Supporting the Indie Projects You Have Acted In

So I've come across a new (for me) aspiring/struggling actor issue; what is enough when it comes to supporting all the indie projects you've worked in? By this statement, I mean a couple of things. The first is about wanting to support the films financially even though you are still a mostly always broke struggling actor. The second is about promoting your projects on social media and risking annoying people by constantly asking for their support and by constantly talking about your work.

When I speak about financially supporting the films you are involved in, I'm mostly referring to donating to fundraising campaigns like Indigogo or Kickstarter. I think both of these sites are a great idea. I love having the opportunity to to help get a film I've worked in produced, edited, or submitted to film festivals. The problem is that I am never able to give more than an average of $10.00-15.00. Even that amount can be pushing it at times for me. I have to admit that I usually feel guilty that I can't give more. But really, as struggling actors who may not even be getting paid for the project, is it necessary to donate? I wonder if directors really expect us to. And on top of that, if you are an actor, you probably have a lot of artist friends also involved in projects and you would like to show support to them as well. Kickstarter and Indigogo are fairly new, so this isn't something actors had to deal with a few years ago unless you were investing in or producing the project yourself. I feel like it is yet another expense to add to the list of many things we already have to invest in. It can also get a little stressful worrying about how much you should or can afford to give. Is it enough that you already gave your time, talent, and image?

Financial support can also mean purchasing the DVD of the film or any related merchandise. Are you obligated to do so? After all, aren't you expecting your friends and family to buy it? Shouldn't you light the way and show you really believe in the project and believe that it is worth the money? (Although to me it is very exciting to purchase a DVD of a movie which you were actually in.)

I personally feel it is important to try and give what you can. But keep in mind that most people probably understand that if you are an artist--and not yet known--you probably have limited funds available. And if you absolutely can't spare anything at the time, I don't think you should feel guilty. You will probably have a chance to donate at another time or show support in another way.

Which brings to me the second type of support I was talking about, sharing on social media. You know, asking friends, family, and followers to watch the trailers/clips, "like" the films's Facebook/IMDB pages, and also donate money. This is the quickest and easiest way to show your support for something you've worked in. But how do you give equal attention to each of your projects without getting on everyone's nerves? Especially while continuing to share your own personal things like reels, headshots, blogs (wink, wink). One thing I try to do is spread out the message over all the different sites and not necessarily at the same time. I may tweet it in the morning, and share it on Facebook in the afternoon. Or I may share something on Twitter much more often than I post the same info on Facebook. Sometimes it's one or the other and that's it. And don't forget Instagram, Tumblr, and Google+! Also, if it's my personal Facebook page I try not to push it too much and may not share every single thing I am working in; I share only things that are extra exciting. On a fan page though, people expect to hear all of your acting updates and news so you should post all of your projects there. I do fear coming across as obnoxious if I'm working in a lot at the moment, but I guess the bottom line is that I am an actress. Promoting my projects is part of what I do. A person can always choose if they don't wish to follow me any more or be friends. I think for the most part, those who really care like to see that you are working hard towards your dream.

These are just a couple more ways in which the industry has changed over the past few years. I think actors should embrace these opportunities as not only a way to support the film (that includes director, cast, crew) but also as a way to help get your own name out there. Unless it is a big budget Hollywood project, you donating even a small amount to a production or sharing it with your friends/connections may make a big difference in the life of a film.

Actresses who Inspire Me: Bette Davis

I am sad (and embarrassed) to say that I only discovered the incredible Miss Bette Davis within the past couple years. I'm not really sure how this happened since as a young child watching classic films was one of my two favorite past times. (The other was reading.) I remember one Saturday afternoon a neighborhood friend had asked me to come out and play but I "just couldn't" because Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn was on and it was absolutely my favorite movie. I was about 11 years old. So yes, I am surprised that I am just discovering this dynamic screen legend whose talent was seen in over 100 films, who was nominated for ten Oscars, who won two of them, and who is the epitome of what it means to be a star. Maybe as a child films like Funny Face appealed to me more at the time because they seemed more colorful. Of course, I've always known of Bette Davis, how could I not. I knew that she was one of the most famous Hollywood actresses of all time and that she was a classic beauty known for her eyes. But I never really knew the extent of her talent or the range of her work. 

When I watch Bette Davis on screen I am just in awe of her talent, personality, and unique beauty. I cannot change the channel when one of her movies is on. (I'm sorry if all that sounds cliche or corny, but it's true and I don't know how else to say it.) Regardless of any negative aspects of her personal life that have emerged over the years and her reputation for being "tough," she was an inspiring woman on and off screen. She fought hard to get the roles that she knew she deserved. She was always herself, she had strength, she had deep passion for acting, and she knew she was great. All aspiring actresses should look into her story of how she fought Warner Brothers and as a result she started receiving roles that were more challenging than the ones they had wanted to cast her in. Miss Davis knew her worth and didn't settle. At the same time, she knew she wasn't perfect and never pretended to be. 

The first movie I ever saw her in was Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. She was in her 50's and even though I had not yet seen her younger work, I was captivated. Right away I understood the reason why she was (and still is) a mega star. It's so many things; her voice, her strength, her skill, her looks. After watching many of her films (my favorite so far is All About Eve), I can say that her characters are fully developed and she is absolutely uninhibited. There are many actresses whom I admire who are just as talented in acting as Bette Davis and maybe some who are even as captivating, but for me, there is something powerful about her that I don't see in others. 

After reading about her and recently watching an interview she did for the Dick Cavett Show back in 1971, it seems that Miss Davis and I have many opposing philosophies on life; on what is right and what is wrong. 

It is interesting for me to imagine the two of us meeting. I think from her perspective she would see me as too nice and perhaps naive. 

Still, there are many ways in which I feel I relate to her or hope to be like her. For an actress who rose to fame during the era of high Hollywood glamour and true leading ladies, she wasn't afraid to play characters who weren't necessarily likable. She wasn't afraid to do films that were dark or even a little strange (The Nanny, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane). 

Miss Davis believed that acting actually shouldn't be so natural that it is as if you are just being yourself. She didn't even believe in ad libbing

during a scene. Her reasoning being that people go see movies in order to get away from real life. (Source-Dick Cavett interview 1971.)

"Acting should be bigger than life. Scripts should be bigger than life. It should all be bigger than life."-Bette Davis

I love this quote and understand completely why she felt this way. In fact, when I was young I thought acting on screen was supposed to be glamorous, stylized, dramatic, and not like real life. I would often try to imitate actresses from classic films--their voices, their expressions--because I thought if I were like them that would mean I was a great actress. I just thought these actresses were way better than actresses of today. I didn't realize yet that when acting I was supposed to bring myself to the character. Of course it isn't true that that the actresses of today are not as talented. The style of film has just changed. Actually, today's movies allow actors to give much more in depth performances because now we are more focused on subtleties. But ANWAYS, the point is that it was the actresses of classic film who inspired my acting once I chose that profession. It still is. There are many incredible actresses today whose talent amazes me, but when I feel discouraged, I can only feel reignited by watching classic film stars. 

"You know what I'm going to have

on my gravestone? 'She did it the hard way.'"-Bette Davis

And that is exactly what it says on her tombstone. Integrity was important to her. I sometimes feel that I am doing "it the hard way." I'm sure that means something different for everybody. We all have different challenges and different boundaries. 

For me, it means upholding my faith in Jesus Christ above my acting career. That doesn't mean I will only do "Christian" films or only play "saintly" characters (I love dark, gritty, strange films) but it does mean I myself won't curse, take the Lord's name in vain, or do any nudity. Making a career out of acting is hard, and my decisions to not do those things make it even harder. 

Lately, I have been going through one of my down times in my acting career. This one has lasted longer than normal. Not just because I haven't been getting many auditions (I can deal with that at the moment because aside from the past few weeks, I've been working in quite a few projects), but because I just haven't felt like doing anything needed to get more auditions. I also haven't felt like blogging or being on social media. I guess it is a sort of depression. Part of it is from the fact that juggling my last few films with each other AND with my day job really drained me this time. It is over and done with now, but even thinking about it makes my heart beat faster and gives me a sick feeling in my tummy. (I'm happy and grateful for those parts, but it was very hard to balance it all at once.)

The other night I was flipping through the channels and came across the movie Dark Victory starring of course, Bette Davis. It was at the end of the film, but just seeing her in the last scene made me immediately say to myself "I have to keep going." It made feel happy about the work I have done so far but also made me want to start working hard again so I can become better. It brought back the hope that achieving my dreams is possible. It made me remember why I love acting and chose to be an actress in the first place. As I said before, there is certainly something powerful about Miss Davis. 

Some of My Favorite Bette Davis Quotes:

"I will not retire while I've still got my legs and my make-up box."

"Attempt the impossible to improve your work."

"To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over a lonely labor, to be given a chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy."

"Hollywood always wanted me to be pretty, but I fought for realism."

"Psychoanalysis. Almost went three times-almost. Then I decided what was peculiar about me was probably what made me successful. I've seen some very talented actors go into analysis and really lose it. "

"Good actors I've worked with with all started out making faces in a mirror, and you keep making faces all your life."

"I am just too much."

(Quotes were taken from many various websites.)

                                          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA8xVXVmM0w

Love this clip from her interview with Dick Cavett in 1971. It shows her personality and how funny she was.

One of my recent short films, Sarah's Silence

Hello Everyone!!

I am sharing a short film I recently worked in called Sarah's Silence. The producers are currently submitting the film to several festivals. One of them is called the Once a Week Online Film Festival. In order to win the Audience Choice Award, we need to have the most shares. Please visit, watch, and share the film from it's festival page. Thanks so much!!!

http://www.onceaweekfilmfest.com/sarahs-silence

Dark Romance

Everyone be sure to check out Dark Romance, a film I acted in that was part of the 48 Hour Film Festival NYC 2013. Teams have two days to write, shoot, and edit a film. I had so much fun!!
I was told I was "the perfect combination of sweet and creepy."
Thanks for watching!
Watch here: http://vimeo.com/67556332

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt2986682/

As an Actor, is it Really Possible to Stay Humble WhilePromotingYourself?

The funny thing about being an actor is that you have to promote yourself. If you are pursuing acting as a career there is so much more to it than reading a script or playing a character. If this is to be your career, so much of your time is actually spent on the business side of things. There is just no way around it. Managing the business side of acting is what is will get you your next role or get you to the next level.

This includes promoting yourself. Not just by submitting to casting notices or attending showcases. This day and age it also means utilizing social media to share your work. It's actually a beautiful thing for an actor or anyone who runs a business. To be on the internet, your talents and brand accessible to the whole world at any time. But at what point is it too much? Does it eventually go to your head?

I'm having a lot of fun with social media, but it took me a loonngg time to embrace this side of being an actor. I like to use it to update my friends and those who are interested on my current projects. I may post a link my reel or me acting in a scene. I will post my blog or pictures from on-set. But before I hit the post/send/publish button, I always wonder "am I acting like I'm "all that?"" Mind you, when I see other actors or artists posting their updates or victories, I don't see them as thinking they are "all that." I see that they are simply sharing something that they are excited about and I support them. But when it comes to myself I always hesitate before I publish something.

Although I am confident in who I am and confident in my talent, I never would want anyone to think that I think I'm better than others. There is a difference between inner peace with who you are and downright cockiness. I never want to seem as though I am praising myself or bragging about my accomplishments. (And once again, when others post what they have achieved I don't see them as bragging.) I never want to people to be annoyed because they think I am posting to much. And I always want to stay humble.

There is such a fine line. It's so easy for actors to be narcissistic. I believe it's inside of all of us. So how do you promote yourself but also stay humble? Because as actors we do have to share our talent and put ourselves out there. It's part of our job. Promoting your work can open up unseen doors, and also help keep you focused and energized when things are slow.

For me, knowing and reflecting on the following things helps keep me grounded:

1) That (I believe) every opportunity I have in this career, my talent, and my purpose come from God.

2) Acting is actually not the most important thing in the world. (Even though I have a tendency to obsess, and I mean literally obsess, over it.)

3) You may be "on top" right now but soon things may slow down for awhile. And during your "down time" although things may be slow for you, other people you know are probably doing very well and reaching milestones you have not even made yet. If you don't stay humble this could destroy you and everything you have worked so hard for.

4) It's important to be a blessing for others by supporting their dreams and being genuinely happy for them. While you are hoping to get likes/comments/views on your posts and pages, don't forget to take time to do the same for others. And do it because you really want to. Not because you expect something in return.

5) Realizing that you are not the most talented person in the world. (Or the funniest, or the smartest, or the best-looking, or the most charming.)

6) Making sure you don't forget to thank everyone for their support. I think being on social media can be very overwhelming at times (um hello, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr...) and when you are busy it can be hard to keep track of comments and requests and posts. I know I am not perfect when it comes to replying, but I honestly try my best. It's important to set aside time just to thank people. I try my best because I truly am grateful and you should always show someone how grateful you are for them and their support.

I still feel funny sometimes about promoting myself. I guess maybe I always will a little. As for worrying if anyone thinks I post too much, I guess I have to do what I have to do. I worry more about whether or not it makes someone feel bad if things are slow for them at the moment. I know how that can sting. Not sure how to handle that one. I do think it is important to be sensitive to others, but also it's important to not be afraid to be who you are. I guess in a situation like that its extra important to look deep inside and make sure your heart is in the right place. If you feel a nudging not to post something at a particular time, then wait.

I'm assuming that there are other aspiring actors out there struggling with the idea of having to promote themselves as well. It's all about finding balance. I feel it's okay as long as you are just sharing and not speaking about "how talented you think you are," or "how great you think you are." Let others speak about awesome you are at what you do. And when they do, be gracious. When it comes to how often you should post, that will depend on you and your brand. Do what comes naturally. Make sure it isn't forced and that it is something you genuinely want to say or share. I personally don't think much of it when others post pretty frequently. For me, I try to keep it somewhere in the middle.

And don't forget: sometimes you don't need to give away all the details or talk too much about specific projects you are working on. Sometimes if you have something extra special in the works, it's best to keep it quiet until the right time.

So, is it possible to really stay humble while promoting yourself? I think so. Even if sometimes we do need little reminders. ;-)

When it Rains it Pours

I have learned to never get too upset or complain when you feel like things are going slow. Even when you feel like you are gonna go crazy if you go another day without getting any response from your casting submissions. If acting is truly want you want to do and you have faith and stay consistently working towards it things will always pick back up.

I recently went two and a half months exactly without getting any auditions. I was submitting everyday and definitely had moments when I was wondering what the heck was wrong with me. But I stayed the course and finally got asked to audition for a role in a NYU student production. It was for a small project- a scene to be filmed in the school's three camera TV studio. I've done a couple of these in the past, and they usually only take an hour or two to shoot. But the script was so much fun and I knew I could bring something to either of the two characters I was reading for. I decided to wholeheartedly audition for the production and just to have fun with it. I got the part!! Yes, a student production, but I have said before that sometimes it the smaller projects that really keep you going and give you an extra boost when things seem slow. The scene was comedic, and since I have done mostly dramatic roles, I really got a lot out of this part. And of course I met some amazing people along the way.

That was the middle of April. Since then, I have been blessed to have worked in several projects and have a couple of great ones in store for the next month. In the past month or so I have also worked in two web-series, a short film, and a NYU audio drama (got a nice clip from that to ad my VoiceOver reel). This upcoming month I will be working with a team for the 48hr Film Festival, and I booked a great supporting role in an indie comedy pilot. I'm also teaming up with a very talented director and another actor, also very talented, to work on a scene together that will be shot and posted on-line. Next weekend I will be attending the premiere party for Joe Ciminera's "The Library." AND I'm finally creating a YouTube channel featuring clips from the projects I've done. So needless to say I am currently busy, busy, busy. I thank the Lord for all of these opportunities and intend to enjoy this busy period while it while it lasts. :-)

The moral of this story? Of course: never give up, be patient, be persistent, be consistent, and have faith that the slow times are as much a part of the process as the busy times. If you choose to spend the slow times wisely, you will be overwhelmingly busy before you know it!

Please feel free to share with me your latest projects in the comments section!!

The Skype Audition Take Two-My Second Experience

So a few months ago (well, back in July actually, I honestly didn't realize that much time went by), I wrote a post about my first Skype audition. Basically, I wrote about the experience and how bad it was and what I learned to help make the next one better. Well, I just had my second audition via Skype today and I thought I would do a follow up post comparing this time to the first. As in, did I follow my own advice and how did it feel this time?

My original post about Skype auditions seems to be my most popular post. I've researched them as well and I've only found a few good articles about the subject even though it is becoming more and more popular amongst casting directors. So hopefully this post--written from the perspective of a struggling actress who is also new to Skype auditions--will help someone out there to feel better prepared and more comfortable before their first, or even second or third, Skype audition.

Needless to say, today's audition went much smoother than the first. I gave myself plenty of time to test the camera, lighting, and audio. I made sure my makeup and wardrobe translated well on-screen. I framed myself and set my webcam in just the right position well before time. I made sure my cat was far out of the way. The thing that helped me to feel the most confident though, was practicing my lines several times on the web cam. Ten minutes before the scheduled call, I made sure the apartment was silent and waited calmly in front of my computer for the moment so I would feel completely prepared. Yes, I was anxious and a little nervous, BUT, this time around I felt confident, comfortable, and was ready to have some fun.

The thing that gave me the most anxiety when doing a Skype audition, was where do I look? At the camera? At the screen? Both? Whenever I've done a video audition, if I don't have a reader or if it is a monologue or copy, I've always read straight to the camera. If I have a reader, I look at the reader.

Well, I also tested this beforehand to see which looked better. I rationalized that if I were at the studio auditioning I would be looking at the reader, not at the camera. So, check one. As for the introduction portion, I planned to look directly at the camera, so from casting's perspective I would be looking right at them. But, when looking at myself on the screen prior, I saw that it did actually appear as though I was looking at the camera. Maybe it worked that way because of the position/height of the screen/computer and how I was standing. So, I decided during the introductions I would go ahead and look at their image on the screen so I would feel more natural and comfortable. I hope it looked okay. (Geez, I must sound like such a newbie. I guess in many ways I still am.) I don't think it's expected to be perfect, but you always want to make it the most effective it can be.

This time around, I also was more conscious of keeping my speaking volume high enough (I do not have a fancy special microphone, although now I am thinking of investing in one) and I also made sure my energy level stayed consistent throughout the entire audition. Especially since the casting was for a scripted comedy.

Overall, I am completely happy with how the audition went. And also a little proud of myself for truly utilizing everything thing I learned from my first Skype audition. Time to let this one go and focus on my next two auditions which are scheduled for tomorrow. (No, they won't be through Skpe.) :)~

UPDATE May 13, 2016

I just want to clarify about to where to look when auditioning on camera. Since I wrote this post, I've learned when doing an on-camera audition you should always direct your lines a little to the side of the camera or right above. (Unless it's a commercial audition.)