Adventures in Hollywood

Ouija and spirits and aliens, oh my!

2010-01-09T20:47:00.000-08:00

This week I had a short shoot. It' s supernatural thriller. We did it faux documentary style, so it went mega fast! It was a good thing since some of the sites had people randomly wandering around or cars driving by to contend with. Plus one of the sites was an actual abandoned building where a security guard had to tell us to leave - life imitates art! He was nice though and let us shoot for a few minutes since we were just in our car.
There will be some effects shots that need to be put in, but it probably won't take a long time before they finish it. It's mostly just lighting effects which they can likely make in aftereffects.

Nothing else coming up yet. Been getting more commercial auditions, which is rad. I had a few over the holidays, including a call back on a snickers ad. Things are picking up. I did a mailing to theatrical agents and sent postcards to casting offices. I'm doing another agency showcase soon. Still doing casting work shops weekly. Had a great one today. He spent a lot of time with each person. One of the people joked it's because he took a while off workshops until recently and wasn't sick of us actors yet. Ha ha.

In other news, Leading Ladies is basically picture locked. I'm saying basically because I think they are still working out the music rights on some stuff, and if they can't secure the rights then some of the music numbers will have to be recut to different music. Making movies is complicated. Right now I'm keeping my fingers crossed we get into SXSW. They will announce in February, so we have a while to wait. I know people who will probably be going there anyway, so it would be extra great to get to show them the premiere. Send happy thoughts to Austin! Happy lesbian ballroom dance thoughts!

2009, pretty damn good.

2009-12-30T14:09:00.000-08:00

2009 Highlights

starred in a feature, Leading Ladies, which will be released in 2010.

trained in ballroom dance for a month.
let them cut my hair short (over 10 inches).
shot on location for 5 weeks.

have had 8 new credits added to my IMDB page this year.
worked on almost 20 indie projects.

half were leading roles
used fight skills, dance.
full facial prosthetics, plus hair pieces.
learned to smoke a pipe.
ranged from TV, theater, film and commercial.

Got a Commercial agent

All in all, I can say 2009 has been great for me acting-wise. And I've already booked a short film shooting next week. 2010 is already looking pretty good.

My goals for 2010

to get a Theatrical agent which will hopefully lead to more paid roles.
I'd like to be getting co-stars and roles in bigger budget films.
I'd like to become SAG eligible, but I'm still not interested in extra work, so it may take me a bit longer since fewer productions Taft Hartly lately.
I am considering doing more physical training (dance, fight, etc.), but that will depend on money and time.
I'm currently writing a screenplay (who isn't, right?) so I'd like to have that finished, hopefully in the first half of the year.

Just an alien, looking for love.

2009-12-21T13:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was awesome. My pals at Funbox Comedy are working with this director, Joy, and they are producing a sci-fi comedy web series. I auditioned for the lead, but did not get it. Joy really liked my read though so she had me come and be an alien for their faux dating site 'Date a Human.' I was a cat-like alien with tall blue hair and another girl was a sparkly fish-like alien. I had full on prosthetic appliances, airbrushing, synthetic hair. I remembered I still had fangs from The Night Life so I got a ride over to my place and got them. I wasn't really paying attention, but I'm sure we got some funny looks. I looked like a Who from Whoville.

The whole process took over 4 hours! I will post pictures as soon as I get them. They took a bunch so I didn't think to take any for myself.

We alternated shooting still shots and video. It was part scripted and part improvised. Some were over a green screen to use in the series as a sort of hologram and others were just inside and would just be for the website. They got coverage of both since they weren't sure how they would use it in the series. They may end up using both styles if it works in the effects.

I was surprised all that stuff on my head didn't itch at all, though the slits for the nose holes were limited so I did a lot of mouth breathing all day. She stuck it on really well, so I could move my face without worrying about it coming loose. Then it took like an hour to get it off at the end. And I had to take a long hot shower to get the remaining little goobers and paint all over. I probably still have paint on me today. But that's ok because it was super rad. I can't wait to see it. I love that type of thing. Even if it takes 5 hours.

Red Cross quicktime

2009-12-08T12:05:00.001-08:00

I contacted the company and they sent me a quicktime of the spot. Huzzah!

L.L. Trailer VO

2009-12-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

I went over to my friend Lawrence's recording booth and did the VO for the trailer. It's harder than I expected to get myself to sound natural reading copy like that. I'd be good on like half a take then go weird and stilted and back. It's like there's the 'idea' of what a trailer VO sounds like and then there's just being a person talking. There were plenty of good takes and at least one where I did the whole script totally solid. I'm sure DB will find what he needs.

Looks like I could use a VO class if that's something I want to start doing.

Anyway, hopefully the trailer will be all finished and ready to go with music and such soon. I want people to see it! It's so great!

Red Cross PSA

2009-12-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

I finally found the Red Cross PSA posted somewhere! It's buried in the flash, so I can't get it directly, but if you go here and click 'View Spots' it's the first one on the second row right now (tough guy on white background on the icon). I actually made it in there, which ain't bad since almost half the folks from the call sheet were cut. I'm third to speak. Woo!

CKMG promo

2009-12-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

This morning I went over to Zugara Studios to shoot a quick segment for a promo for CKMG. From what I gleaned from the full script they are a company that brings creative folks together to collaborate easier. I played a happy, bopping web programmer. It was quick and fun. They shot in a green cyc so I am excited to see what background they use in the end. The other guys were also techies so we talked nerd while we waited.

*found their website and added the link.

L.L. PICTURES!

2009-12-05T23:25:00.000-08:00

Ok, finally something I can show people! Actual screen shots!

Click on the photos link at the bottom!

ADR - Death and Jane

2009-12-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

You know, I'm pretty darn good at ADR. I've done it a bunch of times and I usually get that feedback. I went back up to Azusa to record over most of my dialogue and we knocked it all out quick, plus I managed to give them a good variety of reads that they asked for.
I'm looking forward to seeing this one done, not just because it's finally some footage with my short hair, but because I really liked the script and want to see how it turned out. I liked the guy they cast as Death. Very dry and funny.

'Untold Crimes' finished, etc.

2009-12-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

We performed the scene for the class this evening so I'm finished with that Columbia College project. I'll probably be working with her next spring when she does her final thesis.

Then I've got 2 casting workshops this weekend and some ADR for Death and Jane. All I have coming up new is a quick featured role in a company promo this weekend. Unpaid, but the company sounds like one that has a lot of miscellaneous productions in the future.

End of the year will likely be slow. Leading ladies will have a trailer out soon though! Can't wait. Having patience for a feature you starred in to come out is very very difficult.

Echo Game makes one of Horror.com's top 10

2009-12-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

Horror.com's 2009 top 10 lists- Echo Game made #3 on the top 10 un-distributed indie horror features. Nice!

Hopefully they will close a distribution deal soon. Last I heard they had something in the works.

Hornbow Homemade Applesauce posted!

2009-12-01T10:42:00.000-08:00

Another film I was in is featured on Count Gore De Vol's Creature Feature New Blood this week. It is book ended by the Count.

This is one of my favorites.

Beware the Applesauce! from Gore De Vol on Vimeo.

Untold Crimes of Insomniacs

2009-11-25T23:28:00.001-08:00

Today I went up to Tarzana to shoot a scene from Untold Crimes of Insomniacs for a student at Columbia College. I play a goth cutter sitting in a graveyard. We got started a bit late but I think we got all the coverage we needed. Then we did it for another of her classes but had to change it so it was like a play. It was sort of weird. But oh well. We go back and do that second one again next week then we're done.

After that I have no new shoots lined up. Though it's the holidays, so it might be a relief to get some time off.

Photo update and High res poster

2009-11-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

I updated my modeling page and added some older stuff by Doug Spice. It was used in the music video he directed as well, but they are nice shots so I put some up there. I also swapped a few of the pics on the headshot page. Just trying out new things.

Then today DB posted an 11x17 pdf of the current Leading Ladies Poster. It's slightly different than the little one in that my square is in the center now instead of the left side. It makes me sooo excited.

Reel page back up

2009-11-18T15:14:00.001-08:00

Ok- its' fixed now. The poster images weren't working, so I had to rename them and re-export. not important, but I like having an image there when you go to the page instead of having auto-play.

reel temporarily down

2009-11-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

Updating the layout and the second montage.

Reel update!

2009-11-17T22:55:00.000-08:00

Ah, finally finished my hell week and had time to post my updated reel. It's 3 1/2 minutes long instead of the 1 minute. Maybe I'll make another 1 minute reel. Maybe I'll also make a violence reel for footage that is not for the squeamish. You know where I kill or maim or am dead. I kind of think that would be funny, and useful for people who need that in an actress.

Anyway, Enjoy!

oh yeah, Rome Film festival happened

2009-11-16T16:33:00.000-08:00

The Experimental Witch premiered in Rome last month. Craig has yet to find out if his chapter was in the final cut or not. He won for that chapter and it's pretty important to the story, but who knows. Hopefully he'll get a copy of the whole thing someday. It was fun to work on and I wonder what the other chapters ended up like.

Mr. Blackwood, in the Library, with the 18th century knife

2009-11-16T11:12:00.000-08:00

I got stabbed in the library yesterday. Woo! We had to do a bit of kissing, which, as I've mentioned before, is my least favorite thing to do, but whatever, it's not like it was making out. Then I taped the antique (seriously) knife handle to my stomach, added blood, and voila! Stabbed! it went quickly and I wrapped early. It was funny, I had to go all the way upstairs and back down with a bloody shirt because the layout of that place is as inconvenient as possible, so you go up then down again to find a bathroom. (Not sure how handicapped folk get there since there are only stairs to the bathroom, yet they have handicap stalls. I'm guess there is a lift hidden somewhere.) The director was concerned so he had me cover it with a towel, which was good since it was still wet and sticky anyway. So that was a wrap on Cutlery. I'm excited to get a copy because I have kind of goofy glasses and am all buttoned up. Plus I need some short hair footage for my reel. Everything I have right now is from before Leading Ladies.

I have one more student project booked this month. We shoot in her class next Wednesday. Hopefully we'll finish early so I can get back to the office for our office Thanksgiving!

Leading Ladies Poster design!

2009-11-14T17:29:00.000-08:00

SO EXCITING! The first cut is finished and the work in progress has been submitted to a ton of festivals. Now it's on to polishing, color correcting, sound mixing, etc. Post takes forever.

Apparently too cute in person.

2009-11-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

In other news I'm still trying to figure out the ideal headshot for me. I got feedback on the new one I was using that was really similar to the feedback on the more serious lawyer-y one I was using before. I look younger, cuter, more pixie-like in person they say. Actually not even 'look' so much as just have that vibe. So even though my newer shot is sweet and looks like me, it doesn't capture how I am in person I guess.

I mean, I can't complain about a CD telling me I'm way cuter in person, but I need to figure out how to get that across in a picture. I think I found one that is closer- the one I have on my business cards actually. It's really close to the one I have but a tinge younger and more more interesting. I asked for opinions on facebook and got a lot that think the one I'm using is best (yes, it's a very pretty pic of me) but I also got a lot on this other one, so I'm going to try it since my current one is sweet but a bit plain.

I think the challenge for me is that I see myself in a lot of different ways depending on my mood, but if I'm still coming across as cute in person when I'm not trying to be, I may as well embrace that and let that be what I'm selling for now. I want them to know what they are getting if their going to call me in, and my current pic isn't very heavy on personality or energy.

Cuttlery - my first on screen death

2009-11-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

This week I worked on a fun little short film for a USC grad student. It takes place in the very claustrophobic library on campus. It's like a maze. they have to mark the floor so you can find your way out. The aisles are narrow and the ceiling is low. It's sort of amazing. I think he said it was the space that inspired the script because it's very deserted and there are a lot of places to hide. It would be really easy to kill someone there (spoilers!). We got everything but the murder done so Sunday should go smoothly. We have 5 hours for it.

This might be my first on camera death. I've killed and been a dead body a few times, but so far I haven't died on screen that I remember. Should be fun. I hope I don't over do it. I have no life experience being killed, so I'll have to guess.

Better lit pictures from photoshoot

2009-11-11T17:02:00.001-08:00

Ok, here's some pictures taken after they finished setting up.

Set snaps from Wing costume

2009-11-11T14:51:00.001-08:00

Here are some snapshots the professor took while they were setting up. I'll probably get some more shots from the director soon as well.
Most of them look like I'm waiting around (which is what I was doing while they set up the film camera) but here are two that don't look as blank.

Overbooked! Not really though

2009-11-10T23:37:00.000-08:00

Man, I jam packed my schedule this week. 3 Auditions, 3 Rehearsals, 2 workshops, a party for my commercial agent and a shoot. Plus my day job and social life. And the writing workshop.

I was looking at my calendar and my next day off right now is November 22nd. Man. I'm the hardest (non) working actress in LA. ;) I am doing one of those agent showcases next week though, so who knows, maybe that will go somewhere toward theatrical representation.