Impact

When Nora Ephron passed away this week, I was surprised at how upset I was.  While I love her movies and her writing, I didn't know her personally.  So how could I feel such a loss?  But that's the magic of being a writer.  I didn't have to know her personally because through her work, I did.  We all did.  Her films have informed our lives, making it personal.  I've been reading the essays that have been written to honor her, from Tom Hanks's reflections to Rita Wilson's to Diablo Cody's.  Lena Dunham's essay in The New Yorker really resonated with me because it's not only about her and Nora's relationship - even if it is. There is a universal truth to how she remembers her.  It speaks to how I remember those that I've lost.  How you see that significant person everywhere, in the little moments.  It's really a beautiful piece.

And then yesterday, Storyline Online - part of the SAG Foundation's literacy program that also does BookPALS and PencilPALS - shared their story of Nora Ephron.  Turns out that in the past two years Nora was a PencilPAL too.  She wrote to students in a fifth grade class in Corona Queens.  What a lucky group of students!  And the best part is, they probably don't grasp how lucky they are yet.  Finding out that Nora was also a PencilPAL added another level of kinship that I feel toward her.  This week I feel inspired to do more, to write more, to expect more.  And it is because of the impact Nora Ephron had on so many lives...whether she knew them or not.

Chasing The Hill

Last week I got to be involved with a project that I'm really excited about.  It's a new show called "Chasing The Hill," written and directed by Brent Roske.  It's a political drama that has an excellent script and an impressive cast and I got to play a small role in the pilot.  Even though they shot everything only last week, the first teaser is already online!  The show is going to premiere exclusively online in July but it is different than your typical "web series."  Most web shows are no longer than ten minutes, made with the short attention span of internet-ers in mind.  However this show is coming to you as a full-length 30-minute program, not unlike something you'd find on standard TV. And it is going to be pay-per-view.  You'll pay a few dollars like you would for a song.  A new wave of television, conveniently on your laptop.  It's an exciting new approach that I think is going to be a big success!

Check out the exclusive trailer and article about the series over at Politico.

Another school year comes to a close!

Yesterday was my last day of being a BookPAL for my two third grade classes. I started being a BookPAL last school year but only began after the winter break.  This was my first year being with them throughout the entire school year and it was such a rewarding experience.  To see the kids each week and share with them the joy of reading made a difference in my life and I hope in theirs as well.  We read several chapter books, which means we'd be with the same book for weeks at a time. I absolutely loved it when we'd start a book and then the next week a few kids had checked it out from the library...and then the next week a few more also did.  "What page are we on, Ms. Meagan?" was one of my favorite questions.

The two classes pitched in and got me a priceless gift of a signed school t-shirt and a book of thank you letters.

And one of the letters contained the best compliment I've ever...and probably will ever...received:

I mean, to be as awesome as a shark with shades...who can beat that??

I'm so grateful to the SAG Foundation for running BookPALS and PencilPALS.  Being a part of these programs has made such an impact on my life and, undoubtedly, on the lives of the students as well.  Reading and literacy has always been a positive influence in my life and being able to share that passion, even just once a week, is something truly special.

Rewarding Day

The sign our class painted, welcoming us.

My PencilPAL!

So I've talked before about being a BookPAL and how much I love it but this year I also became a PencilPAL.  This is through the same literacy program that the SAG Foundation runs.  As a PencilPAL, there is a fifth grade class that participates.  Each student is paired with a volunteer at the beginning of the school year and then you write to one another throughout the course of the year.  But you don't meet each other until the end of the year.  And yesterday was our big meet day!  It was so great to see all of the students and how excited they were to meet their PALs.  It was infectious!  They had painted signs for us that were all around the school and then each of them made us a personal welcome sign.  To discover who belonged to who, we played a fun game where we shared one fact about our PAL and then the student would reveal themselves.  I went up and said my student was a good sketch artist and they liked Pokemon.  As soon as I said the fact about Pokemon the whole class knew who my PAL was.  He is such a sweet kid, with a big smile and a big heart.  We talked about books and movies and then we all went to have a pizza party.  The teacher said that she has seen a real improvement in her students' writing abilities throughout the course of the year and she credits PencilPALs with helping her students grow.  It was so rewarding to be a part of this program and I really recommend it to my fellow actors who read this blog.

Last night I got to go to a panel with some of the actors from New Girl.  This was part of the Conversations series that SAG Foundation does (they do a lot of great things!).  Max Greenfield (Schmidt), Hannah Simone (Cece) and Lamorne Morris (Winston) were there, along with Seth Yanklewitz, the casting director of the pilot.  We heard more about their audition experiences for the show, the environment on the set and how much Lamorne loves the Miami Heat. When he learned that they lost last night, you would have thought his dog died.  He was also wearing a Heat t-shirt.  Made me think of my family...hope they were doing ok with the loss!  One tidbit I'll share from the night:  Hannah Simone talked about how she got called in for the role of Cece.  The previous pilot season, she had auditioned for another show that Seth cast.  She tested for a role but didn't book it.  When New Girl came along, Seth remembered her and called her in.  She said, "You never know what role you're actually auditioning for."  It can't be said enough!  You may not get cast initially but if you give it all you got...you'll book the room.  Then, when the right role comes along, the groundwork has been laid.