It's been a slow last couple of weeks for me. But at this time of year, it's a welcomed break from the normal hustle bustle of Hollywood. I've only had one audition in the last two weeks, so I've been taking the time to update my acting reel and other "marketing materials" get into a new acting class, and work with my Improv group, Dirty Business.
So I got involved with Dirty Business a few months ago. Everyone in the group is a member of UCB (Upright Citizen's Brigade) in Hollywood. The best way to describe our Improv team is a rag-a-matag group of misfits who enjoy being on stage playing uncomfortable characters that say off the wall things. Basically-we're you're high school drama department all grown up and wearing very trendy eyeglasses. Our coach is Jacob Reed-a smart, quick witted comedian who somehow keeps our energetic bunch focused enough to work "The Harold" (a longform Improv technique developed by Del Close). I've really been having a blast getting to know my teammates. Every one of them is unique and funny in their own way. They definitely keep me on my toes and working hard to stay on my game.
I also just starting taking a commercial acting class with Mike Pointer. My actor friends have been telling me about this class for years. But I've always been too busy working on some project or another. So I guess being an out of work actress does have it's advantages because I'm SO happy I took Mike's class! He's not just an acting teacher, he's like a motivational speaker, mind & body fitness guru and life coach all wrapped into one. You see, commercial acting is very different then film and tv acting. Acting for commercials is more personality driven, similar to hosting. It's all about being upbeat, smiley and selling, selling, selling. Mike has given me some excellent pointers on how to feel comfortable walking into a commercial audition, what to wear, how to connect with the casting directors before and after the audition and how to bring life to lines of commercial copy.
Here's my video from the first day of class. It's a "personality question" that commercial casting directors will often ask when you get in front of the camera. Sometimes, the question will be totally random and have nothing to do with the product. They just want to see how at ease you are answering in front of a camera and a room full of strangers.
During the second week's class, Mike had us get up and read some ICE COLD copy. That means, we picked up the paper and read it right in front of the camera without being given a minute to review it. Remember, this was the first time I laid eyes on the copy. Don't judge me.
Last week, I also decided to sit in on a taping of Wayne Brady's game show, "Let's Make a Deal". It was a fun experience, but probably would have been even more fun if I went with a friend or family member visiting L.A. for the first time. The audience members have to dress up in costumes. As we stood in line to get in to the studio, it was like being at a Halloween party for an Alcoholics Anonymous support group. Way too many adults dressed up like freaks in the middle of the day without a drop of booze to numb the awkwardness.
I didn't get chosen to Make a Deal, but Wayne played one of the fast cash games with me at the end of the show. We played rock, paper, scissors and I lost. For a brief second, I imagined what would happen if I kicked Wayne Brady in the ass when he walked away with all that cash in his hand. I'd probably end up in CBS Studio jail. I was wearing a cheerleading uniform as my costume, so who knows WHAT they would have done to me in there...
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