I cannot thank my voice coach and dear friend Joanne Joella enough for all her guidance, support, and encouragement over the past eight years or so.  Joella Arts has gone through many changes over the years, but it has recently risen, phoenix-style, to its finest incarnation.  Joanne and some other wonderful professionals are offering voice classes at a wonderful new creative space in the Sherman Mills neighborhood of Philadelphia.  I'll let Joanne tell you about  it:

I have been able to open a mini-JoellaArts.  Instead of the three-story Shovel Shop, I have one delightful studio at Sherman Mills Arts Community in East Falls right off Ridge Avenue on Scotts Lane. Here is the web site if you'd like to get a general idea of what Sherman Mills is all about. Please click www.shermanmills.com. 


Joanne has enlisted the help of trained professionals Bill Deal, Victor Rodriguez and Krissy Johnson  to propel singers to the next level of performance excellence.  Please contact Joella Arts if you are a singer on the cusp of "killing it!"  Check out the news for yourself by checking out the link HERE.


In association with Adrienne Covington's Overbrook Casting, Joella Arts also offers acting workshops that focus on breathing technique and being "in the moment" during a read... I recommend Joanne's expertise to ANYONE who can make good use of positive ENERGY, honest FEEDBACK, and generous SUPPORT.  For a schedule and description of these classes available through Overbrook Casting,  click HERE.


Thanks for everything, Joanne!  Please check out the services offered by Joanne and her industry colleagues.  Trust them to share their real experiences with their students in a truly giving environment.  At Joella Arts, the passion for performance is matched only by the passion to share the secrets of success.  Trust me, I know first hand.

The Traveler

Hello, Fellow Travelers,

I have wrapped up filming on my first short film, "The Traveler," by Nachshon Windsor.  I really couldn't have asked for a cooler bunch of people or a more fun introduction to film acting.  We did stunts, acted against some special effects, and died in violent ways. I actually got smashed in the face with a hockey stick.  Sweet.  Pretty much everyone dies in this film.  In fact, even the people who survive die at some point during the story.  Yes, it's a bleak tale, but the characters are pretty rich and I hope there will be a feature-length project in the works--I'd love to be a part of that production.  Hint, hint...

Here are some pics from the shoot:



I have some really cool news coming up soon, so stay tuned!

Holy Mackerel

I suppose you've been wondering what I've been up to... or maybe not.  Well, I'll tell you:

I've earned parts in two films over the past few months, one of which is being filmed in and around Rowan University.  That project is called "A Prince Among Pawns."  Rehearsals have been going well, and we're supposed to start shooting very soon.  We hope to have a trailer finished by April that will tease the project in anticipation of its completion and submission to the Philly Film Festival.  It may not be up and running for almost a year, but since it's a smaller budget (yet feature length) we have to do what we can when we can.  I'm excited for it, since we have actors with some chops who can light up the dialogue and give life to some of the fun conversations in the script.  Ellis Minatee has written the screenplay, and Laura del Guercio is the main director.  My man Henry appears to be a veritable gift to the project and will undoubtedly get this thing on the road to Donesville.

The second film is a short feature that is slated to be shown at film festivals across the country pretty darn soon.  The project is called "The Traveler."  A post-apocalyptic Earth has some serious issues with a devastating neuro-toxin.  Travelers can transport themselves via a super-duper astral projection process, and the bad guys (of which I am one) are trying to kill the good guys.  My part is pretty small, but I get to "travel" and even get killed in the end.  I was thinking that the short (about 30 minutes) may simply be a showcase for the director's skill in an attempt to attract bigger projects.  One of the other actors told me that it may instead be a showcase for the script--an extended sizzle trailer of sorts--with hopes of a feature length film being produced in the future.  I was thinking that if the producers could find another short sci-fi film in the works, they could share a dvd release and make a few bucks.  Either way, I'm excited to be a part of it!  Rehearsal this week and filming next week at Eastern State Penitentiary.  Cool.

Since I've scored parts in two films, I figured I'd update my resume.  I also figured I'd attempt to share it here on the blog.  Let's give it a shot:



Huh.  I wonder how that looks on a decent sized screen...

Actually, I might try linking to the resume HERE.  See how that goes.

Anyway, I have some other stuff going on, but I will have to wait until it works itself out before I run through the details.  Never thought I would be headed in this direction, but I'm gonna ride the wave.  Look, life is pretty darn short and if you can't take a little bit of an adventure, it's going to be a boring trip to the box.

Keep in touch with the voices in your own head.  Let me know what they say.

Oh yeah, and follow me on Twitter. @owenmccuenvoice