How We Thrive, Episode Four: Madeline DeCourcey #actor #writer #director...

In this episode, I chat with my good friend, Madeline, about how she came to her love of theatre & all that it goes into being a professional working actor, writer, director, and producer. She shares tips about how to begin & continue on the artist's path. Madeline DeCourcey is an actress, director, coach, writer and artist. Her latest project was associate directing for Wanderlust Theatre Company’s Dracula. She studied improv comedy in Los Angeles at the Upright Citizens Brigade and sketch comedy with The Nerdist School; she holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University. Her next projects include teaching improv comedy at, as well as debuting on stage in Clue, The Musical at, The Ghostlight Playhouse in Medford. Madeline can also be seen in Cafe-Girl's season two, Nate & Laura & How They Met as well as briefly in as a frozen soldier in "Fair Is Foul, Foul Is Fair". In her spare time she makes art and streams video games on YouTube. Her four cat children would appreciate if you go now and subscribe to her two channels: https://youtube.com/c/GoodatGame www.youtube.com/c/MadfishMagpie

West Christy: Finding His Way Home

Westly "West" Christy is a man of many talents.  Most notably, he has worked as a highly skilled and creative photographer for 8 years, but he also has talent as an actor, writer, director, and cinematographer.  He lends a hand with what is needed because he loves the art of story-telling in whatever means.  "I just want to be useful and interesting," he explains and fears, above all, being boring.  He is anything but that.

He was pursuing his dreams of film-making when as he puts it, he got roped into a wedding photography gig, even though he didn't own a camera at the time.  During his experience with the camera he used for the wedding, it led him to purchase his first DSLR to use as both photographer and film-maker.  He began using his natural talent as photographer to help fund his films.  However, many discouragements within the film-making endeavors, led him to step back from that and focus primarily on the "survival job" and poured himself into his photography.  But, choosing that path led him to Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc first as a set photographer for "Nate & Laura & How They Met" season one, then continuing forth with more and more opportunities to lend a hand, such as being co-director for "TimeKeys" and as director of photographer/co-director for season two of "Nate & Laura & How They Met".  He is now thrilled to be working as a film-maker again and looks forward to so much of the upcoming projects, including "Guilt", the feature length film he wrote, to be filmed in 2020.

West says two opportunities stand out as being those that he is most grateful for, being asked to initially be set photographer for Cafe-Girl which led to re-joining the film world and being able to display his photography at a local community theatre.  But, most notably, he recalls the time he was asked to photograph by a man to photograph his family, which included his wife and daughters.  West recalls that the oldest daughter was uncomfortable having her photo taken and didn't want it done.  However, once she saw the finished product, she ended up asking him to take her senior photos.   Seeing someone light up after seeing their photo is his favorite part of being a photographer.

The most challenging aspect of his career is, to quote him, "EVERY.WEDDING.EVER".  He says that every wedding brings its own challenges, whether it be too many mirrors, smoke, way too much sunlight, or a dark interior, each experience increases his anxiety yet he perseveres and his confidence grows as clients keep requesting him.

He feels he brings his knowledge of how to make quality films on a budget to Cafe-Girl as well as his technological skills as a photographer with his understanding of lighting and framing, which better enhances the logistics and procedural part of film-making.  He also believes that his supervisory skill enhances his directing.  Taking some time for himself to reflect on his past film-making experiences, he believes has made him a better person and he feels that this can help Cafe-Girl be the best that it can be in bringing quality productions and services.  He is truly thankful for the amazing people is working with in Cafe-Girl and has no idea where he would be without them in his life.

Within Cafe-Girl, he feels for the first time that he is truly being heard and his input is being valued.  He also sees that he is not alone in this feeling and believes that everyone who has worked in whatever fashion for Cafe-Girl is equally heard.  Now that he is moving forward in a larger way as producer, he wants to continue that culture of listening and valuing, ensuring that no one feels left behind.

One aspect of Cafe-Girl that he is excited about is finally being able to see his screenplay, "Guilt" brought to life.  This feature length film is something he has been working for ten years, in many different ways, with much difficulty.  He is happy to know that it will finally see fruition and thrilled with the opportunity to share this story.

In addition, West is honored to be a part of Cafe-Girl, to see stories come to  life, and to help others bring their stories to life.  He is also elated to help birth the other products and services of Cafe-Girl and to help build the relationships required for all to be successful.

For more information on Cafe-Girl's newest feature, 

watch Video Audition Commercial

For more on West Christy, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/westCphoto

For information on the feature film, Guilt, go to:

Guilt

For more information on Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc, go to:

www.cafegirlproductions.com

www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions

Michael Meyer: Persevering & Pursuing Art No Matter What

As long as he can remember, Michael has pursued his calling as an actor and found the ultimate joy in making others' laugh.  From a very early age, he discovered he could get positive attention, rather than negative scolding, through his performance antics and sense of humor.  Then, in 1996, something occurred that changed his perspective on life even further.  He had a near death experience through coming down with Meningitis, which caused him to fall into a coma.  When he awoke, he suffered damage to his short term memory.  During that time of the illness, he was cast in a play called "Table Manners" and had a great deal of line memorization.  Through the process of learning the lines and performing in the play, he re-developed the confidence in himself and came to a deeper realization that he was meant to pursue the art of theatre and film as an actor and director.

He believes that his work as an actor and as a director (which he views as an extension of his acting craft) is to portray the experiences in life that give audiences' the ability to reflect and explore aspects of their own identities and existences.

Michael looks back with fondness at a wide plethora of acting and directing opportunities he has had in his life.  First, he is most proud of his time as an instructor and director traveling with the Missoula Children's Theatre Group, calling it "the best gig he ever had".  He recalls how rewarding it was working with a different set of children each week, coaching them with their acting abilities and in a limited amount of time helping them to fulfill the goal of performing in a real play, and he hopes that this experience caused them to have life-long memories, as it did for him.  Next, he looks back with utmost affection for several plays and films he participated in, such as his role as Major Arnold in the play,"Taking Sides", his role as Tom in the play, "Light Sensitive",  and his role as Billy in the film, "Besetment".  He will always feel grateful for the experience working on "Besetment", seeing Billy as his favorite film role to date, being able to see a part of Oregon he had never yet viewed, finally feeling truly respected as an actor and artist, and making good memories that created life-long friendships.

He believes himself to be still in "film school" as a film director and views every opportunity on set as a learning process.  He extends a warm shout-out and personal thank you to his good friend, Ray Nomoto Robison for his mentorship.  Because of this, he is truly excited about the process of starting up Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc and is thoroughly enjoying the process, saying that it is not something he would ever imagined he would do and he is infinitely proud of Lia for founding it and for all her hard work.  The strengths he brings to Cafe-Girl are his years of experience working as a professional actor and as an artistic director for a local community theatre.  He says this knowledge gained gives him the ability to coach the rest of the organization without over-stepping his bounds or causing them to feel less than capable in their artistic endeavors.

Michael looks forward to the continuing unfolding of all that Cafe-Girl will bring forth in the world, through the focus on community, creating meaningful productions that increase the value of individual and society, and helping each other and others to thrive as artists.  He especially looks forward to not only all of the future productions and services of Cafe-Girl but one day producing an original work that he wrote with his first mentor, Nancy Jones, his high school speech and debate coach, bringing it forth into the world in her beloved memory.

For more information on Michael, check out his facebook page at: 

Michael Meyer

To find out more about our new audition video and headshot service,
view the commercial here:
Video Audition Commercial

For more on Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc:

www.cafegirlproductions.com

www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions

Local Art Model Isn't Afraid To Let It Roll!

Maggie Racich is local art model, burlesque dancer, actor, and director, having recently moved here with her partner, Jimmy.  She began her career as an art model in 2011 when, looking for a creative way to make some extra money, she joined a small art group.  As a child, Maggie's mother would chase her about trying continuously to re-dress her daughter as Maggie screamed "Take it off" while removing said items, thus Maggie has always been comfortable with her body and nudity.  As a child, she found a charcoal drawing of her mother's back and was enraptured by it.  Her mother explained that before children she modeled for the local community college.  Maggie loves the aspect of fine art and helping fine artists' improve their skill and birth their visions.  ( A side note: Maggie doesn't believe she is very photogenic, although with the above photo, I beg to differ.)

Following her venture into art modeling, Maggie, along with her partner, dove into burlesque dancing in 2014.  They became involved with a burlesque troupe in Michigan, one that helped empower them to create burlesque art with a circus twist.  She enjoys burlesque dancing because of the aspect of creating an art form that is participatory with both audience and dancer.  She loves the immediate audience connection and that she can be both campy and sincere in her performances.  She also admires the wide variety of talent and creativity involved with the art form of burlesque.  One of the most fascinating aspects, she believes, is finding creative ways through choreography to remove clothing and help the viewing audience feel comfortable with nudity as well as to learn to appreciate their being unclothed and feel empowered within themselves.

As an art model, Maggie loves the aspect of visual arts.  Although she herself is not inclined to that art form, she comes from a family of fine artists so she admires greatly that process.  The most challenging aspect of it, she says, is the physical aspect, finding both an interesting pose for the artist and one that won't injure her.  She believes art modeling enables her to be present with her body as well as to become meditative during the different poses.

Maggie was fortunate to come from a family that encouraged body positivity.  She also is aware that her body is in aligned with the social expectations for beauty, but even so has never really felt uncomfortable with her body image.  Because of this, she has never experienced much backlash from either art modeling or burlesque dancing, but has experienced some social disbelief and confusion from outside sources who see her as braver than them in that they would never be able to perform or model.  She is grateful for such a supportive family and upbringing that gave her such a comfortable sense of self.

However, there have been times of her life, like all of us, where Maggie has had insecurities towards parts of her body, ways that have brought her down and been debilitating to her emotional sense.  She says that at times she can show up to art modeling feeling 'gross and bloated' but throughout the session can become increasingly more comfortable and leave with a reset of a positive body image.
She realizes that in these times of insecurity and anxiety that these body concerns are not necessarily something she can change, so she has learned to love herself for who she is and how she shows up to be daily.

An artist once told Maggie, "Don't be afraid to let it roll" meaning that our imperfections are often the most beautiful facet of ourselves.

Art by Ann DiSalvo