Archive for the ‘acting & career’ Category

Drama Drama Drama — Strong Women in Film

Carey-Mulligan-Suffragette-Movie-Poster

Drama, the good kind, is where it’s at in film right now. Some of the best new DRAMAS focus on strong, resourceful, complicated WOMEN characters,  driven by PURPOSE. Couldn’t happen at a better time — just as Hillary Clinton forges ahead in the Presidential campaign. Go Hillary!

Amazing Actresses like CAREY MULLIGAN, BRIE LARSON and CATE BLANCHETT haunt and inspire us in powerful performances that make a difference. These women and the characters they portray challenge us to do better and be better in our own lives.

Carey Mulligan is a Standout in Suffragette

Carey Mulligan’s passionate “Maud Watts,” a political innocent, factory-working wife/mother is radicalized by events and moved by real-life feminist activist, Emmeline Pankhurst, as she sacrifices what most of us never could, in order to make the world a fairer place for women. Parts of Mulligan’s performance are almost too painful to watch, as she experiences torture and tragedy in her sacrifice for Women’s Rights. The list of dates at the end, displaying where and when Women have won the right to vote is shocking because in our country we take this right so for granted.

I Predict An Oscar in Brie Larson’s Future —

room

Brie Larson’s “Ma” is the ultimate survivor as she protects her son’s innocence after hers has been stolen. Five-year-old Jack’s entire world is an eleven-foot shed where he lives with his mom, yet he has no idea that it’s a bad place or that he and his mom are being held captive by his father who’s his mother’s rapist. I saw the film over two weeks ago, yet the trailer still brings tears to my eyes. Read the rest of this entry »

BILLY & BILLIE Keeps Getting Better & Better

"stepping" into the unknown

“stepping” into the unknown

I never was a Neil LaBute fan before. Never-ever. I even gave away my NLB play tickets at the Geffen. He was too misogynistic for me, too cruel in his POV.

So imagine my surprise when I got sucked into the trailers for Billy & Billie. Yep, Neil LaBute tempted me with his half-cracked ROM COM about step-siblings who try to navigate their taboo romance. Awkward.

Yep, it’s Awkward. meets Modern Family —

And everything about it is Awkward! and Modern. It’s very real and really good,  starting with the casting and acting.  Adam Brody is the grounded, cool-but-hot Billy. If he were my brother, I’d be attracted to him too! Oh yeah!

Raunchy & Romantic —

Lisa Joyce is his sexy-but-slightly-insane step-sister, Billie. Joyce’s Billie reminds me of almost all of my friends right before they get their period. She blurts out uncensored thoughts constantly, never stopping to process. Billie is crudely charming, protectively daring and infuriatingly adorable.  So far B&B have been keeping their relationship a secret, but that’s about to change… Read the rest of this entry »

Pilot Season 2015 – 2 Early Trends (They don’t include me!)

Trendsetter!

Trendsetter!

It’s Pilot Season again: Yay, there’s OPPORTUNITY, but UGH I don’t fit the profile. White Blonds are an endangered species this Pilot Season! Seriously, this is NOT a joke!

PILOT SEASON is DEFINITELY INTO DIVERSITY —

Sure it’s great, and a long time coming, but  it’s a trend I can’t figure out a way to be part of.  In 2015 CDs are looking for leads that don’t look like anyone else.  Ken Jeong will be playing a version of himself in ABC’s autobiographical “Dr. Ken.” (wish there’d be a medical comedy about about my life!) Whoopi Goldberg will co-lead opposite Jermaine Fowler in CBS’s multi-camera comedy, “Delores & Jermaine.” Mike Epps will be Uncle Buck in, yep you guessed it, ABC’s “Uncle Buck.”  Orange is The New Black’s Laverne Cox will play a transgender attorney in CBS’s “Doubt.”  Paula Patton (I loved her in Precious) will play a woman whose perfect life is torn apart on ABC’s “Runner” while Aunjanue Ellis will be going coming from The Help to needing help in ABC’s Terrorist Thriller “Quantico.” Behind the camera, Selma’s Ava DuVernay will be going from the big screen to the small screen for CBS’s civil rights drama, “For Justice.

And — it’s almost as if I’m experiencing REVERSE AGEISM,  because in 2015 —

OLDIES-BUT-GOODIES ARE LEADING THE WAY on Network TV

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Finding our PASSION: Finding the POINT

hope there's a point

hope there’s a point

Why am I doing this? Who knows why?

Trying to make it as an actor when most people fail.  Stressing myself out every step of the way.  Worrying if I’ll get the audition – worrying if I’ll look the part – worrying if I’ll get the part. Then what if I get it and the project’s not good, or even worse – what if I’m not good?

Is it Worth It?

Is the gain worth the pain – the late night Deejaying, the Temp jobs, the Uber-driving – just because Acting’s my passion? Is it really my passion or something I’ve had some success with? Am I holding on too tight to the encouraging words from CDs and Producers in my corner – the ones who say they’d love to work with me again when the right project comes along. Am I too little-too-late? Are my supporters and successes too few and far between?

Can I be passionate about something else? Maybe instead of putting all of my effort into what I think my passion is, it might be smarter to work on finding another passion. How does one find a passion? Through a Passionologist?

Volunteering in the ER —

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HOLIDAY WISH LIST: Fun Finds Under $50

 

I'd really love to be him!

I’d really love to be him!

I LOVE Holidays! I LOVE giving Presents. In the search for special for the “Specials” in my life, I feel like I’m searching for a beautiful shell on the beach that no one else has discovered. Yep, finding the perfect present is a challenge, but it’s a fun one. Try to listen to what people say when they discuss things they like, it’ll make things a lot easier. (Dr. A craves white chocolate, Mira smells like roses, my Dad’s really into cool socks.)  I love wrapping presents in fun creative ways (my first job ever was wrapping presents in high school at a drugstore in Brentwood, and I’ve been good at it ever since.)

But the paying part. Ugh! Everyone hates that. Ebay sales, residuals and being a temporary Temp help. But when that credit card bill arrives in January it just adds to the pressure of Pilot Season, reminding me:

You’ve GOTTA book a job, Evie!

So this year I’m baking presents, making presents, and recycling bags/boxes as much as I can. I have to buy few gifts though, so I’ve been searching the net for fun finds.

sole-mates

sole-mates

12 Gifts That Won’t Break The Bank

  1. Christian Louboutin Nail Polish @$50 (when he designed the first red sole, he used nail polish! Truth!)
  2. 4-in-1 Travel Adapter from MOMA @$25.00 (for the gal or guy on the go)
  3. Bike Bookmark @L4.95 /approximately $7.75 (for the cyclist who likes to read)
  4. All-in-one Kitchen Tool Set from MOMA @ $40 (for the space-challenged)
  5. ½ Clocks in Colors @$31.32 by David Weatherband in the UK (for those who strive to be punctual)
  6. I love you” Tea Towel @$18.79 (a dishwashing incentive)
  7. Canning Jars filled with “Whatever 6 for $29.00 = $4.84 (sweets for your Sweet, nuts for your Nuts)
  8. European Floating Candles @$3.00 (romantic and they last longer than most romances)
  9. French Tassle Key Ring @$43.00 from Clare V (monogrammable and easy to find in a big bag)
  10. Alessi Uselen Paper Knife/Letter Opener @$31.00 (modern and cool)
  11. Diptyque Mini Candles @$30.00 (I know the perfect recipient for “Roses”!)
  12. Paul Smith Music Socks @$45.00 (for my Dad who’s musically-challenged  — don’t tell him I said that!)

Making Mistakes

At least I'm consistent!

At least I’m consistent!

Mistakes… we all make ’em.  We stress and horrible-ize about ’em BIG TIME — reprimanding ourselves relentlessly, wishing we could do-over, say-over whatever we are currently torturing ourselves about. We need an Ap for TAKING THINGS BACK! If only…

Second-Guessing

As life plays out in the foreground, our brain blames us in the background.  Recently I had a meeting with a team of Casting Directors at a major network and for some unexplainable reason at the end of it I hugged one of them instead of shaking her hand.  Granted I’d worked with her before, but after I left I couldn’t believe what a weird choice that was. Afterwards in the car I kept thinking about it — in the shower I kept thinking about it — as I tried to go to sleep, I kept thinking about it. Crazy, right?  And almost to the point of a migraine — over a hug. A dumb hug!

While volunteering in the ER I make mistakes (shhhhh!) like taking a patient to a room before it’s ready, or taking specimens to the wrong lab,  but the ones that bug me the most are the personal ones – the ones with certain staff members — one hot one in particular.  Like why in the world did I tease him about whatever he does every Thursday at 2:00? He looked at me like, “Why are we talking about this, and why do you even know about it?” (What’s the matter with you, Evie!)

How about a Do-over???

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Sweet Summer Surprise: NBC’s WELCOME TO SWEDEN

rom with real com!

rom with real com!

Perhaps it’s due to the afterglow from my summer fling with Jorgen, or maybe it’s the best comedy of the summer, but either way I find myself totally into Greg Poehler’s fresh fish-out-of-water half-hour, WELCOME TO SWEDEN.  Sweet, charming and understated so it actually feels real, it’s a welcome relief from those loud, actor-y, in-your-face comedies that hit you over the head trying too hard to be funny. (It’s exactly the kind of project I relate to — would love to be called in for a guest spot, hint-hint!)

A Sweet Set-up —

In this sweet summer treat, single-camera comedy, successful Accountant, Bruce (Greg Poehler) leaves his self-absorbed celebrity clients (like Will Ferrell) and his narcissistic boss (sister and co-producer, Amy Poehler) in the dust as he impulsively moves to Sweden to live with his hot girlfriend Emma (Josephine Bornebusch) without exactly working out the details. The relationship is tested as he navigates his way through foreign everything, while trying to prove his worthiness to doubting potential in-laws, Emma’s parents: Therapist/Mother-without-filters, Viveka (the wonderful Lena Olin who steals every scene),  and stoic, hard-working Dad, Birger (Claes Mansson.)

Pushing Boundaries —

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I’M A SLAVE IN E.R.!
Sentenced to volunteer at Greater L.A. Medical (GLAM!) Hospital... I'm on-call in my worst nightmare -- ?!
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