character actress launching

Stories on Thursday

2012-02-09T21:50:00.000-08:00

On Thursday mornings, no matter how tired I think I am, I just bound out of bed, do ablutions, and make my green tea, knowing that I have to get to storytelling class on time, or else. And, I do. Today was so enchanting because we had five stories told in class - one sage and wise, by a funny guy, adapted from a Chinese myth about a farmer and his horses; another astounding saga by a serious and

Improvisation Performance Lab

2012-02-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

Tonight's surprise was being invited to attend showcase night at Berkeley Rep's Improvisation Performance Lab, where improv students, taking cues from the audience in the Berkeley Rep's private classroom, act out a series of wacky, surreal scenes. The agile blonde with curly hair, who morphed from date-night seductress to alien at home on another planet serving tea to visitors from an American

Somewhere between silence and success....

2012-02-08T17:11:00.001-08:00

I live somewhere between silence and success at the moment. Monday morning I did an audition for a corporate video, and last week I submitted my full-costume and southern-accented audition video for the feature film. Silence. Then, I had two interviews for non-thespian jobs, and had an intriguing phone call about more possible work. The latter are in play, but emotionally, I just don't think

Thoughts on the day

2012-02-02T22:14:00.000-08:00

Overslept. Ran to my storytelling class at 10 AM, with neither orange juice nor green tea, nor a drop of coffee in my bod. Had a Ricola when we had a break. Plan had been to get up early, work slowly on my layered make-up, so that by 1 PM, when I was to meet my director at the house to shoot my stylized audition piece, at least I'd have that much ready. It was not to be. For a moment, I debated

SAG and AFTRA probably will merge soon

2012-01-30T13:04:00.001-08:00

How will it change the landscape for non-union actors? It will not make it easier or less expensive to join, I can tell you that. And, there will probably be a rush to join AFTRA before the merger is complete, as AFTRA only requires cash, rather than vouchers, etc.Read more about the probable merger of SAG and AFTRA athttp://www.sag.org/

Writing an analog monologue

2012-01-29T19:47:00.001-08:00

I was writing my new monologue today, using pen and paper, at my local cafe, in a small notebook bought at the Berkeley reuse and recycling center on Telegraph, where I recently splurged on 4 years' worth of stationery for about $7.50. There's something about his process of writing by hand, using a pen, forced to meet the paper, that changes what is being said and how one says it. Analog mind,

How theater helped expose atrocity in manufacturing

2012-01-27T11:12:00.001-08:00

On January 24, 2011 I posted a blog comment about Mike Daisy's brilliant one-man show, "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs" at the Berkeley Rep, where Mike exposed what it was truly like to work for Foxconn, one of the primary subcontractors for Apple. http://characteractress.blogspot.com/search?q=Mike+DaisyThe atrocious conditions suffered by workers that fuel production of iPhones, iPads,

The lure of storytelling at The Marsh

2012-01-24T23:23:00.000-08:00

When you come home from an evening of emotional and intellectual satisfaction...so hard to wind down. I invited a friend to meet me at The Marsh in Berkeley tonight for the monthly Tell it on Tuesday, and from now on, whenever I mention storytelling - she will know what I'm talkin' about!Here's tonight's roster:Harry Richard Hall on guitar- not fair. This guy's got talent, but we were all talking

Old blog posts

2012-01-23T21:15:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I check out what people are reading on my blog. Today I saw that someone had checked out my post of Saturday, August 29, 2009"Sag-Eligible in Elk Grove"Over 2 years later I'm amazed that the producer of the film I auditioned for that day, "A Detour in Life," Corey Haim, died so young, and I, the unknown actress in progress, remain somehow optimistic about my own prospects. Read that

Storyteller

2012-01-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

Director Dan Carlson recorded my video of a short story today. It will be uploaded onto his new site for talent, www.talent23.com"Sleepless Nights: a Real Estate Story" began as a 14-minute piece in class at Stagebridge, then I got it down to 10 minutes, and yesterday, rehearsing in my kitchen, I got it down to about 5 and a half minutes before my memory card ran out. Today, it came in at 4

Invited to audition and home rehearsals

2012-01-20T14:34:00.000-08:00

Invited to audition for a feature film about a major bloody aspect of American history. First, they want to see my audition video. I have sides to study and an accent to hone. All this to be done in next two weeks. Meanwhile, I've been rehearsing my storytelling, a piece I've been working on for awhile, using my Panasonic Lumix 10X with video capability. I don't know why I waited to long to use

In my editor's hands

2012-01-17T21:14:00.001-08:00

The feeling must be akin to handing your child over to a nanny for the first time: to hand over all your video clips to a new editor, to discuss what one would love to see, and then a bit about sensibility, style, and ...then to let it all go. Did that yesterday. So excited to be in this process after three years of acting. He said I have a lot of stuff for someone so new.

Lining things up

2012-01-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy January so far. I joined Theater Bay Area in the hopes of widening my circle of active theater workers in search of more opportunities. http://www.theatrebayarea.org/This provides an additional listing for my acting resume as well as my job-job resume. TBA offers lots of great discounts, including a discount for healthcare, for Zipcar, and for a variety of local events.I started

Next level of storytelling

2012-01-12T22:55:00.000-08:00

My goal is to reach a new level of storytelling, refining the basics I have learned by telling so far, where I learned how to tell a traditional tale (a fairy tale) and a personal one (about a prophetic dream). After taking 12 wonderful, informative weeks of Introduction to the Art of Storytelling at Stagebridge in Oakland, today I began my new class with Kirk Waller, Intermediate

Ghost Light Appreciation

2012-01-12T01:43:00.000-08:00

Saw the striking new play, "Ghost Light" at Berkeley Rep by Tony Taccone tonight. Directed by the versatile, steeped in theater Jonathan Moscone. All about a boy (Jon, the boy, is played by the wonderful Tyler James Myers) dealing with the murder of his father, former San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. The boy takes over 30 years to process and come to terms with that one moment when his famous

Domani

2012-01-10T21:03:00.001-08:00

Audition in S. F. for big V.O. gig tomorrow. It's all about my honey voice. Think sweet, positive thoughts for me.

Happy New Year

2012-01-05T23:00:00.001-08:00

It's been over a month since I've posted anything here. For 10 weeks I was a slave to the corporation, and...enough said. I'm back, folks. Tasks ahead include getting new head shots, editing my reel from the accumulation of clips I finally have gathered, and getting going on more auditions, all kinds. Now that I'm a member of Theater Bay Area I'll also be getting back up to date on local theater

What they're saying...

2011-11-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

Kind words from my insiders regarding several clips I shared of character Elena..."Thanks for sending...and for doing this hugely important work of training the frontline helping professionals. You convey this character's needs, vulnerabilities, and hopes so well, Lise." K. M."It's interesting to see you play a part so reversed from your bell-shaped curve---such a unique talent."P.B.<!--[if gte

Telling my personal story in class

2011-11-19T18:35:00.000-08:00

Stagebridge classes are held at the First Congregational Church of Oakland.On Friday I was the first in my Art of Storytelling class at Stagebridge to tell a personal story. By now we have all told our fairytales a couple of times, and this is our next phase. We have heard a modern version of "Hansel and Gretel" told as "Harold and Maud," a Native American creation myth based on a story of a hawk

Day O

2011-11-19T17:56:00.000-08:00

<!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Reeling it all in

2011-11-17T19:42:00.001-08:00

Some clips from a recent shoot have come in. I play Elena, an alcoholic grandmother from Mexico in her 60s and living in San Francisco. Poor, love deprived, and in need of social services, she has shut down. See an episode in the sidebar at left. At various meetings with her social worker (Christina Roppo Soares) Elena evolves, and finally, things appear to have improved for her. Thanks to

Exclamation point

2011-11-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

Finally got a copy of my recently produced Spanish-language TV commercial, my second commercial shot in L. A. Amazed that it worked as well as it did. I only found one word pronounced in an American accent, and I believe it's allowable, as it's a proper noun.Two more recent clips on their way soon...then I can finally engage a video editor to create my reel.How long has this taken? Three years.

Fab storyteller

2011-11-06T20:22:00.001-08:00

Plugging away at the day job, inattentive to my acting blog for awhile. But, I must share this: we had a magnificent visitor to our Art of Storytelling class last week at Stagebridge. She is Linda Gorham, who has been doing this for 20 years, to great success.http://www.lindagorham.com/index.htmlWhat makes her so good? She is finely attuned to her audience. Her delivery is totally interactive.

Before I forget my password...

2011-10-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

Miss me? I miss my blog, too, and before I forget my password, I must note that this body, this soul, this mind, these typing fingers, neatly manicured, embodied by this actress, have all taken a real day job in a company town, in order to continue paying the rent. Rise at 6 a.m. or earlier, put on face and suit, drink juice and down vitamins, then drive, baby, drive. Smile. Listen. Think.

Background anthem

2011-10-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

Click the title above to see a great a parody of Eminem's "Lose Yourself." All about what it's like to work background - a parody music video. I laughed out loud seeing it, having recently seen a clip for an Internet commercial where all of us involved were like a still life. Posted on YouTube by EastCoastExports.