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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….

Starting off on the Right Foot

17 Jan

Like a lot of people during the month of January, I’ve been doing some reflecting, re-evaluating and looking forward.  I started a running list of what I want my 2012 to be about, some directly related to acting, some not, but all under the same goal of honoring Me. Seems a little selfish, but sometimes you have to be. What I mean is, doing things that I want to do not have to do, doing things that make me happy and feed my soul, fulfilling my passions and dreams, enjoying this journey every step of the way– basically, having an overall positive outlook.

A lot of it has to do with language I use: getting rid of  should’s and shouldnt’s and have to’s and replacing them with like to’s, want to’s and choose to’s. More active, less passive. I also think that a more active, there-are-things-in-my-control, perspective will result in a more proactive year. The less you make projects and activities chores, and the more you make them fun then the more likely you will do them! For instance, I kinda hate submitting. I’d think of it as something I have to do if I want to be an actor. But, throw on a little music, imagine the different roles I now have the chance at playing, and it’s kind of fun!

So, going along with the doing things that make me happy and feed my soul, one of the items on my list is to do more theater I love. In other words, not worrying about pay vs no pay, industry audience vs. family and friends, potential connections vs. none at all, or even theater vs. film. Theater was what got me here to begin with. Anyway, I got what I wanted! I am starting off the year with two wonderful shows. The first, in February at Casa 0101, is called Occupy the Heart, a short play festival exploring the Occupy Wall Street movement. The second, in March at the Lyric Hyperion, is a new rendition of the Vagina Monologues, including an original ensemble-created piece. Not to mention both shows are with very cool people I like. I think I’m off to a good start!

On the Way

5 Dec

Last Thursday I embarked on a new journey. Well, technically not new because I started it before back in 2008– omg how time flies. Anyway, it’s a kind of 12-step program– 12 weeks to be exact– in the form of a book, that is actually one of the books on my actor’s reading list: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

I first bought the book in 2008 when I wasn’t ready. I was in this weird in-between phase… just out of college but far enough from graduating that I wasn’t really a recent college-grad. Living in San Francisco but dreaming of Los Angeles. Part-time job at a social media start-up, not quite willing to commit to a full 9-5. In other words, full of fear. So much so that I couldn’t get through just a menial layer to even finish week 1 of the 12 in the book. What’s ironic about it all is that the purpose of the book is to get through, past your fears and make your art, whatever that may be. But I guess it’s kind of like therapy. You have to want to go in order to get the therapy in the first place. So, I wasn’t ready and that’s okay. Now, I feel ready. I still feel scared, anxious, apprehensive, skeptical, but I’m ready and I’m doing it!

I know I will be faced with many challenges throughout the next 12 weeks, but I already feel good about week 1. Last night I picked up a paintbrush, which I haven’t done in a long, long time. Art was my first love after all– yes, even before acting. Granted, it was just slightly before but it was first none the less. Picking up the paintbrush wasn’t easy. First, I had to make the decision to do art. I was feeling bored (which is really just fear in disguise) and then I was feeling indecisive– go out to a Hawaiian themed Christmas party, or make art. Once I finally settled on option 2, I had to decide what kind of art– drawing? painting? holiday cards? And, what medium– pencil, pen, colored pencil, acrylic, oil, water color? On cardboard or paper or canvas? Too many options! Just enough to say, “You know what, forget it. I’ll just go out for a drink.” Fortunately, I silenced that voice. The book is full of helpful reminders to get past all those voices. I said to myself, “It doesn’t matter. Who cares what kind of art I do, as long as I do it.” So I settled on making an acrylic painting. But don’t think I was off the hook yet! No, no…. Once I started that painting I had to then silence my inner critic who wouldn’t shut up! “This doesn’t look right. The proportions are wrong. The color is ugly. The composition is boring. You’re wasting paint.” And on and on. Again, I had to remind myself: “It doesn’t matter.” I repeated what my 3rd grade art teacher used to tell us in after school art club, “There are no mistakes in art.” It’s become my mantra.

I realized, in this process of creating a simple painting, that this is so applicable to acting as well. I need to stop being concerned with how talented I am or am not or comparing myself to other’s abilities or other’s careers (not that I really do this a lot, but I think we’ve all been there…) I need to stop being concerned with how the lines come out as long as I’m truthful. I need to stop being worried about all the “shoulds” (i.e. you should do casting director workshops) and “shouldn’ts” (i.e. you shouldn’t do obscure non-union black box theater, it’s a waste of time) and just DO. I need to not be afraid to be bad. I have to silence that inner critic and hone in on that original voice, the one that called me to acting in the first place. There is a reason I heard it. That’s why I’m here, in LA finally committing to my dream, writing this blog, and embarking on this journey…

Self Producing Friends

7 Nov

I’ve talked a lot before about the importance of self-producing when it comes to making a career as an actor. I always love it when I see my friends and former co-stars or colleagues making their own work. Here’s just a little slice of my diverse talented group of friends and their Kickstarter/Indie Go Go pages. Some have expired as the projects are completed, but I wanted to include them, too, to show the results of crowdfunding and all the cool stuff my friends are doing. They aren’t waiting for someone to hire them- they’re going out there and making their own work!!

Wallflower short film

Three Puffs of Gold short film

Yo Se music video

Low Shoulders short film

 

Gypsy Gift short film

Have You Seen Alice play

Support these artists following their dreams!

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