Had fun this past weekend with Rome.

Rome is friends with a very famous director in Japan named Ryuuhei Kitamura. He directed "Godzilla: Final Wars" and "Azumi" among others. In Japanese, the term "sensei" means teacher, as I'm sure most of you know. It also can work as a suffix, so I sometimes call Rome, "Rome-sensei." However, the term "sensei" can also be used for doctors, scholars, or anyone who is respected in their field. Since Kitamura is a very famous director, I refer to him as Kitamura-sensei. 

Kitamura-sensei sent an actor from one of his movies to samurai class. He's an australian fellow named Darren Schnase who has a very small part in Godzilla final wars. Since Rome teaches fight choreography for stage and screen, Kitamura-sensei thought Rome's training would be very valuable for Darren. He was a welcome addition to the class and he learned quickly. 

Before class began Rome had a gift for me! A very nice polo shirt, brand new one that was too big for him! Rome is a generous guy. I'll take it as an early birthday present since my birthday is today (6/18). 

After class and a quick dinner with some of the other students, it was time for acting class again. Lots of fun improv and more of Rome trying to get me to break some bad habits I have as an actor. Rome is an awesome teacher and has great insight. One of the other students had mentioned that she had a hard time saying certain lines in English, because the line we were reading did not sound or come naturally to her. (She is not a native English speaker.) She also expressed some other insecurities she had and Rome just kindly talked to her and told her to find the motivation within herself and she would find a way to deliver the line the correct way.

I love directors who let "you be you" and focus on bringing the person and character inside you out. Often times, directors will force you to act a certain way because its the way they envision the role. A good director will help you create a character from inside and help bring it out of you. This is what Rome does as a teacher, and it really is a gift because not every teacher has that ability. Rome does and I'm fortunate to learn from him.

Until next week... 

Majide!