Nurse Penny ROLE PLAYING (ABC General Hospital)
By Josie Goldberg
6/24/2024
Well, what I can I say, the first week is always hard. I usually am a slow starter just like my racehorses. Come to think of it, all my racehorses always came last and even the trainer would say that their future does not look promising. But I could not take that reality and would tell the trainer that they must work a little harder on my horse because Josie Goldberg always figures out a way to win. I had two choices with my horses, either give them away as babies or put my heart and soul into them and make them champions. The same goes with my scripted acting career. I have two choices as well. Go back to nonunion reality tv or learn a new craft and push myself to do the work and hopefully one day get casted on scripted network tv show and evolve to a better more productive life.
I have to say the first week of class, I ran my maiden race like Only Josie Knows, Spoiled and Entitled and Am Yisrael Chai and barely made it across the finish line. My three fillies ended up winning big for me later in their careers, but it took many works outs, various trainers, jockeys and various racing venues, However, I believe God gave me my racehorses to teach me many lessons in life but most importantly to make the impossible the possible. Especially in the entertainment industry, you must go through the process for the creative to evolve or so they say. Even though I can’t see the finish line I am going back to my journey with my horses which always makes me optimistic. We were told to pick a scene and I picked a very tough character to play according to Mark Teschner the previous week. This week Mark picked my scene, and I played Nurse Penny from ABC General Hospital. I have to say Mark picked the right scene. Come to think of it, I had the most success when casting directors and executives guided me to their vision. It was a (day player) role and I could relate to Nurse Penny. I read the scene the first time, and mark looked at me explained that it’s going to take time to learn a new craft. I have been doing the craft of improvisation (making up my own content) the last 17 years in Reality TV. He said I need you to be in the moment and not make up the lines, but rather feel the character and blend Josie and Penny with the actual lines in front of you. I did as he told me on the second take, and it clicked. He was happy and so was I.
I learned from Mark that as an actor one needs to be vulnerable to play the character in essence. That’s something I must work on. The last time I was vulnerable with David Milch and the relationship went sideways I had to see a psychiatrist. I got so attached to the part I would be playing that when it did not happen it was hard to snap out of it. But just like blending my character with the character I am playing; I think there can be a balance of vulnerability. As an actor you must find that character within yourself. Like Mark says we all have every character in us, we just must find him or her. I do believe that’s one of my character flaws. I have a hard time being vulnerable because when I feel so good in a situation or character, it is devastating for me to change roles, whether is fiction or not. Being a TV personality for so long I got used to my alter ego Spoiled and Entitled and learned to enjoy her ups and downs because I I did have some high highs. However, as a professional actor, I am not going to allow my emotions to get the best of me. I will learn to turn it on and off. I was told by many executives and therapists that this was something that held me back in my professional and personal life. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. However, it’s time to grow up and build mental strength and face the music. As Mark said, you can’t bring your mom to auditions, your coach or your lovers. You must be able to face the music and stand alone and get the job done as the competition is so high. Coming from a Jewish family I have always been coddled. At least my mom, my dad is not your typical Jewish dad, its sink or swim with him. I chose to go after my goals and aspiration, and I must be able to take the consequences. God was more than generous with me. I got to have my racehorses for 13 years as my crutch. I am finally ready to stand alone and learn to rely solely on me. They say the higher up one goes, the hotter it gets. I am “Only Josie Knows” and I am more than excited to try a new craft with my new coach Mark Teschner!
