I used to have disabling back pain. Now it's under control. I attribute this to several things I've done that help my back.
1. Caltrate + Minerals. This supplement has been really amazing. One thing I don't like, though, is that they've increased the amount of vitamin D in each pill. The used to have 400 IU. Now they have 800 IU. The federal government recommends only 400 per day. The higher amount is due to a national manic episode about vitamin D. As a result of Pfizer increasing the vitamin D level in these pills, two doctors have told me my blood vitamin D level is too high. I can't really use other mineral combinations, because either they aren't absorbed well enough, or they have too much magnesium, which gives me diarrhea. When the absorption isn't good, I still get back pain, or, alternatively muscle restlessness throughout my body
2. Shower, as recommended by a chiropractor: 5 minutes on my back as hot as I can stand, followed by 1 minute as cold as a I can stand. I also do the yoga six motions of the spine under the hot water, every time I take a shower. These are the cat & dog stretches, the puppy dog stretches, and twisting. I've got to do a video of this, so people who don't know what I am taking about will understand.
3. Use of ice for the first 2 days after an acute episode of pain. Again, as recommended by the chiropractor, it's 15 minutes of ice every hour, as needed.
4 Sleeping on my side with pillows between arms and legs
5. Daily yoga, exercise and/or weight routines, many of which are geared around the six motions of the spine, as well as strengthening abdominal muscles and back leg lifts.. I keep meaning to do youtube videos of my routines. I have six different routines, which i keep rotating through. I haven't got round to posting videos. As my ex used to say, there is a shortage of round to-its.
6. Loose clothing. I find tight clothing tends to send my muscles into painful spasms. This includes waistlines and underwear elastic. I am most comfortable in loose dresses. If I were a guy, who might not feel comfortable with dresses, would wear loose pants with suspenders.
7. Staying regular. Constipation causes back pain.
8. Inversion. See my headstand stool video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UymDzN4U3U
9. Avoiding long uninterrupted periods of sitting
10. Doing the child pose for at least 30s followed by the rotation pose on both sides in response to low back pain. Also useful: locust.
I should say, too, that carrying kids was a challenge. I was in the chiropractor's office much more often when I was carrying pre-schoolers.
Friday, April 28, 2017
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Apple update interfering with Microsoft Word for Mac 2011
This is very frustrating. When Apple updates its operating system, suddenly old third party software doesn't work. It makes me worry that Apple and the other software companies are in cahoots to force users to buy new software. Unfortunately, I don't know if the government still cares about or enforces anti-trust laws.
In the present case, my Microsoft Word for Mac 2011 has developed a bug since an operating system update. This is a screen shot of a "save as" function.
You will note that the "save as" window now extends past the bottom of the screen. This prevents me from accessing the security options, such as adding passwords or removing identifying information from a document.
I had this problem earlier, because I was forced to buy Quickbooks 2016 and replace Quickbooks 2011, because of an operating system update.
This type of arrogance towards forcing the consumer to buy new software is infuriating.
In the present case, my Microsoft Word for Mac 2011 has developed a bug since an operating system update. This is a screen shot of a "save as" function.
You will note that the "save as" window now extends past the bottom of the screen. This prevents me from accessing the security options, such as adding passwords or removing identifying information from a document.
I had this problem earlier, because I was forced to buy Quickbooks 2016 and replace Quickbooks 2011, because of an operating system update.
This type of arrogance towards forcing the consumer to buy new software is infuriating.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Song Release and photos from Villain contest
I've recently released my single, "Villain Song."
LINK:
ORDER THIS SONG ON CD BABY
I originally wrote this song for a contest. In 2014, Jaguar had an ad at the Super Bowl with the slogan "good to be bad." link to ad The ad featured British actors who had played villains in Hollywood movies.
I wrote -- maybe tweeted -- Jaguar and told them I wished I could be a villain in a Hollywood movie. They told me that they couldn't help me achieve that goal, but that I could participate in their Villain contest. The prize was a trip to New Mexico and lessons from a race car driver driving their f type around a racetrack.
I decided that I would like to win this contest, because it might help me position myself as an actress who wants to play villain roles.
I originally understood the rules of the contest to include writing a villain song. Later, when I read the rules again it said that we only had to name a villain song that we liked, but I had already written the words and melody to this song. I put a YouTube video up of me singing only the melody. a capella video It's not my best singing, because I had an undiagnosed GERD issue due to the chemo. I tweeted them the link to the YouTube video, but I also named another villain song that I really like, Mordred's Lullaby
I didn't win the contest. I wasn't considered most villainous.
However, I still had this song, so I decided to get it arranged. I hired my friend Stoddy Blackall to do the arrangement. He's a young singer/songwriter/pianist who is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. I met him, because he was accompanying musical improv comedy in NYC and I have been studying musical improv comedy. I was always very impressed with his work as an improvisational accompanist. I found him to be exceptionally creative in a field of creative pianists. I think he's done an amazing job here.
Then I had this piece professionally recorded at the Outlook Recording Studio in Bethel, Maine. Conni St. Pierre, one of the co-owners, added a bit of percussion, to make it even spookier and more foreboding.
Cover photo on the album by my son, Joseph McKenney-Barschall
Warning: violent, sociopathic lyrics -- but it's really for fun. I don't want to kill you. I just want to play a villain.
lyrics:
Chorus
-----------
I will use you. I will shed you
In my path, you are my tool
I will use you. I will shed you
In my path, you are my fool.
Verse 1
-----------
In life, I choose to step with style,
And others serve, but for a while,
To fall beneath my striding boot,
Their slimed remains my triumph's root.
Verse 2
-----------
And those who think to thwart my plot
Will lie in shallow graves and rot
As I in glory rise to reign
And ever broaden my campaign
Bridge
---------
Compassion is a weak one's flaw
And friendship others' cloying maw
Alone I scheme to dominate
And soft ones see me far too late
Here are some photos Sheila Furjanic took of me when I was participating in the Villain Contest sponsored by Jaguar USA in 2014, which inspired this song. They wanted a photo of me with the f4. I am normally very frugal with cars. My last two cars that I bought were used Dodge Caravans. I must say though that this car was *very* enticing. I did wish I could have driven it.
I was in chemo when I participated in the contest. That's why I was bald. I hoped it would give me a more villainous look. I may be in chemo again soon, so this may be my future as well as my past.
LINK:
ORDER THIS SONG ON CD BABY
ALBUM NOTES:
I originally wrote this song for a contest. In 2014, Jaguar had an ad at the Super Bowl with the slogan "good to be bad." link to ad The ad featured British actors who had played villains in Hollywood movies.
I wrote -- maybe tweeted -- Jaguar and told them I wished I could be a villain in a Hollywood movie. They told me that they couldn't help me achieve that goal, but that I could participate in their Villain contest. The prize was a trip to New Mexico and lessons from a race car driver driving their f type around a racetrack.
I decided that I would like to win this contest, because it might help me position myself as an actress who wants to play villain roles.
I originally understood the rules of the contest to include writing a villain song. Later, when I read the rules again it said that we only had to name a villain song that we liked, but I had already written the words and melody to this song. I put a YouTube video up of me singing only the melody. a capella video It's not my best singing, because I had an undiagnosed GERD issue due to the chemo. I tweeted them the link to the YouTube video, but I also named another villain song that I really like, Mordred's Lullaby
I didn't win the contest. I wasn't considered most villainous.
However, I still had this song, so I decided to get it arranged. I hired my friend Stoddy Blackall to do the arrangement. He's a young singer/songwriter/pianist who is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. I met him, because he was accompanying musical improv comedy in NYC and I have been studying musical improv comedy. I was always very impressed with his work as an improvisational accompanist. I found him to be exceptionally creative in a field of creative pianists. I think he's done an amazing job here.
Then I had this piece professionally recorded at the Outlook Recording Studio in Bethel, Maine. Conni St. Pierre, one of the co-owners, added a bit of percussion, to make it even spookier and more foreboding.
Cover photo on the album by my son, Joseph McKenney-Barschall
Warning: violent, sociopathic lyrics -- but it's really for fun. I don't want to kill you. I just want to play a villain.
lyrics:
Chorus
-----------
I will use you. I will shed you
In my path, you are my tool
I will use you. I will shed you
In my path, you are my fool.
Verse 1
-----------
In life, I choose to step with style,
And others serve, but for a while,
To fall beneath my striding boot,
Their slimed remains my triumph's root.
Verse 2
-----------
And those who think to thwart my plot
Will lie in shallow graves and rot
As I in glory rise to reign
And ever broaden my campaign
Bridge
---------
Compassion is a weak one's flaw
And friendship others' cloying maw
Alone I scheme to dominate
And soft ones see me far too late
MUSIC VIDEO
I'm also working on a music video for this song.
In the music video, there will be a dancer who is my character's victim.
The director of the video suggested that the song might by symbolic of my fight against cancer and that the dancer might represent the cancer.
At the time, I replied
In retrospect, though, I don't really think the song is only about fighting cancer. I think I'm angry about a number of things. The villain character is also the personification of my general rage, not just about cancer.
Link: Stills from video shootIn the music video, there will be a dancer who is my character's victim.
The director of the video suggested that the song might by symbolic of my fight against cancer and that the dancer might represent the cancer.
At the time, I replied
I think, when you're talking about a dream, the dreamer is every character in the dream. I am the villain. I am the cancer. I am fighting the cancer. I am fighting me. The dancer is the cancer. The dancer is me. That's how the subconscious works. I've found that about my fantasies.
In retrospect, though, I don't really think the song is only about fighting cancer. I think I'm angry about a number of things. The villain character is also the personification of my general rage, not just about cancer.
*****
Addendum: here is a link to the rough cut of my video from the shoot of May 2017 rough cut video
I ended up being very dissatisfied with this shoot and I am restarting in 2018, currently interviewing new directors. I did think that the dancer, Olga Bogdanova, was amazing -- but the rest I was not happy with.
*****
Stills from when I was in chemo and writing this song
Here are some photos Sheila Furjanic took of me when I was participating in the Villain Contest sponsored by Jaguar USA in 2014, which inspired this song. They wanted a photo of me with the f4. I am normally very frugal with cars. My last two cars that I bought were used Dodge Caravans. I must say though that this car was *very* enticing. I did wish I could have driven it.
I was in chemo when I participated in the contest. That's why I was bald. I hoped it would give me a more villainous look. I may be in chemo again soon, so this may be my future as well as my past.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
links to other reel examples
My YouTube channel (mostly selfies)
Story Telling -- amateur videoReading Dracula Sides -- selfie
List of my YouTube videos that include me singing
Miscellaneous
some photos and videos (me on stage)
List of Improv Courses I Have Taken
List of Improv Courses I Have Taken
Casting Directors I have taken courses from
What I worked on in Wynn Handman's Class
Photos of my clothing -- this is not complete. I'm still taking pictures. I have lots of clothes
What I worked on in Wynn Handman's Class
Photos of my clothing -- this is not complete. I'm still taking pictures. I have lots of clothes
Voice over
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Links to online profiles
LEGAL AFFILIATION
F A L A T I
Intellectual Property Law
6283 Johnston Road
Suite 200
Albany, NY 12203
Telephone: (518) 4 FALATI (518-432-5284)
E-mail: Mail@Falati.com
Blog with ongoing updates
website: barschall.com
Actors Access: http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/AnneBarschall (this one probably has the best list of significant acting gigs of any of my profiles)
Backstage: http://www.backstage.com/annebarschall/
Casting Networks http://tinyurl.com/qynzkej
UCB Profile http://barschall.ucbcomedy.com/
Soundcloud (voiceover demo playlist) https://soundcloud.com/anne-barschall/sets/voiceover-demos
My song on cdbaby https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/annebarschall
Artist Profile on CD baby Actually, it just points back to my home page
Castittalent.com https://www.castittalent.com/ANNEBARSCHALL
IMDB https://www.imdb.me/Barschall
Now Casting http://annebarschall.nowcasting.com/
Chirbit https://www.chirbit.com/AnneBarschall
Blog about my artwork http://annebarschall.blogspot.com/2018/09/artwork.html
Facebook webpage for barschall.com https://fb.me/AEBARSCHALL
Stage 32 stage32.com/profile/673559
lacasting.com https://www.lacasting.com/barschall
Ivy Life http://ivylife.ning.com/members/AnneBarschall
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/barschall/ Probably the best place to start in terms of getting a summary of what I'm up to
twitter: @AnneBarschall https://twitter.com/AnneBarschall I use twitter mostly to complain to customer service departments and retweeting political posts. Pretty boring.
Blog https://annebarschall.blogspot.com/ quite a few very long essays, but also various updates.
YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqvLhNM12wDX9we6T_dgM6A
I do have a second youtube channel, but it only has a few videos that ended up there kind of by accident https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa0lkBs_lP_DFezzrieETSw/featured
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/anne.barschall This is really a personal account, but I do accept friend requests from people I know. Not from strange men who have no mutual friends and aren't local.
Google plus:
https://plus.google.com/116785471153521471288 and https://plus.google.com/u/1/110730300126046128207
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@barschall
website: barschall.com
Other Professional Links
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/anne-barschallActors Access: http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/AnneBarschall (this one probably has the best list of significant acting gigs of any of my profiles)
Backstage: http://www.backstage.com/annebarschall/
Casting Networks http://tinyurl.com/qynzkej
UCB Profile http://barschall.ucbcomedy.com/
Soundcloud (voiceover demo playlist) https://soundcloud.com/anne-barschall/sets/voiceover-demos
My song on cdbaby https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/annebarschall
Artist Profile on CD baby Actually, it just points back to my home page
Castittalent.com https://www.castittalent.com/ANNEBARSCHALL
IMDB https://www.imdb.me/Barschall
Now Casting http://annebarschall.nowcasting.com/
Chirbit https://www.chirbit.com/AnneBarschall
Blog about my artwork http://annebarschall.blogspot.com/2018/09/artwork.html
Facebook webpage for barschall.com https://fb.me/AEBARSCHALL
Stage 32 stage32.com/profile/673559
lacasting.com https://www.lacasting.com/barschall
Ivy Life http://ivylife.ning.com/members/AnneBarschall
casting frontier https://talent.castingfrontier.com/anne-barschall
Tee Public Storefront https://www.teepublic.com/user/barschall
Tee Public Storefront https://www.teepublic.com/user/barschall
Social Media
twitter: @AnneBarschall https://twitter.com/AnneBarschall I use twitter mostly to complain to customer service departments and retweeting political posts. Pretty boring.
Blog https://annebarschall.blogspot.com/ quite a few very long essays, but also various updates.
YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqvLhNM12wDX9we6T_dgM6A
I do have a second youtube channel, but it only has a few videos that ended up there kind of by accident https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa0lkBs_lP_DFezzrieETSw/featured
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/anne.barschall This is really a personal account, but I do accept friend requests from people I know. Not from strange men who have no mutual friends and aren't local.
Google plus:
https://plus.google.com/116785471153521471288 and https://plus.google.com/u/1/110730300126046128207
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@barschall
Word Press https://wordpress.com/view/barschall.wordpress.com (used for tracking my recent coursework)
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/aebarschall/_saved/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/aebarschall/_saved/
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Creative Block/ Bloc et Blocage
This is a short film in which I am featured as "Older Claire." This is my favorite of the set photos.
thanks to photographer Elizabeth Mealey
Poster for this movie
credit to Jennifer Himes
Awards & Acceptances for this movie:
c) Prindie featured filmmaker -- film of the month;
d) semi-finalist in Los Angeles Cinefest
e) nominated for best Tri-State Film at the Philly Independent film awards (to be decided in May 2018)
f) selected for Auckland International Film Festival (pending)
g) accepted to the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival (pending)
h) selected for the Kew Gardens Festival -- nominated for THREE awards: Best Experimental/Music Video/Animation; ☺️🎈Sound Editing; Picture Editing
i) selected for the Venice Film Festival https://www.instagram.com/othervenicefilmfestival/
j) selected for the 2018 Oregon Cinema Arts Film Festival
k) Selected for 2018 Massachussets Independent Film Festival
l) selected for 2018 Yonkers Film Festival (YoFi Fest)
m) selected for the Franklin Film Festival in Tennessee
n) selected for The Midnight Film Festival, won best director
o) selected for the Indie Boom! 2018 festival -- trended for at least one week
Trailer for this movie:
More info:
Article about this film
The principal creator of this film, Nicola Rose McEldowney, has been written up in Raine magazine because she was the winner of the Raine Filmmaker Award as a result of the Prindie Festival in 2018. You can see her in the photo below, and in the trailer above.
The principal creator of this film, Nicola Rose McEldowney, has been written up in Raine magazine because she was the winner of the Raine Filmmaker Award as a result of the Prindie Festival in 2018. You can see her in the photo below, and in the trailer above.
Set Photos that Include Me
from the set of Creative Block 3/3/17
thanks to photographer Elizabeth Mealey
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