Happy Halloween!

I'm pretty excited that Halloween falls on a Monday, which is the day I read to my 3rd graders.  I'm dressing up as a pirate and reading "How I Became a Pirate" to them - which is a little 'young' for this group but Halloween is all about having fun and being a kid again, right?  So we'll read a silly book today and remember not to take ourselves too seriously.  Arrrgh, matey!

Some days...

It was a bit of a Hollywood day yesterday.  I had a meeting with a potential manager and then, when I got out of the meeting, I had a missed call and voicemail from my commercial agent for a last minute audition...that was in 30 minutes from when I got the message.  No worries - I got there early - but it was a fun little rush to the afternoon.  Wonder what today will bring...

Words

Taken by me, on a boat, in the middle of the sea, in the Keys, this summer.

It is a gray day in LA and I've got a sea of writing before me.  Pardon my indulgence in some quotes...I blame it on the rain.  Milli Vanilli style.

No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope and fear;
But grateful take the good I find,
The best of now and here.
John G. Whittier

In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet. Albert Schweitzer 

If you want to succeed in the world must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time a coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until some one comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence.    John B. Gough 

Hustlin'

Read an interesting article this morning.  The Wrap is doing a series about how the economic downturn is affecting the "business of show" and have featured articles with an actor, a screenwriter, a production manager and a post-production technician.  I've only read the one with the actor so far but now I'm interested in reading the other ones as well.  The one with the actor gives the perspective of Christine Lakin, who was a series regular on Step-by-Step when she was a teenager.  Which was airing roughly around when I was becoming a teenager.  Part of my TGIF line-up, I'll admit.  So she was a successful child star and has continued to work but lately things have slowed down for her.  She used to have pilot seasons where she'd go out for 3 or 4 pilots a day.  This year she went out for 4.  Total.  With the need to sell shows, networks are casting movie stars in the main roles and that trickle down affects us all.  So Christine is doing what she can and even wrote a web series...about a former child star trying to make a comeback in the biz.  Sound familiar?  She is working an exclusive deal with Hulu to have her series air.  I'm just glad GIRL PARTS is out now and doing so well on Blip!  Besides the web series similarities, the article gives a good perspective of how the hustle is out here...and how different it is to get a job today than it was even a few years ago.  Here's a link to the article if you want to check it out.

Keep the conversation going

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.  - Margaret Mead

Did you watch Miss Representation last night?  I got together with three girlfriends, and one of their boyfriends, and we all watched together.  We surrounded ourselves with some wine and pumpkin bread and settled in for the documentary.  It was scheduled to run from 9 - 11 but we didn't finish watching until around midnight because at every commercial break we would end up pausing and talking.  And sometimes during it one of us would say, "Wait. Pause. I want to talk about that," so we would pause and discuss more.  There was a mixed reaction from our sample group.  Overall we liked it.  But there were a few that found it to be a skewed view because most of the people interviewed in the documentary were women.  To that point I thought, Of course - that is what this is about.  Most documentaries are skewed toward the filmmaker's perspective.  For me, I loved it - no matter the perceived inherent biases - because it fostered discussion.  It had all of us looking at our lives and our influences and how we view ourselves and fellow women.  It had us thinking about how we consume media - what shows are we watching? What images are we supporting?  What are we ok with?  What do we have real problems with?  When we were growing up, when did we start to feel a shift in how we determined our worth?  I think it is so important.  As a wife, as an older sister, as an aunt, as a daughter, as a granddaughter, as a cousin, as an actor, as a writer....I need to be more aware of the imagery that is out there.  The imagery that I help to create.  On Wednesday at the Web Series Unplugged event GIRL PARTS screened with ten other web series.  Of those ten, only 1 other show was written by a woman.  I'm really proud to be in a show that is written and produced by a woman, starring women - in several different quirky ways.  I feel an increased urgency to complete my screenplay and get it made because I do feel my protagonist shows a rounded woman finding her way in the world.  And we need more stories about women - not about helpless women or women as sex-objects but about women as people, with our strengths and our flaws fleshed out...beyond our flesh - or in celebrating our flesh, but on our own terms.  There is so much we need to talk about and I want to keep the conversation going.  I went to MissRepresentation.org and took the pledge to "use my voice to spread the message of Miss Representation and challenge the media's limiting portrayal of women and girls."  And if you think it is important, you should too.  If you're not sure about pledging anything yet, no worries.  But think about discussing it.  Go to the site to learn more.  Watch the documentary to learn more.  There is a lot to consider...and a long way to go.

A Screening of GIRL PARTS

We had a lovely time last night at the Web Series Unplugged screening!  GIRL PARTS screened episodes 8 and 9 along with several other web series.  It is always fun to hear what makes people laugh at a screening.  At home, I giggle to plenty while watching the episodes....but I'm a little biased!  It was a big audience - most of them unfamiliar with the series - so to hear them laugh and enjoy our show was definitely rewarding.  I can't believe we are coming to the end of our first season.  It has been so much fun sharing this show with everyone:  It was a long development and production process and the finished product has really been something I'm proud to be a part of.  Hopefully we'll get into a few more festivals so we can celebrate this work even more.

I was told to do a 'Sam-freakout-face'...it ended up looking
like I was waiting in the line for the bathroom.

Before I go....a reminder!  

Tonight is your chance to catch Miss Representation on OWN at 9pm.  I'm getting together with some girlfriends to watch!  Don't know what I'm talking about? You must have missed my post last week.  That's ok...here's the link to it so you can be in the know!

The way it is

Working on tweaking my pictures in hopes of getting some more auditions.  This is one of the sides of the industry that is a necessary evil.  My agents like my new pictures but finding the right ones to submit me with can sometimes be a process of trial and error.  My commercial agent has picked a few new ones out and my theatrical agent wants the ones he picked to be retouched differently.  So hopefully these adjustments will help and I'll start getting called in more.  The problem is that for every role that casting puts out, thousands of submissions pour in.  And they are all online.  So they click through the thousands of thumbnails and if your picture doesn't catch their eye, you don't get an appointment.  And it's been quiet around these parts.  So once these new shots are up on the casting sites hopefully the right tweaks will get us in on some good stuff.

That has been the bulk of 'acting' that I've been dealing with lately - the business side.  Not as exciting to hear about...or write about. But, like I said, a necessary evil.

The Winding Road

For Fadhia, who is now SAG eligible.

For Kevin, who will play Sugar Ray.

For Kwesiu, who has found the right person to guide his career.

For Corinne, who has a short film on the road to Oscar.

For Reid, who was just cast in a role perfect for him.

For Mindy, who, in less than a year, is already taking the comedy circuit by storm.

For Cameron, who seemingly has a new shoot every week.

For Kelsey, who created an award-winning show.

For Lynn, who writes and makes people laugh every week.

For Melissa, who writes and made the move to see where it takes her.

For Mel, who continues to make meetings and connections.

For my countless other friends on both coasts who continue to put work out there and continue to make strides and continue to inspire.

For me, who has my own winding road.

For you, for keeping that road paved with support and love.

We are lucky; we are blessed.

Miss Representation

Next Thursday, 10/20, at 9/8c, we all have an assignment.  We have to, first, find out what channel OWN is on our cable lineup (it's 219 on TWC in LA, for those of you near me).  And then we have to set our DVRs.  And then we have to watch "Miss Representation".  This is a documentary that debuted at Sundance and it was the only film I was interested in.  I'm thrilled that Oprah is distributing it on her network, which is accessible to anyone with cable.  Because this is a film that many need to see.  It is more than a documentary...it is a movement.  I've only seen the trailer but I know it is going to be thought-provoking, disturbing and  galvanizing.   As a woman, you have to watch.  If you are a man who has ever loved a woman - mother, wife, girlfriend, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, niece, friend - you have to watch.  The way women are portrayed in the media, the way we see ourselves, the way we value our worth - it is all intertwined.  And the more we recognize that, the more we can work to change that.  I'm posting the trailer and, fair warning, there are highly sexualized images in it.  But then again...those images are everywhere, aren't they?  And I'm not a 'prude' by any means.  Sex is a part of life that is important, beautiful and has a place in art.  But I also believe that women are reduced to only sexualized images too often and are rarely valued for their intellect and wit in this society.  It's something I've struggled with as an actor.  I've always seen myself as the girl-next-door that is smart and funny.  But those roles are few and far between when you're in your twenties - especially smaller roles.  Because in your 20s you're supposed to be hot and sexy, right?  Sexy to me is being comfortable and confident - no matter your packaging (body type or clothing).  The length of your skirt or the size of your cleavage shouldn't define your attractiveness.  But...as you'll see in this trailer...there is a very narrow definition of "sexy" in the land of TV and film.  I could go on all day but you should just watch the trailer and then watch the documentary next week.

Perspective

Monday, Monday.  Here we are again.  And I've got a full week ahead.  Today I have BookPAL, which is always a treat.  Then tonight I have a casting workshop - gotta do that hustle.  So this afternoon I'll be working on my scene that I've picked out and hopefully will get a bit of writing in.  You never know where the day will take you though.  And that is the best part - and sometimes the most frustrating part - of this biz.  For example, I could get an audition notice this morning that is for an audition this afternoon.  Which is always exciting!  Or, another example.  I was talking to my friend over the weekend - he was all ready to pack things up and head East for a bit.  Things weren't clicking here for him here and he thought maybe if he changed locations, changed focus, things would be better.  But before he could go, he found a new manager that completely "gets" him, has only been working with him for a few weeks and has already gotten him in on a major network show.  Just like that, things have changed.  He's staying and life seems to match the weather here...a little sunnier.  And those are both examples of how things can be great.  And so when you're feeling like things are slow or not clicking or you feel like it's time to head somewhere else...it's hard to say, Yes. I'm going.  Because *justlikethat* things change here.  You get a last minute audition that leads to a job; you get a new manager that can get you in the door; you go to a casting workshop and make an impression.  You just never know.  Which can be frustrating.  Or exhilarating. It all depends on your perspective. 

I choose exhilarating.    

String

Last night I got to be a part of something that was incredibly inspiring.  My friend Lynn is adapting a book of stories into a play - essentially a monologue play - and she got together seven of her talented friends to read aloud and workshop what she has shaped so far.  The material itself is beautifully written and resonating so there was that.  And then, to be in a creative environment with this group of women, most of whom I was meeting for the first time, felt really special.  I love a good table read.  And I love feeling a part of the creative process - whether it is helping a friend along or developing something of my own.  The night made me want to go home and write and create.  But I didn't.  It was late, I was tired, I didn't feel like I could devote much time to writing, so I didn't.  I make up excuses all the time to not write.  I was talking about this infuriating-procrastination-tendency with a few people on set with me at my last commercial shoot and one of the guys said, "My room is never so clean as when I have writing to do."  And I was like, Yes! Thank you!  I would rather do laundry and dust than sit down to write.  And that is saying a lot.  The thing is...once I do sit down...once I finally commit to getting something - anything - done, I'm always glad that I did.  And it might not be the best string of words ever but it is a string of words. It's something. It's more than an idea in my head. And I can go back and string those words together a little more cleverly or eloquently.  But at least I have somewhere to go.  So...now...after a morning meeting of working on Girl Parts, and then a lunch with a friend, it's time to act on that inspiration I felt last night.  It's time to string some words together and see what comes out on the other side.  Even though the laundry is piling up...

I jumped off my couch this past Saturday...

As a University of Florida alumnus, I understand the importance of Saturdays in the Fall.  However...I was never a football buff.  Football games always equaled nap time for me growing up.  Yes, I have been known to fall asleep in booming stadiums while actually at the games.  And, yes, that can actually happen. More than once. When I was in school at UF, I was a great friend to have because I always had the football ticket hookup...as in, I'd give you my ticket because I probably wouldn't be going to the game.  But something happened after I graduated.  I moved to NY, the furtherest I had ever been from home, and I knew no one.  I had met my roommate once before moving in with her and the rest of the city was a vast place with little familiarity.  And suddenly Saturdays in the Fall became important.  Watching the Gators play was like being home for a moment.  And there were alumni clubs and viewing parties, where you could meet new friends.  And in the nearly (ahem) ten years since that realization, I find myself making a point to watch the games.  Not only because now I actually enjoy them...but also because I know my family is watching or they are there at the game.  I know my friends from college and the friends I grew up with are watching too.  And for a few hours, no matter which time zone I'm in, we're all doing something together.

When I started working in commercials I always thought it'd be pretty cool to have a spot run during a Gator game.  It would be a way to connect with home. And I've been fortunate enough to have several commercials that I thought would do just that.  My Southwest spot seemed like a shoe-in for a little game time. But it never did run during a game.  Olive Garden? Yeah! Maybe that would run.  Nope. Pringles?? It ran during the Olympics but never during a Gator game.

So when I shot a Hyundai commercial a few weeks ago, with a college football theme, I was cautiously optimistic.  Maybe this would be it!

And it was.

This past Saturday, the Gators may have gotten clobbered by Alabama but there was a bright spot to the game for me.  Two bright spots actually: my Hyundai commercial ran twice.  Of course, my family was actually at the game...so they missed it...but hopefully it will play again during next week's game versus LSU. The commercial is clever and cute and I'm pretty excited for you all to see it!  If you want to know what to look for, then you can go here to watch it.  And when you see it during a game, think of it as a little victory. This Florida girl may be far from home but she's working, living the dream and making the most of every opportunity.