Procrastination and Possibilities

Writing writing writing. Taking a break from writing. To come and write here. Procrastination can be an art form if used wisely. Not that blogging is art. It is more like the remnants of it. The leftovers of where art left off.

Working on the first few episodes of our webseries that is now between titles. Trying to figure out the best title to grab, titillate, intrigue and describe. Trying to figure out the best first episodes to grab, titillate, intrigue and encourage people to keep watching. It's a dance. And I am still figuring out the moves. But don't worry, "I've got moves you've never seen." (Name that movie quote).

Just trying to get everything done on this Christmas Eve-Eve before the holidays begin. Bringing over a gift to my agent this afternoon, finishing up my writing (yes, my procrastination is almost through ), making a list of goals for the upcoming year, staying focused before a break...

The next time I post on here, it will be 2010. I know many people who are looking forward to next year and, as you know, I am too. It feels like we are the precipice of possibility. I like that. The phrase and the feeling...

Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a beautiful holiday with your family and loved ones. Be safe, keep dreaming and I'll see you in the new year!!

Saturday audition

The short I'm auditioning for today takes place in 1962 and the character is Audrey-Hepburn-esque. It should be fun channeling Audrey. I think I might be more excited about doing the hair and makeup than anything. Now I just need some more coffee...I'm sleepy on this Saturday morn'...

HI-YA! (and I'm not saying "hello")

So the casting workshop I was supposed to go to last night got canceled, which ended up working out fine because I got to catch up with Kelsey Rob on our short....which is now becoming a webseries....again. It started as a webseries but then we thought we would put all our little episodes together as a short but now have decided it just really works better as little snippets. We are still on track to shoot a few at the end of January and its an exciting way to get the year going.

I decided the other night that I need to take some sort of martial arts class in the new year. I think it would be a great skill to have and would also make me a little more marketable, especially in the spy-arena. And, just as an example of how this path seems to be working for me, I was talking to my friend Kevin after class on Tuesday about his path and he mentioned how he's been taking Krav Maga classes - a form of martial arts. I said, "Back up...what is this? I need to know more! I was just researching places last night to take martial arts." He sent me the link yesterday and I am signing up for an intro class! It was a little random that it came up the day after I decided to take classes. Or is it so random after all? Probably not. Probably I was meant to do it. The more these "happy coincidences" happen, the more I believe there is nothing that is impossible.

Also...I'm going to a screening of Nine tonight...I can't wait!

A chip and a chair...

So the Golden Globes nominations came out this morning and one of my favorite new shows, Glee, got some well-deserved attention. I told Dan that "Rachel," "Mr. Schue," and "Sue" were all nominated. He says, "See? Who was 'Rachel' a year ago? It could happen!" And I said, "Yeah...she's been on Broadway since she was 8...see? There's no hope!" To which he replied, "As they say in poker, As long as you have a chip and chair..." Which, in closing, is why I have the best husband ever.

Yes, I get frustrated and wonder if anything is really going to happen or if I'm too optimistic for my own good. But I know I have something to offer and that's my chip. And I know I have an amazing support system in my husband, family and friends and that's my chair. Now, I am just waiting for those pocket aces to come along so that I can go "all in."

I think that will be my motto for next year.

2010: All In

Monday, Monday

All is quiet on the acting front. It was slow last week and I'm looking forward to the holidays. Acting related plans this week include class tomorrow, doing a casting director workshop on Wednesday and auditioning for a short film on Saturday. My manager leaves for the holidays on Wed., so I'm assuming that will be it for the year, as far as auditions go. My agent might get me out though, so I shouldn't give up hope of achieving my goal of booking by the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed some great opportunity arises in the next few days...

Daydreaming....

J.J. Abrams is working on a new show, called Undercovers. Its about a married couple who used to be CIA agents but left the field and are now living a normal life - until they have to get dragged back in...it is being described as Alias-meets-Mr. and Mrs. Smith, with the exception that the married couple actually likes each other. Of course, my ideal world is to create a role like Sydney Bristow...J.J, can you hear me?

Women Rule

Its official: Women ruled at the box office this year. I thought this article was an interesting read because it talks about how the movies that made the most money this year were the ones with women leads and women-driven stories. Sandra Bullock rocked it out this year with two of the highest grossing films, The Proposal and The Blindside. They are even talking about how It's Complicated, the Meryl Streep movie coming out at Christmas that I auditioned to play her daughter in (sigh), is already projected to make at least $100 million. Those are pretty big numbers for a 60-year-old woman playing the romantic lead. What can I say? Meryl is magic. The point is, there is a growing demographic of women who want to see movies that they can relate to. And we are willing to pay money to see these stories...which the studio heads are starting to take notice of. Paul Dergarabedian, a box office analyst with Hollwood.com, says, "If, in the future, studios ignore female audiences, they do so at their own peril." Lesson learned? I really should buckle down and write more. It is starting to sound like the stories I would want to tell might actually have a chance at being told...

When asked...

...during the Q&A if she had fun playing the role of Grandma Lynn in The Lovely Bones, Susan Sarandon answered:

It's better to be Hook than Peter Pan.

Agreed.

Pretty Lights, Lovely Bones

The Paramount lot sure looks pretty this time of year. Too bad I was just there for a screening and not for work...I wouldn't mind reporting for duty daily there! This is the view we got as we were filing into the theatre on Friday night for The Lovely Bones. What did I think of the film? I thought it was beautifully shot. I think Mark Wahlberg did a great job and Saorise Ronan is consistently impressive and Peter Jackson's imagination was just the right fit. It is tough doing a film adaptation from a novel, especially when the novel is so beloved...but then again, that is what Mr. Jackson does, isn't it?

Today I have a rehearsal for class and then another production meeting for our short film. We have some dates picked out to shoot in January and things are coming together...I'll keep you posted! PS - it's raining in LA...and I kind of like it...

Meetings, Filmings, and Screenings, Oh My

Wednesday night, meeting Sara Isaacson, went well. She was blunt and to the point and I love that. Yesterday was rehearsal for class and then a production meeting for our short film. We are just finessing the script at this point and are getting down to the business of actually shooting. We are looking towards the end of January to shoot. We really need a producer. Someone to round up all the technical people we need - like a sound guy and a lighting designer and an editor and all that fun stuff that I know nothing about. If anyone reading this by some odd chance knows someone who would want to get involved, let me know!

I'm really excited about the screening we're going to tonight - The Lovely Bones (!). I've been looking forward to this movie because I am a fan of the book and I am really curious about how they adapted it and how Peter Jackson directed it. Best part is the Q&A after: Peter Jackson, Saorise Ronan, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Michael Imperioli, Rose McIver and Stanley Tucci are all slated to be there. I can't wait until I'm in the Q&A one day....

Catching up...

Trying to get back into the blogging-swing of things...sorry for the bit of delay. I'll hopefully get back into a routine soon. Not too much has been going on acting-wise, since I was out of town but hopefully things will start picking up again soon. It looks like there are a lot of shows still casting and my goal is to book something by the end of the year. Gotta have goals!

Didn't get a chance to tell you about my commercial audition the morning I was flying out. It was to be a young mom of a 12 month old baby. And I was the first person to arrive. Well, then this woman walks in and she is holding her 12 month old son. I thought, No fair! She brought a prop! Turns out her son was the one that was auditioning. Oops...soon there were about ten kids and their parents and only three of us "fake" moms - which is how we were literally labeled. Pretty funny - and it was pretty fun hanging out with the babies :)

I'm going to a casting workshop tonight to meet with Sara Isaacson, who casts for Fringe. One of these workshops is going to pay off one day...

Oh! And I'm going to be a stand-by contestant on Wheel of Fortune next week. I've been in the contestant pool for awhile so I'm glad they called. I probably won't actually get on the show next week, since I'm a stand-by, but the next time I'm brought in I'll definitely be on. So that should be fun!

Inglorious Basterds screening

Don't adjust your screen - the image IS blurry. I got nervous taking the picture at the Q&A after Inglorious Basterds because I was afraid they would take away my camera. So I turned off the flash. And this is the result. Of course, everyone else was flashing away, but, what can I say? I try to follow the rules - I'm a "Sandy", remember?

Anyway, from left to right, since it's extremely hard to tell, is Quentin Tarantino, Diane Kruger, Daniel Bruhl, Eli Roth and Brad Pitt (with the mic). I was about 10 rows back, even though it looks further away. Cut off in the picture is Melanie Laurent and Christoph Waltz - which is a real shame because they were my favorite performances. Don't be surprised if Christoph Waltz is nominated for every award under the sun this award season...he has created quite a buzz as the Nazi everyone loves to hate.