Saturday, January 29, 2011

Carrots and Celery

This is a post for anyone who is planning on being involved in "showbiz"...as well as my own story that I alluded to in my very first post...

I had a musical theater teacher once compare auditions to grocery shopping.  If the director is shopping for a carrot, you can be the very best, most delicious celery there is, but you're not getting picked.  The director is looking for a carrot, not celery.  All you can hope for is when someone does come along looking for celery that you are the very best celery you can be, and maybe the little sprinklers have just gone off to make you extra-specially appealing. So, when you nail an audition and STILL don't get the part, you might just be suffering from Celery Syndrome.  What's the cure?  You get right back out there and go to your next audition, knowing that when the time is right, you'll land your part.

So, my carrot & celery story....

Growing up, I was never a small girl.  Never.  I had girls in Jr. High call up my answering machine and sing-song "Jelllyroll-JELLYROLL-jellyroll" and was called a whale. I remember lying about my weight starting about 3rd or 4th grade on my summer league softball "stats" card.  I lied about my weight on my driver's license application when I was a sophomore in high school.  I remember writing "156", even though I was probably closer to 165.  Then, later that year, I quit most of my activities (dance, karate, softball, marching band) so I could get a job and pay for gas for my car and etc...at Taco Bell.  That's when I REALLY lost control of my weight.  I thought maybe when I left for college and walked around campus and joined the college marching band that maybe the weight would take care of itself.  That didn't happen.  Many years and 2 kids later, I saw a picture of myself at Alpha Sigma Alpha district days with two of my sisters. (See below)  I really looked at myself and decided that I couldn't be like this anymore - I had to change.  It took me TWO years and gallons of SlimFast (I also used Alli, which I highly recommend if you can stick with the plan they lay out in the guide), but I lost over 110lbs.

So, what does this have to do with showbiz and carrots and celery?  I feel like I'm now a carrot (and not just because of the red hair - although that's honestly helped as well).  Yes, there are parts for celeries (Mimi from Drew Carrey, Bridget Jones, Deloris Claiborne), but they are much fewer and far between.  It's also given me a confidence boost, which also helps a ton at auditions.  I honestly still feel like I'll never be able to eat in front of people without them thinking about my weight (even though at this point, I know I'M the only one thinking about my weight), but I've gotten control of it and feel good enough about it that I can finally put this post out there.

I hope this inspires someone to become their own version of a carrot.

Do you have a carrot & celery story?  Please share!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Annnnnnd........Scene!

I had an audition last night.  They hand me the side (the script you read from at an audition), and I'm disappointed, because the character I'm reading for has 3 lines, that are all about 3 words long.  Oh well, it's kind of a "take what you can get" at this point, anyway.  So, I step up to read, and they inform me that the script was just a rough guide, and we're going at this improv.  The character that I was reading for had just gotten caught cheating on her husband.  They wanted crying, screaming, drama fest - and I delivered.  Hysterical woman?  I'm your gal.  And they LOVED IT.  He offered me a part on the spot, however, he said he didn't know which specific role that he would use me for, only that he definitely wanted to use me. The show is on TruTV, and it's called Southern Fried Stings.  Kind of a countrified Cops meets Jerry Springer.  Not a terribly serious role, but it's going to be good for the "acting" chops, since it is all impromptu acting.  More details to come, as I get them.

Speaking of details, I finally found out what I'm doing for my modeling job on Tuesday.  As I said, it's for a company that does marketing for major brand labels.  The project we are doing is a marketing campaign for the marking company showing their potential new customers what exactly they do.  How they merchandise their customer's products at store-level. How they make sure their customer's products are in the most strategic location to sell.


So, in recap - in the span of ONE MONTH, I have landed a movie role, modeling job, and TV role.  I AM SO BLESSED!  I feel like I"m really doing what I've been called to do, and I'm HAPPY doing this kind of work.  It's EXCITING to go to work!  Thank you God, for leading me so that I can follow!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Time to Update the Resume

Carolina Talent uses the 800casting system for their clients and talent.

Here is my 800casting profile...

As you can see, it has a space where you declare that you're an actor, singer, stage actor, etc.  If you notice on mine, I checked the "model" box as well. I've got some decent pictures up....what can it hurt?

I booked the very first modeling job I was submitted for!

Now, I'm not getting whisked away to NYC to take pics on top of the Statue of Liberty in an American flag floor-length sequin gown with hair that could get caught in a ceiling fan and day-glo makeup. This isn't ANTM.  I'm doing some pictures for an internal project for an international marketing agency's Charlotte operations.  I'm not exactly sure what all it will entail, but I do know it's being shot in a grocery store.  Glamorous? No. But it's a paying job and credits, and seeing that the "model" box was checked "for the heck of it", I'm not complaining.  Far from it.  Work is work, and I am excited for this new opportunity!


Also worth mentioning:

The Cast List for In the Interest of Justice

The cast list for the movie John & I are doing is posted!  So great to get a look at all the other actors I'll be working with!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

ITS Workshop - Aaron Marcus

Yesterday's ITS Workshop featured Aaron Marcus - professional actor and commercial model. One of the coolest things about Aaron is that he does make his living as an actor/model, but chose NOT to make the move to LA or NYC and instead resides with his family in Maryland.

Aaron also gives seminars all over the country on HOW to do what he does.  He's written a book, has a monthly news letter, and a website, but he is about the most down to earth guy you could ever meet.  He answered all kinds of questions (even from the kids), and gave invaluable advice regarding auditions, go-sees, what to do when you get a job, what NOT to do when you get a job and other important industry "stuff".  He also treated us as if we were starting from scratch, but without talking down to us.  It's easy for people to forget that the only way to gain experience is by doing jobs, but in your first few jobs, you don't have that experience, so you don't know what you're doing. Double-edged sword.

Anyway, if you have any interest in "the business" and every get a chance to hear Aaron speak, it would be well worth it.

Aaron's IMDb Page

Aaron's Website - How to Model

Aaron's Facebook Page

Friday, January 7, 2011

A Big Leap Out of the Boat

First off, congrats to Mariana who shot a Family Dollar Ad Wednesday night.  She did a fabulous job and was out of there in 1/3 of the time they had allotted her. The ad agency was pleased, and they told us they would be interested in using her again.  I'm proud of my kidlet!




NOW THE BIG NEWS:

John and I both got cast in the movie we auditioned for last month!!!

It's called "In the Interest of Justice".  It's about a single mother (Haley) and her son (Justice) who have no family, and the choices she must make when she finds out she is dying.  John and I will play Haley and Justice's best friends and neighbors, Julie and Marcus (we are playing a mother and son!).

The movie is being produced by Flat Shadow Productions.  This is the studio's first full length film.  They plan on submitting it to DVD distributors, HBO, and Cannes Film Festival.  It's a low-budget indie, but I obviously can't expect that million dollar contract on my first-ever movie role. (Maybe #2 :)

Hopefully to come will be blog posts about the ins and outs of filming our first movie.  We are having a cast meet and greet January 30th and will begin filming mid-February.  Filming will be done on Sundays  - I suppose for us 9-5ers (which I appreciate).


GOD IS SO GOOD!