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Philip Jacobson...... Actor, Acting coach, Acting instructor, Director, Emcee, Film Actor, Philadelphia Improv Comedy, Improv instructor, Model, Print Model, Promotional Model, Singer (Bass-Baritone), Sketch Comedy , Stage Actor, Storyteller, Voice-Over
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(215) 206-7462, pwjacobson@aol.com, www.philipjacobson.com
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ACTORS BLOG 2008 - Philip Jacobson
(click on "Latest News" above, for the most recent blog)
(click on "Past Blogs" at the bottom of this web page, for older blogs, 2005-7)
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(6,000)
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CLASS OF ONE
(August 2008) I was filmed as the stern professor Curtis in a film called "Class of One".
"Class of One" is a sketch comedy piece that was written and filmed by The Last Minute. There are only two performers in the film: the teacher (me) and one student who shows up in class despite a snowstorm.
The interplay between the two characters is hilarious, but I don't want to give away the plot. The film should be available on the Internet before the end of 2008.
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AN E-MAIL TO REMEMBER
(August 2008) Here is an e-mail from a family that started their storytelling journey in Philadelphia because of me:
From: [e-mail address withheld for privacy purposes]
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 4:37 PM
To: Cari [the Once Upon a Nation PR person]
Subject: Excellent!
Please pass on our thanks to all the outstanding storytellers we met on our trip to Philly this past week. We were staying in Trenton with family and took the train in to explore Philadelphia. We were waiting for the Duck Ride and needed a place for my 81 year old grandmother to sit.
We walked up to station 1, not realizing what it was for. The fellow there welcomed us to sit, but since we were oblivious to the purpose of the spot, he quietly continued working on something while we enjoyed the shade. A few minutes later he rang the bell, which of course prompted us to ask why he did so. Once we understood, I gathered my children 12, 9 and 5, to hear the story "Battle of the Itch". It was very interesting and my grandmother told the fellow at the end that she had learned something new that day.
My boys got such a kick out of this program that we tried to fit as many as we could after our duck ride. We only got to 3 on Tuesday, so we made a point to return on Wednesday to visit all the others. What an exciting program! We really enjoyed our adventure and the reward at the end.
Please pass on my family's thanks to the excellent artists who offered their talents to make history interesting. I'm sure telling the same stories all day can get old, so encourage them that they are making a great contribution. Remember that eye contact sells the story!
Lobsters as prison food? Southern plantation women as abolitionists? Barry the unlikely navy admiral? We learned so much!
F. A. [name withheld for privacy purposes]
Mooresville, NC
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NOT LOST IN TRANSLATION
(August 2008) I was translated into French, Italian, Spanish and Hebrew in the last few days.
As a storyteller for Once Upon a Nation in Valley Forge, I tell stories about the American Revolution.
Sometimes I get visitors who are from foreign lands and who speak a foreign language. When I do, I encourage the English speaking members to listen to the story and to translate my story phrase by phrase. I speak a phrase, wait for the translation, and then speak the next phrase.
Four different times in the last few days, this occurred.
Typically there are other families who are listening to the story at the same time.
I am always happy that these American families are patient, because the translation slows down the delivery of the story quite a bit.
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BORIS RIDES AGAIN
(July 2008) I was Boris the Russian spy, for Mindbenders once again, July 17.
Boris is the object of a scavenger hunt. Corporate teams have to find him, make him laugh and get information from him.
Boris always gives them a hard time. That makes them laugh while I'm straightfaced. The more they laugh, the less I'm likely to laugh.
The last time I worked for Mindbenders, I was stationed at Christ Church in Philadelphia.
My friend, Mala was a storyteller for Once Upon a Nation that day at Christ Church.
When there were no teams around, I kept talking to tourists (as the character Tony Tuesday), and got a number of them to go to Mala for her story. I helped make her extra busy that day.
Once a corporate team showed up to pump me for questions though, Mala was on her own.
It was a day for lots of laughs.
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DID COLONEL MUSTARD DO IT?
(June 2008) "Clue, A Murdered Mystery" opened at the Bistro Romano Dinner Theater, located at 120 Lombard Street in Philadelphia.
My character, Colonel Mustard, has many sides to him, which all come out during the play. It calls on me to use a number of personalities and dialects, often one after the other in instant progression.
Mr. Boddy is murdered. Did Colonel Mustard do it? Did he use the candlestick? In which room did the murder occur?
Only those who come to the Bistro Romano find out.
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SEEING YOURSELF IN FILM
(June 2008) I saw a preview of the film I was in earlier this year, "Lemonade".
The film is about a man who comes upon a woman that he once knew very well about 15 years earlier. They explore their past relationship, and how it has affected him since.
The woman is now almost completely incapacitated and in a wheelchair. The bleakness of Atlantic City in March is a great backdrop for their conversation, as they go from one location to another.
The film has been edited by Anthony Pascucci, the director.
Final editing will include background sounds, music and some dubbing.
It was fascinating to see myself on screen, saying the words I had memorized for the shoot. Instead of being inside my own head and looking at the scenery and interacting with the other characters, as I had during the filming, I was now seeing how I looked to others and to the camera.
I could see the character I portrayed coming to life right there on the screen.
Fascinating.
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WHEN THE GPS LETS YOU DOWN
(June 2008) I had an audition just outside of Philadelphia, in Trevose, PA at the Radisson hotel. I decided to let my GPS (Global Positioning System) guide me to the hotel, rather than to use Mapquest. I bought the GPS expressly for the purpose of keeping me from getting lost on the way to an audition.
When I left for the Radisson, I turned on the GPS, and entered "Radisson" onto the screen. As I drove along, the display showed a couple of Radisson hotels, but not one in Trevose.
I decided to enter the address for the Radisson in Trevose. The GPS did not recognize Trevose as a city in Pennsylvania.
By now, I was getting close to Trevose, but still had no clue of the exact location of the Radisson. I loaded "Radisson hotel" back in, and suddenly the location popped up on the screen. Instead of Trevose, though, the address showed that it was Feasterville.
I’m still not sure why this location did not show up the first time I loaded "Radisson" into the GPS. I also don’t know why the GPS did not recognize Trevose as a city.
When I got to the audition, I was third in line to be seen. It was taking about 10 minutes per person, so I expected to be seen in about 20 minutes.
When it was my turn, however, there was a long wait. There was a dog in the offices, and occasionally the dog came into the waiting room. I am allergic to dogs, so after a while, my wind pipes starting closing. Since this was an audition that included my speaking lines for a camera, I asked if they could keep the dog out of the waiting room, which they did.
After a long wait, a fellow brought me in to an office. He asked me to read some copy for a commercial. I read it. He seemed interested.
Then he said that they were overbooked, and they couldn’t film me that day for the audition. That meant that I had basically wasted my time.
At least I got one thing out of the day. Now I know that “Trevose” really means “Feasterville”.
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PHILIP BECOMES MARTHA WASHINGTON?
(May 2008) I was featured in an article in the May 25, 2008 edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Neighbors Section.
The article is about Once Upon a Nation and its work at Valley Forge National Historical Park.
The reporter interviewed me after I told my story about a Birthday Bash that happen in 1778, to 40 important guests of Historic Philadelphia, Inc., the parent of Once Upon a Nation.
You can go to the address below to read the article, read about the story I told, and read about Historic Philadelphia.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/chester/nabes/20080525_Park_time_travelers.html
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(15,900)
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COLONEL MUSTARD WITH THE CANDLESTICK
(May 2008) I was cast as Colonel Mustard in the newest Bistro Romano dinner theater murder mystery production, Clue, A Murdered Mystery.
The show will start production in June.
I am the Primary Colonel Mustard, and I have two understudies. Colonel Mustard has more than one personality, and five costume changes in the second act.
The role will be a challenge and lots of fun.
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PHILIP JACOBSON HITTING THE HEAVY BAG
(May 2008) I am featured in the May / June 2008 issue of PhillyFit Magazine.
You can see me hitting a heavy bag on page 22, on the "Philly's Fittest" page.
The photo was shot by Bill Mason, a professional photographer. Luckily there was a heavy bag available that day. The person who loaned the heavy bag to Bally's was only there for a month. When he left, he took the bag with him. The shot was taken during that month.
If you go to the Web address below, go to page 22, to see my picture.
www.phillyfit.com/Articles/4-22/may-june-issue.pdf
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THE UNHUGGABLES
(April 2008) I am helping to plan a program that will tell stories about animals that are normally not seen as cuddly.
The animals are called "unhuggables". Examples include toads and snakes.
There will be storytelling and music and puppets. I am one of the storytellers. I am currently writing a story about a skunk. I guess you would have to admit that a skunk is "unhuggable".
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GIGGLEMILL RAISES LAUGHS AND MONEY
(April 2008) The GiggleMill Improv Comedy Troupe did a good deed and made people laugh...a lot!
Roie, Donna and I helped to raise money for a non-profit organization that is fighting against breast cancer.
Not only did the guests laugh from start to finish, but the organization made a lot of money at this fund raiser.
For such a serious topic as breast cancer, we were thrilled to get such a positive (and even bawdy) response from the audience and from the donors.
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FLOATING ON AIR IN A CARTOON WORLD
(April 2008) I received a phone call from a production company called Animated Storyboards in New York City. The woman asked about my availability to pose for the camera that day (Wednesday) or the next day. Although I had something planned for Wednesday evening, I said I was available. I felt I could change my plans.
She said she would call back if they were going to use me.
I didn't hear back Wednesday or Thursday morning, so I thought the opportunity had passed. But Thursday at 1 PM, the woman called back and asked if I could be at her Manhattan-based studio before 5:30 PM, perhaps by 3 PM or 4 PM.
Since I knew I couldn't easily be there by 3, I said I would be there by 4 PM. I quickly showered, got together the wardrobe she had requested and got on the road. I didn't bother to look at the train schedule. I figured I could just drive the whole way there and not worry about connections. I was hoping there wouldn't be any traffic jams on the way to Manhattan.
When I arrived, I parked in a parking garage, because I didn't know how long I would be there. When I got to the studio, I remembered that I had been there once before, at an audition. Apparently they were impressed enough to hire me.
The cameraman told me his preferences in the wardrobe I had brought and thanked me for giving him choices. He was creating an animated storyboard. He would shoot his camera continuously while I moved in the way that the cartoon character was meant to move.
He gave me directions, which I followed. I was portraying an Italian man, at times making a toast at a gathering, or telling jokes to a group of people. I made gestures and facial expressions that characterized the Italian man.
After posing and moving for just ten minutes, the cameraman said he would check the shots he had taken. If they were what he wanted, I was through for the day. He came back and said everything was done. He said I was very good to work with.
This is the way it always should be! Quick work, excellent rapport, paid job.
I was on my way home. I felt so good about the shoot that the terrible Lincoln Tunnel traffic didn't bother me. It's possible that my car's tires didn't touch the ground, as I floated on air, thrilled with the shoot.
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LEMONADE
(March 2008) I performed as Adam Feinman in a movie called Lemonade that was filmed in Atlantic City in March.
The movie is about a chance encounter between a man and a woman who have not seen each other in 15 years. The woman is now in a wheelchair, barely mobile. Adam is an intellectual man, with sensitivities and vulnerabilities. It was a complex role to play.
The film was written by Steve Oskie and directed by Anthony Pascucci. The woman was played by Susan Reinhardt. Her father and mother were played by Bob Bauer and Tanya Lazar.
In the month of March, the boardwalk in Atlantic City is very chilly and windy. The winds whipped through us at up to 30 or 40 miles per hour. The temperature was above freezing, but not by enough. Atlantic City provided quite a backdrop reflecting the somber mood of the film.
The cast huddled together between takes, trying to get warm. We drew together as a team, as a family. Lots of hugging, lots of care and concern for each other.
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WILLIE SUTTON RIDES AGAIN
(March 2008) For the third year in a row, I will be portraying Willie Sutton, the bank robber, at Eastern State Penitentiary, during Tunnel Escape Weekend.
Willie had a lot of pizzaz, and that's how I portray him. A former prisoner of Eastern State Penitentiary visited last year when I portrayed Willie. He gave me a thumbs up for my performance.
Tunnel Escape Weekend usually occurs the first April weekend of the year. This year, however, it will be moved to August 2 and 3.
Escape Weekend has been running from 11:30 to 4:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Eastern State Penitentiary is located at 2124 Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia, PA 19130.
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ONCE UPON A NATION RIDES AGAIN
(March 2008)
I was named once again to be a Storyteller for Once Upon A Nation.
I will be telling 7 minute stories at a bench at George Washington's Headquarters Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from mid June to Labor Day. The stories are free to the public. Visitors only have to approach the bench and ask for a story.
Training for this year's program begins in May.
I will probably also be telling stories Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend, and Sunday June 8 at the same location.
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REHEARSING WITH AN AUDIENCE
(February 2008) I took on a new role at the Bistro Romano, in a murder mystery titled "The Deadly Briefcase". I had been portraying Borgo the Romanian spy for several months.
I wanted to help out the Stage Manager, who was having difficulty scheduling actors to portray another character for weeknight shows.
I volunteered to learn this role. Actually it was two roles played by one actor. I portray Mr. James Lee who works for a black market company. I also portray Ellery Chan, a detective from Honolulu. Chan is in all four acts, while Mr. Lee is in acts 1 and 2.
That means a number of costume changes. It also means a different accent for each, a different personality, and different ways of saying each character's lines. In addition, Mr. Lee has two fight scenes.
I had four weeks to memorize the lines and the blocking (the character's movements). I also needed to memorize lines for two other productions during those four weeks.
Unfortunately, the Stage Manager couldn't give me any rehearsal time. I had to learn the lines and blocking without rehearsing them with the other actors.
If you've never done this before, there is no way for me to explain how difficult it is.
During this four week period, two weeknight special shows were booked at the Bistro. I bravely volunteered to move up my schedule by four days to play the roles for those two shows.
That meant that my first rehearsal would also be my first dress rehearsal, which would also be my first performance.
Things went relatively smoothly the first night, although one of the other performers was fairly new in his role. But before the fourth and final act, a problem arose which forced the cast to have to improvise and shorten the fourth act. We planned for the new ending and actually pulled it off.
What an opening night!
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FIVE CHARACTERS IN FOUR DAYS
(February 2008) I portrayed five characters in four different performances over the course of four days.
On Friday February 22, I portrayed Borgo, a Romanian spy with a heavy Romanian accent. Saturday the 23rd, I played a drunken reverend in a murder mystery. Sunday, I attended a rehearsal for a movie. I portray the lead male character, who is intellectual, complex and vulnerable. I was "off book" for the rehearsal. Monday the 25th, I portrayed two roles in a murder mystery. I was an mysterious Asian character and also a detective from Honolulu.
On the fifth night, by the way, I portrayed the same mysterious Asian character and detective as the previous night.
Good thing I kept my lines and my characters straight in my mind.
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CAST IN LEMONADE
(January 2008) I was cast as the "romantic" male lead in a film called Lemonade.
My role is that of a man who sees a former girl friend 15 or twenty years after he had last seen her.
The man I portray is very complex. He is intellectual, sensitive, reserved, and vulnerable. The woman can still push his buttons despite a major change in her appearance and health.
Lemonade will be filmed in March in Atlantic City.
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EMOTIONAL FREEDOM FOR ACTORS
(January 2008) I received some interesting and helpful training from Jennifer Merritt.
She taught me some techniques to help provide "Emotional Freedom" as an actor.
I found that the technique helped to relax the presentation of my monologue. I will continute working on it on my own, to make it work better and faster, in the future.
Jennifer is presenting her course on Emotional Freedom in March at an actors conference in Florida.
If you have questions about "Emotional Freedom", you can e-mail Jennifer at jen@jleighm.com.
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MONOLOGUE TRAINING
(January 2008) I joined a monologue and audition training group in January. We will meet every few weeks and work with each other to improve our skills at auditions.
At the first session, two of the participants brought scripts for us to use. We got into pairs and performed cold reads on two person scripts. We tried different attitudes and characterizations, and changed scene partners.
I brought some Improv games for the group to play between cold reads.
It was fun.
The best part though was giving and getting constructive feedback. We will be meeting again February 4th.
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TELEPROMPTER AND EAR PROMPTER TRAINING
(January 2008) I recently took a class with Charlie Roney of Mike Lemon Casting. The course was Telemprompter and Ear Prompter Training.
I have had voice over training with Charlie Roney in the past, so I knew it would be a very good course. I wasn’t disappointed.
Charlie gave the class plenty of good pointers. We each had a chance to practice during the class and see ourselves on a video.
I took 8 pages worth of single spaced notes during the 3 hour session.
Not only that, I know how to practice at home. I’ll be able to improve even now that the class is over.
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DEATH SO DELICIOUS
(January 2008) I recently portrayed Tex, a wealthy businessman and accomplished chef in a Murder Mystery Players production of "Death So Delicious".
"Death So Delicious" is an interactive murder mystery dinner theater show. I performed it for the first time in the Bethlehem, PA area at a party of about 100 corporate managers and supervisors.
I loved the interaction I had with the guests. While staying in character, I answered all kinds of questions between acts. The guests tried to outwit me into telling them who the murderer is. It was hilarious.
The loud applause at the end of the show was extremely gratifying.
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PRESIDING AT MY OWN FUNERAL
(January 2008) I was filmed on a cold January morning as a priest presiding over a funeral. The film is called Compass. I had a 7 AM call to be at a cemetery. This meant having to wake up at 5:30 AM. If you know me, that is very early for me. I am usually awake until at least 1 AM, before retiring for the night.
Thank heavens I wore lots of thermals. It was freezing. Because of the thermals, I was more comfortable than the others in attendance. Well I was more comfortable until the late morning, when a breeze started across the mostly barren hill. Then shivering became the order of the day.
The director took shots from several different angles. The sound guy had to do the best he could, what with passing sirens and other noises.
Interestingly enough, the funeral was for a character I had played just the day before (I have two roles in this film).
I was the priest at my own funeral!
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REFLECTIONS ON BEING SANTA
(January 2008) I had a wonderful and, for me, a memorable experience being Santa Claus at Macy’s in center city Philadelphia. The costume itself is amazing. The beard, the hair, the body suit to fatten me up, the boots, the eyebrows and the coat.
Despite my looking rather formidable, some children immediately ran up to me and hugged me. Others needed to be coaxed to sit next to me. I was lucky with most children to find a way to make each comfortable. Others screamed and never got close to me. Most of the children happily sat next to me for two photographs.
Some of the children’s visits stand out.
On my first day as Santa, a four year old girl reluctantly warmed up to me enough to sit next to me for a picture. She left with her parents, walking quietly away. About two minutes later though, she broke away from her parents, ran back into my "house", ran up to me and gave me a big hug. I had won her over.
A group of 13 inner city five and six year olds with four escorts visited. Each child took turns hugging Santa, and some gave me a high five. Many had questions: “How do you get down the chimney?” “We don’t have a chimney. How will you get into our house?” “What is my brother’s name?” I apparently had the correct answers for all of their questions. It took several minutes to get all of the 13 in the picture frame. When they were ready to leave, each child gave me another hug and most also stayed for a high five.
There was the boy who took one look at me and started screaming. I asked him to give me a high five, hoping that would settle him down. He stopped screaming for a moment, gave me the high five, and then went back to screaming as he backpedaled. I got him to high five me two more times and each time, he stopped screaming for a moment, and then went back to screaming after the high five.
There was the five year old boy who didn’t speak, always leaning against his mother. Each time I asked a question, he would look at me for a moment, and then raise his eyes to his mother for her to answer me. I realized that he would never answer me directly. I started making positive affirmations to him instead of asking questions. “I know you’ve been a good boy this year.” “You will be getting great presents Christmas morning.” “Your mom loves you.” Once I started making affirmations, he never looked at his mother again. We had bonded. A small smile creased his face.
There are plenty of other stories. I estimate that at least 1,000 children, and possibly 1,500 had pictures taken with me.
I will be in their photo albums for years, possibly passed down from generation to generation.
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