The Dreamer

Since they announced the Michigan film incentives, there have been casting calls, and acting seminars surfacing everywhere. It has been a challenge to spot which ones are worth the time and money. I have been careful for the most part, but I did write a small check to a supposed “extras” website that I haven’t been contacted about or gotten any extra work from. Someone has since told me that “I shouldn’t have had to do that.” It is all learning.

I went to another seminar the other day, the least expensive that has been offered, but it was an advertisement for a motion picture acting program. The instructor did provide quite a bit of information in the seminar, and they had professionals from local casting agencies there.

It seems as if this has all blown up so quickly and the local casting agencies are doing their best to fill all the roles. L.A. is coming here expecting things to run like their larger and more experienced system, and Michigan is doing its very best to conform. The instructor of the seminar stressed the importance of us all making Hollywood feel not only welcome here, but showing them what great talent and work ethic we have.

It surprises me how many people at these seminars are actually working actors and models living in Michigan. I didn’t know they were here. They all are steps ahead of me, have head shots done, have actually been on professional auditions, I listen and learn from the critiques that the professionals give them.

This is the second one of these seminars I have been too. The first one was more active. It gave students the opportunity to try acting exercises, and get in front of the camera. I was lucky enough to meet an actress there who needed a reel, and the profits from editing her reel are going to my head shots fund. I learned from this experience and had quick “free” business card made from an online service, and have started to hand them out at these seminars. I have a feeling that having an editing system of my own, and the skills to use it are going to be very beneficial not only to make friends and learn from actors, but also finance my own investment into acting.
I had previously feared that I did not have the personality for the hustle and the networking but I am quickly finding that I am really good at, and enjoy it. I guess If you just throw yourself in the water you find out that you swim to survive.

For a while I wondered if it was a bad thing that I couldn’t focus my interests on just one thing. I saw a friend’s (that has already made it to the L.A. area) personal website that showcased all her talents and passions, some that we share. It was so inspiring. From that moment on, I realized that my many interests were not a hindrance, but rather a benefit. Having more skills means you can work more jobs.
My boyfriend is keeping up with the impending S.A.G. strike. He told me last night that it doesn’t look good. It has been another reason we postponed the move to Los Angeles. We don’t want to move to a town and be the new people struggling for work when all the people who have experience will be struggling as well. So we are going to take full advantage of what is going on right in our own backyard until this gets straightened out.

After months of thinking, careful financial planning, and working full time plus two other jobs. I gave my two weeks to my day job in car advertising post-production.

I am going full force into acting, my burlesque dancing/teaching and working on a film crew.

Next week I go on my first interview to work on a set.

Tags: , acting seminars, Detroit, learning, Michigan

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at 8:08 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.