OKeim’s Blog
January 26th 2010 by Elevated Grounds in GroundationHi, My name is Okeim. Rehearsals at Elevated Grounds (EG) was kinda exciting. I was excited to see all my co-workers, friends for the first time since we had the play (VIBE II THE VIDEOLIGHT). We started rehearsals a bit late. We went over our contract to make sure everything was clear. I like the fact that everybody was focus and ready to work. We went over some scenes, it wasn’t that much effective. I guess because we just came back, we were kinda cold and needed some “brushing up”. For me, I was kinda “dead”. I wasn’t really in the mood of acting. But in the end i felt great.
Hi its okeim again. Uhmmmm!!!! my second blog. Well practice last Tuesday was OK. We were all on time and we were ready to learn and rehearse. A few new people came to join the play. They just fit right in. I like how the play is coming along. Everything seem to be going well. For me with my character (ALEX) I am very comfortable with this character. Its almost like me in some ways. Stay tune for my next blog
It’s me again. Okeim!!!. OK. So as i said b4 rehearsals are going well. Rehearsal on Wednesday. was great. We went through some scenes. One of the scenes we went through was the “Unavailing of truth”. I was so amazed by how everybody was into there character. Even the new people who don’t really have a character, they got there character when they came., and they we ready and willing to learn and the put everything in it. So i’m joining two blogs together. Rehearsal on Thursday was amazing and inspiring. We took the first 2 hours just talking about mental issue and mental disorder and how to deal with it and what are the symptoms. Even though we didn’t get all the facts we got an idea. We all share “where do we stand, regarding Mental issue and Mental disorder. Trust me, that little talk we had, Open my eyes. I was concerned and aware b4 about mental issue and disorder but that gave me a push and a shock.I just have the urge now to just learn more about mental issue/disorder and to show what someone with these problems act through my character. I want my character to show people that there is hope, and that they r not alone. this is it 4 now. u r free to leave comments and suggestions.
It’s me again. Okeim. So practice on Tuesday was amazing, effective and we achieve a lot. We didn’t practice any scenes or anything but we practice a song. “Will You Be There” by Michael Jackson. Rest in Peace. The King of Pop. So each person got a verse. It’s a long song. WE used mostly the singers, a few of the dancers didn’t want to sing. But we got through it and it was great. For me, at first i had a problem singing the high notes. But i remembered something my vocal coach told me, “That whenever i’m singing high notes i should think low and it works. That it 4 me. Okeim Vassell.
Hello My Blog!!!. It’s Okeim. Practice on Thursday was BORING. I wasn’t in the mood of acting. We had a new performer who came in and audition. She’s a nice person. And she has a great voice. We practice a couple scenes, and that’s it for rehearsal. Ohhhhhhh wait. A few of us were helping Steven to harmonize. It’s natural for me to harmonize. Ohhh I forgot to tell you guys that i’m a member of the NATHANIEL DETT CHORALE. It’s a Afrocentric classical group and I’m a part of the training program. They train us to sight sing and enhance my musical abilities. I think i said enough !!!! Bye 4 now
Hello!!!!!!!!! It’s me again. I think I have done enough talking about rehearsal. But lets talk about my character. ALEX. Alex is a 15 year old boy who just migrated from Jamaica. He is kinda a nerd, u does well in school. academic wise and athletic wise. He has the Jamaican accent since he just migrated from Jamaica He hangs out with a group of guys that he’s not really comfortable with but he’s still hanging out with them. Thats just a brief bio of Alex. You will hear the rest some other time.
O.K. I know that i haven’t been blogging but i will try and brief you on everything. I cant quite remember the date that i’m gonna talk about. OK. So here go. Everyone was on time and was ready to work. However things took a spin. We sat down and we started discussing some issues about mental illness and mental disorders. It was quite fascinating. Everyone was participating and co-operating. We all shared why we came back to Elevated Grounds since we did the play. So back to the mental issue and disorder. We heard some personal experiences that really moved me. It seem like every time we discuss things about Mental Issues and Mental Disorder, i just get an urge to do more. I just want to learn all that i can about mental issue and try and help whoever and try my best to show what people are going through, through my acting.I think I’ve said enough. Bye for now. You an leave comments on the blog or email me with questions, concerns or impressions.
Email: cuteboy4eva@hotmail.com*( i know its a cool email)
Hello Blog. So i’m gonna continue on the telling you about my character. So alex is the COMEDIAN of the play. 1. He has a jamaican accent which always seem to be humourous. His signature line is ” Nuh baddi nuh care”. That part crack the crowd up. So look out for that when you see the play. He’s very friendly and loves to watch opera, days of out lives and tyra show. Which always gets the guys he hangs out with as i mentioned in my previous blog. They are always telling him to “man up” and jerome is always telling him to take a draw of his ganja lolll…. but he always refuse. Even though they tell him to man up when he says that he wants to watch one of his girlie shows, they really want to say, “stop being girlie”. or “act like a man”. But he doesnt care. Thats just a small piece of bio for my character ALEX. I’m gonna leave you with a quote. “A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth the first time he bites off more than he can chew”. Free to leave comments. bye!!! or LATA!!!
Hello blog. It’s Okeim again. Rehearsal on Thursday was amazing. We sat down and discuss some issues, we did some “house cleaning” lol…
I found the discussion very informative and very worthwhile. After that we practice the best song in the world. “Will you be there” by Michael Jackson(rest in peace). It was O.K. we started of very tired and inc-operative, but we all had a long day at school, but we left all the cares at school and home and just did what we had to do. We then went on to practice one of the scenes called “The Unavailing of Truth”. this is the scene where everybody shares there stress whether it’s about having a mental illness or disorder r just stress about school. Then from that we go into the scene following. This is the scene where we perform “All I wanna say that they don’t really care about us. I love this scene. Any wayzzzz this is it about Thursday rehearsal. And just has how we sign out at Elevated Grounds, i’m gonna sign out my blog. I am the head, not the tail. I am above never beneath, I’m a leader not a follower. With strength, wisdom and change. I will elevate, for i am prosperous.
Hello!! Me again. So rehearsal on Monday was very fascinating and very accomplished. we work on the “Step” for “All I Want To Say That They Don’t Really Care About Us”. We made such a great improvement. We were practicing the as told routine and the director told one on the staff member to do a step. And she started a step and from that brought like three other step which made it song so very perfect. I can proudly say that the play is coming along, and you should not miss it.
My soul is like the oar that momently
Dies in a desperate stress beneath the wave,
Then glitters out again and sweeps the sea:
Each second I’m new-born from some new grave.
Mental illness doesn’t touch the soul
Even as it punishes the mind.
None can will the wanderings of the wind,
Though winter come, and tempests take their toll.
All who suffer innocent shall find
Love waiting by the window, well and whole,
Inside the heart, where it has full control,
Longing ever, ever unresigned.
Let go your fear, and follow, then, your path,
Neither more nor less constrained than those
Embraced by gods less ruthless in their wrath.
Sing bravely down the windrows of your woes,
Savoring a grace that comes and goes.
PEACE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’M BACK……..
I know I missed a lot of blogs, but i will try and see what i remember. Well I think my first blog should be about the day i saw our new director and this all happened in march. So i had missed a day of rehearsal and when i came back heard we had a new director and her son is apart of it. I saw the son in a meeting with KG before and his mom was with him, but i never thought she would end up being our director. So the day after i heard that we had a director i think it was a THURSDAY. i cam a bit late. Walked in saw everyone smiling and saying “hi”. By that time i had realized the new faces. She came up to me and she said hello. But the weird thing was that she had a Indian accent. Everyone was laughing while she kept asking me some questions. I didn’t comprehend what was going on. Until she started speaking in her real voice. I laughed so much. Any way, one of our other cast members came late too and she tried it and she was even more lost that i was.. But that day was very good and productive. She told us all bout her self and her son did the same. Her name is Nicole and she love working with youths. She is a motivational speaker. I think that’s is enough. She is a wonderful actor singer, don’t know about the dancing part. We started out by “checked in” telling how our day was. After which we went around the circle and tell who we were n the play. And we had to act as our character while telling who we were. That went very well. That night was just funny, productive and important. “LATA” a done mi done. By the way i’m Jamaican and that means good bye and i’m done.
Hello everybody. This is a continuation of my previous blog. So here goes. After meeting our new director koko and her son. I came the other day for rehearsal and saw another new face, and that new face was also koko’s son. his name was Nathaniel. He’s a very cool guy. he’s an actor, beat boxer and someone that loves to perform and especially when there is a message. We had a wonderful, productive and humorous rehearsal. Everyone started tapping into there character even more anyway thats thats for now. bye!!!!