Thursday, December 23, 2010

The work never ends....

It's funny how when you're a kid you think that being grown up means all this freedom and awesomeness.  And when you get there, though being legally able to drink is pretty awesome on it's own, really it kind of just sucks.  And on that note, I'm thinking about picking up day drinking as a serious hobby.
For instance, I'm spending as much time over break working as I did while I was in class.
I've set a deadline of January tenth for completeling the ready-to-mail version of my screenplay.  It's been technically done for a few weeks, but it's not quite up to snuff.  I'm only really thrilled about maybe the first quarter of it, the rest just seems to fall a little flat.  It's like I ran out of clever at the end of the first act.
On top I want to have the story written out for my next one by the end of January.  So it's going to be a busy month.
Other than that, everything's good.  The BFF has inspired me to pick up my gym membership again, in preparation for awesome headshots, hopefully by the end of January, though I think Valentines Day is more realistic.  This should be funded for the time being as a late birthday/Christmas gift from my sister, who recieved a bonus for more than my motly income.  What do I get as a lowly City Employee?  A Card.  They used to include scratchers, but then my boss got cheap, not that I blame him, we've got a staff of about 250.
The lawyer BF is knee deep in books, and I rarely see him.  Somehow, I'm okay with it most of the time.  After all, I like my space.  There's a reason we've been together going on four years and we're not engaged.  I think I'm about as serious as I'm capable of getting for the time being. 
Happy Holidays to You an Yours.
Until 2011, Peace.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

An A, You say?

I can't help but get giddy when school ends.  The ten year old in me wants to run outside and run in circles shouting about freedom.
My final scene went well.  I ended up actually switchig partners when my original partner and I couldn't get our scedules to work.  It was better that way.  I was sick of mister "I'm a triple threat."  I should be pulling an A.
I've been waiting in anticipation to get a review of my complete screen play for almost a week.  I got the email from my teacher today and simply looked at it in my inbox for five minutes.  My teacher does not say things to be nice.  He's honest.  He knows half the scripts roduced in his advanced classes will be sent out by hopeful young writers.  And he's the head of the film studies department.
So once I sacked up, or in my case, ovaried up, I clicked and read over the email quickly.
Then I read it again because the first time I absorbed absolutely none of it.
Bottom line:  He love it.  He showered me with compliments of well thought out characters, well crafted scenes, and snappy dialouge. And I get an A.
I'm pulling a 3.5 this semmester.  I've never pulled a 3.5.  Ever.  I'm strictly a C student.  Hell, most of the time I have to beg for that.
Christmas is just around the corner.  I'm having a hard time turning down sweets.  It seriously kills me so the by the end of every day I feel like a lucky survivor of war. 
I'm going to a Christmas party with my sister tomorrow.  She's the warehouse manager of the newest up and comming "it" jewelry line.  They're in every magazine, every month, and every young starlet wears them, They've had an awesome year which is great for my sister's bonus and great for me cause, hey, open bar!  And wholesale price on that necklace with the bird that the chick on Hung wears in like, every episode.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Stress

The stress is almost over.
In less than a week I'll be done with the semester.
I'm freaking out less over my research paper.  Although I do have a recurring dream where I get popped for plagiarism because i somehow write a paper that's already been written by someone else. 
My finished script is due Sunday.  I have a few days to write the last act.  I don't think it'll be difficult, per se.  After all, the third act should basically write it's self with all the tying up for the most part.  I am however agonising over giving it a title.  Every week my teacher asked me if I have one and he gets more an more annoyed at Untitled Fall Semester.  My final scene is coming around nicely.  My scene partner is  bit of a flake though.  He's impossible to nail down and late all the time.  when I spend the time to BOOK a place, it would be nice if he showed up.  After all he lives like two blocks away, i commute thirty miles and somehow make it on time.  he's also one of those who thinks he knows everything.  He misuses gargin all the time and constantly refers to our silent scenes as monologues, which they're obviously not, as no one speaks.  Writing about it is making me more frustrated!
Tomorrow's payday.  That's nice.  Date night with the Lawyer BF, who didn't pass the bar, so now is going back underground for three months to study.  He's taking it pretty well.
I've decided to scrap the review process on books and simple say if I think they're crucial.  I'll edit the list from before as I read through them.
I'm planning on booking headshots for the third week of January.  I've got all my appointments (dentist, optometrist, doctor, hearing tech) for the first and second week, so my third week should be clear because the first week of school is never that hard.
I'm feeling kind of sickly.  Not a good sign.  Back to the grind.....

Saturday, November 27, 2010

The Peanuts Time of Year

I absolutely love the holidays.  Seriously, my first job was in a year round Christmas store.  I'm full on obsessed; trees, lights, presents - you name it.  With the exception of chocolate advent calenders, which I usually end up eating over the course of two days instead of 25 and always make me sick.  I love the Peanuts specials, the Charlie brown feel.... i watched a marathon last night and my neighbors flicked on their Christmas lights and all felt right with the world.
Unfortunately, all is not right with the world.  The world is stressful and depressing and time moves way too fast.  I spent Thanksgiving day with LJ, getting drunk, eating baked brie and crying.  As sad as it sounds, it felt kind of good.  It was nice to sit there, with LJ and her mother and grandmother, her brothers ashes, and reminisce.  All of her brother's friends stopped by as I was leaving.  It was sad, but cleansing.  One good cry and I should be stable for a few weeks.
But then I think about B.  B. is my sister's best friend.  B died in a car accident on Christmas four years ago.  My sister doesn't cope well.  In general she's moody and spends way too much time trying to escape her demons through drugs or alcohol, but this time of year she's more than unpleasant, she becomes unbearable.  it definitely puts a damper on the spirit.
School is killing me.  I've got what, two weeks left?  I've got a ten page research paper, and I'm so far behind on my scripts that i don't even want to think about it.  two weeks.  that's it.
It's enough to make me not register for classes in the spring, but I'm afraid if I don't take at least one, I'll never go back.  So online art history, here I come!
As far as the craft goes, I'm making my way through a pile of books.  I should have some review-type posting up on Wednesday.  I'm still trying to save for the future, and the credit card offers I'm getting seem mighty tempting.  How much debt is too much debt?  I mean really.  When I say I'm about 1400 in debt, is that a lot?  Or a little?  I mean, the lawyer BF is in about 100,000.  I have like less than two percent of his debt.
I mean, thinking about it, another grand towards classes and headshots seems like debt well spent.  But the fact that I can't pay for it out of pocket makes me wonder how successfully I'll be able to pay it down.
Anyway, back to the grind.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Books

I've been drowning in school related work. Between homework and applications, registration and research, I'm surprised I haven't cracked.
I've gotten on top of most of it.  I'm still roughly 20 pages behind on my script, but I'm hoping to be caught up by the end of the week.  I've also got to start on my massive research paper that's worth thirty percent of my English grade.  It doesn't help that I hate my teacher.  This is an online class, so it definitely takes work to hate someone based on simple text. 
Three weeks.  then I'm done.  I've got a pretty busy weekend and next week coming up, so it's time to get ahead of things.
Friday is harry potter, for which I am a nerd of geeklyness proportions.  Also, the boyfriend is getting his results on the bar exam, so a celebration is expected.  Then the next Monday through Wednesday i'm spending in Vegas (Comped room!  Thanks Harrahs!), then thanksgiving and a weekend sure to be hell at work.

I've made a list of books I plan to read by Christmas.  All in the arena of acting.  a lot of them I've already got, and some I plan to borrow from various friends.  I absolutely love amazon for used books.


Self Management for Actors-Bonnie Gillespie
An Agent Tells All-Tony Martinez
One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor's Survival Guide-Markus Flanagan
Book the Job-Doug Warhit
Intent to Live-Larry Moss
Respect for Acting-Uta Hagen
Art of Acting-Stella Adler
Sanford Meisner on Acting-Sanford Meisner
A Dream of Passion-Lee Strasberg
-The Power of the Actor-Ivanna Chubbuck
How To Book Acting Jobs in TV and Film-Cathy Reinking
How to Be a Working Actor-Mari Lyn Henry and Lynne Rogers
So You Want to Be in Showbusiness?- Steve R. Stevens
Challenge to the Actor-Uta Hagen
Acting is Everything -Judy Kerr
No Acting Please-Eric Morris
Acting for the Camera-Tony Barr

The goal is to read three a week, at least and report back. 

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Hello November!

I love November.  I love December.  I really really love the holiday season.
This year I'm trying not to go too overboard with my spending on gifts and stuff.  I've implemented a thirty buck max on gifts with friends and figure forty a pop for each parent.  The lawyer-boyfriend will get a little more towards his because, after all, he did get me the ipod touch for my birthday. 
Work's been a little insane.  They're beginning to enforce a four day maximum so we don't run out of hours.  I don't usually work more than four or five a week anyway, but it means getting shifts covered is going to be a lot more tricky than it used to be.
Met for drinks last night with LJ.  LJ has been my best friend since the third grade.  It was emotional.  You see, LJ lost her brother about a month back (he was only 26) due to some strange random heart failure.  The inconclusive results on his autopsy are party to blame for my  blogging absence.  It's been an emotional roller coaster for me, and especially for her, but things are finally getting back to normal.
School takes the fall for the rest of it.  I've finished my thesis paper, but now have a research paper worth a third of my grade.  And it has to be ten pages long.
That coupled with my advanced screenwriting class (I'm about thirty pages behind on my script) means I'm putting a lot of time in leaving very little for anything acting-related.
I'm deciding between headshot photographers.  I'm hoping to get some done in January.  I'm leaning towards Raquel Krelle but it's months away so I don't really have to worry.
I got a small raise at work, equalling out to about a hundred extra bucks a month, it's not a lot, but it's something and it's all going towards classes in the new year.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Hectic

Why is it that today I find myself swamped with work, when yesterday I felt like I had all the time in the world?
My scene's due tonight, which is the only thing I'm remotely prepared for.
I have 28 pages on my screenplay due on Sunday, and a thesis paper due Friday for which I still have no thesis.
I work tomorrow, and picked up shifts on Saturday and Sunday because I'm stockpiling cash for 2011, the year I will make significant progress, or so I tell myself.
And all I want to do is crawl into bed.
And I got s wrapped up in things last night that I forgot Glee was on. 

Also, saw a guy at work reading No Acting Please by Eric Morris and I got a kick out of discussing how awesome but insanely intimidating the man seems to be.
And I didn't realize the time, so I'll probably be late for class now.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Oh classes.....

I'm beginning the search for more classes.  I'm got a lot of people in mind, most based upon friends and research.
The first on my list is Coach Mike and Hey I Saw Your Commercial.  It's selling points are it's ranking (widely considered one of the best) and cheap (Levels 1 and 2 plus a showcase is like 500, combined with a ten dollar materials fee, their additional 4 week confidence class is only 160).  The downside is it seems really pitched.  The videos on the site make me weary, i get that it's a business, but I don't want to be in class feeling like I'm getting pitched. 
The audit costs 25, refundable towards your first class, with a free door prize worth at least 30 bucks if you come a bit early.
I'm also considering Carolyn Barry.  her school seems to be highly regarded, the only downside is that she seems to be the least popular teacher there.  She has a twelve week beginners class (one for commercial acting and one for audition, it seems) that's just under 500 each. She has an eight week Intro to Commercials for 445 and a I hear that class is sometimes held in her house, with her dogs.  On one side this seems comfy and flattering, that she'd let her students in her home, on the other I picture every neurotic mom I've ever met and a lot of people seem to describe her that way.  then again, maybe they're the kind of people who put their feet up on other's coffee tables.
Killian McHugh seems to be in close to equal ranking with Hey I Saw Your Commercial.  He has a four week Audition technique class that's 300, but only runs an hour and a half versus the norm of 3 hours plus.  He seems like able, and tapes the last class, sending it out to agents.
The there's Doug Warhit who seems to be ranked a bit lower on the scale of what's good on a resume, but highly ranked by students. 
Brian Reise has what's regarded as an amazing on camera cold read and audition class.  It's fairly inexpensive, 200 a month, but I'm unclear on how long it runs.  I like that's he's trained some of the best but doesn't feel the need to brag.

So those are for the first branch I'm considering, basically geared towards commercial work.  That still leaves so  much, scene study, improv (which I'm horrible at, and therefor hate), technique, etc. 
Now my head hurts.

Monday, October 25, 2010

It's kind of like a first date....

My first blog here.  Im a bit nervous, to be honest.
So, for those of you who haven't read my previous blog (it only had a total of 34 views in it's lifetime, so that's the whole world), I'm setting myself on a career path.
This career path is bound to be littered with carnage.  I'm guaranteed weeks worth of self doubt and basic poverty for the foreseeable future.  Why?  Because I want to be an actress.
I have wanted to be an actress, professionally, since I was twelve.  Which doesn't mean anything.  I'm sure a good percentage of kids dream about the bright lights of Hollywood.
But now i'm 24, and still dreaming.
It's been easy to put off over the last three years or so.  I was always waiting on the right photographer, the right headshot, the right location.  The fact is, these are all excuses and they're all getting me nowhere. 
I have four friends who are actively pursuing a career as actors.  I have another two friends who are doing the same, yet not as actively. 
last week one of my more active friends signed with Malaky International.   I'm happy for her.  I really am, but I'm even more jealous.
I can't fault her, she worked hard for five years.  She took classes, joined troupes and self submitted for student film after student film.
And now she has an agent.  I have none.
So what do i have?  I have two regional commercials as a kid, half a dozen theater credits, a cable access appearance (which i pray never sees the light of day), a touch of voice training, a couple years of dance, and i'm ten weeks deep into a six week fundamentals class.
So basically, I'm as green as the grass on the other side.
I also have goals.  I'm 140 pounds thanks to a broken toe and a love of junk food.  I;m 5'7", so I'm hoping to get down into the 120's by the new year.  I'm also a good 1500 in debt, which I'm working towards paying down so I can replace the balances with charges for headshots and classes. 

So that's me.  
So now, what do I want to accomplish?  Well, Ideally I'd like to be Julia Roberts. 
Realistically, I'd like to have a few classes and student films under my belt, plus a commercial agent by my 25th birthday.  Which is in August.
I am fully aware that this is impossible, but If I don't have something I want to work towards, I wont work at all.