It feels like forever since I last sat down to write about my adventures – but here I am at last!

I’ll start where I left off – India. I was blessed to travel to India for 3 weeks with Candace Silvers from Los Angeles and 13 other talented and amazing people for a spiritual journey in Rishikesh, at the foothills of the Himalayas. 

Rishikesh – the home of Yoga, the place where the Beatles famously travelled in 1968 to stay in an Ashram, and the birthplace of Anand Mehrotra – our other spiritual guide on this journey and Yin to Candace’s Yang.

What an amazing adventure! There’s too much to detail here – but it was an immense journey of self discovery for all involved…. we climbed mountains to temples, meditated in caves, swam in the mighty Ganga, participated in Diwali celebrations, did morning yoga, played with monkeys and elephants and made life long friends. We laughed, we cried, we broke through barriers – We talked about the universe and quantum physics and splashed each other with water. We jumped off a cliff and changed our lives forever. I took so many things from my journey to India – lessons about life and insights into self. I have come away a stronger and fuller person and am blessed to have had the opportunity. Perhaps my highlight of the trip was visiting the school children supported by Candace’s charity – New Possibilities Children Foundation. To see the smiles and joy in their hearts touched me deeply and was an experience I won’t soon forget.

For more information, check out:

www.candacesilvers.com

www.childrenofrishikesh.com

www.anandteachings.com

Apart from my trip to India – October has been a HUGE month! 

Firstly, there was the voting for the AFI awards. I have to say what an amazingly strong field of great Australian films it was this year! I really enjoyed tearing through my viewers and getting to see some fantastic features and documentaries. 

I have to say two films that stood out for me were:

The Combination, directed by David Field – and Beautiful, directed by Dean O’Flaherty. Admittedly, I might be slightly biased towards Beautiful as it featured several close friends and was shot on location in Adelaide,  but all in all, it was a fantastically written and shot piece. The Combination was a surprisingly powerful and emotional piece about marginalised youth which really packed a punch. I can highly recommend both of these films.

In other film news, The Boys Are Back is on release from this Thursday the 12th of November in selected cinemas. I attended the cast screening on Monday, and discovered a beautiful, emotional and delicately crafted film. Again, although I may be slightly biased, I found it to be very well written, with fantastic cinematography and strong acting – particularly from the leads, Clive Owen and Nicholas McAnulty. It was also a perfect showcase for the beauty of the South Australian coast. Let alone on a personal level, the opportunity to work with Scott Hicks, which was amazing. Look out for me at Katie’s wake…..

I’ve also had the great pleasure of reading several scripts this month – mostly in the developmental and pre-production stages. It has inspired me to get off my backside and start working on some fresh projects myself, as well as some scripts that have been on the shelf for a while!

Whilst I didn’t hear anything about the audition I went for as discussed last blog, I was cast in a guest role for the upcoming new radioplay, “Starpol”. I appear as Commander F’Iner in Episode One, Power of the Emperor. I had a blast at the recording session yesterday with many familiar faces. Someone commented that I sounded like Frank Sinatra whilst recording! Whilst I personally can’t see the comparisons….. make up your own mind! Episode One available online in the coming weeks at:

www.starpol.net

Now, FINALLY to the news we have all been waiting for…… my O1 Talent visa to go and work on some projects in the United States has been conditionally approved! I have booked my consulate appointment and am starting to make the preparations to relocate….. Phew! So many things to do, and not enough hours in the day! 

I’ve also been invited to attend a Masterclass in Adelaide with Marcus Graham in early December before I plan to make the move to LA – how many things can I squeeze into my itinerary? Ha!

And if that is not crazy enough, I sit here on the eve of my departure to Egypt. Yep – that’s right – I’m going on another 3 week spiritual journey! Meditations in ancient pyramids and temples and journeys down the Nile (as opposed to journeys in Denial!!). I can’t wait!

So, to all, I bid a temporary Adieu, as, in true Alicia fashion, I still haven’t packed yet! I like to think of the Internet as my personal packing procrastination medium………

I look forward to sharing more adventures with you soon!

Until then, enjoy the sunshine…

Leash

There have been up’s and down’s but overall I feel that I have grown so much as both a person and an actor. I spent the first 3 months of 2009 in LA, where I worked with some fantastic acting coaches – David Kagen, Brett Rickaby and Paul Messinger at David Kagen’s School of Film Acting. Lew Callihan for ‘Police Tactics’ at Aaron Speiser Acting Studio. Sam Christensen and Samantha Bennett at Sam Christensen Studios for the ‘Image Proces Intensive’. I was blessed to stumble across Candace Silvers and participate in her life classes, and finally the entire team at TVI Studios for Boot Camp! During this time, I also worked with some inspiring fellow actors who made me strive to achieve more, and I made some lifelong friends whom I love dearly! What a journey – to those who travelled it with me, I thank you for your love and friendship and ongoing support.

Since arriving back home I have madly been laying the foundations for some projects in the back half of this year, and 2010. I have been tweaking some scripts and working with two of my besties, Lynda-Maree and Bek to produce a short that we have collaboratively written (Watch this Space!) and have been honoured to have been involved in two short film projects – ‘A Fly On The Wall’ and ‘Medicine Wheel’ – in support of my dear friend, Tess O’Flaherty. I am also in consultation with another actor, Steve Parker, for an exciting project that is in the final stages of planning and I am very pleased with the way the script is shaping up on this film too. I am also looking at producing my first piece of Australian theatre next year……….. so – busy! busy!

I was also honoured to join a theatre masterclass last Friday the 12th of June with esteemed director, Michael Hill – thanks to Actors Equity. It was a great opportunity to touch base with many familiar faces from the local industry and see what everyone has been up to! Not to mention honing my theatre muscles again after so much film and television training in Los Angeles.

I have also been indulging somewhat, and am taking the time to read a lot more books and am enjoying reading some classic Pinter plays and Tennessee Williams…. and we call this work?? Ha! Not only this, but as Sam Christensen would be happy to know, I am continuing to work on my Image Process homework to discover more and more about myself every day. What a joy!

I have also recently taken up Kali (a form of martial arts) with my girls, with the long term expectation that we can do our own stunts… he he! I am starting to feel like I am improving slightly at this form of stick, knife and hand combat – but I still sometimes catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror looking more like E.T than a seasoned street fighter. Sigh. Some things take time, I guess………

I also really need to get back on the pole, and have been inspired to do so for the upcoming “Le Grande Revue” for Miss Cara Brown’s birthday at which I will be performing. Watch out world! Only problem is, I conveniently forgot about the muscle ache and death bruises that come as a result of being off my game………argh. No pain, no gain – right??????????

So – I think that’s probably it for now, but as we all know, I like to write, so check back regularly to see what’s going on in my world….. There’s so much happening in the pipeline I expect plenty of updates headed your way soon…..

Until then, I want to thank the many who have inspired me this year to get up and be better…… to my girls Lynda-Maree, Bek and Ceri – words cannot explain the strength you give me and the love I have for you all. To Mum, Dad, Kristin, Nana and Grandpa, Sonya, and the rest of my family and friends in Adelaide – thank you for believing in me and giving me all the support in the world to go chasing my dream. To our LA crew – Shawn, Kevin, Mo and all the crazy bunch, Michelle, Stacey, Nick, Scott, Victor, Lamorna, Rochelle – thank you for accepting us into your family and loving us for who we are, and making the journey fun! To Erik and Kathy, Petie, Tess, Steve and all my fellow creatives who are always willing to open the door for me and SHOW ME THE MONEY! Or, sometimes, lack of it……………. To all my teachers and my new friends across the globe from my classes in LA – I have learnt so much from each of you and treasure our time together in the creative womb…. To Jaimz and Fuzz – thanks for helping me out with things I have no idea about! To my agent Chris, who constantly lifts me up and supports me and champions me, no matter what.

And finally, to Shane. Whom I miss dearly, but who taught me more about myself than anyone else. I feel your presence with me every day and know I will get there with your help and guidance.

So for now, it’s goodbye. Until next time, my friends – STAY AWESOME!

xoxo
Leash