It's nurse time!!!! I took a nurse headshot a couple of years ago to appease my management company on having more looks to spoon feed some casting that can't see a long, curly hair gal as anything but a bohemian and although I've submitted several times to projects, it is rare to get the audition although I did book a commercial print for a nurse once - pictured right. However, today's audition has broken the cycle so maybe I'll do the downtrodden woman look...just kidding...for now. I like to work the headshots I have until they've run its course and I no longer look like that no matter how hard I try because picture taking is a process in which I have no patience for. I also hope that most casting has grown into understanding the magic of hair & makeup along with wardrobe to allow your character to come through (because it is their job) and I don't have to make my face up in bruises to look like I could be someone that gets beaten because what look really is that????!!! This is why I can become difficult in this process of having shots because I want to truly believe that casting has enough sense really, to see that...then hopefully the director/producers after...I just don't want to believe my manager that this industry is really that short sighted but that some of them may in fact have no imagination, which I get but do I really need the cop shot with a gun??? Is there not one cop/military personnel in the world with my length of hair pulled back in a tight bun/pony tail and do they really believe they may not be able to do so with mine? These are the ridiculous questions that float in every actor's mind because these are the ridiculous scenarios that come up for us. Yet, every once in awhile, you get that call for something you rarely get seen as and it's enjoyable...except for the fact that you decided to go all rambo in your water zumba class because you figure you're going to wash your hair after only to get home in the hour and find an audition notice that needs to be in by the morning at the latest. Arrrrggggghhhhhhh - moments notice for us artists that we must gather our senses and just dive in. I look cray-cray and there are a few lines to memorize which I tackle first. Get those and voila, my beast is home early enough to catch some light and tape this evening instead of rushing in the morning and stressing. I get ready, grab my one nurse top bought by my beast for auditions and clean make-up it quickly before the sun sets. We film my scene, a couple of takes because I had crazy eye balls going for some reason, which is the great thing about home submissions, you can take a look and adjust your crazy faces you're making that you have no clue you're doing. I race upstairs to my gazebo quiet area ( and new favorite place to slate to camera) and slate my info and edit it all together on YouTube which allows you to piece together your separate works of art into one streamlined concoction which I've taken full advantage of now. I realize since my scene lasts like 15 seconds and I seem super friendly, I want another take of something more straight forward, questioning and boom done! I edit it together with 2 takes and send them off to get a message from casting in the morning that they've watched it and it was a great read and that they'll be in touch. Regardless of whether they get back in contact with me, I decided in my slate to state that I was happy to read for their office finally and that I look forward to reading for them again in the future. Ahhhhhhh, the wonderful things you can say in a slate you get to shoot yourself - take full advantage of these moments, these are gifts that the cd gets a chance to see you in a different light and some of your personality as well without spending more money on the site's slate, you can custom the crap out of it for each audition, it's just taking the time to do so in the comfort of your own home. You also get to have wonderful moments of notifications in the middle of your tape because you forgot to turn off your computer in the room and have your camera operator try to save the take in hilarious fashion.....
Although it's been 2 weeks without an audition ( it happens all the time....even during the busy times so hold fast ) so many other wonderful affirming moments have happened. For starters, the scene in the film "Hello My Name is Doris" I shot over a year ago in which I didn't know of the audition, (thank goodness for my management pushing me) then shot but knew they had scraped the other shots of the day so was sure it wouldn't see the light of day, only to find out from a friend they had seen it for the SXSW screenings and saw me who assumed they may cut it out after but at least I made it through to that editing process and then get texts from friends seeing it on HULU in the past week with me...in the trailer...with Sally Field & Tyne Daly....unbelievable gloriousness! As an actor you just want to make it through the editing cuts, to say you were in the film only to know you were cut out is heartbreaking as an artist at times because you know there is no way you can use it to help your momentum forward towards the next step. You usually don't get copy of it, so no update on your reel; you get to talk about it which doesn't help your career really because there is no proof and it just kinda goes away. When you make the film, it is a joyous, celebratory occasion...when you make the trailer.....WOW!!!! I've now named it "The Little Scene That Could!"
Also completed the process of getting my short ready for film festivals along with a trailer in which I now can say "I created that." Regardless of what happens, what I do, it is something I created from my mind and did it. You must as an artist, try to create...whether it's music, a play, a film...you can't wait on others to give to you, sometimes your best work will be the ones you stepped up to do yourself, so don't knock this part of your process, it'll make you a more well rounded artist/person. This has been years in the making and although I felt somewhat defeated when the Indiegogo campaign wasn't funded, I knew I still needed to move forward with the little money that was trusted to me to make this story. With less than $2,000 raised, we decided to use that money on equipment to help make the film by buying a mini slider for some of the shots (instead of using a wheelchair which most do at the beginning) and a shoulder rig. That money was gone quickly with the small equipment pieces needed and then we dumped what we could give (more than doubling the money ourselves) to help pay the actors who graciously worked - gas money, make up artist, other equipment needs and food. I made sure there was so much food for them to eat, snack and take home as well as a home cooked meal. I asked some dear friends of mine for their office in their back yard and although they were in the process of moving, they allowed me to come set up, film and feed the crew. I ended up shooting the rest of the scenes in my house which made the process a bit more easier. Although I wanted to shoot another episode from the series, what I could afford and do with great enough detail was what we shot. Compromise....but I feel like I got somewhat enough of a story to submit it to short film festivals now ( which is more out of the pocket expenses but totally worth doing) and see where it goes and the time right now, for a story created by a female, with an ethnic female, with a diverse cast set is right on time. So go...do...play!!!
Currently in Mark Twain's "Adam & Eve" as one of the Eves at the Fremont Centre Theatre which has been an amazing experience. Getting a chance to work with a director who decided to be more creative in her casting and her take on the play was refreshing and creatively fulfilling artistically. I'm jumping around in those snazzy pants, dancing the tango a bit, wielding a sword and climbing my "brontosaurus/elephant" and swinging across bars with complete bliss. This is the 3rd and final play of my 3 play back to backers and I'm hoping to take a bit of a break in between but there is already an audition lined up next week for the New Year in which I'm looking forward to! Not only do I get to play with fellow/past Lifebookers, but we get to have guests like the NAACP come see us on opening weekend, along with my managers finally getting out to see a group of us because she signed most of the people I sent them who also happens to be in the play - HA! We get to wear the beautiful hats to play in after the show by Anita, kiss original books brought in by guests and with closing weekend here, it is something we have all accomplished! Wahoooooo to that! 
Yes, I'm still finding time to work out as well as eat well and since I'm at the YMCA, I decided to add another class to my fitness routine - Pilates, which just kicked my butt in a whole other way! While training for my black belt, I took from my martial arts inspiration Bruce Lee and learned to cross train, to search out everything in everything and it still holds true today. I remember going to a tournament and watching the national Korean Tae Kwon Do team and then seeing many black belts scoff at them as they did a cardio kickboxing routine and was appalled at all the snickering. This amazing team was up there doing 3-5 kicks in the air, holding front kicks past their faces with no hands and entertaining most of the crowds with flips yet there was this superior outlook that somehow cardio kickboxing wasn't a part of real martial arts. Cardio Kickboxing to music doesn't replace becoming a martial artist but it does teach you to kick to music that is over 120 beats per minute. It does push you past a comfort zone of constant movement unlike any karate class I had ever taken and therefore made me quicker than most of my counterparts - which was apparent when I ended up in the wrong section of the tournament and had to fight all black belts and thoroughly beating them one by one being a brown belt at the time - don't let looks fool you. Realizing that this team found value in a "dancier" version of fighting was eye opening to me and I realized then that I must always search out ways to better my path. So I included yoga at the time to help with my balance and strength and even took some dance, hip hop classes to move more fluid instead of mechanical. These changes in my routine made me stronger, faster and more aware when sparring and I became a better martial artist for it. And yes, Cheri...I took Piloxing as well - HA!!!! Don't judge me gurl!!!!!
I also had to celebrate one last birthday for the month of October and luckily she's a vegan, healing herself naturally by all means. So I was able to celebrate her day with good ole, clean vegan eating at a new spot shared to me by other vegan friends in town. I saw it on Gilt City and bought the voucher for a dinner for two. Delish...when I say I'm lucky to be in L.A. because of the food, it also is for the progressiveness of vegan/vegetarian options. Most carnivores wouldn't be able to tell and the layer of foodie bliss you come in contact with now, will make any palate jump for joy...I know because I'm a carnivore that has slowly changed her routine around to eating vegan/vegetarian at least 5-6 days a week now. It took some convincing but when I realized I had the options to change, I decided for myself that if food can taste this good and be just as filling, then I should make the better choice for my body/health...thank goodness it was easy because I have choices like these. We went to Elovate and I never had creamier pesto pasta with sun dried tomatoes, tastier "1000 island dressing" to go with spring rolls, zestier nachos along with desserts that could turn anyone into a believer! Here's to good eating/drinking and fighting!!! CHEERS!!!!
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