Business Aspect

Acting is business as usual and if you're not familiar with it, the only way to get good at it is through acting school ( just like college) and on the job training and surrounding yourself with fellow aspiring & working actors. Anyway, as far as the casting from MTV, I was not able to attend, and I am glad to say that it was a good thing because rumor has it that this is a SCAM ! I should have known , but I'll be more cautious next time. Hollywood slicksters are everwhere indeed. I prepared a homemade couscous yesterday with charmoula marinate, yummy... so there's no regrets here. Oh, one thing, I have created an account with LA casting at the recommendation of my good friend and mentor Talbott. Talbott is SAG and very talented actor ( one thing I aspire to be one day) and he's heaven sent and my guardian Angel. He has been providing with so many good advices. Talbott is good people and a genuine soul, I knew this the first moment I talked to him. He called me yesterday around 10 pm we ended-up talking for one hour, just hitting me up on my acting strategy, and providing with good advices, like on my headshots for example. He thinks they do not represent me accurately. A lot of people would get irrate but I found his honesty refreshing. Honesty is something I can deal with ! Too theatrical and I should have more commercial shots, and that I look much better in reality ! and I agree, he also advised me that I will eventually have to get better ones and told me not to get frustrated because I am new to this and to embrace the process. Yes acting is a business, and you only good at it when you fall & hurt yourself, as you keep falling, you'll eventually learn to crawl then walk. Guess right now I barely learning to crawl. I am excited though so much so, that I blog about it simply because I am leaving my dream, my journey, and what a chance I have to be doing what I love !

Landed a part in an MTV Video

Sounds silly, but I don't know the name of the artist. Anyway, I submitted my headshots and just received a responde from the assitant casting director that I have been booked ( for tommorrow) for an MTV video. Ok ! No pay, but copy of video & credits ( very important) for a newbile like me.. and of course food/drinks. Shooting will take place in downtown L.A., and ...at 7pm and last 3 hours. Ok, this is nothing to brag about, but this will be first time ever being in front of the camera, dancing as if I was in club lol ! That should be fun, totally not the theatrical project I have envisionned myself in, but still, this will provide me with invaluable experience and I can put it on my resume. Tres chouette !

Here's the email I received : The scene will be a club scene.. dress casual butnice.If you are receiving this E-mail, you have been bookedfor tomorrow's music video for JUNIORS/mtv2.This is non paid, however you will receive a copy ofthe video when it's complete along with credit fromthe director + food/drinks. This will be great exposure and you will only beneeded for 3 hours!Any additional questions, call Arthur ...

Listen

Yesterday at class, Tony our teacher, kept stressing the importance of letting things sink in and no be so quick to just repeat for the hell of repeating but to let your partner’s statement sink in then wait for the true response to come. I have to say I agree, I can see how easy it is to just repeat things, especially in the contest of a repetition exercise, however you must let that all sick in for you to generate a truthful response. Tony also stressed out the importance of taking things personal, letting thing ( statements/gesture) truly move you & affect you, know and understand what it means. He added that the present generation of actors and acting student are too focused on themselves and do not listen, acting is listening, without listening you’re missing what your partners is trying to get across thereby missing the opportunity to respond truthfully. Wow, that’s moving, I don’t wanna come across as some dumb girl that’s easily impressed, however, I could relate to what Tony said on such a deep level, I mean it gave me the goose bump, the man is just on point. Other things stressed out during class was that less is always better, don’t talk as much, take the time to tune in your partner’s needs, emotionally & even physically. 90% of actors talk to much and don’t listen that’s why they are bad and that’s why you always see actors at audition only highlighting their own lines as if it’s the only things that matters, such selfish behavior will disconnect the actor from his partner and the script, will not be as genuine therefore making things fake. Don’t observe, to speak observe to react truthfully. I thing I get it now, at least I kind of understand that’s it’s not just about repetition and saying something cute in return, or making sure you speak back fast, but to be in tuned with your own emotions and reacting honestly. As Tony said, the foundation of acting is the reality of doing that includes really listening to your partner, thereby not missing the forest because of the trees or the leafs as brilliantly stated by Tony Savant

Moving to L.A. to study acting ?

For those that have freshly arrived in L.A. or those contemplating an acting career and wondering where to start, there are a wonderful amount of resources you can get a hold of. I highly recommend the following book: Acting is everything from Judy Kerr ( an actor’s guidebook for a successful career in L.A.). This book will cost $ 30.00 but it’s well worth it and is an authority for actors in L.A. as well as those who plan on coming out here. The resources are so extensive; she really knows her stuff and writes extensively on classes, which ones to choose, photographers in L.A., where to get your pictures duplicated, printed, her information is always backed-up by phone numbers or website! That’s my bible, I carry it every where I go. She even offers advises for foreign based actors on how to move out legally to the states, visas & alternative besides getting a green card. So if you’re dream is to act in L.A., or even study acting in L.A, make it happen, don’t procrastinate. Procrastination is your own worst enemy, that & laziness. UCLA Extension offers acting intensive programs that guarantees anyone (foreigner) a visa to come & legally study acting! Find out more on the subject on Judy Kerr’s book by googling or doing a yahoo search for : acting is everything. A must for those in L.A and those looking to move out West! Don’t be without it , it’s 634 pages of sheer acting bliss and useful information.

French agencies, a step backwards ?

So I have been corresponding with a real nice person from an acting school in Paris. I will be heading back to Paris for 2 short weeks & to visit my mom. Anyway this person was nice enough to provide name of agencies. One of them has a particular interest in bilingual actors. One thing that differs so much from agencies out here in Hollywood is that there only a few ethnic actors/actresses wow! Well as far as I am concerned, I may look white, however, I have never considered myself white. I am French North African. I am perplexed that agencies in France are not giving young minorities more chances. Another thing, all these women are 5’8 and above. While I certainly do not want to pass judgment on anyone, I am only pointing out the obvious; that is blatant disregard for minority representation in France. I will further investigate on the matter when I head to Paris, and I will be sure to post my observations on my blog. I am overly excited & filled with joy to finally have the opportunity to go back to Paris. Stay tuned for my adventures, I will keep everyone posted.

Measure of Success.

I have talked to many aspiring actors as well as professional actors lately, classmates & friends in this industry. One common denominator each one of them seems to have is that their commitment to acting is unshakable. For example, Jeremy a fellow rehearsing partner gave up everything to follow his passion; as a young & very gifted African American actor and a Phd holder with an engineering degree, he left Tennessee to pursue his dreams. I respect that so much, while many people would think his actions are insane, oddly enough I understand. His passion is acting, with so much talent and passion & sheer dedication, I truly whish him the best. For me, my sacrifices are not even a tiniest measurable to his. First off, I am married woman, and a mother of a 7 years old child. Would I be willing to give all that up or leave my family behind to pursue my dream??? My answer to this is no, never! However, I am still in it for the kill. Competition is fierce, but who cares, I am not worry about it, at least not now. I am me, unique and I can’t spend time worring about my competition. If it is meant to be, it will be. My gut feeling is telling me to go for it. The feeling I carry in my belly, that fire, those butterflies I get before I step on stage, it’s huge! Sometime I feel so little, like someone who is trying to tam a wild lion, but that challenge oddly enough is what makes me even more determined to take a bite at my dreams.

Headshots in baby !

Finally done with my headshots. I spent my morning with Darion, a cool armenian photographer in LA, well Melrose he can be found at http://www.melroseheadshots.com/. His prices are very affordable, I will recommend him to my fellow classmates. I had great time and Darion was quick to put me at ease. I explained to him, that I was shooting for strong characters, like a very serious prosecutor, so my shots were pretty much theatrical, but of course I did get the standard commercial shots as well. What a day, getting to Melrose was a pain even though I am one block away from Melrose Hills, the entire avenue was closed due to the L.A. Aids Marathon. After my headshot session, I headed over to Jeremy's house in Burbank and Germain was also there both of them are in my acting classes, both of them are also very experienced. Germain is Sag and Jermemy is Sag Eligible.. We rehearsed for about one hour, and I am finally back home ! I am so Tired, all I want to do is sleep, but before I doing that I will review once again my pictures so that I may get a few of them retouch and eventually put them on L.A. Casting. L.A. Casting is the most important marketing tool for actors & casting directors.
Anyway, I will repost only the best ones, and after that I will work on getting my final headshots printed ( about 500) should do, but since I am new, it is important for me to gain experience. So my priorities as of the next few months are to work on my craft and rehearse a lot. I won't bother with agencies until I gain some practical experience..but for now, I have to head on to bed.

Soyez vous meme- Just be yourself !

Yesterday was my fourth class at playhouse west. It seems that the more I go, the more I look forward to go back again. At school, I am like a sponge clinging on to every word Tony Savant says. Mr. Savant told us yesterday that we were not in this school to learn to act if anything Playhouse West is non-acting school; it is a school where you learn to be REAL and not a phony. The only obstacle is your ego! Wow, that’s some heavy stuff! Being real (NOT ACTING) under imaginary circumstances, is the chore of the training at playhouse West. Living the moment to the fullest under imaginary circumstance; LISTENING to your partners are chore to the student’s success. The problem is that many people learn their lines & wait in queue for their turn to show the casting director, audience. Although they are prepared & know their lines, that are faking it, that they are not themselves, they are hipsters, wanna be, not themselves. You have to be you, you, and nobody but you under imaginary circumstances, embrace, become that character & own it; TAKE CHARGE OF IT. What a class! All that being said, I have finally been assigned to an activity, so I am thrilled about it, but I must come-up with something ( a task) fairly complicated that will consume me so much that it cause me to ignore my partner ( whoever will be called on stage with me next week). Since I have nobody to rehearse with, I have to do some work, and find myself somebody to rehearse with!!

Rehearsal

Today I had holly ( a student in my class) coming over to my place, we did about one hour of repetition. I must say that I still find myself struggling with this. I feel scrutinized, I guess I have to keep working at it until that becomes second nature, but the exercise itself is confrontational in nature, and it does puts its participants on the defensive. It’s basically a wit contest but spontaneous wit.

Drama at the Playhouse !

Last night class was crazzzzzzy, repetition turned out to be full of drama, I got called a bitch by a partner assigned to me ( during stage rehearsal). It was improvisational repetition. So even though it was a excercise based on repetition, you could NOT predict what was going to come out of the other person's mouth. So this girl calls me a bitch, says I am annoying her, that she wants to slap me, and ofcourse I lashed back at her & called her bluff, I told her to bring it on !!! I am no pussy, and certainly not one to hold back. While, the training really pushes one to their limit, I really don’t think that I reached that level, but I was near to it, just as if we were really arguing in real life. At one time though things became so real, that I believe I might have mad an enemy and that this girl may be holding a grudge against me! Well of course I could also be wrong here, but this was acting after all! But after doing our stage thing, she stepped down and did not look at me in the eyes, I really think she thinks that I am bitch in real life!! lol ! This acting thing can get deep! I had fun with it. The teacher told me to just let my emotions flow, and hell broke loose, she called me annoying and a bitch, so after that I just let the cat out the bag! and what a cat indeed, call it a tiger ! I guess I can be a bitch, but she brought it out of me! I guess the exercise while being under controlled surrounding, was about letting loose and letting our emotions out as opposed to being premeditated & doing robotic idiotic repetition which was what I was doing at first…. I was also being over analytical but things became more second nature towards the end, obviously I said before the bitch within took over !

I fried my hair !!!!!!!

Damn ! I am going to have to chopp my hair ! I am truly having a bad hair day, and I am feeling crappy & pissy, exuse my french ! Merde !!!! Va faloir tout couper ! I am going to have to cut it short ! Short of being bald, that's how bad it is. This is what I get for trying to play beach girl ! Hell, I am a French Algerian, all that bleach, and blond color finally caught with me ! Now , I have to pay the price ! Willlllllll keep everyone posted !

Trouble will find you.

L.A. Gangs.

Last week turned out to be a crazy day, and this is not an understatement. I was running late to my second class at PHW ( playhouse west) and headed to the 101 North FYW to North Hollywood, I was on the off ramp exit ready to make my turn on Lankershim Blvd, when this car in front of me, kept jumping from one lane to another and getting back on my lane still in front of me just a second before hitting the gas peddle, thank god for me I saw that, and my natural reaction was to hit the break & blink my horn at this stupid girl in front of me, this girl turned out to be a group of girls, tattoos & all, I don’t wanna be profiling but they sure looked like gang members to me. Anyway one girl got out of the car ( on the freeway ramp) and pointed her fingers & simulated a handgun at me. OMG, bordelle de merde, hell no, I grabbed my cell phone & dial 911 at the speed of light, and thought to myself shit, the car has tainted windows, and could see agitation & the car bouncing on & off ( still in front of me) with this nut from hell walking towards my car, operator answered and I told the 911 dispatcher here’s the license plate number & locations, just in case I don’t make it alive. I really thought I was going to be shot! Turned out the girl took her fat ass back to the car as soon as she saw me on the phone, I know for a fact there were 3, because I could see their heads not well but counted three of these crazy fools.. I feel that if it wasn’t for my quick reaction to dial 911, gods knows where I would be right now, with all the adrenaline rush, I headed straight to acting class which I will blog my thought on that shortly… On Saturday, I decided to take my daughter who is 7 years old to Griffith Park , anyway just one block away at Normandie & Santa Monica Blvd, the entire section was closed, cops were present & Local Tv Stations as well, I thought to myself gangs again ! Probably, I bet someone got shot in a related gang crime. A few hours later back at home, at turned the Kcal 9 news , & turned out that there had been a double homicide at Normandie & Santa Monica & that it was gang related and the suspects were still out on the run………… Here’s my intake as Frenchie/North African girl from La banlieu, Paris is much safer. I don’t care how bad you think you have it in France ! C’est horrible ici, I mean you always have to watch you back out here . L.A., is the Gang Capital of the world, it does not matter where you are, you don’t have to look for trouble, trouble will find you when you least expect it. Gangs are well established, and frankly I have never had any encounters with them in the past. The people who join these gangs are for the most underprivileged black or hispanics kids who really have it hard, I mean hard !!!!! Dirt poor, poverty & presurre to survive, and feeling oppressed in the white man's world. Many of them are good kids, but you do have few of them who have no conscious & will kill for the hell of it or as part of gang initiation. While I am no expert in this, I think that one should not be so quick to put gangs down, it's the few bad rotten apples, those in my opinion are terrorists & cowards. I think in order to cure gangs, we need to look at the underlying cause, that 's POVERTY & RACISM, and pressure of surviving that pushes these underprivileged kids to join. It sad, I think that if the Government really wanted the problem to be solved they would have done it by now ! They have the resources to fix all that. I think that because we're dealing with minorities, the issues are not pressing ! and that's WRONG & so hypocritical!

Light Camera & beaucoup D'action !

Playhouse West Acting School & Theater Company

Well, I finally grabbed my courage & decided to audit a class at Playhouse West in North Hollywood; despite my commitment to attend Aaron Speiser School of acting. Based on my audit, and many great things I have heard of Playhouse West I decided to not attend Aaron Speiser School of acting. First off, in my humble opinion, Playhouse west teaches the original Meisner Method. Meisner himself taught at playhouse west for years. In addition, playhouse west is the simply the best in industry and produced (and still does) fine actors who actually get drafted right out of school into top production shows, movies, et al such as Cold case, and too many to names !!!!!!! In addition, the founder of Playhouse west is no less than Mr. Jeff Goldbum himself, you know that oh so famous actor who plays in Independence Day along Will Smith, & in Jurassic Park, the fly, and damn, just too many to names !

I started my first class yesterday, each classes are 3 hours long & take place twice a week. In addition rehearsal between classes is mandatory, the training is intense and we are also automatically eligible to be drafted directly into Playhouse West own theatrical company, yes! PHW (playhouse West) has its own theatrical company which has produced hit plays widely acclaimed by newspaper such as the L.A Times & New York Times. One unique feature of PHS is that it’s one of the very FEW schools to have its own theatrical company in the U.S. Anyway, getting back to my first day at PHW. ..

I must say that I had the butterflies and was hoping that Mr. Tony Savant would not call my name since I was the newest person in class, I was really hopping that, but surely enough, what do you know, my name got called out ! I was instructed to step on stage & practice with this guy also fairly knew by the name of Patrick, Patrick by the way has also been assigned as my rehearsed buddy! It is obvious that I must have made a FOOL out of myself, there, with no PRIOR experience whatsoever. The exercise was so raw yet so basic. My job was to simply REPEAT whatever my partner said, but not just imitate rather listening and living in the moment as opposed to repeating & acting. Five minutes later, I went back to my seat, embarrassed to say the least. Thinking back on it, I was so NERVOUS, all these people looking at me, the frenchie & all and feeling as if I was naked. I could hear many voices in my head, like girl you crasy, what are you doing on that stage just second-guessing myself. My shoulders were stiff ! Man ! C’est vraiment incroyable, it’s incredible. 3 Hours of class, the information throughout the class was totally overwhelming, to add salt to injury, I had a migraine, and half the stuff mad sense, however, the rest, just felt like learning a new language !! Just lost in Translation, raw, naked emotions, feeling exposed, vulnerable, a real emotional roller coaster..
Quelle experience !