Patricia profile picture

Patricia

I am here for Networking

About Me

PATRICIA SHANKS is a voiceover talent, actor, voice trainer and writer. She studies acting at the Steve Eastin Studio .
Seasoned TV host and former radio show host/DJ. Demos at StudioShanks.biz
Patricia teaches voice to singers and other voice users ( www.studioshanks.com and www.studioshanks.net ), and she gives seminars and workshops on the voice to theatre companies, singing groups and a host of professional organizations.
In addition to all of the above, Patricia has just launched www.cinemacreators.org , a networking group and Website for filmmakers.
Member: AFTRA, AGMA, SAG, NATS, MAOC, MCAI, OCMMA, MTAC, SCVA, GACS, VASTA, AFI AND WIF.
NOTE TO THOSE WHO WOULD POST COMMENTS: If it's about you, it's not about me. And it doesn't go here. Post a bulletin about your business - not a comment. Thank you.
NOTE TO FRIENDS WHOSE ICONS GO "GRAPHIC": It's been done. Your suggestive icon will get you booted from my friends list.
NOTE TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T READ THESE NOTES: Oh, what's the point ...

Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Rain

My Interests

True art for art's sake.
I like pockets.

I'd like to meet:

Filmmakers
Producers
Talent Managers
Casting Directors

Music:

So much. So much. The technique doesn't have to be perfect. But the performance has to be inspired.

Movies:

The Red Balloon (1956) When, oh, when will it be released on DVD?
Frances (1982) No. The mule thing is Francis with an "i".
Wag the Dog (1997)
Gaslight (1944)
Casablanca (1942)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
The Little Princess (1939) The Shirley Temple version. No. I MEAN it. It's amazing. What a cast.
Defending Your Life (1991)
City Slickers (1991)
Moscow on the Hudson (1984)
Being There (1979)
Gigot (1962)
Queen of the Stardust Ballroom (1975)
...more as I remember my favorites...

Television:

Past Favorites:
I'll Fly Away - Sam Waterston and Regina Taylor. That's acting. That's chemistry. That's TV.
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Cracker (specifically because of Robert Pastorelli)
Taxi
Barney Miller
Paul Sand in Friends & Lovers
He & She
...more as I remember my favorites...
MEDIA CRUSHES
Edward Mulhare as Captain Gregg on the TV show The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. "Have some madeira, my dear?"
Richard Harris in the film version of Camelot - or in anything.
TV FLASHBACKS
Our Miss Brooks (A few years back I acted in a direct to video with Kay Ballard. She told me I reminded her of Eve Arden. I was so flattered.)
I married Joan
Something on a boat with portholes and those little flags, a nervous actress (Gale Storm!!!! My little Margie!!! Am I mixing shows? Portholes? Flags? ...), Bob Cummings and Zazu Pitts
I've always wanted to type, "Zazu Pitts." It just makes me giggle.

Books:

Under Construction

Heroes:

Heroes are important for children. When the childhood heroes fall, we become the heroes. Here is the list of people whom I admire and have admired.
Heide the dance teacher, who was injured because of an untrained dance partner - but who danced in spite of it ... and who didn't let the kid who showed up with the wrong colored ballet shoes take the class.
Mavis the amazing. She first showed up in my life when I was afraid to go down the elephant slide. She made it possible for lots of us, now involved in the dramatic, visual and musical arts, to thrive. I think she had six toes. On one foot. Not between the two of them.
Miss Lorraine the art teacher, who was always calm and caring, and who adopted out of love, not because it was the fashion.
Miss Kirkwald, who saw who I was when I was 5, and who let me decorate hats with crepe paper flowers.
Mr. Mac, who made sure I got to participate in the honor band ... and who spray-painted the band sneakers gold while they were on our feet.
Mr. A, who gave this pre-teener-tweener a kiss on the cheek backstage. There was something right about it then, even though he'd probably be arrested for it now.
Beverly Sills, the vocal phenom (And what a person!) who cinched the deal for me. "I want to sing like THAT!"
BEVERLY SILLS 1929-2007
American Diva. American Treasure.
Go to www.beverlysillsonline and listen to Ah vous dirai-je, maman to hear what inspired me when I was 16 years old.
Judy T. I looked up to her as a unique and obviously brilliant, quirky personality. She made a big deal about my talent. SHE made a big deal about little ol' my talent. She took me to Baskin-Robbins when I was 16. I didn't know what or how to order there. Got a clown cone. Color me embarrassed. Hey! It was ready-made. Ice cream off the shelf. No worries.
Mr. S., the tall Spanish teacher with the low, resonant voice. "Señorita Patricia ... chestnut colored, like Señorita Patricia's hair." Sigh.
Natalie L., the INCREDIBLE vocal coach/ pianist/ teacher/ musician. Take no prisoners. Natalie taught me the secret to singing. There is one. It's the same secret that Curly talks about in City Slickers. (Strange juxtaposition here, I know.) The one thing that is the truth, that is the secret, is not one thing at all. When you find your way to the one thing, you see that it is an overwhelming flood of thing.
Herr Grenn, who showed more grace than anyone I can think of. It was so easy to learn conversational German from this man. It was almost like I learned it by accident without really trying. That's how great a teacher he was. A German Jew displaced from Berlin at or around the time of the War, he was in so many ways my hero.
Henry or Harry Verbiessen, the Dutch shipbuilder and sweet-spirited ex-neighbor. A huge ship's anchor dropped smack on his head in his youth. He was in his 90s and still going strong the last time I saw him, throwing back the Advocat and trying to keep his driver's license. Go get 'em, Harry, uh, or Henry.
Jessye Norman, for singing the Immolation Scene like that with the LA Phil. (Detached thought. I miss Zubin Mehta and the old LA Phil.)
Lou, who drove his golf cart the wrong way on the one-way street. I last saw him as they put him in the ambulance. Nothing to do with his driving. Through his pain, he smiled and proclaimed, "I never rode in an ambulance before."
Bunty, the actress from the old studio system days who had story to tell. (Only one. But it was a good one.) She kept cats, inadvertently kept pigeons, and fed the ducks - ordinance or none. Always filled with flattery and working her audience.
Note to self. The next time a Lou or Bunty offers a glass of cheap red, take the offer, and the time.
More later ...

My Blog

Ruminations on a Past Perfect: Beverly Sills 1929-2007

We have lost a phenomenal musical artist. In her singing prime, Beverly Sills was an immense talent whose feats of vocalism at times seemed to defy the very laws of nature. She sang rapid fire high E-...
Posted by Patricia on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:30:00 PST

Anemone of the People

Manicures: extending my reach so that no one will "dis" your digits For more than two decades, my piano playing had prevented me from having the occasional manicure. I remember the experience as havin...
Posted by Patricia on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 05:05:00 PST