My first paid voiceover...hopefully

I've done my first voiceover job in New York City yesterday. The best thing about it, I didn't even know it was a job!I thought it was a test recording! I've been to so many auditions and I acted for free that I forgot that I should get paid for work.
Oh, was I happy when I got an e-mail with the invoice and a nice figure for a half an hour job!
I love voiceovers! It was so much fun! I got four and a half pages of text in English and Croatian to voice, read into the ether! If I knew it were a job, I would've been completely relaxed, as appose to nervous. I was a bit nervous. Mostly because there was one word I've never seen before-concatenate. I know, you're probably thinking, how come I've never heard this word before, it's so common, blah, blah...
Well, believe it or not, I've never seen it before. Not in the GRE book, not at AU.
So, it made me more nervous, especially because it appears more than once in the text.
Croatian was easy, of course. English too, for the most part. I made couple of mistakes, but luckily it wasn't live. These things almost never are. If you make a mistake, you just start over, and then someone over there edits it. Sweet!

Yesterday's Happy Hour

The Happy Hour was a success! All three shows were practically sold out. Sort of. Well, most of the seats were taken. And I actually watched the 8p.m. show from the last row, and laughed. It was fun! I mean, it's not Shakespeare, but you know that before you buy your ticket and get your beer.
People were laughing, enjoying themselves. There was some interaction between the audience and couple of actors in couple of scenes. Some acting was better than other. But all and all, I must admit, it was much better than I expected. I was a little sceptical about it, but I needed the experience and the credit. And I got it without compromising myself, i.e. being in the scene I didn't want to be a part of.
Both of my scenes went well. I didn't drop a line. I didn't screw up in any way. I was nervous. I don't know if the audience saw or felt that. I don't think so, but I cannot be sure. My voice was strong at all times. So, I'm actually pretty happy with the whole thing.
M.and two of my Serbian friends showed up, bringing their friends. I was grateful. My family wasn't able to come, nor friends from D.C. I was a bit disappointed that no one from my acting class showed up. Oh, well, they are actors as well...
We finished the evening at our place with some Bellinis and snacks. I wanted to thank them for coming. It felt good knowing that someone came to see me...

Happy Hour

The day of the big performance! It's not big, really, it's a small theater, and I'm doing it for the credit and the experience, but still, I'm sure it will be a bit nerve racking tonight. There will be people, watching...
So, if you're close to N.Y.C., come!
It's at 10p.m. in The 45Th. Street Theater, which is located on 354 W. 45Th. st., between 8 and 9Th Avenues. It's the Happy Hour, written by Joelle Arqueros. The $25 ticket includes two or more beers, that's how fun it is;-)

http://www.chekhovtheatre.com/productions/ticketsales.html

Please come if you can, and bring friends. I would love to see you there.
Wish me to break a leg!

Fridays with Shakespeare

I've managed to reschedule my Shakespeare class today. I'm very happy about that, since the previous class is going to be held, now without me, from 6:30p.m. on Thursdays, for four hours. By 9:45 p.m., I'm ready to put my book down, not analyze pentameters. I'm not a night person. I swore off all night shoots, after the When in Rome, except for a speaking part:)
The new date and time is almost perfect-Fridays from 1 p.m., starting June 6, and ending August 1. It would be ideal if it were another day of the week, but it's still much better timing for me. And this Shakespearean course will last two months, not three. I think that's all I want to spend on Shakespeare. It's good to know it, but there are other courses I need to take, to advance my acting skills.

Happy Hour

Am I the only one to whom all the things happen at once?
Over and over again, I get a job offer when I'm traveling or leaving that city, or something or a sort.
Well, I got a part today in the next production of Michael Chekhov Theatre Company's Happy Hour. It's a funny little play in which I have two vignettes, one to open the show and one to close it! Perfect! It's a great opportunity to have a good credit, invite people to see me, including the agents and casting directors, if I'm that lucky so they would actually show up. (They probably will only if I suck that night, pardon my French:)
I would be jumping up and down, but my parents are coming this weekend and we are supposed to go to D.C. for a couple of weeks, and spend time together with my sister and her newborn baby...
Now I have rehearsals all next week and half of the week after that. And then performances on May 3, 10 and 17.
The performance dates are actually o.k.
The rehearsals the week after next are killing me!
But I like my little part and it's sooooo hard to get one in this cruel city.
So I'll scramble.
But please come, see me. Everyone has to pay something, including M. and the rest of my family. But it won't be much, I'm sure. And I'm not getting paid, you know that. No one pays you to act in N.Y.C., unless you're a star.
So it will be in 45th. Street Theatre. I'll know the exact time on Monday...

Long night for Criminal Intent

So you know I've registered with several background talent agencies in the city, right? That's how I got the call for Law and Order in January, while I was, unfortunately, in Aruba. Well, I did have a great time. Something's gotta give.
The same agency advertised for someone I can be the other day. So I called them. And they said:" Are you available on Thursday?" I was thinking for just a second. "Yes," I said. I lied. "All day?" "Yes" again. I lied again. Well, not really. I just thought, I'll postpone the dance class I should have had tomorrow.
And then she said to call her back today. I did. Then she told me what to wear and not to wear, and to call again tonight, for my directions and time. Nothing about the tiny part, if you can even call it that, or the money...Never mind, really.
But, it's midnight, I'll turn into a pumpkin and they still don't know the time and the place of shooting Law and Order: Criminal Intent tomorrow?!
So I have to stay awake and wait. If I wanna do it. And I do.

Auditions, yet again

I haven't auditioned for a while. A while being about three weeks. I've tried couple of times but there was always 40ish people ahead of me, and I swore that I will never again wait the whole day and not get seen, after that one time in Tribeca.
Well, today, I went to two. The first one was in the morning for a modern play with the Chekhov Theatre, and the one in the afternoon, for a TV pilot. It will, of course, be much more probable to get a part in the play than the pilot. There were about 25 women ahead of me, 20 minutes before the pilot audition started,for about 4 female parts. But I only waited for about an hour. God knows how many showed up after me...
It went really fast. I just read five or so sentences. I don't know if that's a bad sign or what. But it went fast with everybody, I think. And the nice director said that he will use all the actors if not for this one, then for future projects. I've never heard that before. It made everyone in the room happy. True or not.

Acting front

I've been working on a scene from T.Rebeck's Spike Heels with my partner from class, E. It's for our Scene Study class, which I;ve been wanting to do, forever. It's a great class. There are only two things bothering me about it. The time--I hate doing something important, creative, intellectual late in the evening. I feel I can't give it, to quote my character Lydia, "my best self." All I wanna do at 10 p.m. is watch TV. Seriously. Yes, I used to go out, but that was a year ago and before that. A lot of things changed when I hit 30. Especially at winter.
Second, there are too many of us in this class. Sometimes, not all of us get to perform. You can't learn acting from watching other people do it. Oh, No!
But, I like the teacher, and I've learned so much already. I mean, I started in October and already, it's a different field for me. I know what actors are talking about, doing, I understand the world...
Also, people are getting to know me at the theatre, which is kind of comfortable. I don't wanna be new everywhere all the time. It takes a lot of energy.

Angry at Me, after Petrarka

M.'s family invited us to Tribeca today, for a brunch. So, by chance, we ended up having another meal at Petrarka's. I really have been craving a brunch drink, such as Mimosa or Bellini, so I had a delicious Bellini, herb and goat cheese omelet, and a cappuccino. Not all at once, of course.
Service at Petrarka was as good as usual. My omelet was just o.k., kind of doughy, not eggy, which was a bit weird, but the parts with goat cheese were yummy. The mixed salad that came with it was good too, and had avocados, which I'm addicted to. Cappuccino was in this huge cup, and very foamy, which I also love. M. had black seafood pasta, which was tasty as well. All in all, good brunch, in an unusually empty restaurant on Sunday at noon.
Actually, I wanted to go to an audition today, but since I was tired after the brunch, I didn't. I also forgot what the audition was for. When I came home, I looked at my Backstage paper, and discovered that it was for a film. I was soooo disappointed. My organization skills are usually pretty good, but I haven't been using them lately. I mean, film is actually what I want to get in to, so I should make sure to put a "must" or an exclamation point next to that kind of audition. Otherwise, all my acting classes won't get me anywhere. You see, it's not only enough to know how to act, and to be at the right place at the right time, and to be perfect for the role. I realized that one needs more than all that to get into this amazingly wanted, crowded, irrational business in New York City.
I was so angry with myself today. I don't have that much time to get to where I want to be. And with all my restrictions, such as no nudity, no sex-simulations, and so forth, I better have my act together, and a great plan to stick to. And lots of luck.

Pilot in Tribeca

I decided to go to an audition for a TV Pilot more than three weeks ago, as soon as I saw an ad for an open call. I knew there would be a lot of people, but I also knew, if I get there fairly early, I'll eventually be seen. I have that much experience.
So M. and I took the subway to Tribeca today. It was a freezing day in N.Y.C., but my mind was set on this Pilot. When we got there,I signed up as number 108. They were auditioning number 28 at the time. So M. and I went to get some coffee at Church lounge, M. read about somewhere. The lounge is amazing! New, fashionable, with an evening atmosphere and red lights at noon time. It's a bit pricey but worth it. When we got hungry, we decided to go to Petrarca across the street, and had great red house wine, mussels and grilled calamari salad. "Didn't we have thess exact meals last time,?" one of us, or both of us concluded after ordering our food. It was an easy choice from the lunch menu-tasty but not too filling, such as pasta would be.
We went back to the audition site, where they were auditioning number 66. So, we went back out again, walking around, checking out a cute home-store and had tea at a coffee place. When we came back, about an hour or so later, there was this huge line, inside, in front of the door to the casting director. I talked to the coordinator:" I'm sorry but we dropped the numbers when we realized, we won't get to everyone..."
Ridicilous, unprofessional people! I knew they're not going to get to everyone back at 11:30a.m! It was so unfair, but what can one do? They already formed this tight line, there was no order to it, just, what I call a "pushing" line. At a point, I realized that I might wait for another hour standing up, among people, hot, and still not be able to read for a part!So I gave them my headshot and resume and left.
Walking toward the subway, I wondered if I made a mistake. Maybe I should have waited? Why else the trip to Tribeca on a very cold day and waiting around, even if in nice restaurants and cafes. But I left. There's not much of a chance of getting one out of three younger roles, out of more then 200 people anyway! Still, I would've felt bad either, waiting like an idiot, or as I did, leaving.
I dropped the production company an e-mail. A nice one, but still informing them of what happened. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Let's see if they schedule another day, as they kept promising bac in Tribeca to disappointed actors...

I will not be a fool, period!

Not only that I fiercely responded to Extra Talent Agency partner's e-mail yesterday, I also wrote a letter to the editor of the magazine, in which I read about this agency.
He was nice enough to contact me today, apologize and ask me if he can contact this agency for comment.
At first, I was flattered. And glad. I mean, they deserve all the scrutiny and bad publicity they can get. But then, I started to worry a bit. I mean, they have my address. Also, could they sue ME? I don't think so, it's not a slander if it's true, right? On the other hand, this is the U.S.A. And, I really want that refund. It's my way of making them pay for what they haven't done. And my way of making me feel better about myself and my judgment. And less gullible.
So, I consulted M. I partly discussed my fears with the editor. And finally, said YES!
The truth is, as much as I hate to admit, I was upset about this whole thing. I don't know what in me screams for justice, even in smallest matters. Maybe it's not justice, maybe it's this incredible fear of being made into a fool. Of being used. In any sort of way. I think it has been manifested in different ways all throughout my life. Even if it happens to someone else, I always demand retribution. I just can't let things go. And I don't think I should.

Extra Talent Agency thieves

I got my hands on one of the Time Out New York copies,
on August 13, 2007. There was a series of interesting
articles about how to find a job in New York City. One
of them recommended Extra Talent Agency, for getting work as
an extra in movies and TV. Since I just moved to
N.Y.C. and was looking for a job with my recently
acquired Masters in broadcast journalism, I decided to
contact this agency, register and hopefully get some
work while looking for a more permanent job. After
about two months of not getting any jobs through Extra
Talent Agency, I decided to send a
$25 check, a fee they recommend their customers to
pay, for putting a picture and resume on their online
database. It says, on its Web site, that this is by
far the best way to get a job as an extra. So, not knowing any better at the time, I sent
that check on Oct.10, 2007. I kept checking its Web
site every couple of days, but my headshot and resume
weren't there. Then I contacted them about it. The
response was that the Web site is "under
construction."
On Nov.9, 2007 I realized that I've been a fool and
asked them not to cash my check and that I no longer
want their services, since they haven't really
performed any. They cashed my check on Dec. 28,
without ever putting my data on their Web site. When I
contacted them again about it, on Feb.14,a woman who
answered said that she doesn't know why my headshot is
not on their Web site. I asked for
a refund. She told me that at 3 p.m.
on a Thursday, no one from the accounting department,
that deals with these kinds of issues, is there. I
asked her to give the accounting people my message and
that after four months of not getting what I payed
for, I want my money back immediately. Nothing
happened days after that call. I
e-mailed and called again, not wanting to accept the
fact that I was duped by this so-called legitimate
agency and let it go. I'm just not a person who let's things "go." I knew New York is full of crooks, but since I read about this agency in the
Time Out New York magazine, I trusted them.
Today I received a condescending, threatening, and
mean-spirited e-mail from one of Extra Talent Agency's
partners, advising me to get out of acting, since it's
a tough business, and that if $25 means so much to me,
I ought to be in a different business. No apology.
Just, you'll get your refund, and you shouldn't have
disturbed us for such a small amount,the amount I
payed them, to do nothing..
If an agency asks you for money, any money, to put you
on its online database, don't do it. And stay away
from Extra Talent Agency. If they haven't been sued
already, it's going to happened any day now!

Professional photo shoot

I finally had a professional photo shoot, for my headshots. I thought it was time. I mean, that agent told me a month or so ago that I need a better headshot. So I found this photographer in the actor's weekly newspaper, whose pictures looked good and the price was right.
Headshots in N.Y.C. can cost a lot of money. Three, four even five hundred dollars.
Of course, it depends on what you get, but all I actually wanted were the professional pictures. I can have them developed later, when I want, as many as I want, so I chose that kind of package. If I knew this would be only $99, I probably would have done it sooner. I mean, it makes all the difference. It's still me, but with a good light and in a good position, background...
It was somewhat of a chance to pick an ad out of hundreds and set it up. It turned out well, though. This woman is a professional photographer all right. She has the real studio, you know, penthouse type, with the lights and the cameras, and the makeup artist...She really knows what she's doing. For example, she told me to change my beautiful black and white BEBE blouse with a bow, because it would take attention from me. Well, I don't want that, do I. But I was a bit sad not to have a picture in my favorite clothes.
Second, she told me to take off some of the makeup. Looking natural is what agents want, apparently, from an actor. Also, at a point, she used a fan, to move my hair of of my face. I felt like a fashion model, with my hair flying around.
Anyway, it was quick, fun, and fruitful. Now I just need to decide which one of of 50I got, is the best, to become 8x10.
We'll see if it will make a difference. At least I can't say I haven't tried.

White, timid New York City

New York is so beautiful when it's showing. We really didn't have much snow this winter. Some, yes, but it would melt right away. I guess N.Y.C. is too "hot" for snow.
This one is sticking. The city transformed today, into a clean, white, huge animal. It's seemed more timid now, less cruel.
Speaking of cruel, I had couple of auditions yesterday. The one I really went to, I did well, but the only female role is of a 50 year old woman. I still thought it was worth a shot. It's about this famous Serbian epic poem's hero-Marko. So I really, really wanted to be a part of it. And I did well. They laughed during my monologue. In a good way.
The other one turned out to be at the same time. I read some sides. I was o.k. Figured, it was worth a shot and I was more qualified to play a Chech girl anyway.
Oh, well, I guess we'll see. Have I mentioned that these are for the actual pay?

Mary Anderson in Ocean Grove, NJ

I was Mary Anderson multiple times last night in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Russian Star too. Yes, I participated in these readings organized by a playwright, Larry Myers, in a little "Starving Artist" theater. How appropriate:)
It was actually better than I expected. Not only me, but the whole deal. There were four other actors there, plus a tiny audience and the playwright, of course. The flayer said he's "award winning." I hope that's true. I have never heard of him before.
But we made people laugh. And it wasn't boring. And I thought I did well.
M. was there with me. He knows me well, but he did say that I transformed the moment I was on stage. That feels good. Really good. And I can feel the transformation.
They "booked" me for another reading in N.Y.C. on March 21. Hopefully, there will be more people. And I'll be even better.
What I'm really hoping for is that this role will help me get a better one. And eventually, I can actually get paid for doing what I love.

Rehearsal from Hell

I came out disappointed from my first rehearsal, for that role I got. The playwright and the director were both stingy on explanations, and they didn't seem to have their act together. I mean, at all.
It was three of us, all girls. Two of us received the same lines! And they were about two pages long. So there goes my wasted time memorizing it, and the headaches that go with it. It's not Shakespeare, you know, so you can use it anytime, for any audition. It's this contemporary playwrights, whose play isn't bad but it isn't great either. Also, I asked my teacher about him. She's been around. Never heard of him.
So, after an hour of two of them criticizing three of us, without giving us any directions before the rehearsal, we were supposed to schedule another one for...tonight. Never happened. Why? I have no clue. The readings are supposed to be on Saturday, and not in N.Y.C., but in New Jersey. They didn't tell us that either, not before we came to that rehearsal. I don't even know the exact location of the performance yet! They'll probably get back to me on that...on Saturday!
I'm just hoping that this lack of professionalism is not the staple of N.Y.C. acting scene. Have I mentioned that we are not getting paid?

My first N.Y.C.role

I think I got my first role! Remember when I wrote about that audition on Saturday, when the director said he was very interested? Well, it seemed that this time he was telling the truth. After talking with and e-mailing his go-to-guy, I've received a script in the mail, as well as the rehearsal and performances' dates. I'm going to be Mary Anderson, an arrogant actress. How wonderful! And the monologue is very well written, interesting and hard on words and emotions. So, it's a challenge! How yummy:)
I'm just hoping that when I actually go to rehears, they are not going to make that into another elimination. The way things work here, nothing would surprise me.
But until then, I will be excited. And busy! The performances are on Feb.9 and 16.
I would invite you if I knew where. I guess the secretiveness is a prerequisite for a director in New York City.

The long lost role

Coming back to my theatre has been bitter-sweat, since I didn't get the part in its latest production. There's a list of names on the bulletin board, with the name of the woman who got the part I wanted. Also, there are posters and postcards everywhere...
I didn't think it would touch me, but it did, and it does.
So today, I asked a colleague, who was observing my audition/interview with the director: "what happened?"
"It was the naked thing, you know, the other girl was comfortable with it."
I knew it! I somehow suspected that might have costed me dearly. Or he found a real German woman.
I keep recalling the audition, you know, like, what if I didn't say I wasn't comfortable with just being in my bikini,with my hands covering my chest for a brief moment? But I wasn't, and I'm not. So I guess, I did the right thing, right?
It seems so hard to break into this acting thing if you're not in the right place, at the right time, all the time, and willing to do anything! Maybe I just don't want it that badly. I just think I shouldn't sacrifice who I am to get what I want. It just doesn't seem right.
Anyway, there were other contributing factors to my loss of this role--the other actress is younger, and her boyfriend gets to play her husband. How fun for them!
Not much acting there, ha?

Weekend auditions

I had two auditions this weekend. Usually, I don't like to audition on weekends, but I decided to go to these two, since I was invited to both, as appose to an "open call."
The first one was "in and out." An actor before me was just finishing his monologue. I got in, talked a bit with the casting director, and did my monologue on a real stage of a college in Manhattan.
Afterwords, the decider said: "Call this number and tell this person that I'm very interested and that you are available on those dates."
"Great," I said happily, "I will."
"I'm from Czechoslovakia," he said. "And I can totally imagine her saying:they invaded the country next to mine," he said to his young, female assistant. She smiled.
That one ended well, I thought. But I got my hopes up before, when others were "very interested."
So I called that other director on Monday. "Please drop me an e-mail and we'll schedule something this week, " he said. And I did, right away. That was yesterday morning. Nothing yet.
The other audition was on Sunday, in the New York Film Academy, at Union Square, for a student film.
When I arrived, I realized that there was no sign up sheet, and there were about six or seven people a head of me. Usually, that's nothing, but these guys really took their time. They spent about 15 to 20 minutes with each of us, which led to about two hours of waiting. I was already there, so I just waited, and talked a bit with another actor.
After my monologue, which was taped this time by three very young guys, I read the sides and had an interview as well.
"You have a bit of a Russian accent, " the one in charge said. "I feel inspired actually, and I wanted to tell you that I'll be working on a character perfect for you."
"Thank you for the compliment. You know where to find me."
I actually thought, why am I waisting my time with these kids? But I could use some film credits on my resume, and you never know who these film student could be some day.

Studying Scenes

I started my new acting course tonight-The Beginning Scene Study. Volume wise, it's a bigger class than Technique. That's not generally good, 'cause one gets less "stage time." But it's the same, good, familiar teacher. And what I like about acting is work on the actual scenes.
I came with a new monologue, but just for the cold reading. I didn't feel like memorizing it yet. I didn't even know if I was supposed to.
The others have been in the class for three weeks already. Some already had scenes. Some worked on different Uta Hagen exercises, such as a "slice of life" one. Everyone seemed to be on a different level, which made me feel more comfortable that I'll fit in.
So I did read my monologue.
"How does that feel?" T. asked.
"Good!" I said. People laughed. And clapped. Apparently, it was good. So, how come I keep getting these positive feedbacks, but not roles?