Don't let the "everything that you can't control" drive ya crazy! This town is built on the you're never enough until someone gives you the chance, then you're on the radar and now you're amazing and wonderful and oh so delicious. Then this town will start to look for people who look like you, sound like you, are close to the mannerisms of you but until then..."YOU'RE TOO PRETTY TO BE A BOXER/FIGHTER. YOU'RE TO TALL/SHORT TO PLAY OPPOSITE OF THIS KNOWN ACTRESS/ACTOR. YOU'VE GOT TOO MUCH HAIR TO PLAY A PROFESSIONAL. YOU TOO LIGHT/DARK TO BE THIS DYNAMIC/DIMENSIONAL. This is what you'll keep hearing until it's your turn to shine, until someone has the kohones to actually give you the opportunity, until you've built up the reputation of finally being the person they are comfortable with. Whatever the reason it is now, understand it won't be later so just keep at 'em...however you can by doing what you can - grow arties, grow! And that means, taking those parts you ain't "right for" per say, making them your own even if you know it's not the actual look they may envision, puttin' yo stank on it and havin' it in the bag...even if it's only for you. It's a character to build upon, to train on, to work with and to play with as you deal with the obstacles of this business. Don't just brush it off as it ain't you so you're not going to do it because you've done it 100 times and nothing has ever came through...who cares, it's not the booking at this point then, it's the growth and the understanding of the character you're developing. This is now for your future - you are actually storing this away because there will come a time when you get that role of a lifetime and you'll know exactly who the person is you'll be portraying. Take that lickin' and keep on tickin' because you've got a date with destiny as long as you hang in and keep pushin' regardless of the odds, your art will win if you allow it to be so - they will know you, all of you...soon enough.
Gettin' creative with your self submissions is something you can do to keep you from the self tape blues. I get it that you're not in the room, feeling the energy, making a connection but I've booked off these and some of my cohorts have booked even bigger shows off these so dismissing this form of work is dismissing an opportunity you may have given yourself. For me, I just try to do things a bit different if possible and with this particular audition, since it was 2 separate scenes, I decided a costume change was something I could do to help them see me in 2 different aspects. One as an overworked mom nurse and the other a concerned, but slightly more attractive mom since the scene lead me to believe there should be some chemistry happening. I tried reading in between the lines as if I was shooting this sucker and this helps make the process bearable. I feel like I'm shooting a short film and I get to be the star...exactly the way you feel when you go into a room, whatever that is that helps you bring the magic, find it and use it - let's not waste our time nor our talents, give them that 100%!
Another audition done for casting I've been in to see but they have a strict policy of not sharing, not even the lot you're on. I've been in several times over the past year and it went from simple co-stars to series regulars to guest stars and it's hard that I haven't booked yet because you figure if you've been in that many times, eventually something will happen and nothing has yet. It's a stinker but I've learned to appreciate the fact that I stay on their lips, they must be searching for me to get a role but it's the role that fits me in their eyes and I am just grateful to be given the chance to show them all these characters I can play if given that moment while they figure it out. Of course it hurts not getting the part after being seen quite a few times but what hurts more is not being called back in...so enjoy the process, love what you do from the fight to the booking and understand that your work is respected and appreciated because you keep getting called back in. Keep fightin', this art, YOUR ART is worth it all....
YAY to making it to the Independent Black Film Festival over at Mann's Chinese in Hollywood. It's a place that has films, shorts, web series etc screened at least once a month at their venue and "Prowess" made it in! Was going to skip the event since I usually work weekends at my regular job but made it out early enough to work early in the morn and get off after 4 hours. It was a lot of racing, a lot of traffic but I made it in time to be able to take pictures on the red carpet with cast and crew along with enjoying some powerful/funny/well done pieces. Casting Director Robi Reed was in the house along with several actors from a BET show along with unknowns that work behind the scenes from directing to distribution, all sharing their info and story. You leave uplifted, inspired and knowing it's something you can/should do...I decided several years ago not to submit to this and I now realize just how important it is to open yourself up to different avenues. Why not give yourself every possible nook and cranny to squeeze in, to learn, to grow and to improve? 2019...WE COMIN' FOR YA!!!!
Head on over to YouTube - Subscribe at Freedom Bridgewater ( Freedom Films - Prowess ) and catch the episodes, Episode 1 up and running on the site. There's some magic to this show, hang in and watch some crazy go down with the girls by episode 5 - we ain't playin'! Copy and paste below...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56oGSPuRRqY
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