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June 23, 2008
Inspired.
So, earlier this evening, I moderated a panel discussion for the SAG Foundation.
Now, I've done these before. I've interviewed one-on-one style for the Conversations DVD series (JoBeth Williams, Greg Grunberg, and Dixie Carter were favorites).
I've moderated many, many panel discussions with working actors, filmmakers, contracts experts, screenwriters, showrunners, even full-on celebs.
But this one was the most inspiring.
And that took me off-guard. Why? Because of the panelists. I'm not saying I didn't expect a lot from them. Usually, the panelists are well-spoken, confident, and endlessly entertaining as they speak candidly about their careers and their lives as performers.
But when your senior panelist is 18 and your youngest panelist is 12, well, you figure it's going to be fun and cute and silly and sometimes charming without meaning to be (like when one of the panelists commented on acting coaches who are "really just fluffers"... of course, she meant "people who fluff up your ego or stroke your self-esteem," but I heard a few parents in the audience chuckle).
And when, instead, it makes you believe that there's a real future for this industry when its kids are this brilliant, this grounded, this head-on-straight about both doing their jobs and the place their jobs occupy in the real world, I'd say that's a damn good couple of hours.
Kudos to Kay Panabaker, Zach Mills, Devon Gearhart, and Malcolm David Kelley. Y'all really rocked my world tonight. And hopefully the collective world of a room filled with future and current kid actors (and their parents) too.
Posted by bonnie at June 23, 2008 11:36 PM
Comments
Hi, I really enjoyed reading this. I'm a huge fan of Kay Panabaker, and she is truly and talented and intelligent actress. Do you think you could give a little re-cap of what went on at the discussion for my fansite, Kay-Cafe?
Posted by: Rebecca at June 24, 2008 1:52 PM
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for the comment! It's a great possibility that I'll be writing about this whole experience as my Monday's column at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice (The Actors Voice) in which case you can absolutely clip from that (as long as I'm attributed and the site itself is linked) and share it with your readers.
If, for some reason, I don't choose to make this a part of my column this week, I'll shoot you a quick recap that you can use. I didn't transcribe much of the talk because it was just so organically FLOWING and that's what made it so inspiring, but I could still get you a few details to share.
Check the Showfax link Monday and if I'm not doing it there, I'll send you an email with some thoughts for your site.
Hope that helps!
Kay and her mom are really cool people! :) It was a great night!
Cheers,
-Bon.
Posted by: bon 
at June 24, 2008 8:12 PM
Waaaaaaalllllltttt! (Sorry - inside Lost joke there.) :-)
Love Malcolm David Kelley - he can really hold his own with some pretty awesome adult actors. Miss seeing him as often on my favorite show, but hopefully will see more of him in the coming seasons as they have jumped ahead to the future and his growth spurt will not seem as out of sync.
Also - wanted to draw your attention to Jena Fischer's (Pam on the Office) blog on MySpace. She wrote a really good blog in response to all of the "how do I get to be an actor" questions, and it reminded me so much of the many things you have written.
Love you and glad you are feeling happy and inspired.
Posted by: Joni at June 25, 2008 6:10 AM
Thanks, MCJ. I love you.
I've quoted and linked to Jenna's blog several times in my Showfax column in the past couple of years. She's WAY awesome. And such a good sharer of all things "myth busting" about how the industry works. It's awesome. :)
And yes, Malcolm was seriously TOGETHER, as kid actors go. VERY smart and on top of his game. I think you'd really like him. It was a pleasure to spend time with all of these kid actors and I'm definitely writing Monday's column about the whole experience. :)
Yay!
Posted by: Bon at June 28, 2008 12:00 AM