Sunday, June 26, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
EXCITE.
So....
I just booked a commercial that will be aired on Cartoon Network for a year, for a very popular brand name product that I'm not really allowed to mention yet. I'm actually filming it tomorrow and I'm BEYOND EXCITED.
I'm playing the role of "Hot Girl." Apparently it's comedic and it's going to be a fun group so I really can't wait. It's going to be so cool to be on a big-scale production set and not actually be an extra but something legitimate for once!
And that's not all- I also got a job working as a freelance writer for a company that produces web content for clients. At first I won't be getting paid much, it's on a per article basis- but there is lots of opportunity to move up to bigger projects and who knows- if I keep booking acting stuff and make decent money with the writing thing, eventually I'll be able to quit my restaurant job which would be SO AMAZING. Now don't get me wrong, I really don't mind working there, and I actually like it- but it's just the flexibility that is the huge issue. I hate how hard it is to get shifts covered- I mean, that is why I wanted a serving job in the first place and not an office job, so that is a major obstacle in my way. I've already had to pass up several opportunities because of it which is frustrating, but again, it's all in the timing so I have to try to not get too upset about it all. It's just hard right now, but hopefully soon I will be able to quit.
But anyways, I'm waiting to hear back from production to get more details about the shoot tomorrow. I'll keep you posted how it goes! :)
I just booked a commercial that will be aired on Cartoon Network for a year, for a very popular brand name product that I'm not really allowed to mention yet. I'm actually filming it tomorrow and I'm BEYOND EXCITED.
I'm playing the role of "Hot Girl." Apparently it's comedic and it's going to be a fun group so I really can't wait. It's going to be so cool to be on a big-scale production set and not actually be an extra but something legitimate for once!
And that's not all- I also got a job working as a freelance writer for a company that produces web content for clients. At first I won't be getting paid much, it's on a per article basis- but there is lots of opportunity to move up to bigger projects and who knows- if I keep booking acting stuff and make decent money with the writing thing, eventually I'll be able to quit my restaurant job which would be SO AMAZING. Now don't get me wrong, I really don't mind working there, and I actually like it- but it's just the flexibility that is the huge issue. I hate how hard it is to get shifts covered- I mean, that is why I wanted a serving job in the first place and not an office job, so that is a major obstacle in my way. I've already had to pass up several opportunities because of it which is frustrating, but again, it's all in the timing so I have to try to not get too upset about it all. It's just hard right now, but hopefully soon I will be able to quit.
But anyways, I'm waiting to hear back from production to get more details about the shoot tomorrow. I'll keep you posted how it goes! :)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
A Typical Day in My Life
9:30 AM: Alarm goes off and I awaken from my slumber. Most of the time I'm woken up by the obnoxious buzzing my phone makes when I receive an e-mail before that, and the curiosity of what that e-mail may hold forces me to get up and check it on my computer. And by "get up" I mean reach down to the floor where my laptop nests and lift it up to my bed where I proceed to check it.
9:45 AM: I realize that it's the next day and it's time to eat breakfast! I get really excited when I realize that I bought groceries so I can eat a real breakfast instead of a slice of bread and an orange, which is what I've been eating for the past week. I make a bowl of vanilla greek yogurt with chopped up banana, and eat it in front of the computer, on my bed, as I have no furniture in any common spaces of my apartment.
10:45 AM: I see that I've spent an hour on the computer checking e-mails, facebook, twitter, all the other social networking sites that I use, as well as checking casting calls on various sites and doing networking/career things. I bemoan the passing of time and wonder where it went! I know that I need to get up and go work-out before it gets too late and disrupts my day but I usually find something else to do instead. (Things such as writing a blog perhaps...?)
11:30: I finally get around to going to the gym. And by "gym" I mean, the large walk-in closet sized fitness center located in my apt. complex that includes 4 machines total. But hey- I can get my run on! I play mind games with myself to make running 3 miles on the treadmill a more pleasant experience, and just get it over with. I sweat about 5 gallons of water and wonder why the small fans on the treadmill seem to be blowing air but not in any particular direction that I can control. After my run, I feel very accomplished and check myself out in the large mirror lining the wall to see if I've lost 10 lbs. yet.
12:45: Time for lunch! I get very hungry after working out so I make something to eat. I haven't brought all my cookware in from my car trunk yet (it's such a heavy box!) so I stick to things that don't need extensive preparation. Today I'll probably eat a salad.
1:30: Shower time!
2:00: I wonder where all my time has gone and scramble to get ready so that I can do something productive before work. Lots of times this includes going to the bank, going to Kinkos, cleaning, running around Atlanta, etc.
3:30: I head out for work and hope I don't run into too much traffic on 85. Usually I'm fine at this hour, though. Thank God I live RIGHT by 285, because Roswell Rd. is craycray busy!
4:00: The restaurant doesn't even open until 5, so all the servers have to do things like polishing glasses and cleaning for that first hour. It's also a sort of a social hour, where we catch up and talk as we clean. Sometimes it goes by pretty fast, but other times when people are in particularly blah moods, it can go by really slow... this usually tells me how the rest of the day is going to be.
5:00: The restaurant opens, but most of the time things are very slow until about an hour later so we all go fold our obligatory napkins in the back and wait until we are told we have a table. This is also a social hour-type thing.
6:00: Woo! A table! I go do my server thang and charm my way to a good tip...that is unless you're that table that left me $2 on a $150 check when everything went smoothly....darn you!
6:10: I make myself a glass of water at the bar and continually fill it and sip on it throughout my shift. This causes me to use the restroom about 20 times and proves inconvenient when it gets busy at around 7:30-8ish and I am double-sat.
6:30 I get another table...and this goes on of course until the end of the night. Depending on how busy it is, I can spend alot of the time at the bar hanging out with the fellow servers bemoaning how slow it is on this particular day, or I can be running around and wondering where all our bread is, or trying to find a manager to run a coupon trough the system.
10:00 If it is a weekday, this is when the restaurant closes. However, since I somehow ALWAYS end up with the lingering tables, we'll say the restaurant actually closes at around 11 for me.
11:00 I do all my closing out procedures and head home. Yesterday I worked out with a couple of my coworkers- one of who is a fighter and is super hardcore. I literally felt like I was going to die at certain points but it's good for me! I'm going to try to make this a weekly thing. But usually I just go home.
11:30: I'll grab a snack and do more computery stuff. Catch up on all the fun things I missed while I was at work and submit myself to extra work and other casting calls and what have you.
1:00: Around this time I realize that I'm tired but somehow I end up facebook stalking someone completely insignificant.
1:30: I realize that I'm stupid and I just need to get to bed. So I do.
9:45 AM: I realize that it's the next day and it's time to eat breakfast! I get really excited when I realize that I bought groceries so I can eat a real breakfast instead of a slice of bread and an orange, which is what I've been eating for the past week. I make a bowl of vanilla greek yogurt with chopped up banana, and eat it in front of the computer, on my bed, as I have no furniture in any common spaces of my apartment.
10:45 AM: I see that I've spent an hour on the computer checking e-mails, facebook, twitter, all the other social networking sites that I use, as well as checking casting calls on various sites and doing networking/career things. I bemoan the passing of time and wonder where it went! I know that I need to get up and go work-out before it gets too late and disrupts my day but I usually find something else to do instead. (Things such as writing a blog perhaps...?)
11:30: I finally get around to going to the gym. And by "gym" I mean, the large walk-in closet sized fitness center located in my apt. complex that includes 4 machines total. But hey- I can get my run on! I play mind games with myself to make running 3 miles on the treadmill a more pleasant experience, and just get it over with. I sweat about 5 gallons of water and wonder why the small fans on the treadmill seem to be blowing air but not in any particular direction that I can control. After my run, I feel very accomplished and check myself out in the large mirror lining the wall to see if I've lost 10 lbs. yet.
12:45: Time for lunch! I get very hungry after working out so I make something to eat. I haven't brought all my cookware in from my car trunk yet (it's such a heavy box!) so I stick to things that don't need extensive preparation. Today I'll probably eat a salad.
1:30: Shower time!
2:00: I wonder where all my time has gone and scramble to get ready so that I can do something productive before work. Lots of times this includes going to the bank, going to Kinkos, cleaning, running around Atlanta, etc.
3:30: I head out for work and hope I don't run into too much traffic on 85. Usually I'm fine at this hour, though. Thank God I live RIGHT by 285, because Roswell Rd. is craycray busy!
4:00: The restaurant doesn't even open until 5, so all the servers have to do things like polishing glasses and cleaning for that first hour. It's also a sort of a social hour, where we catch up and talk as we clean. Sometimes it goes by pretty fast, but other times when people are in particularly blah moods, it can go by really slow... this usually tells me how the rest of the day is going to be.
5:00: The restaurant opens, but most of the time things are very slow until about an hour later so we all go fold our obligatory napkins in the back and wait until we are told we have a table. This is also a social hour-type thing.
6:00: Woo! A table! I go do my server thang and charm my way to a good tip...that is unless you're that table that left me $2 on a $150 check when everything went smoothly....darn you!
6:10: I make myself a glass of water at the bar and continually fill it and sip on it throughout my shift. This causes me to use the restroom about 20 times and proves inconvenient when it gets busy at around 7:30-8ish and I am double-sat.
6:30 I get another table...and this goes on of course until the end of the night. Depending on how busy it is, I can spend alot of the time at the bar hanging out with the fellow servers bemoaning how slow it is on this particular day, or I can be running around and wondering where all our bread is, or trying to find a manager to run a coupon trough the system.
10:00 If it is a weekday, this is when the restaurant closes. However, since I somehow ALWAYS end up with the lingering tables, we'll say the restaurant actually closes at around 11 for me.
11:00 I do all my closing out procedures and head home. Yesterday I worked out with a couple of my coworkers- one of who is a fighter and is super hardcore. I literally felt like I was going to die at certain points but it's good for me! I'm going to try to make this a weekly thing. But usually I just go home.
11:30: I'll grab a snack and do more computery stuff. Catch up on all the fun things I missed while I was at work and submit myself to extra work and other casting calls and what have you.
1:00: Around this time I realize that I'm tired but somehow I end up facebook stalking someone completely insignificant.
1:30: I realize that I'm stupid and I just need to get to bed. So I do.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
I want so many things in life at this particular moment but one of the hardest things is just waiting everything out. Never before have I felt so...I don't know...antsy..? In many aspects. While I am absolutely loving being graduated and feeling like the world is open to me, I feel like I am up against some unknown resistance, otherwise known as "incorrect timing." I feel like in April I had all these opportunities throwing themselves at me while I was still having to leap through hurdles to graduate- but now that I am actually available for them all- they have disappeared! While I know that is not completely true, as all this Backalley Strut stuff is about to get set into the marketing frenzy soon (I saw a near-final cut of the last "episode" or promo video we will be showing to potential investors and it's so awesome!) it's still something I will have to wait on technically.I feel like I"m playing this huge waiting game with my career. Waiting for audition submissions from my agent. Waiting on replies from auditions from theatre companies. Waiting until I make more money so I can get new headshots taken so I can submit to more agencies, and wait on them to respond.
But you know what, it's what I signed up for. You don't get a degree in theatre and expect to be a full-time actor immediately. It just doesn't happen. And sure, it may be a little frustrating right now but I know, I KNOW in the future it WILL pay off! It just sucks to have to be in this phase of uncertainty while everything else catches up to line into place. But it's cool. I will prevail, and life could DEFINITELY be worse. I mean, everything has fallen into place before and it will continue to do so, so I can't fret! :)
In other aspects of my life...I think ole' Cupid may be teaching me a lesson which is cool but frustrating. I really don't want to seem conceited at all when I say this, but normally I have pretty good luck with guys. That is before this past year where I feel like I've morphed into this clueless ball of awkward who doesn't know how to handle herself in situations with guys. And the irony is that I get hit on so much and so many guys are interested in me that I have absolutely NO attraction to whatsoever or that it would never work with at all. It's simply ironic. Yet frustrating! I get really awkward about guys hitting on me and asking for my number, it's literally one of the most uncomfortable situations for me to be in. Like, I am just a bad liar for one thing, and I feel like guys don't take the answer "I'm just weird!" very well when I don't give them a real reason I don't want to give my number. But I mean, it's true! I just get so weird about it. I don't want to have the pressure of them having my number at their disposal and wanting to hang out or whatever, but then I have a hard time of being mean to them at the onset, I just tend to go along and converse with them and be nice, and they mistake that for "a connection" which makes them really surprised that I don't eventually want them to call me all the time. Meh.
Oh, boys. Get it together!
But you know what, it's what I signed up for. You don't get a degree in theatre and expect to be a full-time actor immediately. It just doesn't happen. And sure, it may be a little frustrating right now but I know, I KNOW in the future it WILL pay off! It just sucks to have to be in this phase of uncertainty while everything else catches up to line into place. But it's cool. I will prevail, and life could DEFINITELY be worse. I mean, everything has fallen into place before and it will continue to do so, so I can't fret! :)
In other aspects of my life...I think ole' Cupid may be teaching me a lesson which is cool but frustrating. I really don't want to seem conceited at all when I say this, but normally I have pretty good luck with guys. That is before this past year where I feel like I've morphed into this clueless ball of awkward who doesn't know how to handle herself in situations with guys. And the irony is that I get hit on so much and so many guys are interested in me that I have absolutely NO attraction to whatsoever or that it would never work with at all. It's simply ironic. Yet frustrating! I get really awkward about guys hitting on me and asking for my number, it's literally one of the most uncomfortable situations for me to be in. Like, I am just a bad liar for one thing, and I feel like guys don't take the answer "I'm just weird!" very well when I don't give them a real reason I don't want to give my number. But I mean, it's true! I just get so weird about it. I don't want to have the pressure of them having my number at their disposal and wanting to hang out or whatever, but then I have a hard time of being mean to them at the onset, I just tend to go along and converse with them and be nice, and they mistake that for "a connection" which makes them really surprised that I don't eventually want them to call me all the time. Meh.
Oh, boys. Get it together!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
So life as of lately has been pretty cool. Yesterday I had my audition at the Alliance Theatre for their original new show: "The Real Tweenagers of Atlanta." There's a funny story about how I actually GOT the audition:
So, I'm just at work, serving tables, and I get one table that was particularly chatty and it was slow so we got to talking. It's really interesting how many people are actually interested in their server's life, particularly in a restaurant like Dolce, where it's not a "get in, eat, get out" type of place. But anyways, I told them I was an actress and they kind of chuckled a bit. Well come to find out I was serving the table of 2 of the staff members of the Alliance Theatre, which is basically the best theatre company in Atlanta. They do lots of collaborations with celebrities and produce new plays as well as old ones, and are just super respected and well-known.After some more chatting they told me to come in to audition for a show that they are doing on Monday and asked for my information. I received a confirmation e-mail today!
It was just totally CRAZY...because normally you have to send in your headshot and resume to even get an audition with them at all, or go through Unifieds or something like that. But just by simple going to work at my completely unrelated to the industry serving job, I ended up scoring an audition. The irony is that I was planning on submitting my headshot and resume to them the next day in hopes of being called to come audition.
I never realized that my serving job could be an important networking tool- mainly because my last serving job was in Columbus, GA where there is nobody that can really do anything for me. But here in Atlanta, the odds are much greater of meeting influential people I suppose! Last week I also served a staff member of Actors Express who was cracking me UP. We ended up getting in a conversation about my love life, baha. I don't think he was as influential in the casting arena as the people I served from the Alliance, so no auditions there- but I'm sure he would recognize me if our paths crossed again at an audition!
As far as other career things go, once I get some new headshots taken, I'm going to be represented by another non-exclusive agency here in Atlanta which is pretty cool! I have been meaning to get some new headshots done anyways but I just gotta get the money saved up first. Thankfully I've been making more money at Dolce here recently and hitting my nightly goals which is nice! :) I'm glad business has been picking up, even if somehow I tend to end up with the lingering tables at the end of every shift...literally...I'm like the LAST server to leave. Every time. But it's okay! I've been making some pretty good tips considering the amount of work I actually do, haha. It's pretty much the easiest serving job ever.
Also last night I went out with a few of the people I work with and it was so much fun! I'm glad that I work with some pretty cool people. It definitely makes it less like "work," ya know?
I'm just ridin' out this whole post-college thing and while sometimes it is hard to be patient...I definitely like it. :)
So, I'm just at work, serving tables, and I get one table that was particularly chatty and it was slow so we got to talking. It's really interesting how many people are actually interested in their server's life, particularly in a restaurant like Dolce, where it's not a "get in, eat, get out" type of place. But anyways, I told them I was an actress and they kind of chuckled a bit. Well come to find out I was serving the table of 2 of the staff members of the Alliance Theatre, which is basically the best theatre company in Atlanta. They do lots of collaborations with celebrities and produce new plays as well as old ones, and are just super respected and well-known.After some more chatting they told me to come in to audition for a show that they are doing on Monday and asked for my information. I received a confirmation e-mail today!
It was just totally CRAZY...because normally you have to send in your headshot and resume to even get an audition with them at all, or go through Unifieds or something like that. But just by simple going to work at my completely unrelated to the industry serving job, I ended up scoring an audition. The irony is that I was planning on submitting my headshot and resume to them the next day in hopes of being called to come audition.
I never realized that my serving job could be an important networking tool- mainly because my last serving job was in Columbus, GA where there is nobody that can really do anything for me. But here in Atlanta, the odds are much greater of meeting influential people I suppose! Last week I also served a staff member of Actors Express who was cracking me UP. We ended up getting in a conversation about my love life, baha. I don't think he was as influential in the casting arena as the people I served from the Alliance, so no auditions there- but I'm sure he would recognize me if our paths crossed again at an audition!
As far as other career things go, once I get some new headshots taken, I'm going to be represented by another non-exclusive agency here in Atlanta which is pretty cool! I have been meaning to get some new headshots done anyways but I just gotta get the money saved up first. Thankfully I've been making more money at Dolce here recently and hitting my nightly goals which is nice! :) I'm glad business has been picking up, even if somehow I tend to end up with the lingering tables at the end of every shift...literally...I'm like the LAST server to leave. Every time. But it's okay! I've been making some pretty good tips considering the amount of work I actually do, haha. It's pretty much the easiest serving job ever.
Also last night I went out with a few of the people I work with and it was so much fun! I'm glad that I work with some pretty cool people. It definitely makes it less like "work," ya know?
I'm just ridin' out this whole post-college thing and while sometimes it is hard to be patient...I definitely like it. :)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Matrimony!
One of my best friends from high school, Brooke Summers got married last month, and I was a bridesmaid. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and I had a wonderful time! I was grateful that I actuall had the opportunity to make it at all because that was right in the midst of all the craziness of my life- trying to graduate, do schoolwork, and I was filming alot. In fact, the day of the rehearsal dinner I had been filming the Wingless Butterfly trailer from 8 AM right up until 3:30...and then I had to leave immediately to drive 2 hours to Augusta from Lawrenceville, GA. I got dressed in the car and subsequently ripped my skirt, causing a wardrobe dilemma for myself in which I ended up having to wear my jeans. I actually remember being really worried that Brooke would get mad at me, but in the grand scheme of things I think that was probably the least of her worries the night before her wedding day, haha!
Anyways, everything went well and the reception was a blast. Here are some photos from the wedding, shot by the wonderful h & d photography:
Congratulations Brooke and Ryan! :)
Anyways, everything went well and the reception was a blast. Here are some photos from the wedding, shot by the wonderful h & d photography:
Congratulations Brooke and Ryan! :)
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Excitement.
So things have been going pretty swimmingly, here lately! :) Yesterday in particular was a great day for my career,
- I secured interviews with 2 agencies, Modern Models and About Faces Models and Talent, they are both Atlanta based full-service agencies. I think they are non-exclusive which is nice because that way you can be represented by several at the same time, thereby increasing opportunities to be seen and submitted for work!
- I found out I get to film for lcdtvbuyingguide.com next week, which is great because that is a nice little income supplement for me! :) The review I did of the HP Slate 500 is now up on www.tabletbuyingguide.com, too- check it out here!
- I got a submission notice from my agent for a lead in a SAG Feature Film! I still have to wait to see if the casting director wants me to audition- but it's still exciting. The character is a "21st century Laverne/Shirley/Jersey girl so it will be...interesting bahaha
I've been submitting to other various sundry acting gigs here and there as well. Really, right now it's all about sowing the seeds! However I AM getting frustrated with my actual job...it doesn't seem as flexible as I thought it would be in the beginning- for example every Saturday every server is scheduled, so I basically can't get out of any Saturday night which is not really going to work for me! =/ Although I do enjoy the laid-back nature of the job and the people are really cool...I just don't want to risk opportunities that will be important for my career for the sake of a restaurant. But right now I need to be there and build some money up so I will remain!
Lately I've been working myself back into shape again, and I feel great. This past month, while I've been in a strange sort of limbo, I've found it really hard to work out regularly and stay healthy, however now I'm very motivated to keep on top of it. I realized that I had gained a little weight, and we all know the saying- "the camera adds 10 pounds!" It's really true! While I have no desire to be anorexically thin by any means, I do realize that it is important for me to stay in optimal shape. I definitely have fallen off the wagon so I'm jumpin' back on! Woo! Thankfully, living in Atlanta makes it alot easier to get a bigger variety of healthy food and things- today I went shopping at the Dekalb Farmers Market which is honestly a bit overwhelming, but I got some really great deals on things! They have so much produce there that there were things I'd never even seen or heard of. There is basically everything you could ever want. It was pretty packed so it was a mildly bit stressful, but I conquered it! I'm excited to start cooking alot again, now that I have more time to do so.
So yeah, that's my life right now basically. I'm still trying to get used to this free time that I have in my life but I think that I'll get used to it soon enough ;)
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