Saturday, August 18, 2012

Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!

My shiny new dayjob had a hiccup. They don't know when they'll be opening. Commence panic.

Being a grown adult who deals with her issues head-on, I did the logical thing and ran away to my parents' house for five days. Eggplant grown in the backyard and quality time with cats will do wonders for one's stress level.

My second day at home, I received a facebook message that a friend's company was hiring, and that said friend thought I'd be a good fit for the position. I've been offered lovely full-time jobs before, but not since moving to New York. New York is a money-devouring beast. I evaluated how such a job would affect my current career plans. I'd be better able to fund self-produced projects. I could audition for any project that rehearsed evening and weekends.

But, soon as I get into class, the bigger auditions I hope to land will be during the week, during the day. I can't commit to a company looking for a full time 9-5 employee. Several people I've consulted on this topic have told me to lie through the interview, and quit when I land something good enough. I'm against that kind of thing. Lying is usually bad, mmkay?

I sent a response a few days later thanking the friend for thinking of me.

Even having been yanked around repeatedly, I realized that my priorities are the same. I moved to New York to be in a primary market for actors. Accepting a 9-5 would hurt my availability, and make it more difficult to achieve what I moved here to do.

The good news is that the increased stress has me practicing piano and voice more often. It's hard to stress out about liquor licenses while singing through The Last Five Years.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Writing is Hard

Like, really hard guys. Did you know that already? Oh, you did. That's cool.

I've finally started writing my short. I want to self-produce it within the next six months. Thinking about where I'm going to find the funds, man-power, and equipment is a project for after it's written. I have been toying with the idea of founding my own production company. That project is waiting for funds, and the free time to sort out details.

LOSERS is mostly shot! We have one more major scene, and some pickup shots. The shoots have been long, in locations lacking air conditioning, but the cast and crew have both been lovely.

I have my first day on set shooting Silver Cheese's action feature tomorrow. That one's a bit more hush-hush. Needless to say, I'm excited to be working with them.

And, through the magic of networking, I've booked another short! A friend from college recommended me to a co-worker, and I'll be starring in a film that mostly takes place in WWII. You, my dear readers, know my obsession with vintage fashion and hair, yes? And the storytelling sounds pretty excellent too.

I've also traded up my day job. I quit my retail position, and am now a bartender at a soon-to-open establishment in Astoria. Hopefully this will give me the funds I need to take class with NY agents and CDs.

Acting in three projects, writing one, and poised to make money? Sounds like a pretty good place to be.