Happy Friday!

It's hard to believe it's the middle of October already! I was just reminded that we are 2 ½ months from Christmas. Where'd the year go?

It's been a crazy busy week for me as I went into rehearsals for my new mini play, THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR. You can catch it at the Marsh next Friday and Saturday as part of David Ford's TIMES UNSEEN festival with artists talking about how the Trump administration had affected them personally. Details a little later in the blog. I'll also be performing THE WAITING PERIOD at the Marin Center this Sunday at 7.

I'm continuing rewriting GRANDMA AND ME ahead of its upcoming workshop in November. I'll let you know when the date is set so you can come out and be one of my guinea pigs as I try this script out in public for the first time. It's always a combination of nerve-racking and exhilarating to try out a new play. The audience tells a playwright A LOT about what works and what doesn't.

Despite being so busy, I was still able to check out some things for you this week.

READING

RISE AND GRIND: OUTPERFORM, OUTWORK AND OUTHUSTLE YOUR WAY TO A MORE SUCCESSFUL AND REWARDING LIFE by Daniel Paisner and Daymond John.

I was in the mood for something inspiring and motivational this week, so I picked up Daymond John's new book. You, of course, know Daymond if you're a regular viewer of SHARK TANK on ABC. He built a multi-billion dollar hip hop fashion brand starting with $40 by hand sewing and selling hats between shifts at Red Lobster. The theme of RISE AND GRIND is that you can have, be or do anything you want if you're willing to work your ass off to get it. Every. Single. Day.

In the book, John profiles successful people who have “grinded” their way to the top and reveals the attitudes, habits, routines and rituals they attribute to the success they've achieved. There's one common factor: CONSISTANT HARD WORK.

It's the philosophy I live by and the one I've instilled in my children: In life, there will be people who are smarter than you. There will be people who are better looking, more talented and connected than you. Make sure that they never outwork you and you'll come out on top every time. READ IT.

SAW

Caught two pictures this week. The Lady Love and I saw VENOM, based on the Marvel Comics' character. Venom is a parasite from another world who inhabits the body of a San Francisco investigation reporter played by Tom Hardy. It's a great popcorn movie.

I did note that there is a destructive high speed chase on the streets of San Francisco in the movie. It's the second time this year that city has been trashed by heroes and villains in a high speed chase. It happened in ANT MAN AND THE WASP. Something tells me it might be safer to stick to BART.
GO (If you like action/superhero/fantasy films).

Also caught the press screening of FIRST MAN, the Neil Armstrong biopic that opens in wide release today. Ryan Gosling is just wonderful as the first man on the moon. I realized watching this film that there is so much I don't know about the Space Race of the 50's and 60's. It's a really fascinating era and director Damien Chazelle (LA LA LAND) captures the urgency... and the danger of the period beautifully. It's one of the best movies I've seen all year and the Lady Love and I are going again as soon as we can. GO.

THEATER

The Lady Love and I caught Opening Night of FAIRVIEW at Berkeley Rep last night. I have been to a lot of plays over the course of my life and career, but I have NEVER seen anything like this. It's about racial views in America, that's not unusual in today's climate. It's how the show dissects those views that's fresh, unique and... disturbing. You will be bothered by this show. It's one of those plays that you'll still be thinking about a few days after seeing it. I'm not going into any detail because I don't want to spoil it for you. Just go see it. I understand why it got raves in New York. GO.

Tickets are now on sale for TIMES UNSEEN, the festival of original short solo plays taking place at the Marsh San Francisco on October 19, 20 and 21. The mini plays are on the theme, “How the Trump administration has affected me personally.” I'll be performing a piece I wrote called, THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR on Friday and Saturday. It's about what to do when someone you love supports Trump and an agenda you loathe. For tickets and information, visit themarsh.org. Purchase by Sunday using the code “country” and see all 15 performances for just $14.50!

And, I'll be performing THE WAITING PERIOD at Marin Center this Sunday at 7. Tickets are available here.

LISTENING TO

The soundtrack from A STAR IS BORN. Who knew Bradley Cooper could sing??? I mean, Lady Gaga is, of course, an amazing vocalist but Cooper? He's GREAT. SHALLOW is my favorite tune on the album.

EATS

Didn't make it out to any restaurants this week. I'm on a strict eating routine for a bit. I AM, however, going to take a cheat day once a week and... I love me a good cheeseburger and fries! I'm looking for the best cheeseburger and fries in the Bay Area. Tell me where to find them with an email to copie@briancopeland.com. 

THE NOISY AMERICAN

By popular demand, for the last ten weeks, I've been doing almost daily livestreams on Facebook Live. I call the commentaries THE NOISY AMERICAN because some on the right have said that critics of this administration need to “sit down and shut up.” As Americans, I think it's just the opposite. We need to be LOUD. Weekdays, I spend a few minutes commenting on the news and politics of the day then we discuss and debate through Facebook posts. What started as a lark is really growing into something. We're prepping two YouTube channels, THE NOISY AMERICAN CHANNEL and CopieTV, that we'll launch soon. We've also just launched a website. Check it out at TheNoisyAmerican.com. Check out my daily videos and follow me on Facebook where I'm briancopie1.

I continue to be both flattered and amazed by how many people are reading this thing! The amount of email I'm getting and personal interactions on the street blows my mind. Thank you! As long as you're reading, I'm writing!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Copie

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