Hrishita Brahma- Feedback on Level 2 Workshop (2023/1)
Email – hrishita.brahma@gmail.com
Hey Vishaaal!
When I look back at everything that has happened in the past few months, I’m honestly a bit speechless. I am flooded with so many overwhelming thoughts and feelings that I don’t know where to begin.
When I finished L1, I regained some of the confidence that I lost in whatever capability I had as an actor, artist and performer. In fact, I didn’t think I had it at all. But once I regained some of that confidence, I felt unstoppable. A little to enthusiastic and far fetched, I know! But it’s true! I just wanted more. I had always heard so much about L2 from you, many others from Connectologues, and other misfit folks as well. About how much it helped them grow as actors and just as people in general. Little did I know what I was getting into! Be it comedy or drama, it takes everything you’ve got. I could never really empathize or relate to characters or other people for that matter. I had to somehow learn to open myself up to everything I was blocking out. The sadness, anger, pain, fear, happiness and the love! I realised that everything that I was blocking out, every little flaw was what made us human, and it was what made us so beautiful! I was so afraid to face it before, but I won’t say that I’m not afraid to face it now, but I would say that it has changed my approach to creating characters and how I see people. You’ve guided me through the path of self restoration and rediscovery. Those 6 weekends were hands down, utterly exhausting and headache inducing, though in the best way possible!(sometimes not so much). But it was also utterly thought provoking. Of course, leading to a whole world of retrospection and introspection. All of the why’s, what’s and how comes have kept me awake for endless nights! In the end it has all been worth it! When I look back at the other aspects now, I’d be terribly confused before approaching a scene. My brain would often be in a state of limbo and I never knew where to begin. It could just be my ADHD and my normal tendency to overthink and overcomplicate things, but you get the point! But now, thanks to the workshop, I have a lot more clarity. The workshop is so beautifully structured, and the sequence of events, the process is so clearly explained that it just makes it all so simple to understand and follow.
I’d always run behind perfection and the end result. Not enjoying the entire process and not being true to the moment. I had always been so stuck in my own head that I never paid much attention to what felt in that very moment. Never even acknowledged it. Now I can say that I have learnt to acknowledge the work and give myself some credit and also just go with the flow. Just be present!Vishal, your energy, ‘warmth’, dedication, discipline and enthusiasm when it comes to your craft is contagious and to be marveled at! You pushed us, supported us, and made sure that we were all included in everything and taken care of, every step of the way! Lord knows we needed that kind of support! So THANK YOU!!! Thank you for having faith in us whenever we lacked faith in ourselves, for pushing us when we just didn’t have it in us to push ourselves to reach our full potential, for recognising our potential when we couldn’t recognise it ourselves!
And a big big big THANK YOU to the entire group of people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, showed up for classes to support us and mentor us. Nazar, Ujani, Venky, Ashish, Kavya, Manju, Abhinav, Dileep, Bhavesh, Eve, Tanya and everyone else!!!!
How can I even forget my wonderful peers! The love and support we showed each other wasn’t anything like I’d ever felt before. Watching everyone just push themselves in every class constantly was so inspiring to watch!
Lastly, thank you Baba, from the bottom of my heart for creating such a beautiful home for all the misfits!
With lots of love,
Hrishita!