Charge of the Indecency Squad

From aintitcool.com:

"Today, the FCC notified broadcasters that fines for “indecent” material would be increased up to ten times.
Previously, the maximum fine for “indecency” was $32,500 per occurrence. That fine can now be as high as $325,000. This fine does not apply to cable or satellite broadcasters. Alarmingly, the measure does not specify what “indecency” actually is.
From AP:

"This is a victory for children and families," said Senate sponsor Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. The higher fines were needed, he said, "in a world saturated with violent and explicit media."

A while back, I conducted an interview with HowardTV’s Doug Goodstein, in which we discussed the probability that regulation of this nature might compel creators and producers to move towards less policed outlets to tell their stories – perhaps even to iN Demand services (where Stern’s television component can now be seen). I wonder if today’s news will push such folk further away from networks – towards cable and beyond?"

*headdesk*
*headdesk*
*headdesk*

Y'know, it's a real eye-opener to watch reruns of IN LIVING COLOR, a show which ran on regular ol' non-cable Fox, and to hear it frequently bleeped out. Think about that. What was perfectly fine to say on TV little over ten years ago is "bad" now. On cable TV. While in Europe, content on basic TV is aired mostly unedited and uncensored.

Phase one, get through the damn thing. Phase three, profit. Or at least, progress.

Y'know, I tried not to let the bad reviews of me in THE DAVID DANCE get me down. I took it up with the director, who told me not to worry about it, what do they know, you're doing what I told you to do, and so on. Sure, it still bugged me, but I didn't try to think about it. But they stayed with me, still nagging away at me. When I started actively freaking out when people I know showed up to see the show, I figured it was time to face up to a deeply unpleasant fact:

It ain't my best work.

Here's the thing. I know I'm a good actor. Or at least, I can be when I'm given a good director. Several times over the past month and a half I thought about going up here and bitching about my director's utter lack of giving direction, how he rarely ever gave me input or insight, and would frequently give us all line-readings. Aren't line-readings, like, federal offenses in the theatre world?

I was given jack. And while there are several kinds of roles where I know how to command attention, to work a crowd, to be an audience whore even... this ain't one of those roles. This is one of those roles that I (at least thought) I always wanted to do more of-- down to earth, realistic, dramatic roles with humor. Not clowns or comic relief, the roles I frequently get cast in, and for good reasons, I understand and don't dislike that in the least. But I'm just not experienced here, damn it all.

One of the reasons Good was one of my best performances, if not the best performance, I have ever done is because of the deep bond and trust I had with my director Jason Rubin. Here, I got nothing and I did the best I could with nothing. It's a sobering thing, after a couple years of putting out some-- if I may say-- pretty darn good shows and feeling pretty darn good about yourself, only to find out how you really are without a director honing and focusing you.

So what's to be done? Well, graduate school, for one thing. Or at the very least, maybe it's time I took advantage of this break to sign up with some classes at Shakespeare Theatre or Studio. That's clearly what needs to happen.

I just hate that I still have two more performances of this ahead of me. Two more opportunities to go up there and make an arse of myself and not know what the hell I can do to improve myself. GAHH! Suffice it to say, if any of you were thinking of maybe not making it to this one, I won't be heartbroken.

Ach, ok, I'm done. Just needed to get that out there. Shit. Ok. Moving on now.

I suppose I do still got it when I want it

And wouldn't you figure it? After that angsty last LJ post, I went up there for DAVID DANCE last night and did the best damn performance of the entire run. Nothing quite like that sense of "Oh, the hell with it, I've got nothing left to lose... I'm cutting loose!" to really pump up a performance. Tonight's the last night. We'll see what happens.

But yeah. Go figure.

Hey, would anyone be willing to give me some direction for my Leagues audition monologue? I'm practicing in front of a mirror, but I'd like the advice and guidance of someone else, if someone else is free to help. I'd appreciate it! I'll, uh... buy you a sassafrass tea!