My first film is being Premiered!!!

Hey,
My first short film is going to be shown @ the Anthology Film Archives Theater this December 3rd @ 6pm, and i'd love for you to come. All the info is below. If you can make it, see you there.

all the best,
Miguel Coias




YES, it's official! We are having a special screening of several of our short student films made by DFA students over the past months.

WHEN? Wednesday, December 3rd 2008, 6PM

WHERE? Anthology Film Archives Theater, 32 Second Ave, New York, NY 10009

It will be a fun-filled evening to:

- Meet and catch up with your old buddies from DFA
- Find out the latest news and events happening at DFA
- Spend an evening watching independent films
- Meet and network with other media industry professionals
- Have some fun!


Visit the DFA website for details on tickets and directions:

www.digitalfilmacademy.com/press.html

Best Regards,
Digital Film Academy
630 Ninth Ave Suite 901
NY NY 10036
P 212-333-4013
F 212-333-2238
W www.digitalfilmacademy.com

found a new craft...

directing.
combined with acting its pretty much perfect in its nerve wrecking way =)
its insane and exhilarating at the same time, well try shooting a film in 2 days when you are the writer, producer, editor, director and one of the actors. its so much fun.
wait for more info... coming soon

A few weeks away...

Well its seems that finally all the stars are aligned and my flight to the big apple is coming.I'm looking forward to it but also a bit afraid because it is after all a new start for me...again!Well good news is I'm used to New York, i see it as my hometown, i actually know it better than Lisboa, also most of my friends are there, showbiz connections too, so that will make it so much easier. A lot of work is ahead, but its something i handle well, so I'm looking forward to it. I have been a bit frozen in time due to the nature of things here in Lisboa, but i will be reborn soon as i step out of that plane in the City. It always happens, every time i get back, a new me emerges, stronger, more confident and very, very determined. I guess i feel more like myself there. Its a strange feeling when you can't be yourself in your own country, but that's exactly how i feel. Probably because i don't fit in anymore, New York (Acting training as a lot to do with it) definitely changed me, opened my mind in ways i didn't know it was possible, but it did it to a point that my true self came out and to this day I'm getting to know myself better and better everyday. Sometimes its scary but that's one of the reasons why i chose to become an actor, a fascination for the unknown outside and within me.
Human nature fascinates me, and makes me work harder to become a better person, because i know i have it in me, everyone has it in themselves, most people just don't know it, or don't care, they are blinded by things they can't control too worried about what happens on the outside that they don´t take the time to look within which is where all the answers lie.
The journey of self discovery is the ultimate one for a human being, hopefully in the future people will realize this to be true, and that will translate into a better world, a world where there is love instead of fear, that is at least what i believe.

thought of the day...

"Be the change you wish to see in the World."- Mahatma Gandhi

Added a few things....

Just spend some time adding a few extra things to the page.
Some interesting quotes i found on the web, very funny videos from The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, Catherine Tate Show (brilliantly funny english humor).
Also for your personal enjoyment an mp3 player with a few tunes i like, so u can listen while you're reading.
An always debatable movie list and some entertainment news.
If theres anything on it now that you dislike,pls do tell, i appreciate any comments. carpe diem :)

A new start....

Every time there is a change in the air i go and cut my hair.
Out with the old, in with the new, and that happened today.
I usually cut it very short almost like a marine, but this time i decided to let it grow some more, see what happens, cause its been awhile, i believe the past 6 years my hair has been very short.
My departure to New York is eminent, things are looking up, its been a rough ride for me here in Lisboa, but i believe everything happens for a reason, so i look forward and try to learn as much as i can everyday, and not let myself feel down like it was happening this past week.
This change is me deciding to turn the page and let all those bad feelings that overcome us once and awhile exit my system for good, cause instead of helping they only make us spiral down into a depression. Finally i broke through it and am fighting it with all my being, its hard at first but i've got my mind set on it, so im doing it. Its too easy to just sit around and do nothing, so i decided to take the hard road, towards self improvement, and positive thinking...to live life fully like I have done in the past...The only way is up :)

The State of our Minds...

One must not dwell to much in the past cause its never helpful, we must look forward and enjoy today, because thats all we have.
Its a tricky thing not to get stuck in the past or in the future.

Most people do it, me included, especially if you're unhappy with your current situation, which is the case with me, I just have to shake it, and live a day at a time.

It gets really hard cause it seems like it creeps up on you, so we must fight it and let it blow past us cause its never positive, its not going to help, it only makes us more miserable and depressed. We have to take it one step at a time, day by day, minute by minute, because if we really look at it its all we really have. The past is gone, and the future...well, we make it with our decisions, and our conduct.
There are some interesting films on the subject like 'sliding doors', which is worth watching.
Its the little things, the ones we barely notice that truly affect our lives, our day by day.
And as bad as we feel, we could always be much worse... just think about a place like Africa, beautiful, and also plagued with war and hunger.
The world we live in is going the wrong way, if we don't do anything about it, Just look at the state of things everyday in the news: Global Warming, War, Famine, Greed... I could go on forever...all we have to do i contribute positively and 'be the change we want to see in the world'.
Look at the big picture and act accordingly. It will make you feel better and keep your mind off of the little problems we deal with everyday, we let them ruin our days instead of just acknowledging them and with a clear head and find a solution, cause its usually right in front of us, we just don't want to see it.
We have complex minds that like to complicate things...why? I don't really know, but i will find the answer, i look for it everyday...meditating helps me see things more clearly, and i know the answer is in me somewhere, so sooner or later, ill get there.

An Old crush became a new friend....

Life is indeed a mystery, it always surprises you especially when you least expect it.
Its perfect when you have a great night with good food, great jazz and even better conversation.
That why i love life, it has this way of lifting you up when you're down and most need it, and just like that it changes you and your outlook of life. So for that here goes my profound thank you :)

Another good friend of mine is traveling the world, she is now in Fiji... http://triciatravels.blogspot.com/
Look forward to hearing from you T, and keep those photos coming.
p.s. love what you did to your hair ;)

A great night...remember? : )

Life figures itself out...

Well its that time again...
im returning to New York soon to continue with my acting career. funny thing is Lisboa doesn't feel like home anymore, most of my friends are in the US, and also im a very different person from the one that left Portugal a few years back. So it makes sense that i wouldn't fit in anymore, new mentality, i look at life in a new way, really open to all things, its hard to adapt again to the mentality in Portugal, so im packing my bags and im leaving soon...back home.

Life, right now....as i know it

Change seems to be a constant in my life...within me, and also outside of myself. After 7 great learning years in New York, i have returned to Lisboa, my hometown, that now feels foreign to me. Leaving great friendships behind i came back to discover a place i no longer feel identified with. This has been it seems, the story of my life.... Constant change, which i have learned to embrace, new challenges, people, mentalities....i go where life takes me, and i wouldn't have it any other way, why? Because i believe everything happens for a reason, new lessons waiting to be learned and sometimes they come in the most unexpected form or from the most unexpected people, so i have gotten used to paying attention and treating everyone i meet the same way, without judgment, with an open mind and an open heart, which is not an easy thing to do, sometimes its quite hard, especially when the day is not going well, but it is in these circumstances that one must excel, and really focus within, and not allow our moods or feelings to get in the way... That way with our minds not clouded by judgment, and negative thoughts, or feelings one can really listen to others...and almost catch their essence...

Ah....Performing...I live for it.

Its my one true mistress, everything i do relates to it in some way.... Watching people on the street, the different walks, postures, everyone’s behavior tells me something about them, which is something i find really interesting as an actor. You can tell so much about someone if you just pay attention to their body language. Its really simple. Human behavior is an almost exact science for people who are good thieves, con artists, poker players, actors. I mean its something you learn watching people in everyday life.
The adrenalin you get once on stage is something amazing, you can’t get enough of it. Theater is were u feel it the most, a rush of energy flowing through you, because its live, everyone is watching you, there are no second takes, its all in the moment. When u are working for a camera there are also people watching you, but the camera is the real eye you have to worry about, it is to it that the performance takes place. Different medium so the amount of adrenalin changes too. Acting is an idealists dream i believe, one can be whomever one wants for short amounts of time but still experience it fully, i guess it almost gives you a split personality. Chameleon actors like Gary Oldman, Cate Blanchett, Johnny Depp, are the ones i most relate too due to the transformations they go through for every role they bring to life. Its important for an actor to separate himself from the character, only that will allow him to fully bring it to life. This is a profession i was born to do...i now know that i love it from the bottom of my being, i guess I´m lucky that way :)


Performing in New York the play 'Underadress'

Friendship...a valuable commodity!

The word friend is often miss used, most people we call friends are acquaintances. A true friend is rare, and usually we can count them by the fingers of one hand. True friendship only exists when you are at peace with yourself, when you've accepted who you are, then its real, because usually its need, the need to not be alone, to be accepted, to belong. Everyday I work hard on accepting who I am, I spend enough time by myself, meditating, getting in touch with my inner self, accepting who I am. Its amazing, because i really value my friendships, and now can see who my real friends are. Before you can truly have friends you need to really love and accept yourself, know who you really are, and its only then that you can really love anyone else truly. True friendship is unconditional love...to me that’s what it means. Prove me wrong, i dare you.


True Friends are hard to find...

The Berlin Wall....within us.

As the Berlin Wall came down so can our inner walls follow the same fate. The responsibility is solely on our shoulders, we can't look for other people to do it for us, maybe they can help with good positive advice but never expect miracles, these can only happen by your acceptance of those walls. Recognizing they exist is a step on its own, only if you accept the problem is there, then you can start doing something about it. Lets face it, only we can change ourselves, nobody can do it for us, and the quicker we accept that the faster we can deal with them.
To be continued.....

Talk to your Wall Within.

Coming to terms with Who I am.

This is a life long struggle. Everyday I have to improve my self love. Maybe this sounds strange, cause you're thinking: I love myself, I'm confident, I like the way I look or not, and so on a so forth. But I'm talking about something different, deep within yourselves is where we find Who we are. It's not what I do for a living, what I own, what I look like, it's that little voice that only talks to you when your mind is silent. People who conquer that voice are said to be enlightened. Gandhi, Mother Theresa of Calcutta...It's a league most people think unattainable, but its not. We all have the potential to reach this state of enlightenment, some easier than others, but I tell you it's the biggest challenge you'll ever face. Opening your mind is the first step, meditation a very important tool for progress along with disciplining your mind, not allowing it to boss you around with useless thoughts, critiques, constantly judging others,(doing everything in its power to keep the Ego alive) and taking your attention away from where it should be, on yourself. This is not rocket science, I'll say this 'If you don't love yourself, nobody else will.' This is a fact. Most people keep searching for things outside themselves, like a partner, this usually means they're not comfortable enough in their own skin so they feel lonely, and so jump into bad, sometimes abusive relationships, living through the other person, or trying to change them to the image they have of the perfect person for them. You can only change yourself! You can only help others by example. I can tell you one thing for sure, the right place to find whatever you think is missing in yourself, that will bring you happiness, is inside yourself. No amount of money, people, professional fulfillment can give you that, some of it helps because it can clear your mind somewhat but its never enough. You have to accept your reality be always true to yourself no matter what, and look inside be brave, You will be rewarded. It takes courage, an open mind, discipline and a lot of hard work but it is worth it.

Just a good thought to everyone out there who cares to read it.

A poem...one of mine.

Waiting for a better day...endlessly

The sun now scarcely shines on the pavement,
cold breeze blows endlessly by,
chilling every breath,
thoughts freeze as if the cold air had solidified the content,
and they're no longer part of the creative self...
The weather has broken the will,
of the street, the trees, of the pedestrian,
life continues at the same speed but harder,
harsher, painful at times but...our dreams,
our faith, drive us on, speeding endlessly
throughout our days.
The summer is long gone,
and the warmth now grows inside our hearts,
compassion, joy and love build their nest within,
keeping us alive. . .waiting endlessly for better days.

Things do happen for a reason...

The more I'm alive the more i believe it. If look back at every situation you've been in, every problem you had, every person that you met, isolate every one of those situations, you can see exactly why they happened, most came to teach you something either about yourself, life or choices you needed to make to evolve as a human being. Even though sometimes we curse meeting some people, maybe they're showing us we're lacking something if we can't accept them the way they are, like patience, compassion, understanding...
If you face a major problem, its a test of your character, you grow because you have to make important decisions from which you learn, they are never wrong, because you had to learn sometime, if you see them as a mistake, you're missing an opportunity to learn. Just a different way of looking at life, with your eyes wide open, taking everything in...If you've never done it try it, its awesome. No mood swings, no irritation, you feel calm inside. You can hear a silence in your mind, it happens very fast, but the trick is to make it last longer everytime, until you can get into that state of silence all the time. Now if you face a certain situation you have never been in automatically you're experiencing something new therefore learning about life and maybe yourself, how you react in said situation. Life is a very interesting thing. It's never boring, unless you decide it to be. You control your fate through your actions, decisions, thoughts, words... So make it a positive one so you can enjoy it...Carpe Diem

Writing keeps me occupied...and sane. (For people in the Biz)

No long ago I started writing, putting my thoughts into paper, and since I'm a bit of an Actor and at the same time movie buff, what better to write than screenplays. So that's something I do for fun and also to work with fellow directors who aren't to keen to write, they give me a synopsis and I write it for them, sometimes I land one the roles, which is nice but it's not an obligation on their part, I just commit to writing the script for them. I also write poetry, but it's more personal, maybe I'll post some of it someday for your appreciation. If you're a director, directing student and you need someone to write your shorts, pls feel free to contact me through the email posted on my profile and we'll talk about it.