Hello all! My name is Donny. I am an aspiring actor, and I am happy to say that I am applying to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. As I am currently working on my application, the essay question is making me go around and around in circle. The essay question is "Please attach a brief essay about your goals and objectives. (Minimum 250 words)". I am almost finished, but I don't know if my essay is TOO wordy, should it be shorter, and does it flow well? Down below is my essay which is halfway finished. I still need to type a paragraph to conclude everything Please let me know what you guys think, I would love the feedback!!!
Thanks!!!
"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless -like water." This was one of the many famous quotes from a master, Bruce Lee. With the message teaching us how to be flexible and adaptable when necessary. I'm sure this quote can be applied in many different situations in our life, and I wish to use this quote as an aspiring actor. I believe that if I am able to attend and train at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, I will have a solid foundation that will allow me to be a well rounded truthful actor. To become an actor is a goal of mine that I feel will teach me more about myself, others, and the world. Ever since I saw the movie "The Dark Knight" the ambition and desire of becoming an actor have been inflamed within myself. Being an actor will give me the opportunity to wear the shoes of someone other than myself using my imagination and creativity.
Like a lot of children growing up especially in the 90's, I was exposed to a lot of crazy and bizarre movies and television. Though, I do have brothers and sisters, it felt as though I was an only child because we didn't grow up in the same house. Also, since there weren't many children my age in the neighborhood, I needed to rely on playing with my family, toys, and watching TV to keep me entertained. When my parents weren't busy working, we would always go to the movies which was and still is a big pastime in my life. After watching some of those movies and TV shows, I would find myself pretending what it would be like if I were in the place and situation of the characters that I loved and admired so much. Along with drawing and writing, pretending is something I loved to do to express myself. When I was younger, I would turn chairs over, put a blanket over the chairs, and create a parade with my toys pretending as if I was a ring master for a circus. Sometimes, I would even pretend as if I was a clown, cowboy, paleontologist, a samurai, or even a Power Ranger. I guess the source for me being so imaginative like this was thanks to the pre-school that I attended. They encouraged us to use our creativity and role play to learn more about what was being taught to us. As I grew older, after watching a movie I would instead find myself asking what would the characters do if they were in my situation. In 2008, the movie "The Dark Knight"came out. There was something about the trailer that interested me, and that was the Joker. I was drawn, fascinated, and was in dire need for more of Heath Ledger's performance. It was unlike any other character I have seen before. Like a focused tiger daring to prey on an elephant, I wanted to understand his performance of such epic size. When I finally saw the movie and researched more into Heath Ledger's life, curiosity got to me and the acting bug bit me.
Like all aspiring actors in high school I decided to take a drama class to get my feet wet. It was a good foundation, but I still didn't realize my passion for acting until I was in my very first play. I had auditioned for a One Act Festival at a local community theater called GAC(Greenbelt Arts Center), and was offered a role in a one act play called "The Magic Dream Machine". Compared to the other acts, it was a play that was catered to children or better yet the children in all of us. At the heart of it the story the theme was to teach us how important our dreams and imagination are no matter how old or incapable we are. Even though it was a minor role and I had to pantomime for the entirety of it, I found great pleasure. Being able to rehearse, explore, develop, and perform with others aiming toward the same goal was an experience like none other. I was happy to be accepted and to use my creative ideas in such an expressive outlet. Weeks later I was offered a role in a play called "Greenbelt Voices" at GAC. It was comprised of reflective stories from residents of the town called, Old Greenbelt where the theatre is located. Here I was told to memorize a monologue that I would perform by myself. It worried me and I was unsure about how I was going to do it, but I was excited and up to the challenge. My monologue was from someone who viewed the town as a "Wonderland", very unique and out of place. It made reference to particular landmarks and locations throughout the town to help emphasize how bizarre things were. So I decided to explore these areas to get an idea so that I can make a connection to my monologue and character. As I wandered around getting a sense of the area, I learned that I loved doing the research that felt that I had needed. It felt like I was on an adventure of discovering what else is out there besides my immediate surroundings. To explore and appreciate something-a piece of life that I wouldn't have a care in the world for otherwise. That's when I learned about creating and exploring a character which is one of my favorite things that I love about acting.
Since I graduated high school, I have been depending on my raw abilities alone which have provided me with wonderful opportunities and learning experiences as an actor. I do have confidence in saying that there has been growth in myself and my artistic outlook, but I just can't help but feel that they're is still uncharted potential in myself that I have yet to have tapped into. Its odd because if I were to find myself in situations when I am by myself or at some kind of social event, I find it easy to put on a "mask" and let my imagination run freely. My mind, body, and creativity is very relaxed which can allow me to adapt or respond properly as I am learning and taking in my surroundings. When I act I feel as though I am doing just that "acting" not "being". Especially, during auditions I feel very self-conscious of what I am doing when I'm "acting". It feels as if, I am not giving my all and limiting myself. I wish to learn how to be open, relaxed, natural, and fluid in reference to the Bruce Lee's quote like water. I believe that, if I am able to hopefully attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, I will learn to be natural and develop a way that allows me to better access my imagination,creativity, my surroundings, and myself without being too self conscious. With all of those things, I believe that I will be able to portray a character truthfully.
As I find myself still trying to grow and develop, it wasn't until I made a new found discovery that really taught to respect acting as a craft and art form. It wasn't until I saw Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will be Blood", Robert DeNiro in "Taxi Driver", and Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront where my palette for acting and movies grew and became sharper. As I watched these guys perform, I was completely astonished as I was when I saw Heath Ledger's Joker. I decided to find out who these actors were, and watched a few interviews and read a few biographies about them. After all of this I asked myself how? How can they reach such depths? How did this person completely change? How is it that Daniel Day-Lewis and Daniel Plainview the person? As I tried to put all of the pieces together I learned that they all had one thing in common, a great foundation of training and discipline. I reflected on my myself to understand what I was lacking, and realized that I need to become open and flexible so that I will be able to take a character to great depths like the actors that I admire.
Being trained will teach me how to become committed in my choices and how to properly use my instrument. Learning more about the essential instruments needed, my voice, body, speech, and mind I can achieve and reach different layers. To learn how to act while being truthful to the character, theme, and author. To explore different times, periods, and places will give me the first layer of understanding a character. Along with dialects and martial arts, fencing is a skill that I would love to take up. Since I'm fond of fighting with swords and the types of swords, fencing I believe will teach me more about discipline and grace.
Thanks!!!
"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless -like water." This was one of the many famous quotes from a master, Bruce Lee. With the message teaching us how to be flexible and adaptable when necessary. I'm sure this quote can be applied in many different situations in our life, and I wish to use this quote as an aspiring actor. I believe that if I am able to attend and train at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, I will have a solid foundation that will allow me to be a well rounded truthful actor. To become an actor is a goal of mine that I feel will teach me more about myself, others, and the world. Ever since I saw the movie "The Dark Knight" the ambition and desire of becoming an actor have been inflamed within myself. Being an actor will give me the opportunity to wear the shoes of someone other than myself using my imagination and creativity.
Like a lot of children growing up especially in the 90's, I was exposed to a lot of crazy and bizarre movies and television. Though, I do have brothers and sisters, it felt as though I was an only child because we didn't grow up in the same house. Also, since there weren't many children my age in the neighborhood, I needed to rely on playing with my family, toys, and watching TV to keep me entertained. When my parents weren't busy working, we would always go to the movies which was and still is a big pastime in my life. After watching some of those movies and TV shows, I would find myself pretending what it would be like if I were in the place and situation of the characters that I loved and admired so much. Along with drawing and writing, pretending is something I loved to do to express myself. When I was younger, I would turn chairs over, put a blanket over the chairs, and create a parade with my toys pretending as if I was a ring master for a circus. Sometimes, I would even pretend as if I was a clown, cowboy, paleontologist, a samurai, or even a Power Ranger. I guess the source for me being so imaginative like this was thanks to the pre-school that I attended. They encouraged us to use our creativity and role play to learn more about what was being taught to us. As I grew older, after watching a movie I would instead find myself asking what would the characters do if they were in my situation. In 2008, the movie "The Dark Knight"came out. There was something about the trailer that interested me, and that was the Joker. I was drawn, fascinated, and was in dire need for more of Heath Ledger's performance. It was unlike any other character I have seen before. Like a focused tiger daring to prey on an elephant, I wanted to understand his performance of such epic size. When I finally saw the movie and researched more into Heath Ledger's life, curiosity got to me and the acting bug bit me.
Like all aspiring actors in high school I decided to take a drama class to get my feet wet. It was a good foundation, but I still didn't realize my passion for acting until I was in my very first play. I had auditioned for a One Act Festival at a local community theater called GAC(Greenbelt Arts Center), and was offered a role in a one act play called "The Magic Dream Machine". Compared to the other acts, it was a play that was catered to children or better yet the children in all of us. At the heart of it the story the theme was to teach us how important our dreams and imagination are no matter how old or incapable we are. Even though it was a minor role and I had to pantomime for the entirety of it, I found great pleasure. Being able to rehearse, explore, develop, and perform with others aiming toward the same goal was an experience like none other. I was happy to be accepted and to use my creative ideas in such an expressive outlet. Weeks later I was offered a role in a play called "Greenbelt Voices" at GAC. It was comprised of reflective stories from residents of the town called, Old Greenbelt where the theatre is located. Here I was told to memorize a monologue that I would perform by myself. It worried me and I was unsure about how I was going to do it, but I was excited and up to the challenge. My monologue was from someone who viewed the town as a "Wonderland", very unique and out of place. It made reference to particular landmarks and locations throughout the town to help emphasize how bizarre things were. So I decided to explore these areas to get an idea so that I can make a connection to my monologue and character. As I wandered around getting a sense of the area, I learned that I loved doing the research that felt that I had needed. It felt like I was on an adventure of discovering what else is out there besides my immediate surroundings. To explore and appreciate something-a piece of life that I wouldn't have a care in the world for otherwise. That's when I learned about creating and exploring a character which is one of my favorite things that I love about acting.
Since I graduated high school, I have been depending on my raw abilities alone which have provided me with wonderful opportunities and learning experiences as an actor. I do have confidence in saying that there has been growth in myself and my artistic outlook, but I just can't help but feel that they're is still uncharted potential in myself that I have yet to have tapped into. Its odd because if I were to find myself in situations when I am by myself or at some kind of social event, I find it easy to put on a "mask" and let my imagination run freely. My mind, body, and creativity is very relaxed which can allow me to adapt or respond properly as I am learning and taking in my surroundings. When I act I feel as though I am doing just that "acting" not "being". Especially, during auditions I feel very self-conscious of what I am doing when I'm "acting". It feels as if, I am not giving my all and limiting myself. I wish to learn how to be open, relaxed, natural, and fluid in reference to the Bruce Lee's quote like water. I believe that, if I am able to hopefully attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, I will learn to be natural and develop a way that allows me to better access my imagination,creativity, my surroundings, and myself without being too self conscious. With all of those things, I believe that I will be able to portray a character truthfully.
As I find myself still trying to grow and develop, it wasn't until I made a new found discovery that really taught to respect acting as a craft and art form. It wasn't until I saw Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will be Blood", Robert DeNiro in "Taxi Driver", and Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront where my palette for acting and movies grew and became sharper. As I watched these guys perform, I was completely astonished as I was when I saw Heath Ledger's Joker. I decided to find out who these actors were, and watched a few interviews and read a few biographies about them. After all of this I asked myself how? How can they reach such depths? How did this person completely change? How is it that Daniel Day-Lewis and Daniel Plainview the person? As I tried to put all of the pieces together I learned that they all had one thing in common, a great foundation of training and discipline. I reflected on my myself to understand what I was lacking, and realized that I need to become open and flexible so that I will be able to take a character to great depths like the actors that I admire.
Being trained will teach me how to become committed in my choices and how to properly use my instrument. Learning more about the essential instruments needed, my voice, body, speech, and mind I can achieve and reach different layers. To learn how to act while being truthful to the character, theme, and author. To explore different times, periods, and places will give me the first layer of understanding a character. Along with dialects and martial arts, fencing is a skill that I would love to take up. Since I'm fond of fighting with swords and the types of swords, fencing I believe will teach me more about discipline and grace.