Hello readers!
As you know this is a blog about my acting adventures but today I'm going to give out my awards for 2009...remember these are films I've seen this year. There are performances and movies out there that are getting "Oscar Buzz" that I have not seen yet."
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Best Actor: Sharlto Copley - District 9
Nominees:
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - 500 Days of Summer
Brad Pitt - Inglourious Basterds
It's unbelievable to me that this man isn't getting any nominations for his performance in District 9. Maybe because it's a sci-fi film but his believable and breathtaking performance as a man who gets diseased by the alien creatures is remarkable. The power he needed and the transition from this little nerdy scientist/humanitarian to this hardcore badass trying to save himself and his new found friend is incredible.
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock - The Blindside
Nominees:
Meryl Streep - It's Complicated
Zoey Deschanel - 500 Days of Summer
So I still have yet to see Precious, or An Education or The Last Station where they all have outstanding female performances but out of the films I have seen Sandra Bullock's compelling, strong performance in The Blindside trumps all. Being such a high profile A list superstar that is known for romantic comedies and not being a "great actress" really could hurt her in the award season, but I believe she deserves it because of all that. Nobody thought she could pull off such a believable, and powerful performance as a tough southern mom taking in an inner city kid and helping him accomplish his goals.
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds
Nominees:
Matt Damon - Invictus
Zach Galifianakis - The Hangover
No doubt in my mind, Christoph Waltz is winning the Oscar. This could be the best performance of the year out of any actor/actress. Not much else to say about it except...WOW.
Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Nominees:
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Diane Kruger - Inglourious Basterds
Up in the Air is one of my favorite films of the year and part of it is because of all the brilliant performances in the film. Clooney is remarkable, Vera Farmiga is great, but Anna Kendrick as the young, naive new-comer is perfection. She holds her own around great actors and delivers a fun, corky, performance.
Best Ensemble Cast: The Hangover
Nominees:
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Avatar
Moon (haha, j/k)
This was a tough one for me to choose because Inglourious had a great cast, but The Hangover needs to get some love. It's one of the best comedies of the decade and all 4 guys along with the random characters that come around give out perfect comedic performances. I just wish award shows would give it the time of day.
Best Director: Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds
Nominees:
James Cameron - Avatar
Neil Blomkamp - District 9
Mark Webb - 500 Days of Summer
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
It's time. He delivered yet another amazing film, with perfect performances and stayed true to who he is as a film maker. When you turn on a film and know right away, this is a Tarantino film...that's talent. Not many directors have that ability. He does and deserves his Oscar.
Best Picture: Avatar
Nominees:
Up in the Air
District 9
Inglourious Basterds
500 Days of Summer
This film is revolutionary. The visuals are stunning, the story is good, and the message is great. There wasn't that many great films this year but this is the one movie I want to watch over and over and over and over again. I always think the best picture should be a revolutionary movie and without a question this one is.
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Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think readers.
Have a Happy New Year! 2010...loads to come! Stay tuned....
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Taking the Next Step
Hello Readers!
It has been almost a month since my last post and I apologize for that. Honestly, just haven't had much to say, but I'm back with a new topic.
The weekend is upon us where I shoot my first ever feature length role. I've been looking forward to this and working towards this since I started acting 4 years ago (almost on my 5 year anniversary). As excited as I am about the shoot I can't help but wonder, what's the next step? How do I build from here? Every year I've made strides in the right direction towards ultimately making this my profession. It's time to take the next step and for me that's getting representation and joining SAG and/or AFTRA. It's time. Getting the right agent will help me get me to the next level and be able to have a good follow up to this feature length film.
One of my favorite quotes is, "Well done is always better than well said." Well, I have turned into my worse nightmare and have been doing a lot of talking of late with no real action to back it up. Most of the talk has been about what I plan to do for my next step. It's time to act on it and take the next step. I don't have to fear anything anymore. Sometimes fear is good, but when it stands in the way of you and your goals it's a bad thing. I've been fearless almost my entire career but recently have been making up excuses on why I'm putting things off, Why I'm not submitting for representation or why I can't do it right now. No More. It's time.
2010 is going to be a year that will change my life forever.
I'm going to write a blog about my Year in review and my personal awards for films/acting after the new year.
So until then...
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy New Year! and thank you for reading.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
It has been almost a month since my last post and I apologize for that. Honestly, just haven't had much to say, but I'm back with a new topic.
The weekend is upon us where I shoot my first ever feature length role. I've been looking forward to this and working towards this since I started acting 4 years ago (almost on my 5 year anniversary). As excited as I am about the shoot I can't help but wonder, what's the next step? How do I build from here? Every year I've made strides in the right direction towards ultimately making this my profession. It's time to take the next step and for me that's getting representation and joining SAG and/or AFTRA. It's time. Getting the right agent will help me get me to the next level and be able to have a good follow up to this feature length film.
One of my favorite quotes is, "Well done is always better than well said." Well, I have turned into my worse nightmare and have been doing a lot of talking of late with no real action to back it up. Most of the talk has been about what I plan to do for my next step. It's time to act on it and take the next step. I don't have to fear anything anymore. Sometimes fear is good, but when it stands in the way of you and your goals it's a bad thing. I've been fearless almost my entire career but recently have been making up excuses on why I'm putting things off, Why I'm not submitting for representation or why I can't do it right now. No More. It's time.
2010 is going to be a year that will change my life forever.
I'm going to write a blog about my Year in review and my personal awards for films/acting after the new year.
So until then...
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy New Year! and thank you for reading.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
Monday, November 23, 2009
What is a Normal Job?
Hello Readers!
So today I was needing to get a hold of a friend but I didn't have his number. So I asked another friend of mine for it and if I could get in touch with him tomorrow and was told, "Yea but early evening, he has a normal job." That struck me and it brings up the question...What is a normal job?
90% of the population would tell you a normal job is one you get up for everyday Monday-Friday. 9-5 type of thing. But to that 10% that is considered, "Not normal" or "High risk" it's doing what you love to do. Your passion in life. Mainly that consist of the arts or sports. Any job that deals with that. But there's also career waiters/bar tenders or Pilots who aren't in the "norm." They don't have 9-5 schedules and their times are all out of whack.
I understand what the majority would say a normal job is but to me it's not normal to do something you aren't passionate about. Settling is not normal; or at least not in my heart. High Risk. High Reward. That's what I say.
So I ask you...
What is a Normal Job to You?
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
So today I was needing to get a hold of a friend but I didn't have his number. So I asked another friend of mine for it and if I could get in touch with him tomorrow and was told, "Yea but early evening, he has a normal job." That struck me and it brings up the question...What is a normal job?
90% of the population would tell you a normal job is one you get up for everyday Monday-Friday. 9-5 type of thing. But to that 10% that is considered, "Not normal" or "High risk" it's doing what you love to do. Your passion in life. Mainly that consist of the arts or sports. Any job that deals with that. But there's also career waiters/bar tenders or Pilots who aren't in the "norm." They don't have 9-5 schedules and their times are all out of whack.
I understand what the majority would say a normal job is but to me it's not normal to do something you aren't passionate about. Settling is not normal; or at least not in my heart. High Risk. High Reward. That's what I say.
So I ask you...
What is a Normal Job to You?
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
Friday, November 20, 2009
WB Acting
Hello Readers!
So I just watched "New Moon." The newest film in the Twilight Saga. Unlike the first film, I was going in with zero expectations. I read all 4 books. I love all 4 books. I went into "Twilight" with high expectations and they were DESTROYED by that film. "New Moon" did it again, but luckily this time I had zero expectations.
After watching the film I called a friend of mine and we talked about the acting in these films and he put it best, "It's what I like to call 'WB Acting.'" I asked him what he meant. WB acting is what you get in most WB shows. The melodramatic, over the top acting, that doesn't deliver any of the emotional depth the dialog meant to carry. For instance the dad walks in and says, "How's it going Bella?" and she replies, but first she must pause for 3 dots...ie WB acting. "...I'm fine dad. Just leave me alone." This film is a train wreck for these actors and they're terrible acting chops. Some scenes are very intense, or sad, or basically any emotion a human being will feel and you connect with ZERO of it. I did, however, like the dad in this film again and I liked the leader or king of the Vampires. He was a bit over the top, but that could be directing. He did a good job.
Being an actor, of course I want to commend my fellow actors for making it into such a successful franchise, but come on...where is the depth to your performance? I feel both films would be a millions times better if the audience could connect with your emotional range. A script, or story is only as good as the actors portray it to be. Sometimes you get HORRIBLE scripts but the actors in the film make the film enjoyable.
I hope the next film is better. I love the director they have for it and hopefully he can bring something out of them that the other 2 directors have failed to do. We shall see.
3 out of 10 stars for this film.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
So I just watched "New Moon." The newest film in the Twilight Saga. Unlike the first film, I was going in with zero expectations. I read all 4 books. I love all 4 books. I went into "Twilight" with high expectations and they were DESTROYED by that film. "New Moon" did it again, but luckily this time I had zero expectations.
After watching the film I called a friend of mine and we talked about the acting in these films and he put it best, "It's what I like to call 'WB Acting.'" I asked him what he meant. WB acting is what you get in most WB shows. The melodramatic, over the top acting, that doesn't deliver any of the emotional depth the dialog meant to carry. For instance the dad walks in and says, "How's it going Bella?" and she replies, but first she must pause for 3 dots...ie WB acting. "...I'm fine dad. Just leave me alone." This film is a train wreck for these actors and they're terrible acting chops. Some scenes are very intense, or sad, or basically any emotion a human being will feel and you connect with ZERO of it. I did, however, like the dad in this film again and I liked the leader or king of the Vampires. He was a bit over the top, but that could be directing. He did a good job.
Being an actor, of course I want to commend my fellow actors for making it into such a successful franchise, but come on...where is the depth to your performance? I feel both films would be a millions times better if the audience could connect with your emotional range. A script, or story is only as good as the actors portray it to be. Sometimes you get HORRIBLE scripts but the actors in the film make the film enjoyable.
I hope the next film is better. I love the director they have for it and hopefully he can bring something out of them that the other 2 directors have failed to do. We shall see.
3 out of 10 stars for this film.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
Friday, November 13, 2009
5 Years...
Hello Readers!
So I'm coming up on my 5 year anniversary of my acting life. It went by so fast. I remember my first acting class like it was yesterday. I've learned a lot over the past 5 years. Some was taught to me, some I learned on my own, but I wouldn't trade the good, the bad or the ugly for anything. This is what I do. I believe that I was born to do this. From the first class, to my first scene, to my first short, to my first feature. I've come a long way in a short amount of time and I'm not planning on pushing down on the brakes anytime soon. I'm going to floor it. The sky's the limit.
I have notice over the past few years that people like to talk to me about acting. I understand they are interested in the work and acting in general but they need to know I don't like talking about it. I do hold conversations, and I am polite about it, but I really don't want to talk about it. Sometimes I don't even tell strangers that I'm an actor because I get the same questions over and over and over again. It's cool and all but I would like to talk about other things unless you are in the industry yourself. Lets talk sports. Lets talk music. Lets talk movies (that I'm not apart of). Anything, just not me and my career. I don't gloat. I've been asked about my work too. How I get into a role, or why did I do this in a scene. Apart from you being a director, an agent, a manager, a producer, an editor, or a co-star you will never know. I don't tell people how I got into the skin of the character. That's a very personal thing between the actor and his character. I remember at one of my day jobs a girl found out I was an actor and she said, "You're an actor?" and I was like, "Yes. Why are you so surprised? We're in LA, isn't everyone an actor out here?" and she said, "Yea, but everyone else talks about their work but I never hear you talk about it." I told her, "Cause I don't like talking about it. It's what I do and if you have questions, sure I'll answer them, but I'm not gonna gloat or talk about my work." She thought that was really cool, especially in LA where everyone likes to talk or gloat.
Maybe I'm different than the other actors out there in the world, but you will never hear my gloat or openly talk about my acting. Of course I'll share things with friends and family and what I've been up to, but that's as far as it goes. That's as far as I want it to go. That's another reason why I started this blog. Because I don't like talking about it, this is actually a great outlet to say what I feel like saying after an audition, or a shoot where I don't have to carry a conversation about it.
5 years...time to move on to the next 5 years of my career.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
So I'm coming up on my 5 year anniversary of my acting life. It went by so fast. I remember my first acting class like it was yesterday. I've learned a lot over the past 5 years. Some was taught to me, some I learned on my own, but I wouldn't trade the good, the bad or the ugly for anything. This is what I do. I believe that I was born to do this. From the first class, to my first scene, to my first short, to my first feature. I've come a long way in a short amount of time and I'm not planning on pushing down on the brakes anytime soon. I'm going to floor it. The sky's the limit.
I have notice over the past few years that people like to talk to me about acting. I understand they are interested in the work and acting in general but they need to know I don't like talking about it. I do hold conversations, and I am polite about it, but I really don't want to talk about it. Sometimes I don't even tell strangers that I'm an actor because I get the same questions over and over and over again. It's cool and all but I would like to talk about other things unless you are in the industry yourself. Lets talk sports. Lets talk music. Lets talk movies (that I'm not apart of). Anything, just not me and my career. I don't gloat. I've been asked about my work too. How I get into a role, or why did I do this in a scene. Apart from you being a director, an agent, a manager, a producer, an editor, or a co-star you will never know. I don't tell people how I got into the skin of the character. That's a very personal thing between the actor and his character. I remember at one of my day jobs a girl found out I was an actor and she said, "You're an actor?" and I was like, "Yes. Why are you so surprised? We're in LA, isn't everyone an actor out here?" and she said, "Yea, but everyone else talks about their work but I never hear you talk about it." I told her, "Cause I don't like talking about it. It's what I do and if you have questions, sure I'll answer them, but I'm not gonna gloat or talk about my work." She thought that was really cool, especially in LA where everyone likes to talk or gloat.
Maybe I'm different than the other actors out there in the world, but you will never hear my gloat or openly talk about my acting. Of course I'll share things with friends and family and what I've been up to, but that's as far as it goes. That's as far as I want it to go. That's another reason why I started this blog. Because I don't like talking about it, this is actually a great outlet to say what I feel like saying after an audition, or a shoot where I don't have to carry a conversation about it.
5 years...time to move on to the next 5 years of my career.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Rehearsals = Success
Hello Readers,
So this week I had my first rehearsals for the upcoming film. There are major points I want to point out about the rehearsals, so instead of writing long paragraphs about it, I'm just going to list them.
1. Kick ass Director who is passionate about his project
2. Super cool Co-star
3. Breathing room to explore the character
4. I work well with the director and co-star
5. Felt comfortable and confident by the end of rehearsals.
All in all I can't wait to start shooting. Still have some work to do, of course, but all in all this film is going to be great. There's nothing better than having a kick ass, easy going, fun Co-Star and a passionate and motivated Director.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
So this week I had my first rehearsals for the upcoming film. There are major points I want to point out about the rehearsals, so instead of writing long paragraphs about it, I'm just going to list them.
1. Kick ass Director who is passionate about his project
2. Super cool Co-star
3. Breathing room to explore the character
4. I work well with the director and co-star
5. Felt comfortable and confident by the end of rehearsals.
All in all I can't wait to start shooting. Still have some work to do, of course, but all in all this film is going to be great. There's nothing better than having a kick ass, easy going, fun Co-Star and a passionate and motivated Director.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Friends
Hello Readers!
The countdown continues to the start of rehearsals for me. Less than a week away and I can't be more thrilled! It's been a long time since I worked in front of a camera. I miss it.
Yesterday I did something I haven't done a long long time. I watched a few episodes of "Friends." I use to watch the show as a kid and a teen and I liked it. It was an enjoyable show, but I never had a connection with any of the characters. People would tell me I reminded them of Joey because I'm a self proclaimed ladies man (ha j/k) and am the "stupid humor" guy. But after watching the episodes last night I realized, I am like Joey now more than ever. I really started connecting with certain scenes he was in when it came to his acting and being a struggling actor in New York. Granted I'm not in New York but I understand. I was laughing so hard. He was having an audition where the character was really tense but Joey needed to go to the bathroom. So he's rocking back and forth and back and forth and the director, played by the great and extremely nice Jeff Goldblum, loves what he's doing. He gives Joey an automatic call back and tells him to come back tomorrow. So Joey goes home and drinks all the liquid he can and comes back in for the audition. He ends up getting the part but still really needs to pee. He ends up peeing all over Jeff Goldblum's character. It was hilarious! Then the next episode he gets a call for an audition to do a one liner and he's so excited about it. I can connect with that now. It's the life of a struggling actor and that show provided the world with a glimpse into that life. How one minute you can be the lead on a soap opera and the next you're needing to wait tables again just to make rent.
I always had a great respect for that show but now I connect with it and one of it's characters.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
The countdown continues to the start of rehearsals for me. Less than a week away and I can't be more thrilled! It's been a long time since I worked in front of a camera. I miss it.
Yesterday I did something I haven't done a long long time. I watched a few episodes of "Friends." I use to watch the show as a kid and a teen and I liked it. It was an enjoyable show, but I never had a connection with any of the characters. People would tell me I reminded them of Joey because I'm a self proclaimed ladies man (ha j/k) and am the "stupid humor" guy. But after watching the episodes last night I realized, I am like Joey now more than ever. I really started connecting with certain scenes he was in when it came to his acting and being a struggling actor in New York. Granted I'm not in New York but I understand. I was laughing so hard. He was having an audition where the character was really tense but Joey needed to go to the bathroom. So he's rocking back and forth and back and forth and the director, played by the great and extremely nice Jeff Goldblum, loves what he's doing. He gives Joey an automatic call back and tells him to come back tomorrow. So Joey goes home and drinks all the liquid he can and comes back in for the audition. He ends up getting the part but still really needs to pee. He ends up peeing all over Jeff Goldblum's character. It was hilarious! Then the next episode he gets a call for an audition to do a one liner and he's so excited about it. I can connect with that now. It's the life of a struggling actor and that show provided the world with a glimpse into that life. How one minute you can be the lead on a soap opera and the next you're needing to wait tables again just to make rent.
I always had a great respect for that show but now I connect with it and one of it's characters.
Cheers,
Jonathan Baca
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