Unscripted - A Blog for Actors - Backstage

Is My Hair Holding Me Back?

A friend of mine - an actress - once told me "Working in commercials can be your waitressing job." I was sort of taken aback when she said this. What???

She booked one or two commercials a year, and it helped her stay afloat as she pursued tv shows and indie films. It was her "day job" essentially. No one had put that idea in my head. 

So I've been fervently pursuing commercial representation. First a manager, then an agent. When I met with the manager, she had two words to say about my headshots: "Too old." Those were her thoughts on my makeup. 

Stress Comes in Many Forms

Ever have one of those weeks where EVERYTHING is happening all at once? That is what last week was like for me. 

In the span of 8 days, I had filmed 2 short films and performed in 3 shows. I thought I was holding on strongly until Wednesday rolled around. 

I was shooting my second film and was called to set incredibly early. Not only that, but I had gotten home really late the night before because of work.

Between LA morning traffic and finding parking, I was 30 minutes later and had left an hour earlier than my call time. I rushed onto set, lugging all my bags and slightly perspiring. They were running behind anyways so it was all good.

Or was it?

The Value of A Pair of Earrings

My mother is a costume designer and stylist, so I've always grown up with an appreciation for what clothes can do for a person.They transform you, they really do. And when you add the right pair of shoes? BAM. You're ready to go.

So when I had 2 auditions back to back, I knew I needed to find a way to become these different characters without changing my entire outfit. I just didn't have time. 

So what did I do? I chose a few pairs of earrings that would help define my character and I took a black blazer with me. Easy enough, right?

If I Were White, Would I Be More Successful?

The last week has been aflutter with outrage at the racial tension that is still existent in our country, from Trayvon Martin to the racist tweets concerning the African American characters in "The Hunger Games."

I will continue to call out the issues I see in my industry, as they are incredibly blatant and all too familiar.

Being an ethnic actress is not easy. Often I will not even submit myself to an audition if it's not for an African American role, because deep down I fear that I will not even be seen.

Marketing For Dummies

I know nothing about marketing. In fact, I shudder away from talking about myself at length. You wanna know what I do? "Well, I'm in the entertainment industry. I act... and sing... no you haven't seen me in anything... I guess I'm a working actress..."

So when the opportunity came up to take a free marketing seminar from the self - proclaimed "Actors Advocate", I jumped at the chance. An hour and a half later, I left feeling so empowered that I must share with you all what I learned!

Working for Free

I still get so giddy when I get contacted personally to audition or participate in a project: a web series, a music video, a musical, or just to sing with someone. Sheer joy!

Most of the time these are non-paying gigs and I'm okay with that. Ya know why? Because I like having alot of different experiences under my belt and alot of video footage for my reel! My mom has a saying - "I'll work for free for you only once, and after that you gotta pay me!"

The Funniest/Ruddest Audition Notice

I was online submitting myself for a short film. The character was well developed, complex, and multi-layered. Lovely.

The casting notice said they were looking for all races: African American, Native American, Asian American, etc. Lovely.

AND THEN, underneath that they had a picture of a beautiful white woman with the caption reading something like this: "We'd really like the actress to look like this." 

She had creamy olive skin, a white blouse on, and long brown hair. I look nothing like her. So I submitted myself and in the "notes" section I put the following: "You're not really looking for all types of actresses, are you?"

I pressed SEND, and never felt better.

It's one thing to say you're looking for a specific race for your character. TOTALLY FINE. It's another to say you're fine with all races auditioning and then put up a photo of what you really want. I was rather upset.

Would you be?

Beauty and the Beast, for real

I have perhaps taken for granted my looks up until yesterday. I've never had anything drastic happen to my face, up until yesterday. I'll explain in a bit, just go wth me on this.

This business is based on looks for the most part, right? The first half of getting a job is to "look right for the part." 

Now, having danced for most of life, I am pretty graceful and balanced all of that. I don't trip over my own feet or anything like that. I have, however, had several instances in my life where I was greatly injured because of circumstances that are still questionable to this day:

- 6 years old, a field trip to the park. "Ooo, a lake!" All of us little kiddies start to throw bread crumbs into the lake to feed the ducks. I lean in just a little too far and fall into the lake (the very dirty, unkempt lake mind you.) Nothing too bad here, just a little shaken up and embarrased.

- 10 years old, jumping on my bed with 2 friends. One by one we all jump off the bed and onto the floor, I'm last. As I descend onto the floor, I land on my right arm, my body crumbling on top of it. A trip to the emergency room lands me with a cast on my arm.

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.

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. 

This One Goes Out To...

all the people who are kicking butt and helping to light a fire under mine.

I'm sure you've heard of 27-year-old comedian and graphic designer Franchesca Ramsey, who proved this week that acting quickly and on instinct is what's going to distinguish successful people from not so successful people.

My Second Television Audition!

Funny how things turn around so quickly. Last Sunday I was feeling low because my show had ended. That Monday afternoon I received an email - I had gotten an audition for a huge television show. Whoa whoa whoa. My silly little unrepresented self got a television audition? Alright then!

While I can't really divulge in the details about the show, I can say that its a comedic show on Fox. So I spent 2 days gathering monologues and creating funny characters I felt good about.

I contacted the funniest people I knew to get advice on material. I emailed and called people I knew who had been on tv before to get advice on what the audition would be like. I couldn't reach any of them! Damn. Guess I would just rely on my instincts for this one. 

Post Show Blues

Why is it that the closing of a show brings about such wild, intense emotions? No matter if the show was the most difficult or liberating experience, it seems to always be a shock the next day when I realize that its all over.
Let me see if I can break this down - you rehearsal for over 20 hours a week for 4 weeks, you get emotionally close to your fellow actors, you get to know them as individuals, you get to be creatively expressive, and then after a few performances its all over and you're reminded of the million things you neglected to do while your head was wrapped around the show-
Calls to your grandmother you never returned, emails from your roommates you ignored, the pile of dirty laundry in your closet, and the empty fridge that hasn't seen groceries in who knows how long.
And of course you have to go back to work. The day job. Being in a show gives you a reason to ignore all those things for just a brief moment in time. More importantly, being in a show gives you purpose. It gives you a reason to be doing things, and reminds you of why you love the work of acting. Its scary when it ends, especially if you don’t have that next creative endeavour lined up because then you're back to the old grind again. 

Oh well. The holidays should be enough of a distraction, and then hopefully the new year will be chock full of new projects!

-- Dominique

The Producer Who Tried To Woo/Hire Me?

So I am coming out of rehearsal for a play I'm and I head to the park to eat my lunch and just sit down for a few minutes. Behind me, I notice some dogs playing and their owners talking. I decide to go over to them and ask if I can pet their dogs. 

Low and behold, the two gentlemen I'm speaking to are writing an hour long tv sitcom - one is an actor and the other is a writer/producer. We exchange info and I go about my merry little way.

I receive a call from the producer who thinks I will be perfect for one of the roles in his show he's writing. I'm thrilled. The role sounds so exciting. Think of "The Office" meets "Sopranos." I'm in! Or am I?

He ends up calling me the next afternoon and talks my EAR off for over an hour. This is now a business conversation that starts to head into personal territory, Within that hour, I gather that he is going to be incredibly difficult to deal with. He doesn't deal with emails or websites?? Okay...

When To Say No

Ever been so paralyzed by exhaustion that you didn't move from one place for a long period of time?

Ever cried for so many days in a row that your eyes looked permanently puffy?

Ever had dreams about your day job?

Ever needed to take a personal day off from a commitment because you were at your ropes end?

I am at this point now. It sucks.

Every few months or so I take on too many projects, too many hours at work, and I end up burning myself out. I stop calling my family, I let my emails pile up, and I become testy. 

This is not a good place to be. I tend to have a hard time saying no.

"No I can't pick up your shift." "No I can't meet you there." "No I can't rehearsal 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, for a month - unpaid."

Life Lessons I Learned My First Week of Working In A Restaurant

As I've said before, being a server is going to make me into a fabulous actress. I'm sure of it! Here's stuff I encountered and learned from this week.

1) Have strong intentions. Often I found myself second guessing myself. "Should I get the ketchup now or later?" "Should I drop dessert menus now or in a few minutes." Make a choice and DO IT.

2) Don't make empty promises. This is in the same family as the last one. If someone orders a drink, go to the computer to put it in, and then go straight to the bar to pick up the drink. Most likely, if you don't get that beverage right away, you will forget about it. Don't promise them a diet coke and then bring it 10 minutes later. 

Day Job Dilemma

For the last 10 months I've been a babysitter to one family. 5 days a week. 2 kids. I was an intregral part of their family. Pay day on friday - cash, no taxes. What initially felt like the perfect situation ended up being a not so perfect one.

Babysitting alone was not covering my bills, so I ended up having to work a 2nd job, forcing me into working 7 days a week. Yes, 7 days a week. No day off. I was going crazy. I could not plan 3 day vacations to see my friend in Chicago, or to go to that concert in D.C. or to go visit my mom's side of the family. 

So I quit babysitting, and became a server. Not only did I become a server, but in a brand new restaurant that ended up opening yesterday.

I Am My Own Publicity Agent

I spent a good chunk of change getting new business cards and postcards so that when I had news to share or wanted to exchange info with someone, I would have all the necessary materials to do so.

I've noticed that whenever in a situation where someone wanted my business card ("Oh, I work for casting director such-and-such and I think you'd be great for such-and-such. Do you have a business card?) I didn't have them on me! They were left in my other purse, or on my desk scattered amongst papers and receipts.

Comedy, at 9:30 AM

I was called in to audition for Comedy Central twice in the last week and a half. I was feeling pretty unsure of it all, when at 11:30 pm the day before the audition, I receive an email asking me if I'm available the next day at noon.

"And how exactly did you get my information?" I asked?

The casting director had pulled my information from the comedy and improv club I perform at every week.

Awesome.

Well, not so awesome.

Does Acting Make Me A Bad Person?

I guess acting has made me into a selfish person. Whether it's a group of friends having a conversation without me, or someone doing some awesome and creative in a way that I'm not - I'm incredibly jealous and selfish!

Two incidents have further proven this to me. A close friend from college started an awesome blog and it's getting published into a book. Part of me is incredibly proud and supportive, and the other part is kicking myself because my friends are climbing to the top and of course it leads me to comparing myself.