Unscripted - A Blog for Actors - Backstage

Silence Is Golden, And Other Musings

As I mentioned, my shoot the other day went off without any major hitches.  Although, I have to say I was surprised that the 2nd AD had to shush the crew so many times – even threatening them with immediate termination.  And twice someone’s cell phone went off.  Granted, it could have been the ad agency folks, or even the homeowner (who was flitting about snapping photos of her house turned upside-down with too many people in too small a space, and loads of equipment and furnishings that were not her own – the plates had to compliment-yet-not-match-or-clash with the wardrobe and vise versa).  But still, someone from the production team should have made sure their cells were silenced.

And, yes, vibrating phones make noise, too.

Anyways, an excellent and important point was driven home once again: when on a set, turn your phone to silent, or better yet, off completely, unless you need it on.  And no whispering to your peers in the other room, either.  We can hear you and probably so can the mic.

On another note: have you ever had your food painted with water and a paintbrush in order for it to have an appealing, glossy sheen (which, conversely, actually makes it less appetizing to those witnessing the "food painting")?  That was a new one for me. 

On yet another note:  I did finally get a call for a SAG audition (commercial, OF COURSE, *little sigh*) from one of the agencies that went MIA on me.  So, that’s a relief.

I feel like I had a million things to write about but now my mind is a blank…

I just threw together the monthly Reading Lab for MC2 which will take place this Sunday.  I’ve selected 2 plays and cast them both.  We always welcome new scripts (comedic), so feel free to pass some on!  I also will be seeing a friend’s show tonight – oh, and I just got a yes from a woman who I’d asked to do an art studio share with!  It’s $200/mo. Which is, you know… it adds up… but the idea of having a space (besides my poorly jury-rigged kitchen) to draw in makes me literally salivate.  I’m so scared to say yes, but I think I can swing at least 1 month and see how it goes.

Oh, to be free to draw again without being cramped or worrying about the many ways which my sad little improvised set-up can thwart me!  For a little bit, anyway.  And it'll be cool to meet new folks as this wall is in a 4 bedroom work/live loft in DUMBO.  Very cool.

Happy leap-day!

--Susan Atwood

Two Turtle Turds

This week, two of the same, in a way... Auditions that is... Or "they" were... Actually, call backs... And most specifically "same day, straight to call back, first call with producers, can you get there in an hour" sessions.

Usually, I love these suckers... I mean why waste the time and the gas to just have to come back later... And if you can get right to the people making the decisions... Most excellent.

And I'm all for out of the box thinking... "But hairy, intimidating motor cycle biker" was one of them...

But when I was told to wear my Harley gear or leather pants... I was like... "Do you even know who I am?" I mean, I can put on ripped blue jeans and a sleeveless, but I look like I'm heading to home depot, not a motorcycle rally.

On Thursday, when I entered the room, the director couldn't have cared less that I was standing in front of him... Actually, I think I annoyed him... Do you know that look... "You're wasting my time... How could you think you'd be right for this..." Well, okay, maybe that was my own stuff put on him... But he was without a smile... Without patience... Without warmth... Luckily behind him were several producers... And they smiled,  said hello, or laughed at my jokes... At one point, when one guy blurted out a laugh at something I said off the cuff... I pointed and was like... "Thanks for getting that."

Yesterday's audition was much friendlier... But as far as direction... Well, let's just say it was all, "get in, get out, thank you very much." Ah, yes, 60 minutes driving to get there... 60 minutes driving to get home... Ah, yes.

It's my job... It's what I do... I wanted to vent immediately to everyone I knew... Thankfully, no one picked up... After ten minutes of sitting in traffic, I decided to open the windows and vocalize... So if you were on the 10 yesterday, and you heard someone singing operatic scales... Yeah, that was me...

-- And A Quiche-ridge Sitting In Traffic ~ Tom Kiesche

Duh!

I forgot to post pix of myself so you can see what I look like. I just tried to upload a slideshow and it didn't work too well, so let's do it this way--here are some pertinent links

Here's my website.

Here's my IMDb page.

Here's my MySpace page.

All the pix you ever wanted. Plus some, probably.

Hasta!

--Nicole

Introducing...

ME! ;o)

Hi y'all, I'm Nicole, and I'm a new guest contributor to "Unscripted". Very, very excited to be here. I've been blogging for a little over 2 years now at my own personal blog, and it's pretty cool to have the opportunity to expand and share my experiences with an even bigger audience (as an actress, of course, I love an audience).

A little background on me: Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, I am the eldest of 7 girls. Never a dull moment, and never a quiet one, either. I graduated from high school and went to the University of Iowa at the age of 16, as a Spanish major. Somewhere during my UI tenure, I realized that I DIDN'T REALLY want to work as a translator for the UN, and I needed to find a complementary major so I could actually make a living once I got out of school. I tried business (kicked my butt), social work (depressing), considered law school, and a few other things, until I took an acting class and got bitten. I did lots of plays in Iowa and Chicago, then decided to make the move to Los Angeles, and here I am.

Once I got here I got stuck in corporate America. Just couldn't figure out how to make ends meet and get out for auditions. One day I asked a veteran actor. His response? "Sometimes you don't [make ends meet]." I started to look at things differently (i.e. "what's the worst that could happen?") and started preparing to make the leap.

Fast forward (okay, well, not that fast, but forward nonetheless) 5 years, and I can say that for the past 2 years I have been able to make a living as an actress. I still do production work a few times a year because I enjoy it (and like the people that I work with), but acting has been my bread-and-butter since 2006, and since I just booked my first commercial spot of 2008 TODAY (whoo-hoo), I'm ready for more of the same in 2008! Life is beautiful, and dreams do come true. To quote Thoreau: "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." Temper a dream with some elbow grease, and you can go places.

Let's go.

Talk to y'all again real soon.

--Nicole

P.S.--I love quotes. And shoes. ;o)

What Comes Around Goes Around

One of my hippy friends just sent me an email about a show Oprah did the other day which included a story about Freegans, which I've heard about many times before, and there was mention of a website I thought some people might be interested in.  It's www.freecycle.org where people offer and find items for free. 

The idea behind it is that we produce and consume and waste so much, rather than adding to the waste, why not use what's already here and help stop our landfills from overflowing.  Apparently you can find a group of people participating in freecycle.org locally in your area.  So if you're in need of home furnishings, clothes, equipment, tools, supplies, books, kitchenware, what have you, check it out.  And if you've got stuff that you want to let go of that's still usable and in good condition, don't throw it away.  There's probably someone out there who'd be happy to take it off your hands.

After reading Eve's post about ideas for stretching $5 to eat, it got me thinking about great cheap and nutritious eats.  Rice and beans, sweet potatoes, bananas and peanut butter, and trail mix first come to mind.  Also, if you don't already know, the produce at Korean grocery markets is super cheap.  Unfortunately it's not certified organic, but if you're temporarily out of cash, I think it's fine to do what you need to do and eat as well as you can in the meantime.

If you're on the opposite end of the spectrum and maybe friends with someone who might be a little hard pressed for cash, invite them over, have a dinner party, pack up all your Tupperware with "left overs" and don't take no for an answer when you ask them to take it home.  I am far from good, nice, or saintly, but no matter how much or how little we have at my house, we try to do it as often as possible.  There was a time when we had to buy food with pennies.  I'm not kidding.  We all need a little help once in a while.  And there ain't nuthin' like some good home cookin' to nourish the soul and body.  Yours as much as your friends.

--Ming Ming

Somebody's Playing Me

I am in the midst of a criminal investigation.  Don't worry.  I'm not the one being investigated.  Someone has stolen my identity and they are about to get soooooooooo busted by the cops.  This person was pretty stupid.  Unbelievably stupid actually.  After all my detective work, and time spent at the precinct talking to cops and filing reports, it's like a really lame episode of Law & Order.  I still have to speak to a detective next week.  And I can't wait.

So how does this pertain to you?  If you haven't already, I would strongly advise you to take some precautions to protect yourself from identity theft.  It's pretty freaky how many people I know who have fallen victim to this crime.  And while my situation isn't nearly as bad as theirs, it can be a really big pain in the ass to deal with.  So better to be aware so you can avoid having to be bothered by it.  Though as an actor, I think it's great to spend some time with cops, behind bars, in the back of a patrol car, in a courtroom, or even just as a regular Joe hanging out at the donut shop.

The obvious things are making sure you don't carry around your social security card in your wallet or purse.  If someone gets their hands on that and your SS# is in there too, they'll be able to do a lot of damage quickly.  Keep your SS# tucked away hidden somewhere else.  Same goes for your passport. 

Don't leave your mail lying around in your car in plain view where someone can see your name and address.  Change your passwords on everything once in a while.  If you move, be sure to submit a change of address at your local post office as soon as possible, and notify everyone you do business with of your current address, especially credit card companies, banks, employers, et cetera.

In addition to checking your credit report every once in a while to make sure all your accounts are in order, I also highly recommend contacting one of the credit reporting agencies and putting a fraud alert on your credit report.  It just makes it more difficult for someone if they try to open an account in your name.

Be sure to log off of websites on shared computers completely if you're ever accessing anything that's got your personal information on it so the next person can't get to it.  And be aware of providing personal information while gabbing away on your cell phone if anyone's within ear shot.  And if you ever have to give someone your information and they jot it down on a piece of paper, make sure that you get that piece of paper, or watch them destroy it.  And get yourself a paper shredder to destroy any documents or statements that you want to dispose of.  You never know who might go through your trash and get your information.

Some of these are probably obvious.  Some I've probably missed.  Hopefully some of it will just serve as a healthy reminder to watch out and be careful.

--Ming Ming

A Commercial Success (So To Speak)

I forgot to bring my camera on the commercial shoot yesterday.  Probably because I wasn’t thinking clearly when I got up at 5:30 am.  I had to meet the van in west Soho at 7, which isn’t bad.  BUT, west Soho is motherluvin' hard to get to for me since I'm nowhere near the IRT.  So I had to leave as close 6 as possible to be on time and I just made it at 6:58.

The drive to Jersey was fine.  Breakfast was fine – they had a truck this time and not just a table of sundries.  I didn’t know what to order from the slightly intimidating man in the van so I decided on a bagel and fruit.  And coffee – definitely coffee.

I so wished I had brought my camera because I always love to see a house upholstered in protective cardboard.  The floors, halfway up the walls, cabinetry, etc.  For every actor out there who prides themselves on being “green”, I got news for you: this can be a terribly wasteful business.  (Though also oddly resourceful.)  But more on that in another post.

The little girl I was playing “mom” to was a trooper.  The director would give her a direction and she would do it.  Maybe not nail it, but she retained the note.  Even several last-minute script changes.  How many of us can do that 99% of the time?  Even the director said, “I know if I were you, I totally would have forgotten my note!”  Which is so true.  How many times did I find myself intently looking at the director as he spoke – nodding my head and saying, “Mm hmm. Gotcha. Definitely.”  Then as soon as I heard someone call “speed” I'd panic about the soon-to-follow “action” because I blanked on what the hell I was just asked to do!

But I managed.  Though I’m a little disappointed with my performance.  I don’t know why but I found myself very… I dunno how to describe it.  But when the call came from the room, where the ad folks were watching, for me to be a “happier mom”, I realized that I hadn’t been smiling at all.  YIKES.  Not that real moms smile all the time – especially when delivering a meal to their families – but still.  This was a comedic spot…

I don’t know why but the more I tried to perk myself up, the more leaden I became.  I felt the smile being forced – I knew it looked fake.  I knew I must look crazy, or… something.  If I could have switched my mood with the spot I did in April, it would have better fit that dry, impersonal climate much better.   Yesterday's environment deserved more pep.

But it’s over and done.  The director was fun.  The crew was great.  My “co-star” was a real professional.  And I re-learned why I don’t own a pair of khakis – god, I look hideous in those things.

--Susan Atwood

You Should Watch This

This has nothing to do with "acting..." but everything to do with action!

How To Eat On Five Dollars

It's a tricky thing in this part of the world. Eating on five dollars is...well...hard. If you want to eat well. Even as a skinny white chick. This skinny white chick happens to enjoy eating VERY MUCH. I pretty much nailed a whole slice of huge, fluffy New York style cheesecake the other night (cue rumbly belly) with a little help from someone else...but man... HUNGRY with a capital H. Thought about delivery but I can't NOT tip the driver well and that's too much...really don't feel like driving anywhere--finally tucked my car in for the night--and eating out...too much...tired...really don't feel like walking anywhere....but man I gotta eat.

However, I can't do another back-to-back bologna sandwich. Ugh. That's pretty much all I have in my fridge right now and moving wiped me out. So...only due to the insistance of a generous friend do I have $25 dollars to my name...and it needs to last until my next paycheck...which will (hopefully) be BEFORE Monday. Oi. We've all experienced this before. Unless you're living at home with mommy and daddy (and LUCKY you...sort of but not really) you've never known the feeling of being HUNGRY, yet, hestitating to spend that last dime. Especially on food. Watch that money disappear.

I could cook something EXCEPT...no stove in the new place...so that's out too. (Laughter...) So, it might be break open a cold can of beans night...now if ONLY I could find that can opener. Hell, I can't even find my toaster...and we're back to bologna.

What does this have to do with acting? Sometimes, life is figuring out how to LIVE. And not be discouraged or throw darts at yourself internally when it's a struggle. I'm typing through an empty belly and I know that this is temporary. I look around this lovely new apartment and finally feel...HOME. Although...oddly enough my...something...toilet?!...decided to make an extremely possessed bubbling noise and I haven't been near it in hours...what the heck????

So...live it up, friends! Don't worry, be happy. Seriously, this is not some hopeful-positivity...this is real faith. Faith that I trust and know myself and what I have created around me and that EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

It's nice to have a new address. Ironic that I moved from a Riverdale Drive to a Riverside Drive. The word River just keeps cropping up. Along with Fleur-de-lis...they're on my favorite jacket, on places I just happen to wander into...and there's one on my new mailbox...it's become my good-luck charm.

Oh--and Taco Stands are the answer...as are little Sushi Delis in supermarkets. Anyone else want to offer any five-dollar-dinner ideas? I'm sure we're ALL ears. And here's a preemptive Thank You.

--Evelyn White, photo by Tom Kiesche

Blame it on the Eight-Foot-Cockroach

Putting oneself on tape is always tricky.  You know, for that exciting project on the other coast or overseas  ... or the one half a mile from your apartment that you just can't physically get in for.  I've done a couple of these in the past few months, for each of the above mentioned reasons, and I find the process to be exciting and extremely terrifying at the same time.  Much like getting a radically new hair cut from a brand new stylist.  Or attempting any one of the body-contorting positions in the Hot section of Cosmo. 

Perhaps I'm being a touch dramatic.

But regardless.  Every time I go in to do one of these things with a new scene, as a new 'character', in a new situation or environment, the challenges are different.  Thus far I've done a just-been-kidnapped-twenty-seconds-ago scene, been right smack in the middle of a Viennese Waltz (and talking, for some reason) scene, and having just crash-landed on some "god-forsaken planet" (and still being hotly pursued by the bad guys) scene.

Needless to say, putting the above on tape and attempting to make it look realistic has been a challenge.  You know, without the gag-in-mouth and gun-to-head, actual dancing, or being chased by giant cockroaches from the year 2600 and fighting them off with ray guns.  I'm not kidding.  I did put that one on tape yesterday.

So how to do you recreate an environment that's essential to the scene?  I've tried tying my hands (kidnapping scene), which actually worked quite nicely for the sense of realism.   I'm bribed an actor friend of mine with scones to read with me (Waltz scene), and he subsequently stood there as I 'fake' danced with him (it didn't come out as ridiculous as that just sounded, so don't laugh).  However, the crashed-on-planet-in-middle-of-nowhere-eight-foot-parasite-scene didn't really take off (no pun intended) like the other two did.  I'm still trying to figure it out.  Is it the difference in the style of writing (Sci Fi certainly has a distinct tonality of it's own, and don't get me wrong... I'm as large of a nerd as they come... but it's less along the lines of Hamlet), or was my 'game' just totally off the day we taped it?

I think perhaps it's a combination of the two.  But regardless, I'm frustrated with the results, and I'm likely gonna re-do the thing in the next couple of days and see if I can 'bring it' a bit more.  Without, of course, the near-homicidal-cheerleading-squad undertones that firmly accompany that phrase.

After all, who wouldn't wanna do a movie where you get to fire a ridiculously futuristic weapon at gargantuan man-eating insects?

-- Ashley Avis

Advice I Cringe To Give

Hey ho, I'm all about the warrior actor sticking up for their rights, getting their due credit and stopping the masses from walking all over them.  And trust me, they will try to run all over you.  They may even leave a nice shoe imprint on your forehead if you let them. 

But...and oh how I cringe to say this...sometimes you need to roll over and let them.  Some battles just aren't worth it, especially if you're in the beginning stages of building your career.  No wonder some actors turn into total divas when they become stars.

I can see it now.  Only Voss water for me!  All seeds must be removed from my tomatoes!  Perhaps I'll fire an assistant every day to rival Scott Rudin & Murphy Brown.  Or not.  I'm out of demands, so I'm guessing I wouldn't make a very good diva.  But you'd have to ask my brother his thoughts on that one before taking my word for it.  Yea Michael Jackson!  That's his real name.  I'm not joking.

Anyway, I was getting down on myself this week as I was reflecting on past and current projects that didn't add up to everything they could have been.  Slowly but surely I've been getting better gigs, but each job I booked this year fell apart somehow as the People In Power played the idiot when it came to paying up, signing contracts (and "losing" contracts), credits and tape and delivering on the most basic of amenities (hair, make-up, food, wardrobe, restrooms) that are assumed on a SAG project with SAG actors.  A little professionalism here, people.  Many have told me that I'm a smart girl in a stupid business, but there are smart and stupid people in every career, so I don't buy that argument.

I've been with the same lovely theatre company for 2 1/2 years and I have done five main-stage productions there.  Although the theatre promises to pay its actors a very minimal $8-10 per show per equity rules,  I have never been paid.  You know, I love the company but a little gas money would be awesome as I schlep back and forth to rehearsals or at least I could use the 50 bucks to pay for the costume and shoes I most likely had to purchase for the show.  Or even a simple, "We just don't have the funds and we don't charge dues so..." acknowledgment would be awesome.  But it's my choice whether I make a big stink about it, alienate myself and stop doing something I love.  For me, the 10 bucks a show isn't worth it, so unless a company member is reading this blog (which I doubt) mum is the word for me.

What I'm trying to say by using a very benign example and keeping the juicier examples to myself, is that you have to choose which is the lesser evil.  And sometimes if you want to work you gotta shut your trap.  Sometimes you've gotta put on that grin and be the most fun person on set, so that you can get to the next level, even if you feel you're being cheated in some way or another or that your contract is a bunch of BS.  Let's face it, people work with the actors they like, not the ones that make demands and cause problems. 

How many times have you been paid for sitting at a commercial audition or callback for an hour past your scheduled time?  SAG says you should be, but how often does that really happen?  I'm still waiting for about seven checks, but I'm not holding my breath.  And I'm no bigwig commercial girl, so I'm not blowing any whistles and pissing off some casting director I just met.  We all know identities aren't actually protected in such cases.

I hate rolling over and playing dead more that any other aspect of the business.  And if I do decide to fight (yeah Pork People, I'm talking to YOU) you will know that you picked the wrong actor to mess with.  But for now, I'm a demure little rose.  I smell so good, you'll want to call me again.  And next time, I'm doing it by the books.

(Photo By Maarten Deboer)

--Stacey Jackson

Oops I Did It Again

Learn learn learn learn learn learn learn learn. Oh man... Learn learn learn... Yet  another mistake... Perhaps you too can learn from it.

If you read me, you know I did a movie in December... You know I was there every day of shooting. You know I went beyond my role, shot footage that will be in the final movie... Lots of footage... You know I shot and was in lots of Bonus feature stuff. And you also know a good friend of mine directed it.

Well, I talked with my friend yesterday at the ADR session... Turns out, I'm not getting my name posted in the Opening Credits. Why? Well, it has nothing to do with him... It has nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with how many days I worked. Or how much I contributed to the project.

All the billing was done at the contract negotiations... And my agent took my eagerness to work with my friend as lightly as I did. My words were something to the effect of... "Whatever it takes, I want to work on this project with him."

Oops...

I'm at a point where one day on a TV show and I'm getting Opening Credits... And I guess, I just thought, I'd be taken care of with this project.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Because I know that with all TV shows and Big Movies, Credits are often determined UP FRONT... And that's how it's done.

No grudges...
And I certainly don't fault my friend, at all.
I also don't fault my agent...

However, I did let him know that from now on, friends or no friends... WE must remember to negotiate all aspects of the contract, no matter what the project, or who is casting, producing or directing... I almost went so far to tell him to protect me from myself in the future.

As far as the Producers changing the credits, or adding a credit...

-- Quiched Again ~ Tom Kiesche

And there's a blog that has yet to be written, about the above picture, but a cup of coffee to the first person that guesses correctly in the comment section.

Farah recommends...

If you already haven't, please go see Tracy Letts' August Osage County on Broadway ASAP! After the just-over-3-hour show was over I was ready to pack my bags, move to Chicago and join the Steppenwolf Theater Company ... if they'd have me!

What outstanding performances! The show has two intermissions, that are more for the actors than the audience. Each hour between breaks passes in a heartbeat. I grew up watching 3+ hour long Bollywood movies in India, but since I've moved countries, my tolerance for long movies and shows has slowly diminished... or so I thought. I didn't shift, flinch or sigh during this production. I was gripped, even though I was sitting in my $26.50 seat in the last row of the theater. Deanna Dunagan and Amy Morton were my favorites. Kudos to Todd Rosenthal's beautiful set complemented by some spectacular lighting by Ann G. Wrightson.

Uh - oh - I feel like I'm writing an official review for this show. But really, if you want to spend a quality three hours, go see it.  Its not the best play ever written, but those amazing performances make it so worth it!

I've been told to go see Cat On A Hot Tin Roof - Love Terrence Howard, especially those eyes! Will keep you posted on that one!

-- Farah Bala

Make Art

I went for an Oscar party on Sunday where the preparations were elaborate - ballots, discussions, teams, money involved - the works. My first Oscar party that was so charged with excitement! Normally its just the 'who's wearing what, who's winning what, who's saying what' kinda stuff. But this was different - high stakes - the pool money was just over 100 bucks and I'm proud to say I came a close second. I'll win next year!

I'd seen a good number of the movies nominated - even did some research on the shorts!!! Three friends who weren't in New York had requested their absentee ballots to be considered. The house had people coming and going, but at any given time there were about 20 people. Yes my friends, this was serious business. If while you were marking your preferences, you decided you wanted to make a change, you needed the canceled bit initialed by the host.

Anyway, on to who won - More than any one, I was thrilled for Marion Cotillard and the 'Once' couple! I was rooting for them. She gave an astounding performance, and 'Once' was just a small, simple, beautiful movie. Loved what they said in their speeches - Make Art Make Art Make Art!

-- Farah Bala

Got the Keys!!!

Moving Day Today! Hip-Hip Hooray! So excited and grateful for the people who are helping me upgrade my life today. Two BEDROOMS! I can hardly believe it. Luxury!

Man is it a disturbing-distracting feeling (for me) when everything is in a box somewhere. It's like taking apart a puzzle, storing all the pieces in different boxes and then trying to figure out how to put it all back together. I can't help but feel like a Picasso today...and not when he was in his semi-normal period. We're talking the height of abstract here. Can you tell I got a D in Art History--most boring class I ever took--and I LOVE art! The prof had one of those voices...the kind that should be making meditation tapes accompanied by a Native American flute-blower-person...flutist? It was right after lunch to boot and she showed slides in the dark every DAMN day. ZZZzzzzzzz.... An experiement in bad timing. My blue period. Whatever. I digress.

And... I have to find a stove. I have to say Los Angeles is unique in that I have NEVER rented apartments where you have to provide your own Refrigerators AND Stoves!? I mean, what the heck? I get that they are maintenance and such, but that's a little nutty. Landlords here are all about how much money they can make off the tenant and yet do nothing to provide anything but a roof. It's crazy. Oh well. Remembering gratitude here. I found a great apartment very close to work. HOME. It feels good to be back in the Studio City/NoHo area. I got a little neurotic this morning. I was so eager to move in that I took all my bags out of my car and took them inside...just to start feeling like it was mine! Visualizing furniture...where to hang what...exactly how should I set up my home office?

I don't understand people who buy homes WAY out in the hills only to have a 2 hour one-way commute everyday. Sure, you own a house, but your quality of life recedes into traffic and the jingle-jingle of all your free money at the gas pump. I can't do the commuting thing anymore. I'd rather put my money into my roof rather than into my car.

Anyway...pictures of new place coming soon. Where DID I put that camera. Box A, B, C,.....this could take awhile....

--Evelyn White

March, Where Art Thou?

I have to say, that I am done with February. Now...March please. February was an semi-annoying month. Change, conflict, change. I'm ready to settle into my new place, simplify my life (i.e. stop driving everywhere)...and actually have time to myself again. Time to stop and smell the roses...and the dog poo.

There is an inordinate amount of dog poo in my new apartment-land. Apparently, people believe in the process of natural fertilization. Which is fine, if you don't intend on walking on the grass--OR the sidewalks. Note to dog-owners: pick up your shit (and your dog's). Do you think it would be illegal to pick up their dog's poo in a sack, follow them home, and then after they went inside...unearth the sack of poo right on their front step--with a little note on a toothpick saying, "You forgot this!" Just curious. Maybe...maybe they wouldn't forget next time.

Well. I have to admit that my brain is so full of moving, packing, preparing, coordinating that my brain can't hold anything else right now. So. Short blog today. I move tomorrow. So...back to boxing.

--Evelyn White

Bright Spots & Cozy Niches

I was recently reminded of Hollywoodland, which I think is a good example of a supporting character outshining the leads.  Jeffrey De Munn, as George Reeve€™s' agent, completely stole the show for me.  His brightness and earnestness made everyone else seem to tread water at their expected level of performances. 

Please don't think less of me for this, but I feel the same way about Sandra Bullock in Demolition Man.  Don't ask me why or how, but I've seen that film a few times, and I always find myself wishing she was in the movie more.

Even Julianne Moore's pre-stardom two-minute appearance in The Fugitive (one of my all time favs) captivated me to the point where I totally expected them to bring her back somehow later on in the movie.  Which they didn't – her role was just simply a small one, but her cup ranneth over with so much "it" factor she felt like an important character.

I've also recently become addicted to Netflix online – I have unlimited instant viewing!  (I even got a 20' extension cord so I can watch in my bedroom.  Pathetic, I know, but fun!)  So far I've seen Dead Calm, and it's a relief to know that Billy Zane has/had charisma.  Maybe I just never saw him in the right things but I always felt lukewarm about him (distrust the eyebrows).  I also watched the first 10 minutes of Hussy, with Helen Mirren playing a hooker, but got to creeped out with the Warren Beatty sex scene.  I'm sure there are tons of deeply legit movies from the late 70's/early 80's, but to me – between the music, the clothes and the film quality – a lot of them just feel… ewy.

Yesterday I watched The Young Visiters [sic?] and fell in love with those zany Brits all over again.  I feel such a kinship with their style of comedy.  Once, while at an audition, I wondered aloud to a British actress about hopping across the pond to find my perfectly cozy niche (and loads of guys with slightly arrogant yet disarmingly charming accents).  She advised I "forget it" – the opportunities are way fewer over there and the circles are even harder to penetrate.

Harder than NYC?  Really???

Anyway, I feel at home watching pieces like The Young Visiters and it makes me happy to know that stuff is out there… but sad there isn't more of it.  Maybe that's why I've had a rough time getting cast; maybe I lean in a direction not many opportunities lean in.  I started an on-camera class last week and right off the teacher remarked that I'm a little "showy" for the camera.  And I totally get that.  Part of me is looking forward to having that aspect of my actor self beaten down a little (I'm afraid commercials have inflated it) and try new things…

But part of me cherishes it, and longs for the day it slips juuust right into a kindred project.

--Susan Atwood

Dodging Raindrops

Drip drip drip... The rain slowed down yesterday around 11AM, and my actor was still at his day gig... Drip drip drip... At noon, as my actor was punching out from his 4AM to 12PM shift, the rain stopped... We were scheduled to shoot two and a half hours later... 2:30PM

I called and alerted him to the sunshine that was beaming in my neighborhood for the first time in days...

"Can you get here sooner?"

It took him a while, as he had to go home, get his wardrobe and a few props, and since he originally had plenty of time, he didn't prep a box or bag the night before...

I felt like a little kid waiting for his dad to come pick him up to go fishing...

I kept an eye on the sky...
It was gorgeous light...
A great "storm" tint in the air.

He got to "base camp" at 1:45... We rushed to our first location...

"Do you know your lines?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, go..."

We got off two set ups...
And drip drip drip...
We shot a little more...
But soon it was dropping...
Drop drop drop...

Into the truck...

Making best use of the rain time... We drove to a second location... On the short 5 minute drive, it stopped raining... We got out... Set up... Watched a few coyotes wandering around the park... Got off ten seconds of video when the sky opened up...

And POURED!

Not really being happy with the location, as it was too crowded, a drum circle was nearby, and some Latino ass was squealing the over-sized tires on his jacked up 4X4 as he tore back and forth in the parking lot for no apparent reason... We drove to a more "remote" location...

I have no idea what was so interesting at Griffith Park yesterday, but for a rainy day... It was incredibly traffic laden... A non-stop line of cars raced up the slick streets, and created a whooshing sound in every take. Perhaps it was tourist in town for the Awards... Perhaps it was 100s of Indie Film makers trying to avoid each other.

We tried this place. That place. Sound and falling water kept us moving... Finally, I decided we were probably covered with outdoor footage, and I'd adjust the concept to some include indoor stuff...

Once we got to my apartment... Once I set up the first shot... You guessed it... The SUN came back out.

We moved outside again, and set up...
Yeah...
RAIN.

We'd get one set up inside...
It'd clear up outside.
We'd get two shots off outside...
It'd start raining again...
Get two more shots off inside... It'd stop.

I got off a few shots off outside underneath an overhang, which I shot tight as to not show the rain in the background.

Of course helicopters, police sirens, airplanes and loud church exiting Lithuanian Catholics added to make shooting a challenge... But 4 hours, or nearly 40 minutes of tape later, I felt we had more than enough to work with. As well as plenty of choices to figure out whether to play it straight or play it funnier.

There always seems to be issues during editing, and again I had more technical difficulties with my little "recording studio," but after yanking out a few gray hairs, and cracking a beer or two, I figured out an acceptable audio fix and kept moving forward.

By 10PM I had a NEW project (35 seconds with credit and logo) posted on line.
Not rain nor snow nor faulty equipment...

-- Quiche Moving Forward ~ Tom Kiesche

BTW... The radio station I'm listening to just announced that EVERYBODY was at the Elton John Oscar Party last night... But being part of the collective EVERYBODY (in this world and entertainment biz) I can tell you, that statement was not correct... EVERYONE was not at Elton John's.

Oh and S.W. who just read today's blog told me about Jon Stewart's Vanity Fair joke last night... I think it's funny, so it's posted below in the Cont'd section... The Norbit and Titler jokes are pretty great too!

Breaking into Sony Records & Other Delights

I think it's highly important to have partners in crime, no matter what profession or hobby we find ourselves drawn to.  Whether one is engaging in absolute ridiculous debauchery like attempting to break into the William Morris party during Sundance '07 (... not me, nooo), or more professional pursuits like bribing a taxi driver in order to shoot a scene inside his yellow -- I'm a firm believer of the merits that a fellow crazy person has to offer.

During the delightful Bob Krakower class last week, I had ended up running into a fellow actor and good friend of mine named Kristen, who was also taking the session.  We chatted post-class, and ended up taking a long stroll down 26th Street gabbling about all things classes, career, representation, the works.  It was so unbelievably refreshing to have an open conversation with another actor -- not one that was jaded with pretenses and endeavors to cover up for our lack of having "made it" yet, or discussing various wanted-to-set-myself-on-fire-post-it auditions. 

Kristen and I are in similar 'boats', if you will, in regard to where we both are career-wise right now.  We both have strong managers, have done a few independents, and both feel we rather bombed our Warner Brothers generals.  We're both a little bit off the wall and idiosyncratic in our personality types -- and both worry sometimes about such coming off as 'too much' in auditions.  We're both OCD -- except I arrange my silverware in perfect parallels and she can't walk by a penny on the ground without doubling back and attacking the pavement for collection.  I thought I lost my delightful friend several times during our stroll-and-chat.

After we went our separate ways after hitting 11th Avenue, I ended up walking for a bit just to muse about all things life, career, and chocolate.  I felt revitalized after my conversation with Kristen -- the best way I can put it is I didn't feel so alone.  I wanted to yell, "Look World, I'm NOT the only lunatic out there!" at the top of my lungs.  After looking around and realizing I was literally the only person around save one sleeping cross-country-trucker-guy, I penned and subsequently loudly sang a song I will one day publish called "I'm Not Insane".  It repeats interminably.

I guess it's just important for us to be reminded sometimes that there are, in fact, other people rockin' in the nutter boat with us too.  Fellow loonies pursuing this crazy/wonderful business just like we are.  Struggling and laughing -- and not just due to alcoholism-- just like we are.  Occasionally committing petty crimes like pretending to know someone at Sony Records to get into the building... er, just like we... are(?). 

If anybody wants to get in on the background vocal for "I'm Not Insane", I'm taking applications.  I'm also looking for a sidekick for Sundance 2009 -- WMA Party, you're going down.

-- Ashley Avis

Sacheen Littlefeather, Where Art Thou?

I'm not sure if I will watch the Academy Awards tonight.  I watched the premiere of Dexter on CBS last week and would rather watch that.  (I should have listened to friends and watched Dex when it was first on Showtime.  It's an awesome show!)

I've loved movies since I was a kid.  The Academy Awards were always a yearly pleasure.  But the insatiable media coverage of celebrity these days is upchuck inducing.  And I haven't seen any--not one--of the nominated films.  If I have to see that TV clip of  "I've abaaaaandoned my sooooon!!!" one more time I may succumb to a seizure.  And I don't even have Epilepsy.  I fear that the show will feature an elongated clip of said ham performance and it may prove fatal. 

So, it is with great distress that I must report I shall not be attending this year's viewing.  After much painstaking consideration, I have decided to send Sacheen Littlefeather in my stead, to ensconce herself on my sofa, equipped with all requisite accoutrement to make one's marathon viewing as endurable as possible:  1 bag of Chips Ahoy cookies, 1 quart of whole milk, some ice cream perhaps.  Possibly even one ice cold Corona.  Out of deference to Ms. Littlefeather, I've made no allotment for stereotyping peace pipe smoking.  Besides, my co-op wouldn't allow it.

I anxiously await tomorrow's highlights on Youtube. 

Thank you Ms. Littlefeather.  Speaking of....One of my favorite cartoons as a kid was Go Go Gophers... watch em go, go, go....

Too freaking hilarious:

--Jim Todd