Happy 2011...Almost

Remember how I said that sometimes it would be awhile between posts?

I wasn't kidding.


I really don't have many updates, except that 2010 is coming to a close, and I'm looking for BIG things to be happening in 2011.  Carolina Talent has many exciting workshops planned for the ITS people throughout the next few months...Aaron Marcus (a working actor with many roles to his credit), Maxann (a casting director and producer with some BIG movies under her name) as well as some yet to be announced.

I also just had some family pictures taken, and some of them came out pretty good - I'll be adding some to my Photos tab.


Have a great 2011 everyone - and I look forward to finding out what this new year holds!

Getting In On The Act

Auditioned yesterday for a movie, and brought along.....my son.  There were no parts for my daughter, but there were two parts for four year old little boys - one of them being the son of the character I was auditioning for.  I wasn't sure what to expect out of him, because it was his first experience.  Also, if the casting directors were stand-offish, he might have been closed off as well.  Turns out the casting directors were great with him.  They made him feel welcome, and he in turn opened up a bit more than if they hadn't been so receiving.  Overall, I think it was a great first experience for him.  On top of that, the agency director invited me to send in his photos for representation.  So, I guess we're all now "in on the act".

As for my audition - I think it went fairly well.  I wasn't as expressive as I would have liked to be, because I was fighting through the flu and I didn't have full control of my vocal range.  I decided to play it safe and go with a little less vocal power and range in favor of not squeaking or cracking from the junk in my throat.

Casting happens in January - so we'll have to wait and see what happens. : )

OSC

Today, I wanted to take the time to talk about a wonderful group that I've had the pleasure of being a part of for almost a year: Oratorio Singers of Charlotte (and Chamber Choir).  OSC is the official Choir of the Charlotte Symphony.  So far, we've done everything from Beethoven's 9th to Rachmaninoff's All Night Vespers to Haydn's The Creation.  Our current repertoire is Handel's The Messiah.

Being involved in this group has allowed me to grow in my musicianship.  I've always struggled at sightreading (it's one of the main reasons I never finished my music degree), and I feel like the constant sightreading required of the ensemble has really improved this skill 1000%.  I can pick up a new piece of music and feel confident that, while I still may not get every note right the first time, I will follow right along and confidently carry my part.  I've been slated in this choir as an Alto I, but have also stepped up and sang Soprano I when called on to do so for Holst's The Planets.  We also occasionally get asked to give the tenors a helping hand.  It's really served me well having a large vocal range (the D on the middle of the bass clef to the F above the treble staff).

One of the most amazing parts of this ensemble is its leader: Scott Allen Jarrett.  His ear for the slightest nuances is just spectacular and he always expects (and mostly receives) the highest level of musicianship the group he is directing is capable of performing.  He also has a way of explaining the history and style of a piece of music that really make you understand what the composer was attempting to do.  Another thing that really counts is that he takes time to personally get to know his singers.  In our 130+ member choir, he not only knows everyone's name, but their vocal quality and height (yes, that's important for placing everyone where everyone has a sightline).  I believe that he really makes the ensemble what it is.

So, if you've got nothing better to do (or even if you do - cancel your plans - you're not going to want to miss this), we are singing Handel's The Messiah this Thursday and next Tuesday at the Knight Theatre in uptown Charlotte.  It's definitely a great way to brighten your holiday season!

Traveling Companions - Los 3 Amigos

The guys: My dad, my husband, and my son.  Here we have opposite ends of the spectrum represented, with my dad and husband on one side, and my son on the other, and yet, I need both sides in my life.

The thing I appreciate most about my husband and my dad is that when you ask them a question, you're going to get the honest-to-God truth (as they see it), with absolutely ZERO sugarcoating. If you ask them if your butt looks big, they're likely to remind you that the state is reassigning zipcodes so that your butt all fits in the same one.  Now, don't get me wrong, they're not cruel about it.  There's just no such thing as a little white lie to spare someone's feelings when they are involved.  They also both believe that this whole acting idea is somewhat crazy - not because I don't have the talent, but because of the relative one-in-a-million, right-place-right-time nature of the business.  I think that they believe that the money spent on workshops and headshots and comp cards would be better spent playing the lottery. And yet, they're still there with me...supporting me in their own way, and bringing me back to Earth when my head gets too far in the clouds.

But sometimes, you just need that person who even if you look like a truck just ran you over, and your C Major is sounding more like X Double Flat Minor, tells you "Mommy, you're beautiful,  I love you". That's why God gave us sons. My little guy is about the most happy-go-lucky kid that I've seen, and he likes to pass his happiness to others.  Yeah, I know that his musical ear hasn't developed past Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, but in that moment when he says "Mommy, you sing pretty", it may as well be Mozart himself saying it.

Like I said, opposite ends of the spectrum, but you need both kind of people when you walk on water.

Second Traveling Companion

This companion is actually making the physical journey with us to Florida, but she's also our biggest cheerleader: My mom.  I was told that it was possible for both Mariana and I to attend ITS together, without additional help, however after them describing 12 hour days of workshops, performances, activities, dances and more, who would want to?  It seems overwhelming just worrying about yourself, let alone adding another person's schedule and care in there! So, my mom is coming along for the ride.  She's also been there to help take care of kids, fix hair, and run errands when I haven't been able.  Most of all though, besides all of the tangible things that she does, she believes in us and our dream.

My Traveling Companions

One great thing about my journey is that I'm not going it alone. My next few posts will be about the people who are coming along for the ride.

My Daughter - Mariana: She is also signed with Carolina Talent, as a child model. She's 6 (going on 16 or 26, depending on the day - just yesterday, she got all excited over a Justin Bieber t-shirt she saw at the store). Mariana takes acting lessons at Matthews Playhouse, along with the ITS workshops, and she's participating with me at the July 2011 ITS event.  If she can sparkle there like she sparkles at home, she'll be well on her way to being a working model/actress.

What Is International Talent Showcase (ITS)?

In my first post, I mentioned International Talent Showcase, and briefly described it.  I wanted to get a little more in-depth, as a lot of my posting material is going to relate to it.


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International Talent Showcase Website

From their website:

Are you interested in Modeling, Acting, Singing, or Dancing? If so, International Talent Showcase is the event for you! Through International Talent Showcase, aspiring models, actors, singers, and dancers just like yourself are connected with the world’s leading Agents, Managers, and Casting Directors. If you are selected to attend International Talent Showcase, you will be trained and developed across the country in preparation for the event.

You will be given the opportunity to see if you have what it takes to work in major markets in the United States such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago as well as international markets such as Milan, Paris, Tokyo, and Greece.
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If you are selected to attend International Talent Showcase, you are guaranteed to be registered for the event and fully prepared for it by experienced coaches that will train and guide you in your hometown. Your participation in International Talent Showcase allows you to gain exposure and educational insight about the entertainment industry while also being given the opportunity to appear and perform in the presence of reputable Industry Professionals.

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I will be attending this event in July 2011.  There is a fee to go, so if I end up adding advertisements to the blog, that's where the money would be going to, just FYI.

First Post - Creative Title, right?

I want to start by saying this: I hate the word "Blog".  I think it sounds stupid.  Like the "blarg" sound the Irish make when they're frustrated.  Or the word "blah".  That really makes me want to be involved with something with that kind of name.  And yet, here I am.

My purpose in starting this blog is twofold: A documentation of my journey in the entertainment industry, and also Step 4 in my pastor's instructions on How to Walk on Water (hence, the name of the blog).  Look at that, Post 1 and I'm already on Step 4 - I must be ahead of the curve, right?

Truth is, I KNOW this is going to be a long, slow, frustrating experience.  I've wanted to be an actress forever.  Well, actually, my first ambition was to be the singing voice of a Disney Princess.  There is a specific reason for that I may discuss in a future post.  Also, since it is a slow journey, and there are WAAAAY more "Nos" than "Yeses", the posts could be few and far between at times.

Since I'm already at Step 4, I guess I should discuss what's happened previously in my journey.

Step 1. Make sure that it's what you were born to do.

Honestly, I don't know about "born to do", since my talent is actually more recently developed.  I was not a good actress in high school.  I was not a good singer in high school.  I didn't make ONE play or musical in high school.  I made a few in college, but they were few and far between.  There are several things that have lead to me being ready at this time, whereas I was not before.  But hey, a fellow North Carolinian/Illinoisan,  Michael Jordan didn't make his high school basketball team, so some of us are just late bloomers.



Step 2. Decide that NOTHING can stop you.

This one is easy.  I'm hard headed.  REALLY hard headed.  Check.




Step 3. Do it for real - don't just dangle your feet over the side of the boat.

Ok, this one is sort of a struggle.  I AM signed as an actress to a talent agency (Carolina Talent), but I'm not quite ready to make the big move to NYC or LA.  My daughter and I are going to the International Talent Showcase in July 2011 in Miami.  Casting directors/agents/etc from around the world.  I plan on this being my gauge.  One part of the Showcase is getting callbacks from the directors/agents, and I think the amount of interest showing will be a good determining factor for how far out of the boat I jump.



Step 4. Tell Everyone.

This is where I am today.  EVERYONE: THIS IS MY OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SOMEDAY, I WILL BE A WORKING ACTRESS.  Which brings me to the next few steps:


Step 5. Expect others to laugh

This is a crazy dream.  I get it.  But if you know me at all, I don't mind crazy.


Step 6. Stick to it

Remember that hard head?  Yeah.


Step 7. Expect to get lonely.

If this is a step I can skip, I'd be happy.  We'll see.  Everyone has lonely days, though.



Step 8. Value those who value your ambitions.

I'm lucky here - I actually do have a network of people already cheering me on.  They mean so much to me.  Not just my immediate family, but my church family, and Carolina Talent families as well.  I also have great Alpha Sigma Alpha sisters who I can count on.  I am truly, truly Step 8 Blessed.



Step 9.  Never give up.

Hard. Head.  I'm glad that so much of walking on water does involve having a hard head.  It's something I'm already good at.  I don't plan on giving up.



So, where do I go from here?

International Talent Showcase:  I have FOUR HOUR PLUS training sessions each month that cover everything from commercial acting, monologue acting and auditioning to runway walking, print modeling, and camera work.  Carolina Talent is providing us with some of the best people in the business.  Besides Marc and Steven, who are our regular coaches, we also get treats like David Elliot with Buchwald and Associates (NYC/LA), and Maxann from Maxann's Casting, and current "biz" people to guide us along the way.


Local Level: I get semi-frequent emails from Marc at Carolina Talent about castings that have been released for this area.  We also have some great local theatre companies: Theatre Charlotte, Matthews Playhouse, CPCC Theatre, and while none of those are paid, they give much-needed experience.


If you're still reading at this point, I thank you and look forward to sharing my journey with you,

Peace,
JLB