clooney strikes again (no pun intended)

seriously~i have always admired george clooney's ability to use his brains and his humanity and talent all at once, and remain humble and gracious. like the real classic movie stars we all adore. having read this i am even more impressed. the man needs to be in a more powerful position. it could change so many things for the better. i hope the establishments read his memo and take his thoughts to the table. nothing short of brilliant.

okay, can i just gush for a moment?

what a great frickin' week. most of you know i booked a U/5 on "Little Britain USA" for HBO. and my guest director was David Schwimmer.
well, i had rehearsal for this on tuesday and shot wednesday, and because of certain props and schedules & stuff, i ended up being on set basically all day on both days! i'm sure at some point in my career this might be irritating, but at this point i absolutely love being on set, watching everybody work and being around the vibe. people kept thanking me for being so patient, and i just kept telling them i'd rather be on set than somewhere else.
on tuesday, other scenes were being rehearsed too, so i got to meet (besides the stars of the show, David Walliams & Matt Lucas) the fabulous & inspiring talents Rachael Harris & Bob Stephenson, along with a few other burgeoning actors. it was awesome being ensconced in good working actor vibes!
as for wednesday, i discovered the previous day that my shooting schedule may suffer a bit in order to work around..... STING. yes, that is correct, sting was shooting a segment for an episode on the same day as i was, and i was on set with him, able to watch him act & sing & play some crazy-ass multi-stringed instrument (looked like a sitar crossed with a handheld harp) from a few feet away. :)
(my sister must be peeing herself about now... especially when i say, coll, he was inches from me, chatting with matt & david and introducing his daughter Kate around.)
so life is GOOD.
then yesterday i was in the area so i swung by the casting office to drop off some thank-you-baklava, and today they called me to come in & audition for a role on The Sarah Silverman Program on monday. i'm not sayin' it was the baklava, but either way i LOVE those ladies over there!
sigh. man, do i feel like a different human being when my life/work is going the way i want it to, when i am where i am supposed to be, surrounded by the sort of vibes and character of people that understand my dream and have their own to share...
it's gonna be tough going back to the bar job tonight. but i am soooo so grateful for this wonderful week. i needed that, badly. thanks, universe!
cheers, and thanks for allowing my gush!

my episode of "Problems with the Professor"

things i've been thinking about

well, the writers' strike is in full force, with everyone just having gone back to the table to actually try and sort out an agreement. while my previous post about it not really affecting my career is sorta true, it also turned out to be sorta not true. residual effects are widespread. also people around town are vehement if they happen to be opposed to this action, and i am constantly resisting debates when i'm at my survival job and elsewhere. all i can say is what i tell all the debate vultures: "i really hope they are able to resolve this quickly, and in a way that has positive results for everyone." i do, after all, believe not only in a union's right-to-strike (could be growing up near detroit and in the autoworker's union family or just common human decency) but also in this particular strike. and not just cuz i think it'll save our union trouble in the months to come.

on another topic, i am preparing for the end of the year. which means slowdown time around here, and with the strike that comes early this year. end of year for me means a closeout/review of the past year, professionally, and a revamping of my 5-3-1. that's goals set for 5 years, 3 years, 2 year, and 6 months. i do this every december or january. in glancing over this years goals as the months have passed, i've realized that for the 3rd year in a row, i have overshot on my goals. now this could, if i were a different person, upset me, make me think i had repeatedly failed or underachieved or whatever negative thought-beast takes roost in this particular circumstance. however, i am not a different person, and i think i've figured out it is far better to believe you can do more, shoot for the stars, and get as far as you can, than to aim low and give yourself goals which do not challenge you personally or professionally. i seem to have that skill in the bag. :) ergo, i'll be aiming high again this year and for many to come.

the other thing i've been thinking about in terms of goals: i have a list. 2 lists actually. one list is of women whose careers i admire, whose professional footsteps are ones i'd like to follow as i continue on my career journey. the other is of people i would like to work with, directors & actors. wanna hear? okay, here goes, in no particular order.

professional footsteps meryl streep (duh) laura linney judi dench cate blanchett holly hunter hellen mirren maggie gyllenhaal jodie foster drew barrymore glenn close susan sarandon kyra sedgwick joan cusack

work with everybody on the other list, natch clint eastwood peter o'toole gene hackman george clooney ellen burstyn johnny depp ben kingsley sidney lumet craig gillespie jeff bridges tim robbins kevin bacon john cusack

okay, so that's what i got going on in my brain right now.
these lists are certainly missing a few names that aren't on the tip of my tongue right now, but for the moment, in case any of you fabulous people is googling yrself, maybe you wanna know you're on my A list.

cheers

writers' strike

yup, it's happening 12:01am on monday.
will it affect my burgeoning career? not really. not, anyway, if they resolve things by the end of the year.
unless of course the teamsters strike in support. that would be bad (teamsters also include casting) very very bad.
so cross your fingers some last minute negotiations happen this weekend. this town will be shut down soon if something doesn't get sorted.

new & better vibes

wow, so my theatrical agent debacle has, as hoped, turned out to be the best thing for me. i was released from my contract over there just as i started to set up meetings with new agents. perfect timing, so as not to have to deal with that paperwork myself. and NOW i know why i didn't book any work with them~they might have wanted to hold onto me then! aHA!
SO i am now oh-so-happy to say that i am repped theatrically by the same fab-u agency that has been repping me so well commercially for the past year+. i have been so happy with them, and the agent running the theatrical department used to be on the commercial team so she actually KNOWS me, GETS me, and believes in my abilities!

SUPER BIG YAY!

all i've ever wanted in an agent and feared i would never get!
prepare yourselves for lots of exciting news in the near future. i do believe this is the start of a beautiful career & the culmination of the perfect team to make it happen.

moving forward

okay, so my audition went great, but i haven't heard anything so it doesn't look like i'm a front-runner for this episode. but i walked out knowing i did the best i could (which is AWEsome) and that's all ya can do in this godforsaken business! so i'm moving forward and hoping they bring me in for something else. hey, maybe it'll a be a big fat guest star or a recurring next time and i'll book! maybe they are SAVING me for something bigger and better!
meanwhile i have started a new class with an interesting chap. it's just a 5-weeker and the set-up is a little odd because the experience level in the class rides from either end of the spectrum. there being only 10 of us, it makes for interesting work. the thing that really excites me about this is that the teacher, bruce ducat, has held many roles in this industry and not only does he know his stuff, he's the first to say "here's what to do. and anyone else will tell you a different way to do it. and so will the next guy." in terms of searching for a manager to supplement my less-than-illustrious theatrical agent situation.... i feel like i was lead to this class and this guy by a bit of synchronicity. we'll see what develops over the coming weeks. but i really like his vibe. a lot.
and just as importantly, i feel like he is someone who actually sees (or is starting to) my potential and commitment, who gets the idea that i am a great investment of time & energy because i am of the 1% who is going to make it in this career.
sounds like maybe i'm getting ahead of myself, but i don't think so. as always, i trust my gut. and my gut says that, whether it's a professional relationship that develops out of it or not, this class and the presence of this gentleman in my actor life are going to be very important to my near future!

gotta love me some t.v. audition!

okay, it's 30 minutes before i need to leave for a pre-read for the new NBC series "Life" and i need to burn off some excess brain pattern. so here i am! i will, therefore, begin to tell my agent story.
(big inhale...)
many of you know that i have been a bit frustrated since signing with my theatrical agent. i had high hopes for our team, and it turned out that the auditions (including today's) i got after signing with her were all ones i got myself anyway~as usual. i tried meeting with her and asking what i could do to help her get me out there, beyond what i've been doing (which clearly works a little) and i got feedback that it was just getting started and that i should keep doing what i've been doing, but also just wait. now i've been told over and over~and even if i hadn't been told, my business acumen would not allow for this~that just because you get an agent doesn't mean you should sit back and wait for them to make your career happen. lots of stuff about this agent had made it difficult for me to have a relationship of any kind with her. when i went on vacation i came back vowing to move on. so started working on meetings.
this was a couple weeks ago.
2 nights ago, i was at a workshop, and my scene partner looked at my resume and said, "Oh, you're at *** too, huh? You know that ****** left, right?"
okay. WHAT? he's talking about *my* agent. my agent LEFT? and no one even NOTIFIED me? while it's not surprising that she wouldn't, the company itself MIGHT have sent out an email at least to let its clients know!
WOW.
so as i piece together more of the story from my gracious partner, i come to find out that he had the same stand-offish problem with this agent and i started to realize this departure might actually be the best thing that could have happened!
NOW i just have to get the new agent to find time (after taking over a huge roster, since 2 agents have left) to meet with me and see that i am worth some effort. the fact that i emailed him yesterday and got this audition later in the afternoon (thru a workshop) might be useful in keeping my name in his brain.
let's cross our fingers that my career just received a huge boon in the way of getting left. i'm thrilled! okay, time to put my face on. get back to you on my dish later!

the stupid things we do....

i am not the kind of actor who is in class or a workshop & shuts down after her scene. meaning that i love to watch other actors work. love it. especially in those scenarios, which usually involve at least a handful of people whose work i already know, respect and admire. i'm not the person who is busy looking over their own scene while someone else is performing if i've yet to have my turn. i also don't generally sit around and communicate with the people around me during a scene.
but today... today i was in a workshop and was caught out at being totally and completely not myself. i had just performed my scene. having sat down while the next actors rose and started their's, i was able to focus fully on them because my scene was good and i had no need to review or critique myself in my head. they started, and were stopped for notes. while this break in the scene was happening i had a non-verbal exchange with the girl next to me, who was showing me that she had the same scene i did. and i was indicating that 1 other group also had the scene. why was this something we needed to share at that moment? no idea. what i do know is that in the midst of this exchange, the performing actors started their scene up again, and the CD who was holding the workshop proceeded to call the 2 of us out on our rude & inappropriate behavior of talking during someone else's work. and she was absolutely right~it was rude and completely self-centered. it was also not the sort of thing i~nor the girl who was involved in this with me~normally do. we both love to watch how other people craft their craft around 10 minutes rehearsal time. but there it was. we got a mini-lecture which made my cheeks burn and my brain go, "well, so much for my work, my money and any chance in that office. fuck."
so it sucked. and i know i need to shake it off and remember that i am not a rude and inconsiderate person, that i am a supportive and generous actor, that i really do respect other people's work time & space. but right now i'm just completely frustrated and agitated with myself and the situation. i hope that the CD is a generous sort of soul who won't hold this against either of us, give the benefit of the doubt that this was not a normal behavior. call us in anyway. but it just goes to show you.... there's never a time to forget your manners.

mid-august already!

hey y'all. just popping in to catch you up on the recent happenings over here in la-la land.

1. i have set up a basic home voiceover studio (with the help of the fabulous david lawrence, of course) and have started submitting for some projects. i also spent some time with my friend rick wasserman in his home studio getting some tips and direction and just basically getting a handle on what works for me as a VO artist in the booth. hope to have some booking news to share soon!


2. i'm almost done writing a short web series i am going to produce (and star in, of course) in the next few weeks. got my director friend, norman lesperance, lined up to do the hard work. looking forward to getting that done and up on you tube for your enjoyment. stay tuned for that link.


3. i've been going out a bit commercially, though i haven't gotten in for any t.v. stuff since "weeds"~but i am certain things are about to pick up, since i'm planning a vacation. there is no way the gods of hollywood ever allow a non-refundable plane ticket to be utilized without something career-oriented popping up. i'm sure there are other actors out there who would happily attest to this theory. so i am looking forward to booking that job, whatever it is, that obliterates my plans. :)


4. my singing reel is up on my web site now, so go take a listen if you've got the urge, and let me know what you think!

in the studio with DAVID LAWRENCE

hey everyone! check me out hanging in the studio of fabulous radio personality, actor, VO artist and good friend DAVID LAWRENCE. i was a guest on his radio show last night (and the podcast as well) where we discussed options for my in-home VO studio equipment. this guy knows it ALL!

plugging away

popping in for a review of 2007 so far. i was just going over my 6 month goals from the new year, and i seem to have achieved about half of them. but still 1/2 of june left to get a few more hammered out.
one of them~maybe the biggest~was to sign with a good theatrical agent. i did sign with a theatrcial agent about a month or so ago. it is a great thing to have them and their reputation in my corner.
but...my personal agent (point-person) hasn't managed to send me out yet~although i have procured 3 theatrical auditions on my own since then. i guess it takes a little while for agents to warm up to their new clients~or at least that's what the vast experience of others i know tells me. so i just keep doing what i've been doing~hustling work for myself~and cross my fingers that my proactivity will eventually pay off and my agent will be like "oh hey, i've got a great client here! let me shop her around!"
so meanwhile i went in for a feature film being cast by the fabulous Dori Zuckerman. and i went in for pre-reads and back to producers on the new AMC original series "Mad Men," a Matt Weiner production~which is the same guy who exec prod "The Sopranos" in case you weren't aware. i also just went in for and back to producers yesterday on "Weeds" and am waiting to hear that i booked it :) i would get to work directly with mary louise parker, whose work i completely admire and it would be a great day for me if it happens. all fingers and toes crossed~i rocked my callback so it's all up to ethnicity now.
i have met a ridiculous number of casting directors this year. during pilot season i was still agentless so i attended as many CD workshops as i could afford & had an interest in. i believe i have shown my work to over 25 new casting directors since the new year. that's awesome!
okay, more later, just checking in and making a vow to you and myself (yet again, but i mean it this time....wink) to be less neglectful in my blogging.
thanks for checking in! cheers!

she's back!

wow, i have really been MIA from my blogging. but it's a new year, and a new opportunity to be more of a regular blogger again.

so what's been going on with me?

well, last fall i shot an episode of "Criminal Minds" the CBS show that stars Mandy Patinkin. yes, i was in a scene with him! and this time they didn't cut my lines. i also got to have the sexy Jason O'Mara try to molest me, as i played dead-body-bait. who has more fun at work than I do??

meanwhile, i co-wrote, produced, directed & starred in a 27 minute short film. we started over the summer and ended up completing post in early december. the film, called "The Favor" is in submission for consideration at the Tribeca film festival. cross your fingers!

it's pilot season now in lovely hollywood, and i am keeping busy, hoping to get some calls. been hitting a lot of commercial auditions and getting consistent callbacks, which makes my agent very happy. i think i'm about due for a lucrative booking! speaking of, i gotta jet off to a Pampers audition so i'm outta here.

catch ya soon!

busy is good.

yeah, i know i have been slack in blogging the last several months. but i have been busy working, so that's good, right? a valid excuse i think. at any rate, i stumbled across this quote today, and thought i'd put a little post in.
"Art suffers the moment other people start paying for it. The more you need the money, the more people will tell you what to do. The less control you will have. The more bullshit you will have to swallow. The less joy it will bring. Know this and plan accordingly."

~Hugh Macleod, How To Be Creative: 15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not... 08-22-04
(borrowed from here.)
interesting cause i think so many actors who are struggling do fall into this trap. it's funny, the non-actor people in my life who love and support me often ask after a good audition (or callback or even a booking) if the job is going to pay a lot. and my answer is always, honestly, "uh, i don't really know. i don't really worry about that at this point."
that may seem naive, but it's done well by me so far. i didn't get in this business to get rich, i did so because i have a passion for it and can't live without it. so if i get rich, that's just gravy. right now i'm surviving fine and have the good fortune to be able to say, "it doesn't matter what it pays." and i'm curious to see if my future will hold any of the cautions mr. macleod mentions above.

i would kill...

...to start getting involved in projects like this.

aim high, aim high, aim high....

deflation

hey y'all~my episode of "24" aired last night, and my family, friends and i have all been looking forward to it for quite a while, fingers crossed that i wouldn't get cut out. well, i didn't get cut out... entirely, but they did cut my lines.
what a bummer! it was as close to looking like background work as you can get.
i know i can't be too upset~after all i got my taft-hartley out of it, and i did get a few seconds of screen time....
but i can't help feeling a bit deflated about it all. i just hope i can get my hands on my original footage somehow. definitely can't use what was aired for my reel.
thanks to everyone who has been so excited for me and who gave up their monday night to watch for my 2 seconds of fame :)
i'm off to book a commercial!

MY EPISODE OF "24"...

...will apparently be airing on monday, may 22 @ 8pm (yeah, that's an hour earlier than usual, for you diehard fans) on your local FOX station. hope they don't cut me out!

i'll be in the *first* hour of this 2-hour season finale. so get your butts in your chairs on time! watch for me in the second half of the hour (8:30-9), that should be when i'll show up.

i'm playing a flirty homeland security staffer. look for the low-cut, tight black sweater. :)

my fortune cookie

so while i was home in michigan, i got this fortune cookie that said "all the preparation you've done will finally be paying off!"
i guess it's true because i am shooting a co-star role for "24" on friday!
soooooooooo excited! this also makes me a "must-join" for SAG, which many of you know i have been working towards for quite some time.
hoping this great news will open a few doors in terms of getting the theatrical agent i want as well.
yes, i'll let you all know what the air date is as soon as i have it!

yadda yadda

okay SO!

josh and i shot MONKEYLUVR at the famous swing club/brown derby "The Derby" (yes, the historical society is considering making this a landmark since it's the first and last of its ilk in l.a.) and had a very successful shoot. it was an overnight, while the club was closed, and things were smooth like buttah! we got everything we needed footage wise, and we've watched it all once already, and will get down to the business of choosing takes and editing starting this weekend. we're very excited and totally pleased with the way things turned out.

mike mechanick, who wrote, composed, and directed the musical film i did last year "finding gloria bainbridge," called me from nawlins last week to let me know that he's recut the film for his sundance (yay!) and other submissions etc., and i'll be getting a copy of that this weekend. screening party of the new cut on friday night. looking forward to it!

still interning over at "24" and the pilot "13 graves"~super cool stuff with an insider info edge. great people, i adore working there.

had 3 auditions and 2 callbacks last week (films, yay) and still working on this theatrical agent. new headshots almost up. disc should arrive today.

back in class with shari shaw~missed her tons. what a great, straight-up, no b.s., no coddling kind of coach. just my thing. so happy to be back in her clutches. ;)

also did a couple of workshops with casting directors thru act now. have another scheduled for april.

that's about it right now. will start rolling around ideas for my feature film script soon!

holy pilot season, batman!

hey hey hey
back from the missing and wounded!

it's pilot season, full-strength around here. and not only am i caught up in the whirlwind of that, but i am also prepping to shoot the short film "MONKEYLUVR" my friend josh taback and i are making. we wrote it, are acting in it, will direct, produce and likely edit the thing. and i know that sounds terribly grab-your-family-camcorder-and-make-a-funniest-home-video, but we have a great professional crew, a fab-u location, an excellent and accomplished writer helping us tweak the script, and some admirable talent to add to our own burdgeoning coffers of ability. (wow, no i have not been reading shakespeare...where did that come from?)

so that's why i've been out of touch, along with taking on another internship on the pilot "13 graves" with the wonderful casting people from 24.

really exhilarating times, people. and i got new and improved oh-my-god-is-that-really-me-? headshots too. be posting them on the web site soon. stay tuned!