Archive | April, 2011

11 Benefits to Self Producing

25 Apr

Though I am an actor, I have learned that there are many reasons to try on ALL hats. One of the most important hats of all: Producer.

Why?

  1. it’s a confidence builder: if you can produce a play/webseries/film etc then you can do anything
  2. you learn SO much being on the other side that can become valuable tools/skills you can apply to your acting career
  3. learning important life skills: time management, effective verbal communication, effective written communication, assertiveness, assuredness, organization, negotiation, etc
  4. you become a better actor (you get to watch the entire process of the actors in your play or film, different actors = different processes)
  5. learn the ins and outs of submissions and benefit from others’ mistakes
  6. learn to be a better auditioner by being on the other side of things
  7. you become a more grateful and appreciative actor (no more last minute comp requests to your already stressed-out producer, or no more schedule changes to an already challenging film schedule)
  8. the people you meet and the connections you make
  9. getting your SAG card
  10. ensuring your face shows up on at least one film festival big screen and not in the hard drive of yet another empty-promises producer/director
  11. bragging rights: Wanna come see my show? I literally made it happen.

You Get What You Wish For

19 Apr

So the first couple months of the year were wonderfully crazy busy, mainly with cool acting stuff like shooting a new webseries, completing an indie feature and producing a play. And then filming was completed and the run of the play ended and just like that everything came to a screeching hault. I got anxious. I got scared. I’d submit daily on LA Casting and Actors Access and NOTHING. My boyfriend was getting auditions left and right, which only highlighted even more how I couldn’t even get one!  When’s the Next Thing? Will there even be a Next Thing? What do I do now? What should I do now? What direction do I take my career at this point? I need to DO SOMETHING.

With a little time (and breathing and good friends) I embraced my newfound “free time” to take up the things I complained about not having time to do before- like painting, dancing and hanging out with friends, while continually submitting for auditions, meeting with my writing partner and seeing theater (ok so maybe this “free time” is dwindling…..). I also got a fun idea for a blog post (coming soon!) to count the number of casting notices I submit for versus the number of auditions I get. So for the past week I’ve been diligently keeping track of all my audition submissions and guess what? All of a sudden I’m getting called in. I’ve had one almost every day. I’m juggling auditions between my day jobs (yes, that is plural) and meeting friends, networking, seeing shows, working shows, directing a show and now that painting I started a couple weeks ago is sitting in my office unfinished. I’m TOO BUSY! So busy, in fact, that I completely missed yesterday’s blog post.

But… isn’t that what I was anxious about? Having nothing to do and not moving forward in my career? Well, the second I put my energy there (in a positive way, not in a stressed/anxious/”something is wrong with me, that’s why I’m not getting called in” negative way), shit started happening, so, I guess I got what I wished for. It’s also a friendly reminder to myself that I AM moving forward. I AM doing stuff. I AM in it.

Proud Moments

11 Apr

Acting milestones that got me so stoked it may or may not have brought a tear (or two) to my eye. It’s important to celebrate ALL victories, big and small.

Getting the callback for the role of “Ceci” in Lydia at the Mark Taper Forum

I was literally jumping up and down with a huge smile on my face and tears listening to the voicemail on my cell phone that I got the callback. I listened to it like ten times. I LOVED this play and this part. And, I mean, it’s the Taper!

Getting my official SAG letter in the mail

Again, maybe a little jumping, maybe a tear or two and a whole lot of smiling. This was one of my major goals for 2011 and to get it so soon in the year was just icing on the cake.

Getting accepted into Theatre of NOTE

I researched and researched the gazillion theater companies in LA and fell in love with NOTE and despite not knowing a soul in the company managed to land myself an audition and, eventually, membership to the company.

My first audition for network TV- CSI

I was shocked, ecstatic, nervous as hell when I got called in for my first real TV audition. Yeah it was for one line and yeah the role called for a Korean teen and I’m half Japanese who most mistake for Mexican, but it was an audition nonetheless! Somehow or another (hard work, persistence, patience, networking perhaps?– there’s some method to this madness) that casting director got a hold of my headshot and decided to call me in.

First time driving up to a studio lot with my name on the guest list.

I felt so legit! I felt so official. It was for an indie feature, and no I didn’t get the part but that’s besides the point. I was called in and the audition was at a real studio! It was like I got accepted to this elite club. “I’m on the list”.

Treat All Auditions Equally

4 Apr

I recently got an audition for a feature film. I was happy to get the audition notice, as I’ve been having a sort of dry spell lately. When I received the sides, they were somewhat challenging out of context and my boyfriend suggested doing a little google search, because sometimes you can find the script online. Well after a few quick minutes of googling I found that not only was this a Fox feature film with a casting director who has many impressive credits, it was for a major motion picture sequel! (they used a code name in the initial breakdown– I did not know CDs do that). The second I realized the casting office and background of the CD, and finally, what this film actually was I became insanely nervous.

But am I this nervous when I’m auditioning for a student film? No. When I’m auditioning for community theater? Nope. For a friend’s project? Not at all. So why should I be nervous for this? If I could walk into that room with the same confidence and assuredness as I do when I walk into any other casting room, that’s half the battle. I must remind myself that I already beat out the odds when I was specifically chosen from the hundreds upon hundreds of submissions and chosen despite my lack of studio credits or a theatrical agent for that matter. I must remind myself:  it’s not a fluke. And most importantly, as the awesome Bonnie Gillespie says in her super kickass blog, I must remember to be “grateful for however far you get in the process, every single time. It’s a miracle anyone ever gets their “big break” in this town.”

Of course I prepared the shit out of those sides. Off book. Outfit carefully chosen. Scene rehearsed sitting, standing, walking around. Directions to the casting office triple checked. Headshot resumes perfectly cropped, stapled and ready to go in my acting folder. I was prepared. And this made me realize something else– the way I treated this audition, very seriously, is the way I should treat those others- the student films, the plays, the friend’s side projects. You have no idea what any one of these opportunities may lead, so you might as well make the most out of each and every one.