Walk Two Moons

Hello friends and lovers!

It has been two moons. I'm still stuck, but I felt like an update was essential as life out here is always changing!

Music has been successful! HOME played at the House of Blues on April 28th and rocked the house!!! Literally. There was an earthquake during our show. HoB asked us to come back on May 18th! It's a show you won't want to miss, but I won't be there :( I'm flying back to my roots to see my brother graduate from college :) It will be nice to go home!

House of Blues Parish Room Apr. 28th, 2014

Our show on Feb. 28th at Kulak's was a success. That was a pretty stellar night performance wise. After Kulaks and a little bit of Elvis...

I put on more make up and went straight to El Cid to sing back up for KULA's EP release party. (Check it out on SPOTIFY or freakin' buy it. It's very good. And I don't just say that) The show went so well and we had so much whiskey and so much fun. Performing is one of the greatest feelings I know. Life feels perfect after a great night of music. Thank you KULA and thank you HOME!

I am also a slight YouTube success. Search "La Vie en Rose Ukulele" and you'll see why ;) Do it! Now! Read the rest while listening!!

Acting wise, things are "slow." I was supposed to shoot my scene of a feature today and tomorrow, but they cut me down to just a half day tomorrow. Like most projects I am involved in out here, this one has been unorganized and very unprofessional *actor sigh* I put slow in quotation marks because since my day job rant, I have realized, out here, if you want it, YOU have to take it. So, acting wouldn't be slow if I was allotting more time to promoting myself/career/talents. Yet, I was offered a part in a feature from being in that MTV music project a few months ago. They sent me a script that does not contain the character they said I was granted, who is supposedly the lead...*actor sigh*

Right now, in attempts to move forward. I am looking into investing in a new computer/ video camera/ voiceover and music recording equipment, so on my days off I can work more on my brand :) Because I am a product now. And I have to sell. If you have any favorite editing software, computers, cameras, microphones, send their names my way! I'm in the research phase!

LAism of the Week:

No one cares you're here. People from all over the world descend upon LA in the thousands every month. They arrive and walk down the street, convinced someone will see them and *gasp* "You're exactly what I've been waiting for all my life. You are the next (insert famous person here)! I can't wait to promote you and make you a successful actor/musician/dancer/artist!!!" If you didn't think that could happen to you, then why were you crazy enough to uproot your life and move here? But, the reality is, not only does that almost never happen, no one really even cares you came here at all. You have to make people care. So go on. Get to it.

Actress Identity Crisis

Hello my loves!

Today marks my one year anniversary working at SoulCycle. With all the frustration surrounding the new website launch and me being stressed from working 7 days a week in general, I may have not seemed as devoted or excited about SoulCycle in 2014. Putting that aside, I am so thankful for SoulCycle. It has changed my body physically, but also the way I see myself in the mirror. A few weeks ago riding in Lindsay Buckley's class she said that perfection is not the result, but the effort we put in to achieving said result. In that moment in class, giving 100% and sweating my ass off, Lindsay told me I was perfect. My effort was perfection. These are encouragements I hear at SoulCycle so often, and not just in class. My Brentwood family listens to my boy problems, my money stresses, family events. My Brentwood family strengthens me as a human being and is the reason why LA has not defeated me. I love my Soul family. The women and men I work with are all working their butts off everyday in everything they do. You are all inspiring. Thank you SoulCycle.

In acting news, I had a few auditions last week. One for a book trailer. My first book trailer audition! I didn't get it, but I felt the audition went very well. I sat down and really used Margie Haber's techniques to prepare. It helped me a great deal. As much as my roommate was wondering why I was so sad when she returned from work on Thursday night since I was in the middle of living the life of a woman who's son was just diagnosed with leukemia. Emotional drain.

I also shot some hosting clips for an upcoming MTV YouTube station. I will post links to those videos as soon as I get them. I will have them in March sometime. It is called Anton MTV Music Television. 

In singing news, well there is a lot more music news than acting news. This Saturday HOME is having a concert in Venice at Witzend. Come see us!!! $10 and we're on the Westside, you westsideians!!

We tested out a new lead guitar last Friday night. He's sick! Come and see him!! D has also been posting a ton of videos from our last concert at Kulak's Woodshed. Here is the one of my solo moment!

AND one of all of us. A little taste of HOME

Okay geez enough videos.

I also jammed with Eric Fortier's third project on Friday called Mad Bear. Another great band in the making! I hope to be a part of that :)
Finally I am singing back up for KULA's CD release concert at El Cid on Feb. 28th. HOME has a concert that night at Kulak's Woodshed again at 8pm. Tune in, because we will be streaming live online HERE. Don't worry. I'll remind you.

So I'm working 7 days a week. I take class at Margie Haber's every Monday night. I have about one audition a week, sometimes more. I am in two bands and helping out a third. And I'm still walking those pups. Life has been a little stressful and busy. 8 days a week people.

LAism of the Week:

The dreaded day job(s). As many of you know, if you didn't skip everything I just wrote to read this brilliant section, I love my day jobs. Both SoulCycle and I am enjoying being the part time assistant at Margie Haber Studio. I have no time to create though. At least I like my day jobs, but what am I doing out here if I am not creating? EVERY actor I talked to before the big move warned me about money and falling into the day job spiral. And here I am. And it is extremely frustrating. I am too tired when I get home from my three other jobs to write a script, or make plans to start a hilarious viral YouTube video, or bust my ass on casting websites. Sometimes I'll nestle into a chair with my guitar or ukulele and play for an hour, but I do that when I'm home alone because I don't want to disturb the lovely lady with whom I SHARE a ONE bedroom apartment. I am not alone here. I'd say day jobs that drain artists is among the top 10 frustrations of musicians/actors/writers/fine artists. How do we fix this? I don't know. Work harder? I barely have time to eat and sleep.

Happy New Year Two Weeks Ago!

Happy New Year Frans and Lovers!

So a Christmas miracle happened! I finished my reel!!! WHAT?! Instead of leaving you in suspense, here it is!

Besides FINALLY getting that together, 2014 has been, well, quick so far. I've had a few auditions for shorts and such. I did the table read for the trailer/feature I booked in December. The script is really cute! I have an audition for a Romeo and Juliet themed music video tomorrow. Pretty stoked about that. I have been working my booty off though you guys. I was hired to do part time at Margie Haber Studio. I'm officially a personal assistant to Margie's personal assistant. You know you are entrenched in LA culture when you are a personal assistant's personal assistant. I work 5 days at SoulCycle and 2 days at Margie's. It's hard to get acting stuff done. I'm still taking classes at Margie's, my friend recently referred me to his agent, and I'm still submitting every day. Pilot season people. Let's get work in.

I don't make New Years resolutions. Or at least, I never really have in recent years. But this year, if I HAD to pick one, it would be to create more. Paint, write songs, make shorts, sew, anything and everything. I feel like that is the one thing lacking in my life that enriches me so much. I need to make time for it.

LAism of the Week:
The culture of success. LA is rank with it. (See what I did there) If you have not seen Wolf of Walstreet, GO. It's not my favorite. Honestly, I feel like Scorsese once again remade Goodfellas; just more boobs, less blood. The point Wolf is trying to make though is not to glorify this ultimate success --to be able to buy any house, any boat, any drug, any woman-- but to disgust its audience with the gluttony. LA is also a city of success. Everyone out here is climbing the ladder. That is why everyone is in their late thirties and has never been married or has kids, etc. Success is number one. Not love. Not family. This is not me being bitter. It is an observation. I'm right here in the trenches, trying to grab onto that bottom rung of the Entertainment Industry ladder.

Merry Chirstmas!! And then some.

Hello Lovers!

I don't have too much to post about acting wise. Good news though! I was cast in a trailer (hopefully feature) where I will be playing the nurse one of the main characters falls in love with. O yea. Flirty eyes from across a room are my specialty! (Duh, I got the part. And constant attention at bars...just kidding. I'm so lonely!)

HOME played a gig a few Fridays ago at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood. The venue was sweet and there was a live stream of our concert online. If I would have known ahead of time I would have advertised it a little more so my Ohio friends could have watched us live! AH! Next time. Here is a little peak of us at Kulak's.

Dee (our lead singer) is producing a webseries about HOME. Yay! I will definitely post links to that when it is ready to launch. I might even tweet about it. 

In other news, my brother Aaron got married on Sunday! Say What?! Yes. Aaron is married. I don't think it has sunk in quite yet. The wedding was beautiful. I was so happy to be there and witness Aaron and Hannah's love in action. I have not gotten to spend a lot of time with my sister-in-law, but the kids are most assuredly in love. And it was an excuse to get the Leow Trio together. (Yes, we record music together. Check out our band page by clicking our name.)

The Leow Trio

I miss my brothers a lot.

LAism of the Week:
LA was voted the #1 rudest city in America this year by Travel+Leisure.When I heard this on NPR, I was not surprised. If working at a Coffee Bean did not teach me this, I don't know what would have. The people stumbling in at 5am for their first sip of precious caffeine were not the worst offenders. It was the housewives, industry types, and just plain entitled that came in after dropping off the kids or on the way to work. I was having a discussion with a fellow bridal party member about how nice people in Seattle are when I realized really how rude residents of LA can be. I feel like I could write and write on this subject, but instead of working myself up, I just want everyone to take a moment and realize we are all humans. We are all coming from somewhere. Maybe traffic was bad and now this person is worked up because he/she is late (always in LA) Or, their pet just passed away, or said person got into a fight with his/her significant other. If we all treated each other with respect and tried to really understand one another, America wouldn't have any rude cities.

We've Got that Holiday Feeling

Hello Friends and Lovers!

The holidays are upon us! Happy Thanksgiving last week! I had a "Friendsgiving" with my fellow Sierra Crest residents. I made the mashed potatoes. I should have taken a picture of the massive pan I had filled with potatoes, but I had too much wine. Ooops. Still turned out non-poisonous.
I also attended a Hanukkah party with some SoulCycle people. It was delicious! And I'd never been to a Hanukkah party before. 

My last few weeks has been surprisingly busy acting-wise.

I was on the Mindy Project! LOOK! It's my legs!

AND my whole body!

Stole the show, I know!

In other news: I have links! LINKS LINKS LINKS!

Remember a few months ago I was in a 7 minute short that was done all in one take? You don't? Well I did! And here it is!

My leading man also has a fun YouTube series on SoulPancake. Check out one of his episodes of Science of Happiness

I also got the link to the L Word campaign video! Watch the video, sign the petition. Warning: Contains hilarious lesbian themed humor.

Other than having some footage for yous guys I had a few auditions and one call back in the last few weeks. Notably, an improv audition where I got to play the role of a young Charlie Parkhurst. If you've never heard of him, GOOGLE IT. I'm serious! What an interesting story. I'll leave it up to you though.

I'm glad auditions have picked up a bit. I just need to find a couple good clips to add to my reel and I'll be ready for pilot season. All I need now is all the money in the world so I can go to some casting director workshops or agent "meet ups" and get my foot in the door somewhere.

I'm currently, at this moment, preparing for an audition in an hour for a play version of the Diary of Anne Frank. I'm auditioning for her older sister, Margot. Wish me luck!

LAism of the Week:

I'm in class with the guy in the blue boxers second on the right.

10 hour rehearsal day then a 12 hour shoot day! A good prep for the Christmas season!

Woeful Lack of Credits

Hello my friends!

The reason I haven't been writing the last few weeks is because I have almost nothing to write about. I had strep throat. Yuck. Katie Yak Attack was here for her birthday...unfortunately during the strep throat. That didn't prevent us from rocking some karaoke to celebrate though. The show must go on I always say.

Last week was AFI Fest!! The most wonderful time of the year! Here in LA on Hollywood and Highland every year American Film Institute puts on a film festival showing old movies, new movies, foreign movies, new auteurs, scary midnight movies etc etc etc. And it's ALL FREE!! One has to reserve tickets OR stand in long lines, but it is so much fun. There is so much energy and Dotty and I got to see movies we probably would not have seen anywhere else. We saw In Bloom a Georgian coming of age movie. Beautiful. I don't know much about Georgian culture, but this was a great peek. My favorite film we saw was The Congress. Starring Robin Wright. It was truly brilliant. I am serious. If you have a chance to see this film see it. So inventive. I have never seen anything like it. It has been two an a half weeks since I have seen it, and I'm still thinking about what if the industry turned into THAT. The technology is there. It could happen. See it!

Last week, due to over work and a date that went till 3:30 am in a karaoke bar (I can't get enough karaoke!) I was so exhausted. I have not been submitting for student films on LA Casting for months now, but also have not been auditioning. No offense to the students out there trying to learn their craft, but some of the student film scripts I have read are simply horrendous. There was one last year I read where the lead character moved to LA from Texas and had been here 3 months. Her controlling boyfriend wanted her to move back to Texas, so in a night after a fight with him, she has sex with her agent. Of course, her boyfriend shows up on her doorstep the next morning while the agent is still there. She tells her boyfriend the agent raped her. The boyfriend kills the agent and then the girl and the boyfriend have sex next to his dead body....needless to say, I did not go to this audition. First of all, what 20 year old comes up with a story like that (watching too many Russian films). Second of all, HOW in the world is a student film production going produce a story like this well?! I have been eager to work though, so last week I started submitting for student films that seemed like I could at least use them on a reel. I had three auditions and did not go to any. The scripts were awful. The one audition, I had barely any lines to say, I was just going to act while my boyfriend forced me to play Russian roulette. What? I wouldn't have been able to use any of the footage. Then of course, I felt guilty that I had opportunity to work and didn't take it. *sigh* Catch 22s all over this industry. And I'm not even in the industry yet.

After a disappointing week career-wise last week, I had an audition for a country rock music video yesterday. I got to play my violin! LOVE! I walked in and they asked if they could play the track and could I play along. YES! My specialty! I think it went pretty well. From looking at some of the other girls there, I should/could have dressed a little sexier. High waisted jeans, my hobbit shoes, and a country looking shirt from Old Navy wasn't the most tittilating outfit choice. They said to dress country. That was my version. O well.

I also did some ADR work for the short where I licked a girl's face that was filmed a few months ago. My first ADR experience! For those of you who don't know, ADR is voice over. So I had to re record my lines from the short over the video of myself. It was fun. Also a little difficult. It's hard to get the same feeling you had when acting it in a room months later. Hopefully, I'll have that footage to show you guys soon. It's short, but sweet.

This weekend we have a shoot for HOME. My band. We're producing a webseries about the band, so when that comes out, I'll definitely fill you guys in. We're also looking to produce another album next year and I'll be on it! WEEEEEE! I'm very excited! 

LAism of the Week:

Maybe this is more human rather than just LA, but this has struck me more here than in Ohio. A culture of self denile. Not because you cannot except that your boyfriend left you, but you cannot eat a chocolate cookie because you have .02 ounces of belly fat that no one else can see that you're trying to get rid of. Personally, I do not want to live if I cannot eat a chocolate cookie. What is the point of life?!

Happy Halloween!

Hello loves,

I love Halloween. I wish I could always dress up like someone else and go out and see other people dressed as someone else. First of all, it's an amazing ice breaker. You can't go up to the hottest guy in the room and just talk to him. No! But if he's dressed as a pirate you can. Not saying that I pulled out all the stops with my ARRRRRs last night. I did make peace with my arch rival, Megan Draper.

O and Ke$ha.

So before I get into my acting life. Here is the opposite! My dad and step mom were here a few weeks ago and we went up to Yosemite. If you are my facebook friend then you've seen these, but they are just too beautiful not to share!

Who Says!?

Yea Clint

From Griffith Observatory

Yay! Family vacations. It was just what I needed. To get out of the city and also look at it's beauty again through the eyes of guests.

Last weekend, I got A-list treatment, almost. I flew back to Toledo (in coach) to film a commercial for Concentrek Group. (Say that 5 times fast...hahahaha...you can't!) It was me singing a jingle my step dad wrote and playing it on ukulele. I had a blast! It was a long day on 4 hours of sleep, but I love my job! I flew back to LA on Saturday, after a day and a half because I had work on Sunday and coincidentally, I had been called to do a viral video for the show "The L Word." She called me and asked me to be in it. No audition. Very bourgie, very gorgeous, very A-list. But I didn't make a tree and leave Toledo until after I ate my yearly caramel apple.

Yum!

 This week has turned out busier than I expected. I got promoted at SoulCycle!! Yay!! I am now a Key Holder, which means I can add to my extensive collection. I have 12 keys on my key ring now...too many people trust me with their things! (j/k I love being trusted. Please don't fire me!) Also, I got a job dog walking! My new pups are so cute and they are bringing so much joy to my life just walking them. Abby and Bella are so cute and so joyful. Abby is a mini schnauzer and Bella is a chihuahua/dachshund mix. This job fills me with happiness and it will help me pay for some acting business of which I need to take care <--- what a great sentence.

Weeee acting! Some goals I want to take steps in accomplishing. Theatrical agent by pilot season/ Casting Director workshops set up to prepare for pilot season. Saving up some money for improv class at UCB. Advancing to Margie's weekend at Margie Haber Studios. With promotion and dog walking I'll be able to save up some funds :)

LAism of the Week:
Diets. Have I brought this up before? Everyone is something...except me. I just eat. Healthy. Most of the time. The other day at work my co-workers were talking about diets. One is a pescatarian and the other used to be paleo but she's working grains back into her diet. Paleo turned to me and said "Cait, what are you?" And I was like... Nothing. And then she declared "That is so not LA!! You have to be something ;)" True. I'm a minority.