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.

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.

I get to wear my wedding dress again!

Seriously, best $35 I ever spent.  (For those of you  keeping score at home, I've now worn that $1400 dress from Priscilla's of Boston for Company, Taming of the Shrew, and The Last Five Years).


Why will I be wearing that enormous raw silk garment again you ask? Well, I've been cast in a pilot.
Sure, sure, if you read this blog you probably already saw that on my fan page or personal facebook page. If that's not the case, hello lurker!

The pilot is called LOSERS, and information about it can be found here. I'm pleased as punch to be a part of the core cast.

I also received callbacks for the action feature mentioned in the previous blog entry. The callbacks are a day-long affair; I am to arrive with three outfits; ready for a photo shoot, table read, and fight choreography. I have never been so heavily vetted for a role.

With that in mind, I've started working out again. Some of you are familiar with my current weight issues--somewhere between moving to New York City, quitting soda, and dumping the person I dated for three years, I've become skinnier than I ever was in high school. I was worried that if I started an intense fitness regimen I'd be on the track towards 'too thin'. I know, I know, thin is good for tv. The fun part is that starting at this base weight, noticing the slowly-growing definition is much easier, and a good motivator.

I'm also trying to be good about singing at least twice a week. Yesterday was soprano repertoire day. Watch out, Moonfall, and Gooch's song. I'm coming for you.

Oh that's right, I used to have a blog

And I was going to update it for accountability, right? What a nice idea that was.

So here we are. I went to MA for Pirates of Penzance. While singing every day was lovely, it did put me a little behind in terms of NY auditions. When I came back I had living situation and employment issues that resulted in little income and free time. (Isn't that always the way?)

I'm finally starting to hit my stride again-- three auditions in the past week. Two for film, one for a theater festival. Both film auditions gave me a sword in the audition room. It seems that there's a  niche for snarky female characters in action movies. I hadn't thought about that casting niche before; it suits me far better than a 'quirky best friend' in a rom-com. I've already received notice for callbacks for one of the films, though both seemed to be fairly impressed with me.

Caleb and I have begun work on my demo reel. Well, we totally began it, he's the one continuing work. I am lucky to have friends to do me such labor-intensive favors. It'll be great to have a calling card, though it also represents the financial investment of hosting media on the casting pages. Which brings me to my next bit of news:

I'm in training to be a server at a bar! That elusive beast, Manhattan experience, is finally within my grasp. In theory, I should actually be able to afford most of the industry things I need. How exciting! I'm looking forward to being able to take class again.

I'm also contemplating something Dallas Travers said. She suggested I write my blog like I'm answering James Lipton's questions on Inside the Actor's Studio. With that in mind, I solemnly swear to update this blog.