SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Spring has sprung, as they say, but the acting front still appears to be waiting to fully bloom and show all of its oh so fabulous colors.

In this industry, experiencing a flourishing career can happen at any moment, whether in season or not. So, one must never really panic, just stay prepared and continue pushing forward. Maybe this being a leap year, in addition to having the WGA strike, threw it off track a bit. No matter what is causing the delay, aside from ongoing backups on the 405 Freeway, I remain hopeful!

Last week’s blog mentioned that my sister Devon was flying out to Los Angeles for her spring break from Purdue University, and she did just that. It was so nice having her here while getting a bit of a break myself, but it could have, understandably, been mistaken for summer break, since temperatures reached the 90’s in the valley and the sun was fully out with all its bright rays of glory.

In between our many yummy meals out, shows and get togethers, we did what sisters do best…shopped! No visit would be complete without it, whether on Robertson or Melrose, or at our local Target or IKEA. Fun and good laughs were always on the agenda, amidst a few good blonde moments, of course.

Aside from our beloved shopping, supporting my very talented friend’s band, Jen&Abby (jenandabby.com), at a Hotel Café show in Hollywood and savoring the “swirly goodness” that is Pinkberry, Devon continued to get a taste of what being an actor is all about and just how unique and fickle this industry is.

What better place to do this than at an Easter gathering. Seeing that bunny day fell early this year, which was a bit strange to get used to, she was able to do just that alongside my many creative and wonderful friends at our annual Easter get-together and early dinner celebration.

Considering that most of my friends are actors, as well, or in the industry in some form, be it music, improv, casting, etc., it is an entertaining bunch to say the least, with no shortage of laughs. This all gave her an inside look at the wacky, fun times had by those in showbiz. After all, and as actor Eileen Brennan said, “actors are crazy or we wouldn’t be doing this.”

Fun has been had, spring has fully sprung, and Devon is back with her fellow black and gold Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Indiana. So, it is now time for me to spring back into reality and hit what appears to be a temporarily cold pavement in hopes of warming things up a bit.

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’” - Robin Williams

“ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT”

On the western front of Los Angeles, as far as acting is concerned, this past week has been more like Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Gadot.”

It is said that the character Gadot represents the things in life people wait for, things that keep us going and heading towards a certain goal.  When you’re an actor, auditions are that thing.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with the play, Gadot never shows up, and, well, auditions never showed up pour moi.

But have no fear fellow blog readers!

One tranquil, audition-free week is not going to slow this cookie down, even if she is ready to come out of the oven.  If I were to let this hold me back, I would be in for a long, somewhat disappointing, road ahead.  Personally, I would much rather wait patiently and believe that something more encouraging is resting just around my creative corner.

I could sit and ponder what exactly that might be, but we aren’t always given the luxury of time to do that.  In essence, although we might be waiting for something, life doesn’t always wait for us.

However, if you ask me, this is actually a blessing in disguise, because it allows us to keep busy instead of lingering in the uncertainty and “woe is me” phase.  For me, this consists of work, errands, family and friend time and the everyday events and adventures life brings my way.

As actors we must keep moving forward.  When auditions are supposed to appear, they will find their way and suddenly creep into our unpredictable and often unstable lives.

Remember that persistence is the key.  If you “give up” too quickly you risk never unlocking what was waiting in the wings almost ready to make its appearance and shine center stage.

Who knows what the week ahead shall bring, but I am ready for whatever may come my way and eagerly looking forward to having my sister Devon out in sunny CA for her spring break from grad school at Purdue.  A fun time that will continue to keep me busy as the auditions, hopefully, creep in and make it all quiet on the western front no more.

“In quiet places, reason abounds.” – Adlai E. Stevenson

AUDITIONS: “TO BE, OR NOT TO BE (PREPARED), THAT IS THE QUESTION.”

Constantin Stanislavski should be as familiar to an actor as Henry Ford is to someone who works with cars or Betty Crocker is to those who cook. He was a Russian actor and theatre director who later penned, An Actor Prepares, a semi-autobiographical account of a Russian actor preparing for a role. The book has become one of the most popular and essential books an actor will encounter and should own during his or her career.

It’s theme, preparation, is also very fitting for this weeks blog. No matter what we do throughout our rollercoaster life, being as prepared as possible for the twists and turns that await you, hopefully, allows the ups and downs to be smoother. However, as an actor, sometimes no matter how prepared you are for an audition, this industry doesn’t allow you to be as fully ready as you could be.

It is hard enough to be a successful actor and even harder when the communication among actors, agents, casting directors, producers and directors often breaks down. Sometimes you are left thinking you really never had a chance to begin with. Nonetheless, maybe these are all just tests of your talent, ability and strength. Plus, no one ever said being an actor was easy.

For me, each audition obtained presents an opportunity: a chance to meet new people, act for a brief moment, explore a new character, gain experience, and possibly even book a job at the end of it all. Thus, to me, preparation for auditions seems like common sense and very necessary indeed.

Still, my experience so far has shown that even if you research a role and project to familiarize yourself with those involved and know your material, you can show up for an audition and find that everything you did to prepare needs to be thrown out the window.

As a result, no matter how many auditions you have been on or how long you have been pounding the pavement, you cannot always know what to expect when you arrive or when you enter the audition room. What you consider to be prepared is at times irrelevant, since what waits is simply out of your control.

For instance, you could show up looking just like your headshot and be told, “you’re too old,” and never get to read a line, because they had decided they wanted someone who actually was 17. This also disregards the fact that your resume clearly states that you have a college degree, making you more than likely older. Or you are told after numerous auditions and callbacks, “you were the best actor for the role, but because of the business we had to go with a ‘name’ actor.” Additionally, the role could have been offered to another actor before you even got the audition, let alone entered the room, but they needed to have backups in case the other actor turned it down.

Oh, but that’s not all.

You could come to find that the breakdown (the description of the character) has been completely altered or the sides (the lines from the project given to an actor to prepare before the audition) have been suddenly changed. Or you could be too tall, especially if you’re female and a much shorter male actor has already been cast opposite you. BTW, being a tall female, as in my case, seems to be a whole other problem, which I’ll save for a future blog!

Lastly, you might have a great audition, but not get the part. This will happen often! However, it will only make sense when, on a very rare occasion, you are able to find out why. For example, when told, “you were great and would have had the role, but the director decided to make the character a guy.” Naturally, when you’re female, this inevitably takes you out of the running.

All of the above can happen, and actually has happened to me. Therefore, there is no definitive answer to the question, “To be, or not to be (prepared)?” The fact is it doesn’t always matter. Certain uncertainty, which I spoke of in a prior blog, just goes with the territory and is part of a typical day in the life of an actor.

That said, I personally think an actor should always be prepared to the best of their ability. Just remember that an important part of that preparation includes recognizing that anything can happen. You must be ready to go with the flow and present the best possible you that you can. Do the best you can and then let it go. As difficult as this sometimes is, it gets easier with practice, as does grasping that so many things are out of your hands. You must move onto the next audition and not take it personally!

Above all, remember that whether you book the job or not could come down to something as trivial as being born with the wrong eye color. So stay positive and know that with each audition you have gained experience. Think of it as preparation’s way of being sure that next time you are, to the best of its ability, better prepared.

“Luck is a combination of preparation meeting opportunity.” – Oprah Winfrey

TRUTH BE TOLD

This past week I have been overwhelmed with work, auditions and life. All without breaks, be it commercial or otherwise, in between and the blog I had written, in the midst of attempting to balance it all, honestly wasn’t quite up to par, in my chocolate brown eyes.

Therefore, while my laundry is drying, yes actors do their own laundry, well at least this cookie does, I am going to reveal what is to come in my next FIB blog in hopes of keeping your around. Plus, seeing that my next blog will be number 5, which happens to be my favorite number, I promise to make it as fabulous as the number is to me…or at least give it a good old-fashioned try!

Have you ever wanted to know what the audition scene is all about or what an actor encounters along the way while trying to make their way one step closer to success?

Well, I plan on bringing you into that part of our creative world while keeping it as truthful as possible, to insure you get a real, honest perspective. Not just a pretty picture, but with my positive and, hopefully, refreshing twist, of course.

So, till then, I have been asked by Telsey Casting in NYC to be their reader for the Broadway Musical “Wicked” auditions they are holding in LA this week. An opportunity and work that will be sure to keep me just as busy, but I look forward to meeting new people, performing with an array of actors and simply learning from the experience itself. An experience that was very positive the last time I worked with them during the “Dirty Dancing” process, along side its gracious writer, Ms. Eleanor Bernstein.

OK, I am off to get my laundry, but shall report back next week with all the ins and outs of auditioning and how preparation plays an unclear part in it all. Thank you so much for sticking around so far and know that, truth be told, I appreciate it far more than you know and look forward to not only sharing my thoughts and adventures with each of you, but getting to express them through writing!

To be continued…

“When a woman tells the truth she is creating the possibility for more truth around her.” - Adrienne Rich