The Glamorous Life of Auditions - Day 6

 So today was a "traditional" audition in which my agent, Yuliya got for me yesterday. One line (co-star) on a popular show as a ND Doctor.

If you're like me, you're like huh? ND? Then there's the O.R. stated...WHAT?!?! Yep -
INT. Hospital - O.R. - Night, Doctors prep for Surgery. ND looks down at their patient and delivers the line: "Okay, ?????, we're just about to start--" As the anesthesiologist puts a mask over the patient's face... As an actor/actress we will never know everything about everything and that's okay because there is Google. Don't wait to get into the room, sometimes the office doesn't have the time to answer questions you can look up and at least if you have one, it'll be legit not just a question to talk. Trust me, we all know what that looks like. So ND is a Naturalistic Doctor that works with MDs for the most part and O.R. is Operating Room, now although I could figure some of it out, it's best to just cross check to see if your instincts lined up. I take my pink scrub top just in case but dress in regular clothes because I noticed it stated that the Doctors prep for surgery, it didn't say anything about the ND and thought I'd make the decision once I was in the office. Only one actress in the 7 I saw wore a lab/dr's coat so I opted out since it's a drama show. Give yourself the option, better to have than to think you should've had it but don't. My car looks like a closet at times, but that's just part of the process! Also, since they had sides, I decided just to double check and make sure my sides matched, it's saved my bootay so many times, especially with revisions happening on shows - always check if they have them. So I went in and I could tell they were in super work mode, glad I looked those things up and we went right in to the line. Got redirects from the head CD because although they liked my warmth, they wanted a bit more professionalism for the character choice. Gave it and exited- short, sweet and so much fun!

Do your homework because someone else is...like me! Now, gotta celebrate with the jamba juice promo for today of greens & fruits small smoothie for $2.99, I can do that at that price, small victories! Slurp on...

The Glamorous Life of Auditions - Day 5

Had to repost this picture because I had a callback today and after my celebration lunch with carrot cuppy cake at Doomie's Vegan/Vegetarian I found out I had booked another show in which I went in once for with no call back! YIPEE! The contract doesn't allow me to state any info about the show as of yet, so until they do, I can only tell ya, I'm on a show as character ????! Super excited because the roles I've been able to audition for have been fun and of total quality, these New Media Rates deter some people but I say to get paid to do my art is happiness, plus the fact that my resume gets beefed up and I have more for my reel. Don't look past these gems guys, they'll help fatten your resume and reel while usually being shot well with fun content to explore.

Just before my audition however, I found out that this casting office still does generals...

Work out time to always make me feel I'm at my best - got to knock off another day on my ab calendar as well =)

After my callback audition, although I didn't feel I knocked it out of the park, I still was one of 2 people called back and I had as much fun as I could while racking my brain doing as much stuff as the director wanted...PLAY TIME!!! So after that, had to hit up Doomie's to treat myself with mac n' cheese, bread and cuppy cakes - life is real good ya'll, make sure you stop to enjoy!

EAT....IT.....UP...LIKE...A....BOSS!!! Celebrate in the car ride home...you deserve it however you want it!

Ready to celebrate tomorrow...because I just got another audition....let's do dis!!!!

The Glamorous Life of Auditions - Day 4

What an awesome, crazy week of auditions. I look forward to them no matter how I'm feeling because it's one more moment I get to do my art and for that, I remain thankful regardless of the outcome. Yes, it sucks not having money for gas, to buy stuff, to hangout etc. but when you are passionate about your work and wanting to really just be out there doing it, you make the sacrifice now so that you don't have to look back in 10 years or 20 and wonder what if...because you're doing it now and you're fighting now. So fight the good fight for as long as you can because life changes, things happen so make sure you're making the most of your happenings as they happen. Got a callback (wahoo) along with 2 wordy auditions for the morning. With a full day of getting ready, memorizing, rushing to the callback, then a job (thank goodness) and then back home to get the memorizing really down. It's not a day anyone thinks is the best but you've got to spend time on your auditions, even if you're memorizing fast, getting those creative juices flowing takes time, give yourself that time. You'll thank you after the audition happens!

Sometimes you're not feeling especially sexy and the role is basically a sexy woman - my knock off spanx, tummy tighter works every time. I work hard but you're gonna need help at times if you're a normal person who likes to eat no matter how much you work out! So get a pair for those emergencies, they save me every time...

Gotta go grey scale cause guess who doesn't have money for black ink??? And a very nice note from a casting director reminding all of us of how stressful their job is as well...perspective received!

Feedback after an audition always makes my day...I love taking risks but I never know if it was too much and truly appreciate it when I know what the reason I may not book the job might be and usually it is something totally out of your hands! Thankful to hear those because then I know I went in and did my art and that is all we can do...so keep doin' it!

Made my audition in Hollywood at 10a on time but of course, it's running a bit behind making me a bit later than what I thought to my 10:20 audition in Burbank but luckily I had already sent a message suggesting I may be behind. Both with redirects but I truly felt I nailed the last one. Feeling good -
real good regardless because I did the best I could do with the time given and I made some choices so we'll see...

Time to celebrate...with deliciousness and Zumba, gotta balance it all out with Zumba after. HA!

The Glamorous Life of Auditions - Day 3

Day before the audition, I had a taped reading of a film "Letters To America" with Freedom Bridgewater on a hush, hush script - do those whenever you can. It's good practice just to be up on your feet and you can see others work as well as feel out your own sense of timing and characterization, sometimes there's pay, so that's always the extra incentive. Wish I could do more, so whenever I get a chance, I'm in it to work on my craft! Pictured below is me, Freedom & Crystal - ah good times - ha!

 Management meetings are essential to your step forward, always make an effort to get to them and discuss whatever is on your mind. Have a monologue prepared, you never know what they may want to see. Have a list on what you'd like to discuss pertaining your career, remember, they're the ones pitching and submitting you...they've got to believe in you and that it is all worth it! Also, I always roll with my lines for auditions, that way I keep them close in case I have a few minutes to run them at any point and time...except at lights...don't do them at lights...super annoying when you make everyone behind you miss the lights because you're rehearsing in the car...so just don't!

In my car with the goodies - always try to have some sort of goodies for the peeps that work for you, it doesn't have to be anything ginormous, just something from the heart to say thanks!

 My meeting with my manager (Marla at AFTM) was a surprise because I met a new face to the team and had to perform a monologue which I pulled from the ones I wrote (in my back pocket) and knew would be different/shocking! <3 it!

That night, had to hit Zumba class to feel good for the next day's audition (gotta keep up my healthy body) and after, I learned this about my body...

The night before my auditions and my favoritest mask in the world, when the pimples hit!

Morning quick start so I must eat...perfect on the go is the smoothie, it's your best friend in rush times.

Ready to go, 2 auditions to do and of course one is for casual commercial print AT&T and the other is a sexy, married lady that hits on other ladies...worlds apart so the car is full of stuff...don't forget anything!

Remember that auditions are fun, not competition. If you feel a friend is right for it, let 'em know because if it's for you, it's yours period! Sharing is caring ya'll and you never know, you may help a friend book a gig - KARMA points!!! Got my friend in on my audition and guess what????

She ended up chatting to the receptionist at the first audition and since she was running 2 of them, she allowed us to crash the other one. SCORE with a 2 for 1, thanks Colleen! Then, when we went to use the bathroom at CAZT before my last audition and mind you, it's not in that building, it was a pit stop, my gal started chatting it up because she saw a room full of people that resembled us and got us some cold reading sides for a web series...that girl! So instead of 2 auditions, it's now 4 and I'm riding high with my friend!

These are the days we as artists live for and when you go out of your way to help someone, usually that's returned and even if it doesn't work out this way, at least you have someone to pass the time with! So go share and GET IT DONE!!!

The Glamorous Life of Auditions - Day 2

This is a long one guys but bear with me because this audition takes place over the course of 2 days and I wanted to get in the whole process. Got the word of an audition for ABFF (American Black Film Festival) in New York, 2 monologues due by 3/20/15, it's 3/19/15...I got's to get to work!!! Sometimes you get these challenges that ruffle your artist feathers, don't shun them. GO ALL IN and see how you shine, you never know what kind of situation you may be in when you book a job, so give yourself the opportunity to handle multi-tasking, multi-memorizing, multi-being because you can and you will and you must if you want to be in this industry. No one waits for or on you until you're the star and even then, why not be the one that can handle being overwhelmed...even when it doesn't feel like you're doing it so good because practice makes as close to perfect as you see it. Don't wait, do it now, stretch and grow into the true artist you see yourself as. I've never done one of these challenges but I figured, why not? 1 full day to get it down, let's do it!

http://www.abff.com/star-project/
Scroll down and take a look at the monologues...this will make for good practice and if you don't have one, you should carry one in your back pocket at all times.

I picked #4 "Engaged" and #7 "Prey" because I felt these would give me 2 different character ranges to play with and show. The rough 1st versions are below (yikes) as well as the copy of the monologues I chose but you can see where you may start and then where it can go so don't judge yourself harshly. If you're training and working your craft, regardless of how you feel about a last minute audition, you'll do the best with the time given that you can. Some will be better, some will be worse...who cares, just have some fun and if you book the part, you'll know that you'll rock even harder when you get on set because you are after all, a trained professional!

My way to memorize, my prep

Again, don't judge the first try, just do it and from there you can start building the bones so to speak, but see what happens and if your instincts feel right about the part. There will be changes, there will be icky parts, but as you wrap your head around this, your art will slowly start working, you'll feel new choices, try new things but it's the things you like that are unique to you...that's the part I love. That's the part I had to learn to really give full voice to and believe me, there are still times I don't commit fully and I'm always upset then because I know I didn't let my art speak. So, do your damndest, just do it and you'll enjoy this process so much more! That's when auditions become about having fun and then letting it go! My first raw cuts of my 2 monologues below for ABFF Star Project 2015 in my jammies yo!!!

Submissions, submissions, submissions - don't rely on your agent, make sure you're putting in work as well because those low budget films paying only $100 isn't on your agent's radar but it should be on yours. It's a role to add to your resume and it could end up being a great film to be involved in or it's just a way of working your craft on a character you haven't gotten to. More submissions, equals more auditions and that's more time to practice on your craft so do it, don't make excuses it's a job in and of itself but if you don't do it...who will?!?! Keep busy, stay sharp...I'm so there and heaving up that road with you. Newsletters, updates whatever you can do to keep your name swirling around this crazy, awesome business of acting. 

Gettin' in the work...it's a constant process, all day - every day! WAHOO!

Rehearsing & morning pimples are all going to happen...keep it movin'!

At Quainphoto shooting my submission - something I never do but if you've got a significant other, a friend or a phone why not have the best possible video you can for the day? I don't always have the time for it, but when I do...life is good unless you've got helicopters...hovering, while you're trying to shoot! Life man!!!!

And now...hunger strike and of course L.A. traffic -

Last but not least, the submission is in! WHEW - made it!!!

I'm not good with the concept of auditions...I like to work on the work but in order to get to point B you must travel through point A. I've learned slowly over the years and because of my wonderful acting coaches I've had the pleasure to come across to just let my work speak for itself - regardless of if I book or not, I've went into the room and did what my art asks me to do. Now I steadily train with Allen Levin of Lifebook who has instilled in me the confidence of my art and workshop classes to hone in on my dreaded fear of auditions with Pamela Azmi-Andrew. You gotta surround yourself with support and with people who push you. Go get uncomfortable, do it with the support you need as an artist by people who truly want to see you win - not the ones who just want your money but the ones who believe in you! Come on Day 3 =)....

Oh and the final take on the monologues...one shot for the "Prey" and that's the 2nd version, 2nd take of "Engaged." You can check out Mike Quain at www.quainphoto.com

The Glamorous Life Of Auditions - Day 1

Most people see actors/actresses and see the end result with no idea on the daily struggle of life for most artists. They can wonder why they are paid so much, how they look so good and how easy life must be...but what about the rest of us. The "struggling" artists just trying to make ends meet, passing up lunch because of the need to pay for acting classes, waiting tables because it's one of the few jobs you can get someone to cover you or even leave for a last minute audition you want to make, or skip getting the new shoes/outfit and getting your clothes on clearance/thrift stores is all you can afford because you need gas. The glamor and fame of it all...so far fetched as it seems but when you're an artist just wanting a moment to express your art, you deal with rejection after rejection, you spend most of your time in classes furthering your art, you submit like crazy every chance you get because you've got to make sure you're doing your foot work as well and you sacrifice - time, money and energy. You gotta do that. If you're lucky, you may be off for the day and get to do your preparations for the auditions beforehand but there are so many times when you're trying to get out of the last table at the restaurant only to drive in traffic stressed out, to realize you don't really have the right clothes but oh well and to arrive to a room full of people waiting. Today was a day I got to relax, get my mind right so to speak and do the things I would love to do every time I had an audition...today was a good day but not every day is like that. On the days you get to ease into "it," you spend all day doing the do to have 1 minute in the room, to finally shine so it's nice to feel prepared, this is one I got to celebrate on...

I love days like this, I feel less stressed and no one wants to take that in the room, you've got enough to deal with. Memorizing or trying to figure out what they may want, trying to look your best so you're not intimated by others but actually enjoy the company and relish in the fact that out of hundreds of people that could've been there, here you are. I get to the casting office within 40 minutes which is good for L.A. during rush hour, then I get the scene with only the time there to prepare, it's only 3 lines, but it's what to do outside those lines that matter to an artist...

It's 3 lines with 2 extra pages of dialogue you're not in, so you've got to figure out what you want to do while saying your lines and if you get the time, what to do while you're saying nothing because the scene isn't over because you've said what you've had to say. Which the camera kept rolling for another page of dialogue while I stood there being engaged. All you can do is to be in the scene, every moment and stay in it until the camera stops. Training helps you prepare for that, so don't ever stop training. Then it's over...just like that. The director liked my take, thought I understood the scene so there was no redirection today...1-2 minutes in after waiting 50 minutes in the wait room, but you've got to appreciate the time given to really get the scene, even for 3 lines. Then it's the drive home, all day for this 1-2 minute time of expressing yourself for the opportunity to book a job, hoping that you do but you gotta let it go. Let it be, enjoy this process of the journey, enjoy the moment that you get to be in the room, just you, the camera, the director and casting and just put it down! Can't wait for the next one, the next character, the next scene...stay ready...I WILL BE and don't forget to celebrate however you can!!! See you when I have my next audition...YAY!