I'm still trying to catch up the cyber world with my life, so this should fit in nicely.
Last month I went a writers meeting here in San Antonio. I had never been to one nor did I know they existed, but my mom had emailed me a link about a writers program in L.A. that I should look into. All the info was going to be at this meeting, hence why I went for the first time. So I find out about the program and it turns out it's a 5 week program in L.A. where you get to write your own pilot for television. AWESOME!
To be accepted into this program I either have to write a pilot episode (brand new show) or write a spec script (a fake episode of your fave show). I decided to write a spec script cause I figure it's would be easier for the reader to know all about the characters off the bat. So if any of you know me, then you know that The Office is one of my favorite shows, so why not write an episode of that?
I don't want to toot my own horn, but I think my episode is really good. At least in my head. Anywho, it's due Sept 2nd and I'm not even halfway done. I told myself that I wanted to be finished by the end of July so that I can take all of August to edit. Eeek!! I'm running out of time. I have lots to write and I shouldn't really be posting right now but since I decided to jump back onto the blogging train, here I am.
Gotta get back to it. I'll keep you informed. Oh and if there are any other Office fans out there that want to give my script a read when I'm done, let me know. I need all the help I can get. I really want to get into this program.
Keep it gangsta!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Did I mention?
My birthday was July 10th. Yea I share my birthday with Jessica Simpson (same year too, lucky me), and Adrien Greiner. Just thought I'd share that I'm a year older and feel it too.
28 Blah.
28 Blah.
What has two thumbs and hasn't blogged in awhile??
THIS GIRL!!!
Seriously? What's the point of having this page if I don't go on and type out a sentence or two. Jeeze Val, let's get on the ball here. Ok let's recap my life since my last blog which was on Thanksgiving. Holy crap that's a lot to re-cap, ok so let's do the Cliff Notes version of a re-cap.
I took the plunge and quit my office job on Dec 21. Yea, I still remember the day. lol. It was the best, worst decision I have ever made. It was great because I had my free time to do as I please with my acting career, go on auditions, film during the week. You know the stuff you can't do with a normal 8-5, but then the reason why everyone has a job took it's toll on me. Money. Or in my case it was the lack there of. My bank account took a huge dip when the folks needed to borrow some money from me. Luckily I have recovered since, barely...
Anywho, I took a really part-time job at Betsey Johnson which turned out be a great blessing in disguise. I had the opportunity to meet some really cool people and work in a different retail market. As a co-worker just happened to point out today, you have to be a little off, and left of center to work there and I totally agree with that. With that said, I fit in great.
I had two deaths in my family within a week in May. Two of my uncles died, one of which had a heart attack on the way to the other's funeral. I buried an uncle, then lost another the same day. It was the longest week of my life, I wouldn't want my worst enemy to feel that amount of loss or to have to witness their family hurt like that. It's only been a month and it still hurts, I think about them all the time. That deserves a whole blog on it's own.
Lighter note time. I got to film two movies this year. Yay!! One of which I just filmed this past Sunday. It was actually the film I was casted in last November, and it was pushed back this far. But we did it. I don't know how I felt about it. I was a little (a lot) nervous and I did so much preparing at the beginning of the year that by this time I had put in the back burner that I didn't feel prepared. The Director said I did good, but I think he may have just been polite. The other movie I actually didn't have to audition for. He just saw my Myspace profile and casted me, I'M THAT GOOD!! Jk. It was like that, but not like that. I think visually I fit was he was looking for, for that character. It was very organized, and very well put together. I have some high hopes for both these films, none of which were pornos. I know, disappointed. As was I my friend, as was I.
This was past weekend was hella intense. If saying hella is not cool anymore, please go ahead and omit that from the post and replace it with totally. Yes, totally will never get old especially when it's said over 100 times on an episode of The Hills. Oh but I digress, so my weekend was insane. It started out on Friday. I worked all day at the store then went home to take my nephew out for the last time before he heads back home to Colorado. I do the awesome aunt stuff then I speed home and get ready to see Sleepercar in Helotes. Which is not far from my house at all.
Quick recap on Sleepercar. Jim Ward from At the Drive In and lead singer to Sparta formed another band called Sleepercar. Ok side recap to this recap. Another El Paso band Siva, which has since broken up, the bassist/singer Greg Sosa is now the bass player for Sleepercar. Now the drummer for Siva, which is still broken up since I've written the last sentence, is cousins with a good friend of mine. I met Greg through them back in 05', we kept in touch briefly after meeting and lost touch which I will forever blame him though he swears he told me he was bad at keeping in touch with people. Not a confusing back story right? Didn't think so either.
Ok let's fast forward back to Friday. So I meet up with my friend Nicole at the show and we chit chat and wait for the guys to play. Then Greg comes up to me and says hi, and did I mention I haven't seen this guy since 05'. It had been awhile and I kinda felt like a bundle of nerves. I swear I becoming more and more socially awkward these days. So I meet Matt the drummer for Sleepercar and then the guys go set up to play. The show was awesome and we meet up with the rest of the band afterwards. Ok one last rewind/fast forward moment for this story I swear. Greg called me the night before and asked if I could find a place for them to crash. No sweat, I knew Nicole was a huge Jim Ward fan and I thought it would be a real treat for her to have him and the rest of the band stay at her house. She obliged. Ok fast forward, so after the entire show ended we all head back to her place and I end up partying like a rockstar cause I don't think anyone else was as drunk as I was. 5am hits and it's time to put the drunk girl to bed. I wake up at 8:30am and Nicole is telling me the guys are leaving, I (still drunk) stumble to my friend Greg tell him bye and manage to go downstairs and outside but I wasn't wearing my contacts so I couldn't see anything so I had no idea who was in the van. I decided it would be in my best interest to just go back to bed. Wise choice Val, wise choice. Yes, I had to work a 9 hour shift that day. It was not my finest moment.
There's actually so much more I want to tell you, but It's like 3am and I want to sleep before 4 once this week. Yea I'm on that schedule these days. Ok have a goodnight and I'll tell you all about my iTunes shopping experience later.
till next time
Seriously? What's the point of having this page if I don't go on and type out a sentence or two. Jeeze Val, let's get on the ball here. Ok let's recap my life since my last blog which was on Thanksgiving. Holy crap that's a lot to re-cap, ok so let's do the Cliff Notes version of a re-cap.
I took the plunge and quit my office job on Dec 21. Yea, I still remember the day. lol. It was the best, worst decision I have ever made. It was great because I had my free time to do as I please with my acting career, go on auditions, film during the week. You know the stuff you can't do with a normal 8-5, but then the reason why everyone has a job took it's toll on me. Money. Or in my case it was the lack there of. My bank account took a huge dip when the folks needed to borrow some money from me. Luckily I have recovered since, barely...
Anywho, I took a really part-time job at Betsey Johnson which turned out be a great blessing in disguise. I had the opportunity to meet some really cool people and work in a different retail market. As a co-worker just happened to point out today, you have to be a little off, and left of center to work there and I totally agree with that. With that said, I fit in great.
I had two deaths in my family within a week in May. Two of my uncles died, one of which had a heart attack on the way to the other's funeral. I buried an uncle, then lost another the same day. It was the longest week of my life, I wouldn't want my worst enemy to feel that amount of loss or to have to witness their family hurt like that. It's only been a month and it still hurts, I think about them all the time. That deserves a whole blog on it's own.
Lighter note time. I got to film two movies this year. Yay!! One of which I just filmed this past Sunday. It was actually the film I was casted in last November, and it was pushed back this far. But we did it. I don't know how I felt about it. I was a little (a lot) nervous and I did so much preparing at the beginning of the year that by this time I had put in the back burner that I didn't feel prepared. The Director said I did good, but I think he may have just been polite. The other movie I actually didn't have to audition for. He just saw my Myspace profile and casted me, I'M THAT GOOD!! Jk. It was like that, but not like that. I think visually I fit was he was looking for, for that character. It was very organized, and very well put together. I have some high hopes for both these films, none of which were pornos. I know, disappointed. As was I my friend, as was I.
This was past weekend was hella intense. If saying hella is not cool anymore, please go ahead and omit that from the post and replace it with totally. Yes, totally will never get old especially when it's said over 100 times on an episode of The Hills. Oh but I digress, so my weekend was insane. It started out on Friday. I worked all day at the store then went home to take my nephew out for the last time before he heads back home to Colorado. I do the awesome aunt stuff then I speed home and get ready to see Sleepercar in Helotes. Which is not far from my house at all.
Quick recap on Sleepercar. Jim Ward from At the Drive In and lead singer to Sparta formed another band called Sleepercar. Ok side recap to this recap. Another El Paso band Siva, which has since broken up, the bassist/singer Greg Sosa is now the bass player for Sleepercar. Now the drummer for Siva, which is still broken up since I've written the last sentence, is cousins with a good friend of mine. I met Greg through them back in 05', we kept in touch briefly after meeting and lost touch which I will forever blame him though he swears he told me he was bad at keeping in touch with people. Not a confusing back story right? Didn't think so either.
Ok let's fast forward back to Friday. So I meet up with my friend Nicole at the show and we chit chat and wait for the guys to play. Then Greg comes up to me and says hi, and did I mention I haven't seen this guy since 05'. It had been awhile and I kinda felt like a bundle of nerves. I swear I becoming more and more socially awkward these days. So I meet Matt the drummer for Sleepercar and then the guys go set up to play. The show was awesome and we meet up with the rest of the band afterwards. Ok one last rewind/fast forward moment for this story I swear. Greg called me the night before and asked if I could find a place for them to crash. No sweat, I knew Nicole was a huge Jim Ward fan and I thought it would be a real treat for her to have him and the rest of the band stay at her house. She obliged. Ok fast forward, so after the entire show ended we all head back to her place and I end up partying like a rockstar cause I don't think anyone else was as drunk as I was. 5am hits and it's time to put the drunk girl to bed. I wake up at 8:30am and Nicole is telling me the guys are leaving, I (still drunk) stumble to my friend Greg tell him bye and manage to go downstairs and outside but I wasn't wearing my contacts so I couldn't see anything so I had no idea who was in the van. I decided it would be in my best interest to just go back to bed. Wise choice Val, wise choice. Yes, I had to work a 9 hour shift that day. It was not my finest moment.
There's actually so much more I want to tell you, but It's like 3am and I want to sleep before 4 once this week. Yea I'm on that schedule these days. Ok have a goodnight and I'll tell you all about my iTunes shopping experience later.
till next time
Friday, November 23, 2007
My Turkey Day epiphany
Is that even how you spell epiphany? Eee-piff-ugh-knee. Whatever you get it.
There's this thing about Thanksgiving that I love and cherish so much. It's all about being thankful and such, and family is great too but honestly, if you want the honest truth here, what I look forward to the most is the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Come on, this is the most cheesy parade known to man, they really coated it on think with that cheese but seeing Santa Clause at the end makes me feel like a 4 year old girl again. This has gone back many and many of years and I really never knew why until yesterday. So of course I wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed knowing that I was about to watch the parade. I make the green bean casserole as I'm watching it, I get my breakfast and I got to my room for the last hour. Finally that Jolly man with the rosey cheeks and tummy like bowl full of jelly comes out. I start to clap, and my eyes well up with tears. I love it, I feel so childlike all over again and for those 5 mins he's on I don't worry about paying bills, wondering how I'm going to survive in Cali, if that hot guy at the office really likes me, none of that matters because in these 5 mins I'm allowed to be naive and carefree.
So me and my dad talk about going to New York to see the parade live next year and I can see the excitement in his face as he talk about it. I realize that I get all these emotions from him, oh how I am my father's daughter. I mention how it's always been wishful thinking to go to New York during Christmas time to see the big tree, go ice skating and shop till I drop. Then my dad says "maybe next year you'll be filming a movie there during Christmas and you can fly us all there." Not a bad goal at all.
If you don't know yet I was just casted in an indie film that's hopefully going to SXSW and to Sundance. oh la la. Acting is a huge part of my life and probably the only thing that i've ever been really good at. No matter how much I try to break free from acting it just always comes back to me so I decided to give in completely and pursue it professionally. Since I've made that decision everything has been falling into place. It's so weird how it worked out. So I'll be filming this movie in January then I'll be flying to Cali to pursue it even more.
Hearing my dad say something about my acting I guess just confirmed how this is my true destiny. My usually non supportive family has also given in to my dreams as well, which was something that I've always struggled with. But now I'm over that hump and moving on to my other challenges. But now I know that this is what I was put on the world to do, and I'm not going to be satisfied until I do it. Happy Turkey day!
There's this thing about Thanksgiving that I love and cherish so much. It's all about being thankful and such, and family is great too but honestly, if you want the honest truth here, what I look forward to the most is the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Come on, this is the most cheesy parade known to man, they really coated it on think with that cheese but seeing Santa Clause at the end makes me feel like a 4 year old girl again. This has gone back many and many of years and I really never knew why until yesterday. So of course I wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed knowing that I was about to watch the parade. I make the green bean casserole as I'm watching it, I get my breakfast and I got to my room for the last hour. Finally that Jolly man with the rosey cheeks and tummy like bowl full of jelly comes out. I start to clap, and my eyes well up with tears. I love it, I feel so childlike all over again and for those 5 mins he's on I don't worry about paying bills, wondering how I'm going to survive in Cali, if that hot guy at the office really likes me, none of that matters because in these 5 mins I'm allowed to be naive and carefree.
So me and my dad talk about going to New York to see the parade live next year and I can see the excitement in his face as he talk about it. I realize that I get all these emotions from him, oh how I am my father's daughter. I mention how it's always been wishful thinking to go to New York during Christmas time to see the big tree, go ice skating and shop till I drop. Then my dad says "maybe next year you'll be filming a movie there during Christmas and you can fly us all there." Not a bad goal at all.
If you don't know yet I was just casted in an indie film that's hopefully going to SXSW and to Sundance. oh la la. Acting is a huge part of my life and probably the only thing that i've ever been really good at. No matter how much I try to break free from acting it just always comes back to me so I decided to give in completely and pursue it professionally. Since I've made that decision everything has been falling into place. It's so weird how it worked out. So I'll be filming this movie in January then I'll be flying to Cali to pursue it even more.
Hearing my dad say something about my acting I guess just confirmed how this is my true destiny. My usually non supportive family has also given in to my dreams as well, which was something that I've always struggled with. But now I'm over that hump and moving on to my other challenges. But now I know that this is what I was put on the world to do, and I'm not going to be satisfied until I do it. Happy Turkey day!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Audition run-down part 2.
Originally posted on Myspace Nov. 12, 2007
I had my last of the audition trifecta yesterday afternoon. I feel pretty damn confident about this one, whether I get a callback from them or not, I feel like I did a good job. Not only that, I learned that I'm a damn good cold reader. That's something I don't think I've ever been before, and then suddenly this power came over me. lol. Here's how it went... *easy moving melody music begins*
I head for Austin around noon just to give myself some time but of course I'm freaking out cause I think I'm cutting it close. *accelerates* 70.....75..... 80.... 85. Oh i'll get there all right, and I'm bring all of the Texas finest Police Officers with me on my coat tails. It'll be a big party!
Anyways an hour later I end up in Austin and I have to stop by Walgreens to pick my headshots again, cause I forgot to order an extra the last time. I pick it up, off to the Music Lab on Oltorf for the audition. I get a nostolgic when I get there, remebering when I would jam with my buddy Marc. They were good times, *sigh* ok enough of that. Back to the task at hand.
So I get to the Music Lab and I confirm which studio it's in, I walk over there and the door is closed. Hrrmmmm... Well I don't want to open the door and barge in on someone in the middle of their audition so I just kinda loof around the hall for about 10 mins, studying all the posters on the wall, the flyers, and any other propaganda lying around. Finaly, I get bored with it all and I make the executive decision to walk in. I listen closely by the door for a moment, take a deep breath and I open the door. Without missing a beat a tall guy opens the second door and greats me with a "HEEY!! You must be Valarie, we've been waiting for you!" Oh god, they were waiting for me? But I was early, like 20 minutes early. I just inform them that I was waiting around outside the door debating on barging in on someone or not. Glad I did.
So I meet the other two gentlemen in the room and I sit down and we chit chat. They ask me the usual, how old are you? where do I work? Availability? Will I marry him? What?? Just wanted to throw that one in, oh and by the way ladies... he was a very handsome fella, easy on the eyes which helped during the audition. We begin to discuss which characters I wanted to read for and I stated that two I wanted. So discuss a third that I didn't even think to read for, and he gives me the script with her dialouge and one of the two characters I orginaly was preparing for. Caught in the moment, I was trying to read the script and I couldn't even understand the words I was looking at. I saw letters, but they were all forgein to me that I couldnt peice together the words they were forming. I looked at all 4 pages worth of dialouge and "acted" like I was reading a script. Finaly I gave up and said, I'm ready. Let's do this. Then he started the scene out.
I played the first character a bit soft and demure. She obviously has a crush on the lead so I wanted her to sound "giddy but masking her giddiness with her insecurites", does that sound weird? Cause I really didn't think it is weird, isn't that what all of us girls do at some point around a guy we like. Especially in high school. lol. I finished that scene and I felt good about it, then it was on to the next character.
This is what I love about acting... as I was about to start the next character I felt that little switch inside go off. I shifted my weight in my chair because this character wouldn't sit the way I was originaly sitting, and I gave even more eye contact to the writer. My voice lowered in tone, and I had a more aggressive snap back in my dialouge. I even laughed hard and in character, in the scene.
I ended up doing some great work in this audition and it just proves that the more you do something the better you get. If you were to compare this audition and my first audition on Thursday... HUGE difference. I wasn't that nervous, I was actually a bit relaxed which is good and it allowed me a chance to really showcase a bit more.
Before I left one of the guys asked that if I would be able to go back and read with other people, so he can get a feel for the way we bounce off each other. I replied "No, are you crazy... Never!!" Just kidding, of course I said Yes! So I don't know if that means anything, I dont' know if he was saying that they will call me back. I just don't know. But it was good.
Ok so I expect that if I were to get a call back from any of my auditions I would probably hear from people either next week or the week after. So cross those fingers, limbs, hair whatever you can cross.
I'll let you know if I hear anything.
I had my last of the audition trifecta yesterday afternoon. I feel pretty damn confident about this one, whether I get a callback from them or not, I feel like I did a good job. Not only that, I learned that I'm a damn good cold reader. That's something I don't think I've ever been before, and then suddenly this power came over me. lol. Here's how it went... *easy moving melody music begins*
I head for Austin around noon just to give myself some time but of course I'm freaking out cause I think I'm cutting it close. *accelerates* 70.....75..... 80.... 85. Oh i'll get there all right, and I'm bring all of the Texas finest Police Officers with me on my coat tails. It'll be a big party!
Anyways an hour later I end up in Austin and I have to stop by Walgreens to pick my headshots again, cause I forgot to order an extra the last time. I pick it up, off to the Music Lab on Oltorf for the audition. I get a nostolgic when I get there, remebering when I would jam with my buddy Marc. They were good times, *sigh* ok enough of that. Back to the task at hand.
So I get to the Music Lab and I confirm which studio it's in, I walk over there and the door is closed. Hrrmmmm... Well I don't want to open the door and barge in on someone in the middle of their audition so I just kinda loof around the hall for about 10 mins, studying all the posters on the wall, the flyers, and any other propaganda lying around. Finaly, I get bored with it all and I make the executive decision to walk in. I listen closely by the door for a moment, take a deep breath and I open the door. Without missing a beat a tall guy opens the second door and greats me with a "HEEY!! You must be Valarie, we've been waiting for you!" Oh god, they were waiting for me? But I was early, like 20 minutes early. I just inform them that I was waiting around outside the door debating on barging in on someone or not. Glad I did.
So I meet the other two gentlemen in the room and I sit down and we chit chat. They ask me the usual, how old are you? where do I work? Availability? Will I marry him? What?? Just wanted to throw that one in, oh and by the way ladies... he was a very handsome fella, easy on the eyes which helped during the audition. We begin to discuss which characters I wanted to read for and I stated that two I wanted. So discuss a third that I didn't even think to read for, and he gives me the script with her dialouge and one of the two characters I orginaly was preparing for. Caught in the moment, I was trying to read the script and I couldn't even understand the words I was looking at. I saw letters, but they were all forgein to me that I couldnt peice together the words they were forming. I looked at all 4 pages worth of dialouge and "acted" like I was reading a script. Finaly I gave up and said, I'm ready. Let's do this. Then he started the scene out.
I played the first character a bit soft and demure. She obviously has a crush on the lead so I wanted her to sound "giddy but masking her giddiness with her insecurites", does that sound weird? Cause I really didn't think it is weird, isn't that what all of us girls do at some point around a guy we like. Especially in high school. lol. I finished that scene and I felt good about it, then it was on to the next character.
This is what I love about acting... as I was about to start the next character I felt that little switch inside go off. I shifted my weight in my chair because this character wouldn't sit the way I was originaly sitting, and I gave even more eye contact to the writer. My voice lowered in tone, and I had a more aggressive snap back in my dialouge. I even laughed hard and in character, in the scene.
I ended up doing some great work in this audition and it just proves that the more you do something the better you get. If you were to compare this audition and my first audition on Thursday... HUGE difference. I wasn't that nervous, I was actually a bit relaxed which is good and it allowed me a chance to really showcase a bit more.
Before I left one of the guys asked that if I would be able to go back and read with other people, so he can get a feel for the way we bounce off each other. I replied "No, are you crazy... Never!!" Just kidding, of course I said Yes! So I don't know if that means anything, I dont' know if he was saying that they will call me back. I just don't know. But it was good.
Ok so I expect that if I were to get a call back from any of my auditions I would probably hear from people either next week or the week after. So cross those fingers, limbs, hair whatever you can cross.
I'll let you know if I hear anything.
The Run-down of my Audition Thursday...
Originally posted on Myspace Nov. 09, 2007.
So if things couldn't be any better, I got a migraine. Those pounding the right side of your head and about to pop out your eyeballs type pain. Light was hurting it more, sound made me want to crawl into a ball and cry and all I wanted to do was throw up.... NO WAIT!!! IT'S AUDITION THURSDAY!!!!!!! *throws hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore*
Back to reality.. I leave work around 2 so I could pick my headshots from Walgreens where I made copies, and I wanted to get some food. I get to Austin around 4:15ish and I drive to my "spot" where is near my first audition. I sit in the parking lot near a baseball field, put on a Fiona Apple cd and try and get outside myself as much as possible... did I mention the migraine? In the anticipation of everything, I forgot to take something at the office and I was left to tough it out. Grrreat. I sit in my car with perfect sunlight coming through so I decide to fix my face. Not surgically, just with makeup. 30 mins later, I'm all dolled up so I start vocal warm ups and stretches. I decide to get to the audition about an hour early so I could get in line. Not so much, I was the first one. I sit in my car for another 30mins trying to close my eyes cause my head hurts so much.
Once inside, I use the little cowgirls room and freshen up a bit more. Headshots in tote, a little bit more lip gloss, and I adjust my Target version of Spanx. Hey if it holds in Oprah's gut, it should hold in my gut too. I look around the art center at the walls adorned with "anti-war" paintings, "fuck you" to the government murals, collages, mirrors... yep, I'm in Austin. I notice that while in the bathroom another lady has beat me and I am now the second person in line. There's goes my joke, my one-liner I could tell the casting agent, "Oh, am I first? Wow, that means everyone is going to be compared to me!" lol. Of course I hear myself say this now and I'm so grateful those words didn't come out of my mouth. Oh but let me tell you what did...
Once they called my name to go in, I walked into the room awkwardly holding my bag with my headshots about to spill out. I'm such a mess, an awkward mess. I close the door and the casting agent immediately starts to introduce herself, but I'm not listening.. I'm concerned with my bag that has just partially spilled out on the floor. Then she introduces the screenwriter. "Congratulations on the script!" Is what I should of said, instead.... it went like this. "Oh I'm Anne, and this is John (names changed) who is the screenwriter", and I respond "Congratulations." WTF?? What did I mean? Congratulations on being John? Oh god, I'm such a moron! I quickly made small talk to kind of ease over the asshole brush off I just gave to the writer of the movie that I'm auditioning for.
Then we very briefly go through the characters I'm reading for, quick rewind...... when I signed in Anne looked us over and gave us who we were going to read for. I assumed I was going to read for a "ditzy watiress" no sweat. Well she looked me over and gives me the waitress and another character, who happens to be similar to Shannon Elizabeths character in American Pie. Ok, let's imagine this... shannon elizabeth..... me..... I don't carry a single characterisitc of that "hot, wannabe supermodel" type at all. I know this, I never try to front that I do, but when she handed me the script to read for her. Not gonna lie, I got a little freaked out. Sexy? Can I pull it off? Only one way to find out...
Back to where we were, we discuss this supermodel character briefly and then we begin.. Suddenly all my fears of playing sexy, beautiful just faded away and I tried to convey as much hotness as possible through my eyes (cause I couldn't do it with my body). Luckily I memorized it as much as I could when I was waiting cause I couldn't turn the page to get the last of my dialouge mainly cause I was nervous, hands were shaking and then the worst happened... I felt all the blood just rush up to my head and my face turned bright red. REALLY!!! NOW!!! The scene ended, and I just played it off like I got really into the character and that's what she would have done. Whether they bought it or not (which I doubt they did), didn't matter. I got some amazing feedback, they really enjoyed the way I potrayed her. Score!! I felt really good about that one.
On to the second character (side note-- this is the first audition where I get to read for 2 different roles). This character was described as Jennifer Aniston in Office Space as the waitress. They told me that she had to be played as a ditzy/bitchy waitress who is fed up with her job. I read through it twice, and they said it was good (being polite) but I don't feel I nailed it like I did with the first one. Overall I left the audition feeling really good about myself. I was so glad to get rid of that inital audition. This was my first film audition in I don't know.... 5 years. Dang.
Onto the second audition. I'm driving around in the dark in what looks like one of the seadiest neighborhoods in Austin. I'm completely lost and all the lights from cars arn't helping my headache at all. I was really tempted to call it a night and just go back to San Antonio, but low and behold I found the studio. I was so tense by this point, my headhurt, my neck everything. So I needed a breather. I sat in my car in the parking lot for a bit, closed my eyes to put myself together. Once I calmed down, I went in. I waited around for a while went over my lines... remember this is the role where I have to do a jazz routine/mexian hat dance. lol. So I tried to block out the overly talkative ladies and tried to focus. I was the last.... the very LAST person to go in. Awkward moment 2 begins right after this brief re-cap..
In the audition classes I've taken, they always told us, don't talk to the casting directors, don't try and shake their hands, just walk in hand your headshot/resume and wait for instructions before you start. So I guess I still carry that militant mentality today. Back to awkward moment...
So the guy calls my name and we walk down the long hall to the room, he says that he's the guy that wrote the script and I was amazed that it was him running the whole show. What I should of noticed was his hand out to shake mine, but I didn't... cause I'm a moron which we established in the first awkward moment. Finaly I see his hand is out and I knew I had to shake it, but I hesitated... what if I did and he just pulls it away at the last second? "Ah Ha!! That was a test to see if you would touch me!! You failed... no part for you!!!" or maybe "Psych!!! You thought!!" But that's too 5th grade, anywho I shake his hand in an awkward angle because half of me was already in the room and he wasn't, so I did this 45 degree angle handshake while my back is facing him... yea, it was bad. Obviously I need to learn social skills, or to take a fucking chill pill and relax!
So I look at where I'm going to rehearse, a large green screen with a a single chair in the middle of the floor. No biggie. I sit down and notice a lady off in the corner taking notes.... hrrm. Then he says, well go ahead and read all you lines, I'm not going to feed any lines I just want you to read everything by yourself and tell me when you're done. "Are fucking serious?" Was what I wanted to say, but instead I said "Ok, no problem." Thank god, the awkward sensors were up and blocked that one. So I start my lines, and he starts looking at other headshots and writing stuff down. He wasn't looking and it made me nervous, which I seriously should of blown off but I let it get to me and I missed a line. I had my script in my hand so I was able to recover, then it was onto the dance sequence. NAILED IT!!! I was so freakin' happy, and I made him look up and he watched with a smile on his face. I delivered my final line to him dead in his eyes too. So it may not of started good but, I sure did finish strong.
Overall I don't know what to think of that audition, I'm happy with my performance but I don't know if the rocky start will effect his decision in anyway. But I feel good, even if I don't get a callback it's ok cause I just tackled the hardest thing ever. The audition process. It's a killer. But I have one more left on Sunday and I think that may be it for November. I'm just really happy that I'm branching away from Friday Night Lights and finding other projects to work on. It's tough sitting in the back away from the camera, it's really frustrating for me cause I know I have talent and I just want to showcase it.
Cross your fingers for a callback!!
So if things couldn't be any better, I got a migraine. Those pounding the right side of your head and about to pop out your eyeballs type pain. Light was hurting it more, sound made me want to crawl into a ball and cry and all I wanted to do was throw up.... NO WAIT!!! IT'S AUDITION THURSDAY!!!!!!! *throws hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore*
Back to reality.. I leave work around 2 so I could pick my headshots from Walgreens where I made copies, and I wanted to get some food. I get to Austin around 4:15ish and I drive to my "spot" where is near my first audition. I sit in the parking lot near a baseball field, put on a Fiona Apple cd and try and get outside myself as much as possible... did I mention the migraine? In the anticipation of everything, I forgot to take something at the office and I was left to tough it out. Grrreat. I sit in my car with perfect sunlight coming through so I decide to fix my face. Not surgically, just with makeup. 30 mins later, I'm all dolled up so I start vocal warm ups and stretches. I decide to get to the audition about an hour early so I could get in line. Not so much, I was the first one. I sit in my car for another 30mins trying to close my eyes cause my head hurts so much.
Once inside, I use the little cowgirls room and freshen up a bit more. Headshots in tote, a little bit more lip gloss, and I adjust my Target version of Spanx. Hey if it holds in Oprah's gut, it should hold in my gut too. I look around the art center at the walls adorned with "anti-war" paintings, "fuck you" to the government murals, collages, mirrors... yep, I'm in Austin. I notice that while in the bathroom another lady has beat me and I am now the second person in line. There's goes my joke, my one-liner I could tell the casting agent, "Oh, am I first? Wow, that means everyone is going to be compared to me!" lol. Of course I hear myself say this now and I'm so grateful those words didn't come out of my mouth. Oh but let me tell you what did...
Once they called my name to go in, I walked into the room awkwardly holding my bag with my headshots about to spill out. I'm such a mess, an awkward mess. I close the door and the casting agent immediately starts to introduce herself, but I'm not listening.. I'm concerned with my bag that has just partially spilled out on the floor. Then she introduces the screenwriter. "Congratulations on the script!" Is what I should of said, instead.... it went like this. "Oh I'm Anne, and this is John (names changed) who is the screenwriter", and I respond "Congratulations." WTF?? What did I mean? Congratulations on being John? Oh god, I'm such a moron! I quickly made small talk to kind of ease over the asshole brush off I just gave to the writer of the movie that I'm auditioning for.
Then we very briefly go through the characters I'm reading for, quick rewind...... when I signed in Anne looked us over and gave us who we were going to read for. I assumed I was going to read for a "ditzy watiress" no sweat. Well she looked me over and gives me the waitress and another character, who happens to be similar to Shannon Elizabeths character in American Pie. Ok, let's imagine this... shannon elizabeth..... me..... I don't carry a single characterisitc of that "hot, wannabe supermodel" type at all. I know this, I never try to front that I do, but when she handed me the script to read for her. Not gonna lie, I got a little freaked out. Sexy? Can I pull it off? Only one way to find out...
Back to where we were, we discuss this supermodel character briefly and then we begin.. Suddenly all my fears of playing sexy, beautiful just faded away and I tried to convey as much hotness as possible through my eyes (cause I couldn't do it with my body). Luckily I memorized it as much as I could when I was waiting cause I couldn't turn the page to get the last of my dialouge mainly cause I was nervous, hands were shaking and then the worst happened... I felt all the blood just rush up to my head and my face turned bright red. REALLY!!! NOW!!! The scene ended, and I just played it off like I got really into the character and that's what she would have done. Whether they bought it or not (which I doubt they did), didn't matter. I got some amazing feedback, they really enjoyed the way I potrayed her. Score!! I felt really good about that one.
On to the second character (side note-- this is the first audition where I get to read for 2 different roles). This character was described as Jennifer Aniston in Office Space as the waitress. They told me that she had to be played as a ditzy/bitchy waitress who is fed up with her job. I read through it twice, and they said it was good (being polite) but I don't feel I nailed it like I did with the first one. Overall I left the audition feeling really good about myself. I was so glad to get rid of that inital audition. This was my first film audition in I don't know.... 5 years. Dang.
Onto the second audition. I'm driving around in the dark in what looks like one of the seadiest neighborhoods in Austin. I'm completely lost and all the lights from cars arn't helping my headache at all. I was really tempted to call it a night and just go back to San Antonio, but low and behold I found the studio. I was so tense by this point, my headhurt, my neck everything. So I needed a breather. I sat in my car in the parking lot for a bit, closed my eyes to put myself together. Once I calmed down, I went in. I waited around for a while went over my lines... remember this is the role where I have to do a jazz routine/mexian hat dance. lol. So I tried to block out the overly talkative ladies and tried to focus. I was the last.... the very LAST person to go in. Awkward moment 2 begins right after this brief re-cap..
In the audition classes I've taken, they always told us, don't talk to the casting directors, don't try and shake their hands, just walk in hand your headshot/resume and wait for instructions before you start. So I guess I still carry that militant mentality today. Back to awkward moment...
So the guy calls my name and we walk down the long hall to the room, he says that he's the guy that wrote the script and I was amazed that it was him running the whole show. What I should of noticed was his hand out to shake mine, but I didn't... cause I'm a moron which we established in the first awkward moment. Finaly I see his hand is out and I knew I had to shake it, but I hesitated... what if I did and he just pulls it away at the last second? "Ah Ha!! That was a test to see if you would touch me!! You failed... no part for you!!!" or maybe "Psych!!! You thought!!" But that's too 5th grade, anywho I shake his hand in an awkward angle because half of me was already in the room and he wasn't, so I did this 45 degree angle handshake while my back is facing him... yea, it was bad. Obviously I need to learn social skills, or to take a fucking chill pill and relax!
So I look at where I'm going to rehearse, a large green screen with a a single chair in the middle of the floor. No biggie. I sit down and notice a lady off in the corner taking notes.... hrrm. Then he says, well go ahead and read all you lines, I'm not going to feed any lines I just want you to read everything by yourself and tell me when you're done. "Are fucking serious?" Was what I wanted to say, but instead I said "Ok, no problem." Thank god, the awkward sensors were up and blocked that one. So I start my lines, and he starts looking at other headshots and writing stuff down. He wasn't looking and it made me nervous, which I seriously should of blown off but I let it get to me and I missed a line. I had my script in my hand so I was able to recover, then it was onto the dance sequence. NAILED IT!!! I was so freakin' happy, and I made him look up and he watched with a smile on his face. I delivered my final line to him dead in his eyes too. So it may not of started good but, I sure did finish strong.
Overall I don't know what to think of that audition, I'm happy with my performance but I don't know if the rocky start will effect his decision in anyway. But I feel good, even if I don't get a callback it's ok cause I just tackled the hardest thing ever. The audition process. It's a killer. But I have one more left on Sunday and I think that may be it for November. I'm just really happy that I'm branching away from Friday Night Lights and finding other projects to work on. It's tough sitting in the back away from the camera, it's really frustrating for me cause I know I have talent and I just want to showcase it.
Cross your fingers for a callback!!
Audition marathon. Ready? GO!!!
Orginaly posted on Myspace Nov. 07, 2007
So I'm pretty nervous right now, not gonna lie. I have 3 auditions coming up and well... I'm nervous. I am rusty and I need to get my butt into a class or 2 to shake it off, but no time for that now.
Two of those auditions are tomorrow, wow! One is at 6pm, and the other is at 8:15pm. Let me tell you a little about them. At the 6pm audition, I'll be reading for the part of either a ditzy waitress, or one of three friends that are trying to kidnapp another friend. Hrmmm... I have no script and it's pretty much gonna be a cold read. I've been trying my best to get ready for that, everything I read I try and read it as "Actress Val" not normal just reading something Val. I put emotion and feeling into every sentence so I can get used to pulling out the core or the meat of it all. I sound like a loony right? oh well.
At the 8:15 audition, this is where I get to really stretch myself out. I'm auditioning for the part of "Valarie", what do you know? But the what is interesting about this movie is the character is more developed in the male leads daydreams. My audition peice consists of having to be a bitchy snob to a small jazz dance then break into a Mexican hat dance then to a Novela type scene and back to normal time. WTF?? Yea, I'm not nervous about the bitchy snob, it's the dancing where it's gonna be a stretch for me. I know what your thinking? But, Val you love dance... oh yea, you bet I love to dance (and I don't do it well) but what you forget is I'm not playing me. I'm gonna have to act like someone else who's going out of there box and dancing in a daydream sequence. I can pull off the dance spot, as me... but it's staying in that other character is where it's harder. I think I'm gonna work on this one all night. Possibly at a club of some sort, hey I am a method actor. lol.
Audition 3 isn't till Sunday and I haven't been given a time yet. This is the audition that I was originaly excited about cause I haven't gotten one in so long. The female roles are pretty minor but the storyline I think is really good. Pretty much it's about a guy that goes against a pool shark and loses a bet, and has to find a way to pay his debt. The parts I'm going to read for are the ex-girlfriiend of the guy that loses the bet (she is now dating his roomate, drama!), and also a friend of the guy that loses the bet that has a big crush on him. awwww, que cute.
So I've had a lot to work on this week, and I'm still doing finishing clean-up touches on my monologue, and choreography. haha. Just send my happy thoughts ever so often, good karma and such.
I'll let everyone know how it goes on Friday.
So I'm pretty nervous right now, not gonna lie. I have 3 auditions coming up and well... I'm nervous. I am rusty and I need to get my butt into a class or 2 to shake it off, but no time for that now.
Two of those auditions are tomorrow, wow! One is at 6pm, and the other is at 8:15pm. Let me tell you a little about them. At the 6pm audition, I'll be reading for the part of either a ditzy waitress, or one of three friends that are trying to kidnapp another friend. Hrmmm... I have no script and it's pretty much gonna be a cold read. I've been trying my best to get ready for that, everything I read I try and read it as "Actress Val" not normal just reading something Val. I put emotion and feeling into every sentence so I can get used to pulling out the core or the meat of it all. I sound like a loony right? oh well.
At the 8:15 audition, this is where I get to really stretch myself out. I'm auditioning for the part of "Valarie", what do you know? But the what is interesting about this movie is the character is more developed in the male leads daydreams. My audition peice consists of having to be a bitchy snob to a small jazz dance then break into a Mexican hat dance then to a Novela type scene and back to normal time. WTF?? Yea, I'm not nervous about the bitchy snob, it's the dancing where it's gonna be a stretch for me. I know what your thinking? But, Val you love dance... oh yea, you bet I love to dance (and I don't do it well) but what you forget is I'm not playing me. I'm gonna have to act like someone else who's going out of there box and dancing in a daydream sequence. I can pull off the dance spot, as me... but it's staying in that other character is where it's harder. I think I'm gonna work on this one all night. Possibly at a club of some sort, hey I am a method actor. lol.
Audition 3 isn't till Sunday and I haven't been given a time yet. This is the audition that I was originaly excited about cause I haven't gotten one in so long. The female roles are pretty minor but the storyline I think is really good. Pretty much it's about a guy that goes against a pool shark and loses a bet, and has to find a way to pay his debt. The parts I'm going to read for are the ex-girlfriiend of the guy that loses the bet (she is now dating his roomate, drama!), and also a friend of the guy that loses the bet that has a big crush on him. awwww, que cute.
So I've had a lot to work on this week, and I'm still doing finishing clean-up touches on my monologue, and choreography. haha. Just send my happy thoughts ever so often, good karma and such.
I'll let everyone know how it goes on Friday.
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