Jane's Newsletter

Hello, hello! Here we are again with the second issue of Jane’s Untitled Newsletter. First off, I was blown away by the encouraging words the first newsletter received. I was so pleased the story 5 Things I Wish I’d Known When I Became an Actor resonated with so many of you and brought you a sense of ease.

This newsletter includes another blog post: 5 Reasons to Embrace Failure as an Actor. I hope you find it just as comforting.

I’m also going to reflect on October, show you some beautiful photos from my recent performance in Dancing at Lughnasa, add a tip to The Artist’s Mindful Tool Kit, and give a fun update on ASMR Study Hall.

Looking Back on October

Oh, October. You were a month of stark contrasts. On one hand, you brought the world so much unbearable pain. My heart is aching for the people of Gaza and Israel, who are suffering through unimaginable terror. The violence against innocent civilians is devastating.

On the other hand, October, you graciously gave me smiles, laughs, and a rewarding role in Dancing at Lughnasa. Yet, you made my feet unsteady & lose contact with the ground. Between working a day job, getting enough sleep, and devoting myself to rehearsals, I lost much of my foundation. Time and strength slipped away from me.

I recognize that sacrifices must be made when we take on long-term art projects. However, my question is this–– how can I preserve at least 10% of my foundation the next time I’m in a show? I know I can’t keep my home spotless during a show’s run, but maybe I can keep it 10% cleaner next time. Maybe I can take 10% more showers next time. Maybe I can make 10% more calls to my family.

I don’t know yet how I plan to protect my foundation for the next show, but it’s certainly a skill I want to learn. If you have any tips for staying grounded in a project’s chaos, please send them my way.

Dancing at Lughnasa

Above, you’ll find a small gallery of production photos from Dancing at Lughnasa. More photos can be found on my website. (By the way, I played the character Agnes).

Dancing at Lughnasa had a magnificent cast and creative team. Lighting, sound design, stage management, scenic design, choreography, crew, costumes, dramaturgy… they all took my breath away.

A special thank you to our gifted director, Miguel Bregante, for leading the way. This was Miguel’s directorial MFA Thesis at Columbia University, and he deserves every ounce of praise he receives for this production. I’ve known Miguel for one year now, and working alongside him has been among the greatest privileges of my acting journey.

The Artist’s Mindful Tool Kit

This month's practical tip emphasizes the positive impact that small changes can have on your routine. Here’s an example:

During extended rehearsals, there are many chances for the cast to grab meals together during breaks. It's a fun way to connect and enjoy coffee, dumplings, and sandwiches. However, it can quickly become an expensive habit, and I began to realize it was putting a strain on my budget.

That's why I decided to purchase a lunch box. Having a simple lunch box serves as a constant reminder to be mindful of my meals and expenses. It's a small change that can make a big difference in terms of both saving money and making more intentional choices. Subtle, practical changes to your routine — like keeping your lunch box in plain sight— can prove especially useful when your mind is laser-focused on an art project, gently nudging you to maintain mindful habits.

Note: I saw one of my cast members carrying a lunchbox, so obviously I wanted to be a copycat.

ASMR Study Hall

Last month I wrote about how I want to add more Foley to my ASMR ambience videos (Foley, in general terms, is a technical form of reproducing audio). Well, I did it, and I saw a noticeable improvement.

For example, when I recorded a flaming fire, the flames overpowered the microphone and made a dull muffling sound. So I recorded a few items around my home to achieve that satisfying snap, crackle, and pop. Combined together, the flames and miscellaneous items make such a cozy fire sound.

Another example is rain. When I recorded some rain, the audio was static and fuzzy. So, to achieve the effect of individual rain droplets, I sizzled some oil in a frying pan.

Little adjustments like these made a huge difference in the following videos. Enjoy!

November’s Blog Post

I enjoyed writing last month’s blog post (5 Things I Wish I’d Known When I Became an Actor), so I’ve written another one!

My next blog post is 5 Reasons to Embrace Failure as an Actor. I hope it resonates with you.

Thank you for joining me in this second newsletter! xoxo