I'm in the midst of a Greek meltdown of memorization, running an hour to and from the Getty Villa for rehearsals every day in these last 2 weeks and now an audition to be made via eco-cast - WHEW! I usually love 'em but in times like these, they are difficult to pull off but I've learned to let it be and that includes this notion of "being professional." Look, I would love a solid white background and amazing ring lights to hide my imperfections every time I do an at home audition but that is not possible. I've got art on the walls, I've got paint/texture, I've got no space so it will be what I can make it to be, however "distracting" they may find it. Hey, maybe that's why I haven't booked one of these things but I'm sure I've been close enough not to stop. Plus, when I do get the opportunity to do a white wall, I've never gotten a different response, so....fogettaboutit!!!! I know this industry is about what is deemed professional, but I'm saying, if you've got to send a video tape in, then just make do. It should be a no stress, no brainer kinda of taped audition...I know what others tell you but I find being yourself is always the best bet anyway. Just make sure your sound is good, the lighting looks right and you're having fun, I'm tired of making this process any more crazy than what it is...so relax, do your thang and give them a slice of you! This audition was for a paying web series and with Peter Pappas, a name I haven't heard since I started back in the early 2000's so I hit that audition notice up and got the eco-cast invitation. I decided to have our "Hercules - Reginald" read for the part but with him being on stage the whole time, I had to swap out to the "mercant sailor - hmmm, hmmmm captain - aka Rosie" from the play and shoot it in our green room. Lighting not great but less disturbances and sound wasn't bad plus I was able to finally get another actor to read the lines which makes the process easier for the beast who has to shoot, keep me in frame and read lines all at the same time. So I framed up the shot on my camera and used those tri-pod legs to get my scene in. I needed an intro and I could've just slated right then and there but to have more fun, I decided I'm on the Getty Villa grounds dammit...no one was there that day except for the workers and us, so guess who went into the gardens and did her slate, with microphone attached to face and all...WHY, because you can't beat scenery like that. I'm there, I love the space so why not include it. I promise you, I don't think it really makes a damn whether you slate is plain or adventurous, they may all scream plain but you got what you got for a reason...use it, especially if it makes you happy instead. I was able to express how happy I was to be called in and I got to show I was in the midst of working as well, you can't beat that for advertisement. There is no rhyme or reason in the business, whatever everyone is screaming for you to do, make sure you do it with happiness in your heart or this will become a job that wears on you instead. Look, if you're going to do some of the casting work by submitting yourself, don't go pay $40 or so if you don't have the time or money for it. Your phone works good enough, just making sure your sound and lighting is on point enough, you've done your job so keep this easy, breezy. Below is my silly introduction...because I like to just be me regardless of what they want and I've gotta use the Getty backdrop somewhere!
With all the goodness we put into our body, we need to remember to push it as well. Whatever your workout is, continue to do that but switch it up to make sure your body doesn't learn to just go through the motions. I've recently added to my 2 hour workouts pending where I am and when I can, the sauna room or steam room for an extra 20 - 30 minutes, just to squeeze out those last bit of toxins lingering. This not only relaxes my body/mind but it's a treat to just lay around and let the heat do the work. Throwing some coconut oil on my face/body makes me feel I'm at the spa without the payment after so make sure to use those nice facilities at your gym if you've got 'em. I've missed my training for the past 2 weeks because of the hectic schedule with "Archer of Malis" but now I'm ready to get back in and I'mma go hard...give it to me! Nothing like working out your fears, frustrations and negativity by feeling like you've got 2 left feet in Zumba or just trying to hold the downward dog as your arm shakes like you can't hold your own body weight for 1 min. Leaving all the other crap at the door is something I've always cherished through karate, because once you step on the mat, it ain't about nothing else but you paying close and present acknowledgement of what is unfolding before you. The challenges are wondrous for you psyche as you go out to face this business of being "perfect" because you learn that you are...just the way you are, so bottoms up to that dark, chocolate beer float - you deserve it, keep understanding that and treat yo'self NOW!!!! Work HARD, Play WELL & Eat GOODNESS....
Because life isn't guaranteed, whether you decide to be strict or whether you decide to eat all bad, life has no qualms when it's your time. So decide now what makes you happy, how you can enjoy that and still keep balance or not enjoy it and still be at a balance. I wanted for my soul awhile ago, the cleanse of the regular, to stop chatting negative thoughts and actions outward, to truly enjoy my life the best that I can with what I've got right now. To see all the wondrous, deliciousness life has for me at every moment whether the situation seemed "bad" and to then answer it with it can always be worse. I've never shed a tear for the passing of a celebrity artist, I've shed tears while reading about them or seeing their story etc., but never at the news of someone leaving this space. For the first time yesterday, I felt a loss hearing that Prince had passed away, I was never a Prince Fan because growing up my folks were super strict about secular music and well Prince was Prince so I pledged to Team Michael instead. As I grew older and moved out of the house, I watched Purple Rain and cried, I appreciated Cherry Moon and I bought a few of his older cd's loving his rock/funk vibe. My beast is a Prince Head and eventually over the years of us being together, I was made to go to a Prince concert happening in L.A. at the Forum and because tickets were so cheap, we went twice. He also performed intimately at the Troubadour and we were able to get tickets for it because of a head's up from someone working with him at the time and I couldn't believe the magical genius of this soul. From the Forum to the club he played almost everything on the stage, he sang exactly as his voice sounds on cd's - not an octave lower or higher unless he chose to do so and he danced his boo-tay off. He ripped on guitars the whole club show without singing a note and I realized I was in the presence of greatness - he convinced me I was team Prince all along and that didn't take away my appreciation for Michael it just made me realize had I known more about Prince in my younger years, I would've been a fan for much longer. Funny because immediately following my foray into loving Prince for the mad artist he was, I was able to ask a question by being at the Arsenio Hall show that night...something else given to me because my beast is a Prince Geek. They wanted more lighter questions and I asked such but boy do I wish I would've had the chance to ask him - "When you were boo'ed off stage at the Rolling Stones Concert, what made you go back to that? How did you push past that type of unacceptance because most people would've never wanted to show their face again." I'm so glad he did, I'm so glad he realized that those boos were nothing but from people who had no clue at the time and he stayed around long enough to either gain them as fans or at least have them respect him as an artist. This choice will forever be ingrained in my mind...as an artist, you may be heckled, boo'ed, sneared at or written up as a joke, it is up to you to know you're better than all of that and work that much harder. See it through to the end, you'll be surprised but you'll never know unless you do just that...go out, be brave and spread your ART!
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