tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60865525976128424282024-03-05T09:41:40.336-08:00Acting OutA chronicle of all my creative endeavors, acting, crafts, sewing, cooking, art...whatever strange obsession I'm currently pursuing.Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-59684508685801623972017-02-09T13:39:00.002-08:002017-02-09T13:39:39.405-08:00#CareerReboot Challenge Week 3: Branding imagesThis week let's talk about visual images. Sometimes it's helpful to find something symbolic that represents you, like an animal or a character. All product brands have a visual of some kind; a logo, a mascot, a symbol. Finding something along these lines may be helpful in visualizing your career direction and give you a better grip on your identity.<br />
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Let's start with something easy. Take an online quiz. Are you a fan of a particular film or TV series or book? There are literally hundreds of online quizzes to find out what character you are. PS this is helpful in figuring out type! Here are a few of mine:<br />
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My Little Pony: Pinkie Pie. (no one is surprised)<br />
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Game of Thrones: Cersei (I'm not so sure about this one!)<br />
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Harry Potter Hogwarts founder: Gryffindor<br />
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Speaking of Harry Potter, according to the Pottermore website, my house is Hufflepuff, my Ilvermory house is Horned Serpent, my wand is maple wood with a unicorn hair core, and my patronus is a dapple grey stallion.<br />
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Another symbol that has been appealing to me more and more is that of the butterfly. I'm really interested in the theme of transformation, especially as an actor. Maybe it's my theater background, but the thing I've always loved the most about acting is the opportunity to be a whole other person, and tell a great story.<br />
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The important thing about this exercise is to be honest in your answers, and not take it too seriously. This is just to get the wheels turning a bit!<br />
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If you want, share your favorites in the comments!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-74374571698878764732016-06-21T16:35:00.000-07:002016-06-21T16:35:25.862-07:00#CareerReboot Challenge Week 2: Role ModelsSo, last we took a look at the stuff we're good at. This week, let's think about people we admire, and who have the careers we would like to have. This one was pretty involved and took some time. No, I don't think you should model yourself after someone 100%, but if we see someone who reminds us of ourselves a little bit, or has the types of roles we want, we can get clues as to how we can market ourselves a little better.<br />
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Do people ever say you look like someone? Have you been told you're a doppleganger for a particular celebrity? This is a good place to start. Celebrities I tend to get:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Julia Roberts (before I had braces, when she had curly hair)</li>
<li>Minnie Driver (I don't see it, I think it's just the hair)</li>
<li>Andie McDowell (see above)</li>
<li>Zoey Deschanel</li>
<li>Emily Blunt</li>
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I don't know, I don't really see it...</div>
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Now think of actors you really admire; who do you look up to? What do you like about them? These can be any gender. Think about what makes them special, and the roles they tend to get. </div>
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Now connect some dots. What do you have in common with these people? To get to this, I made a mind web. I listed my role models, then some of my favorite performances, then came up with adjectives to describe these characters. I tried to avoid the phrase "strong woman" for a lot of them, and instead came up with what the specific qualities of a "strong woman" are. Then I highlighted in red the qualities that I thought I shared naturally. Obviously, I think I can <i>play</i> all of them, but we're trying to be honest with who we are. Plus, vulnerability is something I tend to struggle with in performance.<br />
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Anyway, this was time consuming but fun, and I think it will help me analyze performances better in the context of the kinds of roles I would like to play. Oh, and if you'd like to use the same program for your own mind map, I used bubbl.us.<br />
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If you're playing along at home...<br />
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Who are your role models? What kinds of roles do you want to be playing? Comment, or tag me on twitter or instagram!<br />
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See you next time!</div>
Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-7521293154018911962016-05-30T16:23:00.000-07:002016-05-30T17:14:44.135-07:00#CareerReboot Challenge Week 1: StrengthsIt's been a tough couple of years, and I was starting to feel like my career was in a rut, so I decided what I needed was a career bootcamp! But stuff like that is expensive, so I figured I would break it down on my own, and then I realized I should share the experience because A, I'm kind of a masochist that way, and B, ACTORS HELP EACH OTHER! This series is geared toward actors who are already trained, working, and trying to get to the next level, but hopefully it should also be helpful to anyone trying to revitalize any kind of career.<br />
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We're starting the challenge these first few weeks, by focusing on <i>branding</i>. This is kind of a loaded word for artists. Do a google search about actor branding and there are two schools of thought. The first is that you need a strong brand for any kind of representation to even look at you; the second is that branding isn't important at all and you need to focus solely on your <i>craft.</i> Guess what: BOTH are true! When it comes to auditions and getting work, branding gets you in the room, craft gets you the job. Don't get me wrong, if you are in a class or training, KEEP GOING. If you haven't had training, or aren't currently in a class, I absolutely recommend that you start. Nothing gets your career moving like focusing on your work. Work hard. Get better. But in the meantime, if you're having trouble getting to where you need to be, read on...<br />
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It's a universal truth that the more you focus on your career, the more the universe begins to shift in your favor. We're starting with our strengths, because we want the universe to shift in a positive direction. So, what are you good at? Make a list: career strengths, personal strengths, physical strengths, emotional strengths. All of these things are important to moving forward on your path, and helpful in your career. This is not to say that you shouldn't work on skills that you're weak on, but we're trying to focus on who you are as an actor, which you can leverage into a career. Think about actors you know and like; they all have a brand that plays to their strengths, so they can do projects that are appropriate vehicles for them. Now think about people you like, who were in roles that they just didn't seem right for. See? They weren't playing to their strengths, and the projects, and sometimes their careers, suffered.<br />
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So, I've been thinking about it, and here are some of mine:<br />
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Shakespeare (and classical theater, but mostly Shakespeare)<br />
Movement (I do yoga and dance)<br />
I'm quippy (in a good way)<br />
Character analysis<br />
Academic inclination<br />
I'm very directable<br />
Nice eyes<br />
Friendly, warm smile<br />
Vivid Imagination<br />
Easy to work with<br />
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I know, I know, such a self-centered love-fest! But to paraphrase a great philosopher (RuPaul) if you don't love yourself, how the hell are you gonna convince someone to hire you?<br />
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So, if you're playing along at home, make your own list! Post some of it in the comments! Tag me about it on twitter! Instagram and tag me with a photo that represents some of it! Or, let me know of some of the actors you've observed and their brands, and how you think that's worked in their favor (or not!)<br />
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I'm also live-streaming about some of this stuff, so follow me on periscope! @noisy_ninja<br />
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See you next week!<br />
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https://www.periscope.tv/w/aht7ZDFYSmprek9sWE1LTHl8MVlxSkRsZGdPanpKVhJ8hEBask64Y1MoT51Y61j86PWkRLEBmI91BYEJcdOQNoisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-2028362777936528212014-05-23T18:16:00.001-07:002014-05-23T18:16:34.979-07:00Practice, And All Is ComingThe above title is a quote from yoga master K. Pattabhi Jois, founder of Ashtanga Yoga and all around nice guy. His quote relates specifically to yoga, in that the more you attempt to do the postures and breathing, the more you are able to do them. In my life, I see this concept in work in all aspects.<br />
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Specific to acting, I would also like to point out the wonderful book that my best good friend Sam gave me, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I have been recommending this book to almost everyone I run into, because of what he says about the power of resistance. He also says, "when we sit down day after day and keep grinding, something mysterious starts to happen. A process is set into motion by which, inevitably and infallibly, heaven comes to our aid. Unseen forces enlist in our cause; serendipity reinforces our purpose." Basically what he is saying here is just what Jois was saying; if you keep plugging away, staying focused, your dreams will find you.<br />
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Recently these two concepts have begun to coalesce in my life. I finally subscribed to LACasting, and have been submitting religiously, I started journaling again, and reading and seeing more plays. Now, I'm currently designing costumes (for a stipend!) for a play I LOVE, I was cast in a short film and the producer asked me to work on another project with them, and I did some background on The Newsroom, where I met some lovely people and had a great time (even if my feet still hurt, 2 days later!). This was all in the last few weeks. I've also been going to more auditions than usual, and even got some callbacks! I'm also auditioning for more paying work than student work!<br />
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In Pressfield's book, he talks about "the professional." Who they are and what they do. One of the things that has stuck out to me is accountability. The best way I have found to diet successfully is counting calories. When you actually KNOW what you are putting into your body, you are accountable, and you can make better decisions and PUT DOWN THE FORK. I even drink less alcohol when I'm counting calories, because if I have to choose between a piece of chocolate and a glass of wine, I'm going for the chocolate! In that vein, I have started filling out time cards for myself, and project progress reports. Because guess what, I'm an employee of Lauren Billingsley LLC as well as the CEO! It's amazing how empowering doing these things is. I am inviting positive energy into my life as I work harder, and focus more.<br />
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Another thing I'm trying to put out into the universe is to be working somewhere other than Banana Republic by the time the holidays come around, so I can visit with family for the first time in four years! Because guess what, I don't want to put all my energy in a job that doesn't fulfill ANY of my needs, including the financial ones. So I'm taking opportunities, not suffering from my own pride, and keeping my nose to the grindstone.<br />
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Now, it's true, I'm considering making and selling some jewelry, because I know where to get bulk materials and I can do it in my own time. I'm considering this simply as an extra source of income. I don't think of this as losing focus because I sat and thought really hard about what other job would be flexible enough to let me run around and audition or shoot film or do theater whenever I wanted, and I came up blank.<br />
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But let's end this on a positive note. I have more auditions to prepare for, for projects that I'm really interested in, and I'm so excited for what's coming next!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-9008641340250694332013-09-17T19:10:00.003-07:002013-09-17T19:10:54.727-07:00Turn Off Your @^#*)@#%^& Cellphone!!!!!I have a bit of a pet peeve.<br />
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It starts out small. The light in the corner of your eye, just for an instant, you can't even be sure it was there. Then again. Then another one, in a different place. Then the unmistakable tinkling sound, followed by a whispered "shit!" and the sound is suddenly cut off.<br />
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Cellphones in the theater.<br />
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I feel this way about both the movies and more conventional theaters, where I go to see plays. They aren't always great works, and sometimes not even very good, but dammit, I am there to watch the movie/play and it is SO DISTRACTING.<br />
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This was my experience at a play this past September 11.<br />
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The show was called <i>110 Stories</i>, and was basically a bunch of actors with scripts reading the true accounts of people who were at the World Trade Center during the attack on September 11, 2001. For me, this is kind of a tough show to see in the first place. No, I wasn't in New York, I was in Northern Virginia, at school, and my dad was in Crystal City at a hotel for a meeting, pretty much across the street from the Pentagon. Please, no one share their ridiculous conspiracy theories at this point. Yes, THERE WAS A PLANE IN THE BUILDING. It was harrowing, and scary, and most of the day was spent watching the incessant footage on the news and worrying about our parents, many of whom worked in DC or the Pentagon, and who had a really hard time getting home. It felt like 9/11 happened to <i>me</i>. To <i>my </i>community. I think it felt closer to those of us in Virginia, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, than anywhere else in the country. There were close calls for a lot of my friends' parents, one of whom was <i>supposed </i>to be at the World Trade Center that day, but had finished a day early and come home. I still well up with tears sometimes when I think about it. And there I was, twelve years later, listening to the harrowing experiences of the people in New York.<br />
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Or at least, trying to.<br />
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Because two seats down, some older gent was on his phone. I guess he was expecting a text or something, because he kept turning on the screen and looking at it, then putting it down. Every five to ten minutes. Finally, some wonderful, blessed soul leaned over and in a voice exactly as annoyed as I felt, asked him to stop. He did, very apologetically.<br />
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Then the girl on the other side of me fell asleep. She woke up about two thirds of the way through, and started texting. Seriously. Not even trying to hide it. Eventually she got up and left. Before the show was even over. It had gotten to the denoument, there wasn't that much time left! But I guess she didn't really want to be there. I guess neither she nor that other guy respected the actors or their fellow audience members enough to turn their phones off and disconnect from the outside world for two hours.<br />
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That's one of the things I love about going to the theater, to any theater. I can disconnect. Maybe my rage was an overreaction, but I always get distracted by those little screens lighting up in the corner of my eye. Guess what? Unless you're a doctor, it's not that important. If someone is on their deathbed, you should be there, not at a theater. I know there are plenty of people out there who don't see the big deal. "So what?" you may ask, "We live in a social, connected society now, this is the way it is. I want to tweet about how jiggly the camera is!" But what you may not understand, is that some people go to the theater for a cathartic experience. I know the producer had a catharsis during <i>110 Stories, </i>because he was so full of emotion by the end of the show that he was practically crying on the stage while thanking everyone who made the project possible. I was a little jealous. I kind of wanted that release. Maybe the show didn't do a good enough job of grabbing my focus, but I feel like they didn't even really have a chance, thanks to a couple of inconsiderate patrons.<br />
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I know, as an actor, that I want to reach out to my audience, to communicate with them on an intimate level, even if there are thousands of people, to create a shared moment with each of them. If they're all on their phones, I can't do that, whether the performance is live or recorded. You can't reach someone whose attention you don't have. I promise you, cellphone user, you will get all those texts when you turn your phone back on. You can call people back. Tell them you were in a movie/play, they will understand. You can wait until afterwards to IMDB that one actor because you <i>know </i>you know him from something but you can't put your finger on it. You can wait until afterwards to take your turn in Words With Friends. We, as a society, put way too much emphasis on instant response. Just because somebody doesn't answer back in five minutes, doesn't mean they don't love you. It just means they're in the middle of something right now and can't respond. And no, it's not enough to have it on silent or vibrate, because I know that even though it's not ringing, you're going to feel it, or it's going to light up on its own, and you are going to pick it up and look at it. If you're meeting up with someone after, tell them you're in the theater now before the show starts and you'll text or call when you get out.<br />
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Just like with texting and driving, IT CAN WAIT.<br />
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Unless of course, you're a doctor on call. Then you are excused.<br />
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<br />Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-35794909655943514942013-09-03T19:56:00.000-07:002013-09-03T19:56:29.111-07:00AccentsRecently I've had a few auditions where I've needed to use distinctive accents. I thought it would be good to address some of the tips and tricks that help with accent work.<br />
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First of all, it's very important to practice. A good tip I had once was to mimic people's accents when they talk to you. It's surprising how few of them actually notice it. When I was a teenager, my friends and I would put on accents when we walked around DC or went shopping, trying to be as convincing as possible. Be careful though, if you're doing a British accent and meet a British person you may have an uncomfortable conversation on your hands. Don't be afraid to have fun with it either, play around with accents whenever you can! I always get a kick out of doing Yakov Smirnoff impressions, and really getting on my co-workers' nerves.<br />
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The first step to mastering a foreign accent is understanding its origins. Accents are always easier if you speak the original language, even a little. Every language has rules of pronunciation, and if you know them, you can apply them to English. French, for example, uses hard R's, and sometimes roll them, depending on the region. It's also spoken at the front of the mouth, like they're constantly kissing as they speak. When you first practice French, puckering your lips like that helps get an idea of where the accent lives. Obviously, once you get the hang of it, you can stop over-exaggerating. <br />
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Regional accents and dialects are a bit trickier. It's hard to fool a native speaker, and you definitely don't want to be insulting. Again, it's important to discover where the accent lives in your mouth. It helps to listen to others speak the accent, and then choose a few characteristic sounds that really make it recognizable. It helps to annotate your script incorporating those sounds, so that as you read and memorize it you can trigger the right sounds when you speak. For example, use a symbol that makes sense to you when a word needs a flat "a" sound, or an "ee" sound when you have a short "i" like "it", as many accents use.<br />
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The more you practice these elements, the more natural the accent will sound. Try and see if you can (privately) identify a person's origins based on their accent. Identify your own, and try and understand the elements of it. The best way to master an accent, in short, is to break it down to it's smallest parts and understand how they work together.<br />
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I found a few things very helpful recently, and I would like to share them! First, the accent database at the <a href="http://www.dialectsarchive.com/" target="_blank">International Dialects of English Archive</a>! It's amazing! People from all over the world, of all ages and races, speaking in their own accent, reading a bit of copy and then very naturally talking about their lives and the way they speak! It's amazing. Oh look, here's another one from the good folks at <a href="http://accent.gmu.edu/index.php" target="_blank">GMU</a>! Another helpful source is this <a href="http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-do-a-south-african-accent" target="_blank">video</a> from a voice actor that really breaks accents down. He has tons of them, and is pretty good at showing you how to pick them apart.<br />
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And here's a video of me doing a German accent! This one was really challenging, because many German people try to mask their accent when they speak English, so I had to play a German accent trying not to be German. Very meta. I had a lot of help, but you can judge how successful I was. PS, this was like, 6 years ago or so. I'm a better actor now.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RFJcyZeePSo" width="560"></iframe> <br />
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<br />Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-66820758462111731082013-07-31T20:38:00.001-07:002013-07-31T20:38:21.149-07:00This is My LA!A project I've been working on is finally up on youtube! Basically, I kept thinking of all these things I wanted to show my family and friends who live far away, but of course it's hard for them to come out here. So I created <i>My LA</i>, a travel show. I also wanted to work on my hosting skills, so it made sense to just get out there with my handicam and do it! I had some help; this first episode features my good friend Cole Matson who was visiting me at the time (and is working on his PhD in Theology and Theater at St. Andrews...he does lectures all the time about CS Lewis, and has an interesting <a href="http://colematson.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>.), and I had a ton of audio help in the voice overs from Danny Fasold, who was also generous enough to let me use the music from his band, <a href="http://infadesmusic.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">In Fades.</a> Please give them some love if you like what you hear!<br />
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I had to do a lot of chopping for this to look decent, and I've been learning a lot along the way about filming and editing! You heard it here, kids! The best way to learn about filming is to do it! (Yes, I would greatly benefit from producers and directors and editors who actually know what they're doing. This was kind of hard, and needs a lot more work.)<br />
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Anyway, here's the finished product!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/d8oIav3ftfc?list=PLyNOVvN23jlJE2b0F7pr6yhaK6x0kCnKA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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The hope here is to do weekly episodes. Part 2 should be up this Friday (hopefully) and I'm working on my script and voice over for the next one. Suggestions for places to go are greatly appreciated! I'm planning on doing mostly stuff that is interesting to locals, but include some of the more touristy stuff too.Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-63020251396654426022013-07-27T22:24:00.000-07:002013-07-27T22:24:34.604-07:00Eco-cast Madness!!So, I had to do an eco-cast audition. Basically what that means is you take a video of yourself, upload it to a website, instead of going to an audition in person. This has a lot of advantages; the actor doesn't have to spend the gas or time on the road going to an audition, they can upload only their best takes, and the casting director saves time and money by not renting a space and having to wait around for flaky actors when they could be doing other, more interesting and important things. So, win-win. In theory.<br />
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I am, happily, in possession of a handi-cam, so I didn't have to record from my webcam, which the eco-cast site expressly tells you not to do. I recorded it, did several takes, and went to download it onto my computer. But alas! I didn't have enough space! "Not to worry," I thought (I think in a 1930s British accent), "I can put it on my external hard drive, there is plenty of room there!" I plugged it in, and...nothing. The computer didn't recognize it as a valid USB device. Fail. So I tried to move some stuff around, get more space on my computer. Still not enough. And yes, it works just fine on other computers. Fast forward a couple days, to today, when it's due. Out of sheer frustration I plugged the hard drive in again, and eureka! It worked! I downloaded the video, cut it up in Windows Movie Maker to look decent, and went to upload it onto the eco-cast site.<br />
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It was too late. The file was due by noon.<br />
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Womp-womp.<br />
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Directors, not everybody has access to a RED camera or some other fabulous technology, or FinalCut Pro, or AfterEffects. We don't all have reliable computers that are awesome and always work. We tend to spend any extra money we have on headshots, classes, and gas. So maybe give us the option to either do an eco-cast audition, OR come audition in person. I know, this is a scary concept, but you may actually get better results...on BOTH fronts.<br />
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Meanwhile, I'm going to tell myself not to be disappointed, be glad my hard drive is working now, and that it obviously wasn't meant to be. I'd probably be terribly unhappy even if I had gotten the part, right? Maybe the director isn't very nice, or they don't have the budget to do what they want and it's going to turn out terrible. These are the things I tell myself.<br />
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And now I can move on to the next thing.Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-74253283682868070572013-07-23T21:58:00.002-07:002013-07-23T21:58:19.401-07:00Pen HolderWell, I made another craft! This time it's a pen holder. I was inspired by this one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6K-D3pwYbrek7txaPlL8NqeBJHatK4s_7AtgDHxTm04IT86WGKdNQbxHV3ekDR7lCDGm2lltI4KtWQnL6iY6eH7Xzcix-HRc1xrJkl1QxGFjMWWe7eZdoCR66dteSxKXWL5SPvFC_kOqC/s1600/World_Map_Pen_Holder___Nautical_Gift_Desk_Accessory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6K-D3pwYbrek7txaPlL8NqeBJHatK4s_7AtgDHxTm04IT86WGKdNQbxHV3ekDR7lCDGm2lltI4KtWQnL6iY6eH7Xzcix-HRc1xrJkl1QxGFjMWWe7eZdoCR66dteSxKXWL5SPvFC_kOqC/s1600/World_Map_Pen_Holder___Nautical_Gift_Desk_Accessory.jpg" /></a></div>
And I thought...I can make that! So I did! It was pretty easy too. If you're like me, you have a bunch of maps in your car that have been rendered obsolete since you got a GPS/Smartphone. If you are even more like me, you live in a city far away from your hometown, your family, and everything familiar. So I chose an old map I had of DC. I never drive in DC anyway, the Metro is pretty awesome so I don't need to, and people drive even worse there than here in LA! I used toilet paper tubes as well, for the shape.<br />
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Materials needed: 6 Toilet paper tubes (they tend to just collect, if you don't bother to throw them out when you're done.), glue (I used a glue gun, but I think anything strong will work.), and maps.<br />
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Step 1: Measure the tubes. You need the circumference and the length. Then cut up the map in squares that match your measurements, using the circumference as your top length, and the length as the sides. Try to be strategic, so that the map pieces you choose have inspiring or pretty features. I picked mostly bits from the mall and Smithsonian museums. Cut 6 pieces of map to fit the 6 tubes.<br />
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Step 2: Glue the map pieces onto the tubes.<br />
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Step 3: Glue the tubes together. I did a flower pattern, with one in the middle and the other 5 around it. If you want, cut map or cardboard circles to fit the bottom. Or not, I didn't really bother with it, and as long as you put pens in each tube it won't tip over.<br />
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I did mine this way because I had a bunch of different pens I wanted to organize. I used 1 tube for my favorite pens, Pilot Precise Rolling Ball ink pens, 1 tube for highlighters, 1 tube for pencils, 1 tube for sharpies, 1 tube for ball-point pens, and 1 tube for other fancy pens. I just like to be able to reach and grab the pen I want without sifting through them all.<br />
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Anyway, this was how mine worked out!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2Z9VdW5WsiGNK5S5_ntnwbnNtTgkNqeF5g5kM1lDLNRnkrBmTne-UntXoOmNyy6d4kzlJVLs1e98sBobSrA7XKSuH5ur1u6GhAeiQp_NpP8N4yzEYEuPN9xQE2l1IYxE99wwWdHSPvS2/s1600/943315_10100671667824341_872686429_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2Z9VdW5WsiGNK5S5_ntnwbnNtTgkNqeF5g5kM1lDLNRnkrBmTne-UntXoOmNyy6d4kzlJVLs1e98sBobSrA7XKSuH5ur1u6GhAeiQp_NpP8N4yzEYEuPN9xQE2l1IYxE99wwWdHSPvS2/s320/943315_10100671667824341_872686429_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think it looks neat! ^_^<br />
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By the way, if you want something larger, use tin cans like this one! (I made mine like I did because I wanted to organize my pens in a bit more specific compartments. And I had a lot of toilet paper tubes and not a bunch of cans).<br />
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<a href="http://www.smallhomelove.com/map-and-burlap-hanging-soup-can-pencil-holders/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrVOphTcRfI1snfs5xRaZGPEtEMMvYE60eO2tBqX9NBsSHSc_NzgxfjtP_40Gy-0yi4uP1uwX8BfKF7ENuu-e8woQa1qAFntlQOApxQaM_kEYPqwa3zCez_oddEMK8L8Bn_jE5dQu7E8z/s320/diy-map-pencil-holders.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You can see how she did it <a href="http://www.smallhomelove.com/map-and-burlap-hanging-soup-can-pencil-holders/" target="_blank">here</a>!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-28760594083419593042013-06-18T21:22:00.001-07:002013-06-18T21:22:19.702-07:00A Fan Video In The MakingIn an effort to stay creative, I've started just doing my own projects. One of these, which I hope to have completed before the end of July, is being loosely called "Sad Robot" or "Lonely Robot."<br />
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Here's the back-story: working at Banana Republic, we have a bunch of songs that play all day long. There is a variety of maybe 15 or 20 songs. Sometimes songs are added or detracted, but not often. So I hear the same songs, over and over, every day, all day long. One song that stuck out to me in particular was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_oMD6-6q5Y" target="_blank">"I Am Not a Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds</a>. As I listened, a narrative began to develop in my head. When I saw the video, however, I was a little disappointed. There were no robots! Certainly it was my duty to amend this. And so, I'm attempting to create a "fan video" in which I overlay her audio over my video, and pray that I don't get sued. I may send a fruit basket or something preemptively. <br />
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I have planned and plotted, and even made a storyboard! Check out a piece of it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-RmajEcMOUoD2zHxjFcuHu2BRll5KbqWyTJORkKEqwAYYF5IrdfPVjylhs9VGBA3vBHrUbwoAKBlGfIubdKdAZSOY2_mbQKrMK-qrmKPg4FiaPklTDZoRjIiFcD49Q-xP2EBgSrn6Vzb/s1600/B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-RmajEcMOUoD2zHxjFcuHu2BRll5KbqWyTJORkKEqwAYYF5IrdfPVjylhs9VGBA3vBHrUbwoAKBlGfIubdKdAZSOY2_mbQKrMK-qrmKPg4FiaPklTDZoRjIiFcD49Q-xP2EBgSrn6Vzb/s320/B.jpeg" width="308" /></a></div>
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Rudimentary, I know, but it gets the point across to me, which is what matters. I also kind of think this particular shot is hilarious the way I drew it!<br />
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Anyway, I'm now working on building the robot costume. Once that is finished, I will start looking around for cast and crew. I don't want to commit people until I know I can set a shoot date. I have a couple of people already who have volunteered time and resources, so I think things will go along pretty smoothly. I need a few more people, mostly kids and guys to play mad scientists, an editor, some locations, a van, and the completed costume. The editor will probably be the most important, since I want to add visual effects and go in and out of slow-mo.<br />
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Here's where the robot is so far:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_AEKCU6M2cloWQHmUDVLpo_k9s7fIfu7Cw5gMrtBC6p82XVPuCOy0ZM5AYsfUdc0HmxsrPorKp0KTCE2Cggphqmjfr1yjkdGv1UeDEBvKVqZNA906rUOPUI_23KZwL328BTnGkkkcjSu/s1600/1010273_10100722694481511_1819098171_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_AEKCU6M2cloWQHmUDVLpo_k9s7fIfu7Cw5gMrtBC6p82XVPuCOy0ZM5AYsfUdc0HmxsrPorKp0KTCE2Cggphqmjfr1yjkdGv1UeDEBvKVqZNA906rUOPUI_23KZwL328BTnGkkkcjSu/s320/1010273_10100722694481511_1819098171_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't it look like it does something? Cool, huh?</td></tr>
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I pretty much gutted a couple of telephones. I'll be adding some more stuff, I found a lot of it through freecycle and people who were just super duper generous! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiymrWkvfDztAP4AS0MOEJGMDnczyajvr98mMip5jDsot2BqPthd1mfdaSCPeLTjp8-yyIwzfIjs01oF5dLaqgdhbn1o-fjtmvm1dkdG_BB7OkgfadZkbdgf74U39bXzUoU1zQZzONwC5/s1600/1016059_10100719785955221_904732026_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiymrWkvfDztAP4AS0MOEJGMDnczyajvr98mMip5jDsot2BqPthd1mfdaSCPeLTjp8-yyIwzfIjs01oF5dLaqgdhbn1o-fjtmvm1dkdG_BB7OkgfadZkbdgf74U39bXzUoU1zQZzONwC5/s320/1016059_10100719785955221_904732026_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to lay out the stuff I have, I find it helps inspire.</td></tr>
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Hopefully I'll have everything put together soon!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-51147470377516935542013-06-11T21:40:00.000-07:002013-06-11T21:40:36.032-07:00The Weirdest Audition EverI would like to share probably the weirdest audition I ever went to. It's been long enough now, I don't think I got cast, and they haven't really reached out to me at all, so I don't think I'll burn any bridges. I won't name names, but I will be very specific about the events, it will be hard for someone involved not to know what I'm talking about. Anyway, disclaimer over.<br />
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First of all, when I was asked to come in, they sent me a script. I had an idea of what scenes they would want me to prepare, since it wasn't very long, but nevertheless they didn't tell me specifically. From the beginning I was a little worried, there were some strange turns of phrase that made me think it was written by someone for whom English was not their first language. That's not really a bad thing, but if you're trying to write a script, and it's supposed to be about Americans, and you aren't strong in the dialect, hire an editor to look it over and polish it.<br />
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I showed up on time, but they were running behind; it looked like they were taking about 15 minutes or so with each person, which is kind of a lot for what they were doing. While I was waiting, I noticed another audition at the same location that didn't have anyone waiting. Another actress and I asked the director about the project, and asked if we could read in, since no one else was there. She said yes, and we did, and I thought it was really cool. Lesson: if the circumstances are right, take the opportunity to crash an audition. Be careful though, these opportunities are very rare, and sometimes it can be very annoying to the casting director.<br />
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I finally got into the room of the project I was originally there for, and they asked me what I thought of the project, and we discussed it a little bit. I was right about my assumptions about language, but it didn't affect my interview or ability to understand him. I thought. I asked him about the ending, which I found confusing, and he said it was supposed to be, and basically that was it. I read the scene, which involved sitting in a "Casting Director's" (agent's?) office looking for work, having to choke down annoyance at their attitude (not an uncommon experience in real life), and put on a professional face. In the scene the "casting director" immediately sends my character (who has just arrived in LA) on a job for a PSA, that "only pays five thousands." I <i>wish</i> it was that easy! Oh, and even with that paycheck she can't make rent.<br />
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Anyway, the point of the scene was to find the subtle difference between being completely gobsmacked at the other person's condescending attitude, and putting on a patient and professional front. I thought I had achieved this in my reading, but the director didn't think so, so I asked him if I should make it more obvious, and he said no. Let me rephrase...he told me I needed to play that conflicting duality, but not to play it. I'm not sure what he was getting at. I read it again, really gritting my teeth when I needed to, because I felt a pretty strong connection to what the character was going through at the time.<br />
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After my performance, the director asked a series of questions. They were completely random. They didn't seem so at first, what actors I like, if I like New York or LA better, but then what kind of car I drive, what kind of toothpaste I use...I really don't know why he needed to ask any of that, and he never told me. It was all very mysterious, like some sort of test.<br />
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What I should have said was, "why are you asking me these questions? What is their purpose? Why didn't you have someone edit your script so that the language barrier was less obvious? Why do you think casting directors send people out on jobs like that? Why do you have a direction in which the casting director "leafs through the pages of her resume?" Look at the headshots in front of you, that's what we use for agents and casting directors too. Why does the main character practice Chekhov in a mirror? How exactly do you plan on staging an "acting battle" at the end? Is it going to be like that scene in American Dad where Stan and Roger act at each other on stage? Do you realize how ridiculous that is?"<br />
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I'm glad they didn't call me back. From what I could tell of the script and meeting the director (who needs to try wearing deodorant if they're going to sit in a tiny stuffy room with bad ventilation all day), it would not be a project I would want to be involved in.<br />
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</iframe></span></span>Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-38036885133788352972013-03-19T08:40:00.000-07:002013-03-19T08:40:01.549-07:00I Didn't Get The Part! (Why That's OK)So last night I had a really great audition. It was intense, I felt goosebumps, and I'm pretty sure the director and casting director did too. It was for a student project, a scene study from the movie Closer (which is a pretty twisted, though well-written film), in which the director was actually using the original play script. It went so well, in fact, they asked me then and there to stick around and do a call-back that night, with an actor they liked for the opposite role, to get a chemistry read. While I was waiting around, they even dismissed one of the other girls they called back! Plus, I got a chance to chat with the guy I would be reading with. I had everything going for me!<br />
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I didn't get the part. They said I would know last night, and I haven't heard from them. But let's break this down as to why this isn't anything to cry about.<br />
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1. I loved my read. I felt like I got everything pretty much right, I was thinking character thoughts, and I was focused, something I have been working super hard on. I used a lot of the tools for auditions and scene work that I had been taught from my amazing teacher Joel Asher when I studied with him last year. I was making strong choices, and had a clear arc.<br />
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2. The director loved my read. At least, he said so. He loved it enough to want to test me with the other actor. He gave me good direction, and I felt like I made good adjustments.<br />
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3. Not getting the part pretty much means the other girl just had better chemistry with the other actor. That's a really tricky thing to try and manufacture, and is very much out of my control.<br />
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So what do I take away from all of this? I'm a good actor. There is nothing inherently wrong with my technique or my brand. And frankly, in this business, that can be an important thing to remind ourselves of. As actors we face rejection constantly, and we need to let ourselves find the victories where we can. Yes, it would have been great footage for my reel, but there will be other projects, and I can take the lessons I learned in this audition with me to the next one.Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-54143463195956102582013-03-03T17:22:00.000-08:002013-03-03T17:49:17.383-08:00DIY Organizing: Magazine HoldersI have been on a bit of a kick lately, organizing all my stuff, cleaning things out, getting rid of junk and clothes I don't use, I was looking for a way to organize some of the notebooks and binders and headshots I have piled around my desk. I decided to use magazine racks. Books and notebooks will stand up, easy to see and grab, and I won't need bookends or worry about things falling over or messy piles. The only problem, of course, is I really don't have a lot of money to spare. What with going on my honeymoon, traveling, etc, I have missed some work, and of course I'm not getting paid for acting (yet.) so I needed a solution that cost nothing. Luckily for me, I'm also super into crafts and sewing, so I had a ton of materials lying around the house!<br />
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If you're like me, and the Christmas/winter holidays littered your house with amazon boxes, you're already well on your way to making some easy magazine holders. You might also have an iron, some fabric, hot glue or craft glue, a sharpie, duct tape, measuring tape/ruler, and scissors. It also helps to have some kind of straight edge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrkFSutX4xBXfdW1Xb9PDtctqmVoHnAnQWUh-AMkyN-CpTqxsTu2Rpulw51am7bIpPF3vG1crJ9g4F2gpmwrv-8s9c_jIMVEDFH5W1_DPVpLrfypvjvdTqb0-6u4uJQVyaJgxpYO8RSQ_/s1600/Materials.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrkFSutX4xBXfdW1Xb9PDtctqmVoHnAnQWUh-AMkyN-CpTqxsTu2Rpulw51am7bIpPF3vG1crJ9g4F2gpmwrv-8s9c_jIMVEDFH5W1_DPVpLrfypvjvdTqb0-6u4uJQVyaJgxpYO8RSQ_/s1600/Materials.jpeg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
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First, I took a medium-large box and laid it out completely. I cut off as much tape as possible, and tried to get the whole thing flat. Then, I measured out the basic dimensions. Most paper is 8.5x11 inches in the US, so I made the long sides 9 inches wide, created a spine between them 2 inches wide, and below one of the long sides I cut a bottom that was 2.5 inches wide, so I would have a little lip to secure to the side and hold the shape. I experimented with two dimensions, one with a 2 inch spine and one with a 3 inch spine. The larger one was a little more stable standing, and better for binders and such. Most boxes have a lot of natural creases built in, so I used these as a guide. That was very helpful, and I ended up going with the natural height of the box, which was something like 11.5 inches. I then used closed scissors and scored along the places where it would bend. I marked the lines in black sharpie here. This is a very useful tool, and helps keep your scoring straight. <br />
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Next, I cut the slanty parts. I went 4 inches from the base, and 4 inches from the spine, made a dot at each point, connected the dots with a straight edge, and cut along the line. Fairly simple. This gives the basic shape you want in a magazine holder, so you can see the corners of the books. Hopefully, you can start to see this taking shape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcevTuRbJmIQH79E89aKrEGI_G6mJckKHC5RcZ-UwOZF4y4if3arwr84ih8Do5CVCVUWW-ZtfLxZyzENHF19NUOr_r2CtBmLChIAZg7PdMyetN0lCHDGae2WWpZfuV9ZkpFo8eQsXp4GG/s1600/Final+Pattern.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcevTuRbJmIQH79E89aKrEGI_G6mJckKHC5RcZ-UwOZF4y4if3arwr84ih8Do5CVCVUWW-ZtfLxZyzENHF19NUOr_r2CtBmLChIAZg7PdMyetN0lCHDGae2WWpZfuV9ZkpFo8eQsXp4GG/s1600/Final+Pattern.jpeg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
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My pattern happened to land on a spot where the box was meant to bend, but I didn't want my holder to bend there. Obviously, depending on the size of box your using, this is inevitable. So I reinforced the crease with duct tape so it wouldn't be weak there. It doesn't really force it stiff, but makes it less likely to tear. This is also important if in the course of making the pattern you find (or make) a small tear. It's important to reinforce these things for structural integrity.<br />
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I made sure to iron my fabric cover (that's what the iron was for), and laid it out under the pattern, wrong side up. There are a couple ways to do this, depending on your skill, scissor sharpness, and general coordination. I found it most effective after a bit of trial and error to place the pattern on the fabric, leaving generous room for seam allowance, and used hot glue to make a line around the outer edge of the pattern and stick it to the fabric. This is kind of hard, and if you are using hot glue, you need to do one line at a time and stick it to each one before the glue cools. You can put glue all over the surface that's being covered, but with hot glue that kind of sticks up and if your fabric is thin, might be obvious on the finished product.<br />
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After the fabric is more or less secure, cut around the shape, again, leaving a bit of seam allowance. I left about an inch all around. you will have to cut a diagonal line where the bottom piece meets the spine in order to get the fabric to lay right. Then glue the fabric carefully onto the inner edges of the pattern. I was worried at first that I might have to allow for folding, but with the fabric I used it didn't make a difference. I just glued everything straight on, and when I folded it up it didn't really stretch or pull. Try to make sure there aren't bits of the corner folds sticking up by putting some glue between the folds.<br />
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Now it's time to put it together! Basically, it all kind of just happens intuitively, but fold up the bottom flap to a 90 degree angle, fold that last half-inch bit another 90 degrees, put a line of glue on the outside of that half-inch bit, and fold the spine and the other side up and over, so that the inside of the other long side glues flush with the bottom.<br />
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Obviously, you can decorate it any way you like. I decided to keep it fairly simple, and just add a ribbon around the bottom. Simply cut to the desired length, and glue on. You could go in any direction with this though, in fact if you have cool wrapping paper instead of fabric, that's probably a great option for your base cover. You could add beads, glitter, ribbons, decoupage, whatever. Make it a theme. Make it a mess. It's your thing, that's kind of the point!<br />
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And <i>Voila!</i> There's your magazine holder! Simple, takes about 10 minutes per piece depending on your level of skill. I'm sure there are more sophisticated ways to do this, but this was what I came up with in a pinch.<br />
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I'm kind of proud of it, since I just sort of did it without any tutorials. Some of the commercially sold ones also have a piece on the front, making it more of a closed box. I think that would be really easy to add, just cut a piece about 4 inches long (whatever the height of the straight edge in front) and an inch wider than the spine. Score and fold a half-inch on each side, cover with your fabric or whatever, and glue it in, using the half-inch tabs to attach to the inside of the front. We'll see how these stand up to the test of time, but I think they're pretty snazzy on my desk, holding my notebooks! (which, it turns out, are too wide to allow me put a front piece on. Oh well. I might do it for the one with my headshots.)Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-25470907565614454702012-12-15T09:03:00.001-08:002012-12-15T09:03:20.907-08:00Daily Work ScheduleI have problems with time management. Anyone who knows me at all knows this. In an effort to improve productivity in my career, I've been trying to get in 40 hours a week. It's been tough lately with the wedding and now the holidays, but after some inspiring quotes from writers about <a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/11/20/daily-routines-writers/" target="_blank">their work schedules</a>, I'm taking a stab at re-imagining my daily routines.<br />
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1. Wake up at 6am as often as possible. Have breakfast and coffee, check emails, fart around on the internet, read, but only for the first hour of being awake.<br />
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2. After an hour to get myself moving around, do exercise and yoga. Go to the gym for cardio on the machines at least 3 times a week. Yoga every day, at least an hour.<br />
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3. Check audition notices first thing. Then again in the afternoon. Then again before bed.<br />
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4. After exercises and working on tuning my instrument (dance practice, vocal exercises) get right to projects. Prioritize them in order of deadline, then what's easier and faster to produce, then work on longer term/more complex work. Start no later than 10am.<br />
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5. Meditate after lunch if possible, or when getting home after my day job and before dinner.<br />
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6. Spend 1-2 hours looking for an agent, but no more than that.<br />
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7. Read more. Find time when I'm unable to function creatively instead of wasting time on the internet.<br />
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8. In the evening spend an hour or two on some of my other creative projects, like my writing or sewing.<br />
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9. Try and tidy the house in the morning, possibly after exercising, and at night before bed. Put things away as soon as I'm done using them. Also at this time, work on any tasks on my to-do list that are just mundane life stuff, like paying bills.<br />
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10. If I'm not doing anything in the evening, like going out with friends or seeing a show or IN a show, be in bed by 10pm. No internet after that.<br />
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11. No more facebook games. I can play on the XBox if I've gotten at least 20 hours of work done by Wednesday. Oblivion and Skyrim are best played in the afternoon and before dinner, especially if I'm spending a lot of time fighting undead. <br />
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I'm going to try to implement these guidelines now, as much as possible, but hopefully they will be in full effect by the new year! I'm almost done with my holiday preparations, so that should be easier to do. Too bad my day job is so busy right now! But things there will calm down in the new year, and I can concentrate more on acting and being organized. Productivity is hard. I'm hoping that more meditation and a better sleep schedule will help. Also, I want to get my place in better order so that it's more conducive to concentration...so basically clean and organize my junk. When everything is everywhere, it's harder for me to think, but also harder to get my ass moving around and cleaning. It's a vicious cycle.Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-4380524569070761632012-12-08T08:49:00.003-08:002012-12-08T08:49:54.036-08:00Why I do Student FilmsI hear, once in a while, people complaining about acting in student films. To that I say, why NOT do a student film? Obviously, when you're like me and just starting out, you'll take anything you can get. I don't submit to roles I'm not comfortable with, but just the fact of the production team being students is no reason to turn them down, and here's why:<br />
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Students usually have access to a studio with equipment. That means your little short or independent feature has things like, cameras, lights, and more than likely, a crew. In my experience, these things add to production value and make your footage look better.<br />
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Sure, you aren't getting paid. Or at least not much. Still, they usually feed you at least. Plus you get footage for your reel, and if you don't have a long list of credits under your belt, that's pretty valuable. Sometimes copy can be really hard to get from a director. For some reason, they just want to hold onto it and never let you see it or have it. Even after the editing process, which admittedly takes a while, it can be tough. They have "other things to do" I guess. Or even better, they lose it! But students usually have things like deadlines, and often help with editing, so it's a lot easier to get your hands on that precious, precious video.<br />
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Yes, it's a bunch of amateurs who may or may not know what they're doing. But they also have teachers and mentors helping them out, keeping them on track, and advising them when they get stuck. I know more than a few "self-taught" film makers who find themselves stymied because they don't have the benefit of this knowledge on-set, which can cause delays and issues with production.<br />
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It's fun. It's, like, really fun. Students are passionate about their projects! Everyone involved is excited, and committed to the cause. They haven't been kicked down enough to hate what they do yet, and they aren't full of ego. They also aren't unrealistic, because they have been told what they should expect on a set.<br />
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This is all coming out of my most recent experience shooting a short film at LACC. I had a really good time, I felt like the director had a cohesive and defined vision, the professor was really nice and helpful while at the same time gave the director free reign, and for all intents and purposes, I felt like I was on a real set, with real film-makers. And it felt great to be a part of that. I can't wait to see how it turned out!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-28568207826476463362012-10-28T16:36:00.000-07:002012-10-28T16:36:53.987-07:00Holy Cow, I Made My Wedding Dress!It's true, I finally got married! It's also true that I made my own dress! For the record, I do not recommend this. It was a ton of stress, and while I saved a lot of money buying fabric direct from merchants in the garment district here in LA, I was still sewing it the night before the wedding, and had to rush to press the front of the hem that morning. So, yeah. Really hard job when you're also planning your wedding, and oh yeah, working like ALL THE TIME.<br />
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But let's discuss how I made it happen!<br />
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When I was thinking about what I wanted in a dress, I started by looking at what other women were wearing in Wiccan/New Age/Pagan weddings, since that was what I was planning for the ceremony. There is a big emphasis on Medieval and Renaissance design. A lot of people seemed to have bought their garb at Ren Fairs or something similar, and many weren't in white. I had long decided to forgo a veil in favor of a flower wreath. One of the paintings that really inspired me was this one, from around the 15th century:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBe8dZAqGq-k6SRtHnkQhhmQzoy0OD-v5xUTlzFODaHpjuqjw5I8484WBa4yY22Ii94Jo-Hg45LwDgjdfSPVF3Yz79VzLqpNGSqCCJdeekCAbrRLtDsRaSHRZq_4_7aDMzNXfXBdRxl1A/s1600/tumblr_m0763pvCBf1rqvfo4o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBe8dZAqGq-k6SRtHnkQhhmQzoy0OD-v5xUTlzFODaHpjuqjw5I8484WBa4yY22Ii94Jo-Hg45LwDgjdfSPVF3Yz79VzLqpNGSqCCJdeekCAbrRLtDsRaSHRZq_4_7aDMzNXfXBdRxl1A/s1600/tumblr_m0763pvCBf1rqvfo4o1_500.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
I especially liked the pick-ups in the front of the dress on the right! I was also heavily influenced by Neo-Classical art, Pre-Raphaelites, and of course the work of John William Waterhouse. I took the opportunity of a trip to visit my family in DC to take a camera to the National Gallery of Art. I also thought a lot about the practicalities of the dress. The wedding was in Idaho in October, and the weather there can be unpredictable. I decided it needed to have sleeves, but that the neckline should be off the shoulder. Here's a photo of the design I came up with:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W_JYZJ4ZwFtab49NHp565cnOQi66DeGQQxTC7PS7sndUMA4OBa9lq7XE42B9oQCGEP8t3J3U0SwDGNkPQeMj_mK85Am56YFWHg0POxD_9XjCGm2WXNMrezMEArkSfscsIwuRLrJeVE4z/s1600/2012-03-02_12-10-42_132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W_JYZJ4ZwFtab49NHp565cnOQi66DeGQQxTC7PS7sndUMA4OBa9lq7XE42B9oQCGEP8t3J3U0SwDGNkPQeMj_mK85Am56YFWHg0POxD_9XjCGm2WXNMrezMEArkSfscsIwuRLrJeVE4z/s1600/2012-03-02_12-10-42_132.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
I started looking at patterns, and of course I had to adjust my design. I decided to go with a combination of Vogue Patterns V1095 and V2842. I also used a skirt pattern from Simplicity. Here's the design I came up with, using these patterns:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrOK3U2Riq8uPKoCgmg67v5gsXVJFgQP8QhCbFwDCGm3vYtPr3euTzF5VRlsdcCWGUgXihmUlqy4uicCv-4ivUqnYu6cFQzSxyBVpQo0N-jYPjNhd17M9MsM_6YX127PdU1k5NjutY1JN/s1600/2012-10-28_16-10-37_450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrOK3U2Riq8uPKoCgmg67v5gsXVJFgQP8QhCbFwDCGm3vYtPr3euTzF5VRlsdcCWGUgXihmUlqy4uicCv-4ivUqnYu6cFQzSxyBVpQo0N-jYPjNhd17M9MsM_6YX127PdU1k5NjutY1JN/s1600/2012-10-28_16-10-37_450.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
It changed quite a bit because of the needs of the pattern. I added pick-ups in the front, and made the sleeves bell-shaped.<br />
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I decided to do a mock-up in muslin before cutting anything expensive. I bought two contrasting shades so I could tell the difference between the lace and the satin. Here's the result!<br />
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I decided I would use whatever lace I had as an overlay on the bodice. The pattern called for a straight cut along the bottom, but I thought it would look better pointed. As I mentioned, I went to the garment district for my materials. I got some good deals too, because they don't mind haggling down there! I bought some beautiful satin from Michael Levine in a color called "candlelight" that had a beautiful glow to it. I had a hard time finding something with a low sheen, but I was trying to get a fondant effect. This stuff looked like cream! I had decided a while ago to use ivory instead of white, which I think worked out well with my skin. The easy part was first, the main satin dress:<br />
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After that, I used some beautiful hand-beaded bridal net. It was really hard working around the design, and the inside of the dress is a nightmare, and I made it too big at first in the bodice, and the under-skirt dynamics were tough because it was so heavy and I ran out of time, but this is the final product!<br />
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(Huge thanks go to <a href="http://avalanchephotography.com/" target="_blank">Israel Shirk of Avalanche Photography</a>, and Alysha Cox who did the flowers!) Again, the bodice is a little big, but it's fully boned and laces up the back. Michael Levine was my source for steel bones which I used in the back lacing for support. And of course, it was a beautiful day for a wedding, with a clear sky and warm. I was so worried we'd all freeze, but it was actually pretty hot out! Anyway, I'm really proud of the finished product, I think for someone who's really only an amateur, this turned out really well. I got a lot of compliments and people couldn't even believe I made it myself! That's a win in my book.Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-9172628201217656612012-08-06T19:06:00.002-07:002012-08-06T19:06:32.856-07:00Presence!No, I'm not talking about the things you get on Christmas and Birthdays, I'm talking about STAGE PRESENCE! <br />
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Now that I'm concentrating on film, it seems like a trickier prospect than it used to be. I was preparing for an audition recently, for a project I really wanted to do, so I asked my amazing acting coach Joel Asher to help me out, maybe give me some pointers for the sides I was given. He said something to me that really made me stop and think, and that I often think of when I'm working on a scene. He said "the acting is there, you just need more presence." Basically what he's talking about, as he explained, was that special X Factor (no, not like the show, but yeah kind of that), that "star" quality that people sometimes talk about, where you walk into a room and all eyes just naturally gravitate toward you. They HAVE to watch you.<br />
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This hasn't been a big problem for me in theater. I'm pretty good at owning a stage space. But I'm also more confident on stage, as opposed to in front of the camera, and so I think that even though I'm making good choices, being honest, and acting <em>well</em>, I'm not capturing the audience like I should. Confidence, of course, is really hard to learn. Especially when you get to the stage in your "career" where you must must must do a project <em>soon </em>or you think you'll never work again! At least, that's what I've been feeling like. I said to Joel, "I <em>really </em>want to do this project." He said, "good." Then I thought about how desperate I was feeling about getting something, anything, and I said it again. And he told me that the second time my face just lost everything. I suppose that was the difference between thinking how much fun I would have doing something I could really get behind, and thinking how shitty it feels to be out of work this long. <br />
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See, that's the real killer. That's the confidence sucking feeling that drains your presence. Part of getting it back is preparation. That's actually a huge part. The other part is <em>trusting</em>. I've always been better at trusting other people rather than myself. I work on feeling that "glowing" feeling whenever I think of it, so that one day I'll just embody it and it will be real and natural. Until then, I prepare as much as possible, give myself some affirmations, and dive in.<br />
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There's an anecdote in John Lithgow's book <em>Drama: An Actor's Education, </em>that describes an early audition at the Phoenix Theater in New York, in which Meryl Streep is auditioning. She comes into the room, introduces herself, and changes her shoes...and blows them away. His description of her charm and then her transformation is an excellent example of the kind of presence I'm looking to cultivate. And while for some that may be natural, and it may have even been natural for me at one time, it is also something I must now hone and develop. And I think I can. Lithgow describes the audition as the last she ever had to do, and I think I can believe it.<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I mean just look at her...she always had that light!</span></em></div>
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By the way, the audition went really well. There were two roles I was reading for, and one was a sort of surly nurse. In my head, she had a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. I wasn't sure at first if I should use a prop, but when Joel saw me do the scene with the cigarette, he said "there she is!" I went ahead and used it for the audition (not lighting it of course!) and I had the casting directors laughing like crazy! I didn't get a call for the role, but later they re-posted it on actor's access and the age range was higher, so I think I just wasn't as old as what they were looking for. And that's okay, it's just really gratifying to know that I did my very best. Next time, I'll get it for sure!<br />
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Also, I finally got a haircut, and now my hair matches my headshot again!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-62020801094113798582012-07-16T19:49:00.000-07:002012-07-16T19:49:03.146-07:00The Actor's FundToday I discovered something I wish I knew about when I first moved here, <a href="http://actorsfund.org/">The Actor's Fund</a>.<br />
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I was alerted to this group by a friend at work who is also an actress, and she showed me some of the job listings they provide, so I decided to check them out. I went to orientation today.<br />
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Basically, they are a safety net for anyone in the entertainment industry. They can provide financial aid, health insurance, career counseling, and a lot of other social services. They also have a job board that's full of jobs that are specifically useful to the needs of people in the industry, such as being really flexible with scheduling. A lot of their financial aid is only available to people who have actually been making money in the industry, so I don't qualify, but anyone can have access to their career services, counseling, training, and social workers.<br />
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When I say the financial stuff is for people working in the industry, keep in mind they aren't really demanding a lot. For most things, it looks like you need to have made at least $6500 per year for at least 3 years in the past 5 years. Or, conversely, $5000 per year for at least 10 years in the last 20. So they are certainly sensitive to the uncertainty inherent in the business. They are also housed in the same building as the SAG/AFTRA offices, so, convenient!<br />
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If you're like me, and not quite making money off of this whole showbiz thing, they have a lot of great resources. Classes for career development, skills for survival jobs, and support groups for various types of people. There is an AA group that meets there, as well as Under-earners Anonymous. They have computers available for job searching if you can't afford internet at home, and they will get you onto Westside Rentals without having to pay the fee if you're looking for housing. The career counseling seems to be geared toward finding a survival job, a sideline job, or a parallel career, as well as transitioning out of the business if that's what you've decided to do. They don't really offer anything in the way of networking or finding jobs within the industry, but if you just need to pay your bills, they're the place.<br />
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I urge anyone who is having issues with their career, or living in LA, to check them out. They are super nice, and they really get what it's like to be in the entertainment industry and what our needs are. <br />
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By the way, they were started in 1882 by Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes Booth), as a service to help actors get buried in sacred ground, something few people in the industry could afford at the time, and they still offer burial services.Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-28794592240913451492012-05-20T22:11:00.001-07:002012-05-20T22:13:53.056-07:00Making it WorkI am in two new videos on youtube now, one on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/noisy0ninja">my channel</a>, and one on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/THISNTHAT2012?feature=">my friend's channel</a>.
The video I posted on my channel is a bit of comedy experimentation, using the stages of grief. I really feel like the class I'm taking at Joel Asher Studio has helped me connect to characters and material.<br />
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This video was all improvised, using the bare skeleton of the idea of a girl dealing with a break up and going through the different ways that we all deal with tough times.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CtVXpAk0Fbk" width="420"></iframe><br />
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The video on my friend's channel is a character created for a particular sketch. This is also improvised, and involved a bit of serendipity, as most experiences working with animals tends to be. I was lucky that a friend of mine offered me her cats for this, and I think it really adds a lot to the character to have her (as a cat lady) in an appropriate environment.
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There are, of course, more videos coming in the series for This N That. I'm really excited about the project, and here's why: Everything is bite sized. It's ambitious in that there are a lot of things we want to do, but at the same time I feel like here is plenty of content that we can make quickly and with little money, to start building an identity and a following. The worst thing for a group to do is stagnate, and go a long time with no new material. Peach Market Productions, the banner under which This N That is being produced, is being really smart with producing small, easy to manage projects for now, so that all the work is well done and available quickly. I'm really looking forward to seeing what we can do! Everyone involved is really talented, and really focused.<br />
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I am, I must admit, very influenced right now by Felicia Day. If you aren't familiar with her work, she started a series called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/show?p=eYROA5iyqDw&tracker=show_av&s=1">The Guild</a>. She is an actress who wasn't doing the work she wanted to do, so she went out and wrote it for herself. I have a lot of respect for someone who can just go out and DO. And it's paid of for her. The series is now sponsored and bringing in some money, which has afforded the group better production value, as well as their new channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/geekandsundry?feature=fvstc">Geek and Sundry</a>, with a lot of mini shows celebrating all things nerd. Felicia Day herself has garnered enough attention to be a main character on the epic series <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVBjS22ppdw&feature=related">Dr. Horrible</a>, a guest role on Supernatural, and the lead in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/show?p=x2bSSfqmmB0&tracker=show_av">Dragon Age: Redemption</a>, a series about one of my favorite role-playing games.
The lesson here is pretty obvious...if you make it, the work will come. A lot of people have found success using the pro-active, make your own work method...Good Will Hunting is probably the most famous and lucrative example. But being a working actor means more than just making money. It means always having a project. No one is interested in someone with nothing going on. Even if the answer to that constant question, "what are you working on?" is "oh, this project I'm writing with a friend of mine," it's way better than saying "oh, nothing right now. Just sitting at home, waiting for the phone to ring."<br />
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On that note, I've also been going to Manager/Agent showcases, mostly through <a href="http://actorswest.com/#">ActorsWest</a>. I understand that it's ultimately a paid audition, and at around $40 I can afford to do it once a month. It's certainly less expensive than some showcases. But I can't help but wish I was getting more feedback from the agents and managers that attend. I feel like I would be getting a lot more for my money if they would critique my audition, and give me some clue as to how I come across to people who don't know me, and how I can improve. That is, after all, what I hope to get out of the experience, other than a chance to audition for an agent. I just think it would be more legit if I was getting this kind of feedback.
Watch this space for more videos! And let me know what you think of these!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-33366173376539140152012-01-16T09:18:00.000-08:002012-01-16T09:31:28.955-08:00Character studyA while back, I saw an episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/">Steve Buscemi</a>. His opening monologue discussed his new role as a lead on Boardwalk Empire, and how it took forever to get out of doing character roles.<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zKa7GE1LUuM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This got me thinking, though not about landing the lead in a hit tv show. If I was to do character work, what would I do? A recent audition opened up thoughts of "folksy southern waitress." I feel like I look super cute in glasses, so why not "cute nerdy girl?" I could probably do "un-cute nerdy girl" too, but pride suggests I attempt the former first. I also get compared to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221046/">Zooey Deschanel</a> a heck of a lot lately, so maybe "funny, indie, geeky girl" is a good direction. <br /><br />I've also been thinking a lot about sitcoms as a direction. I feel like I'd be really comfortable with a format that seems to draw a lot of conventions from theater. I know I'll never be Angelina Jolie, or "the hot chick," and action star doesn't seem too likely either (though I wouldn't turn it down!). Why not embrace my face, and try to suit my career to the strengths I have? The only problem is, I'm not sure what those are! It'll take a lot of soul searching and experimentation, I'm sure, but I think now that I'm back in the classroom, that may become easier. I also think that cementing a "type" for myself, as vomit-inducing as it is to my inner artiste, would be a huge advantage in commercial work. We'll see.Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-63156297798290000422011-12-06T12:26:00.000-08:002011-12-08T08:28:16.685-08:00Game PlanWhile I was in Idaho with Jake and his family, camping out, I had some time to think about my career and what my next steps would be. Because I'm a list person, and my ADD means I have to organize everything in bizarre little ways, I made a game plan.<br /><br />Firstly, I need a new job. Or, perhaps, a second part-time job with a set schedule I can juggle Banana Republic and the rest of my life around. Mostly because I need more money for things like classes, cost of mailing, gas, food, rent, etc. Mostly because I'm not making what I need for even basic survival. Thank you Jake, for ensuring that my survival continues regardless.<br /><br />Second, I should do some background work. Not to put on a resume, I'm already aware that isn't a good idea. Mostly for more money, and also to meet people and network. The more showbiz people I know, the more likely I am to work in the industry, in any capacity. My time in Baltimore was proof of that, I think. I have registered with Central Casting, and they pretty much constantly have projects, but I'm struggling with my conflicting work schedule.<br /><br />Third, I need an agent or manager. To that end, I have made a beautiful excel spreadsheet with all the information I could find on agents and managers in the big directory I bought last year, focusing of course on those in LA, who concentrate on actors of my demographic. So I left out people who work exclusively with kids, musicians, emcees, screenwriters, etc. By the way, if anyone needs to borrow my directory, you totally can, but you have to do your own research.<br /><br />I have also just received 500 headshot prints, and bought black ink for my printer, so now I can print labels, resumes, and cover letters, and send them out. I'm currently working on a mail merge for the agencies, to be followed by an email merge, and then the same for the managers. Baby steps, because it's a hell of a lot of work, and pretty tedious. And postage costs.<br /><br />Fourth, I have finally gotten my demo reel put together, thanks to James Placious and Peach Market Productions! It was tough, I had a lot of footage to wade through (although not nearly as much as I'd hoped, since it's bloody impossible to get footage from some directors) but I think I got something passable put together, which I'm sure will help in my quest for a rep, as well as get more auditions lined up.<br /><br />Fifth, I need more education. I know that sounds crazy, what with the degree in drama, but I'm discovering that a lot of what I know about acting in theater is not helpful when it comes to film. I'm looking into various classes, with different techniques, and of course I'm open to suggestions. At the moment, I'm most likely interested in the Steve Eastin Studio. The classes are all done in close-up, and the technique concentrates on what is most useful for film specifically. Also, it's one of the more affordable programs! I'm also looking into Groundlings (or some equivalent improv group) and the Beverly Hills Playhouse, about whom I've heard some really great things.<br /><br />Finally, I need to generate my own work. I have some ideas for videos, one that's basically a sketch, and also a dance piece I've been mulling over. I figure the more I can put out there the better. I'm also trying to support my friends who are in a similar situation to me, by giving them my time for their projects as well. Actors help each other, right? I also have some ideas for some plays I want to direct, but those are not my priority right now.<br /><br />Happily, things are moving along, and I'm glad I have some tools now to use. A lot of this stuff should have happened when I first got here, but honestly I didn't have the resources then that I have now. And damn it feels good to have 500 headshots at my fingertips!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-83750475555789173122011-02-01T08:24:00.000-08:002011-02-01T08:40:26.773-08:00Closer to PerformanceSo it's been a bit more than a week since I've started rehearsal for "Seven Deadly Sins," and it's going pretty smoothly. I'm playing multiple roles, in fact I just added another one yesterday. We open on Thursday, February 10, at 9:30 pm. We run for 4 weeks at that time slot, then move to 8 pm. The theater is called The Next Stage, and is near La Brea and Sunset. Tickets are $20 a person, but for each person who says they came to see me, I get $5! Woot! Also, they do industry comps for agents etc. I'm trying to decide if I should use the postcards I have, with my old headshot on them, or the printed ones for the show, to send out to agents and managers. I don't think I have my phone number listed on the headshot ones, so it should be ok, since I got them done when I was still in Baltimore.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to performance, I'm almost off-book now. The sketches are really starting to come together! I'm pretty happy with the choices I'm making with the characters, and I'm playing my newest one very similarly to the way the previous actress did, if only because that was how the director wanted it. But it was also a good, strong choice, and I'm pretty sure I can own it myself. I'm definitely having a great time, that's for sure, it's a really free, creative environment, different from Kentwood in about a thousand ways!!<br /><br />Chris Berube, who runs the theater, is really open to producing and lending space to projects. He says if we have a piece we really want to do, or a workshop we want to try, he'll give us the space for rehearsal and performance for free, as long as he gets a percentage of the door. Pretty fair, I think! One of the other actresses said she loves Tennessee Williams, and really wants to do some, and he said if she wanted to put a show on she could. Just like that, and based off of an off-hand comment. It probably helps that he doesn't have a board or paying membership he has to appease in any way, he just does what he wants since it's his name on the lease. Everyone in a show is a member automatically, and gets free admission to other shows, and that membership is good as long as they stay active in the theater! I think he may start charging admission though if they haven't seen or done anything there in like a few years. <br /><br />Basically, I'm pretty excited to be in the group, especially when I hear that people like Paul Reubens and Alan Rickman come by pretty often. I think the show is gonna be good, and I can't wait for curtain!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-12865814165616599042011-01-23T09:57:00.000-08:002011-01-23T13:02:21.407-08:00New Project!!On Friday I had an audition at The Next Stage, a small theater in North Hollywood. The director asked us to do an exercise, in lieu of a line reading or a monologue. We got on stage, three at a time, and when he put the music and blue light on, we had to approach these boxes, as though something was attracting us to them, something we made up in our heads, something evil. Then, when he shifted the lights to red, we were to become possessed by whatever was in the box. I chose Pride, and when the lights changed, I started crawling slowly up onto the box, saying stuff like "I can do 800 jumping jacks," and "I won an award for my cake at the bake sale," in a creepy sort of voice, just listing accomplishments as though I was desperate for approval. It was a strange little exercise, but I guess the point was to have us make a deliberate choice and see how we moved and presented ourselves on stage, which I've never really had a problem with. I sweated a couple days, but last night the director called me to offer a part!<br /><br />The project is called The Seven Deadly Sins, written by the director I believe, and it's basically a series of vignettes around the theme. A lot of theaters in the area seem to be doing similar pieces, as I've seen audition notices at other places. But the company seems really cool. The theater space is small but I think I'll have a lot of fun with it. The schedule is actually gonna be really convenient since rehearsals are in the afternoons rather than evenings, and performances are only Thursday nights. Rehearsals are Monday through Friday, but only for three to four weeks, so really it's not that major of a commitment, which means it won't interfere with work too much and I can still look at other projects. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that Banana makes me close most days, I could probably do a whole other play on top of this one! <br /><br />Anyway, I'm super excited just to be working on something creative, and I'm really interested in seeing how it turns out!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-36254803626241512222010-11-21T16:45:00.000-08:002010-11-21T16:52:31.600-08:00Getting Out ThereWell now that I'm on Actor's Access, there's absolutely no excuse! I've submitted to tons and tons of projects, and have had 2 auditions, neither of which I have heard back from. HOWEVER, I'm hopeful I'll get into a new project soon. Thus far I really like the website's system, great breakdowns, a lot of sides through Showfax, a good messaging/appointment confirmation system, and it's super easy to use. I can apply to 10 projects in however long it takes me to decide which roles I want. Generally about 10 minutes! <br /><br />Work at Banana Republic is coming along at its own pace, I'm learning a lot and the people are lovely. Hopefully, I'll have enough money put aside for a new haircut...much needed! I think it's long enough that the old cut can be fixed, but I'm trying to decide if I want to keep the length and just clean it up, or cut it back to shoulder-length, it's about 10 times easier to deal with that way!<br /><br />So far I'm doing ok in auditions...but I have a real desire to get back into an acting class, maybe an audition intensive or something. I have this feeling that I have a lot of great things inside me, I just need someone with the right connections to believe in me enough and get me some work! The agency search drags on, there is just no easy way to go about it. Hopefully when I'm working on a film, I'll look a bit more enticing!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086552597612842428.post-37791860560098551162010-10-04T17:25:00.000-07:002010-10-04T17:35:17.337-07:00Agent ShoppingWell I got a copy of the Representation Directory (holy mother it's huge and expensive!) and I'm on IMDBPro, which means I get to check out all the agencies in the area. I sent out about 50 or so submissions, and I'm sending more soon. Postage is kind of expensive, unfortunately. To save a little, I'm emailing my materials whenever possible. I have snazzy labels, so I can put a professional touch to it.<br /><br />So far I've had one bite. A commercial agency called me back, and I had an audition with them last Thursday. I read a PSA about drugs and a L'Oreal commercial spot. I really think the on-camera class I took in MD a couple years ago really helped! I tried to slow down and take my time, smiled a lot (at least for the L'Oreal bit!) and tried to look at the camera a lot. I think I read my best, and I feel good about it. They said if they were interested I'd be hearing back in the next two weeks. In the meantime, I'm just gonna keep submitting myself for things.<br /><br />Kids' classes are over, so my next project is helping out with choreography for a workshop of Little Shop of Horrors. I'm gonna concentrate on the urchins, do some motown style stuff, and just add a little to what the leads are already doing. Honestly, doing the classes gave me a lot of confidence for what I could do creatively, it was a real stretch trying to add choreography to a number like "Not While I'm Around" (Sweeney Todd), which doesn't traditionally involve dance at all. <br /><br />Other than that I don't really have any projects in the offing, I'm taking some time to save up money with my new job, and anyway I'm planning to go away for a couple weeks with Jake, so it's hard for me to commit to anything right now. I am, however, looking forward to seeing my friends in some shows!Noisy Ninjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119935045869817386noreply@blogger.com0