June Gloom

Hello my lovlies!

Welcome to LA June gloom, where every morning is not the taken for granted sunshiney wonderfulness I have come to expect. Sure, it may be sunny by the afternoon, but the mornings have been cloudy and sad. I attribute my past two weeks attitude to this (and hormones), so to June Gloom I say BE GONE! Life has been pleasant. At least.

To begin, I booked a YouTube short. I know, very exciting!! VERY Professional, Very on my way to being a movie star. But really, this guy is pretty funny. I don't want to give my sketch away, but it goes something like this one. I'm the next installment of THE LITERAL ENFORCER. Don't worry I'll post mine when it's up. It's pretty much like this, just, yes.

Indeed.

I have had a few auditions around town. A short about kickball where I could not say the word "pubescent" for the friggin' life of me during the audition. I had one where I would play three characters. One had a cockney accent! (Thank you My Fair Lady in high school!) This Sunday I have an audition for a web series where I would play a conservative Republican. I'm going to have to dig deep guys. Wish me luck.

I booked a gig singing back up for a band who just released their first album HOME <<check out their album! It pays and Greg and Dee are GREAT! Our first show is June 29th. Details to come!

Lastly, the Margie Haber Beginner Intensive is over. Sad face. But great news! I was one of three moved up to the intermediate from our class of 13! Yay!! But alas, money doth not grow on trees. I'm going to try to apply for their work/study program, but they don't have any openings right now, so I'll have to wait a bit to take the intermediate level. Still, I was extremely pleased by that!

And, HOLD THE PHONE! Did you watch Game of Thrones?! It literally broke me. I audibly screamed and then sobbed through the end of the credits and beyond. I'm sorry. I just had to mention it because of the emotional mountain of sadness I had to clamor down from to get on with my everyday existence after the Red Wedding episode. I just, I had to contribute the voices of internet woe.

LAism of the Week:
Free food is not readily available like it is on Ohio State's campus during all the sunny school months.

Still Kicking

Hello Frans!

So, my last two weeks in LA have been the hardest yet. Emotionally. As many of you know, who follow me and my roomie on Facebook, Dotty's mother passed away a week ago Sunday. For all concerned, Dotty went home to Kentucky, is back and moving along finding jobs and going on auditions like a champ. I love you Dotty!! I missed her so much while she was gone. I don't know what I'd do without her support out here!

Also, my dog Charlie died last Tuesday. Charlie was 14 and he died painlessly from a brain tumor. Charlie has been my best friend for so long and I was surprised how broken I was over seeing him go. The tears have subsided, but I was a mess all last week.








 
That said, my Margie Haber classes on Tuesday and Thursday last week were extremely difficult to get through and dealing with any sort of frustration at work was a challenge. Last Tuesday night we worked on a scene from Garden State (where Zach and Natalie meet in the waiting room/at the bus stop). Robin, my wonderful teacher, just had to mention that I was quieter that evening for me to burst into tears about Charlie. Thursday was even worse because I was beyond exhausted from crying/working early/taking Dots to the airport/not sleeping well/feeling lonely and we had to do a scene about our mom getting beaten and our character leaving the house. It was way too rough and now I know from watching the footage back that I could have played Charlize Theron from Monster without makeup. In any case, I'll commend this class again for being wonderful. ANYONE WORKING ON AUDITIONING/COLD READ TECHNIQUE SHOULD TAKE THIS CLASS. Do it. I dare you!

I filmed the Lesbian lick two Saturday nights ago. It was hilarious and they paid me $25. Score! I'll post footage of that when I get it.

I sang again last Saturday night at the Lexington downtown with my new do. Here's a video clip :)

I had two auditions on Wednesday. You know you're starting to get a footing in town when you start running into people you know at auditions! I ran into a friend that worked on Wonder Women with me this past winter, so we paired together for the scene. Hopefully the familiarity worked in our favor. I also auditioned for a fake infomercial video about a cure for FOMO. Don't worry, I didn't know what FOMO was either. It is Fear Of Missing Out. The lamer 4 letter acronym of YOLO. If you live like YOLO you won't have to have any FOMO. Duh!
I also have an audition for a backup singing gig tomorrow night before a date :) $75 per show, and that would be awesome, because ramen has a lot of sodium in it.

LAism of the Week:
Something one could never say in Ohio, "While driving down Wilshire Blvd today I saw a Maserati almost slam into a Porsche." What?!

There and Back Again

I'm a blog slacker!!

I could use the excuse that I went home to celebrate my mom's birthday, but that was two weeks ago today...also, Ohio has the internet...

Instead of beating myself up and giving up, here goes another round of LA wonders and magic.

Aqua sent me on a Dominoes commercial where I played a College Student. Yes. Makes a little more sense the Urban Clubber #2. First audition went well. I was a little late so I used my late angst to be the stressed out student studying for French. omg. My college life was over.
Callback! We played developers for Angry Birds this time. So my first suggestion coming off of "action" was to develop a Game of Thrones Angry Birds a la Star Wars Angry Birds which was immediately shot down by my "team." After cut, one of the producers was like, "Wait, before you guys leave, I want to hear more about that Game of Thrones Angry Birds" I was like YESSSS in my head. Didn't book it, but won the office. Which is a victory all to itself. If they like me, they'll remember me for future Angry Bird developing scenarios. Boom. Acting.






Also here is a quick picture of me singing at a blues bar Downtown called The Lexington. Keri Fantastic invited me back, so hopefully I'll have some more future pictures to show as well :)









So just because I'm going to use going to Ohio as an excuse for not being a loyal blogger here are some Ohio pictures for all of you Californians who ask me "What is Ohio like?"

War of 1812 Reenactment

My last two weeks back to LA have been filled with getting myself back on track. I have noticed that when I go away, I don't check my email for auditions or to submit myself for auditions, you know actor things. I also got an inflated sense of what kind of money I have. I threw a great Great Gatsby Party, but forgot that I'm actually kind of a little poor because I had a doctor appointment that was expensive, I paid rent, and paid for the other half of my acting class deposit all the day before I left for Ohio which left me with the paycheck I got when I returned. LA life is not so glamorous when I have to eat ramen for the next few paychecks to get back on track. And I will concerned parents and friends. This is just the truth of the super-fabulous-not-yet-working-actor life.

But the Gatsby party was fun. I'm sure ours was more extravagant than the movie, which I haven't see yet.

Good News though this week! I auditioned for a really quick role in a short film and was cast, Thanks to my LOVELY roommate Dotty! My only line was "can I walk you to your car" and then I have to lick a girls face. Dotty was my reader and my face for my video audition...here are a few takes. Neither of these are the one I sent in.

Boom. Acting.

Actual acting is happening in my life...not to say that video isn't acting, but let's not start a debate. I started my Margie Haber Fundamental Intensive this week and, you guys, it feels so SO good to be in front of a camera doing some work. If you haven't heard of Margie or her method, buy her book How to Get the Part without Falling Apart.
On Tuesday we worked on establishing a true relationship with your reader, even if your reader is someone who doesn't even look at you. Today we worked on the "where you came from" before the scene began. Basics, yes, but Margie's technique is so set on "living not acting" that it is a completely new approach for me and helping me a lot. I personally am so tired of the GOAT method and well methods. Especially out here when one does not have 6 weeks to establish a character and 12 performances or more to realize it. Sometimes you only have 15 minutes to create a love relationship, a deep friendship, or being a parent, etc. I love the class so far. I cried tonight during a scene and I wasn't even trying...what? haha.

LAism of the Week:
As fast paced as LA is, everything happens slowly. LA is almost human. Ideas, projects, careers, all develop slowly at their own pace like a human mind developing. Sure some careers are catapulted, but only exceptions to the rule. Just like a traumatic event will change a person over night. Realizing this is helping me, because I don't want to admit it, but I was sure I would have booked one big thing by now. And now I see how silly that was to think. I'm still green and casting directors can smell that a mile away. All I can do it be here, take classes, plant my roots and grow.  

Born to be Urban Clubber #2

What Up Lovies!!

So behind! Bah!

I got new head shots...most of them hilarious photos of me talking with my eyes half closed...amazing.
I need pick one!
My resume is revamped, thank you for asking.

In bigger news,
I had my first commercial audition through Aqua this week and I got a call back. This may sound impressive, but let me give you the rundown. Soon you will all know how DIFFICULT acting in LA is...if you call this acting.
I walked into the commercial being called in as an "Urban Clubber." Obviously, this role had me written ALL over it. So I dressed in the most urban thing in my wardrobe (something from Urban Outfitters) and went down to the casting. I signed in and they took us into a room in groups of four. We stood in a line, slated our names, danced as "best friends in a club" for 30 seconds, slated again and left. BOOM. Done.
Callback:
I was on my way home from Valencia Saturday afternoon expecting my callback to be at 4:30pm. It is 2:36pm and I am a little stuck in traffic on the 5. My agent calls and says, "hey they want you at 3pm." My response was "Well I'm not dressed, I mean I have clothes on, but I'm on my way home from Valencia and...you know what, I'll improvise and make it work. I'll be there as close to 3 as possible. Thanks!"
Touching up my makeup in the car, I put on the sports bra I worked in the night before on under my jean jacket with my leggings on from the day/night/day, un-showered, I waltz into the callback.
They call my name along with 8 others and we walk in, slate in order and are released...finger's crossed they loved the way I said my name. BOOM. ACTING.

I feel like I really embodied being urban in my callback. For sure.

LAism of the Week:
Women wear heels literally everywhere. Grocery shopping. Walking the dog. To work at SoulCycle (not criticizing my ladies, they are high heeled "sneakers.") I understand that my gams look bangin' in high heels, but sometimes the dogs are barking too loud to even get that catwalk going on. I would not be surprised if I saw women wearing heels to hike in Runyon Canyon. When, and yes I say WHEN, I do, I will get a picture and add it to this post. But for now I'd like to start a "Your Feet Probably Hate you, I don't care if they are the most comfortable wedges in the World" Campaign. Or maybe I'm just jealous because my heel collection does not include grocery heels and hiking heels. LA life baby.

Unmotivated

Hello lovers,

This week has been extremely unmotivated. *sigh*

I did shoot a 90's music video for a new friend's song. Roller skating. And I did not fall on my ass. Hopefully, I'll get the video soon and get to post it's fantastic-ness for you all. I met a lot of cool new people and spent time in Venice for the first time. Yippee! 

But,
I did not reformat my resume, or get head shots printed. I did spend a night in a bar singing Take My Breath Away at karaoke which was amazing. I had one awkward audition with a guy that reminded me of my great uncle. And, tonight, I'm probably skipping out on seeing a double feature of From Here to Eternity and The Search because, well, I don't feel like showering and putting on something that makes me look presentable. Not that there is anything wrong with men's shirts and jeans. I love this look. It's comfy. No wonder men seem to like being men.

I'll have plenty of time to reformat my resume tonight if I stay in. At this point the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica might as well be in Ohio. It feels so far away.

I guess this week finally caught up to me. Some days LA feels overwhelming. Some days I want someone to share this experience with and other days I feel like I do not need the distraction. But hell, I'm still a baby. I should not have anything to worry about. But seriously, I feel like I need to at least get my resume done tonight...and maybe some laundry...

LAism of the Week:

SO much to do! SO little time!
Screenings of all the old classics, several times a week. New movies out all the time. Working. Meeting people. Reading. Hiking. Classes. Art Museums. Galleries. Concerts everywhere and even the amateurs sound better than the auto-tuned shit on the radio. (not to down top 40, love it!) It all makes you feel like you should be doing something every second of every day. Learning stuff AND things. It also makes you want to drink and sleep and sit. LA as a city is big, bold and beautiful, and overwhelming. Everyone tells you you're the best, and I'm starting to think it's just because they want me to stay and spend money on their classes, their concerts, their exhibitions, their movies. Not to sound like a downer, I love it here. I'm not moving anytime soon. But this week LA's isms have me overwhelmed.

Tomorrow: Head shots. (FOR FREE! O YEA!)
Goal: Get a good shot that makes me look like the girl next door/best friend

As You Like It

Hello Lovers!

It has been a beautiful week weather-wise in sunny LA!

Acting News:
I was cast in the Shakespeare in the park!! I will be playing Amiens/in the bluegrass band bustin' out my violin skills. I am so excited! Check out City Shakes' Facebook page! I may or may not be on there soon ;)

I have a bit of a sinus allergy damn you grass pollen kind of thing going in my face this week, so I have unfortunately been unmotivated. Reading-yea, running acting errands-not really, getting super psyched about GAME OF THRONES-YES.

By this time next week I really need to:
Update my resume
Get head shots printed
Finish some reading materials
Find a good commercial or branding class
Watch all of Mad Men season 5 for the Mad Men Premier April 7th! (okay...not a need)

Alright,
LAism of the week:

Background of roommates phone...amazing

This week in LA, I saw three celebrities in one day, but I technically cannot post who they are or where exactly I saw them (because of work;) ), but I wanted to comment on how famous actors are normal people. You may look at me and say....ummmm duh Cait. But seriously, if you ran into Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling, or Jessica Chastain (not the people I saw), would you not squeal with delight and maybe get tongue tied and over think every action of theirs and yours and believe that because he/she looked at you, you may be potential soul mates? Don't lie to yourself, you would. So, I just want all of you to know that famous actors are regular people. They sweat (I've seen it) and eat and poop. They poop.



And I am not saying this because now I live in LA and I know SO much better because I see famous people all the time, nope, I still freak out and hope that Jack Black remembers our situation last week at the elevator fondly. Why would he? If I had that moment with any "normal" person, I would not have ever mentioned it happening or noted it as a special event. Maybe this is just a rant to myself. To remind myself that famous people are normal people. They're just normal, like me :) and you :) and they achieved what I want to achieve. Here's to hoping!

Jack Black and the Elevator

Hello Again Lovely People!

This week in the City of Angels...

So life stuff, I saw JOE PUG on Saturday at The Mint on Pico. If you know me, you know Joe Pug is my future husband (I hope he never reads this...unless he has a secret crush on the girl wearing the jean jacket and rocking the feather earrings). But really, I have seriously considered getting his album art forever tattooed on my body (still not off the table...I digress). In short, his concert was amazing, as always. Long story though is that he has really inspired me to push myself in all directions. I mean, Rihanna is now a famous actress after starring in that 2012 nugget of gold Battleship. In all seriousness, I am pursuing acting to affect others with a performance like I am affected by great performances in film. I want to give that gift to others, like the gift Joe Pug's lyrics and music are to me. Here is a picture I took last Saturday. Soak up the passion and the inspiration. You're amazing Joe! I might even try to write a little ditty because of you...maybe about you...I haven't slept with your vinyl next to me in bed since last Saturday...too much?

Moving on,
Acting wise, I have been reading a nice little handbook called So You Want to Act in Los Angeles? by Patrick Donahue, nice guy, nerd, aspiring hero, and Virginia Welch. I am a little salty I did not have this when I first moved here last August, so for all you aspiring movie stars...starving actors out there, pay the $4.99 and buy this online book and study it. It is chock full of useful information on how to look and act professional and do it on a budget, or at least within reason. There are SO many people selling actors things: classes, head shots, reels, etc etc etc. This book helps you know how much money is too much money to spend and it spells out step by step what you should be doing to be successful. AND IT'S A LOT OF STUFF. I am truly inspired and ready to set some new goals and get some balls rolling. I've felt like I was floundering for a while now.

Step 1: I have signed up for an acting class with Margie Haber. Since I have not necessarily been booking/being taken seriously enough to be called in to book anything, classes are a good resume builder. Especially with greats like Margie. Her orientation was amazing. SHE talked to us. Not just interns or other teachers, she did. And she seems great. I have also been reading her book How to Get the Part Without Falling Apart. Another great read for all you actors who hate auditions. Read it. I dare you!

Step 2: I will be working diligently on my reel and a possible Facebook fan page (which makes me feel very conceded). Keep me honest people. Ask me about these things. I should be done with them in a few months. A reel is important because it puts me at the top of casting directors lists when I am submitted online.

Also acting related, I am auditioning this Saturday for some Shakespeare in the park. I was given a bit of advice from a director last October not to pay for acting classes, but to do theatre. This has not served me well, hence the registration for Margie Haber, but I keep submitting for theatre pieces because acting a little bit is better than not at all. And exposure, exposure, exposure! So wish me luck. I have to play the violin, guitar, sign and memorize a comedic Shakespearean monologue in less than 24 hours...GO!


Before I end with an LAism of the week, I want to shamelessly plug (and I used both of those words intentionally) my Twitter, caitscorner. It is still developing, but the basic concept is whenever I am tweeting, I am having a bowel movement. I have had TOO MANY conversations with men about how "girls don't poop." We do, and I never want to talk to you again. My Twitter is not only about poop or what I just went through on the toilet. It's usually just what I'm thinking about, or something else interesting on the Internets that I found and wanted to share (that's for the times I had to spend an extended period of time on the toilet and I was keeping myself entertained...too much?) In any case, I know, it's a little gross, but come on. It's hilarious...please don't judge me ;)


LAism OF THE WEEK: JACK BLACK AND THE ELEVATOR
For those of you who follow me on Facebook who did not see/hear the explanation of my encounter with Jack Black on Tuesday, let me tell you a tale, a tale of a fateful trip...
So I went to SoulCycle WeHo on Tuesday morning to get my spin on, but sadly/happily, the class was sold out and and I did not get down. With my head hung low and Charlie Brown playing in the background, I headed out and paid two whole dollars for parking and got on the elevator to go down to my car. SoulCycle WeHo shares a courtyard with an Equinox, so it is a great place to see celebs. I have seen quite a few there myself, but usually it does not get this awkward. Let me explain, I was heading down in the elevator to P4. The vator stopped on P3 and opened. A man about my height with long salt and pepper hair and a full on beard in standing outside obviously looking to go up not down. I look at him, look away, and go wait, that's Jack Black. I look at him, he looks at me, I smile and nod and my elevator door closes...and opens again for no reason. Jack Black and I were both a little shocked by this. I think he thought I recognized him and opened the elevator, and I tried to make it clear that I did not open the elevator but without saying anything. He just shook his hands indicating he wanted to go up, not down and I shook my hands and laughed like I didn't know why the elevator doors opened again for no reason, because I really didn't. So the doors closed...AND OPENED AGAIN! Luckily, he was already nestled in the up elevator and did not see my panic as I hit the door close button frantically. Nice to meet you Jack Black.