A Fabulous 14th Hollywood Players Actor's Group Workshop

February 10, 2013 was the 14th HPAG Workshop. 

We always do funny group shots. One goofy, the other serious! :)

INTRO
We started off in a circle and everyone introduced themselves and said three interesting things about themselves. 

WARM UP 
After a brief stretch, we did head rolls & shoulder rolls. 
Then we reached for the sky, touched our shoulders, then our waists, then our feet. Faster and faster up and then down. Good warm up.

After that we did the Limb Shake from the count of 8 on each limb down to 1.
We did some "shadow boxing" and then we had a 30 second Dance Party!

VOCAL WARM UP 
We began the vocal warm up with some face stretching and scrunching followed by lip trills.
We sang ME, MAY, MA, MO, MOO from low to high.
Then we sang "Doe a Dear". Not everyone knew it this time.
Then we sang "Row Row Row Your Boat" as deep as we could two times.

ACTING EXERCISES 
We did the "Mirror Exercise" where actors are paired up and one leads and the other copies what the other is doing. After a few minutes that that, we switch and the other one leads.  Always good for a laugh.

We followed that one with what I call "Attitude Walk". The actors walk across the stage expressing different attitudes.  The first attitude was 'suspicion'.  The second was 'peace loving'.  The third attitude was that we couldn't stop laughing our heads off.  That one was super fun!! :) Yay!

ORIGINAL SCRIPT READING (17 Pages)
This was an original script written by writer/director Douglas Knox who I know from "We Make Movies".  He's a pretty risque and racy writer. He likes to write about the dark side of life. This script was called "CREW SLUT".  It was about a couple of girls who travel with the band and basically sleep with the band members and the crew guys. Whoever will have them, basically. A new comer is on board and I played "Bubbly" who is a very bitchy, jaded wrangler of the crew sluts.
We had every role cast in the reading and it all got acted out on stage, well, except for the naughty parts. Thanks to the wonderful narration of Kristin Pickrell, we we able to envision every naughty frame.  Thanks to the cast for making Douglas Knox's material come to life.

The Cast of the Reading of "Crew Slut" written by Douglas Knox.

The cast included: Sebina Shah, Sebina Gavrilov, Kelly Mullis, TJ Wichman, Dennis Hodapp, Cheray O'Neal, James MacLeod, Michael Beardsley, Carl Rolle as a DJ and Kristin Pickrell as the Narrator. 

IMPROVISATIONS
Improv #:  Michael Beardsley plays a sales guy at one of those expensive tennis shoe stores where people line up to buy the latest, coolest brand of Tennis shoe.  There are 5 people in line, but Michael tells the restless, irritable group that there is only on pair left and that they must tell him why they need the shoes and he'll decide who they go to.

Well, Sabina Gavrilov starts to use sex to get the shoes, Azra and Sabina Shah who needs the shoes to run a marathon. They almost get into a fight over the shoes, TJ Wichman wants the shoes for his pet Camel who has bad knees. (what?) TJ just couldn't believe how mean everyone was being.  Kareema tries to tell Michael her reason in secret. It actually got pretty chaotic as most improvs with so many players will get, and Michael decided that no one was getting the shoes, that he was going to keep them! So there.  Great job everyone.

Improv #2: Starring Carl Rolle as the Judge. Cheray O'Neal as the R&B/Pop Singing Star, James MacLeod was her manager who Cheray had had a unsuccessful affair with that ended badly, Dennis Hodapp was James's Lawyer and Michael Beardsley was Cheray's lawyer. Cheray had broken her contract with James and was now going to work with Dr. Dre. This improv got pretty out of hand as well.  James and Cheray kept yelling at each other about their affair gone bad.  Carl kept yelling at everyone to shut up. Dennis the lawyer was trying to get a word in edgewise as he kept objecting to everything. Throughout the chaos, Cheray and James went back behind the curtain and implied that they'd 'made up' (via sex) and that they weren't going to sue each other after all.  So the case was dismissed.  Thank goodness!

COLD READINGS

"CSI:NY" starring Sabina Gavrilov, Dennis Hodapp, James MacLeod, & TJ Wichman. Sabina plays a wife who is separated from her abusive husband who has a temper. James and Dennis are detectives questioning Sabina about her relationship with her husband who as turned up missing. Later she is introduced to the man who saved her life who is TJ. Sabina did a wonderful job with the dialogue. She was very natural and they all sounded like they were being filmed for the show. That was the first time I'd seen Sabina Gavrilov act and I was very impressed.  The guys did great as the detectives on the case.

"Delirium" starring Cheray O'Neal, Carl Rolle, Dennis Hodapp, & Sabina Shah. Cheray was the star of this piece due to the difficult dialogue of the hard nosed Senator Hargrove. She's a smart as a whip, fast talking Senator who suffers no fools. Cheray made clear choices of who this woman was and commanded the scene. Dennis and Sabina played other Senators who really were no match to her strength of character in the scene. In a later scene with Carl Rolle as the Chair of the Security Sub-Committee brings the same strong attitude that Cheray has and the two have wonderful chemistry as they banter and discuss strategy. Great work everyone! I'd cast Cheray and Carl in those roles for sure!

"Killer Women" starring Kristin Pickrell and Azra Isakovic. Super cute scene. Kristen and Azra are long time friends discussing a guy that Azra has had a date with. They were intimate and Kirsten is teasing her about it.  They joke and chat as friends do and I just loved their chemistry.  Very cute girls! Good job.

 "Blood Relatives" starring James MacLeod and Sabina Shah. This was a wonderfully powerful scene where Sabina Shah comes home after drinking with friends and James is suspicious and pissed. James is always good as the angry lover. Sabina held her own as the woman who is really to ditch this relationship. It was intense and I loved every minute. I didn't want to scene to end. Great work! 

"Vegas" starring Michael Beardsley and Dennis Hodapp. Michael Beardsley plays the head of the Casino who has come to talk to Texas Billionaire about an issue he has with a guest at the hotel who has supposedly stolen a watch that has been in Dennis's family for a long time. Dennis is pissed and wants to take his business elsewhere.  I felt that this scene was perfectly cast.  At the end of the scene, Dennis's watch is returned to him by Michael, but Dennis goes to another Casino anyway. Great work you two! 

"Sylvia Plath Monologue" by Kareema. Kareema did a great job with this monologue. She sounded really natural. Her eyes didn't know where to plant themselves and she missed a couple of opportunities for some great emotional moments in the monologue. All in all, she did a wonderful job. We'll work on this in the next workshop until its perfect! 

"Company Town" starring Carl Rolle, Azra Isakovic, & Cheray O'Neal. Carl plays a Marine who is a jet mechanic and also seems to be a 'therapist' to his crew member who are ladies. He's a compassionate soul and likes to help everyone. Azra is especially difficult in the scene and asks Carl why is he so nice when she is clearly not nice. Then at the end of the scene Azra got really emotional and started crying. I guess she really felt some emotions come forth in the scene. It is always beautiful when that happens.  Carl did wonderfully well.  Cheray's character was vulnerable in the beginning of the scene with Carl. It was lovely to watch.

Cheray: "My dad wanted a boy."

Azra: "Why are you so nice? I'm not nice."

"Vampire Diaries" starring Kareema, Sabina Shah and TJ Wichman. Kareema plays a witch who knows Sabina Shah's mother, who is a Vampire. Kareema is trying to take a spell off of TJ who is practically reeling and convulsing on the sofa in pain. I was worried about him, because he was really giving it his all. Kareema was creepy and sinister as the witch. Sabina was wonderful with the dialogue, super natural. Can't wait to see more of her work! 

Kristin Pickrell's Audition for Musical with James MacLeod. Kristin had an audition for a musical the next day and wanted to run her scene for us.  She was reading for the lead character of Nicole who is an ambitious singer who wants to put on her own show. She approached James's character to compliment him on his wonderful singing and lyrics and thinks they could possibly pair up. Kristin wasn't giving it her all. We all gave her notes that she needed to be more like SUNSHINE and smiley. After some work and further direction after the workshop, she finally nailed it and her final performance gave me chills.  I hope she gets a callback. I loved directing her in that scene. Cheray O'Neal was helpful as well getting Kristin to the perfect place for the scene! :) yay!

"Emily Owens MD" starring Michael Beardsley, Kristin Pickrell, Cheray O'Neal, and Kareema.  Kristin plays a funny pregnant woman who is in the hospital to have her baby checked on. Michael is her overly protective, loving husband. Cheray is the doctor who gives Kristin an ultra sound. Suddenly there is a problem and nurse Kareema is there to tell the doctor what the stats are. There is chaos and a quick decision must be made to get the baby out. Cheray explains the dangers of getting the baby out early. Michael wants to save his wife and demands that they do the procedure. Kristin is worried beyond belief!  Everyone committed to their roles and I loved the entire scene. Great work to you all.

"Anger Management" starring Dennis Hodapp, TJ Wichman & James MacLeod. Dennis and TJ work on a soup line. Dennis tells TJ that he's homeless but about the life he used to have when he wasn't sleeping on the streets.  TJ feels so bad that he give Dennis some money and wants to give him more. "Here, please I feel bad, I have so much!" TJ says to Dennis as he shoves money in his hand. Dennis was so endearing as the down and out man. TJ was super compassionate.  James plays a lazy soup kitchen worker with a bad attitude who was a war vet. He and Dennis talk about their time in the war.  It was a very good scene.  Wanted to see more of it!

"Client List" starring Sabina Gavrilov, Michael Beardsley, and Azra Isakovic. Michael Beardsley plays the funniest character in this scene. He's a flamboyant wedding planner who loves to introduce himself.  Sabina is the bride to be and her wardrobe session is interrupted by a very upset Azra, who doesn't have time for the ridiculousness of Michael.  The girls seemed like they were in a very different scene then Michael, but it all worked in a brilliant way.  I loved the commitment of the character by Michael! Sabina was great as the harried bride to be and Azra made the scene all about her and her issue at hand. It was perfect casting!  Loved it!

Michael: "You look divine. Ostrich truly brings out your cheekbones."

Michael: "Leslie Kinkaid, wedding planner extraordinaire." Michael killed that character!

Monologue performed by Sabina Gavrilov. Sabina did an impassioned monologue where she tells her boyfriend that he's not what she thought he was and at the end she yells for him to "Get OUT!" It was quite powerful. Great job Sabina! You need to be on TV!

There you have it!  All the fabulous details of the latest HPAG Workshop!

Come out and play with us!  The next Hollywood Players Actor's Workshop is on:

FEBRUARY 17th from 3-6 at the COMPLEX's Shepard Theater! 
If you want to sign up and get on the LIST, please send me a message on facebook,
text me at 323.428.3739 or email me at:  kellyart@pacbell.net

Easy as that!  Workshops are only $20. 

If you are a writer and want to bring something in to see it read, just contact me!

Hope to see you all on the STAGE!!!

Thanks for Reading!

Kelly Mullis, Artistic Director
Hollywood Players Actor's Workshop.

That is one crazy ORB on my sweater! I think this group is blessed!

In this shot, we imagined that butterflies were flying all around us! :)

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY's HPAP's 13th Workshop!

Powerful workshop by the Hollywood Players Actor's Group.

Can't you see that we are SERIOUS ACTORS?!!

INTRO
We did the individual Self Introductions today. Everyone said a bit about themselves and how they found their way to the HPAG Workshop!  

WARM UP
After some stretching, we did some running in place, jumping jacks,  & scissor kicks.
Then we threw a fake baseball into the middle of the circle.
We tossed the fake baseball around to each other in the group, sense memory.
Then the ball became a bowling ball.  Sense Memory changed. 

VOCAL WARM UP
We did some vocal warm up by doing LALALALALA, low and then high then back to low.
Followed by some FAFAFAFAFAFA, low then high then back to low.

Then we did some "FE FI FOE FUM, I smell the blood of an Englishman!" 3 X.

Then we did some British Dialogue:
"Hello, how are things?"
"Fine, thanks, how are you?"
"Well, I've been better."
"I'm sorry."
"That's alright."

(that was kind of funny!)


ACTING EXERCISES
We did some Meisner Repetition.  Always a good warm up.

Then we did something super fun.  We beat each other up....in a fake acting way, of course.
We did fake stage slapping and punching. It was so fun to do and watch!
Someone would sit in a chair like an interrogation and the other person would fake slap or punch them. The one getting hit would have to respond accordingly.  The actors were slapping their own hands for the great sound effects!
When I did my interrogation, I did a Russian accent and it was so fun! :)
Sharon Spence beat me up.  Good times! 

Dennis is rolling up his sleeves to give it to Sharon Spence. No one was harmed in this exercise!

IMPROVISATIONS
Improv #1: starring Andy Wasif and Michael Beardsley playing two guys watching the Super Bowl Game having a chat about their dating life.  Andy tells Michael that he's met a great gal and they have really hit it off and that she's Japanese.  Then Michael says he met someone as well and she's also Japanese. Then Andy suggests that they have a double date and mentions his ladies name.  Michael can't believe his ears....they are dating the same girl.  Michael goes a little crazy and Andy talks about the 'man code'.  It was quiet funny! 

Improv #2: starring Patrick Duncan and Sharon Spence.  Patrick is sitting on the sofa watching "Finding Bigfoot" when his wife Sharon comes into the room and drops a bomb on him. She says that her friend Shelia was at the same conference that Patrick was at and shows him a photo that her friend took of Patrick and "Patricia" talking very closely at the conference.  He tries to brush it off by saying that she was asking him a question about something at the conference. Then Sharon says, yes, but then Patricia sent me this photo of you two.  She shows Patrick and the gig is up! Sharon makes him leave and he's bummed because he can't watch the rest of his TV program.  Busted! :) Good stuff you two.

Improv#3: starring Kelly Mullis and Dennis Hodapp. Dennis plays a very wealthy oil tycoon who has agreed to take a meeting with a Hollywood Producer played by Kelly, me.  I thank him for taking the time to meet with me and explain that I have a few projects I'd like to pitch to him for possible financing. He gets a call and has to take it.  It's business.  After he gets off the phone, I pitch the first film about Alien Spaceships that hover over LA, New York and, of course, Houston, Texas. He loves the idea. I explain that Aliens that look like Giant Ants will come down and infiltrate the human race until all humans are destroyed.  The next film I pitch stars Matthew Mcconaughey and I talk about his recent weight loss, but that now he looks normal again.  Then Dennis has to make a call.  "Hello honey, yeah, it's me, I've got a guy from Hollywood here pitching me some films. I'm gonna be late for dinner."  When he hangs up, I say, "Did you just call me a guy?"  He looks me up and down. "I'm staying at the Four Seasons if you'd like to talk about this further." Next thing I know, he's swiped  his desk clean of the scripts and papers and we embrace and act like a couple of teenagers going at it!  Totally didn't expect that! Super funny.  Really great work Dennis.  :)

COLD READING SCENES 

"Twelve Monkeys" starring Michael Beardsley and Sharon Spence.  Michael plays Cole a person in a mental institute who isn't sure what year it is. He thinks he's in the future.  He wants to get out of there badly. Sharon plays his therapist.  She was wonderfully compassionate and patient with crazy Michael who played his role perfectly, sitting on the floor and in a silent panic state.  I loved it.

"Blue Bloods" starring Dennis Hodapp and Patrick Duncan. Patrick plays a group counselor for cops. Dennis plays Danny who arrives late with a bad attitude. He doesn't want to be there and just wants to get it over with. He'd rather be using his time to solve an important case. The banter between the cop and therapist goes on.  Both Dennis and Patrick did a stand out job with their attitudes and convictions of the characters.  I'd love this piece to be worked on. I love the writing.  Great job guys!

"Kate & Ben" starring Patrick Duncan, Andy Wasif and Dennis Hodapp. This was a very funny scene where Patrick plays a Teacher who is trying to plan out the School Prom. Andy who plays Ben in this scene volunteers to make the Prom the best one ever. The only problem...they need more money. Patrick says he can get about $25 more dollars.  Andy is excited because he thinks that means $2500. Wrong! LOL! Dennis played Andy's friend in the scene. They did a really great job.  Patrick and Andy have the most wonderful comedy chops! Great work!

"Kidnapped" written by Kelly Mullis, starring Dennis Hodapp, Michael Beardsley and Kelly Mullis.  This is a scene that I wrote with hopes of shooting for my demo reel. Michael plays a bad guy who as kidnapped me and taunts me in the creepiest way possible.  I have my hands restrained and recoil his advances towards me. He tries to kiss me and I bite his lip, then he slaps me. At that moment Dennis comes in and yells at Michael for being inappropriate with me.  He apologizes to me and explains that there's been a mistake and that he would like to compensate me for my troubles. I loved acting out this scene with Dennis and Michael. They both did stellar jobs as their characters. I was really impressed with both men.  I felt that I did my role pretty good as well. You'd have to ask the audience for sure though!  So fun! 

"Vegas Baby" starring Andy Wasif and Michael Beardsley. Michael and Andy are in Las Vegas! Michael is ready to have a wild time at the strip clubs.  Andy promised his girl friend that he'd not go to any strip clubs.  Michael gives Andy a shot of booze to loosen him up.  Turns out that Andy starts acting really weird and saying strange stuff because what Michael did was accidentally gave Andy a hit of acid. Hilarity ensues. Great work guys! ;) Funny stuff.

"Austin & Alley" starring Sharon Spence, Kelly Mullis, and Andy Wasif. Kelly plays a young singing sensation who is supposed to be meeting a new Producer at a coffee shop.  Sharon is my manager and when Andy comes in to the coffee shop, she waves him over to me.  I am hyper and overly excited when I meet Andy and I hug him and explain that I'm excited to meet him. Then we go into the studio and I start playing some of my original songs on the keyboard for him and singing my very cheesy lyric, only to find out that he's the wrong guy. He was only there to interview for a job at the Coffee Shop. Cute scene.  I think it went very well.  My co-stars were wonderful! 

"The Glades" starring Patrick Duncan, Kelly Mullis, Andy Wasif and Dennis Hodapp. Andy and Dennis play a couple of guys at a bar where Kelly is a 'shot girl'. Andy wants to meet the girl on cardboard cutout.  Kelly is pretty bitchy and says that the girl on the cutout only goes out with rich guys with fast cars. Andy shows Kelly his keys proving he has a Beamer and she takes the keys away from him saying they've had enough to drink.  Patrick plays the detective that comes to question Kelly about what she knows about the 'missing girl' from the cardboard cutout.  Turns out that Kelly's been cashing her dad's pension checks even though he's been dead for quiet some time. Kelly and the missing girl have some kind of secret business they are in. Kelly gets busted by Patrick for Fraud. Yes! Good scene. Great writing. Great characters! I want to do that scene again and get off book on it. It could be super good!

"The Marriage Lists" starring Sharon Spence, Dennis Hodapp and Kelly Mullis. Last scene of the night. Kelly and Dennis play a unhappy married couple.  Sharon is our marriage counselor! She gave us homework to make lists of the things that we don't like about each other.  Impatient Dennis wants to go first and rattles off his list of Kelly's annoying traits.  Sharon asks me if I would like to defend what he said.  I tell her, "No, that list is completely right."  Then she asks me to read off my list, but I panic when I realize that I'm missing pages 23 & 24.  Clearly my list is really long!! I ask to go to the car to see if they fell out in the back seat and Sharon asks Dennis, would he like to add a few more things to his list.  Very cute scene.  Very fun to act out with Sharon and Dennis. Loved it.  Thanks guys.

That concludes yet another fabulous Hollywood Players Actor's Group Workshop!
You never know what fun things will occur at this workshop!

If you'd like to join us for the next workshop on Sunday,  February 10th 3-6 PM, please send me an email to kellyart@pacbell.net or call 323.428.3739 to get on the list for next Sunday!

Thanks for reading!

See you on the Stage,

Kelly Mullis, Artistic Director
Hollywood Players Actor's Group