R.I.P. Nelsan Ellis

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actors, celebrity deaths, HBO, Nelsan Ellis, True Blood, vampires, video, YouTube

I know I am a few days late with this, but I have to say farewell to actor Nelsan Ellis, who was best known for his role as Lafayette on HBO’s “True Blood”. He died on Friday due to heart complications at the age of 39.

Wow, just wow. So young! And so talented! He was great at portraying Lafayette, who was sometimes the comedy relief on “True Blood”. His delivery of his character’s one-liners was often the highlight of each episode. Lafayette was a memorable character, and Nelsan Ellis portrayed him very well.

From what I understand, Lafayette was killed off early in the books the show was based on. But on the show itself, Lafayette stayed until the very end. I’m glad that happened because he was the funny, no-nonsense type of character that the show needed. And Ellis played him wonderfully.

Rest in peace, Nelsan Ellis. May you entertain all the angels up there as you did in life.

Here’s a YouTube video to showcase some of Nelsan Ellis’ Lafayette’s best lines:

I’d Say Writing is Like Acting

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acting, actors, authors, characters, writing

I have a few actor friends and sometimes they tell me about their craft. They talk about getting into character and trying to understand the thoughts and feelings of that person in order to bring them to life. When I hear them describe this process, I can’t help but notice the similarities between writing and acting.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Now, writers don’t perform in front of an audience. Whatever “performance” we do is done when someone reads our work, usually unbeknownst to us. We don’t know of their reaction until they leave a review somewhere, if they do.

For actors, they don’t need to bring to life the whole scene with the description of whatever place a scene is taking place in or the vibe in whatever room. They’re responsible for bringing to life their characters.

But for us writers, so are we.

When I write my characters, I do feel as though I have to get into not only their heads, but their skin. I need to feel their feelings, know their life history, know their thoughts in order to make them come to life. I analyze my characters – especially the main ones – similar to my actor friends. I need to understand them in order to make my readers understand them.

When it comes to villainous characters, some actors say they have fun playing the bad guy. Judging by some performances, they do appear to enjoy themselves. I didn’t enjoy writing Daniel like that. That’s because to me, he is not a villain to have fun writing about. I have plans to do that for other villainous characters in my vampire trilogy. However, I didn’t totally hate him. I mean, yes I did, but I had to understand why he was the way he was and why he did what he did in order to tolerate him. Even now I do that. I guess writers and actors have to take a neutral stance sometimes with their characters in order to tell a story.

So, I take it this is another sign that writing is an art.

How about you? Do you see the similarities between writing and acting, or is it different for you?

NOTE: I won’t be posting this Friday, as it is the Thanksgiving weekend here in the U.S. To all my American readers, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Primetime Emmy Nominations 2013

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acting, actors, actresses, awards, Emmy, Emmy Awards, Emmys, Game of Thrones, Keri Russell, Lana Parrilla, Michelle Fairley, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Orphan Black, Primetime Emmy Awards, Tatiana Maslany, television, TV, TV Shows

So the Primetime Emmy nominations will be announce this Thursday, and I have never been so anxious for award nominations since, like, never. As some of you may know, I watch too much TV, mainly because there are so many great shows on now. I’ve heard some say this is the golden age of television, and it just might be. Programs on network TV, basic cable and premium cable are top notch in terms of production, acting and storyline. Like many, I am really hoping that my favorite actors are nominated this year, and I’ll be biting my nails Thursday morning.

Hopeful as I am to see my favorite actors get at least a nomination, I’ve come to realize that there’s a great chance that most of them will not be named Thursday in the acting categories. When I saw this TV.com article, I came to terms that there are far too many TV shows with great acting to fit into small award categories. That article points out that as many as 40 actors or more can be considered worthy of a nomination, but there are only five spots per category. Oh, what agony it must be to sort out all those performances!

I wish the Emmys will do what the Oscars did for the Best Motion Picture – instead of five nominations, make room for ten. This way the recognition expands, because there are some who just need to be acknowledged.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

The one actress I have in mind to at least – at least! – be nominated, is Tatiana Maslany from the BBC America series Orphan Black. Wow, what a talent! When I first started watching the show, I was only interested in seeing how a science fiction thriller on human cloning and bio-ethics would play out. But as the show went on, I was floored by Maslany’s ability to play a total of seven different characters. All the clones are portrayed by her uniquely, right down to their hand gestures. Even those who only appeared for a few seconds before dying were uniquely done. There were times when I was watching scenes that had either two or three of the clones in them, that I felt the need to remind myself that I was watching one actress, instead of two or three.

So I am truly hoping Maslany gets a least a nomination. I’d love to see her win because of her achievement, but that may not happen. Sure, she’s won a few small critics’ awards, but she’s basically a newcomer on a less-known show on a station that doesn’t get as much attention as the other channels. Unfortunate, but that is how awards work. But honestly, if she does not get nominated, I will write hate mail to everyone in Hollywood! (I’m joking. Really.)

I’ve heard Michelle Fairley, who played Catelyn Stark on Game of Thrones may be recognized for how she chillingly portrayed Catelyn in that infamous episode. That was great acting, and I agree with many how well she embodied the character had losing all hope and will during her last moments. It’s true, and if she’s nominated, she may win because that episode was very controversial, and such attention can garner an award.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

I would like to see Lana Parrilla from Once Upon A Time finally get a nomination. Not only does she appear to have so much fun playing the evil Queen Regina, but when she plays Regina as a young, kinder woman, we see Parrilla’s full acting range. We also saw last season how Regina struggled to be good while having so much vengeance and anger in her. That’s always worth noting.

I expect Keri Russell to be nominated for The Americans. She won a Golden Globe for Felicity and got an Emmy nod for that, so maybe her reputation could bring her a nomination for this role. Plus, she’s playing a cold, calculating spy dealing with loving her spy partner and choosing between being a mother, and defending the Motherland. But who knows?

As for the male actors, I heard Nikolai Coster-Waldau may be considered for his role as Jamie Lannister on Game of Thrones. That scene where he told the real story on how he slayed the Mad King, and reclaimed himself as Jamie, was powerful and marked a turning point for the character. Before, he was an arrogant, impulsive guy, but after losing his hand, he became more humble, and even broken inside. I’d like to see him be nominated. Peter Dinklage, who plays the well loved Tyrion Lannister, could be nominated again. He won in 2011, and was nominated last year. Hmm, two Lannisters up for an award? I’d like to see that. One Lannister who may not be recognized, was Charles Dance who played the patriarch Tywin Lannister. I’d be surprised if he gets a nod, because he doesn’t have much clout. But I loved his scenes. Tywin Lannister is nasty man who will never get the Father of the Year award, but Dance made his scenes so captivating, I found myself actually liking Tywin’s scenes – but I swear, it was for the actor and not the character!

So, the competition is so fierce and the space is so tight. I may not see anyone I’ve mentioned have their name called out Thursday, but I have to accept that because there are so many great performances on TV now. Maybe the Golden Globes next year will make up for any of my disappoints. Especially if Tatiana Maslany does not get a nomination. I know I will be fuming. There are reasons not to nominate her, but uhm, the award is for acting – not fame, right? Right?!