Posts Tagged ‘Acting Lessons’

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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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

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!)

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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chicken wire + glow-in-the-dark paint = stylishly spooky

Thankfully I don’t have to wear a hospital mask on October 31st  (thank you, Mira for covering for me!) so I’m prepping for the big night.  I know, I know — once I passed the quarter-of-a-century mark I thought I’d have to give up on my passion for pumpkins.

But after spending Halloween in NYC recently,  I realized it’s actually cool to be into Halloween. Seriously — just ask any New Yorker!

Anyway isn’t working in the ER scary enough with the Ebola-factor or having to deal with Triage Nurse Anthony Chan, who clearly doesn’t need a costume to totally freak me out?  And though Dr. Crush hasn’t done anything horrific, I’m trying to think of him as DEAD-TO-ME because he’s become such a Passive-Zombie lately. Is there a cemetery where I can go bury my feelings for him so I can stop feeling them…?

In an attempt to distract myself from my LIST OF LACKS: Jobs, Auditions, Romantic Sagas — I’m sharing a few more Halloween ideas.  And btw — my favorite source for GLOW — Glow Universe is having a final HALLOWEEN 15% off sale so if you need any glow sticks, check ’em out.

GLOW GHOSTS —

Balloons + Green Glow Sticks + Cheese Cloth = Tada!

 BLOODY MAT —

Roll of white paper + Red Paint + Feet = Ewwwwwuuu

GLOW DROPS–

Balloons + Orange Blow Sticks + Nylons to hang from trees= a romantic Halloween? if only…

SCALE-Y SKIN–

Fishnet Stockings + Green Make-up Base + Your Head = A new look for Auditions? HA!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Hope your October 31st has just the right mix of treats + scary. Be sure to stay out of ERs though, k?

xo/evie

nothing’s gonna stop them now

During my Amazing Mom’s much-too-short life she managed to find the funny during the darkest of times, so unsurprisingly I raced out to see THE SKELETON TWINS opening weekend after learning that it’s about family members (Maggie and Milo) who use humor to cope.

It certainly didn’t hurt that it was a Sundance Best Screenplay winner — and then when I read that that Writer/Director Craig Johnson and stars Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader would be doing Q&As after some of the weekend screenings, the deal was sealed. Win/Win for me as I managed to score a ticket (to what would be a sold-out performance) at the Landmark in West L.A. where Johnson and Hader were planning to appear.  Big YAY!

SMART COMEDY

To me Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader are the “best of” modern-day SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. I’m devastated that now they only guest on the show.  But it’s awesome seeing them on the big screen where they shine even brighter. In THE SKELETON TWINS they take talent to a whole new level tackling layered, complex roles and dramatic situations (like suicide, career failures and adultery) with creativity and expertise.

People say that comedy actors are really smart (Lisa Kudrow/Vassar, Jenny Slate/Columbia, Sasha Baron Cohen/Cambridge) because their brains are so creatively quick. Watch any Robin Williams interview to see how his train-of-thought is light-years ahead of the rest of us. It’s not a skill one can acquire, COMEDY is part of the DNA for the lucky ones.  Lemme tell you after seeing Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig seamlessly dance back-and-forth from drama to dramedy — hitting every mark in every frame — I’m guessing that both of them are off-the-charts smart! Read the rest of this entry »

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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why not?

Why wait till the New Year to start over? The sunny-sun is shining — we can all shed some layers —  and days are longer, so why not make the most of them?!

SUMMER RESOLUTIONS 

Less
Can’t…

More
Can do!

Less
Maybe…

More
Definitely!

Less
Taking everything too seriously —

More
Finding the funny! Read the rest of this entry »