News/Blog
November 18, 2011Getting ready to head south with Alan to continue our build in Mexico. Remember I am available via email OR for coaching via SKYPE - bernadette.s.jones ($75.00 per hr + HST). I hope the winter is kind to you all. And that production continues to be as healthy as it has been this past spring to early fall. Wishing you great success! In your life ... and your art.
August 31, 2011
Starting tonight with the next 6 week AUDITION GYM! Remember: to read 'Inspirations' as well as 'thoughts & notes' on this web site for the most recent tips on acting which I post from time to time to share more insight into the work.
And I want to congratulate some of the actors in current and recent group classes as well as those who do private audition coaching with me for their recent successes: Jane McLean for two bookings - 3 episodes on 'The Transporter' and guest starring on 'Flashpoint', Sergio de la Rocha for landing two commercials: Canadian Tire and Ontario Tourism, Frank Chiesurin a principle role on 'Flashpoint', Carlo Essagian with yet another principle role on 'Flashpoint' and Ronnie Rowe for landing the lead in an indie short film for York University.
And special congratulations and good luck to John Ralston for his Gemini Nomination for 'Living In Your Car'.
June 1, 2011 - Two weeks into the AUDITION GYM and we are having a blast! New faces and others returning to keep in shape with their audition skills! After the first class returning actor Ayesha Mansur booked a roll on the new series "Against The Wall" - and it may be recurring! Congrats to a hard working actor who deserves it!
This session we have 2 cameras in class one run by my assistant Sergio de la Roca which is as always, recording the work each actor does on a DVD to be taken home, with all the adjustments and notes I have given for the audition presented in class that week. The other camera manned by Nathaniel Fox-Pappas (an up-and-coming film maker) is recording the the teaching sessions for possible use for inclusion on this web site or for that long awaited DVD on How to Audition for Camera that I have been asked to do for many years and may finally get done!
Alan and I are continuing Spanish lessons with the amazing Miguel in Mexico via SKYPE! A great tool that I am sure actors will be using more and more to get coaching for important auditions - even when I am not in Toronto.
APRIL 26, 2011 - Back from Mexico and coching for camera auditions already! The house in Mexico is going well. Great workers, great people, great food and of course great weather (sorry). It is a very different lifestyle there in central Mexico (not at the beach). Families still play together and work together with all generations participating. It was wonderful to see hip young people mixing with thier younger siblings and parents at picnics and pools where we were renting a 'casita' with a lot of laughter shared by all. I think I heard a baby crying perhaps two times in my 3 1/2 months (yes, it was that long a time away) in Mexico. Our experience was to witness a very hard working people and it is not 'manana' there either, as the cliche goes - however sometimes things are not as immediatly available as we are used to in our big city life. Sometimes because a part needed for whatever had to be made because the real thing was not available. Much ingenuity and 'making it work' exists in all areas of industry. It is fascinating to observe.
We miss being woken up by the many birds and cows mooing as they were being milked nearby early in the morning. Ahhh, Mexico. Wish you had been there.
HOLA de Mexico! Once again Alan and I are in Mexico. We are enjoying the sunshine and the blue skies...sorry... We have recently 'broken ground' on the house we are building here and are very excited about seeing progress this year. Who knows - classes in the sun in the future? I hope all who are visiting this site are staying warm and inspired. And remember I am only a SKYPE away if any big auditions come along while I am gone. bernadette.s.jones is my SKYPE address.
Hasta Luego!
- 2011 ON CAMERA AUDITION GYM : Starts again MAY 24 & 25/2011for 6 weeks!
AND CONGRATULATIONS!
I am very happy to hear about recent successes and creative activity from those who get coached and have studied with me recently. If you have more good news – please send it along!
• Lisa Ray stars in “Cooking With Stella” a Canadian feature playing NOW at Canada Square & Kennedy Commons cinemas! I urge you to support your fellow Canadian actors in Canadian films!
• Rachael Ancheril – got booked on “Connor Undercover”. They remembered her from a previous audition that she did but did NOT get. It must have been a good one, because they booked for this role without an audition!
• Cory Lee – will be a new face on “Degrassi”. Remembering her from previous audition too!
• Lara Kelly – just booked a role on “Flashpoint”. She said it was “fun” – I love to hear that!
• John Ralston - is the lead in “Living In Your Car” which premiers Friday, May 7th (HBO Canada). And keep watching to see Ronica Sajnani in one of those episodes too. They loved her audition for the East European rooming house owner so much, they changed the script and character description for a South Asian! **See more details below.
And in theatre:
• Richard Periard has initiated the production of two great one act plays at the Tarragon: “Lone Star” and “Who Am I This Time” which open May 11th. Besides Richard (who does appear) you will also see Sergio de la Rocha and Heather Dick in the show.
• Chris Seivright is in “The Ultimate Sacrifice” 3 performances only. June 25, 26 27. Looks like it will be dynamic and gritty.
Rachel MacMillan came in for coaching on a theatre audition and booked the new play, "Innocence" that will be seen at this year's Fringe Festival.
March/April finishing up in Mexico:
Listening to the pounding surf at Ixtapa camp ground. There are some perfect waves today, or so the surfers are reporting. And so it seems, as I watch them take the long rides on their boards. Ah...Mexico. If you checked upcoming Spring Classes on this site, you will see that I have had to delay the start of classes by 1 WEEK. We have some business to do before returning. It isn't ALL fun and surf, but it has been a wonderful trip.
Nuestro Espanol es un poco mejor - con la ayuda de sus maestros Miguel y Monica al Guadalajara Language Centre. Gracias!
It's likely that what I just expressed isn't perfect...but, learning a new language is like striving to do great acting - you can't be afraid of making mistakes! You must jump in with both feet and risk making a fool of yourself. It's exciting once you get over the initial plunge into the unknown.
I hope to see many of you when I return in April!
Hasta Luego,
Bernadette
February/March in Mexico:
It has been a busy time for Alan and I in Tlaquepaque, Mexico studying Spanish. I love being a student again, and the teachers are terrific, but wish learning another language at this stage was a lot easier. However, as we all know, nothing we really want to do well is easy. There is the Guadalajara film festival on now and hoping to catch some exciting films there. And Arthur Miller's "Todos Eran Mis Hijos" (All My Sons) is playing next week in Spanish, so we intend to go to that too. Mexico, and Guadalajara in particular, is a wonderfully creative and culturally rich place to be in. I feel very blessed to be able to experience it. See you in early April!!
MEXICO 2010! Alan and I arrived in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico to celebrate New Years Eve. In the first few days of the new year, we were immediately enrolled in a huge fundraising project my friend Roseann is producing here. So, I became director of the first act of a Lip Sync show called "Wink, Wink, Lip Sync!" It has a cast of about 40 local personalities who have volunteered and I have had a lot of fun directing and choreographing them to do their 1950's songs with gusto. Opening night is tonight, so wish us luck! The event's proceeds will go toward improvements in the local 'auditorio' (where the event is being held) and to Music Scholarships for Mexico students. So - you see, I am not just lying in the sun here - but got put to 'work' right away. Lots of fun and for a very good cause! Oh yes - Alan is doing the opening number: lip syncing and tapping to 'Rock Around The Clock'!!
THE CALGARY AUDITION SKILLS INTENSIVE A BIG HIT in July 2009! And we are planning another for July 2010! Keep checking 'Classes' on this site for more details.
Werewolf Tango is now in post production and I have to thank all the cast (Lisa Ray, Chris Owens, Tom Mellisis, Roger Clown and Ronica Sajnani) and crew for making it such a worthwhile experience for me. The film is looking great and will notify all when it is going to air on BRAVO! Fact.
The Log (working title) documentary continues to be developed and more footage was in a small village in England in late June. More to do - more to create on that project!
I am always interested to hear what your latest projects and adventures have been. So, email me when you get the chance.
Bernadette/July 20th, 2009