WOW! Has it been this long since I last posted?? Apparently it has.. I was not idle this entire time and had better things to do other than to update this website.
No seriously, I did. Since the last time I wrote these things happened: - I completed teaching a three-month acting workshop which had two amazing groups - I got awesome evaluations from my students who sound like they had fun - I had a great time teaching it (probably better than them) - I prolonged my contract with Mostar Youth Theatre and am teaching two new workshops (starting next week) - intro to acting and documentary theatre (you should join) - I applied to City University of Hong Kong's PhD program in communications - I got accepted - I received a great 3-year scholarship from them and am moving to Hong Kong in August (WooHOOoooo!!) - I translated a book for the University of Zadar's information department - I started editing and proofreading a novel called Hainsia Olindi written by a painter named Marko Saravanja - Went to Berlin for New Year's and had a great time there (watched cirque du solil's show Corteo) So, I seriously wasn't idle. I am also helping a certain girl prepare her drama school audition. BUT...While doing that I noticed a serious lack of online audition resources for young actors from the former Yugoslavia area. I really wish I could write a publication that would help them out with preperation and monologues but am not sure if I will have enough time... Maybe if I get super organized I could do it all, but I also want to enjoy my time here, so we will see..
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![]() Picture on the left is a poster for the acting workshop I am starting at the Mostar Youth Theatre. You can read more about it on the workshops section but it's basically a fun acting course designed for everyone interested in performing. The course will last for three months and iI'm really excited about it. The past few months have been a wild ride for yours dearly. A wild and fucking crazy as hell ride with a whole lot of changes, twists, and turns. Whether they were for better or worse is something I am not fully sure of (time will tell), but I sure as hell tried to make the most delicious lemonade out of downpour of lemons that life decided to dump on my head.
I do not feel like going into details, but I no longer live in the city I lived in, no longer date the person I dated, no longer work for the company I worked for, nor communicate to people I communicated with on a daily basis for over a year. Boom! My old world completely transformed (collapsed?) within a few months and since it was mostly painted in various shades of shitty this was a wonderful opportunity to make some changes. And by some changes I mean a change of EVERYTHING. It started with a minor hair style change and it just rolled after that... furniture rearrangement, new clothes, new gym regiment, new city,new job, friends.. Things are still far from perfect, but I have finally found some balance and satisfaction. I am now teaching Acting and Viewpoints in addition to translating two books and applying to bunch of artist residencies. Lemons, in a way, pushed me back to the arts and away from arts administration. Pregnant Boy is still in progress but I have to make a pause while officially registering the NGO. Oh, and the main reason I thought of writing this blog entry is because I am getting comments! Blog comments and website comments! Thank you folks! I can't believe that there are people out there actually willing to read this self-indulgent crap so I truly appreciate it! Love, peace and butterflies. Bosnia is not the greatest place for doing anything that has to do with LGBT activities. Last time a larger public LGBT event was organized (queer sarajevo festival in 2008) organizers were so harassed they had to flee the country and artist barely managed to escape from angry Wahhabi. When it was all over politicians, religious leaders and extremist released a sigh of relief because their mission was successfully accomplished: A message was sent that being gay is intolerable in Bosnia and that anyone who dares to break the silence will be punished with bashing and fists .
I find this mentality really fucking stupid and backwards so I want to do a show that deals with Bosnian gays and puts their words and experiences on stage. Their voices need to be heard and ALL people should have a right to express themselves - regardless of who they love. Love and creation should be expressed and cherished - especially in an environment like Bosnia and Herzegovina where public and private tolerance towards other religions, nationalities and sexualities tends to be minimal. Of course, I am making a broad generalization here and this does not apply to ALL segments of the society, but the fact still remains that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not very progressive when it comes to respect of human rights. I will write more about the contents of the show (whose current working name is 'Pregnant Boy') but I am currently in the process of collecting funds and would appreciate any good ideas you may have. So, if the above mentioned idea sounds interesting to you, I would really appreciate if you shared your views and opinions as well as ANY ideas on how to fund it. Thank you and wish me luck:) Hi European playwrights. Berliner Festspiele has an amazing opportunity for you. It organizes a competition for playwrights, groups of writers and theatre agents from the whole of Europe.
The play must not be more than two years old and must not have been performed or contracted for performance in a German speaking country. They can be written in English or German and the prize is 5000-7000 Euros. I think I will send them one of my plays and you should do the same. To learn more about the competition please visit their website: http://berlinerfestspiele.de/en/aktuell/festivals/03_theatertreffen/tt12_stueckemarkt/tt12_stueckemarkt_anmeldung/stueckemarkt_anmeldung.php I stumbled upon this on the internet as I tried to write the politest rejection letter ever:
Herbert A. Millington Chair - Search Committee 412A Clarkson Hall, Whitson University College Hill, MA 34109 Dear Professor Millington, Thank you for your letter of March 16. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me an assistant professor position in your department. This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all refusals. Despite Whitson's outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at this time. Therefore, I will assume the position of assistant professor in your department this August. I look forward to seeing you then. Best of luck in rejecting future applicants. Sincerely, Chris L. J East West Theatre Company - director Haris Pasovic; choreographer Edward Clug - in Sarajevo seeks experienced male and female dancers. Strong contemporary technique required. Paid rehearsals and performances will take place in Bosnia-Herzegovina from August 21 - October 12, 2011. Please send a CV, photos and online video (2-minute-solo) to bruno@eastwest.ba by June 25.
For more information visit www.eastwest.ba or just contact yours truly;) p.s. This show is going to be fantastic. I am 28 today and I feel fantastic about it. One more year closer to death I guess - yay!:)
My friend Trina sent me a poem this morning: Ode to the Bright Green Leaf of Life that Gives Us Life and Otherwise Death (Unless We Are Alive, In Which Case We are Not Dead) Part I Leaves like Chocolate. I eat them. I feel the cold death of myself as the icing slips down my face. Part II There are trees in the hills... Trees... they want to kill me, they want to eat me... TREEEEEEEEES!! Isn't it fantastic? After this poem she asked me to think of her boobs and proceeded to give me five most excellent advices: 1.) If you're having trouble pooping, rock back and forth on the toilet. It astonishes me how many people don't know this. 2.) Go to the doctor tomorrow and tell him/her that you have insomnia. Tell (them) nothing works. Request Ambien. 3?) I cannot remember this one. 4.) Never wager with a Sicilian when death is on the line. 5.) Find an Alexander McCall Smith book written in your native tongue. This one is not so much advise as an order, because I want to know if he's as charming in other languages as he is in English. I love this girl and I blame her for feeling fantastic today. Opening night in Maribor was fantastic. The show ran very smoothly and the Financial Times critic allegedly wrote a raving review for Europe Today (it will be published tomorrow). Applause lasted for twenty minutes and the reception afterward was full of regional ministers of culture, theatre directors, recognized actors, etc.
All in all, East West Theatre Company and Slovene National Theatre created a great production and I am proud that I got a chance to work as their stage manager. Miki Manojlovic is a brilliant actor, Edward Clug is remarkably original ichoreographer, Laibach's music is epic, and Haris Pasovic is just amazing. Watching them all work together and create this "spettacolo" was truly a privilege. Have you heard of a Sarajevo-based theatre company called EastWest? If you have not, you should educate yourself by visiting their official website (www.eastwest.ba) and getting acquainted with some of the brilliant and innovative work they do. One of their latest shows was called Football Football (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2pSq3zN1q4&feature=related) and it toured extensively in South Africa, Singapore and Italy wining a number of prestigious international awards.
The show they are currently working on is based on Miroslav Krleza's essay titled Europe Today and it will open on February 16, 2011 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. That is actually where I am writing this from because they graciously invited me to join them in negotiations with their Slovenian partners and to assist them in the process of putting the show together. We are going to work with some extraordinary artists on this project (such as Laibach, Miki Manojlovic, Edward Clug etc.) and I feel extremely privileged and blessed for a a chance to join EastWest. The show will most definitely be a blast, so make sure you get your ticket on time. |
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