she said she had a terrific time and she was very interested in the entire event. they had moments when they danced and then invited members of the audience to join them and learn a Native American dance so she and her friend went down and participated.
after that she said her two other friends seemed to lose interest and they started texting people. Erica was a little surprised at that... but at least Erica was attentive.
then they called out their guest speaker. Chaske Spencer, known for his work on the Twilight movies. the topic was to be about his work with an organization called Be the Shift. they try to promote "dignity, justice, unity, and accountability and by taking action that supports the creation of alternatives" as it was listed in the article Erica emailed me the other day to ask if she could go.
from what Erica told me last night, I think he chose to focus on accountability and dignity. (I'm only paraphrasing what Erica and I talked about after she got home so My account is not complete and may not be fully accurate)
he talked about when he was much younger he had become very addicted to drugs and alcohol. he mentioned the differences in the 'drug communities' in smaller towns where he grew up vs. the large city of New York, totally not trying to glamorize drugs and alcohol use. he then talked about how he had a dream that he was talking to God and He told him that he needed to stop and get his life under control. he kept telling God "I know" so the next day he got on a plane and went to rehab. He spoke of his experiences there in rehab and he has been clean ever since.
there was a question/answer segment when the audience could stand up and ask him anything. Erica said that she asked him the first real question. she was the second to ask him anything, but she said that the first was "can you take off your shirt?" - really? you want to waste your question to someone who gets that lame question all the time and will not be removing his clothes.
so I'm proud of her for having some dignity and leaving him with his. She asked him about his acting career and how long he had been studying acting. he told her how long and that he didn't want to be an L.A. actor so he went to New York to learn and work. he'd been there from the time he was 21 and went on to tell her her a little more about that life.
Erica said that he talked a very little bit about the Twilight movies and the people he worked with. Personally I'm glad that he didn't dwell on that topic because he wasn't there to promote a movie. however filming them was a part of his life and he talked a bit about his auditions and filming.
Erica said that there were some things that he said that everyone kind of had a little chuckle over and she was laughing loud. I wish I would have been able to go, I'm sure I would have been rolling on the floor with her.
later there was an opportunity for pictures and a little chit chat. her friends then regained interest and they all got their pictures with him individually... but after their bit of conversation and a picture she got a hug from him.
but in silly Erica fashion, she made sure to say (to me) that the skin on his cheek was really soft :D
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