Unscripted - A Blog for Actors - Backstage

Pretty, Pretty Princess

This week I'm feeling a bit crazy and more ambitious than usual. I have six auditions in five days that I plan on attending. 

I am sort of excited for this adventure. How will I fare, emotionally? Sometimes too many open calls breaks down my spirit, and leaves me with a "why am I doing this" glaze. Will my auditions improve? I noticed that I am more focused in the middle of the week than at the beginning or end. How many of the same girls will I see daily? I'm thinking of it as a personal test. 

As I see it, being an unemployed actor does not mean that you are out of work. The business of auditioning is the work. Being prepared, showing up early in the morning, staying positive among daily rejection all goes into the job of finding another job. 

The first audition up at bat was an open call for the Disney theme parks. Arriving an hour early, the line had already snaked through the room and was out the holding room door. With waiting in line for an hour, I was only number 100. There were at least 300 people waiting. 

Producing Ulcers

I'm currently producing two things: my webseries and a commercial for an upstart, internet-based business launched a month ago. So far, the thing I've produced most of is ulcers.

Well, that may be an exaggeration. As far as I know, I don't actually have any ulcers yet, but I am sure they are developing. Production on the webseries is currently at a lull because it's out to a few readers to get their impressions and suggestions. There will be lots of rewriting in the near future, followed by pitches to directors and much scrambling to find the gear needed to shoot it (not to mention trying to juggle the schedules of about 15 people). But for now, that craziness hasn't begun in earnest.

The commercial, however, is currently charging ahead full steam. Of course it's underfunded (the company did, after all, only just start operations so they aren't flush with cash...yet) and the production is only going to come together by the charity of several talented people. The benefit to those people won't be monetary this time, but they will have a say in the creative direction of the commercial - everyone gets a voice in what we do. As beautifully democratic as that is, it becomes my job to try and herd all of these creative cats into the same ring.

Getting Pinned

I got pinned. Again.

No, this has nothing to do with dating a high school athlete. I dated college boys when I was in high school anyway.  

But getting pinned happens a lot in Hollywood. I think it's more an LA thing, than a NYC thing.

I thought I was the only who had never heard of the term until I had lunch with a friend the other day.

"I keep getting pinned," I exclaimed over a carafe of red sangria, grilled calamari, and pot de creme under the warm Santa Monica sun.

"I guess eventually another one will stick," I said.

"Are you talking about online dating?," he asked. That's when I figured it was worth writing about.

Getting 'pinned' for a theatrical job is the same as being put on 'hold' or put on 'first refusal' for a commercial job.

It doesn't guarantee you'll get the job, but it does mean you are one of the top choices.

Kind of makes you wonder, should you jump for joy or hold your breath. I think maybe both, yes?

Bar Talk

I was sitting in a bar having drinks with some actor friends of mine. We started talking about one of the many common drinking topics among actors: the actors union. My friend is in his late 30s. I'm 25. As many people before him told me, he said I shouldn't join the union until I have to. To illustrate, he told me a story of two friends of his from Philadelphia. I may mix up the details, but the gist remains unchanged.

Both of them were actors, both of them were young, both of them were talented, and both of them good looking. But one of them was exceptionally good looking. He did a ren fair with my friend, playing the part of the executioner. He spent most of his time shirtless. Women swooned over the man just looking at him. This guy went and got his union card, and traveled to Los Angeles to find fame and fortune.

Showcase Do's and Do Not's

I participated in my first Los Angeles Showcase yesterday. What a learning experience! I observed a few key things and would love to share:

- If you're going to be late to something, please don't tell everyone why you're late. WE DON'T CARE. 

- Don't interrupt the moderater. He has probably already answered your question or is on his way to answering it. You look anxious when you do so.

A Story From A Reader

Last week I posted a series of photos of shoes I came upon in New York City that appeared to be missing their feet, and asked people to imagine how the shoes came to be without their owners.

It's been a joy to read everyone's responses.  As promised, I am going to share the stories here.  This first one comes from Lakshmi Iyer who writes from Portland, Oregon.  Here is the photo she chose and her interpretation:

Waltz on a sidewalk

Butterflies

I'm in the middle of some of the busiest weeks I've had in the past several years. Day job work, plus acting work, plus working to get acting work equals one very exhausted Laura! Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to have plenty of things going on... its just been one big flood all at once, and that can be overwhelming.

Last week, I had a meeting that I've been working towards for the past couple of months. There was quite a bit of pressure surrounding the whole thing, and a few hours before it was time for me to get there, I started feeling really nervous. In a way that I haven't been for a pretty long time.

Audition Feedback

With every audition, I do a quick read of the people in the room to decipher the energy. It varies depending on the time of day, how many people are on the sign in sheet after me, and whether the director or producers are participating. I can tell right away if they are in a rush to whisk actors in and out or if they have the time to really explore the material. Sometimes I'm asked to go straight into slating my name. Alternatively, there have been times where we've chatted for a solid ten minutes before getting into the sides. 

When you're lucky enough to have people with time to chat it can be audition death if you do the mistake I've made before; rambling. It's a combination of nerves, trying to connect in a conversation, and still trying to focus on the character I'm about to play.  

The Saga Begins: Full-Time Auditioning

I've been back in the city for two weeks now and have been to eight auditions. Of those eight auditions, I've had one appointment, one EPA, one alternate number and been seen, one alternate number and not be seen, one ECC, one type-out, one walk-out, and one I signed up for by accident. Add to that one mental breakdown on the phone with Mom, and one pick-myself-up-and-brush-myself-off revelation. 

Out of eight auditions attended, I only was in the room for four. Crazy, no?

This is my first time committing whole-hog, to audition season in New York. I knew it would be trying, but this is a whole new level of mental and physical stamina I have never known before. Not only are you combating winter weather, sleepiness, hunger, motivation, confidence, and the other 300 girls who showed up, you must keep a sense of self. It is really easy to get overwhelmed. 

A Week with Iron Ladies...

One sunny, (January) Saturday afternoon, I went to see a noon screening of The Iron Lady. I wanted to experience it alone on the big screen.

I couldn't wait to see Meryl's work! I could not wait to see, what I knew would be a soulful, mind-blowing performance.

I wasn't the only one alone in the theater. At one point, it felt as if I was at a Margaret Thatcher look-a-like party.

I'm not trying to be ironic, for lack of a better word, but being an iron lady is not a choice for many women who have no choice but to face the later stages in life alone.

With the SAG Awards coming up I've been cramming in as many films as I can.

What a week with so many Iron Ladies! The rebel, the revolutionary, the heroic outcasts, and the romantics.  

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Iron Lady, The Help, Albert Nobbs, Bridesmaids and My Week with Marilyn, all consistently fantastic performances in an array of diverse portrayals of strong, significant women.

What an inspiration! What a relief!

I think I was in grade school when Thatcher was in the later stages of her career. I remember my parents discussing her politics over the dining room table.

There was controversy in those conversations, of course. There was also and firstly, admiration for someone who was up against all odds (status and sex), and rose to power in the Western world by the strength of her character and conviction.

She just happend to be a woman. Why is it that men are considered leaders, while women are called controversial?

Is This an Audition, or an Escort Service?

I’ve heard the horror stories from different actors about the audition they went to that seemed completely legit, and then turned into something sketchy, bizarre, and forced them to run the other way.  In this industry, you’ve to to be careful because there are plenty of skeezy people hoping to make an easy buck off a naïve artist.  Well, the other day I sat through an “interview” that I wish I could have videotaped.  This was the most ridiculous ‘audition’ I have experienced yet, and nearly died of laugher and exasperation by the end of it.

Back when I lived in the Boston area, I got into some promo modeling and loved it.   What’s not to like?  You get to wear something pretty, stand around for a couple hours, probably make some good connections, and get paid at the end of it.  Well, the other week I saw a casting notice that asked for “Models and Actresses for Promotional Charity Events.”  “Perfect!”  I thought.  I submitted, was contacted, and got set up with appointment for an interview.  I was excited for some new promo work in New York.  Little did I know what was in store for me.  Get ready for a good laugh.

Hooray for Funny Women!

When I saw Melissa McCarthy's name on the Academy Award nominations list today, I started crying. Tears of joy. I'm not even exaggerating; I was weeping openly with pride. As a woman who loves doing work in comedy, it was a huge deal to me.

As I kept reading, my joy grew. This year, the Oscars are recognizing some pretty fantastic people, and a lot of them are funny women. Along with Melissa McCarthy, I'd like to congratulate Bérénice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer, Annie Mumolo, and Kristen Wiig on their first Academy Award nominations.

Women in comedy do not get as much appreciation as they should. Just a month ago when Christopher Hitchens died, people again brought up his controversial 2007 Vanity Fair article "Why Women Aren't Funny" that posed the question, "Why are men, taken on average and as a whole, funnier than women?"

Audition Advice-for those behind the table

Countless pages, both print and digital, have been dedicated to advice for actors on their auditions.  I'd like to take a moment to reverse roles here and give some pointers to those holding auditions.  I've been in a few rooms lately where it was clear I'd been to many more auditions than the people watching me, and they could have benefited from this advice.

1. Your breakdown is more important than you think.  The stereotype of an audition is a humble, desperate actor walking into a room full of stern judges who are about to decide if that actor belongs in the business.  Well, guess what?  That judgement goes both ways, and it starts as soon as we see your breakdown.  Broken English?  Typos?  No information?  I'm assuming your script will be the same.  Make it good, and you'll get good actors to submit.

2. Give us sides as soon as possible.  Hint: that "as soon as possible" is when you ask us to audition.  If you've reached that point, you better have a script.  So figure out which pages best represent the character, and send it to us immediately.  Good auditions are the result of preparation, not finding out the character has a speech impediment as you walk to the front of the room.  A corollary to this:

Child-ish Rejection

This week I had four auditions and a meeting with an agent.  

Really, I'm not bragging.  

It was a very busy week for me, but I say this to illustrate a point.  From those five instances of putting myself out there, I have received one callback so far.  I am over the moon about the callback.  

And the other four opportunities that may have rejected me, plus the countless others I submitted for that chose not to even bring me in for an audition?  Like I said, I'm over the moon about the callback.

See, I can handle rejection.  It's as much a part of this business as headshots and handshakes.

One Union: Why I Plan to Vote for the Merge

As I mentioned right after I joined AFTRA, it has been proposed that AFTRA and SAG (two of the three acting unions in the USA) merge. And now it looks like they have taken a huge step closer to that potential merge by finalizing the terms of the merger proposal.

At this time, I don't know any of the specifics about how the proposed union of the unions might affect me or others. I don't know what it will do to working conditions, or health care, or retirement benefits. I don't even know what it will do to wages. But I already have some opinions on the matter.

Planting Seeds

I guess I don't realize that things take time. 

I'm one of those people that answers their emails IMMEDIATELY, otherwise they'd pile up and get lost in Googleworld.

I'm also one of those people that answer texts messages immediately. Why wait? Usually my most honest, wittiest replies come to me on the spot.

This had made me impatient. I don't understand why it takes someone a week to return my phone call, or when people don't answer your texts at all, or when you send articulate, heartfelt emails and get NOTHING IN RETURN. It makes me livid. 

So when I do get returned calls or emails, I'm pretty ecstatic. "Oh wow, I am a human being who shouldn't be ignored!" 

This happened to me today. I received two calls from seeds I had planted - one from last week and one from almost TWO YEARS AGO. 

"Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken"

I just got back from a trip East to visit my Nana. Her dementia has worsened since the last time I saw her, she no longer recognizes me. She lives in a senior citizen living community with other people coping with memory loss. Her room is covered in photos of the highlights of her life; school dances, college graduation, wedding day, becoming a Mother at the same age I am now, and stacks of letters she has saved throughout the years. 

It was surreal to visually observe the question that crosses most people's mind at some point, "At the end of my life will I be fulfilled with how I lived it? Will there be regrets for chances I didn't take?" Seeing my Nana at this point in her life evolved my perspective. I have a habit of looking forward to what happens next instead of appreciating my current circumstances.

Silly SOPA

An alternate title was "SOPA on a Rope-a," but that doesn't make any sense.

You'll probably be hearing a lot about SOPA today, due to the various websites blacking themselves out to raise attention on the issue.  I'd love to add my own voice to that clamor, particularly addressing SAG and AFTRA's endorsement of this bill.  

If you have no idea what I'm talking about: hello, time traveler from Victorian England!  You've landed in 2012!  I love your steampunk time machine!  Here is a helpful infographic breaking down the realities of life after SOPA.  The always eloquent Wil Wheaton wrote a great blog entry about it.  And Change.org has an informative petition.

Brand Me

"If we aren't branding ourselves, others are branding us anyway." - Jodie Bentley

I've been talking with my PR folks and trying to come up with what makes sense for my "brand" as an actor. Not just my type (leading man, character actor, etc.), but my brand. In the words of Kevin Urban, knowing your brand is "being able to tell people what you do" as an actor (e.g., bumbling, lovable dufus character actor who can play both funny and sad). Brand takes into account your personality and your strengths, what you as a person bring to the acting table.

One of the keys to finding your brand is understanding how you are perceived in the world. This is often very different from how you perceive yourself. Therefore, it's crucial to get insight on how you're perceived from people who don't know you well.

This is where you come in. I want you to brand me. Below I've posted a short video of me telling a story about something that happened recently. I'm wearing something I would normally wear and telling it as though I'm talking to someone I know, but not someone I've known for a long time. Watch it, then take a look at the links below to my website and Facebook fan page and let me know:

Just Call Me Pollyanna

Let me tell you a story...

This story is about an actress named *Meredith. Now, Meredith is a good friend of mine and is totally cool about us talking about her in this way. So don't worry about Meredith. And this story has a happy ending.

Meredith has been acting professionally now for about 15 years. And she has found a moderate amount of success. Or at least she feels successful which is really the defining part, isn't it?

This is an actress that has come a long ways, baby.

And attitude is the driving force.