Momen Thinks

“No, I’m not colorblind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind
But I just can’t sleep on this tonight

Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can’t take the speed it’s moving in
I know I can
Cause now I see I’ll never stop this train”

- John Mayer

My agent called me with a great film audition for Monday and I got sooo excited.  Not simply because of the nature and size of it, but just cause I really miss being in front of the camera.  I remember last summer I had audition, after audition, and now at Shaw I’m pretty much relegated to…well…Shaw.

I miss the whole process:

1) Get the call the day before

2) Get the sides the day before

3) Go in, slate, deliver your lines

4) Leave

It is so different than theatre.  In theatre you either have time to plan something specific, or in the case of general auditions for places like Shaw or Stratford you hopefully have pieces already in your rep.  Film is more like a gong show.  And at first I used to HATE that.  But I’ve grown to love it instead.  Sometimes not having that much control and time to prep relaxes you.  You come to terms with the nature of the beast, and you just walk in and give it.  There’s no talk after with the director, cause they ain’t there. In and out baby!

I also find the waiting room a little different espeically from Music Theatre auditions.  Music Theatre people are so rambonxious that sometimes a waiting room can get really crazy.  In a film audition, there is an efficiency and business like atmosphere about it all.  You walk in, sign in, sit down, shut up, and wait your 2 mins.

Being away from film auditions has made me excited for Monday.  Who knows what will happen!!??

So I randomly came across this Canadian singer/songwriter named Alex Cuba.  Listen, if you’re into Latin music, as I am, or are just looking for something great to fill your house during the summer than you need to get this album.  It’s on iTunes and it’s really really great…and to top it all off you’d be supporting a Canadian artist!

So I’m happy to say that things are going real well here.  One thing in certain is getting me very excited.  I will be doing a cabaret with the help of my man Thom Allison.  He’s been one of the best things about this place.  I’ve always admired his talent and career, and he’s becoming very much a mentor and a friend.   

The other day we got together and went through a huge list of songs that I want to sing.  We listened, and examined and were able to bring a list of about 70+ to 15 or so.  Thom asked me really great questions such as what drew me to the songs, what is the song really about, etc.  Ultimately, he reminded me just how important lyrics are.  Now I always felt that way in regards to music theatre.  Music theatre is a fusion between acting and singing.  You need both otherwise it’s nothing but a melody.  But I want to sing a lot of non-music theatre – John Legend, John Mayer, Joni Mitchell, Lauryn Hill, etc.  It was great to examine popular music as an actor.  I found layers in songs that were never there.  

The songs that are being finalized are all amazing and I think it’s gonna become a show about precisely where I am emotionally and philosophically.  It will speak of my ambitions, passions, but also my fears and apprehensions.  I’m hoping if anything it will be an honest and entertaining 45 minutes.

First he brushes his shoulders off a la Jay-Z and now he gives his wife a fist bump.  This was a great moment to witness.  It seemed very authentic, and loving.  I can’t imagine John McCain doing that with Cindy, nor can I imagine that happening with Billary!

I am proud.  I was born in Iran, came to Canada when I was a baby.  I am a child of immigrants.  Tonight, I was moved, excited, and filled with an immense amount of pride.  I am hopeful for my personal future and the future of my children.  I will say firstly that Barack Obama won not because he’s an African American.  He won on his merits, and I will state once again that he quite simply is one of the most talented and gifted politicians ever to grace the the scene.  I know that he will make a fantastic president.  Tim Russert form MSNBC said that the place he wants to be tomorrow morning more than anything is a history class at an inner-city highschool.  I couldn’t agree with him more.  Something has happened in the world today.  

Now we move on to Clinton.  My previous post spoke positively of her, and even said that Obama should have her as VP.  I still think that Clinton would be a sure win, however her speech tonight was simply disgusting.  Senator Clinton, you are a formidable, bright and talented person…however you have LOST.  It is over.  True leaders are those who are able to put country over party, and tonight has demonstrated once again why she is not suitable to be President of the United States.  She repeated the same bullshit about her winning the popular vote.  Come the fuck on.  You win the popular vote when you don’t count caucuses, and count Michigan where Obama WAS NOT EVEN ON THE BALLOT.

Again, Clinton as VP strategically is a great thing.  However, Obama should not be forced to put anyone on the ticket.  And watching Clinton and her supporters make it seem like it has to happen is gross, classless and ungracious.  Lol, the more I write this the more I want to just scream “DON’T DO IT OBAMA!” 

The Associated Press just reported that Hillary Clinton will acknowledge tonight that Barack Obama has enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination thereby ending the campaign.  It has been a roller coaster of a ride this nomination process.  Here’s what’s interesting, as much as I think that some of Hillary’s behaviour has been pretty shady during this process, I think that Obama should have her on his ticket.  Why?  Sometimes winning is everything.  The fact is, an Obama-Clinton ticket, while it may conflict ideologically with Obama, will be pretty unstoppable.

Even if he doesn’t pick Clinton, I will predict, as I predicted Obama winning the primary, that Obama will be the next President of the United States.  This has as much to do with merits as it does conditions.  Two facts are indisputable:

1)  Barack Obama is one of the most gifted politicians in American history (Merits)

2)  Americans are dissatisfied wholeheartedly with the past eight years and Republican rule and are therefore poised and ready for change. (Conditions)

Look, there are people that will say that Obama can not win White working class voters.  I say to them give him time.  The campaign with John McCain is now about to start.  People say that many women who are loyal to Clinton will not vote for Obama and instead opt for McCain.  To them I say wait for these women to become enlightened on McCain’s desire to fill the Supreme Court with conservative judges in an attempt to turn Roe vs. Wade.  

Will an Obama-Clinton ticket make all this easier?  Yes.  But can he do it without?  Most definitely.  Let us never forget that a relatively unknown “skinny kid with a funny name” was able to defeat the most powerful force in the Democratic party.