Donna, congratulations on your amazing film experience with George and company! Thank you for sharing your incredible week with us. I can’t imagine what it was like to be acting in a Hollywood “A” film— to possess the conviction, calm and confidence that you are up to the task, that you have earned your screen time with that stellar group! Ultimately, you were prepared for this moment all along by fighting through pain and setbacks, and using each difficulty as a springboard to another level– and connecting to and learning from others who excel, no excuses. Bravissima, Donna! Viva Diva! -CK
My Curtain Call With Clooney- Grit and Glitter
Thank you in advance, allowing me to share these life lessons and what moves us. As we all know, this is way more than Hollywood, a book, and time spent with George Clooney. This whole story has taken on a life of it’s own and I have gotten more positive feedback than ever with these last few emails. Covid times calls for dreaming bigger… Thank you for dreaming with me!
OPEN DOORS (see what I connected to the pic above 🙂
So it makes me wonder, what is it that intrigues us universally? What universal themes strike a chord? And what is it that makes Clooney so universally appealing and just so likable?
Compassion
Connection
Charisma
The movie- Tender Bar wrapped for me this week and left it’s own unique mark on my life and my path. Being “hand picked by George Clooney”, being in a small room- think local bar with Hollywood (Ty Sheridan, Ben Affleck, Daniel Ranieri, and Lily Rabe) and acting with them on George’s cues was terrifying, thrilling, mind bending, and right thing right time in a way that I cannot describe but so palpable. Ben Affleck was my Bartender “Uncle Charlie”. Google Daniel Ranieri to see how he was discovered, he was the main character J.R. as a boy.
What really stands out is CHOICE– I made specific choices, from the audition to the choices on set: to add to the other actors performances, to not detract from the scene, to add subtlety and nuance, to stay calm, to intensely focus and listen to the Director George Clooney, who made each day a life lesson.
Each day, began with a 3am wake up, my own hair and makeup, on the road by 4:30am, Covid tests in a RV, off to set for wardrobe and more hair, and then showtime. Wearing clothes from the 70’s and 80’s, smoking herbal cigarettes, and enough hairspray for 20 women, I didn’t exactly feel glamorous but full of purpose. SHOWTIME
SO what is IT?
IT is GRIT! When you do the work to be selected, make the choices, calm and quiet the nerves and inner voices of fear, do the thing, and get rewarded by someone sooo many respect, you not only keep hope alive but you have surpassed your own expectations of what is possible for you. It is more than acceptance of an audience and when it lives on film or in print you get to relive what brought you to this moment in your life. GLITTER
What does winning mean to you? What does it feel like?
How do you keep hope alive? Isn’t it the pursuit of a bigger goal?
How do you focus on your process and your training to go beyond the day?
Not all moments are created equal but how we prepare for them, invest in THE moment, show up and focus is the real “show”. It has a beginning, middle and end, and it is memorable and rewarding when you really dig in.
Compassion– We are human beings who all struggle, dream, rise and fall. If we keep the focus on trying to make ourselves just a little bit better than the day before and put our heart and soul into our interactions, others will feel inspired and at ease. Open the door for someone, practice random acts of kindness, and say thank you.
Charisma– “A compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others”. This is the palpable part… being in a room with George Clooney and these A listers, you feel the pull toward something bigger, and you want to know more, learn more, and experience more. A few times before takes George would say “ok, ok, now which one of you is going to screw this up” and we would all laugh… sometimes he would point out that Ben, “Mr. Sexiest Man Alive” according to People Magazine – would be the one to screw it up. This “choice” was to let us all feel human, know mistakes happen & retakes are inevitable. This, actually enhanced performance and your wanting to “not screw up”. So much to say here…
Connection-Spent about 10 days, with 25 or so Actors, I had never met. Now feel like we’ve known each other for years- “movie magic”….the natural bonding that takes place when things are at stake and when we are all contributing to a greater something. It is our interrelatedness and affinity toward something bigger than ourselves.
The Tender Bar “what a stunning memoir it is-hearfelt, overflowing with longing, topped off with joy, despair and, above all, compassion for the human condition”
As the curtain closes for now…. I am left with a deeper appreciation for the moments we have.
Don’t wait or deliberate, this is it. This is the show!
*If you have made it this far, I would love to hear from you, send me a smile, a word of whatever you would like :)* I will send you a surprise Click here for your GIFT
Would love to see you in class this morning at 10am Free Sunday Triogo Yoga
Know that I have some very specific training plans coming soon!!!
Stay Tuned…
