This week, I found myself staring at the bookshelf in my room. Unlike the one in my living room, filled with historical fiction, crime thrillers, epic fantasies, and beloved novels, this one holds my treasures: acting books from legends like Sanford Meisner and Uta Hagen, books on auditioning and acting careers (and survival!), actor memoirs from those who inspire me (Viola Davis - signed copy! š and Bryan Cranston - absolute genius), and more. There are books on voice, movement, improv, writing, and the history of theater and film.
As I stood there, I realized I've only read maybe 10 out of the 100 books on that shelf. I need to fix this! Without feeling overwhelmed, of course. So, Iāve decided to create a reading plan and choose the first books to dive into.
The bonus this reading quest gives is that I'll have a clearer idea about what I want to say in this blog week to week.
Every Saturday evening, I write a newsletter for my part-time job as a beauty specialist, sharing skincare advice that I hope inspires my clients. The joy in someone's eyes when they feel more confident because they took care of their skin...it's a heartwarming feeling! This routine has reminded me how much I love writing. I used to take classes in creative writing, poetry, and journalism, often as the youngest in the room since I took the classes at college and university campuses while still in high school. I even served as editor-in-chief of my high school paper. Somewhere along the way, I slowed down, but my enjoyment of writing never did. I still have a ton of ideas for screenplays and plays just waiting to come to life.
I know reading about writing and acting isnāt the same as actually writing and acting. But these books, filled with insights from the greats, are like mini-masterclasses. Together with actual performance, these books are tools to keep me in shape as an actor, much like how singers, dancers, and other artists and athletes continuously train to stay ready for any level of performance.
So, here I am, ready to dive into these acting and writing books, strengthening my foundation to bring those ideas to life. Iāll share my reflections and updates in future blog posts, keeping you all in the loop on my progress.
Anyway, enough rambling for now. Iām excited about whatās to come and canāt wait to share more soon! šāØ