Wow, wow, wee, wow to my 2nd commercial audition of the year and trust me when I say I couldn't be more ecstatic. I stated before and I'll state it again, I just can't seem to find my footing in the commercial world and it's not the lack of trying - commercial agents have been baffled at this paradox as well. Maybe there is a certain "screw you" vibe in my commercial shots since it seems like for years, getting called in were little baby miracles! No matter what agency or if I was submitting myself, for me, commercial auditions are truly a blue moon occasion and if you think it's you or only you...it's not. I just can't seem to break into this lucrative genre so I've placed my sights elsewhere hoping it'll come. Remember when I say, everyone has a niche? You just gotta find yours and hone in - still see everything out there but understanding your work and fighting for it is all you can do. For some reason the commercial world doesn't get me nor wants me there and I'm okay with that but I'm not going to not still try. Now getting one, two or three commercial auditions a year is killer because I feel for commercials especially, it's a numbers game and the more you go the easier the process is. You can say that about film/tv/stage auditions but since you usually focus on these, most of the time you're ready to go when asked and you pretty much know what's going to happen in the room. Commercials can just be you walking in, showing profiles saying your name with a smile and then exiting, sometimes there's improv, sometimes there's action like skipping across the room - it's weird and can leave you perplexed but the more it happens the easier it feels to have this kinda "up in the air/whatever can go" a part of your being. It's not a part of mine but this audition had dialogue, so this is a strong suit and therefore I clung to that aspect for dear life. First take went smoothly and I was able to get through all the lines without messing up or feeling off but then...the "debacle" - HA! I had just watched a gal go through her schpeel ( we were brought in 3 at a time with different pieces ) and her note was to act more involved in the beginning, make it more of a big deal so when it was my turn he just told me it was going to be that simple but obviously after reading mine, he made other plans. The night before I had read the casting notice sent to me and I noticed improv was going to be a part of it if asked so I prepped myself so when he stated he was then going to throw in a leading line and we were going to go into the work, I assumed to improv away...still in line with the script, just in my words. NOPE...that was stopped and he stated he was going to throw in improv'd lines and I was to read the script as is to make it sound more conversational. Of course, starting and stopping got me off and I stopped the take and asked for another. It's that simple guys, ask to start again, collect your thoughts, hear what was said and then move on at your pace but as quickly as you can get it. He had no problems letting me restart and I had no problems restarting but you have to feel confident in that and you have to gather it all in, push through and show that you're capable of being thrown off but still focused on getting it right. Never feel like if you're off that it's a bad thing to ask to go back to get it right and then get it so right they don't question that you asked. Know it's your right as an artist to get the take you want in the room as well. Of course, let's not make it all about you and force the issue but if you absolutely feel like it can be better, do that and do you so you can walk out of there ready to celebrate another audition well done. It may not have gone as smoothly as you had hoped, but you're proud of the work you gave! Life's short, truly realize that and enjoy your moments please, especially when you're walking along to your audition and see LOVE ( signs are everywhere ), so much LOVE - I know I'm going to, please join me! So...celebratory, lunch and lunchtime whiskey treat anyone???? Yeah...my beast knows my heart and it was the first time ever having whiskey in the afternoon - YAY to that!!!!
This month has been wonderfully hectic and I was able to get into a film of a friend, that I've known for years but never worked with nor actually been able to hang out with. Lucky for me, Eric Ramsey, the writer/director had kept an eye on me via Facebook and offered me a role in his upcoming production of "Ole B.R.Y.C.E" that I had the pleasure to shoot this past week. The wonderful aspect of this role is that although I've had the opportunity to use my southern accent on the stage in a couple of plays, I finally get it on film and for me, that is what was so fantastic about getting this role. A 70's Bama nurse named Jean Lewis and I was able to bring that accent to this role - yippeee!!! Although I had to work early in the morning that day at the bakery, I was able to rush home, get ready and race to set pretty easily which allowed less stress when the scenes came around...even got to throw some improv around. Glad I got to work on accents for the stage, constantly readjusting the sound, the tonal quality and finally having enough confidence for film. Another magical aspect was getting to work with an actress I had the pleasure of pushing a pilot years ago with that never came through - Mrs. Rhonda Morman herself and after that disappointment, we finally had some screen time together to play along with meeting and being downright nasty to the wonderful actress Riji who improv'd back at me. Nothing better than playing with people you know and getting to play with new peeps who give it back - Gimme more please!!!
The world premiere of "Trouble Creek" also happened, on the red carpet as well as YouTube and the experience of it all made me even a better business actress. I've always wanted to skip the red carpet event and even interviews, I always feel uncomfortable at these types of functions...some thrive, I feel like I wither - I don't enjoy this part of the process...playing characters on film I can handle, talking about them, I'll pass. However, this time my beast not only pushed me but I decided for myself I'd allow myself to fail miserably if that's what it took to get over this hump. Thank goodness for all the practice of talk backs in most of my plays I've been involved in...every single one, got better and I became more confident in discussing my process or what I felt the role truly meant because I began to realize someone truly wanted to know. I went to other small step and repeats and would take pictures not only out of vanity, I want to stop critiquing myself in pictures ( HA) but for my system to start getting familiar with the space. So with all that bit by bit training I was able to step up on the carpet with a different aspect and although I was scared enough to pee in my boots, I watched the gracefulness of actress Doris Morgado before me as she backed, shoulder worked it and I decided right there that I'd totally bite her move...mine looked goofier of course but I decided to throw caution to the wind and just get it, get it the best I could taking her moves I felt I could accomplish this time. While she was doing her thing, I even had to give her the props of just working that carpet like it should and I also learned this could be fun if you choose it to be so. So I laughed hard at myself, I tried and I still giggled profusely but I made it through the gauntlet unscathed except in some ego since my beast wanted to keep pointing out how I totally jacked Doris' moves - DAMMIT, I MADE THEM MY OWN....ha, ha, ha, ha!!! Learn to laugh, especially at yourself, it's a part of the journey because you don't want to be the one who takes themselves so seriously you become that person, it's unnecessary and hindering to exploring all aspects of yourself. I faltered when I chatted, I may have given away a plot point, my mouth wouldn't form the words that wanted to come out of my mouth but I did it, one step at a time and I enjoyed myself finally. I even had the chance to race across the lot and make sure to take pictures with my stand in/actress Ms. Veda who made sure I was good to go when I walked on set because she be da bees knees! It took me only a day to recover although I was still a bit out of sorts the following day as well but I finally felt like I had a good time. Learning to chat it up about your involvement in a production is a part of the process, get as much practice in now and enjoy your moment when you step into it all. I even had my first really comfortable interview a week later with one of the hosts that left me with the mic on the red carpet while he was live streaming the event to his viewers and I felt so settled. I had actually made myself go to this...I almost allowed myself to skip this just because but I really took the interview by the horns and pushed towards my fun space that was me. Do it...do it all...as much as you can when you can because practice makes better and better is all you want to achieve!
Check out the full 7 episodes on YouTube now, ( youtube.com/troublecreek ) starting with the first one here:
If you love shorts and you're free, I'm in the Silicon Beach Film Festival in "Walk Away" done by Sue Keeton and Brian Kronenberg ( The Package ) on April 22, 2017 at 12p. and it won't disappoint. Let's keep pushin'....
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