Archive for 'Posts'
Back from hiatus!
Posted on 06. Aug, 2009 by sethcaskey.
Hey guys. As you may have noticed, The Reality of Doing Blog has been on hiatus for the last few months. As of today, I am back in “production” and ready to tackle the challenges of the new “season.”
During the summer, I have been busy on many projects. One of which was traveling to the East coast. Being back in Virginia is nice, but it always feels good to return home to Los Angeles.
After landing from this last trip, I picked up an issue of LAX Magazine, opened the cover and read the following letter from the editor.
Los Angeles is a magical town full of promise and pressure. It’s nearly impossible to get anywhere on time, people are indifferent and a pretty face will only get you so far, after all, they are everywhere. But it holds enough promise and sunshine to make these inconveniences worthwhile. What I like to do when life gets too busy is to head up to Zuma Beach where the air and water are clean and life moves at a different pace. I pack a lunch…head north, put my toes in the sand, listen to the waves and recharge. When I get far enough in the water to dunk my head, I feel a sense of rebirth and wonder of life. Then I am recharged and ready to take on this town and face its promise with gusto. And what a promise it has. Where else can you be “discovered”, rub elbows with the world’s elite artists and performers or launch a fad that skyrockets all the way to Kansas? Right here, baby! Make it happen. -Charlotte Awatea, editor LAX Magazine
I get that. I get that so much. Los Angeles can be a tough place – a lonely place. But it’s the daily adventure of “living the dream” that keeps me going. It’s waking up everyday knowing that this could be the day that everything changes. It’s looking back at last “season” and seeing the “cast and crew” who are still with me. And looking ahead to the new “series regulars” who are now in play. I’m excited to meet the “guest cast” who will come in and out of my world and keep the story alive. I am recharged and ready to take on this town and face its promise with gusto.
I’ve now gone on too long with this analogy, so I’ll close by saying – it’s good to be back and I’m looking forward living the truth of the reality of doing.
And who knows, maybe I’ll find that thing that makes it all the way to Kansas.
*photo by filegender
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What am I missing?
Posted on 18. Jun, 2009 by sethcaskey.
Well, if you follow me on Twitter, no doubt you have read about my difficulties with iMovie over the last week. (Hence the reason for this written post as opposed to Part 2 of the Actor Survivor Kit Challenge)
So now that I have kicked iMovie to the proverbial curb, I am undertaking the challenge of learning Final Cut Express. I know Final Cut is more widely used in the industry but there are times when I want things to be easy, and up until last week iMovie was just that. But enough ranting. I will return to my video posts as soon as possible.
Story: Last summer as I was training for my first marathon, I was testing what foods would give me the most energy to tackle my long runs. Each Friday, Erica and I would “carb up” on something new and evaluate how it effected our run. On one particular night, I opted to try a new cereal. (I love cereal and could eat a whole box in one sitting – which is just what I did) Did I mention that this particular cereal was made with flax seed?
“Hmmm…..that has a nutty flavor. Interesting.” Not fully knowing the digestive benefits of flax.
If you have ever run with me, then you know that I DO NOT like to stop, but in this case I was willing to make an exception. It was necessary. So, I decided that I would keep running and stop at the next bathroom.
…….I kept running.
No bathroom.
…….Kept running.
No bathroom.
WFT! We’re training in Grifith Park for the love – there has got to be a bathroom somewhere!!
16 miles later, I end up back a home base and high tail it (pun intended) to the bathroom. After taking care of things, I come out to rant about the fact that in 16 miles I didn’t see one bathroom.
Well to my surprise, not only did I run right past a bathroom. I ran past FOUR! (This was confirmed on my drive out of the park that day.)
So WTH does this have to do with my acting career? Well, if you’ve ever talked with me, then you know that I DO NOT like to stop. I am so focused on achieving my acting career goals that I inevitably keep myself so busy that I run right past some of the things that I need most.
The goal of training for a marathon is to learn from whatever experiences you have during your runs. So today, I am going to slow down and try to learn from whatever is going on in my “career run” to find out what it is that I’m missing.
And even though I want to throw my computer through the wall because I can’t get this video to edit – if I slow down, take a breath and allow myself to be, I might be surprised at how much I see.
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How Twitter & the #1 Rule of Improv led to a surprise meeting
Posted on 06. Jun, 2009 by sethcaskey.
Any actor who has taken any kind of imrpov training, knows that the #1 rule of improv is always “yes…and.” It means that you accept whatever your partner says and keep the conversation going.
Well if you follow me on twitter, then you may have read the following tweet earlier today:
Put together the idea for my next vlog. Any actors out there want to help me film it?
Within a few minutes I get an @ reply from @GirlSascha saying:
Possibly! Details?
Now @GirlSascha and I have never spoken on twiter up until this point, and I didn’t even know she was follwoing me.
I checked out her profile and saw that she is an actor living in Los Angeles, and decided to say yes…and.
Yes….and to an opportunity to connect with an actor who is outside my current sphere. Yes…and to partnering with someone else who is interested in being proactive about their career. Yes…and to making a new friend.
We exchange a couple of direct messages back and forth and then finally decide to connect via email after I return from a tweetup BBQ.
I arrive at said BBQ and am being introduced to the people already there.
“Hey guys, this is Seth,” said the host
“Seth?” says a voice from across thw patio. “Were you and I just…”
And sure enough it was @GirlSascha at the same event. None of us had ever met offline before, and here we were at the same party.
So whatever opportunities come up in your career pursuits today, consider saying YES…AND and see what happens. You may be one tweet away from your next gig.
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Laura Clark: So you're a big TV star now! And to think I knew y...
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Traci: Congratulations, Seth!! Well done!
The blog po...
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sethcaskey: I have no doubt that you will be back in LA in no ...
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Chandra: Great post. I did the same exact thing when I lost...
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sethcaskey: I'll be looking for a postcard soon. :)...