Amazing Job!

So you know that someone is good at what they are doing when you forget that it is them doing it. 

That might not make any sense but I'll explain what I mean. 

When you watch a movie and forget about the actress or actor playing the part and believe that they are that person in that time period and in that place. That is when they are a good at acting. 

The same goes for when an actor or actress comes off of playing the same character for so long. You think that you will never see them as nothing else than that character and then they find new roles and you get to see them as that person as well.

The same can be said for the other projects they do outside of acting. Whether it's directing/producing/writing or a complete career change to singing or something else completely you know they are good at what they do when you forget about the character they played and see them as the person they are.

Because in the end they are all just real people like you and me. Real people who get paid to do what they love, like the lucky ones of us. The only difference is their job puts them in front of the cameras and in the face of millions of people. 

This whole thought process came about when I was lurking around SGP tonight. I realized that yes I love OTH. Yes I love the character Peyton. Yes I love HB as an actress. But I completely forgot that that HB was the same HB with SGP.

When it comes to the blog and the videos and writings I don't see HB the actress who plays Peyton on OTH anymore. I see an up and coming producer doing what she loves. And sometimes I don't even see her as an individual at all. I mostly just see the company as a whole. I see the vision of Kelly and Hilarie. I see the wonderful writings of Nicholas and Austin. I see the vision for making movies in Wilmington. I see the big picture. 

I was on the blog tonight and completely forgot the original reason I found it, HB. All I was focused on was the projects, the community, the pictures, and the maps. I saw everything as a whole not as something just something that HB, the actress who plays Peyton on TV was doing. 

So you know that someone is good at what they are doing when you forget that it is them doing it. 

Why I follow Southern Gothic Productions.

For anyone here who doesn't know what Southern Gothic Productions is or hasn't picked up on it in my previous blogs it is a kick ass up and coming production company based out of Wilmington, NC. It has an awesome team behind it pushing it. The team has a deep connection to the Wilmington area and are trying to keep the arts alive in the area. 

It just so happens that this company's team includes Hilarie Burton. Now I have been a fan of OTH since the very beginning and had it not been for this I probably would have never heard about SGP but if it weren't for the heart and soul of everyone involved with this company and their upcoming project Pedestrian that keep me coming back from more. 

Hilarie, Kelly, Nick, Austin, Ali, Eddie, James, everyone who has taken the time to share a little of themselves and their passion for this company and allowed us to be a small part in this. 

There is no better example of this than of the video Hilarie posted today. It's one thing to let your fans know about not coming back to a TV show but it's another to film a video and show the emotion behind this decision.

Hilarie Burton is one of the most classy actresses I have seen in a long time. You can tell that she values her fans and the support that we give her. She didn't have to address the rumors, she didn't have to share her company with us but she has let us in and engrossed us in the project. 

I can truly say that I will continue to support OTH and watch season 7 because I have watched from episode 1 and I'm not about to leave it before it leaves me. 

I will also support Hilarie and the rest of the SGP team for as long as they are together. This is not because she played Peyton Swayer for 6 years but because she inspires me with everything they do. No actor can be tied down to a single role and Hilarie is going to move on to other things with SGP and beyond. 

It's all about heart.

Apparently today is my day to blog. Actually I have been doing a lot of thinking today and have come up with a thought I felt the need to share.

I have always been hard on actors and actresses who take roles for the money, who put a paycheck ahead of doing something they love, who don't do things for the craft and heart of it but for the celebrity of it. Well lately I have found myself selfishly wanting actors and actresses to put a paycheck before doing something they love and that undermines my whole value system that I want to have getting into this industry.

I will admit that I am a huge OTH fan just like I was a huge Friends fan as well as many other shows over the years. Now just like lots of OTH fans I have been dying for a 7th season. I wanted it to stay on the air so that I could watch the fake lives of the characters that I have come to love over the last 6 years. I, as many others, were ecstatic today when it was announced that OTH had been picked up for a 7th season. But then other rumors began to circulate and it got me to thinking. 

The rumors were that CMM and HB were not going to be returning for season 7. At first I was shocked, didn't want to believe them, down right sad if this was true. But the more I have thought about it the more I have decided that if this is what happens I envy these two brave people. They want to move on with their careers and make more projects that they have a passion for. 

I have been following HB's SGP blog since the very first post, in fact it is what inspired me to start blogging myself. I was attracted to the blog and the progress of Pedestrian, not because of HB and the character she plays on a TV show but because of the heart and soul behind the project and the willingness of all the people involved to share it with the world. They passionately want to see this movie made. They passionately want to share the project with their fans. They have a passion for this project and the genre of Southern Gothic literature that radiates to everyone who browses their page. I commend them for letting the world in and allowing us to be a small part in something that is big to them.

The fact that they are making it happen makes me believe that I can make it happen. As I watch the project move through these rough times and get closer and closer to being reality I see that with hard work I too can make mine happen. All of the good things that have happened with my project has been inspired by them. They have motivated me and I hope that the support that I show in return can begin to repay them for what they have done for me without even trying to. I have followed my heart to get to where I am right now and so have they. 

So how can I selfishly wish that the rumors about HB and CMM are not true. If they want to follow their hearts on to new projects then I will support them in whatever they might be. Pedestrian is going to rock, CMM will make movies, HB will act again if she wants to. The fact that Peyton and Lucas might not be on TV isn't the end of the world, nor is it the end of OTH.

Life isn't about how much money you can make, what kind of car you drive, or having the nicest things. It's about doing something you love and having a passion for it. You have to follow your heart and your dreams. Anything else is just lying to yourself.

OTH Season 7!

It's official One Tree Hill will be back for Season 7! Several sources confirming this are listed below.

http://blueaeryn.blogspot.com/2009/02/one-tree-hill-gets-7th-season.html

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/02/cw_signals_its_sticking_around.php

As I am writing this a new promo for episode 617 has been posted on cwtv.com and it concerns me a little. Check it out. Problems for Leytons (dang I hate combined names) Lucas and Peytons baby dream won't be easy. 

Dang OTH for not being on again until March 16th. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Congratulations to the OTH cast and crew for the pick up and the opportunity to keep doing what they love. In today's economy having a secure job is a blessing. I am very glad they are coming back for a 7th season and truly believe that the story lines will only continue to grow and get better.

This is also good news for fans of SGP because (even tho I never thought it was an option not to) Hilarie Burton will be remaining in Wilmington for at least another year. Pedestrian is going to be a wonderful movie when it is complete and this project already has so much fan support from around the world that I know it will be big for her and SGP.

Again I am overjoyed with this news. Now all we have to do is wait and see which characters will and will not return and if we will experience another time jump (Please, Please No more time jumping).

OMG!!

It's a good day.

New SGP posts, New OTH Promo (thanks to Denise for that), Last Day of work until Thursday, Halfway through my first Southern Gothic book and LOVING it. 

SGP has two new blogs today. Nick Jams vs. Hil Tunes. I love that they are helping expand my music. I'm always looking for new music. Got to say (sorry Hil) I do prefer Nick's list as of right now because I have heard more of them and he put Fancy on it but I'm sure I will like the music on Hil's after I hear them.

I LOVE the new OTH promo for episode 617 which airs March 16th. All I have to say about it is OMG!!!! Actually let's make that OMFG!!!! I am said it's 3 weeks from tonight but I will so be late to work that day watching it.

"The Ballad of the Sad Cafe" is amazing. I am a new fan of the Southern Gothic writing. Got to love Southern Gothic Productions for expanding my horizons.

Random Post at 3:45 in the morning.

I can't sleep so I'm laying here re-watching random old episodes of One Tree Hill and I decided to watch an episode that I have struggled to watch since it first aired. Season 3 Episode 16 "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept." Most people would refer to this episode as the one where Keith died, or the school shooting episode. 

I would like to say thank you several years later to Mark Schwahn for writing this episode. Not many TV shows would be brave enough to tackle a subject like that. 

I struggle to watch it and cried pretty much through the whole thing but I think the message behind the episode is so important. It will always be one of those episodes that is relevant.

All of the actors in the episode deserve acclaim but I especially want to say excellent job to Colin Fickes who played Jimmy Edwards. The scene at the end when he is talking to Keith might be one of the best acting jobs I have ever seen. The raw emotion and power he delivered was amazing. 

Randomness of this post aside I just had to share my feelings. 

[Posted on my iPod touch]

Ice Ice Baby

So it has been an eventful day here in NWA. The biggest ice storm that I can remember hit last night and has caused all kinds of problems. As I'm typing I'm hearing the pops and cracks of tree branches as they splinter under the weight of almost 2 inches of ice. Power has been come and go and I'm using this on time to reflect on the craziness that is winter weather.

I didn't sleep last night 1) because I will admit I am mildly obessed with One Tree Hill right now and I was watching season 4. Luckily most of my viewing survived the dreaded Fast Forward button to get to the good parts and skip the other stuff so I really got to remember the episodes and the back stories. 2) the ice was starting to break the branches at midnight last night and I knew it was only a matter of time before I lost power and heat. I didn't want to be startled by this when I woke up so I figured I would stay up until it went out. 9:30 this morning was the first time it went out and we've had basically 2 hours on and 2 hours off ever since then.

I officially hate the ice beacuse last night on my way to my car I slipped and landed on my right side and hurt my hip a little bit. No running around or jumping for a couple of days. Good thing I can't really get out of the house anyway.

I'm amazed at how much the TV shows, movies and music define a time in our lives. Going back and rewatching these episodes that I haven't watched in years reminds me of the first times I saw them. Like the pilot episode that I watched as a freshman in college in my dorm room with 4 of my really good friends and how that became the tradition for the rest of the year. How when I moved to FL and had to work and finally got the episodes online that I was so happy to have my best friend there with me to watch them. Even season 4 when we didn't have the CW here yet and I had to rely on the internet and my best friend who was over 1500 miles away to know what was going on. Every episode has a memory of what was going on when I first saw it. Just like songs that I randomly come across on my iPod bring up parties and road trips, or movies like Love Actually which was the first time my floor of my dorm all hung out together. It's these things in life that help keep those memories alive.

Stories are made to be shared. That is why we write them down or tell them to others. The stories of my life and everyone elses lives are never the same. Sure they all have similar routes or similar situations but they will never be exactly the same as yours. This is why I've decided that my next big writing project will be to tell my story. Not that I think my life is anymore special than anyone elses but there are things that I have gone through and lessons that I have learned along that way that could help someone in the future. If nothing else I will have this writing for the rest of my life and as something to show my children and their children. I think no one can ever really move into the future until they understand where they have come from and that is what I plan to do. Make since of this crazy thing that is my life and all the bad and good that has come from it.

Ok for my last little bit I just want to share a curiosity that I have. I have always wondered what it would like to be an actor/actress. Where do you get your motivation, what causes you to protray emotions in such a believable way? I've also wondered how the hell they can stay still so long when they are faking death. Now I've tried it recently and this is no easy task. Everytime I tell myself to be completely still I breathe harder than normal and my body begins to twitch. There must be a class out there somewhere dedicated to death/dead scenes. Maybe I just wasn't made to act or I just don't know the trick to making it work but it has peaked my curiosity.