the super-talented boys who brought "Job:The Hip-Hop Musical" to stages everywhere comes their new show "Hip-Hop 4 Dummeez". Should be a great time. And should also keep me very very busy - what with me and Stewart performing in 52 Pick-up in Ottawa and Winnipeg as well. I'm looking forward to it.

Ok - enough procrastinating - I'll go be creative elsewhere now!
Until next time,
NjQ