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Your Other Art(s)

30 Apr

new project!

Painting? Singing? Dancing? Sculpting? Crafting? Writing? Drawing? Knitting? Designing? Editing? Filming? Building? Gardening?

It’s so important to nurture all of the artistic parts of you- not just the acting part. I often forget this when I get into the daily grind of: audition – part time job #1 – audition – workshop – part time job # 2 – submitting – part time job #3 – you get the picture. And yet, for me, painting was my first love. (I think had I been exposed to the stage before paint brushes, it might’ve been another story, but painting came first nonetheless). As much as I crave brush-to-canvas, I tend to forget, or fail, to factor it into my life. I’ll go weeks, months and dare I say years(?) without creating a single painting. And then something happens- I finally get myself to a gallery or an art opening, or hear a cool NPR story about some obscure artist- and I remember, “I should paint!”

last project

Fortunately, I had that moment last week and began work on a project I’ve had in my head for a very long time. It felt so good to not only get the idea out of my head and onto a canvas, but also to do something creative other than acting. Plus, I’m sure I don’t need say this, but one creative outlet feeds another. I’ve been feeling pretty crappy about the whole acting thing recently, but working on a painting – having this other creative project – really shifted my focus.

So get out there, and pick up a paint brush, pen, mic, saw, needle & thread- whatever your tool may be- and make something! Happy Monday!

Always be Acting

23 Apr

This is how I've been currently working my acting muscles- in a new production called "Central Air" at the Lyric-Hyperion Theatre in Silver Lake, CA.

Not, like, Jim Carey style and never getting out of character. I mean, always have stuff on your plate that allows you to do the one reason you’re here in LA in the first place: act! Whether that means an audition, a scene study class, improv class, on camera class, casting director workshop, theater, showcase, staged readings, read a play out loud with friends, work on a monologue, shoot a short, and the list goes on and on.

Fortunately, I’ve had lots of awesome opportunities that have made this one part of my career pretty easy. (Even though all the other parts of it have felt very difficult lately- but that’s for another post!) I’ve been in back-to-back plays since December (currently in the show Central Air). I’ve been doing casting and agency workshops at One-on-One Productions and then this weekend I’ll be checking out a new monthly audition workshop class, with working actor Aaron Craven (I’ll report back in two weeks). I’ve been lucky enough to really work those acting muscles!

So, if you feel rusty or restless because you haven’t booked a gig- go out and shoot something, read something, or sign up for something. Just ACT! =)

Gratitude, an Exercise

5 Mar

These first two months of the year have simultaneously brought two things: opportunities & doubt. Seems a little contradictory, I know. I’ve seen the seedlings sprouting (this career is all about planting the seeds), and I’m trying really hard to ride the momentum and not get lazy now (i.e. let the fear kick in). However, on the same token I’ve been in a slump– an emotional one. I’ve been having a really rough time. I’ve had enough therapy to know that these two things could very well be connected. Fear of success, anyone? But it doesn’t make the feelings go away. It’s the usual actor-slump stuff (and probably the usual twenty-something slump stuff, too!): feeling lost, directionless, penniless, careerless, scared of my debt and no health insurance and the DWP bill that refuses to go away, afraid I’ll never be able to afford a home/puppy/wedding/family/ life! Sometimes I just want to say FORGET IT! I’m moving to the mountains, work at a cafe and make art. The end. But that isn’t my dream. Not now, anyway. That would be me running away.

And, the funny thing is, I am making progress! Things are happening. I’ve had all these opportunities and I’m taking all these steps. So, I wanted to write out all that is happening and why I should be grateful. Kind of like an exercise for myself to keep things in perspective. Perhaps this will help ease the pain of the slump while, in fact, I’m not in a slump at all…. I’m moving forward.

  1. I’m grateful for getting to be a part of important projects at the start of the year, sharing voices that don’t always get heard and telling stories that need to be told. Last weekend I closed Occupy the Heart at Casa0101 with an incredible cast, telling stories of the “99%” through plays and poetry, and without skipping a beat, next weekend I open theVagina Monologues and a new ensemble piece, “Voiced“, for Silverlake’s Women’s Festival at the Lyric-Hyperion Theater, also with an incredible cast, telling women’s stories through monologues (duh), poetry, and song.
  2. I’m grateful for getting into a casting director workshop studio. I finally scheduled an audition and got in, and now I’ve been signing up for agency and CD workshops to get myself out there more. I’m grateful that I finally feel ready to do this.
  3. I’m grateful for an incredible and almost serendipitous opportunity to work with the director of my favorite movie of ALL-TIME on a new project he is developing. I’m also grateful for the insanely kind words he shared with me at the end of that day, which was exactly what I needed to hear. I’m grateful he gave me the words I can hold on to now when I need to hear them again.
  4. I’m grateful for having day job(s) even if they drive me crazy and don’t necessarily pay all the bills. And I’m grateful that one of them actually relates to the work I want to do, working with young adults and helping them also create and tell stories. To teach them and encourage them to use theater, writing and poetry to express themselves and to change others.
  5. I’m grateful for having an awesome apartment, that I get to share with a loving partner and two crazy kitties.
  6. Finally, I’m grateful I have a dream I get to follow in the first place!

Day Job(s)

30 Jan

A huge part of becoming a working actor is, of course, being a working-something-else in order to survive until we can make money doing what we love. Many opt for the waiting/catering gig, which has flexibility and good money- two very necessary things as an actor. I’ve attempted hosting, but never serving because, well, I just don’t think I’m cut out for restaurants after being around them for so long (my mom, aunt and grandparents all owned restaurants). Instead, I pay the bills by working not one, but THREE day jobs, and I’m slowly adding another to the list, but one that could potentially grow into something perfect.

1. Website Editor/Manager

I oversee about 40-50 (virtual) teen interns on a parenting website and manage the website.

2. Personal/Administrative Assistant

I do the company payroll, weekly schedule, event contracts, and other miscellaneous tasks for a professional international dance company.

3. High School Theater Director

I teach after school theater, direct plays, sub acting classes, and oversee the performance poetry ensemble.

4. Rolly & Matilda ETSY Shop! 

And last but not least, my latest Day Job, is my boyfriend and my vintage clothing Etsy store! We just started it, but are really enjoying the process. It’s great because, it allows us to be creative (in choosing the items, styling the outfits, taking the photos, etc), use similar marketing skills we learn to utilize for our acting careers (creating a brand, spreading the word via social media, consistent promotion, etc) and allows flexibility (we can make our own schedules).

In a perfect world,Rolly & Matilda could be my only day job so that my mind doesn’t explode with all it has going on (juggling 3 jobs, rehearsals, auditions, family, friends… life! Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful to have all these things. It just get’s a little jumbled in my head!) But only one way to find out is to go for it (just like acting!), so there it is. It feels good to have new projects, especially ones that excite me and that I’ve been thinking and talking about for so long. Making more dreams come true….

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