Archive for the 'Goals' Category
Since everybody has their New Year’s Resolution posted, I have to jump on the bandwagon and post it also. I feel the pressure from my friends and family already and it’s only the 1st. 
- Book a Commercial
- Book a Film (union and paid)
- Book a Stage performance
- Write a Book (My husband believes that I can do this and he is supporting me and inspiring me all the way)
- Write a script/screenplay (Cindy inspires me to do this and she will hold me to it. No way to back out of this one)
- Finish the CERT 3 ER course (I’ve been waiting for this course for 1 1/2 years)
- Write for Urban Velo (my favorite cycling zine)
- Learn to sing and play the guitar (in public - this is the scariest resolution of all!)
- Inspire some people to get out of their cars and walk, bike or take transit
Goals | 1.01.2008 12:12 | No Comments
When I started doing theater in LA, my only wish was to get the next gig, to get cast. I auditioned weekly in neighborhood theaters, across town and across the city.
After doing theater for a few years, my wish extended to belong to a theater company. I didn’t want to have to drive around anymore. I wanted to find a theater locally that had a good reputation, that had great actors and directors and that produced meaningful plays.
I started going to different theaters weekly, seeing plays, checking them out on-line and looking at their past reviews. I was asking friends about which theaters they liked and I got to meet some board members to find out about their policies and about their community participation.
Some people said they will help me get into their company and some said they will refer me. The people who offered to help, didn’t and the referrals from the others never happened. Some theater companies moved out of town because the rent became too high and some theaters closed.
It was not easy to find something local that had all the things that I valued in a community theater. I was aware that if I was to join a company I had to like the members, the productions, the neighborhood, and I had to be willing to put in company time…And of course they had to like me as well and I would have to pass the audition!
I auditioned for one company that I liked. The audition was a great experience but I didn’t get in. After my audition I heard from every person that knew this company that I should be glad that I didn’t get in. Members as well as non-members were walking away from it because the company lost it’s original mandate, it’s creative mojo, and they didn’t treat their members well.
I got discouraged because I thought that the company was good. I did my research, watched their plays, looked up all their history on-line and I realized that I didn’t know anything about the company. I decided that I’m not going to audition for a company anymore. But my goal was still to join a community theater, but only after working with them on a production.
My wish was still the same but I changed how I would go about joining. I started auditioning for theater companies instead of for independent productions. And luck came my way…
A director/actor friend of mine, with whom I worked with 6 years ago, called me and invited me to be in the play that he was about to direct for a young theater company in Burbank, called SkyPilot Theater Company. The play was TAKING SIDES by Ronald Harwood. Mike, the director, gave me the script and told me that I can choose either of the female roles. I read the play, loved every word of it and chose the role of Emmi Straube.
We rehearsed for one and a half months, days, nights, and weekends and I fell in love with the actors and with the company. I wanted to be part of the SkyPilot Theatre! I wanted to be associated with them and I wanted to be amongst these amazing actors for many more productions!
I worked my ass off. I promoted the play, brought in people, even organized a bike ride to fill the seats and to show my friends how awesome this company was. I built the company a website and I posted the production on several theater related sites for free. I made myself available whenever they needed me. I worked like I was obsessed and it paid off.
After the play ended, one of the producers asked me if I was interested in joining the Company. I tried to stay cool and just told him that I’ll think about it, but before I could finish the sentence I jumped into his arms and said “Yes! Yes! I would love to!”
I can’t tell you how happy I am about becoming a member of the SkyPilot Theatre Company! I’m ecstatic! I’m proud because I worked hard and I earned my Membership. I’m overwhelmed to be amongst these talented actors who have a vision and the passion to work on stage. I’m honored and I’m thankful for them for seeing my passion, my love, my dedication and my talent to invite me to to make my wish come true!
Goals | 13.12.2007 11:32 | No Comments
Photography by Jean-Philippe DeFaut for The New York Times
Last Thursday I went to the screening of “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” This screening was at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre. Ronald Harwood adapted the book and since I’m in one of his plays (TAKING SIDES) I had to meet him and invite him to the play.
I almost didn’t see the invitation in my inbox but thanks to James Sharpe, the lead in the play, he sent out an email to ask us cast and crew to go. So I jumped on the opportunity and I rsvp’d and went to the screening.
I thought that there would be a q&a after the screening and I’ll get to see what he looks like and then approach him on stage. But there was no q&a and I had no idea how to find him.
After the screening there was mingling and desert in the lobby and the patio. There were so many people, how could I find him? Well, I walked up to a photographer and hoped that he would know. And indeed he was very helpful and he showed me Ronald Harwood’s photo on his camera screen. Then he introduced me to someone who showed me where Ronald was.
And so I met Mr. Harwood, shook his hand. I told him how great the play was coming along and how honored we would be if he could come out and watch it. Unfortunately he said he was busy but he would have loved to come, would we have invited him earlier. Bummer.
I still handed him the envelop I brought along with the invite in it and with my headshot and contact info. And the next morning he called me. That was a huge surprise! He called me twice. He didn’t want to leave a message, so he called me until he could get a hold of me.
When I picked up the phone, he thanked me for getting him the invitation, for coming out to the screening to meet him. Again, he said he’ll be flying to NY and he wont be able to come but he wishes our cast all the Best and much success for the rest of the run.
What a great man! And what a great experience. I am grateful for the man who writes things that matter and I was honored to have met him.
Goals, Performances, Taking Sides | 12.11.2007 16:22 | No Comments
I got cast in the stage play/reading of “Voices From Chornobyl” that will be performing at the EdgeFest on Saturday, June 30th. (Yes, it is spelled with an “o” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chornobyl), it wasn’t a mistake.)
We had our first rehearsal last night and the director Cindy Marie Jenkins is pretty amazing. I haven’t seen a director who gives this much homework to their actors. I don’t think it’s bad. I thinks it very, very cool.
I know, that most of the research the actors do themselves however, I did some plays and films that had historical significance, and non of the directors ever bothered with details. In my experience, it was always up to the actor to gather background info. Or not.
But Cindy had a big pile of paper for us to take home and read over (and yes, all the paper was recycled, with old scripts on the back side! I love her for that!)
She gave us background on the play - The original book was written by Svetlana Alexievich and translated into English in 1999. Cindy Marie Jenkins adapted it and had the first reading at the Fountain Theatre, Hollywood, in 2005 and then the first stage performance at the Open Fist Theatre, Hollywood in 2006.
She gave us the Chernobyl history broken down to the minute and seconds as the accident happened.
She gave us some information about the continuing hazards of this accident. If you are interested in reading up on it, follow the BBC link. Fascinating a scary!
Cindy also gave us a print out that compares Chernobyl with other disasters and a few pages of an interview with the writer of the original book.
I’m going to do my own research and I’m also going to interview my family. In 1986, when the accident happened, my immediate family and I lived in Germany. But the rest of the family was in Hungary. We had crops and we all were afraid. Afraid of the unknown. The women didn’t know if the radiation will affect their future children. We didn’t know if it was all right to eat the crops, the fruits and vegetables. There were pop songs about the accident and it’s after effects. We made fun of the incident, and we were crying over it at the same time.
It will be a very interesting journey! I’m looking forward to it and I’m very happy to be part of this play. This is something that I can relate to. This is something that is relevant even here in the United States.
If you don’t have anything planned for the 30th, we will be performing at 2 pm at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Ride your bike or take the Metro. The Red Line is just around the corner. Come and say hi to me afterwards.
Auditions, Goals, Rehearsals, Voices From Chornobyl | 16.06.2007 16:13 | No Comments
Wohoo! I did 1066.4 miles in three (3) months!
I started my personal “Year Of The Bike” count on the first day of Bike Winter, which was February 2nd. I silently made a pact with myself that I wanted to ride an average of 6 miles a day for a year, which would equal 2190 miles total for the year.
I thought this would be a nice little motivation for me to do the local errands on a bike. But the problem is, once you are on a bike, you really can’t stop. It’s just so much easier to get around. I never look for parking. I don’t carry change anymore for the meter. I don’t worry about how long I can park. And when I see all the big cars hauling a lot of air that is protected by a big metal body, it just doesn’t make sense anymore, because I take up so little of a space and I can get around just as well.
Anyhow, I did a lot of riding on my bike. And now my average is 11.8 per day. Wohoo!
These are the places that I rode my bike to:
- Auditions
- My Theatre performances
- Other peoples live Theatre performances
- Film Festivals
- Photo jobs (I was shooting, so I hauled the gear on my bike)
- Film sets for my close up 
- Film screenings of my close up
- Rehearsals
- Coffee shops
- Grocery Stores (Trader Joe’s, local Mom-And-Pop store, Albertsons, Ralphs)
- City Hall meetings
- Bicycle Advisory Committee meetings
- LACBC meetings
- Visiting friends
- Parties
- Concerts
- Fun rides
- Library
- Visit family
- Women In Theatre events
- Meeting with clients for web design work
- Cancer Fund Raising event
- Workshops
- Museums
- Gallery openings
It was easy to ride to these places. Sometimes I didn’t want to ride and my laziness almost won over, but once I got on the bike I was very happy that I did. It is so much more fun to get on the road with the bike then sit in traffic in the car.
I know I don’t have a stereo (but I actually get to listen to far more music from other people’s stereos) and I’m not in an air-conditioned car (but I have real AIR conditioning.) I know I’m not having my hair all styled and sprayed and I might arrive a bit sweaty.
But people really don’t mind my hair being in a pony tail or just hanging loose. And nobody ever complained about me arriving sweaty.
In fact, I only get compliments. I get great conversations. I get smiles and wohoo’s and yeay’s and ‘go Enci’s.’ I get the thumbs up and I always get a hand wave on my way out and a cheerful “ride safe” good-bye.
I hope some of you will be inspired to dust of your bikes or build one at the bicycle kitchen or buy a new one and go on a ride. Join me sometimes on a fun ride with my friends. You will love it. I love every minute of it!!!
Bike Ride, Goals | 2.05.2007 16:25 | No Comments
I’m excited to be back in the Theatre, both as a PRODUCER AND as a PERFORMER. The Production is “Show-Biz, No-Biz,” two one-acts opening March 15th at the Next Stage Theatre on La Brea in Hollywood and running for 4 weeks. The two plays are “Backstage Grease” and “Hollywood Reigns” and I am performing in “Hollywood Reigns.”
Local Theatre is a labor of love and we need all the support we can get. (We also need your love but it’s money that pays the bills!) The fact that you have read this far tells me that you are truly a good friend and so I’m going ask you to help us out.
Please, visit www.ShowBizNoBiz.com and take a look at the “$upport” link. For the price of a couple of tickets to the Arclight you can support local theatre, get a couple of tickets to our show and play a huge role in the success of our production.
Goals, Hollywood Reigns, Performances, Support | 22.02.2007 16:30 | No Comments
All day yesterday I was waiting by the phone. Yes, I was waiting for a guy to call me. He said that he would call, so I trust that he is telling the truth.
Kristian Steeler, the director/actor who auditioned me yesterday and the day before, said, that he was going to let his actors know whether they got cast or not. I wanted to be cast! I sent him an email on Saturday night, letting him know that I really want the lead role and that I enjoyed the audition.
So now I was just waiting for that special phone call. The phone call that will either get me really pissed off and depressed, or that wonderful call that will make me jump for joy and shriek with delight.
And finally it came in the middle of the SAG Awards Show. I checked my phone at a commercial break, and there was a message from Kristian, asking me to return his call. His voice was very matter of fact. It didn’t sound excited. It didn’t sound like he was smiling while he left the message. And he said that he was only taking calls until 10 pm. Uhg. It was 9:34 pm.
I was scared to call him back. If I didn’t get the part then it doesn’t matter if I return the call or not. If he wants to offer me the part or any other part, it would be very unprofessional not to call him by 10 and he might give the role to someone else. I began to dial.
The phone rang. I held my breath. I was anticipating the answering machine. But Kristian answered. I started making small talk, hoping that he would make the first move. I hate this moment of not knowing. I hate waiting and having to guess. So I cut to the chase finally and asked. “So?” I said. He laughed. But it wasn’t a full hearted laugh. It sounded very dry.
“I was wondering” he said, “if you are still interested in playing the part of Alyssa.” “YESSS!” I cried, and there was no response. So I gathered myself and said in a calm voice “Yes, I’d love to get the part. I’d really appreciate it!” Inside, though, I was ecstatic. I wanted to jump up and down. But nobody around me was sharing my joy. And Kristian sounded like a dead man.
But hey, that is o.k. with me! I GOT THE PART! And I love him for it! And maybe he liked that I rode my bike to the audition! I’M HAPPY! YESSSS! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL!
Auditions, Goals, Hollywood Reigns | 29.01.2007 16:33 | No Comments