The Speech

A few powerful words.  Enjoy.

Do not name it, or make it perfect! Because you will ruin it!

The easiest thing to do is label something, give it a name, so that we can describe it and make it into a solid "something" that everyone now must call it.  That isn't something we have to do.   By naming it, we have only made it into something different then it was.  We took away the possibility of it being something way better!  Now it will never get the chance to be anything else more than what it is right now.  You never stop changing, but you can stop learning. If you know all you want to know and think it is all there is to know, then you are only aware of a small % of the knowledge left to learn.

Now ponder that for life, your decisions, your religion, your goals in life, your everything.

As for acting, think about it in respect to the scene.  If it is an angry scene and you name it an angry scene, then you have taken out so many levels of what all the scene can be.

Behavior.

Life is created not by words or dialogue.  It isn't real because you say the right words.  It's your intent your behavior.  Don't just be a good liar.  Create truth.

Don't get comfortable.

Many people are afraid of change, and I am hear to tell you that being too comfortable can be the death of growth.  When we get comfortable we stop striving to learn.  When we are uncomfortable then we are learning something or putting ourselves in a state that is new to us.  Please don't miss understand me, I think it is wonderful to relax and smell the flowers.  However as an actor, the factor I like to bring into my work is risk.  The unknown, the chance of something happening that I had no idea of.  Trusting the moment and trusting my present being to live or react accordingly.  There is no right or wrong so there is no reason for me to try and steer my scene any specific direction.  Take a risk!  Let something happen that could be completely wrong!  It could be the best thing ever.

Another Student on LIVING IN THE MOMENT workshop..

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  2:31pm

  Heather Clark Ogea

  Here is my blurb for the workshop: It's so easy to go full-speed everyday, from morning until you crash into bed late at night. Even days off are spent in front of the television, with constant commercials screaming at you, begging you to give their amazing product a chance. It's no wonder that when most people do finally crawl into bed, sleep eludes them as constant thoughts and questions from the day continue to persist. Most nights I wish there was a switch on my head where I could just turn my brain off for a few hours to reboot. I recently found that this "Living in the Moment" class was my switch. Dean showed us the key to unwind is to truly live in the moment, which is easier than you might think. In just a few hours, Dean proves that the key is to breathe, and that the power is truly in just being present in the room. The beauty of this workshop is it applies to all people, not only actors. So, give it a try, broaden your horizon and live in the moment.

A Students words on the workshop.. "LIVING IN THE MOMENT"

Reece Frith

The "Living In The Moment" workshop was unlike any other acting course I've had, with Dean or anyone else. He steers directly away from typical character techniques of the mind and instead dives down to the soul. "Living in the Moment" is something that is not only really helpful to an actor developing his craft, but anyone balancing life in general. It's brought habits and problems to my attention that I never knew I had before, and has given me ways to fix them. Oh, and this guy managed to make me a meditator.

If you're looking for something truly authentic, take this class.

                                                                                                                                           

I also do this type of work in private sessions.  It is not always your craft that is in your way, but you.  We never want to take responsibility for what is wrong might be us.   Contact the studio and we can set up a private skype session or in person session.  Westent.info@gmail.com -DW

Tricky Mind…

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Dean West

2 minutes ago near New Orleans, LA · 

• Our minds can be tricky. We usually fight the paradigm in our heads that tells us, we can't, or it's not for you, or that's silly to think you can have or do that. Shift your paradigm. Suffering is many times self inflicted because we think we deserve it or we have been told that we can't. Your past can not dictate you. Know that you can attain what you want. Enough that your body starts making physical motions and actions to attain it. It's not easy. It takes work. Stop being the victim and get to work.