Unscripted - A Blog for Actors - Backstage

Going Deep

The Sugar Syndrome, the show I am producing as well as acting in is what I like to call a spine punch play. Billed by Playscripts as a "dark comedy" some of its running themes include pedophilia, bulimia and sex addiction. We began rehearsals this week and my rock star director lived up to all expectations. This woman shies away from nothing. We are digging in, around, inside and under every addiction and psychosis these characters have. On the day we looked at pedophilia, I went home and cried for an hour. 

Oh Lordy, One Of Those Posts

I cried so hard last night.

I cried because New York treated me so well this week and I’m going to miss it, because the thought of being away from my boyfriend for indefinite periods of time is so upsetting, because while I still live at home, I have a dozen friends who are moving into new apartments this week and I am so jealous of their independence, because I have a dozen friends who are on wonderful vacations in Italy/Paris/Amsterdam/Cape Cod/Hawaii and I am even more jealous of their ability to afford that luxury, because I am unemployed and desire to do work that is meaningful and yet pays well, because my health insurance runs out in 2 weeks and I’m ill prepared for its finality, because I’ve subtly but unsuccessfully been dropping hints to my grandmother in Brooklyn that I want to move back and might need somewhere to stay for a little bit until I’m on my feet. She hasn’t caught on.

When in doubt, make a movie!

I had the pleasure of being a part of a wonderful film project a buddy of mine dreamed up: 12films12weeks! I came across his actors access break down a month or two ago, realized that he was the same Keith I'd gone to college with, went and auditioned, rocked it, and the rest is history!
    It was awesome to be on set again, to be able to contribute my own ideas and sparkling wit to the dialogue. It was also pretty miraculous that we actually shot it all in roughly eight hours. Seriously, that is amazing. I got there at noon on a saturday, rehearsed a bit, broke for food, came back together as the sun was setting and shot the hell out it. The DP was working up a sweat with his steadicam action. The actress I was working with was awesome and rather funny. It was all-in-all a total pleasure! I even made it out in time to go to my friends party at 930!

    And the film itself looks great, I'm very happy with my performance. It's something I can actually use.

They're Not Lying!

Auditions for the film ended after two looong days. It was so refreshing and wonderful to see how much great talent came in, and how prepared and on point everyone was. It was even more refreshing to watch how much my director loves and respects actors. Even when someone who was not right for our project, or needed more training or was having a terrible audition walked in, he gave them all their full 10 minutes, worked with them and made it a good

Legal-ease

A couple years back, a manager I'd been working with asked me to sign with him.  I was flattered and scared and wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into - especially since managers aren't held to certain legal standards like agents.  I called one of the pay-to-be-seen venues I'd worked with many times, and asked if they had anyone on their staff who I could talk to regarding this issue.  In the end, I had some answers to my questions and was able to have a better-informed dialog with this manager - who was happy to be engaged and questioned and we met halfway on some issues.  I was lucky.  Some people, however, are not.

Ensemble Trust

I've been home a week now, and since I've been back in eastern Kentucky I've had a lot of opportunity to see really great regional theatre and a lot of time to assess what I learned, which is:  Acting is a lot like dating.

Today, I saw a musical that I was really unimpressed with; the performers were outstanding musicians and vocalists, but the story was lacking in a major way.  During intermission I didn't get up and mill about and go to the restroom....I sat in my seat and tried to decide why I was tempted to leave...finally I put my finger on it: this was a story about a family unit, with each member trying to find their place at the table - but there were no relationships on stage.  No sense of ensemble.  I had no idea how any of the family members felt about each other, or that one relationship was different than another.  Since I have a mom, dad, and sister I know that my relationship with each of them is specific and different, that I don't treat them the same. 

Post Production & Sock Puppets.

A former classmate of mine recently blasted all of her actor-buddies with a project she had just written/directed.  Now, usually self-produced stuff (not always, but usually) has at least one lip-biting flaw that you'd never have the heart to voice to self-producing-actor-friend.  Lack of money for post production, bad acting, cheap we-got-it-for-free-and-it-shows location... the gamut is pretty darn unrunnable. 

However : watching this particular short, I feel like all the elements came together.  A good example of something to shoot for, so I'm posting it here.  Written and directed by Daryn Strauss.  You go, girl.

-- Ashley Avis

The Boyfriend Who's Going To Put Me In His Film

My boyfriend is a film major at NYU. With one more year to go, he’s preparing to write and direct his advanced film.

I received a draft of his newest script and was floored. It was great! There were so many real moments between the characters, the dialogue was believable, and I saw traces of his own personal life embedded throughout the story, which made it really interesting to read. At the end of the story, I just wanted more.

Shameless plug....one of many to come!

I had my first rehearsal for 'Tales...' this evening. Well, its technically the 2nd rehearsal, but my flight got delayed last night and I missed the first rehearsal. Can you believe it? Today was mainly monologue work, and some scenes, which means that I still have to meet my fellow cast mates. Can't wait!!!!

So here's why you want to stay informed about this show. Its based on true stories and experiences that people have on the New York City subway. And here's the fun part - if you go to their website and click on 'Submit your story' you have the opportunity to win two tickets to the show!!! And if you're reading this from any where in the Big Apple, you know you have a story to tell!

As we were rehearsing, the fun memories of last year's reading came flashing through! Can't wait to share it with you!

-- Farah Bala

HBO Pilot Proposal : A Tad, Er, 'Unconventional'

So I'm shooting a pilot in New York, which is going really flippin' awesome, but I haven't had nearly a moment to sit down and check email... much less properly write about the experience.  I can say, however, it's with the fabulous Nelson George, and my character's name is Faith.  Delightfully more to come soon, as soon as I can nab a vat of coffee and pen my adventures with justice.

However!  Another project opportunity came up -- a scripted 'reality' series, with a Very Influential Producer named Marc*.  Essentially, the person in question (this would be for HBO) would break into a specific abandoned loft space (not "really", this would all be contractual) and take up illegal residence.  From there, debauchery would consume her addled little life.  My coach, Peter Kelley, knows Marc* extremely well, which is why I even got to meet the production team on the project in the first place.  Encouraged to do something unconventional, I submitted (in hard copy form) a Case Study.  If curious, click the link below.  Everything written in this study is completely, 100%, true.

A Case Study:  Why Marc Should Hire Ashley to Live in the Loft of Future Creative Debauchery.

-- Ashley Avis

My Next Netflix

Just saw this news piece about "the best worst film ever made", and now I'm completely curious.  Heck, maybe I won't wait to Netflix it - maybe I'll call my pal who sees everything (like, for real, she sees everything - she once told me, in all seriousness and with a perfectly straight face, that Leprechaun 2 was disappointing) and make a date.  This could potentially be awesome... or just really really not.

A Sophomore Slump

"I hate Sophomores!" My high school English teacher used to say.  "I will never teach Sophomores.  Do you know what sophomore stands for?  Wise Moron!  They think they know everything, but they still don't know anything...sophomores have all kinds of problems!  They're lazy and they try too hard.  Doesn't make sense?  Exactly!"  I personally got along with my English teacher pretty well, but I was senior when I took his classes.  I can remember him being one of the first people to introduce me to the well known and widely excepted phenomenon that is sucky, sloppy seconds....or the Sophomore Slump.

When it rains, it pours...

Last week started as a very ordinary week, with work and some auditions, and the only possible highlight being my birthday on the weekend.

Little did I know that every day of the week was going to bring in some amazing news. Quite a few things happened to and for me, some of which are very personal and I will hence refrain from sharing. But what I can share is all the other amazing stuff!!

On Wednesday, I was offered the role in Tales From the Tunnel, a play that will be staged at the NYC Fringe Fest next month. I had done a reading of it last year, and was crossing my fingers about being able to do the show. FYI, I will be shamelessly plugging the show for the next three weeks - Its based on true stories, interviews and experiences on the New York Subway System. If you are a New Yorker, you have to come see it.

That same evening, I got called in to do a voice-over for USA's The Philanthropist the next day.

On Thursday, on my way back from from a very long, but very fulfilling recording session with some amazing actors, I got a call to do a reading for a book launch in 2 weeks.

On Friday, I left for Chicago to celebrate my birthday with family.

All of this is still fresh, and I'm taking my time to savor it and let it sink in. I secretly don't want it to stop raining!

-- Farah Bala

Breakthrough of the Blank Page...

This blog was written on July 15th and for some reason did not post to the website - So here it is now.

A few weeks ago I had written about an artist friend who was starting a group for foreign born artists to make available a platform for them to voice thoughts, concerns, dilemmas, or ideas. I finally made it to one of their sessions. This was the third time the group was meeting since its birth and the focus was on writing. Oh Boy - time to face my fear, so to speak. The closest I've come to writing has been letters, emails and now blogging. Ok, I've also 'facilitated' the writing of plays in the classroom. But I knew going in that I was going to be challenged, that I was going to work on breaking down those walls of uncertainty and fear.

And I am proud to say I wrote a monologue AND a scene. A million thanks to Larry Pontius for so patiently guiding us through some structured projects. It really made it simpler and got me out of my head. It was definitely a struggle looking at that blank page, and being on the clock. And the more you thought about what this was going to be about, the longer the page remained blank. The more you let the pen and thoughts flow, the more of a thrill and a fun ride it was going to be. At the end of those 5 or 15 minutes we had to show something. There was no judgment at that table, only support and encouragement.

If you asked me where these characters would go, or where they were coming from, or what happened to them in the end, I wouldn't have any definitive answers yet, but I'm sure if I sat down to write again their journey would continue through my pen. Its all about the discipline at the end of the day. But for now I am happy and proud - I took what may be a baby step for some, but was a giant leap for me!

-- Farah Bala

Anxiety

 

It has been a tough two days waiting for Danielle to arrive here in Hangzhou. The hours feel like weeks, the night is endless. Insomnia sets in.

A Good Meeting

I finally had the meeting with my manager today. It went very well actually. Mostly she reassured me that things are super slow right now and it's hard to get clients at my level in when an audition does come up. But she IS submitting me for all the roles I have emailed her- and wants me to keep doing that. But essentially it was more of a it's-tough-right-now so let's not take this as an indicator of how things will be. I'm glad I asked her to meet. I wasn't even sure she was submitting me!
     But this does worry me a little. I'm hoping this doesn't go the same way as the agent who supposedly submitting me for a year with no results. At least that's what she told me.

Singing for 'Million'

Of all the artistic interests I have studied, singing I've studied the longest. However, singing, I've performed the least. I'll tell you why; I can sing, but I can't dance.

I wanted to be an opera singer when I was fourteen, but really I just had a crush on Charles Dance's performance in 'Phantom of the Opera'. Ironic, since I studied at the musical theater studio at Tisch, CAP21. Put me in a club with some electronic pop, strobe lights and great friends, I'm all club-dancing confidence.

But bring me in for a choreographed dance callback for a musical after the singing audition; and I'm breaking down in tears of mass hysteria outside my apartment terrified of the on-coming humiliation. 

It's not that I can't move. I can't remember the moves. I've always been fit and flexible. And I suppose if I could have afforded to stay in dance classes after college I could have been better.

But you know what? Waste not what you know you got! Just because I'm not a Broadway dancer, doesn't mean I can't find some way to sing somehow.

There's got to be some way in LA where I can sing! I've got at least a dozen song lyrics piled up waiting for their melodies and a really great drummer.

Mamma Mia, Spelling Bee, Rent, Miss Saigon; these are just a few of the Broadway shows and national tours I've auditioned for while in New York. And my voice teacher back home is no hack either.

So, I decided to call up a friend of mine who is well versed in the music biz, take him out for a night of karaoke (just keeping it casual) and sing for him. Sing for Million, also known as, Billy Million.

On The Hook...

I just had a discussion with a friend recently about being honest about people's performances - how to be tactful but truthful and how to receive and be open to criticism.  Which is why I feel I have to be one of the lone voices of reason (that I have experienced on this subject) and say that Katie Holmes' performance on So You Think You Can Dance was cringe-inducing.  I love SYTYCD, and when I heard she was the guest for last week's results show I worried that this was a flavor combination of a madman.  Though sometimes madmen are geniuses...

Kunshan

 

Two full days off and three days of evening shows. Kunshan was a well-needed break in our hectic tour schedule.

For those of you Mac obsessed individuals, you might find it interesting that the iPod Touch factory is located here. Be sure to stop by next time you are in the area.

Changshu

 

Pulling into the lobby of the 4-star Sheraton caused us all to squeal with excitement. We would be living like kings for the next two days.