The Working Actor's Journey

  • Start
  • Work/Learn
    • The Rehearsal Room
    • Acting the Role Workshop
    • Repertory
    • Coaching
    • LIVE Online Readings
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Resources
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Text Work: Threat Matrix with Jeanne Sakata

Published November 19, 2019 | Last Updated November 4, 2021 Leave your thoughts »

Listen now...

More options and info below!

Jeanne on Threat Matrix
Jeanne on THREAT MATRIX

The following is the text work session taken from the full episode with Jeanne.

In this episode, Jeanne discusses a monologue she worked on from the TV show Threat Matrix. She plays a Cambodian woman who recounts her experiences of escaping the Khmer Rouge. I’ve visited Cambodia and seen first-hand some of the atrocities that happened there—just horrific, as we talk about.

You’ll hear Jeanne discuss:

  • how a book she had read two years earlier helped her initially with the audition and then again, once she booked the part
  • how she ended up finding a sense of ease with the text
  • the challenges of learning a Cambodian dialect, and how she felt insecure about it

Plus, we talk about working on monologues that are stories set in the past vs. things that are happening right now!

It’s a great session, and it was really wonderful to hear Jeanne’s process of connecting to this material.

 

About the guest

Jeanne Sakata has worked at acclaimed regional theatres all over the country, including in NY, Seattle, Portland, the Bay Area, and numerous theatres in Southern California. She has played opposite such legendary actors as Chita Rivera, Estelle Parsons, and Raul Julia.

Jeanne is a member of LA’s award-winning classical group, the Antaeus Company, and has won a Los Angeles Ovation Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in Chay Yew’s Red at East West Players, the Lee Melville Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Los Angeles Theatre Community, Playwrights’ Arena; and the Drama-Logue Outstanding Performance Award for her work in The Maids at East West Players.

Jeanne has over 40 credits on film and TV including recurring parts on the shows Dr. Ken and High School Musical: The Musical – The Series, and she has even appeared in Justin Lin’s YOMYOMF web series.

Hold These Truths received a Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, and a Theatre Bay Award for Outstanding Production, Principal Performance and Direction. It is also on display at the Library of Congress Playwrights Archive in the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection in Washington DC, where the Jeanne Sakata Collection was established.

Don’t miss Jeanne’s play Hold These Truths at San Diego Rep, starting November 14th!

 

Please enjoy the text work with Jeanne Sakata!

Total Running Time: 14:45

  • Stream by clicking here.
  • Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as/save link as”.

Get the show delivered right to you!

  

 

Want to hear more from Jeanne? Check out my full talk with her here!

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let us know in the comments.

 


 

Show Notes

Jeanne Sakata around the web

Her Site | Hold These Truths | Twitter | Wikipedia | Film/TV | Off-Broadway | Additional Theatre

 

Selected People and Items Mentioned

  • ABC’s Threat Matrix
  • A Cambodian Odyssey by Dr. Haing Ngor
  • Khmer Rouge
  • The Killing Fields, film

 

Watch Jeanne on Threat Matrix

 

Dr. Haing S. Ngor’s acceptance speech for The Killing Fields

 

Jeanne’s monologue (as Dara) from Threat Matrix 

+ click to view/close the monologue

DARA

The stream bed, it was dry season

But the rocks still slippery

Uncle Sam help me, carry my baby

He say he have baby boy long time ago in the States

[AGENT FRANKIE: Did he talk about his boy, did he say his name?]

No, but he say worse pain in world

is losing family

[AGENT FRANKIE: How long did you walk?]

At least three hours, then no more

But Uncle Sam, he move quickly like he see in dark

Then he stop us at pool of water near big boulder

Uncle Sam say, many mines in jungle on side

Only way through water

Water deep, cold

Sam carry my baby high

On other side, we see small house

He had name for it.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

  • Leave a note in the comment section below.
  • Connect with the show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
 

To help out the show:

  • If you love this show, please leave an honest review. You can click right here and follow the simple instructions. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one. Thank you!
 
 

Get the show delivered right to you!

  

Filed Under: Podcast, Text Work Tagged With: cambodia, dialect, khmer rouge, killing fields, research, text work, theatre, threat matrix, tv

Join The Working Actor’s Dispatch!

10 Ways to Stop Worrying and Start Working

Download the FREE Guide 10 Ways to Stop Worrying and START WORKING!

Get your copy of this online guide of advice and lessons learned with auditions, singing, saying 'no', anxiety, insecurity, and more...from actors who've been there!⁠

There's 36+ hours of interviews and here we've compiled some of the best wisdom shared.

Go beyond acting theory and hear from professionals that have worked for 40+ years...where the rubber meets the road.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join The Working Actor’s Dispatch!

Download the FREE Guide 10 Ways to Stop Worrying and START WORKING!

10 Ways to Stop Worrying and Start WorkingGet your copy of this online guide of advice and lessons learned with auditions, singing, saying 'no', anxiety, insecurity, and more...from actors who've been there!⁠ There's 36+ hours of interviews and here we've compiled some of the best wisdom shared. Go beyond acting theory and hear from professionals that have worked for 40+ years...where the rubber meets the road.

upcoming events

THE REHEARSAL ROOM: work and learn with professionals

June 2022 – ACTING THE ROLE: The Macbeth’s with Susan Angelo and Bo Foxwoth

In their first online workshop together, learn the context, clues, and process for playing The Macbeth duo from two accomplished, professional actors! Register to be an ACTOR and work on scenes and speeches or be part of the virtual AUDIENCE.

Learn more

Latest Chat

Ep #28: James Newcomb (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Denver Center Theatre, Shakespeare & Company) on Being Authentic, Career Hang Times, and Readiness

Get the show delivered to you

Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Apple Podcasts

follow the journey

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Last chance to get the guide "10 Ways to Stop Worrying and Start Working!" (or I guess you could scroll up...)

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

More Stuff On The Socials

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Updates

Ep #28: James Newcomb (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Denver Center Theatre, Shakespeare & Company) on Being Authentic, Career Hang Times, and Readiness

Text Work: Video game voiceover audition with Marcelo Tubert

More on the blog

A few listener favorites

Ep #10: Gigi Bermingham on Being a Misfit and Living Your Dream

Ep #10: Gigi Bermingham on Being a Misfit and Living Your Dream


Ep #5: Geoffrey Wade on People vs. Characters and Doing Your Job


Harry Groener

Ep #4: 3x Tony-Nominee Harry Groener on Versatility and Learning Lines Quickly

What would you like to find?

(just type and hit “enter”)

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • The Rehearsal Room
  • Coaching
  • Podcast
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Agency Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

X

ACTORS and AUDIENCE: join us for the online workshop ACTING THE ROLE: The Macbeth's with pro's Susan Angelo and Bo Foxworth, June 6-27!

Grab your spot