Posts Tagged ‘How-To…’

An alarming article, “Actors: ‘It’s So Easy to Exploit Them’ in the April 8^th Hollywood Reporter sheds light on a disturbing and accepted new practice in our morally ambiguous industry. Actors are now paying thousands of dollars for the privilege of auditioning in front of casting directors — aka “taking workshops” — with ‘students’ “landing jobs everywhere from ABC to Hulu.”

According to the HR,

“More than two dozen companies offer more than 450 sessions of these “workshops” in a month’s span during pilot season – that many in the industry presume the practice is entirely aboveboard.”

Is The Casting System Ethically Sinking ?!

It’s not above board. In California exchanging money for the prospect of employment is I L L E G A L !

The Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act outlaws workshops and casting directors from charging or attempting to charge an artist for an audition or employment opportunity.

Why is Everyone Looking The Other Way?

Why isn’t anything being done? Why are SAG-AFTRA and the Casting Society of America powerless? Why are cost-conscious networks and studios cutting their casting allowances and allowing this illegal practice to flourish? Read the rest of this entry »

Voices in my head keep….

• interpreting warnings from CNN — scaring me about going just about anywhere, any day, any time —
• repeating Trump’s boisterous blunders – reminding me that 40% of the population seems to agree with him —
• warning me that newer, younger, hotter, blond actresses are now on the radar of the Casting Directors who used to champion me —
• cautioning me that I don’t know how to do anything except for Acting, Volunteering and Ubering —
• challenging me to be a little braver and collaborate on a short film or web series so I can gain control my own destiny —
• reminding me that my life of not knowing isn’t nearly as bad as those of the patients who come into the ER and find out really big things to worry about —
• channelling my mom and prompting me to find the funny even when it hurts.

Sunny sunflowers remind me of my mom

The middle of the night is an excellent time to stress about things like: “Will I ever book a great gig again?” or “Am I destined to remain an Uber driver for the remainder of my life?”  Tuesday night provides me with a double whammy worry as I notice an odd looking bump on my neck. My insomniatic issues are compounded as I google “red bumps on necks” and can’t decide if I have a bacterial or fungal infection, skin cancer, or if I’ve just been bitten by a Zika-carrying-mosquito.

Volunteering in the ER —

Hours later during my early morning ER shift, I happen to catch the eye of Dr. A on a never-ending call with a former ER patient stressing about a medication she’s been taking.  He tries and tries to reassure her in the nicest and most calming way, not getting anywhere till — Read the rest of this entry »

positive thinking!

Every year I post New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Superstitions but enough with the scary!  2015 has been depressing and difficult enough with long wars, wicked winds and long-winded wicked politicians. Let’s focus on super simple superstitions that are POSITIVE and bring GOOD LUCK only.

Now break out the kale, coins and cash because…

GOOD LUCK will come to you if you  —

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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 —

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 »

badass! beyond hot!

Courage is something I think about a lot. As I’ve often said, we don’t know if we have it till we need it. So I’m in total awe of the fearless few who stand up for the rest of us in the face of enormous danger — like Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler who tackled and disarmed a suspected Islamist militant shooting an AK-47 on a packed, high speed train bound for Paris on Friday.

Averting a massacre —

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My body is in L.A. but my heart and soul (and the last of my euros) are stuck in Tuscany.

It’s impossible to “A to Z” all of the amazing memories. They simply can’t all fit into this post.

Arrivederci Tuscany — sigh…

A — Antinori Winery: a family business for 6 centuries

B — Bistrot: where fashionistas and families dine in stylish Forte dei Marmi

C — Cinque Terre: MANAROLA – tiny but mighty in charm

D — Danilo, my cute guide in Florence

E — Emilio, my hot date at Metamorfosi, Roma

F — Falerio Sarti — for out-of-the world SCARVES

G — Ginger Roma for healthy sandwiches, salads and smoothies

H — Hot, sweaty record-breaking temps throughout Italy (joking, I don’t really miss that!)

I — Italian hospitality

J — Just about everything at Fabriano (affordable gifts – like the mini “password and logline” notebooks) Read the rest of this entry »