Crystal - Thespian - Photo Shoot

Today I did something I never thought I'd be doing in my life -- I had my photo shoot for head shots. Yes, this is part 2 of Crystal in her now budding hyphenate life.

When I agreed to be in Jim's film, "Rendition", I saw the acting role as a one-shot deal to pay back the confidence Jim was showing in me by asking me. It was great fun to do, and I can see why actors enjoy the 'acting' part of the business. Since then, whenever I mention this bizarre-to-me-turn in my career, I surprisingly seem to get nothing but encouragement from my actor friends. One friend, when she got turned down for a role, on a film of a major league star turned director, because she wasn't the right type for it, called me right up and said I should try for the role (well, I couldn't because I didn't even have head shots, let alone an agent, resume, etc.) -- that she could see me doing it and that there was nothing in it I couldn't do. Since then actor friends talk about me having something and if the right role came along... And then there's my director who has nothing but nice things and praise to say about what I did for him. So-o-o....

I figure, what's the harm in sticking my toe into the water and just see if the ripples lead anywhere? Hence, the photo shoot today for my head shots. Now, I know nothing about this end of the business. Ask me about writing and I can give lectures... ask me about aspects of production and I've got answers (or I can pretty much come up with something)... ask me about how actors do what they do... well, I've looked at head shots.... I've even stapled the credits to the backs of the photos on occasion... and I've shuffled them around in piles... but that's about the extent of my knowledge.

Luckily the photographer taking my head shots knows what he's doing -- he does head shots and album covers for a living among lots of other things -- because I was like putty in his hands. He said bring a couple of changes of clothes (or tops, really) so that I could handle. I spent time figuring out what I thought would look best on me for the shoot (and oh, do I hope I chose right, since I've always hated pics of myself), doing my hair, putting makeup on, etc. And then it was off to the park around the LCAMA museum and Tar Pits -- his choice, what do I know? I only knew it was hot, hot, hot, out there in the sun. Even though we shot mostly in the shade.

Then it was stand over here, stand this way, sit here, lean here, look this way, smile, here's a joke to get the proper reaction from me, moving on (to another location), change clothes until we had shot a couple of rolls of film. In the beginning he was telling me to stop being apprehensive to the camera, that that was what I was projecting. Since I wasn't feeling apprehensive, I'm not sure I knew how to fix that, and hence, I'm not sure if I did, or if he just gave up on me. He told me I had a very playful quality to me that I needed to bring out... was I successful at that? I don't know -- I must have, since he seemed to like what he was shooting and kept saying good, good. I guess we'll see when the photos are processed. In the end, he said that it was all good and that they'd be great photos.

So now what I asked? Now he gets them processed and put onto a CD and then I come over and look at them to see which ones I like. I think there was a murmur of a photo lab after that. But since that's all for another day, right now I pulled my toe out of the water to go back to my regularly scheduled life where I can swim with anyone.

USA - Independence Day - The Fourth of July

In going through the writings on my computer and burning them to CD, I found this. Here's an article I wrote about Independence Day more years ago than I care to remember. Can't even remember the publication, except it's long ceased publishing. It'll be interesting if anyone reads this who remembers...

Independence Day - July 4th

We celebrate July 4th with days off work, family visits, barbecues and fireworks. But how many of us take the time to reflect what Independence Day is all about? That the day commemorates a revolt by citizens against their lawful government because they felt that government didn't represent them or their best interests, echoing a cry of "no taxation without representation." At the time, the 13 American entities were colonies of Great Britain, but there was growing unrest because the colonies had no seat in the British Parliament and hence, no say in their fates. In 1774, the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia to create the First Continental Congress, but they were not ready to declare war. The inevitable clash came in April 1775, when the extra troops the King sent to control rebellion fought with colonists in Concord, Massachusetts. This became the unofficial beginning of the colonies' war for independence and was made famous by Longfellow's poem, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere."

A Second Continental Congress was convened, which then appointed a committee of five to write a declaration of their intentions to seek their independence. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft. The resolution to make the United Colonies free and independent States and cut the bonds of allegiance to the British Crown was passed by Congress on July 2nd, but only nine of the thirteen colonies said yes. Pennsylvania and South Carolina said no, Delaware was undecided and New York abstained.

However, when the Declaration of Independence was voted into acceptance and signed on July 4th, twelve of the thirteen signed the document. Delegates from New York weren't empowered to sign until July 7th, and the document wasn't finalized and disseminated until August. But July 4th, 1776 was chosen to commemorate the Colonies independence and formation of their own nation because it was the day they declared their intentions and put their lives on the line.

It's important to note that every one of the 56 men who signed the document was putting his life on the line for his belief in independence, self-determination, and freedom. Essentially, they were committing treason against their lawful government. Five were captured and hanged. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Nine died in the Revolutionary War which ensued. All were well educated, men of means, but most saw their properties and possessions confiscated, looted or destroyed. Many of them gave everything to the cause and died in poverty. It is important to remember today what they taught us with their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor: that freedom and independence is never free… it comes with a price tag. And like those who fought and won the American War for Independence, we have people today who are willing to pay that price so that the rest of us can have our days off, visit with our families, barbecue, and shoot off fireworks.

Interesting trivia:

Did you know… when the Declaration of Independence declared 'all men are created equal', it meant all white men with property only -- no blacks, or women?

Did you know… that both the North and the South used the Declaration of Independence to justify their positions in the Civil War?

Did you know… that many Brits call our "Independence Day" "Thanksgiving Day"?
Did you know… that pyrotechnics started in China with the invention of gunpowder?
Did you know… that Nat Turner's rebellion was originally planned for July 4, 1831?
Did you know… that the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding?