Learning from Actor, Bruce Davison

Hit counter provided by http://www.website-hit-counters.com/ .

Who said dreams don't come true? At our weekly "Meet the Biz" acting classes, we get to sit at an informal gathering place and learn from various instructors. This week we were fortunate to spend some time with actor/director, Bruce Davison.

I have been a fan of his since he first starred with fellow newcomers, Barbara Hershey, Richard Thomas and Catherine Burns in "Last Summer". He was also featured in the film, "Willard". Yes, the movie about all those rats! He worked with veteran actor, Lucille Ball in "Mame". Wow! And he played a sympathetic lover who has an affair with Illeana Douglas in "Grace of My Heart". In 1990, he received an Oscar nomination for playing a gay man in "Longtime Companion". Most recently he has played the role of Senator Kelly in the X-Men.

Whew! It was wonderful to sit with him as he shared his life from Pennsylvania to Hollywood. He shared the ups and downs of this business. He made us laugh with stories about Lucille Ball, Anthony Quinn, Burt Lancaster and others. Some of the actors got to read with him and we all learned various acting techniques from him.

He said he has never seen things the way they are right now. It's a difficult time to be an actor. But he did say that necessity is the mother of invention. He gave various tips on how to nail that audition. How to create opportunities for yourself. He also gave cold reading techniques. And if you want to know the particulars, take a class.

Thanks for sharing with fellow actors, Bruce. You have given us things to think about, tips to use and have opened up our eyes to Shakespeare. Oh, and thanks for letting me sit on your lap!