I started out last year with what would be my ONLY live performance. I appeared for close to 40 minutes as the featured performer at Poet's Monday. Poet's Monday for the uninitiated isn't just for poets, it's for all manner of vocal performers from story tellers, and improvisers to poets and singers. The show starts out with an open stage and ends with the feature performer. The show is often followed by a live music performance. Entrance to Poet's Monday is $3.
My performance went as intended, and I succeeded in entertaining and enlightened the crowd. I don't remember a single thing I did during the show, and the only record is from the memories of people in the audience. I regret only one thing about 2008, and that is that this was my only live performance. I am going to spend more time this year performing on stage, instead of only in film.
I traveled to Poland, my home-land, and stayed there for 7 months. I attended classes at the well-regarded Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and when the semester was finished I instructed students in the English language for over 100 hours as a native speaker. I returned for a semester at MIAD, and during that semester managed to appear in 4 short film projects, two of which are still in production.
I was glad to have participated in a number of video projects in 2008.I played a villain in Ashley Donaldson's untitled film, a young soldier in Johnathan J Bells drama about pre-war Wisconsin , an office employee in the 48-hour film festival submission "Magic Pen", a man attacked by an alien (cut from this role:voice over talent used instead)in Nathan Behmlander and Erik Holman's film Star Monger, and a philosopher/time traveler in Matt Wichlatz film Aono (set to premier in Spring 2008.
2008 was easily my most productive year in terms of acting work. It followed 2007's first appearance in a serious film "Autumn Lost", produced by a team from UW-Milwaukee. After the experience with the UW crew I decided to dive into local film, and began getting accepted for roles. I was to appear in a film for Meghan O'Connell but was recast do to schedule conflicts she ran into.
Looking ahead at 2009, I am glad to have been asked by Nathan Behmlander to voice one of his characters for his thesis animation, by Don Ford to star in my own internet series "5 minutes with [Rich]," an offer by Joe Shakula to appear in a short film project, and an invitation by Brian Janick to perform live in his "Twilight Zone" sketch series. I am happy that everything is falling into place this year. I hope you'll be one of the select few who appear at Poet's Monday, cause you never know when I'll stop by. Thanks to all of my collaborators, fans, and fellow-actors for a pleasant 2008.
