May 2018 be the year for us all...however small to leaps and bounds in everyone's dreams/careers, I send you all love knowing you can have it if only you start and persist. "What's really a definition of a Black Belt? A white belt that never gave up..." Dreams and careers are built on the back of PERSISTENCE...not when everything is all rosy but at it's darkest, when there's no money left, when you're sleeping in your car, when you can barely afford the dollar menu, when you've got to wear your clothes a few times before changing because that is all you have, when it feels like it'll be easier to walk away etc, that is when you dig your heels down in that dirt and push yo'self forward clawing, kicking and screaming because you deserve a shot but only YOU can get YOU that shot. So buckle in for the long haul cause it doesn't always smell like roses up in here...
Always re-check posts that you've submitted for, I've learned this in the past year because of some irregularities that would pop up. Personally, I do not submit for non-paying, deferred projects and that is only because I am no longer in that space in my career. Yes, I'll do it for friends and referrals maybe but I keep it all down to a bare minimum now because I feel I have distinguished my craft to a point that it should no longer be given away for free. It was a rough jump to decide this and I doubted myself while doing so but I decided I had done enough freebies in which I paid for by my gas, time, energy, effort, professionalism to get that character role for my reel or in my bag of tricks that for the most part, I don't need to do free variations of what I've created. It's great doing free projects, free isn't bad but there comes a point in your life/career that you understand that your work deserves a reward and you can't keep shelling out to keep it afloat, that you need some sort of compensation besides food to feel like you're moving forward and that's deserving. If you've put in your time, stretched your craft, pushed your insights and know that you know that you are a full artist, then you must demand that next step of yourself and then on others. Of course I still make room for a couple of great, free projects even stand in work/extra work on commercials ( although I rarely get those so consider them non-existent because when I do, I gotta cancel or leave set for other projects I may get ) when I have the time now but it's becoming tighter because I'm kept busy by some sort of paying acting gig even if it's at the realm of what my beast tells me is ridiculous. I understand that I deserve more, I just like working on projects that I usually won't get seen as and still get something in return while pushing for the opportunities to be given a shot at a bigger project. Nothing like a micro budget to see everyone's artistry really shine at times and I'm no different...work is work and if my art pays a bit more than what I'd make at my weekend job days, then I figure it's paid work that'll pay a bill at least doing something I love. However, I have noticed while submitting now, I'll see the rate and look at the role and then submit if it's something I want to do but changes happen after. Last year, I noticed that after an audition every blue moon, I'd be told it's deferred which is interesting because again, I don't submit to deferred payment any longer - it's the one thing I pay very close attention to during my submission process. Of course I don't tell them to "bugger off" but I do let them know where I'm coming from and then allow the ball to be in their court because last thing I want to do is waste my time or theirs. DO NOT go off on people because you feel you have the right too, it's unnecessary...this may be their passion project or whatever and there is no need for you to mouth vomit how much you hate not getting paid for your craft, we all start somewhere and must do what we must in order to get ourselves out there, understand no matter where someone is at in their careers, sometimes freebies are a must to exchange for something higher up. This one notice was definitely a paid rate so I submitted but after upon receiving an audition notification I checked the listing again only to find that the rate was now negotiable but definitely deferred. I am definitely not giving you my ideas/creations/art to negotiate in the room for me...I just don't want that head ache now, either I am paid or I am not and one day, I'll negotiate for more if anything but not whether I should have some form of compensation. I decided I was going to let that audition go...I didn't even respond because I knew when I had submitted that there was pay and now there was a change unbeknownest to me until I rechecked. It's a bit shady on that side I'd say but you have to be meticulous in your work so double check so you don't have to deal with being in an uncomfortable position later. So life moves on and during this time 2 other auditions come into full swing so no need to even dwell...oh hey, even a voice over audition to boot!
This voice over side is a new step for me and just added recently since my agent decided to open that side back up. Thank goodness for my beast who keeps me up on all the techs to make my life easier so I can dabble without feeling lost because having a clean mic and knowing the info to clean up the tracks would give me a heart attack...I'm already stressing about the lines, now I've gotta worry about the technical aspect? If you're like me, hopefully you'll have someone you know that loves taking care of that part of the business otherwise I feel like it could get overwhelming at first...but that's in all things. I do enjoy having a little bit of extra work to audition on when I can, since these are more of a "if you get a chance" with me at the moment. You get sides, you read those sides...with paper, no camera...just you, the mic and the lines and yes, people make a living off of this so try it if it's in your grasp to do it. I even got an audition to read for a cartoon but would have to come up with a character voice and since I was already bogged down with the other 2 auditions, I decided now was not the time but how fun is that. You get a picture of what the character will look like and you as an artist get to create a distinct voice of your own...just magical so get in and do it, do it, do it - I'm gonna be pushing for this in the new year so I'll keep you up on my journey through these as well...
The day started off with an interview over at Conversation Live with James Farr, an amazing moderator I met during "Bee Luther Hatchee" along with his lovely daughter ( see last post. ) My interview was set for 1p with another actress however, with my day getting jammed with 2 auditions, I had to either cancel and feel like a flake or ask if a shuffle was possible and thank goodness I was given a 12p time slot instead. Dealing with the issues of casting couches, I was able to touch upon my push back and also my experience of not getting an opportunity to audition for a line because of it - someone was "spending time with one of the producers" so you know who got to say the line...but also my redirection because of it. I wanted to be taken seriously as an actress and be allowed to shine on my own merits, so avoiding that couch made me the actress I am today. 20 minutes of talk went by way too fast and I wished I was able to hit on other subjects but I left the young ones ( and older crowd as well ) with the message that YOU ARE EVERYTHING...do not allow these critiques, these boxes of who you are/should be or how some may try to treat you because again...YOU ARE EVERYTHING! Click link - Conversation.Live - full episode under Leilani Smith Jan. 10th, 12:05p
Bathroom switch up into black tight jeans, silk black tank and a short sleeve pinstriped blazer because I wanted to kill this 2nd audition...just eat it up and rip it apart because there was no reason for me not to. I did some research on the pilot and noticed good people attached plus I had been in this office the past year and now they were having me read for a series regular role...not recurring guest, not guest, not co-star but for a bite outta that big enchilada! Nervous I was but luckily they gave us about 5 days on the material but again, I was also trying to get my Nigerian on at the same time! I assume they already have a star that could be attached but that's not going to stop me from walking in and pushing that role into a new level, my level with my shine. Don't let yourself be caught up with all the no's that can happen...you gotta go in like that role is yours, it was meant for you and if they give it away, that is on them. That star attached could be busy as well as a couple of others they may have in mind and then BOOYA - your shot, so don't walk in defeated...the role is yours and they have to take it away from you! Make them pry it outta of your hands as they regret having to not give it to you...so I went at it. Took my moments but pushed the scene since that's how detective shows are timed and although I stumbled into giving a line a beat too fast, I recovered by giving a bit of a laugh of acknowledgement since it could work for that spot and just went through the rest putting it down!!!! They were nodding and smiling during some of my moments and after had no notes, so I slated and got outta there walking on a creative high. Not the most challenging role for me to create but it was the work I had to take on the beats, the moments, the looks when I wasn't talking that I knew I had nailed...giving life in a character that I'd like to watch. Have to save this celebration for another day since I really want to take myself out to a great vegan lunch, but for tonight, it's my mommy's recipe for a Korean dish and maybe even a coffee ice cream porter beer float to say...GET IT DONE WITH YOUR ART!!! Celebrate how you can, when you can...you are deserving! <3
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