Call me a sucker, but every time I pass by a group of hopeful young people, with dreams in their eyes, it makes me so happy and a bit choked up. I was on my way to my usual internet cafe for work and saw a huge line of kids and teens in their best dance gear and their anxious parents, holding their headshots and resumes. I looked down the line and saw excitement, fear, hope, determination, anxiety and passion. The collective energy running down this line of America’s next dance star gave me chills. It is so important to have dreams, and to give them a fair shot. I wanted every single kid in that line to make it. If not this audition, the next one and the next one. They all deserve it.
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A Line of Dreams
12 JulEven When You Make It, You Don’t Make It
10 Jun
We all know this business is tough. Yeah, and the sky is blue. Not asking for sympathy, just sayin’…
It’s hard enough to get an audition.
Then to give a GOOD audition.
Then to get a callback.
Then to give a GOOD audition, again.
Then to get the call that you got the part! (wahoo! but don’t get excited just yet…)
Then to hold on to that part. (They went a different direction, the funding fell through, no more movie.. etc)
Then to get to the actual filming of it. (but, hold on, we’re not there yet…)
And then, to get your scene, your part to be a part of the final product. (how often do scenes get left on the cutting room floor)?
And then, if you get all of that… but then for the film to actually get completed and for you to see the result of allll your heard work in getting there!
I was thinking about this after auditioning for this indie short at Film Independent a couple months ago. When I arrived there were a slew of 20-something attractive females and I thought to myself, is this worth it? I have shit to do… I had an appointment time but they were running way behind. Some girls said they’d already been waiting for over an hour. But I stuck it out, even after they handed me a brand new set of sides at the last minute when I’d already prepared the sides they had sent me when accepting the audition days prior. Finally, I was called in, did my thing and rushed to my next appointment never thinking about it again. A few days later I got a call for a callback. I was surprised and excited. There were so many girls there! Then after the callback I got the call that I got the part. Yay! An actual part in an actual film from an actual audition. I mean, c’mon, you got to celebrate these moments. And then, days even weeks went by and I didn’t hear anything more. It seemed, after all that, it wasn’t going to happen after all, for whatever reason and I felt a little crushed. Of course, as soon as I got over it, I get an email re: script revisions, table read, workshops, etc. But, it got me thinking… even when you think you’ve made it, you didn’t necessarily make it!
Patience is a Virtue
5 Apr
Many people come to Los Angeles thinking, I’ll give it a year then pack my things and go home. But it doesn’t work that way. Atleast, I don’t think it does. If you’re in it- you’re in it for the long haul. That’s what committing to this lovely passion means. That’s what passion means. Three years ago I took a leap of faith and did a play with a theater group that only came into existence with that very play. It was their debut production. This little theater group is now a full blown production company, with which I produce, direct and act in original material. Not to mention they are also some of my best friends. Well, this past weekend was an amazing couple of days for my little group. Not only did we have sold out crowds for the opening of our hit show, ShortLived, in both SF and LA, we also gained a mention in THE NEW YORK TIMES. We were all so excited. Our little company, that can get excited by a mere mention in the East Bay Express got featured in the Arts section of the NY Times! Well, that leap of faith paid off.
Actual Tools for the Actor
23 MarWe talk about online tools, audition tools, but how about real physical tools? What are the necessities and the would-be-nice-to haves for the working actor?
Paper Cutter
(to cut all those pesky 8 1/2 x 11 resumes to size!)
Stapler
(I was amazed at the number of people who auditioned for ShortLived and didn’t have their headshot and resume stapled together)
GPS
(we all know LA is big and it’s got traffic- you need to know how to get around and the quickest alternate
routes, which brings me to the next item on the list…)
Car
(may seem obvious but there are a lot of people who come to this town thinking they will get by on bikes and
busses… it’s possible, but difficult)
Smart Phone
(instant email access is key to all those last minute auditions or callbacks)
Highlighter
(for all those scripts you got to memorize!)
Binder or Folder
(to hold your sides, directions and headshot/resumes)
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