Looking for my type and finding… myself.

(Too cheesy?)
This is going to be a different take on GPOY Wednesday...
This past spring I was trying to revive my all but dead acting career. To do this in the best manner possible I have to really know what it is I've got going on for me. Some advice I was given from a name casting director before moving out to LA was to play my type. Play the hand I've been dealt. But in order for that to happen I have to know what cards I'm holding. I had no idea what my type was. In high school I was the fool. In early college I was typed as the shady love interest. In the latter half of college I played the asshole rock star. Then I was the geek. Then I was the cute everyman. I could not figure out what the common denominator for these ever changing archetypes was. When I asked the CD what my type was she had a hard time figuring it out and finally settled on someone who wasn't the leading man and wasn't the character role, but this weird and rare thing in between that barely gets work. Still, as auditions and castings continued, I struggled with the question, What is my type?
I stumbled across a workshop that would help me to find the answer. Sam Christensen Studios was holding a workshop on public self image. I believe that's what they called it. Anyway, the focus of the workshop was to have a full understanding of who you are as a person, as an actor, as a public figure, whatever. It was about rediscovering the person that friends and family see you as and discovering the person that everybody sees you as, then filtering through it with the person you see yourself as until you find an image of yourself that everybody can agree on.
I feel saying any more on the class would betray Sam's process. But I'll let you know it was an involved process. And it lead me to this:

That's right. It's a picture of me if I were made of words. For the record, the word cloud wasn't Sam's idea. I just did that to have what Sam lead me to all in one place. And I tried to form the words into a picture, but it didn't work. But this does! It's not perfect. Believe me I tried. But it includes everything, which is why words like "brings", "tap", and "Mr" are in there. I also tried to get the cloud to put relative emphasis on the words which were repeated, but it doesn't account for when someone uses certain words three times within the same phrase. STILL! All of it matters! So it's all in there! Just, very disjointed.
I waited to talk about the class because I wanted to see what it would do for me first. Couldn't ruin the experiment, ya know. Unfortunately I've been working too much to be auditioning. (How great is that?!) And since I won't be auditioning for at least another month, I might as well blog about it now. Plus I felt it was about time to mention it. It kinda piggy backs on Monday's blog about finding a new look. Nevertheless, in the meantime, it's helped me to present myself, spruce up my reels, and has helped me nail the few auditions I have gone in for.
I still don't know what type casting directors will see me as. I could be the dork, the cute guy, the rock star, heck I could even be the leading man on a good day. But I think I know much more valuable stuff. First and foremost, I know I'm Kevin Allen, and I am all of those words.
Well... maybe not "Mr".

The trouble finding a new look.

It occurred to me recently that I only wear my work attire. And after coming to this realization, I still have gone to hang out with friends on a few occasions just in my work clothes. But soon I’ll be starting rehearsals for my shiny new job, and I’ll probably get to wear my own clothes again. The trouble is, I really don’t have any.

Okay, that’s not true. I have more t-shirts than I’ll ever need. But still! I have somehow manage to ruin every pair of jeans I own. I made an attempt to patch a few up, but I am not handy with sewing at all. So the plan to mend them pretty much failed. But lucky me, I’ll have some money coming in soon thanks to my shiny new job. So, eventually, I’ll be able to go out and by some new jeans. And shoes.  And everything. I’ve been meaning to update my wardrobe for the longest time. And it seems like my preferred method of self-improvement is the phoenix approach. Meaning, I waited until my wardrobe breaks down so that I can build it back up again. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes. In cool new threads. So I gotta figure out a new look for myself, and then go find the pieces for it, and then wear them. Trouble is, I have no idea what look to go for.

I think a good place to start would be with my hair. Figure out a haircut that looks good on me, fits my personality, call it “the Kevin Allen”, and wear it all the time. My stylist pointed out to me that for the last year I’d only get my hair cut or styled because I had to look like fictional animated characters. Oh, and one time to look like a character I played. But still, each time I got my hair cut was because I was playing some character! I think it’s about time I got my haircut for me! Trouble is, I’m not allowed.

Cuz of that shiny new job as a stage actor, I can’t get a haircut until the director says I can. And I’m sure if I do I’ll only get to in order to look whichever characters I’m playing. So forget the hair! I’ll just get a cool new hat with my cool new clothes! Whatever they are. Back to square one… in need of a new wardrobe and not knowing where to start. I could go back to my favorite thrift (or “vintage”, since I live in LA) stores and see what I like. … Trouble is… I rarely find anything at thrift stores that actually fits me.

I’m probably not going to find anything that actually fits my long, narrow, awkward build. Part of me wanting a new look is cuz I’ve outgrown drooping pants that are too short for me and tucking back the extra room in my dress shirts. I found one shirt a while back that fit me perfectly and I love it, but I don’t expect to find many like it again. I mean, I only found it cuz I was looking for a costume piece for a specific fictional animated character. Wait a minute… That’s it!! I’ll just dress like the characters I like to dress as! Part of why I like looking like them is cuz I like their look! And their look works for them. It could work for me. This could work!

Okay then. My new look will be a blend of Spike Speigel, Flynn Rider, and Marshall Lee the Vampire King.

Kevin’s Excellent News

Remember that big audition I blogged about last week? I GOT IT!!
I just got off the phone with Universal Studios Hollywood, and I'm very excited to say that they gave me an offer to join the cast and take part in the 2012 "Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure"! The show is the comic relief of their notorious Halloween Horror Nights event. So I'm thrilled that I get to continue being a part of HHN and returning to all my scare-acting buddies, but also that I get to do so in the show that I've been after since working at Universal Orlando.
I'm about to embark on a most unprecedented exposition.

The Dark Knight Rises

Usually for my reviews I find an alternate poster to share. One that American audiences don't get to see, but really should. Almost always these are international posters that, for some reason, are deemed not worthy of attracting the interest of movie goers. This time I'm posting something different. This is a collection of fan-made posters by Messenjahmatt. And I did enjoy The Dark Knight Rises advertising campaign, just the same, these are movie posters that would have been really cool to see in movie theaters and bus stops.

I wasn't planning on doing a review of The Dark Knight Rises, and in a way I'm still not. This will be more of a lecture. Again, something different. The film is outstanding. There were plenty of moments in the movie that had me stunned and whispering "oh no" to myself. But I didn't come out of the theater inspired to write about it like I was with the previous movies I've reviewed. Not because it didn't resonate in me, but there was nothing about the film which stuck out to me and I thought would go unappreciated. I knew everyone was going to see the movie, and I was certain that people would recognize all the immense awesomeness in it. I could give my opinions on Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Bane, or on how much I love Alfred. (Can I hug you Alfred? Please? I just really want to give you a hug and tell you how great you are.) But after seeing some other blogs written about the movie, I found something worth bringing up and writing out. I do feel there is an aspect of the film that is under-appreciated; the entire point of the Dark Knight Trilogy.
I feel enough time has passed I can post this without ruining someone’s day. But just in case,

SPOILER ALERT!

It seems Nolan picked a keyword for each of his three films to use over and over, thematically. His cleverness is in using this keyword in a multitude of fashions to explore all the themes this word can provide, and of course tie it all in to the Batman saga. In Batman Begins it was “fear”. Bruce had to overcome his fear. Batman used fear as a tool. The Scarecrow exploited fear. The League of Shadows manufactured fear from a little flower and used fear as an instrument of destruction. It was Batman versus the Scarecrow, the two guys whose personae are all about fear. For The Dark Knight, obviously it was “knight”. Harvey Dent was the White Knight, Batman the Dark Knight. Then there was a play on words with the night being darkest just before the dawn and so on. But it was about Gotham’s two knights. Now for The Dark Knight Rises, I know you’ve probably thought of a drinking game with how many times the word “rise” is used. A fire is rising in evil. Batman must rise again. Bruce must rise to meet the occasion. The people rise up. Bruce has to rise out of a pit while everyone chants “Rise!” at him. The word is used more times than I care to count and for pretty much every major character in the movie. This is where all the confusion comes from, because the audience has difficulty placing where to put the emphasis. And being such a difficult and important obstacle to overcome, it makes sense that people would place the moment with the pit and people yelling “rise!” over and over as the pivotal moment of rising which the title suggests. Especially when that chant is used as the majority of the film’s score. But it’s not. The primary moment takes place, as it did in the previous two films, in the last seconds of the movie, right before the title card comes up. It’s the moment when John Blake discovers the batcave, steps forward, and rises up, as the new Batman. That is the moment when the Dark Knight rises.
That's right. John Blake is the new Batman. Not Nightwing. Not Robin. I know his legal name is Robin, but that was nothing more than Christopher Nolan having fun. It's just a nod. The franchise has did it before with the Riddler and Zsasz in the two previous films, albeit in a much subtler way. John Blake's origin story is, in a way, an amalgamation of the Robins', and so there's reason to suggest he is in fact Nolan's version of the Boy Wonder. However, he can't be. When he found the batcave it was filled with bat-stuff. Doing anything other than being Batman with it would just be a waste. Secondly, after becoming a caped crusader, Robin would never make his crime fighting name his actual name. No one of intelligence would. And finally, while there are similarities to the Robins, even his name, he is still a different character. His is John Blake, an orphan who grew up to become a police officer, and then Batman.
He is destined to don the cape and cowl and continue the Batman legend. Bruce Wayne left Blake with the coordinates of the cave so that he could provide him with the tools necessary to be Batman. He knew Blake would provide the rest. Bruce finally found someone he trusted with the Batman mantle, and, in doing so, could pass it on. He finally could let go of being Batman and move on with life. Just as Alfred hoped he would. After all, that was the point. Bruce couldn't be Batman forever. The film clearly showed how his body was giving out, how Wayne Enterprises was waning, and how everything that Bruce Wayne could give himself to in the name of Batman was wearing thin. If Batman would continue to live, he would have to do so without Bruce Wayne. Bruce was never meant to live up to the needs and expectations of Batman. He can't. The entire purpose of Batman was to allow Bruce to do more than he could as Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is just a man. An incredible, near superhuman, disciplined to his very core man. Still, Batman is something more.
Once again, Nolan focused on a key element of Batman in each film. In Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne came to the idea of a symbol. One which wouldn't be ignored, and couldn't be destroyed. Batman is indestructible and incorruptible. In The Dark Knight, when Bruce is faced with the trouble of what to do to make things right, he has the faceless figure Batman to make the difficult choice and suffer its consequences. Batman can endure. Now, eight years later, in The Dark Knight Rises, Alfred reminds Bruce of all these qualities that Batman has, and that Bruce does not. Bruce can be destroyed. Bruce cannot endure. But he also reminds him of one thing about Bruce which does make him special. Only he can be Bruce Wayne. Batman, however, could be anyone. Nolan suggested this already in The Dark Knight when several citizens got their own capes and cowls to be wannabe Batmen. Any person could play the role, it's just only a very select few would do it well. So far it's just Bruce Wayne and John Blake. But Bruce has finally moved on. Now it's up to John Blake. Batman continues.

Honestly, my only real criticism of the film is the moment where John Blake's true name is revealed to be Robin. It was cute, but it really muddled up things. Him suddenly being Robin distracted the audience from him actually being Batman. By which I mean the next Batman. And thus it distracted from the moral of the story, anyone can be a hero. Each of those four men in the fan posters are heroes of Gotham. Each in their own way contribute to the role of Batman and ensure his success. But even more, on their own, each of them are heroes. A businessman who holds together a company so it may support charities to provide homes for orphans. A cop who isn't afraid to whatever is necessary to protect others. A father figure who bears hatred and sacrifices his happiness for something more important. And a man who put a coat around a little boy's shoulders to let him know that the world hadn't ended. Each of them are heroes. Because he fought for good and put himself in harms way to do what needed to be done, People believed Harvey Dent was Batman. So why not any of these four men? Given the opportunity, they each would rise to the occasion. Well as it turns out, one of them did.