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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! =)

What Else?!?

19 Mar

Ever have that nagging, restless, unsatisfied feeling where you’re just sitting in your living room by yourself, having just closed your lap top, tapping your fingers on the sidetable (not coffee table, cuz you still can’t afford one) not knowing what to do with yourself? Well, I did, just last week.

I was up-to-date with all my submissions (submitting by the hour, sometimes even more often!), I designed my postcard, I followed up on networking emails, I signed up for all applicable upcoming CD workshops (within my budget- again, poor), updated my CD target list with all pertinent info, researched new TV shows that might be right for my type, worked on memorizing my script for an upcoming play I’m in, did some character work for the play, met with my writing partner for a final round of edits on our screenplay, read some actor blogs… and… and… what else? What else can I do???

Of course I know an actor’s work is never done. That’s the cool/annoying thing about this career, there is always something you can be doing. But, what? I found myself at a standstill, not being able to think of anything, not knowing what to do with myself. The real reason I was feeling so unsatisfied, as my boyfriend thoughtfully pointed out, is I  was unrealistically waiting to see the fruits of my labor– right then and there! Silly, I know, but he was right! It was this feeling of, “Okay, I’ve put all this work in, now let’s see what I get!” But I know that’s not how it works. I know that! And yet, there I was, sitting alone in my living room (subconsciously) waiting, hoping for something to happen.

Fortunately, I got over it. I had rehearsal the next day, an audition the day after, performances over the weekend… Again, I have a lot to feel grateful for. Coincidentally, I did come across two helpful posts from actor-friendly sites, which were rather timely. So, I thought I’d share:

1. What Can I Actually DO…?

I came across this as I was stumbling through actor blog posts on various topics. This topic, of course, is exactly what I’ve been talking about. I talk about many of the things on this list throughout my blog, like making your own work- something I tout often, as the blogger Ben Whitehair does throughout this list of things you can actually do.

2. How to Stay Sharp During Down Time

This one came by way of my boyfriend, as it was just too perfect to my issue that day. Dallas Travers, “actor advocate”, often gives great, concise pieces of advice. In this quick video she goes over some things you can do in the down time between gigs, to keep sane and motivated.

Top 10 Ladies I Love (In Entertainment)

12 Mar

Last Thursday was International Women’s Day, March is Women’s History Month, I’m currently in a production of the Vagina Monologues as part of a women’s theater festival… Needless to say, I’m feeling love for the ladies right now. Going along with this theme, I’ve compiled a list of 10 awesome women in entertainment I’d be honored to work with one day.

1. Parker Posey (duh)

All-time favorite actress. Long-standing “indie queen”. Powerful on-screen personality and distinct style: makes every character her own. The original “quirky girl”. Killer at comedy. Scene stealer. My dream is to one day get to work with her.

2. Amy Pohler

Funny, of course. Amazing in Parks & Rec. I absolutely adore Lesley Knope. But beyond comedic talents, this woman stands for something. Smart Girls At The Party, a smart, entertaining and clever show, Amy’s original webseries, is geared towards young girls but is entertaining for all.

3. Meryl Streep

How can you NOT love this woman. She is insanely talented. Has had a long career that is still going strong. Plays kick ass parts and embodies her characters flawlessly. Never plays into the media hoopla. Goes for big budget or low budget, just wants to act in good projects with good roles.

4. Mila Kunis

So underrated. First off, she’s a working actor- doing TV, voiceover and film. Natalie Portman got all the attention, but, personally, I think Mila stole the show in Black Swan. She is a fearless actor but displays vulnerability beautifully. Would love to work opposite her one day.

5. Geena Davis

Not only a talented lady, she is incredibly thoughtful, sensitive and driven. By making use of her position in the entertainment world, she has done extensive media research through her own Institute on Gender in Media, trying to change female portrayals and gender stereotypes in children’s media.

6. Miranda July

Performance artist extrordinaire. She does it all- narrative film, short stories, installations, sculpture, video, voice over, you name it! And across all mediums, she maintains her very distinct voice making our ordinary every-day lives extraordinary, revealing the nostalgia and bittersweetness of it all.

7. Sandra Oh

I think  her character Dr Yang is the best thing on Grey’s Anatomy. She also does theater (a true actor! =) She is one talented actress who has a TV and film career at the same time. I’d love to follow in those footsteps…

8. Naomi Watts

Has been working her butt off for a long time. She finally got her break in Mullholand Drive but she’d been around a long time before that. She even produced and stared in her own film (make your work, make your success!) Never does she fall prey to tabloids and gossip, but just does consistently good work, interesting characters and versatile roles.

9. Mo Collins

So many funny ladies on my list, I just realized. But I can’t leave out Mo, who I’ve been watching on MadTV since high school. She fuckin rocks. AND…. I actually did get to meet her! (warning: tangent!) I was at a Muse concert in LA about 6 years ago and she was sitting in the row in front of me. When we all filed out after the concert was over, I worked up the nerve to say something. I told her that I love her work on MadTV and she was very gracious, said thank you, and then turned the subject to the band and chatted about the concert for a few minutes. So cool. =)

10. Brit Marling

I know she’s relatively new on the scene but she is so fuckin awesome and such an inspiration. Talented, driven, intelligent, creative….She pretty much made her career happen all on her own by writing and starring in her own films. Another Earth is such a creative, moving and thoughtful film and Marling carries the movie well.

Pre New Year New Year’s List

21 Nov

I’ve been so busy this past month or so that I’ve hardly had time to write a proper blog post. I think I’ve even skipped a few weeks. And though I’m busy with good artsy stuff, it is not an excuse to put all the other things on hold. The things I’ve been kinda sorta saying to myself I’d think about after the new year– because what better excuse than the New Year to buckle down and get things done? But I know myself, I have to just DO. Too much time is wasted in the waiting for the “next time” to do the things on my list. So, slowly but surely, over the past few weeks I’ve been making a list and checking it twice, of what I want to prepare BEFORE 2012 arrives.

1. Renew Showfax: I know, shame on me that I even let it expire in the first place. But I don’t have it on auto-renew because, well, Im poor. And I waited to renew because I was so busy that I wasn’t submitting anyway. Figured I’d save myself a few bucks. However, the longer I didn’t renew, the longer I’d have an excuse to not submit and therefore not audition and therefore not book more things to keep me busy.

2. Revise Resume: This one’s a pain in the ass only because there’s not only the resume I physically hand to a CD, which I can easily update on Word, but there’s also the version on my website, on LA Casting, Casting Frontier and Actors Access. Ugh. But I have to suck it up and update them!

3. Revise Reel: Fortunately I’ve been a part of 3 projects in the past year that I can use footage from to add to my reel. It’s just a matter of tracking down all the footage, deciding what I want to use and then re-edit my reel. I’m workin’ on it…

4. Order Postcards: This is a big one for me. I know many, if not most actors have this already so they can keep in touch with CDs and do mailings and whatnot. For one reason or another (fear) I have yet to get my first ever postcards made. In the back of my mind I kept saying that there was no point in getting them until I start doing CD workshops. But I realize, that I’ve also been saying that there was no point in doing CD workshops until I have the postcards to keep in contact with them.

5. Sign up for CD Workshops: As I mentioned above, fear has held me back in a few areas of furthering my career. I’m willing to admit that I’ve been afraid to sign up for CD workshops. I’d taken them a couple years ago when I don’t think I was ready and I haven’t done one since. But it is time. I need to put myself out there more. If I can put myself out there on a stage, I should be able to do it in a casting room.

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