has anyone in the room had trouble over the past year oh let’s say since October
the past year oh let’s say since October
the past year oh let’s say since October having conversations with your family
having conversations with your family
having conversations with your family your friends co-workers neighbors
your friends co-workers neighbors
your friends co-workers neighbors anybody at all yeah about a month ago I
anybody at all yeah about a month ago I
anybody at all yeah about a month ago I was in bartels
was in bartels
was in bartels it was a Sunday afternoon there was only
it was a Sunday afternoon there was only
it was a Sunday afternoon there was only one cashier so the line was a little
one cashier so the line was a little
one cashier so the line was a little lengthy and someone about three people
lengthy and someone about three people
lengthy and someone about three people ahead of me
ahead of me
ahead of me bought a poster board and one marker she
bought a poster board and one marker she
bought a poster board and one marker she then proceeded to use an empty table top
then proceeded to use an empty table top
then proceeded to use an empty table top to decorate her poster board with words
to decorate her poster board with words
to decorate her poster board with words it was a sign she was going to protest
it was a sign she was going to protest
it was a sign she was going to protest something I won’t tell you what it was
something I won’t tell you what it was
something I won’t tell you what it was it doesn’t really matter what matters is
it doesn’t really matter what matters is
it doesn’t really matter what matters is that the people in line including myself
that the people in line including myself
that the people in line including myself struck up a conversation where was she
struck up a conversation where was she
struck up a conversation where was she going why how did she feel about that
going why how did she feel about that
going why how did she feel about that the people who spoke were pretty much in
the people who spoke were pretty much in
the people who spoke were pretty much in favor of that which she was protesting
favor of that which she was protesting
favor of that which she was protesting but I became really aware of two women
but I became really aware of two women
but I became really aware of two women who were blessed fully silent but
who were blessed fully silent but
who were blessed fully silent but aggressively so and I find myself
aggressively so and I find myself
aggressively so and I find myself thinking in anger actually what were
thinking in anger actually what were
thinking in anger actually what were they thinking how could they not support
they thinking how could they not support
they thinking how could they not support this woman lately I found that many of
this woman lately I found that many of
this woman lately I found that many of my conversations at said line bus stop
my conversations at said line bus stop
my conversations at said line bus stop at work at home with the family are
at work at home with the family are
at work at home with the family are around decisions decisions and opinions
around decisions decisions and opinions
around decisions decisions and opinions which have taken on a life threatening
which have taken on a life threatening
which have taken on a life threatening value and these are difficult
value and these are difficult
value and these are difficult conversation made more difficult by the
conversation made more difficult by the
conversation made more difficult by the fact that there’s such a divide right
fact that there’s such a divide right
fact that there’s such a divide right now and I think we are getting to a
now and I think we are getting to a
now and I think we are getting to a situation where there are a lot of them
situation where there are a lot of them
situation where there are a lot of them a lot of us –is but it looks like this
a lot of us –is but it looks like this
a lot of us –is but it looks like this them us those people us
and we got to stop we have to stop I
and we got to stop we have to stop I truly believe that if we cannot find a
truly believe that if we cannot find a
truly believe that if we cannot find a way to talk to people who have a
way to talk to people who have a
way to talk to people who have a different worldview than our own that we
different worldview than our own that we
different worldview than our own that we are doomed to darkness the hardest thing
are doomed to darkness the hardest thing
are doomed to darkness the hardest thing we need to do right now is to try to
we need to do right now is to try to
we need to do right now is to try to find empathy and compassion and insight
find empathy and compassion and insight
find empathy and compassion and insight which hopefully will lead to
which hopefully will lead to
which hopefully will lead to understanding for those with whom we
understanding for those with whom we
understanding for those with whom we disagree
disagree
disagree perhaps violently but how it’s hard it’s
perhaps violently but how it’s hard it’s
perhaps violently but how it’s hard it’s hard to do I don’t know why anybody
hard to do I don’t know why anybody
hard to do I don’t know why anybody would want to do it I don’t want to do
would want to do it I don’t want to do
would want to do it I don’t want to do it I think we have to do it but how do
it I think we have to do it but how do
it I think we have to do it but how do we do that and whenever I have a
we do that and whenever I have a
we do that and whenever I have a question like that whenever I have a
question like that whenever I have a
question like that whenever I have a task to accomplish a student to mentor a
task to accomplish a student to mentor a
task to accomplish a student to mentor a candidate to vote for I always ask
candidate to vote for I always ask
candidate to vote for I always ask myself one thing what would it actor do
myself one thing what would it actor do
myself one thing what would it actor do really what would an actor do what tools
really what would an actor do what tools
really what would an actor do what tools does every actor possess who would help
does every actor possess who would help
does every actor possess who would help me accomplish the same task because
me accomplish the same task because
me accomplish the same task because actors in their everyday lives as actors
actors in their everyday lives as actors
actors in their everyday lives as actors have to become someone else they take on
have to become someone else they take on
have to become someone else they take on a character and they do that by
a character and they do that by
a character and they do that by answering a set of questions they answer
answering a set of questions they answer
answering a set of questions they answer the question what does my character want
the question what does my character want
the question what does my character want what is my characters objective what are
what is my characters objective what are
what is my characters objective what are my characters tactics and what are their
my characters tactics and what are their
my characters tactics and what are their obstacles what are in their way and I
obstacles what are in their way and I
obstacles what are in their way and I believe that the answers to those
believe that the answers to those
believe that the answers to those questions and how you arrive at those
questions and how you arrive at those
questions and how you arrive at those answers is it the core of my passionate
answers is it the core of my passionate
answers is it the core of my passionate belief that if we all can learn a little
belief that if we all can learn a little
belief that if we all can learn a little bit about the art and craft of acting we
bit about the art and craft of acting we
bit about the art and craft of acting we will we will be better partners parents
will we will be better partners parents
will we will be better partners parents activists colleagues citizens people
because that will allow us to talk to
because that will allow us to talk to people who are not like us William
people who are not like us William
people who are not like us William Shakespeare no surprise set it very well
Shakespeare no surprise set it very well
Shakespeare no surprise set it very well and I will paraphrase the purpose of the
and I will paraphrase the purpose of the
and I will paraphrase the purpose of the play then and now is to hold a mirror up
play then and now is to hold a mirror up
play then and now is to hold a mirror up to nature a mirror up to society a
to nature a mirror up to society a
to nature a mirror up to society a mirror up to culture we need to be those
mirror up to culture we need to be those
mirror up to culture we need to be those mirrors for each other actors have been
mirrors for each other actors have been
mirrors for each other actors have been vilified and revered
vilified and revered
vilified and revered celebrated and laughed at for exactly
celebrated and laughed at for exactly
celebrated and laughed at for exactly the same thing for holding that mirror
the same thing for holding that mirror
the same thing for holding that mirror up to us to show us who we are and we
up to us to show us who we are and we
up to us to show us who we are and we don’t always like that and who we can be
don’t always like that and who we can be
don’t always like that and who we can be so I’m going to invite you all for the
so I’m going to invite you all for the
so I’m going to invite you all for the next few moments to become acting
next few moments to become acting
next few moments to become acting students welcome to the theater I would
students welcome to the theater I would
students welcome to the theater I would like everybody to close their eyes for
like everybody to close their eyes for
like everybody to close their eyes for just a moment you need to figure out
just a moment you need to figure out
just a moment you need to figure out what character you’re going to portray
what character you’re going to portray
what character you’re going to portray in order to have these lessons I want
in order to have these lessons I want
in order to have these lessons I want you to think about someone with whom you
you to think about someone with whom you
you to think about someone with whom you disagree someone whose worldview is
disagree someone whose worldview is
disagree someone whose worldview is different than your own it might be
different than your own it might be
different than your own it might be someone you know a family member a
someone you know a family member a
someone you know a family member a friend an ex-friend it might be a kind
friend an ex-friend it might be a kind
friend an ex-friend it might be a kind of person it might be someone you’ve
of person it might be someone you’ve
of person it might be someone you’ve seen on TV but give them a name if they
seen on TV but give them a name if they
seen on TV but give them a name if they don’t already have one think about who
don’t already have one think about who
don’t already have one think about who they are for just a moment that’s who
they are for just a moment that’s who
they are for just a moment that’s who you are going to portray now you can
you are going to portray now you can
you are going to portray now you can open your eyes take a deep breath in
open your eyes take a deep breath in
open your eyes take a deep breath in through your nose after your mouth we do
through your nose after your mouth we do
through your nose after your mouth we do that every once in a while and you are
that every once in a while and you are
that every once in a while and you are going to now become that character what
going to now become that character what
going to now become that character what does your character want how is your
does your character want how is your
does your character want how is your character going to get it and what is in
character going to get it and what is in
character going to get it and what is in your character’s way and now take a step
your character’s way and now take a step
your character’s way and now take a step back and substitute character put in the
back and substitute character put in the
back and substitute character put in the word I and that’s your first step as an
word I and that’s your first step as an
word I and that’s your first step as an actor what do I want how am I going to
actor what do I want how am I going to
actor what do I want how am I going to get it what is in my way
get it what is in my way
get it what is in my way but how do you answer those questions
but how do you answer those questions
but how do you answer those questions you answer them by examining the
you answer them by examining the
you answer them by examining the characters wants and needs empathizing
characters wants and needs empathizing
characters wants and needs empathizing with their hopes and desires and
with their hopes and desires and
with their hopes and desires and embracing what they find important and
embracing what they find important and
embracing what they find important and that is not easy so think for a moment
that is not easy so think for a moment
that is not easy so think for a moment about your character think about the
about your character think about the
about your character think about the things that they want may feel very
things that they want may feel very
things that they want may feel very different than the things you want and
different than the things you want and
different than the things you want and maybe you can do that but maybe you’re
maybe you can do that but maybe you’re
maybe you can do that but maybe you’re also now wondering well how the heck do
also now wondering well how the heck do
also now wondering well how the heck do I do that here’s the last step working
I do that here’s the last step working
I do that here’s the last step working backwards
backwards
backwards one more breath if you will
we’re all sharing this wonderfully
we’re all sharing this wonderfully recirculated air air for me it stands
recirculated air air for me it stands
recirculated air air for me it stands for analysis imagination and research
for analysis imagination and research
for analysis imagination and research analyze the situation the event the
analyze the situation the event the
analyze the situation the event the moment the scene if you will research
moment the scene if you will research
moment the scene if you will research the background of your character context
the background of your character context
the background of your character context is everything what is their
is everything what is their
is everything what is their socio-economic background what is their
socio-economic background what is their
socio-economic background what is their educational background where in the
educational background where in the
educational background where in the country did they grow up in what country
country did they grow up in what country
country did they grow up in what country did they grow up what did their parents
did they grow up what did their parents
did they grow up what did their parents grow up where do their grandparents grow
grow up where do their grandparents grow
grow up where do their grandparents grow up and how you want to find out as much
up and how you want to find out as much
up and how you want to find out as much as you can in order to figure out why
as you can in order to figure out why
as you can in order to figure out why someone thinks the way they do you have
someone thinks the way they do you have
someone thinks the way they do you have to look into their background their
to look into their background their
to look into their background their context and then you put in the word I
context and then you put in the word I
context and then you put in the word I in the middle as it should be you use
in the middle as it should be you use
in the middle as it should be you use your imagination to put yourself in
your imagination to put yourself in
your imagination to put yourself in their place again this is not easy and
their place again this is not easy and
their place again this is not easy and it’s often not comfortable I’m asking
it’s often not comfortable I’m asking
it’s often not comfortable I’m asking you to think about finding compassion
you to think about finding compassion
you to think about finding compassion and empathy for someone or a type of
and empathy for someone or a type of
and empathy for someone or a type of someone that you would go to the mat
someone that you would go to the mat
someone that you would go to the mat arguing with so think for a moment of
arguing with so think for a moment of
arguing with so think for a moment of your character Oh think about how they
your character Oh think about how they
your character Oh think about how they stand what shoes they’re in we talked a
stand what shoes they’re in we talked a
stand what shoes they’re in we talked a lot about walking in another’s shoes in
lot about walking in another’s shoes in
lot about walking in another’s shoes in order to understand who they are and how
order to understand who they are and how
order to understand who they are and how they think actors do not do this
they think actors do not do this
they think actors do not do this figuratively or metaphorically they
figuratively or metaphorically they
figuratively or metaphorically they actually are given shoes and they
actually are given shoes and they
actually are given shoes and they literally walk in them and walking and
literally walk in them and walking and
literally walk in them and walking and choose other than your own can really
choose other than your own can really
choose other than your own can really make you sit differently stand
make you sit differently stand
make you sit differently stand differently walk differently you’re
differently walk differently you’re
differently walk differently you’re going to walk in this person’s shoes so
going to walk in this person’s shoes so
going to walk in this person’s shoes so you are now well on your way to creating
you are now well on your way to creating
you are now well on your way to creating this character this person who is other
this character this person who is other
this character this person who is other than yourself
than yourself
than yourself this them and you’re making this them
this them and you’re making this them
this them and you’re making this them and us you’ve examined their wants and
and us you’ve examined their wants and
and us you’ve examined their wants and needs their hopes their desires you
needs their hopes their desires you
needs their hopes their desires you figured out where they come from or
figured out where they come from or
figured out where they come from or ivelisse you’ve tried and you’ve asked
ivelisse you’ve tried and you’ve asked
ivelisse you’ve tried and you’ve asked yourself in their place what do I want
yourself in their place what do I want
yourself in their place what do I want how am I going to get it and what’s in
how am I going to get it and what’s in
how am I going to get it and what’s in my way
my way
my way on stage actors use all these tools to
on stage actors use all these tools to
on stage actors use all these tools to create meaningful characters who you
create meaningful characters who you
create meaningful characters who you believe from the audience
believe from the audience
believe from the audience offstage I believe we can use these
offstage I believe we can use these
offstage I believe we can use these tools to be able to understand one
tools to be able to understand one
tools to be able to understand one another in order to talk to them in
another in order to talk to them in
another in order to talk to them in order to sit down and make it through a
order to sit down and make it through a
order to sit down and make it through a conversation without anybody leaving the
conversation without anybody leaving the
conversation without anybody leaving the table and I truly believe that if we can
table and I truly believe that if we can
table and I truly believe that if we can do this and it’s hard and it takes a
do this and it’s hard and it takes a
do this and it’s hard and it takes a really long time as a matter of fact it
really long time as a matter of fact it
really long time as a matter of fact it probably takes the rest of your life and
probably takes the rest of your life and
probably takes the rest of your life and there’s if we can do this that I think
there’s if we can do this that I think
there’s if we can do this that I think we can move toward the inclusive loving
we can move toward the inclusive loving
we can move toward the inclusive loving world that I believe all of us want
world that I believe all of us want
world that I believe all of us want thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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