Interview with Louis Carazo
April 12, 2012 By 4 Comments
In recent news, it is reported that “Theatre” is one of the top most useless majors for college students. As a college theatre professor and actor, what is your stance on this issue?
-I think that is bull. In the acting core that I am teaching in Hollywood, the majority of the students I get are people that have already started their regular life. They are lawyers, doctors, business owners, and one of the things we get from people who are in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and up that start to learn acting at academy is that they feel like their life is empty. They feel like they are missing something. They feel like they are denying a fundamental aspect of themselves and that they’re just worker bees in a machine and that they are living, but not really alive. This is a step in their reclamation of some deep aspect of their life that they’ve lost. So to say that [a] theatre major is not useful is ridiculous to me.
Storytelling is a fundamental part of human existence and connection is a fundamental part of human existence. Do we need it to survive? No. All you need to survive is food, water and shelter, and that can even be arguable. But, in the end, we are talking about the quality of life. We don’t need air conditioning to live; we don’t need gourmet food to live. So there are so many things we don’t need but we have and believe are important because they enhance the quality of life. To me, that’s what an actor’s journey provides a lot of people. It’s not about whether you are going to get an Oscar or become a millionaire as an actor. That happens to some people; [that’s] just a part of the thing. What we are asking people to do over and over again is to reclaim themselves — to get in touch with who they were meant to be… let go of the idea of who they were supposed to be in order find out who they are. And the person who I am stealing this from is Bernie Brown, who isn’t an actor at all. She is a researcher and she researched connection. So people with training leave with the feeling of some kind of ownership of themselves, with a stronger sense of conviction. Right now, because of all of this access like the Internet, who cares what you have to memorize for an exam? Like, why do I have to learn all these stupid facts and then get tested on my ability to memorize them, when I am not going to retain it? Chances are that the professor hasn’t retained it either, because we can “Google” that. What’s important these days isn’t the amount of knowledge you possess, but how you process it and what you do with it. Your ability to process knowledge in a unique way is going to require you to be open to [whom] you are. How does this move through me? What does this mean to me? I say it over and over again the thing that I feel like I am offering people, or I am asking people to get to, is conviction. I feel like that is lacking now more then ever. I know I sound like an old man, but I’m really not that much older than you guys. But I see that; that’s what’s missing over and over again. So, in the end, you don’t have to take an acting class to live, but hell, I didn’t have to take a freaking Biology class to live, but I was required to anyways. I was forced to take all kinds of stuff that I don’t use, so to argue that learning a sense of conviction and what you have to say in this thing called life that you are experiencing is less valuable than geometry, [which] I never use, is absurd.
A lot of people have a fear of being a theatre major, because of the stats that they are presented with. The odds that they are going to make something of themselves are extremely slim, so many people become so discouraged with even being involved in the theatre field.
- I can understand the fear. You look [at] a theatre major and you wonder. What am I going to do with that? What are you going to do with a psychology major or a business major? What are you going to do with that? – walk into a business and be like, I have a business degree, and get a job? You know what’s going to make or break you in the interview? – their ability to connect to you, not just the knowledge that you possess. That’s very important, but their ability to connect to you is going to definitely weigh into their decision-making. People often times hire someone that they believe they can spend eight hours with over someone who is the smartest candidate who is the most knowledgeable candidate that they don’t believe that they can spend eight hours with. That happens. And that has to do with acting. I don’t think people should become theatre majors because they are destined to become Maryl Streep. I think, to a great extent, everybody should be exposed to these kind[s] of things. It blows my mind that they’re not – that they can go through life and not get exposed to these fundamental things that are also foundations to what an actor’s work is. It is the stability and the fear of not feeling safe, and a theatre major does not concretely provide me with that, but neither does a business major or biology major. So I don’t see the difference.
How did you end up getting a part in the new Will Ferrell movie “Casa De Mi Padre”?
- I had no idea that it was a Will Ferrell movie when I went into the audition. It was “Untitled Comedy.” And I was like, what the hell is this? Some I don’t know low-budget movie? Who knows? Anyways, I’m glad, because if I had gone in there, and they had said “Will Ferrell Movie,” I would have probably made it more important. Maybe it would have made me a little more nervous about it. Will Ferrell is really nice and he was really awesome on set. We talked a little bit, but not too much. He is the lead in a movie in a language that he does not speak. So his work was definitely cut out for him. But we were working on my stuff and from the periphery [of] my vision there’s a hand that comes into view, and it’s Will Ferrell’s hand, and he’s like, “Hi, I’m Will,” and, you know, gave me some nice compliments, and I shook his hand, and I was like, yeahh, uhh, I know who you are.
How often are you rejected?
- Oh my god, all the time. Well, I don’t know; I don’t think it’s rejection. People have such a misperception of that. I don’t even like calling them auditions. We are redefining this. I don’t even like calling them scenes. Who the fuck does a scene in life; thats a conversation. The terms that we use we strip away the humanity and we are not here to make this thing clinical. So an audition… what the freaking hell is an audition?! It’s a meeting to see if what I am fits with what you are. So I don’t go into an audition feeling unempowered, like they are judging me. I am going in there, and I am saying: hey, this is what I got to sell. Well, I am a gamer, so this is a terrible metaphor: I’m selling ninja stars, and if you want ninja stars, you’re going to buy ninja stars, but if you want nunchucks, then why would I pretend this ninja star is a nunchuck? Why would come in here and lie to you [and] try to convince you when it’s so obviously not that? I am going to come in and going to be exactly what I have to offer with conviction and serve the story. And if that’s what you’re looking for, then take me, and if not, it’s not rejection; it’s just not fit.
Photography by Kennington Cung
50 Tips on shedding the pounds
April 2, 2012 By 1 Comment
1. 70% diet, 30% exercise
2. Don’t eat things with ingredients you can’t even pronounce
3. Stop eating take-out
4. Try to include something from each of the food groups in your daily meals
5. Don’t skip meals
6. Plan ahead of time when it comes to both exercise and meals
7. Starving yourself will only cause you to binge-eat at the end of the day
8. Stop eating four hours before you go to bed
9. Drink at least 12-16oz. of lemon water a day, because it aids in digestion
10. Portion your meals
11. Find a good workout partner who will help push you and keep you on track
12. Avoid any sugar substitute because it can heighten your cravings for sugary foods
13. Eat as little packaged food as possible
14. Start out with a filling breakfast that includes protein
15. The harder your work out, the less time you have to spend in the gym
16. Always try to include cardio in your workout
17. It takes 21 days to develop a habit and only 3 days to break it
18. Avoid eating too much red meat
19. Don’t rely on the machines to do the work for you
20. Drink lots of water and stay hydrated
21. Make sure you are eating palm-sized meals consistently throughout the day
22. Spice up your meal, because it will help stimulate your taste buds and suppress your later cravings
23. Keep a food journal
24. Keep track of your weight loss
25. Weigh yourself everyday
26. Watch the alcohol intake
27. Focus on your goal weight and give yourself a reasonable amount of time to reach that goal
28. Sleep at least 7-8 hours every night
29. Eat fruit at least twice a day
30. Cut your sodium intake
31. Take more deep breaths
32. Try not to drink too many fruit juices
33. Increase your fiber intake
34. Don’t eat an excess of fried foods
35. Replacing white with wheat
36. Avoid crash diets at all cost
37. Limit your TV time
38. Use the stairs instead of the elevator
39. Walk or bike instead of drive
40. Join a workout class; it will force you to workout, and who knows, you might enjoy it
41. Don’t grocery shop when you are hungry
42. Try to build some muscle because muscle helps you burn more calories throughout the day even when you are at rest
43. Go veggie crazy
44. Consume healthy fats like nuts and avocados
45. Avoid extra toppings and condiments like high-calorie salad dressings and sauces
46. Reward yourself once in a while if you are making progress
47. Don’t buy things you will regret later
48. Pack your lunches instead of buying them
49. Stop eating when you are full
50. Cut down on dairy products like milk, cheese, and butter
Trends to end in 2012
April 2, 2012 By 3 Comments
Cowl Necks
First of all, only babies should wear bibs; adults, on the other hand, have no excuse. You should be able to eat without spitting up your food by now. All that extra fabric crowding around the chest area makes women look not only frumpy in all the wrong areas but also like crazy cat ladies.
Hipster Headbands
What is the point of wearing a piece of string across your forehead? This trend was popular in the 60s, and, guess what, people, that was fifty years ago, so get over it. It may look nice for the first few minutes, but lo and behold, in an hour your hair will turn into a colossal, disheveled beehive. Sorry, ladies, but only Amy Winehouse could pull off that look.
Over-embellished bags and accessories
Stop turning your bags into weapons! If you honestly feel the need to protect yourself, then please buy yourself some pepper spray. Studs can be adorable and complimentary on any accessory, but when you’re drowning in them, you begin to look like a prisoner in shackles.
Mom Jeans
The first question that comes to mind is: why on earth would women want to make their butts look longer and flatter than they really are? It does not matter what shape or size you are; these jeans will not work for you! I repeat: they will not work for you! You can cut them, dye them, sew patches on them, but none of that will matter because you are still left with a hideous pair of jeans.
Colored animal prints
This to me is the most disgusting trend of them all. Time and time again, I will see a purple cheetah-print crop top or a blue zebra backpack worn by young girls everywhere. What kind of fashion demon made this idea acceptable, and who on earth is buying it?! I would like to understand when tacky became trendy. Snooki, on the other hand, can wear whatever she pleases because she is paid to look that tacky. So unless you are getting paid millions to adorn this hideous pattern, I suggest you dispose of this trend immediately.
Vagina Weight Lifting
March 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Well, ladies, have you ever looked in the mirror lately, wondering whether or not it’s time to hit the gym? Then here is the perfect solution for you! It will only cost you $12.95 and will ship within a 7-10 day period. Now doesn’t that just sound perfect? There is just one catch, though: this weight lifting system isn’t for your arms, legs, or your stomach; it’s for your vagina.
The “Laselle Kegel Exerciser” is a weight that looks like small, pink, silicone ball, with a white string hanging from its side. How it works is that you insert the small ball into your vagina with the string facing downwards. Every time you move or walk, the weight inside the ball will shake as well, reminding you to flex your pelvic floor muscles. This flexing motion is what we call a kegel, and over time this constant flexing will strengthen your pelvic floor, with wellness and sexual benefits.
Overpopulation
January 9, 2012 By 1 Comment
A Discussion with Professor Sickman on Overpopulation
Overpopulation has become an immense problem throughout the world yet it is something that has not been truly recognized by many governments and organizations. Countries like China, India and the United States all have rapidly growing populations but it is Africa who has the highest
UCR Associate Professor of Hydrology James O. Sickman
population growth of all the continents. It is estimated that the sub-Saharan population of 809 million would increase to 1.4 billion by 2030. But those numbers have now been altered because of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) which in turn is caused by human immune deficiency virus (HIV) meaning that more and more [Read more...]
Aliens Created the Human Race
January 9, 2012 By 1 Comment
Many ancient astronaut theorist believe that the answers to our past lie in the 22,000 ancient Sumarian tablets founded by a British archaeologist Austin Henry Layard in 1849. These plates were found in the ancient Sumarian city called Ninevah which is now commonly known as Iraq. The tablets contained the earliest writing known to mankind, which was created nearly 6,000 years ago.
