Wednesday, June 28, 2006
You know it's been a while since I've done any acting, but in the past two days I have read and recorded 52 scenes, using 8 different character voices, of all ages, including several female characters and for the first time in my life I've gotten used to the way I sound when recorded. You know something else, I pronounce a couple of words really strange. People have always told me that I have a particular way of speaking, a complimentary way of telling me that I have a funny accent, but until I began to listen to myself regularly, like 90 minutes a day (it's all I can muster before I begin to go a little crazy) I never knew just what they meant. And when I speak I don't hear it, but when I listen I sure do. It happened once before when I did a voice over for a student project of mine and now it's back. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I am reading and not really acting? I have no idea.
This weekend was the Midsummer Celebration and it really does feel like the summer is halfway over and at the same time, it just began. I mean they are already selling the summer clothes at a discount. But at least the weekend was a good one. Drinks by the harbor, drinks by the sauna, drinks by the mosquitoes, mosquitoes by the sauna, mosquitoes by my ankles, my feet, my head. I'm telling you when the wind dies down and the mosquitoes come out, they really come out. And the funny thing is, for however much a problem the mosquitoes seem to be here, and they are a problem to be sure, there are even t-shirts with the mosquito as the Finnish Air Force, but regardless of the obvious, the OFF and other items for sale are really expensive and sold in tiny amounts. Yeah, I understand it from the retailers point of view, but seriously isn't it a bit of a gouge? Shouldn't the government get involved?
This weekend was the Midsummer Celebration and it really does feel like the summer is halfway over and at the same time, it just began. I mean they are already selling the summer clothes at a discount. But at least the weekend was a good one. Drinks by the harbor, drinks by the sauna, drinks by the mosquitoes, mosquitoes by the sauna, mosquitoes by my ankles, my feet, my head. I'm telling you when the wind dies down and the mosquitoes come out, they really come out. And the funny thing is, for however much a problem the mosquitoes seem to be here, and they are a problem to be sure, there are even t-shirts with the mosquito as the Finnish Air Force, but regardless of the obvious, the OFF and other items for sale are really expensive and sold in tiny amounts. Yeah, I understand it from the retailers point of view, but seriously isn't it a bit of a gouge? Shouldn't the government get involved?
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
I never grew up around a beach and so I don't really know the culture that surrounds it. I do know that some people love the beach more than anything else in this world and devote all of their time to the sun and sand for as long as they possibly can, leather skin be damned. So I can only imagine that for others the sight of a forty-something man in a G-String bikini with the strings moved off his hips and onto his cheeks, standing in the middle of everything and rotating every few minutes is nothing but the usual day at the beach. For me? I couldn't take my eyes off of the guy. He absolutely fascinated me. I was a good distance away and didn't really notice him from the other half-to-fully naked people on the beach. But after a while he became the only fixture, always standing and always rotating. What's the motivation?
Another item on the list of things you don't see everyday is the sight of the president of the country walking down the street with friends, showing them this and that and no one, I mean no one approaching her, or even noticing who she was. There was not a single security guard around her, and I was looking. Okay, maybe one of her friends was abnormally large and imposing, but for the most part, she was just another Finn enjoying another great day of sunshine.
Another item on the list of things you don't see everyday is the sight of the president of the country walking down the street with friends, showing them this and that and no one, I mean no one approaching her, or even noticing who she was. There was not a single security guard around her, and I was looking. Okay, maybe one of her friends was abnormally large and imposing, but for the most part, she was just another Finn enjoying another great day of sunshine.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Today I made a decision. Provided good health and longevity allow it, I have decided to dedicate my retirement years to the arbitrary and ruthless assassination of seagulls. It will require skill, stealth and a merciless heart. Skill, because they are moving targets after all. Stealth, because I do believe it is highly illegal to stalk the streets or beaches with a gun - even an air pistol - and go around picking off the white birds, that only a few months ago I thought of quite fondly, but have in that time turned my heart mercilessly against them. They screech with such an insane, maddening intensity that is worse than any fingernail can do to any chalkboard. They are screaming right now and I am honestly having bloodthirsty thoughts.
Whatever happened to the sound of seagulls that I remembered? Sounds that I used to think I would like to have as an alarm clock? I think the city happened to them. These seagulls are fat, lazy and complain all day long for people to feed them. I remember last fall I thought it would be cute to feed a seagull my left over smoked fish. Now I would only do so with poisoned interlaced with the meat. If anyone can get that song reference you will win nothing as I am in no position whatsoever to give you anything, but still I would be impressed.
Whatever happened to the sound of seagulls that I remembered? Sounds that I used to think I would like to have as an alarm clock? I think the city happened to them. These seagulls are fat, lazy and complain all day long for people to feed them. I remember last fall I thought it would be cute to feed a seagull my left over smoked fish. Now I would only do so with poisoned interlaced with the meat. If anyone can get that song reference you will win nothing as I am in no position whatsoever to give you anything, but still I would be impressed.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
I feel like I just returned from summer camp, and took the train from hell to get back home. Okay, I'm exaggerating. The train ride was fine, except for the fact that it was disgustingly hot inside. That's the real bitch of the Finnish summer, nothing is air conditioned. Sure it's only needed for a few months out of the year, but the lack of it makes those months really sweaty. In J-town K and I would go for an evening dip at the lake to cool down before going to bed. I think I will head to the beach today and scope it out. We live quite close to a swimming area and we could quite easily resume our evening swim. And truthfully, yesterday's train ride was nowhere near a disgusting as the one we took last summer when the ride was two hours longer and at least ten degrees hotter. Oh well, we'll have to do it again in July, but I think I will be better prepared for it. I think I will go nude.
So talk of going back in July brings me to the reading on Sunday and Monday in the studio village that has been constructed in an old army barracks in Kontioniemi, which is a 15 minute drive outside of Joensuu. On Sunday night almost all of the actors gathered around on the sunny porch and read the script in Finnish, and I read along with the English version. But when the sun went beneath the tall trees and the mosquito's came out I stopped reading along and spent the entire second act looking at my exposed legs and killing anything that got close.
I was a fool. I guess I had been in Texas a little too long and forgot about the Finnish air force. Those biting bastards are everywhere when the sun goes down and the wind rests a little. I should have brought jeans or at least a long pair of socks to protect my ankles and the backs of my knees. They really love those two areas on my body.
So after the Finnish reading we all went inside and read the English version. I think that the actors were quite excited to have an opportunity to do the same film in two different ways. They all seemed to agree that the Finnish version was more melancholic than the English - go figure - and they all enjoyed the fact that their characters were a little different in each language. This is the first time that something like this has been attempted in Finland and, at first we were all a little concerned that the actors would be a little intimidated, but it wasn't so at all. They all spoke such nice English and even those whose English was a little rusty, their accents fit their characters perfectly.
I was happy that the reading went well, because it was essentially an audition that would decide whether or not K and I would be hired again and brought back in July and August for the summer shoots. And this brings me to the location itself, which is simply gorgeous. It's set on a small hill just above a pristine lake. I went for a walk by the lake yesterday and could not believe how magical the setting was. Markku's dog followed me around the whole time and we explored the trails and the paths and the boats by the water. I had forgotten how unblemished the Eastern part of the country is and was quickly reminded. But even the lakes in Joensuu were populated and near the town. This lake was off on its own and there was only one row boat floating in the middle of the water, otherwise me and the dog were the only ones around.
So talk of going back in July brings me to the reading on Sunday and Monday in the studio village that has been constructed in an old army barracks in Kontioniemi, which is a 15 minute drive outside of Joensuu. On Sunday night almost all of the actors gathered around on the sunny porch and read the script in Finnish, and I read along with the English version. But when the sun went beneath the tall trees and the mosquito's came out I stopped reading along and spent the entire second act looking at my exposed legs and killing anything that got close.
I was a fool. I guess I had been in Texas a little too long and forgot about the Finnish air force. Those biting bastards are everywhere when the sun goes down and the wind rests a little. I should have brought jeans or at least a long pair of socks to protect my ankles and the backs of my knees. They really love those two areas on my body.
So after the Finnish reading we all went inside and read the English version. I think that the actors were quite excited to have an opportunity to do the same film in two different ways. They all seemed to agree that the Finnish version was more melancholic than the English - go figure - and they all enjoyed the fact that their characters were a little different in each language. This is the first time that something like this has been attempted in Finland and, at first we were all a little concerned that the actors would be a little intimidated, but it wasn't so at all. They all spoke such nice English and even those whose English was a little rusty, their accents fit their characters perfectly.
I was happy that the reading went well, because it was essentially an audition that would decide whether or not K and I would be hired again and brought back in July and August for the summer shoots. And this brings me to the location itself, which is simply gorgeous. It's set on a small hill just above a pristine lake. I went for a walk by the lake yesterday and could not believe how magical the setting was. Markku's dog followed me around the whole time and we explored the trails and the paths and the boats by the water. I had forgotten how unblemished the Eastern part of the country is and was quickly reminded. But even the lakes in Joensuu were populated and near the town. This lake was off on its own and there was only one row boat floating in the middle of the water, otherwise me and the dog were the only ones around.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
In the two weeks I was away the summer hit Finland right between the eyes. Last night it stayed bright until 11:30 and it gets bright again at close to 4am. My first day back was pretty easy as my flight sort of simulated a night's sleep. I tried my best to stay awake for as long as I could and finally turned in at 11. I put my eye shades on and fell asleep quickly. I slept pretty well, maybe even too well. I was worried that I would miss seeing off my buddy Juan Jo at 12:30. But when I took a look at my watch and it said 5:30. And this morning the same thing happened to me, only this time the clock said 4:30. I absolutely must get blinds for the windows, otherwise I am going to be completely screwed up sleepwise.
In a few minutes I am going to leave for J-town with the producer of the film that K and I have translated. They are having the first full cast read-through and want me (K can't make it because of her job) to be there to listen to the English version. I am quite excited about it and getting back to Joensuu, especially at this time of year, but I cannot forget to bring them eye shades cause it will be even crazier there than here.
Oh, crazy comparison of the strength of the sun between Texas and Finland. I was in Texas for two weeks, and out in the sun a couple of times, but never got any color or any real semblance of a tan. But yesterday when I was meeting Juan Jo I was out in the sun for an hour and came back with a farmer's tan that any cow-poke would be proud of.
In a few minutes I am going to leave for J-town with the producer of the film that K and I have translated. They are having the first full cast read-through and want me (K can't make it because of her job) to be there to listen to the English version. I am quite excited about it and getting back to Joensuu, especially at this time of year, but I cannot forget to bring them eye shades cause it will be even crazier there than here.
Oh, crazy comparison of the strength of the sun between Texas and Finland. I was in Texas for two weeks, and out in the sun a couple of times, but never got any color or any real semblance of a tan. But yesterday when I was meeting Juan Jo I was out in the sun for an hour and came back with a farmer's tan that any cow-poke would be proud of.
