Too Early for Photographer Drama

And yet I've already had some this morning. I've officially been called old-looking. That didn't take very long, did it?

Thursday I auditioned for " Tonya & Nancy", a rock opera showcasing at the Oberon in late January. They liked my audition picks (Randy Newman's "God's Song", and "Fifteen Pounds away from my Love"), and asked me to stay for a movement call. Turns out it was a dance call.I danced in jeans and socks...but so did the other auditioners. A heads-up would have been nice, but I think I danced reasonably well given the circumstances.

The DP from "That Late Thursday Night" asked me to star in his senior thesis shooting next semester. The script sounds interesting, and showcases a side of me not yet captured on film for the demo reel, so I said yes.

Boston Casting has called me in to audition for a REAL MOVIE in January. Details to come.

My day job officially has me working Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. I am not entirely pleased about this. I also have yet to find out how long my obligation extends into the new year. My boss has promised to keep me in the loop.

No More Christmas Carols...

The worst part of my current job is easily the incessant christmas carols being pumped into every store. No one can escape Mariah Carey. Speaking of, I need to figure out when exactly this current job ends, so I can apply for every last scrap of other work available.

I received word that one of my student films ("Nighthawks") is nearly done, and will be screened and printed to DVD this coming week. One step closer to that elusive demo reel...

I've made plans to do a photoshoot with the DP from "That Late Thursday Night". A new headshot would be lovely, but if I walk away with a good casual 3/4 body shot I'll be happy.

I've registered for a few higher-end promo companies based in NYC. My search for a sublet is premature, as anything listed now will be irrelvant/gone by the time I'm able to relocate.

I'm finding myself increasingly frustrated with my unavailability. I think the real killer right now is my lack of weekends--it nearly eliminates my chances of working on most student films and indies. Nearly all the projects listed on Actors Access seem to be posted about a week in advance, though I submit myself for the rare few listed for January and after. I find myself anxiously re-checking the prices of the online Backstage subscription, only to realize I'd be wasting a month of my expensive membership.

Lastly: outside of the professional and/or Equity calls, I've decided not to audition for more theater in the Boston area. Yes, I do need to keep working, but I'd rather not make long term commitments based on a $200 stipend and a bit role in a musical revival. New goal: land underpaid theater in New York, and start networking the crap out of it. Soon as I'm available, at least...

Seriously Neglected Blog

Let's recap on all the things I missed:

SpeakEasy had a non-union call; I did not receive an appointment. Right now my 'stage' resume is a little straight-play heavy, which has lead to the inevitable Musical Theater resume. Once I polish all three incarnations, it will be time for some serious stapling and cutting so I can easily grab whichever version I need before an audition.

I modeled for Dawnamatrix again at the Deviant Ball at Machine. I had an excellent time, and need to remember to email her about the photos.

I auditioned for a rock band, and they liked me! They're a bit older than me, but they're looking for an attractive (trained) musician to record vocals and shop for a record deal. They have an outer-space theme; I think I'd make an excellent android vocalist. I warned them I'd be off-radar for a week or so. I'd really like to sing for them without coming straight from talking to people for 8 hours straight. Damn need for a job.

I went to New York to carol for TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I had been hoping that due the client presence and visibility of the NY market, that promos would have a higher level of accountability than Boston. So much for that idea. Wednesday was officially declared 'rained out', so I missed out on the second day of work. I wasn't pleased about that, but I made an actor friend, and got to see friends in New Jersey.

Actors Access won't let me write notes for casting submissions now, so I can't link to my film clips. Boooo. I'm still submitting for roles, but it really presses the need for a finished demo reel.

I quit working for Busy Bee promotions. I cannot fathom why any company would send me a time, address, and product for a demo that I'm not supposed to work. The fact that they don't 'have time' to filter that out before it gets to me speaks to their disorganization and lack of professionalism.

Overall, I'm about halfway through the "make money during christmas season" plan. I'm fairly pleased with it, but still looking for more Monday-Wednesday gigs to snap up. I will also go back to my goal of blogging 3x a week. I swear. Hopefully.

Recovered Sleep Deficit

My sleep schedule has recovered! Yay!

We finished up That Late Thursday Night at an ungodly hour Friday morning. Despite some mild disorganization, I was pleased with it, and hope that it will come out well. I connected with the DP, who has a strong background in photography,and is looking for some TFP work. We've been talking about shooting, as well as me possibly doing some voice over work for stop-motion-animation.

Sunday morning I auditioned for a season with a local production company. They're shooting a couple shorts, a feature length, and a pilot. They seemed to like my reading for one of the lead roles. They seemed surprised that I could turn out a decent reading without previous direction and critique. Yay acting homework.

I spoke with my SLC friend, and the logistics just don't work out to do his film this semester. However, he does want me on his film in the Spring. I would have a leading a role, and there would be a real live famous actor involved! I'm looking not to jinx myself, so the actor will remain unnamed until I have more details.

Last summer I had been in talks with a rock band to do some work as a vocalist. The emails fizzled out, and I assumed they went with someone else. Lo and behold, I received an email from them yesterday. They're still looking, and have settled on a sci-fi theme for the band. I need to pick out a song to cover for my audition, but I'm also looking at writing a vocal line to one of the demos they've posted online. I do look good in spandex and lamé....

I think I'm officially Nocturnal

Between Seattle jet-lag, two dolls shows in a row, an overnight shoot on friday, and a midnight promo last night, I haven't seen 7am in some time now.

Nighthawks went very well.I had never seen a crew so large for a student film. Everyone was upbeat, despite the late hour and cold. Over the course of the evening we had 911 called on us, drunks and junkies try to come in thinking we were open, film mags jam, but I was very pleased with how things went.

Today I have an audition for Shakespeare Now, for which, honestly, I could have been better prepared. My best hope for a role is Helena in Midsummer, as I am towering maypole-size.

Tonight I'm shooting That Late Thursday Night in Fitchburg. The script is simple, and I think does a very good job of showing some relationship collateral damage.

Last but not least, I just put a video up on Youtube for a Sarah Lawrence friend. His most recent film was screened at a horror festival in New York. The character I read for was originally male, but if he likes my read we can work it out.

Its not my fault, I was in Seattle!

...and lugging my laptop through two airports seemed like no fun at all.

My staged reading of The Elephant Man went well. We performed for a small but enthusiastic audience at a church in Newton. I think Mrs. Kendal is a good role for me, but in order to include it I'd have to put a 'staged reading' section on my resume and eat up valuable space. Hmm.

I've landed two student films in the past week. One shoots this friday night in Boston, and the other next week in Fitchburg. I'm rather partial to the script for the latter, but since its undergrad BFA season I'm looking to snap up as much reel material as possible.

Speaking of reels, I've realized that my Actors Access profile is sadly lacking in video. Because they charge per minute, I think I am going to hold off until I have a reel, rather than pay for five minutes of video from one movie. Does anyone have experience of this, and hold the magical knowledge of what "they" are looking for?

I have an audition for Shakespeare Now next week. While it would put the investigating New York plan on hiatus, it would pay my bills doing Shakespeare. That would be...more than okay.

I spent the past two nights at the Dresden Dolls reunion shows at the Wilbur theater, and must give a shout out to last night's opener, Bitter Ruin. They're a voice/guitar duo from the UK, and theatrical and warped in all the right ways. Check them out. Now. Seriously.

A Curious Email

There's an email I keep getting from Boston Casting.

It's not the usual "Your account is non-active!" email, referring to the fact that I will not shell out $200/year for more pictures and video on their website.

I received an email that lists the number of projects they've submitted me for in past couple days, and then they ask me to please, start using their pay service.

If they're already submitting me for projects, why would I shell out the money? (The last time I received this email I got called in for the Shaq commercial the next day.)

I don't know either.

In other news, I subscribed to ShowFax. I've started submitting myself for roles in New York. Most of them list when they'll shoot, so I can stick to day roles I'd be able to commit to.

I had an audition for a SAG student thesis film at Harvard yesterday. I fit the type well, and was pleased with my audition. I should hear in the next couple days. Heeeere voucher voucher voucher...