ED HOOKS'S Film Demo Workshop ACCEPTING ENROLLMENTS!
On August 22nd, I will begin a new kind of Film Class in San Francisco. Students will work on acting techniques for camera, audition technique for film/tv and participate in editing of taped scenes. Each actor will receive a VHS copy of his scenes -- edited to showcase standard -- plus a copy of "The Audition Book" by yours truly. This Tuesday night workshop utilizes cutting edge digital video technology. It is highly structured, up-to-the-moment and limited to ten actors. This will replace the current Exellent Film Class. For more info and rates, send me an e-mail at edhooks@best.com.

ERIC MAISEL'S CREATIVITY NEWSLETTER
My friend Eric Maisel ("The Creativity Book", Tarcher 2000), an internationally known creativity coach, is launching a free monthly Creativity Newsletter. It will have creativity lessons, exercises, teaching tales, and other goodies. You can subscribe to it by sending an e-mail to creativitynewsletter-subscribe@egroups.com or by visiting his web site: http://www.ericmaisel.com.

COMMERCIALS WORKSHOP THIS WEEKEND
Yes! There is room in the class this weekend. In fact, there is a LOT of room in it because I slipped up and scheduled it for a holiday weekend. Uh oh. Come play with me! We'll learn a lot and have fun. And remember, if you've taken this workshop before, you can take it again for half price. I'll give you fresh copy.

UPCOMING CLASSES
Commercials Workshop -- July 1-2, August 12-13
Scene Study (San Francisco) -- Mon, 7-10:30pm, ongoing
Scene Study (Palo Alto) -- Thurs, 6:30-10pm, ongoing
Acting for Animators -- Saturday, July 22
Film/TV (San Francisco) -- Tues 7-10:30pm, ongoing
Ed Hooks's Film Demo Workshop - Tues, August 22nd, 7-10:30

HOOKS ACTORS WORKING
ANNIESCOTT ROGERS (s.stdy - '96) shot two indie films, "Spiking the Tuna and "The Runaway". SHANNON VANN (comml ' -99 is in "Grease at the Diablo Valley Opera Company. JAXY BOYD (all classes - '94-'97) appears in Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" at Woman's Will in SF, through Aug. 20th. NEIL HOWARD (comml - '99) had the lead in two independent films, "Tragos" for Vertical Pool films and "Tiny for Hothouse films - as well as a short Internet movie called "The Ghost Detective". Neil also shot a commercial for Storehouse and did a v/o for LetsTalk.com. ANNAN PATTERSON (comml - '97) will perform her solo show DEEP CANYON July 16th as part of the American Cancer Society conference in Riverside, CA. For more information contact Edie Adams, 909-683-6415. BRETT ROSENBERG (comml - '99) shot a feature, "Before You Go", directed by Sargon Benjamin and will be performing with the California Travel Troupe at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland in August. ROCKY LA ROCHELLE (f/tv - '00) landed a featured role in the History Channel's "Ghosts of Nevada" shot in Virginia City. He also finished a supporting role in the indie feature "Before You Go!" directed by LA's Sargon Benjamin. FRED OCHS (comml '98)is both o/c and v/o in an industrial for Levi Straus. He also is o/c in an industrial for Ariba. LIZ GIBSON (comml & s.stdy - '97) shot two spots for Golden Gate Volkswagen in Daly City. MIA PASCHAL (s.stdy - '97-'99) appears in Daytrippers II at Bay Area Theatre Sports. JEAN MAZZEI (s.stdy - '97-'99) appears in "The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery" at the Jean Shelton Theater in SF, through August 26th. KURT KROESCHE (s.stdy - '98) sings "From This Moment On" in the 42nd Street Moon production of Cole Porter's "Out of This World."

CRAFT NOTES
"Bad Words"

It happened again. At a Bay Area theater audition last week, auditors admonished actors not to use profanity in their monologues. This time it was at an open call for a new theater company in Saratoga, a pocket of wealth located thirty-five miles south of San Francisco, but the situation is not unique. I've been hearing reports of this kind of thing in San Francisco for years. Every year before the TBA auditions, a list of do's and don't's is printed in Callboard Magazine, and it invariably contains the "no profanity" advice.

The actor's objective in an open-call theater audition is to display intelligence, emotional range, physical and vocal power, command of the stage, maybe humor. There is nothing in there about needing to show that she as a person has a clean mouth or leads a godly life. Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that actors should select monologue material that is intentionally inflammatory. There is no point in grossing out the auditors just because you can and, at any rate, profanity is not a substitute for substance. What I'm saying is that profanity per se should be a non-issue in theater auditions. It strikes me as frankly outrageous that an auditor would stop an actor mid-speech to lecture him about profanity.

Bay Area theater has been a fragile invalid since the late 60's, and this incident in Saratoga is part of the reason why. We've morphed from provocative to sanctimonious. Our theater is increasingly of the Mickey Rooney variety: "Hey, kids, let's put on a show!" We mainly mount revivals, harmless musicals and such. The days of Sam Shepard, John Lion and the Magic Theatre Company are gone. (Yes, I know that Shepard is doing a production at the Magic this season. It's unfortunately a fluke, a one-time thing, and not an indication of change.) Somewhere along the way, this once vibrant theatrical community started preaching to the choir instead of challenging it, and the provocative moment moved from the stage to the screen. Be honest: How often do you go to the movies? How often do you go to the theater? Why? What would it take to get you motivated to see live theater instead of a film?

No one should have to say it: Actors are artists, not children. We do not need to have our life styles shaped by parental, politically correct casting directors, nor do we need to be lectured to about profanity. It is my wish that the 21st Century actor find his voice, his power, and his point of view. He has been made to stand in the corner long enough.

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