I went to a wonderful Catholic women's college. While there, I found a great monologue that happened to have swear words in it (the "f-word", which at that point in my life, I had never used). I wanted to change the swear words in the piece to non-swear words. I had a long discussion with two of my amazing professors on the matter. They were supportive of my choice, but they gave me advice: I had to know WHY I didn't want to use the words.
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Personal Morality: Follow-up
I didn't know my post on Personal Morality would be such a big hit! Thank you to everyone who left comments, retweeted it, shared it on Facebook, and emailed me their own stories. To everyone who sent me their stories on other mediums, I encourage you to write in the Unscripted comments section, as I know that what you've said to me will be inspirational and interesting to others as well.
Here are a couple of things I left out of the post:
- A couple of people have mentioned to me that they wished I had provided the sketch so that you could make up your own minds about it. The biggest reason I didn't post a link to the sketch is because I'm not looking for anyone else's opinions on the subject. I did the sketch, I loved doing it, and I would be delighted if the show called me up to do another one. I neither feel the need to ask for your support, nor care to hear your derision. (I have other reasons not to post the link directly, but if you'd like to look for it... Hint #1: my IMDb page. Hint #2: "Historical". Good luck.)
Personal Morality
One of the hardest challenges I’ve had to face recently as an actor is handling how my artistic decisions affect others.
A few months ago, a fantastic opportunity landed in my lap. I was offered a chance to be in a sketch on a highly rated television program… playing a slightly less than moral character.
So I checked my internal personal morality meter, to make sure that it was something I was actually comfortable doing. No nudity, no taking the Lord’s name in vain, no saying the c-word, no smoking… I decided I was totally comfortable with it. And because of that, I said yes.
I didn't realize just how controversial that little "yes" would be.
High Class Problem
I've been working on the ground level of a couple of television pilots (both of which I actually booked because of auditions I got from Back Stage). One of them, High Class Problem, is doing an IndieGoGo project to raise money... and there isn't much time left!
If nothing else, I recommend checking out the video. Why? Because it contains lots of me dancing. And I am a hilariously awesome dancer. Enjoy that, folks.
(By the way, that's me on the right in the photo above.)
True Life: I Commute to NYC
I don't live in New York. Not the city, and not even the state.
I work in New York City. I audition there. I rehearse there. I do background work there. I do photo shoots there...
But I live in Connecticut.
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?"
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.
Continue reading "One Union: Why I Plan to Vote for the Merge" »
Quotations: Volume 26
“I am not a has-been. I am a will be.”
- Lauren Bacall
"I've come to believe that everything worth achieving is beyond one's capacity - or seems so at first. The thing is to persist, not back off, fight your fight, pay your dues, and carry on. Effort is all; continue and you may get there despite everything."
- Elia Kazan
"I never said, 'I'm going to be a big star.' I said, 'I'm going to be a good actor.' And that took the pressure off."
- Jeff Daniels
A Side in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Head
When I first started auditioning in New York, I never brought my sides into the audition room. I was always prepared and off-book, and I didn’t see the point. Also, somehow holding the scene felt like it was holding me back, at least physically. Additionally, having the script in my hand felt like cheating.
But now, I’m changing my mind.
Continue reading "A Side in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Head" »
Quotations: Volume 25
"There is only one way of surviving all the early heartbreaks in this business. You must have a sense of humor. And I think it also helps if you are a dreamer. I had my dreams all right. And that is something no one can ever take away. They cost nothing, and they can be as real as you like to make them. You own your dreams and they are priceless. I've been a lavatory attendant, a theatre usher, a panhandler, all for real. Now, as an actor, I can be a journalist today and a brain surgeon tomorrow. That's the stuff my dreams are made of."
- Al Pacino
"We're dead as a species if we don't tell stories, because then we don't know who we are."
- Alan Rickman
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
- Steve Jobs
Why I Joined AFTRA
On Monday, I joined AFTRA. I am now officially a union actor.
AFTRA is the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Some television shows are under SAG (Screen Actors Guild) contracts, and some are AFTRA. In NYC, more and more are becoming AFTRA.
Joining AFTRA isn't difficult. If you have the money to pay the joining fee, then you're in. (And if you've gotten a waiver on an AFTRA set, then you can pay in installments, which is what I'm doing.) I went to their office, and the whole joining process took about 15 minutes. Piece of cake!
Never Aired
Let's say, hypothetically, that you had gotten to play a featured role on a television show. That you had filmed for nearly four hours with the leads, gotten a hair cut for the project, and that you had told pretty much everyone you'd ever known that they should watch for you.
And then, let's say, that episode never aired.
That would be heart-breaking, wouldn't it?
You know, hypothetically.
Extra Special
A couple of weeks ago, I had my first chance to be a television extra!
I was never briefed as to how much I am allowed to divulge about the process before the episode airs, so I will have to be tragically vague. The photo here is of an outfit that I was never on screen in, so it will have to serve as your hint as to what show it is. (Guess in the comments!)
What I can say about the experience is that I learned a ton!
Quotations: Volume 24
"The best way out is always through."
- Robert Frost
“If the career you have chosen has some unexpected inconvenience, console yourself by reflecting that no career is without them.”
– Jane Fonda
“You have to be open-minded when those early opportunities present themselves; take advantage of them whether they’re going to make you a lot of money or not.”
- Rachael Ray
The Circuitous Path to My First Commercial
I've been told that it's good to take any kind of experience related to the world of acting that falls into my lap. So when opportunity knocks, I try to answer the door. And this week, one door lead to another, which lead to another.
It all started last week when I was asked to videotape some local auditions. I said sure. After all, it's always good to be in audition rooms on the other side of the table. You get to see what other people are bringing. You can learn a little bit about what to do... and a great deal about what NOT to do.
When I got there, the director asked if -- instead of filming -- I could be a Reader (a scene partner for the auditioners).
In grad school, I did a workshop with Carl Forsman (Drama Desk nominated artistic director of Keen Company in NYC). It was both a cold reading workshop and a lesson in how to be a Reader. So even though I've never technically been a Reader before, I felt prepared. And I said yes.
Continue reading "The Circuitous Path to My First Commercial" »
Coffee Boot Camp
In one week, I have survived an earthquake, a tornado, and a hurricane. (Or more accurately: I didn't notice an earthquake, the tornado ended up being no where near me, and the hurricane didn't even knock out my power.) The trickiest thing I survived? Barista training.
For those unfamiliar with the terminology, a barista is the coffee shop equivalent of a bartender. It's one of the typical actor survivor jobs that I've never had before (in the past I've had less typical survivor jobs, like database processor, dance recital stage manager, and medical records filer). I almost feel like I've joined a special little club. But the strange/awkward/hilarious/sad thing about me going through barista training (aside from feeling vaguely like it's the equivalent of laminating my Master's Degree and using it as placemat) is that I don't like coffee.
Quotations: Volume 23
"Nothing in the world will take away persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than an unsuccessful man with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
- Calvin Coolidge
"Act well your part; There all the honor lies."
- Alexander Pope
"Success isn't what you achieve in life, success is what you do every day."
- Colin Powell
Advice About the Business of Acting
When my class had our showcase in NYC in April, I was fortunate. Several agents requested for me to contact them. So I went back to NYC in May to make contact.
While I was there, I met with agents, directors, and friends. And I received various pieces of advice (some of which were in direct conflict with advice I'd already received). I know to take it all with a grain of salt, of course. I thought I'd share it all with you, so that you can do the same.
