Friday, July 1, 2011

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Jerusalem on Broadway

I've seen two Broadway shows in a week- WOW! For a local, that's impressive, but that's what happens when people visit, and I love it.

How to Succeed...
I start with How to Succeed... because I was in this show and feel that I can really have an honest opinion and different perspective having played "Rosemary" *ahem* 4 *ahem* years ago.

I am here to testify that How to Succeed... is worth your money! Daniel Radcliffe really surprised me. I almost didn't see the show at all, but two of my friends volunteered to stand in the ticket rush line at 6:45am to get tickets, so how could I refuse?

Daniel Radcliffe really blew me away. He was in no way "Harry Potter" on stage. He had the sweetest innocence and attitude, and brought so much more to the character than I could have ever imagined even existed in the script. You really felt that he was having the time of his life on that stage, and Radcliffe never gave less than 150% of himself every second he was onstage. And I forgot how exhausting that role is! Good for him for learning all that choreography within a year, it was so tough and non-stop sometimes, I was blown away, and finally understood why people were upset that he didn't get any recognition when it came to award season (apart from various audience awards).

I also have a heart for the girl who played Rosemary, who's name is actually Rose (I know!). This was her Broadway Debut and it must feel amazing. She is truly talented and seems very sweet. She was perfect for the role, and that means something because one is always more critical when watching someone play a role one's played before.

I could go on forever but I really appreciated the fact that no one when completely overboard on their characters, they all really hit the punchlines without sounding stupid or cheesy and I think that's a mistake we all made in our production in college. Everyone was so caught up in playing "up" the part, that it wasn't funny or as funny as it could have been, and we missed SO MUCH! There were so many times tonight that I thought, "Why didn't WE think of THAT!?" Watching the "big dogs" play gave me quite the perspective on this show and made me appreciate it more.

Watch my YouTube Video of what happened at the Stage Door after the show!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPquvl4FyUY

Jerusalem
All I can say about Jerusalem is WOW. WOOOOW. Seriously. Amazing.
We rushed tickets and sat in line behind the parents and family of one of the characters who didn't want to spend $130 to see their son in a show they had already seen him do in London, I thought that was funny.

Everyone was good, I have no complaints, although I have to say to must be patient and open to learning a new language, because you will be rewarded in the second half of the second act. Not that everything else isn't important, in fact it is SO important, but it all comes together at the end, and a big "light bulb" will go on in your head. Make sense? An emotional light bulb at that!

The lead actor, Mark, was just....I have no words, and when we left, all we could think was: How in the world is this man going to turn himself around and do ANOTHER show tonight??? (We saw the matinee) I just cannot imagine how he gets himself to that place 8 shows a week. Incredible.

NEXT:
I predict I will be back with Sister Act Notes next! I already saw it and LOVED it, especially our dear friend, Fred Applegate, and Marla Mindelle, but I saw it on "family and friends night" and it was still in previews, and I know for a fact a few things changed, so I need to see it again to be fair, before I put my two cents on the table.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Since Tour...

Since the Oklahoma tour, I've been desperately trying to book the next job. I mean, I had been working consistently for about a year before that and really thought I was on a roll. It's been 4 months since, and because of political issues mostly, I have still to book another job, despite my many connections.

But not all hope is lost, when I got back, I took the next month to network like crazy through Actors Connection, which was really great. I made a lot of good impressions and got my name out there, and reminded casting directors and agents of who I was and where I was at. I got a TON of positive feedback and got many auditions and other interviews because of those meetings.

I got an interview with the casting director of the TV show "Royal Pains" and I'm hoping to be on this season! They said I had a great look for the show, and they would call me in as soon as they found a script I was right for- exciting!

I booked a commercial agent! I am now freelancing with Erica Moran at Avalon Artists!

My biggest success was being brought in for the lead role, Nellie Forbush, in South Pacific for the National Tour. This audition got me an appointment with Chris' legit agent, also at Avalon Artists, this past Friday. So if he doesn't have too many blonde all-American types on his roster already, I'd get signed! This is what I need so badly!

I haven't heard yet from South Pacific, but it went really well, and I know that they are just waiting to find their leading man, who is Nelly's opposite, so bring any Nellie's back in. Hopefully I'm still in the running!

This past month has been really slow otherwise, unfortunately. So I've been working and writing my book on babysitting- check out my new babysitting info:
Twitter: @bigcitysitter
FB: The Big City Sitters
Site: www.thebigcitysitters.com (which forwards to our blog right now, until it gets completed: www.thebigcitysitters.blogspot.com)

Show I've seen lately: Sister Act! It was a TON of fun, I recommend it!

Chris (my hubby) has been in Ogunquit, Maine at Ogunquit Playhouse for 2 weeks and has 3 weeks of shows left doing Avenue Q as Nikki/ Trekki.

Check out my FB page for my latest headshots and more updates!

Here's my favorite pic from my Memorial Day festivities in Central Park!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Notes on a few classes / seminars

Film Intensive w/ Steve Vincent, Casting Director/ owner of Palm Star Casting/ Entertainment

Use Actors Access, drop them a note and submit ONLY if you are completely right for the role. Make sure to submit for what's appropriate for you, otherwise, you wont be taken seriously the next time you submit.

Their offices: 36 E. 20th St. 3rd Fl. NYC
They open EVERY submission

In casting calls (this is HIS preference ONLY. Everyone casting person is different): Be as off-book as possible, be as familiar with the material & character as possible, ask questions.

Good opportunity: Be a reader, they're looking for readers all the time. Send them a note.

If there's a special skill that the submission requires and you have it- put a note in the submission so they don't miss it!


JOHN GALLAGHER- DIRECTOR - ACTING FOR THE CAMERA WORKSHOP (at The Network):

Notes:

* The camera will read you well in film, so you don't need to "act", let the camera do the work.
*Many directors in auditions, even experienced directors, don't know what they're looking for until they see it.
*When you walk into an audition- OWN THAT ROOM!
* Directors look for actors who deliver lines in interesting and creative ways.

Helpful Exercises:
*Put your face in close-up on camera and record yourself doing an interview, talk, scenes, etc. You'll find things about your face you didn't know: your best angle, your facial expressions, etc.

* Look at a scene for 3 minutes then do the scene as an improv without the script. Then go back and do it with the script.

Other Notes: DO STUDENT FILMS (he recommends SVA) - ****Learn how to be GOOD in a BAD film! Be the actor who stands out, even when given bad material!

SVA's Program Director/ Teacher: Alexa DiCambio: casting@sva.edu

Make a reel with a Flip Cam if you can, it' HD and CHEAP. Record a monologue that's 1.5-2 minutes max.

Recommended Books:
-Harold Guskin "How to Stop Acting"
-Susan Batson "Truth"

ON SET: know the protocol, who's job is what, etc.

His website w/ contact info: JGmovie.com

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Commercial Improv Intensive Notes

This workshop was great and I recommend it to anyone thinking about getting into commercials! It was $99 for an all day intensive from 10am - 5pm.

Where: Actors Connection
Who: Barry Shapiro

We started out with a game called "Blank a Blank"- I was basically charades but you had to act out a phrase like "Bury a Body" or "Draw a Map" or "Change a Diaper".
This was great because it really got us going and was a great ice-breaker.

"Audition" 1 was for KMART. It was a speaking exercise. All we were told was to walk into the store, take it all in, and decide what we wanted to do.
What we learned was:
-we needed to establish a relationship when working with a partner.
- If you decide to go in the improv- go! Don't stand there waiting for the camera to turn off.
- Don't break character, just do what you say you're going to do.
-When speaking about a product or company in a commercial improv, don't use the work: cheap.
- Keep the joy throughout the commercial, stay positive

Exercise/ "Audition" 2: Facial Expressions
We were told that we would hear a voice-over with certain emotions, and we needed to convey them one right after the other as we heard them, within about 30 seconds. It was a close-up shot on our faces.
The emotions we had to convey were:
-Lost, smart, sweet, jealous, hopeful, horrified, ashamed, snobby, relaxed, whatever, sleepy, curious, tense, brave, grumpy, hurt, insane, sick, duh, in love, exhausted, zombie-like, secretive, conceited, confused.

-On callbacks:
- Do what got you there, don't change or decide to do something different unless you're told to make a change.

Pepto Bismol Commercial:
A: Uh-Oh...you have that look again.
B: What Look?
A: The diarrhea look
B: It's that obvious huh? I can't be more than 10 feet from the bathroom.
A: Pepto Bismol, my friend. Problem solved.
B: I think I'm gonna listen to you this time.

Instructions were given when we got in the room:
Sit down in the two chairs. Improv one line each before you start the written dialogue, then improv two lines each after the written dialogue is finished.

A note about auditioning:
-Questions can be annoying to the Casting Director because he's been doing the same thing all day. Listen first, but if you're really unsure about something, then definitely ask.

KRAFT Commercial:
You were sitting in a chair, driving, and there was a voice-over you had to lsiten and react to, telling you what was going on.

Notes:
- If you are given a prop, use it!
- If you use a prop and move it in the scene, put it back in it's original place when you're done! (You'd be surprised how many people didn't think to do this- I was one of those people! oops.)
- When driving in a scene, make sure you don't go overboard with your hands, while pretending to drive. You hardly have to move them at all.
- Make sure you know where your rear-view mirror is, it should be to your right and up a little.
- If you get an idea, they need to see the light-bulb go off on your face.
- Play the road to the side of the camera.

Note: Let them tell you, you're doing too much. Let them bring you down. If you don't give enough, then you come off as being a bad actor. They will tell you to take it down a notch, but they won't ask you to give MORE.

Haagen Daz Commercial:
We saw the script for 30 seconds, then we were told to get the basic idea of the script across, but make it our own.

Group Eating Exercise:
We were put in groups of 5 or 6 and told to eat a bowl of Sunchips.
Notes:
- The biggest mistake you can make when eating on camera, is the "furrowed brow". It comes off as negative, and looks like you HATE what you're eating! Your eyebrows should go up in satisfaction and/or surprise at the wonderful flavor!
- Stop and enjoy each moment of eating- which is not how you'd normally eat, but is good for the camera.
-Stay positive about the product
- Small bites are best, so you don't have to worry about chewing too much.
- Keep eating, don't take too long to talk.
- If the food isn't there and you have to mime, still take time to react.


That's all the notes I have for that workshop, I really recommend it! Everyone gets something different out of it. For me personally, it took me until after lunch to really get the hang of things. Because I had been told for so long to be careful about giving too much on camera, I was so afraid of giving too much, that I didn't give enough, and it didn't read well at all. SO I think that definitely still goes for tv/ film, but I think for commercials, you can always give a little more than you think. It was very enlightening to see myself on camera. I really enjoyed it, and will keep taking some of these great classes!

Voice-over workshop w/ Katherine Ryan (Don Buchwald & Assoc.)

These are a few notes that I took in my class, if you are interested in Voice-over work, these things may be beneficial to you:

*This workshop was held at Networks. It was supposed to be an intensive, but Katherine said herself that it was basically an open call for her, since they don't ever hold auditions or open calls. We read 3 or 4 scripts into a mic which was recorded into a computer and played back for the class to hear. It was really beneficial to those just starting out or looking for an agent (which Katherine is).

* She said the best way to get an agent and/or get work is first by putting a demo together, which should only cost about $300. She said if it's more than than be wary, especially when it's n the $1000 range- don't pay that. STAR TRAX is a great place to put a demo together. She prefers email submissions of demos at: katherine@buchwald.com and she is a commercial AND voice-over agent, but the agency itself will sign you across the board and also has a theatrical department, and is bi-coastal.

* If you want to do character work or animation, you need to be in LA, it's all out there. NYC is best for commercials, tv, and film voice-overs.

* Pay for voice-over work: you get a $426 session fee- this is standard for voice-over sessions. Then you get a residuals contract which could be for between $100-50,000, for every time the commercial airs, and for 21 months. When 21 months is over they either move on to a new ad or they re-negotiate your contract.

* As a non-union actor without an agent, you can look for work at: Voice Bank or Voice 123

Hope this is helpful!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Tea Time!

I have been working really hard all day on a tea party that I'm hosting with a few of my friends. Ever since I visited London in July, I've wanted to come back and use some of my tea and cookies(oops, ate all the cookies before the party...but I've had them tempting me for 6 months! c'mon!).
So since the cookies from Harrods are all gone, I made my own Pumpkin Scones, with my favorite recipe from a Restaurant here in NYC called, "Alice's Tea Cup" and the secret to these is the clotted cream, but since I can't make it (they don't sell unpasteurized cream in grocery stores, which is the key ingredient in Europe), I made whipped cream from scratch, as taught by my mother (thanks mom!). I also made Earl Grey Tea Cookies, with a recipe from Real Simple, and I sprinkled snowflake shapes on each cookie with powdered sugar and a stencil!
The tea I'll be serving is Earl Grey from Harrods and a Vanilla Toffee tea from Tea Palace, both from London. Tea Palace is an amazing tea shop right in the middle of Covet Garden, I definitely recommend it!
I'll also be serving two types of tea sandwiches: Cucumber (duh, my favorite!) with a chive cream cheese spread, and a Chicken Guacamole sandwich. I'll have a fruit salad and some other small munchies too.
Oh I'm so excited to see some of the lovely people I've been missing for these past few months while I've been on tour!
Chris has been gone this weekend, in La (poor thing.) so I decided to have some girlie time! Pictures to come!
I also could not have done any of this without my sweet friend Kristin who lives down the street from me and is a cooking genius!
I'll have pictures up on Facebook tomorrow of our good times, and my Martha Stewart-Esq party!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

O Canada

Well, I was forced to go back on tour. I told the producers that I could not afford to stay on tour because of the additional lay-offs they gave us. After saying my goodbyes, writing thank-you cards, completely convinced by the "we'll work it all out" conversation I had with the company, alas, they have no mercy, no sympathy, and will not let me out of my contract.

It's a long boring story, but the contract stinks, and the bottom line is, I need an agent to represent me and help me deal with all of this in the future. I also feel ready to pursue getting my Equity Card (the actors union), so that I will be more protected in the future by the union rules. I've put in a lot of dues in the non-equity world, and I feel ready to move on to bigger and better things.

So we have 4 performances this week, 2 in Canada (we're waiting for our bus in the Toronto Airport as we speak) and 2 in Toledo, OH. Then we're laid off again for 3 weeks until the New Year.

I'll post an updated schedule for the rest of the tour, as soon as I get it, closer to the New Year.

Please keep us in your prayers, as we try to make the best of this trying holiday season, we'll stay positive, thankful to be going home to spend time with friends and family.

Merry Christmas!