Lifeofanactress's Blog

Happy New Year

lifeofanactress — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 23:28:01 +0000

Happy New Year to everyone and to all the actors & actresses out there, I hope that 2011 will be the year you break through and leave your mark on the industry with an amazing film or theatre performance.

The Stages in a Career

lifeofanactress — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 03:08:50 +0000

So you are a new actress, what are the stages in your career that you can expect. Not an expert but this is my view based on what I have seen. First stage is ideally you train, acting school, workshops, etc. Second stage, you come all ready to conquer the world, you probably take a waitressing job because it gives you flexibility and decent cash. You will probably be working this day job for bit while auditioning and taking acting gigs as they come. Possible Third Stage: If you are good and also sometimes perhaps lucky, you might be in a position to quit the day job and make a living as an actor (whether you are a “star” or not). Possible Third or Fourth Stage, maybe you never get to the point where you can make a living from acting only and tired of the grind, you quit acting and get a “real” day job. I don’t like that term getting a real job because waitressing is a real job that many people do for a living and for that matter any job that pays you is a real job as far as I am concerned. Possible Third or Fourth Stage: you continue to pursue acting as you work your day job until the day you die because you love to act. I think this last stage is really the stage where it is really about the love of acting because as you get older and wiser, I think most actors will know that very few actors actually become big stars and making a living purely as an actor is difficult. I saw this very clearly when I went to see a show in Central New Jersey where the wife of a friend of mine was in. It was a small stage and small audience but clearly she was doing it because she loved acting and she was very good. So the thought here is that if you really love to act, that will sustain you through a career that can be very trying. Hope everyone has a great Turkey Day.

One Thing Leads to another

lifeofanactress — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 01:59:37 +0000

Two months ago, we had posted that Lauren Susan was in this contest for the TV series Madmen. While she didn’t win, she did get to be a model on the show for a Mad Men makeover and was made up to look like January Jones. She also got to meet the show’s warerobe designer Janie Bryant. Now she just told me she got representation and signed a one year contract. Lastly she is going to appear on The Nate Burkus Show on November 17 at 3pm on NBC so please check that out. Not sure if they are all connected but just seems like one thing leads to another if you hustle and get out there.

Triple Threats

lifeofanactress — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:15:33 +0000

Having spent more time in film than theatre, I have always thought it is hard to be triple threat in the sense that you can act, sing and dance. In the film world, the most prominent and successful triple threat is probably Jennifer Lopez. I always thought there are few people that are good in all three and sometimes it might be better to just focus down to one. However as I have gotten more involved in musical theatre, I realize that there are a fair amount of true triple threats in musical theatre. The very nature of musical theatre requires that and it is also live which really means you can’t hide. So in the truest sense if you are looking to be a triple threat, musical theatre is a great training ground and you can’t wing it. It really does make you appreciate actors that can do it all and do it live.

Audition Tips

lifeofanactress — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:13:30 +0000

I saw these 10 audition tips from another producer’s site and I think they are a good summary of tips.

Always bring a picture and resume.
I don’t care if you have an Agent, a Manager, and a Momma Rose-style “mom-ager” who all promised to send it over. You’re the one that won’t be remembered if you don’t have one. A P&R is more than an American Express card. It’s like a pair of shoes. You wouldn’t leave home without shoes, would you?
Haven’t memorized the material? Don’t pretend you have.
If you have sides, try to memorize them. But if you can’t, it’s ok. We’d rather hear the material as written with the papers in your hand than hear you make up stuff just to prove that you tried (and failed) to memorize the material (remind me to tell you about the time an actor added a few lines to a Tony Award winning playwright’s monologue to kill time while he tried to get back on track).
Don’t make excuses.
I don’t want to hear that you have a cold, or that you have bed-head, or that your printer is broken. Do your best.
If I ask you to make a choice, make one.
I commonly ask the people auditioning for me to choose between two monologues, or I ask them to give me three song choices from their book and then I say, “which would you like to do?” I want to learn what YOU are attracted to, and I also want to see you make a choice. Don’t say, “It doesn’t matter. What do you want?” Actors have to make strong clear choices when developing characters. I want to see that side of you in everything you do.
Make your first 15 seconds count.
When you meet someone for the first time, don’t you make a lot of suppositions? We do too.
Be the 3 Cs.
Be comfortable, charismatic and confident. Actors have to command attention. They have to be the most interesting people in a 1000 seat theater. Be someone that we want to get to know. If you can do that as yourself, I know you’ll also be able to do that in a character.
Don’t take the last audition times of the day.
Casting is not an easy process, and at the end of the day, a creative team is grumpy, tired and wants to go home. The early actor gets the part. (Another reason to be scheduled early? You don’t have the rest of the day of actors to be compared to. I’m much more likely to call someone back that I see early because I have no idea what the rest of the day will bring.)
Let us know where to find you.
Even if you have an agent, put an email address where you can be reached directly on your resume (For safety reasons, I’d suggest a separate email just for this purpose). This way, if you ever leave your agent, or if your agent doesn’t get back to the casting director right away, interested parties have a way of at least sending you an inquiry. You don’t have to respond. Pix and Resumes sit in files for years. You always want some piece of contact information to be accurate so someone can find you fast.
Don’t start over.
Screw up? Fight through it. And it probably wasn’t as bad as you thought. You’re more sensitive to it than we are. An old voice teacher of mine used to say, “If you put a microphone on the inside of a Mercedes engine, you’d hear all sorts of sputtering and spitting, but from the outside, you’d hear nothing but purrrrrrrrr.”
Always audition.
The best way to master auditioning is just like everything else. Do it over and over. You’ll get numb to the nerves. You’ll be able to be yourself. And you’ll get free practice! I used to go to dance calls, because learning a dance combination at an audition is a free dance class (and I needed them). Actors who get to work on sides with directors at an audition get a free coaching.

Vote for Lauren Susan for Mad Men casting contest

lifeofanactress — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:03:01 +0000

Lauren Susan from our Film is participating in a casting call contest for Mad Men. It would be great if we could support her and vote for her. She does look like she would fit the look of that time in this picture. Here is the link to vote. Thanks http://madmencastingcall.amctv.com/browse/detail/FZLYGA

The Film & The Play at the Same Time

lifeofanactress — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:48:17 +0000

Over the last few years, have looked at this concept a bunch of times where a producer would look to make a film and also a play of the same script at the same time or close to the same time. As far as I know I don’t think that has been done because the issue is if the film or the play bombed then would it bring down the other project right away. I still think it remains better to keep the timing separate but a common cast could work. I wonder would actors find it appealing to work on both the film and the play. I think the answer would be yes for unknown or less famous actors but for name actor, that could be a challenge. Hope to test this sometime in the near future. Three weeks left in the summer, been fun but looking forward to Sept when it feels more natural to get back work.

Value of Jobs Beyond Acting

lifeofanactress — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:25:09 +0000

If you in it for the long haul, I think one of the best alternative ways of developing your career as an actress is to actually get involved in the other jobs in filmmaking beyond acting. By doing other roles and networking with people in the industry from a different persepctive, I think that can have long term value. This is a good brief article on how to do that. http://jobhuntingskills.net/seven-ways-of-grabbing-the-best-film-production-jobs.htm

Good Networking Opportunity

lifeofanactress — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:38:27 +0000

Was watching In the Company of Men which was a low budget film done by Neil Labutte and starred Aaron Eckhardt. After that film, both became stars and they worked together on other films after that. This brings up a point. For actors, it is good to network and link with directors, producers, etc because people tend to work with people they like. There is probably nothing more satisfying than coming up together as unknowns and hopefully hitting it big. The IFP Film Conference in Sept 2010 is a great place to network like that. I think mostly filmmakers attend that and for the most part a lot of beginners because they provide a lot of info that is useful. You also have more experienced folks come for updates on the industry. So if you are in NY in Sept, go there and be bold and introduce yourself and network. It is hard work to network and the business of acting is not about being shy, although ironically a lot of actors are really shy. Another great event is the American Film Market in Santa Monica in November. Now this is really a Seller and Buyer market but a lot of producers are there networking and I think actors who are bold can make contacts here. Especially if they follow up and attend in consecutive years and network with the same people. I always like going to Santa Monica in November and nothing like the sunset by the Santa Monica Pier and also Terry Prince playing his piano and performing on the Pier. The sunset on our film was filmed there.

Guest Blogger – Lauren Susan on SAG Waivers

lifeofanactress — Sun, 16 May 2010 16:27:15 +0000

I was submitted to Law and Order Criminal Intent for a very small role but if booked 2 SAG waivers would be earned, as well as sag pay for the days worked. I was called back and the casting director said you have been asked to come interview for this part by the director. (interviews
literally take 2 minutes because you are just looked at to see if you’re right for the part and they pay you for coming down)The casting director
said I would not be waivered for the interview but I would still get paid non union wages for the interview. I was fine with it. I was very
anxious about getting there on time and afraid for whatever reason i thought would miss it because I have wanted to be on Law and Order for
years!

I wake up at 7:30am to make a 11:00 am appointment lol. plenty of time to get ready. I leave my house at 9:30 am and as I am about to cross the street the bus just wizzes by! The next bus is a 20 minute wait and i am all the way on the very end of south brooklyn so it’s cutting it close. I get on the next bus freaking out in my head I’m not going to make it. Get on the train which of course has to be the local because the express is not running anymore at this time. I make it to the city at exactly 11am and I’m about to cry because now i’m late and they may start without me and go with another actress, I jump in a cab to take me to Chelsea Piers. The cabbie of course drives like a lunatic and I think I’m not only going to die but I’ll miss my interview. I get there at 11:15 and get stuck in the elevator for 20 minutes! Finally I get to the third floor,
about to just cry and was considering just leaving because I was extremely late. I walked in the sign in room nobody was seen yet Thank God!!!!!!

I was eventually seen by the director with two other actresses, he said thank you all for coming in and someone will be in touch in regards to
casting. We then were brought to a sign out desk to fill out our payment information. I told the person taking my paper work i am non SAG, he gave me a waiver for the interview. I was blown away because that hardly ever happens and also I was told only if I booked the job I would be waivered.

I actually did not book the part on Law and Order, but I can’t say the day was a total bust because I did get my waiver. Just goes to show, if I
would’ve just left because I was late I would’ve just been upset and never gotten the waiver.

Lauren Susan