Diary of an Aspiring Actress

Words of Wisdom: Tyler Perry

2012-01-24T01:09:00.000-05:00

I'm not the biggest Tyler Perry fan, but this video had me in tears. So inspiring...Enjoy!

Mind-Right Mondays + 2 days

2011-10-12T19:31:00.000-04:00

Goals For This Week

order business cards NOW!!
workout at least once
meditate every morning
to cook something..anything
be fearless!
submit! submit! submit!!
get started on my first draft for the short film I'm writing

What I'm Grateful For

My Family
having food, clothes and shelter
my health/life
nail salons
the new tv season
laughter
the fact that life goes on
having some awesome people in my life
5, 5, 5 dollar footlongs from Subway
Oprah Winfrey

My Motto For This Week

" Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."- Marianne Williamson

Mind-Right (the day after) Mondays

2011-10-04T14:50:00.000-04:00

'Ello everyone! This week I'm going to be fearless. I'm going to go after EVERYTHING that I want in every area of my life. I'm nervous, but I'm also kind of excited...who knows what will happen.

Goals For This Week

order business cards
kick butt at this reading
yoga 5 days a week
meditate every morning
shoot my reel!!
to cook something..anything
be fearless!

What I'm Grateful For

My Family
having food, clothes and shelter
my health/life
candy corn
the new tv season
laughter
the fact that life goes on

My Motto For This Week

"Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try."

Mind-Right Mondays

2011-09-26T18:43:00.000-04:00

*tumble weeds blowing by* Things have been slooooowwwah. My phone didn't ring once last week. But I have to be positive and look at this slow period as time to focus on other areas of my life. Mainly health/fitness. I gotta get it right. get it tight.

Goals For This Week

eat more healthy foods
enjoy life
get everything in order for my reel
meditate every morning
smile no matter what
figure out what to do with my hair
exercise at least 4 days out of the week

What I'm Grateful For

my fam
having food, clothes and shelter
my health/life
laughter
candy corn
Lush Cosmetics
the ability to "let go"

My Motto For This Week

"Some people think it's holding that makes one strong—sometimes it's letting go." -Unknown

Mind-Right Monday...err Wednesday

2011-09-21T14:16:00.000-04:00

Last week was awesome for me career-wise! I shot 3 different jobs. Yay!! So far this week has been quiet, but it's not over yet...

Goals For This Week

order business cards
eat more healthy foods
enjoy life
get everything in order for my reel
join gym
meditate every morning
smile no matter what

What I'm Grateful For

my fam
having food, clothes and shelter
my health/life
laughter
that it's fall!! my favorite season
candy corn
the jobs that I've been booking...and will continue to book :)

My Motto For This Week

"I'm not afraid of dying, I'm afraid of not trying. Everyday hit every wave like I'm Hawaiian"- Jay-Z

Mind- Right Mondays

2011-09-12T09:15:00.000-04:00

This week is going to be AMAZING!!

Goals For This Week

get new headshots reproduced
order business cards
eat more healthy foods
enjoy life
meditate every morning
get everything in order for my reel
have an INSANE amount of fun with my best friend

What I'm Grateful For

My Fam
having food, clothes and shelter
my health/life
my best friend
laughter

My Motto For This Week

"Everyday is a gift. Let go of anger, fear, resentment. Open your heart, say what you need to and live everyday like it's your last."- Brittany Pooler

Actors Toolbox: Gimme My Footage- Low Budget- Student Film Contract

2011-09-07T08:00:00.004-04:00

Let's file this under "Things I wish I knew about last year."

As an aspiring actor one of the main goals is to collect footage for your all important reel. So you spend your days submitting to non-union student and short films on the casting sites. One day you get an audition. You nail the audition and the director calls and offers you the role. Score! Two weeks later you're on the "set" of your film. Once the film wraps you're overcome with joy because you just know that the footage is going to be amazing. Four months later you send the director an email asking about the progress of the film. He tells you we're still in post-production..soon..soon. Nine months later you send an email and you get no response. Eighteen months later you send another one. He responds and says that project is dead and he's working on a different one now OR he tags you along for a few more months promising you your footage.

It's a vicious cycle that I've been through one too many times.

I understand that a lot goes into post production. It's extremely time-consuming especially if the director is doing everything himself. For those of you who don't know about the post-production process here's how wisegeek.com defines it:

"All of this planning and filming leads up to the most vital aspect of film making -- post production work. Post production turns indiviual scenes called raw footage, into a finished motion picture. Editors splice all of the usable footage together into a coherent storyline according to the script. Composers add background music to create dramatic or comical effects....All of this work can only be performed during post production."

Like I said, I understand a lot goes into post, BUT most of the time on student or short films your footage (copy) is your pay. When you don't get that you have nothing to show for the hours you spent on set or that you had to lug around half your wardrobe or not being fed or the unprofessionalism on set, etc. It's just not fair to actors.

Luckily actorsaccess has created a contract that just might help solve this problem. It's a Low Budget and Student Film Contract. It covers everything from wardrobe to transportation, credit to copy. It's the perfect addition to your Actors Toolbox.

Print it out and present it to the director of the next project your working on. The two of you can go over the contract together and fill in the terms that you agree upon. Here's the Contract.

Mind Right Mondays

2011-09-05T07:00:00.024-04:00

One of my favorite bloggers Dani over at OK, DANI created Mind-Right Mondays and I love it! I've been doing it on my own, but now that I'm blogging again I will post it here.

Goals For This Week

get new headshots reproduced
finish website
yoga 5 days a week
meditate every morning
get everything in order for my reel

What I'm Grateful For

My Mom
having food, clothes and shelter
my health
Angry Birds- I love this game
laughter

My Motto For This Week

”Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.” – Oprah Winfrey

It's Me Again...And I'm Back

2011-09-04T17:39:00.000-04:00

Oh I, Oh I, Oh Iiiiii'm gonna start blogging again.

*Disclaimer- The sound is a little funky. The weird smile at the beginning is because I slated (smile, Hi, I'm Brittany Pooler, smile) before I started the video..I thought I cut all of it out. I'm "different". No the straps are not my bra..it's a sports tankini, a tank and a tankdress. I ramble..quite a bit.

If you can't watch the vid here's the Cliff Notes- Personal tragedy led me into a painful Negative Nancy phase and every disappointment hurt 10x more than it normally would which made me even more negative. I broke the cycle and I'm better now. :)

Be sure to check out Backstage Unscripted and A Day in the Life of a (Mo)del.

AND THE WORLD'S WORST BLOGGER AWARD GOES TO...

2011-06-20T15:50:00.000-04:00

ME!!! Yay! I won something.

Hey Y'all!

Let me first thank everyone who sent an email, left a comment, facebook'd me asking if I was ok. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It means so much.

I don't even know where to start. It's been so long since I've blogged.

Well, I'm ok. Still acting.....

Yep, I think that brings everyone up to date. I just going to start posting like I never left.

Be sure to check out my post over at Backstage Unscripted!

Just Keep Swimming: Embracing the No's

2011-04-08T21:36:00.000-04:00

An amazing article I read a few weeks back about embracing NO.

You will be told "No" on your path. It's a fact. There's nothing you can do about it and there's nothing you should do about it. To think for one moment that you are going to go out in the world and change it and that everyone is going to agree with you is basically insane.

You can't do much of anything without resistance. Resistance is what turns the coal into a diamond; resistance is what gives a plane it's ability to fly; and not getting what you want creates the stronger desire within you to get what you want.

Accept that you will get a lot of no's. But also KNOW that a NO is never final. Not everyone will be on the same page and see your vision and they shouldn't. But, dear Seeker, if you do not believe in your vision enough to push through the no's, then you won't make it.

You have to believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that your vision is possible and that it's already yours. Nothing can stop you when you believe that.

Embrace NO's as a part of the journey, but KNOW that even one million NO's can't stop you from achieving your goal. One YES from within you is stronger than ALL the NO's in the world.

NO's are going to happen, but they don't have to stop you.

- Mastin Kipp

Words of Wisdom- The Daily Love

2011-01-31T14:12:00.000-05:00

"There are no rules about what kind of life you "SHOULD" be living. The only rule is to do what you love and have no apologies about it."- The Daily Love

Three Things

2011-01-23T19:47:00.001-05:00

So, I really lost my steam this week. I had ZERO energy. I lounged around and ate a snickers and Chinese food. I'm living on the edge! It's time for me to get serious about Bikram yoga again and to clean up my diet. ..I gotta shape up!

I did get some super exciting news on Thrusday that I'll be sharing with you next with along with a post on my vision board. So stay tuned! Besides my AMAZING acting class and emails with my Mama here are three other things that perked up my week.

Real Simple Magazine- My best friend put me on to this magazine and I'm in LOVE!


The Fighter- AH-MAZING film! The acting was superb! If you haven't seen it run to the nearest theater!

Windows Phone Golden Globe Commercial- Commitment! Love it!

Brick by Brick

2011-01-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

At a casting last week I overheard a few other actresses discussing pilot season. One is with a highly reputable agency(for the past year) and felt they weren't doing anything for her because she hadn't booked anything. Another who is heading into her first pilot season, vowed that if nothing "happened" she was done. Part of me wanted to interject and tell these girls that it's a marathon not a sprint; to hang in there, but then I had two thoughts:

1. Less competition for me(horrible, I know)
2. Wait, wasn't I just huffing and puffing about not working. :/

So, I sat there quietly waiting for my name to be called.

Even though I know that it takes years to break into this industry there are times when I get antsy. I feel that I should already have my L&O guest star credit, I should be filming my recurring arc on Grey's or Glee, and that talks of an AIDA revival should begin and end with my name.

I know that all of these things will happen (because I'm going to work my tush off to make sure they do), but being patient is hard. I remember watching a video of Will Smith talking about the summer he and his brother had to rebuild a brick wall. His father told them instead of thinking about building this big wall focus on laying each brick perfectly and the wall will come from that. So I try to remind myself that everyday I'm laying a "brick." One day I will have a wall (pathway to the career that I want), but right now I need to focus on laying my "bricks" as perfectly as possible.

Words of Wisdom: Napoleon Hill

2011-01-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

"Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success." -Napoleon Hill

Three Things

2011-01-09T17:31:00.000-05:00

The first week of 2011 flew by and as predicted it was positive and productive! I had several castings, my amazing scene study class started again, I caught up with some actor buddies, and took a trip to IKEA(!!). A nasty stomach bug forced me to stay at home for two days, but I made the most of it by memorizing lines, answering emails, submitting to projects and working on my 2011 vision board(post coming soon). Here are three things I'm loving this week:

I'm in love with my scene study class! Stretching my actor "muscles".

The only thing I've eaten in the past 24 hours.


Dear Zachary. Heartbreaking, yet beautiful documentary. Don't read about it just watch it.

Just Keep Swimming: One Call Can Change Your Life

2011-01-05T10:00:00.004-05:00

From Abrams Commercial Agent Mark Measures twitter.

Baby Steps

2011-01-03T15:17:00.001-05:00

The first week of January is always filled with positive, productive energy. Everyone is revved up for a new start; resolutions have been made, goals set. The "New Year, New Me, Let's Go" mentality is in full effect. Unfortunately, for most of us it doesn't last; by the time March rolls around we have reverted back to December 31st attitudes.

The main reason why we fail/forget/give up is because we lack self discipline (self control). I, for one can't even spell discipline, it's not in my vocabulary. Both of my parents were in the army so you would think I'd have some self discipline, but alas, I don't. So, I thought this year instead of making numerous goals that I would make one; to learn the art of discipline. It's not going to be easy, so I am taking it slow, baby steps. The first step is to create a routine by doing small, achievable things like waking up at the same time everyday, taking a multi-vitamin daily, calling family once a week. After three weeks of following this routine you should add more tasks to your routine.

So, my main focus this year will be on practicing self discipline. I'm not saying that I don't have any acting goals this year, because I do, but I realized after reviewing my progress from last year that the difference between a "good" year (which I had) and a "great" year is having self discipline.

If you're interested in learning more about self discipline check out this article by The Humble Libertarian.

Words of Wisdom: Oprah

2011-01-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

- Oprah Winfrey

Happy New Year!

2010-12-29T21:18:00.001-05:00

*peeks head in*
Hiya!

I know I have some 'splainin' to do about my long absence. I'll get to that, but first things first I want to let everyone know (all 5 of you!) that I'm relaunching my blog on Jan 1st! I'm really excited about the relaunch! I've been writing post and gathering some great content. What to expect? I'll be posting 2-3 post per week. Spolight On interviews, Words of Wisdom, recapping my auditions and thoughts on the biz. I'll also be introducing some new features:

- Three Things- a weekly post where I'll recap three things that I currently find helpful or make me happy.
- Just Keep Swimming- I'll link to inspirational post that I find on the web.
- A Day in the Life vlog- monthly/ maybe bi-weekly video diary of a day in my life.

I'm really excited to get things rolling and hope that you guys enjoy everything I have in store!

Now onto my abscense..

My birthday(early August) rolled around and I hit that age where you start lying about your age. I'm still in my 20s and will be for awhile, but it hit me that at 2_ I don't have a home, a stable career, marriage is nowhere in sight, etc. It scared me. Most of my friends/peers have their own families now, they're parents. It's not that I want those things right now, because honestly I don't, but the realization that to the world I have "nothing" shook me. I spent a lot of time questioning my decisions and while I thought I was helping myself figure everything out, I was just digging a deeper hole of uncertainty. I needed time off. I allowed my Showfax membership to expire. I stopped pursuing an agent/making connections. I just wasn't sure what I wanted my life to be. Then my Grandma passed away unexpectedly and my world stopped. All she wanted was to see me on tv, to be proud of me; she wanted me to be performing because it's what I love, it's my passion. So now I'm back and more determined than ever. My spark has been reignited.

My Favorite Little Lady!

Hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday season and gearing up for an amazing new year!

Happy 2011!

Let's try this again...

2010-09-10T13:21:00.001-04:00

*blows dust*

Hellololololo!

It's been awhile, eh? I've started this post about 20 times, hopefully I can finish it this time. I have to thank fellow blogger Danielle for giving me an extra push.

2010 has been an interesting year for me. I've experienced so much, both good and bad. When it came to my blog I only wanted to share the good, but I want this blog to be about more than just my bookings. I want to share the experience of being an aspiring actress-the joys, the disappointments, all of it.

Words of Wisdom: Tyrese Gibson

2010-05-08T17:24:00.003-04:00

"Giving up is not an option. The depth of your struggle will determine the height of your success."

Just because...

Remember Me?

2010-04-11T01:40:00.002-04:00

I'm back!! The past two months have been truly AMAZING and I'm just so grateful for all of the opportunities that I've received! What have I been up to you ask...
- 4 films
- an industrial
- a how-to video
- shoot for Health magazine
- tons of networking
- auditioning on a regular basis

Busy Bee, right?

I'm happy to say that I accomplished all of my first quarter goals except one(headshots)!! Yay! Expect my goals for this next quarter sometime this week. That's all for now.

Words of Wisdom

2010-03-13T15:43:00.003-05:00

"Assuming you'll succeed means knowing there is no other alternative. It's as inevitable as the rising sun each morning."- Unknown

Words of Wisdom- Ella Fitzgerald

2010-02-22T09:13:00.000-05:00

"Don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong" - Ella Fitzgerald

..And just because...

The life of a, go getta, go getta, go getta..

2010-02-18T23:43:00.002-05:00

The past week has been pretty busy for me and despite the fact that I'm sick... I'm loving every minute of it! I'm going to do a quick post on the biggies and the interesting ones. Here we go..

White Castle commercial- This was the first casting that I got through my new agency. It went well. I got a callback(which went well too) and they asked me to hold the shoot date. So we'll see! Update- I've been released from this project. Oh well...On to the next one!

Indie Feature Film- I actually met fellow blogger Danielle at this audition. She's super cute and sweet. I prepared a monologue for this per the audition notice, but when I got there there were sides. I went in did my best and I booked one of the lead roles!!

Children's Interactive Theater- I bombed this audition...BOMBED! It was a group audition and I got intimidated. Not to mention I was sick, late and I hadn't reviewed the sides even though I received them a few days ahead of time. Talk about a recipe for disaster. I'm disappointed in myself because I really wanted this. I love kids and I love theater.

Meeting with Amy Davidson- I met with her at ActorsConnection and she was super sweet! I was nervous because I've never done commercial copy before, but she said I was excellent! Her one problem/concern- my headshot. She doesn't think it looks like me. :( We ended the meeting on a really good note though. We'll see!

Ralph Lauren Industrial- Unfortunately this casting was right before my White Castle callback so I was watching the clock like crazy, but I went in and did my best.

Student Film- I liked this audition because they flipped it on me. I went in and did my dramatic monologue and then they told me to do it as if I were a stand-up comedian. You should have seen my face! I don't know what I pulled out, but they seemed to like it. I was really impressed with how professional these students were..very impressed.

I have a few other things going on, but I'll talk about those when they're set in stone.

Hopefully I can keep this momentum up...

Rachel McAdam's The Notebook Screentest

2010-02-10T15:02:00.000-05:00

I've watched this a million times and I'm always impressed with how honest her performance is.

Amazing!

Busy B: Recap

2010-02-08T19:14:00.001-05:00

Imma Be..Imma Be..Imma Imma Be..Imma be going on castings..Imma be bookin' them jobs..

Sorry, I love that song and it's blasting as I type. It's about that time...time for a recap so let's get straight to it.

Wheat Thins Industrial- This is the job that I booked while on vacation. I was sitting there bored on the beach and decided to log onto actorsaccess and see what was going on in FL. Lucky for me there was a casting for a Miami industrial and the casting director/production team are based out of NYC and I've worked with them before(about a year ago on the most embrassing shoot ever!) so I submitted and 2 days later I got the call that they wanted me to come in. Long story short I booked it!! The shoot was a 2 day shoot at a bowling alley and I had an AMAZING time! Everyone involved was sweet and professional and most importantly I got paid(i kid, i kid)!! As soon as I get a copy of the finished video I'll post it. In the meantime here's some pics from the shoot:

Gettin' Pretty

Team Pinheads!!

I HEART this pic!!

My Christa and I talking about something really deep..probably what we should eat!

Alex, Chlo, and I

Audition for a Musical- I had an audition for a musical that I really really want to be in, but it's not the ideal situation so I really really don't want to be in it. I know what you're thinking, "Brittany, work is work is work. Snap out of it." I got a callback. We shall see.

Focus- I'm so ready to make 2010 my year! I got rid of everything that's holding me back..every inch of negativity or self-doubt. I'm focused man!!

That's all for now..hopefully I'll have some really exciting news that I can share in the next few days!!

I'm going to MIAMI..

2010-01-30T12:36:00.000-05:00

I just booked a paid gig for Monday in Miami!! Booking work on my vacay..Sa-weet! Details to come.

Spotlight On: Brandi Ford

2010-01-30T09:39:00.000-05:00

In her own words...Hi. My name is Brandi Ford. I'm a California-born, Vegas-bred actress who's grown up performing in one theatre after another. While musical theatre is my drug of choice, I readily admit that I'm addicted to performing in general whether that be in a musical, straight play, television or film, I love to step into a role and let go!

How did you get started?
As a child I was always in the church choir, the praise dance team and the annual Christmas & Easter plays. As I got older, we couldn't afford vocal or dance lessons so I participated in as much school, church and community theatre as possible to get as much free training & experience as I could. Once I got to high school I was accepted to a performing arts academy that provided me with a plethora of performing opportunities that I'm grateful for to this day.

What do you do to prepare for an audition/casting?
For commercial auditions I become familiar with the sides, when available, and simply come open & ready to play as all of mine so far have involved improv to some degree. For everything else, the first thing I do is find out the back story of the character by reading all of the available sides rather than just the ones that are for my character. Many times, especially for last minute auditions, I have to create my own back story based on the 1-3 page sides I've been given. This helps me to make strong, clear choices while in the room. On the way to the audition I find something on my ipod that connects to the character and play that artist/song over & over again. Once I arrive I focus on my "moment before" then I'm ready to go!

What's been the hardest obstacle you've faced as an actress?
The hardest obstacle I've faced is finding a work/life balance. There's so much that goes into building an acting career- training, marketing, networking, rehearsals, performances and so on that I have to make sure I don't sacrifice too much quality time with my family. As a wife & mother to 2 young boys that demand my attention, I'm pulled in a lot of directions on a daily basis and have to set firm priorities. I'm admittedly a workaholic but I don't ever want my family to feel like I've neglected them for the sake of my career.

How do you maintain your sanity in this crazy, unpredictable business?
Sanity? What sanity? I'm only halfway kidding. I avoid going crazy by having other interests outside of acting so that it doesn't consume me. These include wedding planning {which can sometimes be just as crazy}, going out to eat {seafood & tapas style are my favorite}, writing and dancing. I use hip-hop as a way to stay fit and thanks to So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars I now want to try my hand at ballroom as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not planning on entering any competitions, I just think I'd have a ball!

What's your dream role? What role were you born to play?
I'm a "Variety is the Spice of Life" kinda girl so I don't necessarily have a single "dream role" as I believe there are many dream roles that I was born to play. Any character who is compelling and fascinating to watch is a character I want to step into! I will say, however, that if I ever get a chance to do a biopic I'd love to play Phyllis Hyman, a beautiful, talented songbird who's bipolarism & failed ambitions led her to self-medicate with drugs & alcohol and ultimately ended with her taking her own life. Such a tragic ending for a woman with such a beautiful gift.

What/Who inspires you?
God, my kids, music, nature, film & tv with brilliant writing and definitely great performances by artists who take their crafts seriously.

Any tips for other aspiring actors?
*Trust your instincts *Do your research *Train when you're not working *Have some hobbies {and some friends} outside of acting. As noted above, this does wonders for your sanity and your perspective. *Have fun and enjoy the journey!

What's in your actors tool box?
*Online subscriptions to Actors Access, LA Casting and Casting Frontier *Performer Track *Showfax & Backstage message boards- INVALUABLE ADVICE *The book "An Agent Tells All" by Tony Martinez *compact-sized brush, lip gloss, mascara & bronzer {with me at all times} *Dance classes to have fun while staying in shape *Well-balanced meals & LOTS of water *Portable GPS {recently got one and I already can't imagine driving without it} *Ambition, Drive & a Positive Attitude

My goal is to.... entertain you and leave a lasting impression you won't soon forget.

Keep up with Brandi-
www.ambitiousb.blogspot.com
brandi@brandiford.com
Twitter-@brandiford

Fear of Flying

2010-01-20T05:51:00.000-05:00

I was going to title this post Up in the Air(which by the way is a fantastic movie), but I decided fear of flying was more appropriate. Because...well, I'm afraid to fly. Why? Every single time I leave NYC I book something, get a callback or miss a huge audition. Case in point this morning I'm at JFK getting ready to board my flight when I get a text:

"B they're having an open call for Hair tomorrow!!! Non-Equity. I'm going to stand in line now LMBO!!!"

Excuse me, WHAT?!?!?! HAIR? Open call? Non-Equity!!! **faints**

Unfortunately I couldn't change my ticket...so I'm writing this as I'm up in the air passing through Georgia. Stuck in a middle seat...le sigh.

Hopefully when they have the equity call I can finagle myself in. No, I will finagle myself in. Auditioning for Hair is one of my goals and I'm going to do it.

Murphy's freaking Law. Welp, I'll cry about it as I lie on the beach.

Cliff Notes

- I booked and shot another industrial!! That makes three in the past few months. It was a lot of fun. I worked for maybe 15 mins and got paid for it!

- I've picked out my first 5 seminars that I'll be taking/attending at actorsconnection!! I'm super excited.

- New post on Headshots and a Spotlight On coming this week!

Words of Wisdom: Will Smith

2010-01-10T21:51:00.000-05:00

"I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked. I will run. Period. You may have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier and all those things, but if we get on the treadmill, then you are going to get off first or I am goin to die. It’s that simple. The guy who is willing to hustle the most is the one that get’s all those loose balls. The commodity that I see in most people that aren’t getting to the places they want or aren’t achieving the things they want is strictly based on hustle, strictly based on being outworked, strictly based on missing the right oppurtunities. I always say if you are stay ready, you ain’t going to have to get ready."

- Will Smith on Hardwork/Work Ethic

Seminar- How to Get and Keep an Agent

2010-01-06T22:34:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday I attended Lisa Gold's "How to Get and Keep an Agent" seminar at Actors Connection. It was free and the room was packed with other actors (aspiring and surprisingly some established as well). I've been trying to go to this seminar for the past few months and I'm really glad that I finally got the chance to. Lisa has such a warm personality and she's straight forward,which I love! She gave some excellent marketing tips and even handed out a list of her favorite agencies (about 40) and which ones are accessible to newcomers. I left feeling inspired and ready to get this year started!

Aspiring actors in the NYC area you should definitely check this seminar out.

I'm going to see if I can get her to do an interview for the blog...how cool would that be! Keep your fingers crossed!!

"Go For It!"

2010-01-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

That's my motto for this year...I was asking my little brother (Frederick) for advice and he texted those three little words. So simple..he's a Genius!

Well, Happy New Year! I'm sure you all know that this post is going to be about my goals for this year (lol). So without further ado I present to you my Jan-March goals...

1. Shoot 5 films(student, short, feature)

2. Audition for Hair(the musical)- The current broadway cast will be taking the show to London this spring and I hear they're going to have an all new cast for the NYC show. My goal is to just audition. It's probably going to be an Equity call(I'm not Equity-yet), so just getting the chance(and actually going) to audition will be good for me.

3. New Headshots- I just realized that I haven't done a post about headshots...will do that this week!

4. The usual-Networking, get an agent, seminars...

So, those are my goals for the first three months.

I leave you with a photo from my new years eve...I went out with my best friend Andrea, her fiance and a few of our friends. Excuse my face..I think we were at Prosecco #4 here.

(Chris,Stepha,Andrea,Nodari,Me,Angela,Nodari's friend)

"so this is christmas...and what have you done?"

2009-12-08T21:26:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been a very Busy B lately. As the end of the year approaches I'm checking off a few of my goals and I'm preparing to move into a new apartment at the beginning of the year!! I can't tell you how excited I am about this!

Hopefully all of you are submitting and auditioning even though it's Dec...check out Mark Sikes article about that here.

Cliff Notes
- I'm revamping my website for the new year.
- Called in for 3 auditions in the past 2 days!
- Attending a seminar tonight!

*The post title is from one of my fav holiday songs "Happy Christmas" by John Lennon.

I'm Focused Man...

2009-11-23T13:29:00.000-05:00

Mark Sikes of The Casting Corner wrote an Ah-Mazing article about focus. Check it out
here.

"It's time to trust my instincts close my eyes and leap..."

2009-11-14T15:17:00.000-05:00

Hello to my two blog readers...lol! Sorry for the long hiatus... I needed to take some personal time and get my life in order.

Not too much has happen in the last 2 months...I shot a film, an in house promo video for a huge company and audited/attended some classes/free seminars.

As we approach the end of the year (can you believe 2009 is almost over?!) I have a few things that I would like to accomplish before the new year.

1. Find a great on-camera and cold reading class.
I was suppose to be studying at The Barrow Group in their work-study program, but I couldn't commit to the "work schedule"

2. Add a "lead" film credit to my resume.
I want it! I want it!

3. Land a commercial print agent.
I've been contacted by 2 different agents and I've also been called into a few print castings that I self-submitted to on actorsaccess. So perhaps I should look into.

4. Attend a few agent/casting director seminars a.k.a. Pay to meet, pay to audition, pay to be seen seminars.
This is a hot topic in the acting world. While some actors are against them others think they're a great opportunity. My take- I don't see the harm as long as you're realistic and smart about it. Research the agents/casting directors find out who they represent, what they're working on, what they're looking for and then target the ones that would be a good fit for you. Be professional and prepared. That's what I plan to do.

5. Stop being an idiot.
I'm not even going to list how many opportunities I've missed out on because of work or other personal issues. I should be smacked!!

So these are my "to do's" for the remainder of the year. What are yours?

Be sure to check back on Wednesday for a new Spotlight On!!

I'm going to leave you guys with this excerpt from one of Bonnie's articles.

Trust That You're Enough

This is the biggie, for me. TRUST THAT YOU'RE ENOUGH. You don't need to lie on your resumé or beef up your first credits. Enjoy being a beginner while you're a beginner! It's the only time when you can freely be open to learning so much from so many others who have been down the same path.

There is room for everyone in this town and in this business. Your patience with your process, your willingness to treat this career as a long-haul experience rather than something you can quickly master, and your enthusiasm for the opportunities you get every day in this business will be more than enough to get you started. And rather than ever looking at an audition in terms of, "What are they looking for and how can I be that?" focus your energy on, "This is who I am and now let me show them that."

Trust me: You, yourself, are enough. If you trust nothing else in this week's piece, walk away with at least that nugget. I know it sounds "Stuart Smalley" in nature, but it's just the truth. You don't have to be anything other than who you are in order to make it here. In fact, the harder you try to figure out what we want and stray away from your authentic self in order to be that, the less trust we're going to put in you to deliver the goods as an actor who gives voice to our projects' characters in the first place. Trust that.

Spotlight On: Laura Wise

2009-09-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

In her own words...My name is Laura Wise. I live in Los Angeles California. I am a film and TV focused actress. I have strong singing and dancing abilities and tend to be cast as the girl next door, the bitch, hippie chick or as and 18 to play younger.

How did you get started?

I started performing in Ohio where I am from. I went to drama camp, and did lots of plays when I was younger as I got older I was very much into show choir which is a total Midwest thing. Basically you travel across the country to compete with your singing and dancing routines. It was a blast. I picked acting back up senior year of college. I was part of an ABC Family web series called “Rush’d.” I realized my dream and moved to LA less than a month after graduation. I read tons of books to help me land on my feet here, one of my favorites being, “Acting is Everything” the LA acting bible.

Link 4 rush’d: http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Shows+Rushd/page_LauraWise

What do you do to prepare for an audition/casting?

I memorize my lines, look for a strong objective and assign tactics to most of my lines. I use a tape recorder to practice my lines - if no one can read with me. Before I go in I do 3 “butt breathes” a tactic I learned from the amazing auditioning coach – Caryn West, basically you breathe very deeply. Depending on the scene I might use a strong moment before. I always research the project.

What's been the hardest obstacle you've faced as an actress?

The vast numbers of people trying to do what I am trying to do is daunting. I met with a director of a very prominent TV show once and I’m not sure why he took the meeting because he spent nearly a half hour telling me how hard it was to make it in this business. That left me a little deflated for a few days. To make it in this business, or to even try, you have to be a dreamer that truly believes you are the exception not the rule.

How do you maintain your sanity in this crazy, unpredictable business?

I use a planner to keep everything straight. I forget about auditions after they happen – it’s not worth agonizing over something you have no control over. I make time for friends and fun stuff to keep me sane. Most books and people you talk to will tell you that you must always be working your ass off and gives you a constant feeling of urgency, like you need to do X Y and Z by Friday or you will never make it as an actor. I bought into this for a while but quickly realized if you aren’t sleeping and taking some time for yourself. You will become unhappy and it will hurt your auditions. Finding a balance is so important.

What's your dream role? What role were you born to play?

Penny Lane in Almost Famous. I have an obsession with the 60’s/70’s era. I would love to have worked in Across the Universe - and the actors got to sing Beatles songs (My Favorite Band). That’s pretty much heaven for me. Oh and Tracy from Into the Wild.

What/Who inspires you?

I work with other actors who are so positive and proactive and that serves as constant inspiration. I am also fascinated by Kristen Stewart I have been following her career since way before Twilight. I really started paying attention to her after, “Into the Wild”. Her style is very unique. She actually is a pretty subtle actress but you can really see the thought behind her actions.

Any tips for other aspiring actors?

Do something every day for your career. Know the odds, but pretend they don’t exist. I have heard so many stories about less talented, less trained etc. actors who landed this great role or agent because they are so naïve as to how hard it is to make it, that they just strolled right in with confidence and booked it. Also, get in class!

What's in your actors tool box?

Submission websites and internet on your phone. Great audition outfits for roles that you are commonly called in for. Business cards, a planner. A great class. In LA you NEED a GPS to get to auditions. Bottled water. Google Voice is great - sign up for an invite asap. Great car music because in LA you will be doing a lot of driving.

My goal is to....be a star.

For more about Laura...

LauraWise.com

Leadingladyla.blogspot.com

wiselauraj@gmail.com

Busy B! Audition Recap

2009-09-16T23:13:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I had an audition earlier this week for a modern re-telling of "The Nativity Story." It was at a church in Brooklyn (took nearly an hour to get there!) and everyone involved was incredibly nice. I was called in to play the 17 year old enemy of Mary. Went in read my sides twice and then the director asked me to read for another role Collen. He seemed to really like it and then we did a short improv of the scene. Overall it was an amazing positive experience!

Another audition for a film/musical "Finding Home" Went in met with the director who was so sweet...told her that I was a little stuffed up, but that I would do my best. I sung the song I prepared (I Believe in You and Me- Whitney Houston) and I also sung Home from the Wiz. She seemed to really enjoy it..she told me that I have a beautiful, beautiful voice! The sides were another story :(...I don't even know where to begin. I'll just say that if it's meant for me..I'll get a callback...I really want it!

Cliff Notes
- Operation Get an Agent is in full effect...(thanks to my LA actress boo Laura) I will definetly have an agent before October!
- I booked my first PAID acting job!! Shoots on Friday and I'll do a full post with pictures on my experience.
- Audition on Saturday for a NYU student film
- Audition on Sunday for a short film
- Audition on Monday for a new musical Freedom Train
- Casting on Monday for a stock photographer

Actors Toolbox: What's in my Bag?

2009-09-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

I stole this idea from the whole "What's in your bag/purse?" Youtube craze. I thought it would be interesting to put an actors spin on it. So I present to you the contents of my bag...

pic courtesy of my bb bold!

1. Make-up, Lotion, Hand Sanitizer

2. Wallet, Money(that I don't keep in wallet), Keys

3. Acting Folder (this is where I keep my headshot/resume, sides, direction to audition site)

4. Business/To Do Folder (this is where I keep bills, my t-shirt business stuff and what I need to accomplish for that particular day)

5. Netflix (I needed to return this movie...love Netflix by the way!)

6. My Planner

7. AA Productions Notebook (where I write down all my script/production company ideas)

8. Backstage

9. RIIICCOLLLAAA! Ricola Throat Longenzes (most of my auditions are for musical theater type things so I keep these handy)

Not Pictured- My beloved Blackberry Bold, SmartWater water bottle

"You Need To Get Yourself an Agent"

2009-09-11T19:50:00.000-04:00

This is what a debonair older gentleman said to me yesterday in Soho as he walked by my t-shirt stand. Instead of saying, "I'm trying" or "Do you know any?" I just stood there stared and then smiled. A missed opportunity. I've had a lot of those lately and I'm not sure if it's fear or just...well, fear. I've missed 3 auditions in the past week for various reasons and I'm beginning to get frustrated with MYSELF. I sit around wishing I had the opportunity to do this and that, but I'm not doing EVERYTHING I can possibly do to insure that I get those opportunities. So...by the end of this month I will have an agent! It's not wishful thinking, I'm not hoping for it..I will do EVERYTHING that I can to make sure that I have an agent by the end of September.

Cliff Notes
- Audition for a musical tomorrow..very excited about this!
- Ordering business cards
- Mailings, Mailings, and more Mailings!!
- In the beginning stages of starting a production company with a close friend...brainstorming and coming up with ideas for self-produced work!!

Spotlight On-Yolanda Allen

2009-08-31T03:00:00.000-04:00

In her own words... I'm Yolanda Allen originally from Georgia. I have been in New York for a few years. I did not go to school for acting however I have taken some classes here in New York with plans to take many more...there's always something to learn. I also plan to get training in Video Editing. When I'm not acting I enjoy writing poetry, reading and having fun!

How did you get started?

I have wanted to be an actress but like most people I had to work full-time so I was not able to really focus on it like I wanted to. I got really great headshots in 2008 & focused on Commercial Print Agencies. I met with Print Agents but nothing came of it. January of this year, I was laid off from my job so I started to focus on acting full-time. So I've only being doing it for about 7 months. So I'm still getting started lol

What's been the biggest obstacle you've faced as an actress?

Having the finances to pursue this career. It's not cheap to get started in this industry and if you want to do it full-time you need to have the finances to back you up. Unlike most of my acting friends, I live on my own (which I wouldn't change for the world) so my personal expenses are very high but I don't let that stop me from learning my craft. If I can't afford to take a class, I read a book, or go to a free workshop, or go to a free sample class. I feel a little information is better than no information. I do what I can til I can do better. So don't let not having money for classes stop you from learning!

How do you maintain your sanity in this crazy, unpredictable business?

I do not hold onto the outcome of any audition/casting/or meeting with Casting Directors/Agents..I go in, do what I can and when it's over I say.....NEXT! I share information with others in the industry on a regular basis that I feel is helpful and/or inspirational through my blog or social networking sites I use. I don't have this dog eat dog mentality, I feel that no one can take what is already yours. I give props when they are due...trying not to have that thought...why her and not me? It pops up every now and then but you have to block that out your mind because their path is not your path. REMEMBER THAT!! I am my own cheerleader, giving myself those much needed pep talks to get out there and keep pressing on no matter how many NOs I may receive. I also have a great support system (a lot of people believe in me). And most importantly I know that the best is yet to come!

What's your dream role? What role were you born to play?

I'm just a baby in the game so I really don't have a dream role but I can tell you that a role in a film playing alongside Morgan Freeman would be a dream come true!! I love him!! I could definitely see myself being on a hit Prime time TV show.

What/Who inspires you?

God, My Mom, My brother, myself, and Tyler Perry.

What do you do to prepare for an audition/casting?

Well I do what every other actor does I guess. When I get the sides I just ask myself who is my character, who am I talking to, how do I feel about this person, where am I, what do I want, how do I plan to get it...etc. I leave all nerves at home. I look at every audition like it's a job interview...and lord knows I've been on tons of those...so I don't get nervous. Well I was nervous when I went out for my very first audition & that was because I didn't know what to expect.

Any tips for other aspiring actors?

Don't be afraid to ask questions, there are no dumb questions. Make smart moves & the necessary sacrifices. Don't tell yourself NO before they do....believe in yourself no matter what. Learn as much as you can about the craft & business side of acting. There is no guaranteed way to make it in this business people can tell you what they did that worked for them, you take the information you learn and apply whatever you feel will work for you and discard the rest. Their path is not your path but learning from their experiences can keep you from making some of the same mistakes. There is no such thing as an overnight success only an overnight discovery. It's up to that person to be prepared to be successful once they have been discovered.

What's in your actors tool box?

Headshots, postcards, business cards, Actors Access, Nycastings, Casting Networks, Faith, Acting Books, positive attitude and a beautiful smile!

My goal is to....serve a purpose greater than myself through my acting and charity work!

Keep up with Yolanda on her sites: www.yolanda-allen.com www.yolandaallen.blogspot.com

Actors Toolbox: Actors Access/Showfax

2009-08-28T15:50:00.000-04:00

**The Actors Toolbox is a new weekly feature on my blog where I'll discuss what I feel are necessities for me as an aspiring actor.

I decided to put these two together because...well, you can't have one without the other.

Don't call yourself an actor if you're not on actorsaccess and if you're new to acting click the logo. actorsaccess is the mecca of online casting sites...they post breakdowns for short films, feature films, commercials, print, etc and allow you to self submit to these projects!! It's a great resource for aspiring actors without agents.

I first joined actorsaccess back in 2005..I put up my headshots/resume and started to look at the breakdowns. I have to admit that I didn't really start taking advantage of this site until early this year and that was mostly because of the $2 per submission price tag (doesn't seem like much, but when you're submitting to 5 projects a day/5 days a week it adds up!). What changed you ask....

I got hip to Showfax baby! This site is kinda an extension of actorsaccess. With a subscription to Showfax ($68 annually) you can submit as much as you want to the breakdowns on actoraccess. It also has an amazing message board and columns by working casting directors Mark Sikes and Bonnie Gillespie (which will be an upcoming Actors Toolbox).

I heart Showfax! If you guys are on the messageboard I'm MsBrit.

Cliff Notes

- Audition for a Short Film tomorrow
- Coming up Monday Diary's first interview with an aspiring actor!

More to come!!

2009-08-26T14:36:00.000-04:00

Since I'm making acting my number one priority it's only right that I dedicate more time to my blog. In the coming weeks I'll be posting:

- interviews with some of my favorite acting bloggers and fellow aspiring actors.

- new features "Actors Toolbox" and "Acting vs."

- updates on my career and much much more so stay tuned!

Busy B Part Deux

2009-08-24T23:34:00.000-04:00

WOW! It's been two whole months since I've posted. Lots of things have happen since the last time I posted. Unfortunately I haven't booked anything, but it's mostly my fault because I haven't been submitting/auditioning like I should. Let's see if I can do a quick recap:

-I'm proud to say that I have officially launched my website! You can check it out here . It's still a work in progress, but I like it.

-I finally joined Showfax!! Best $68 bucks I've ever spent!

-Celebrated a huge birthday.

-Spent a week in LA on a last minute business trip, but I actually used this time to scope out LA and talk to lots of other actors.

-Audition for a PSA..got a callback that I was unable to attend because I was in LA :(.

-Audition for a short film that I really wanted, but couldn't make it due to my trip to LA.

-Print casting for Nokia

-Voice-over audition for a radio soap opera( I really want to book this!)

Hmmm...I'm sure that there's more, but I think that's enough for now. As you can see my trip to LA was a gift and a curse, but I had an amazing time and made lots of money...so that helps!

I will definitely be updating my blog on a regular basis from here on out...it's time to make acting my number one priority and I'm glad you guys are along for the ride!

Busy B!

2009-06-26T02:05:00.000-04:00

Took a break for a week and now I'm back! What's been going on:

- Finally had my promo photo shoot

- almost finished with my website!!

_ sending out mailings/submissions like crazy

Decluttering My Life

2009-06-16T13:21:00.000-04:00

I've been decluttering my apt./life over the past few days. Getting rid of old clothes and products I don't use anymore.

I'm also making inspiration books! I had a ton of old magazines and papers...I'm going through each one and cutting out important articles and separating them into: fashion inspiration, design inspiration, recipes, nutrition and exercise.

I'm making my own acting "book" with articles that I cut out of old Backstage, Showbiz Weekly, and other trades. I'll post a pic when I complete it.

Visualization Activity

2009-06-14T07:33:00.000-04:00

This is the visualization activity that I spoke about in this post. I added an acting example to each one. Hope you guys find this useful!

1 Start with a thought
What do you want? For instance, you may set an objective that you want to be slimmer, or have more energy or a radiant complexion.

Example:
I want to be slimmer

Acting Example: I want to book a commercial

2 Write down your thought
Once you commit your thought to paper with pen, you elevate the thought to a new level of energy.

Example:
I am slim

Acting Example: I booked a commercial

3 Assess the action needed to achieve your goal
Think about what it will take to become slim, healthy or energized. Break it down into steps. For example, if your goal is to be slim, then your first Action Step is to keep a diary of everything you eat and drink for a week. Your second Action Step might be to throw away all the rubbish foods that I tell you are too nasty for your body. And so on.

Example:
Step 1: Create a food diary
Step 2: Throw out all the rubbishy food
(This is only an example to illustrate the possibilities. I want you to plan this out with your individual goals and steps to match. Be creative and do anything here that meets your own aspirations.)

Acting Example: 1. Get a great Commercial Headshot

2. Send Compcard/Headshot to Commercial Print Agency

4 Draw your goal in a picture
With a black pen, I want you to draw on plain, white paper whatever it is that you want to achieve or how you want to see yourself. So using the slim example, draw a simple figure of yourself looking slim and happy. You do not need to be Rembrandt. All you need to do is draw with stick figures. Put a caption underneath your drawing.

Example:
(Your name) IS SLIM. I AM SLIM.

Acting Example: Brittany shooting a commercial

5 Draw your action steps
With a black pen on white paper, draw pictures of you actually going through your Action Steps to reach your end goal.

Example:
A picture of a Food Diary with caption, ‘(Your name) fills out Food Diary.’
Complete the pictures and flow it through until you get to your end result and you are now slim.

Acting Example: Picture of a smiling headshot with caption. Brittany gets great commercial headshot.
Our thoughts have powerful energy. When we write down these thoughts, and even transfer them into pictures, we dramatically intensify them. You are now harnessing the thought into action.
You can make anything happen. You become the creator of your own destiny.
Review your drawings every day and redraw them once a month.
You may find that, on reflection, you wish to elaborate some steps or shorten some steps. After all, you now know that you are the creator of your destiny.

(Please note that the examples above are all in the present tense, which further strengthens the energy of your thought. So instead of ‘I will be slim’, it’s ‘I am slim’. This method leaves no room for doubt. When you state ‘I am’ there is nowhere else to go but get results and achieve success.)

Inspiration!!

2009-06-12T20:35:00.000-04:00

I picked up this book from Barnes and Nobles (my most favoritest store!!) awhile ago.

I flipped through it before purchasing and was immediately attracted to the clean, bright layout of the book as well the pictures. I figured I would pick up some great recipes and healthy lifestyle tips....Well, I got a lot more! Instead of just telling you eat this and do this Dr. Gillian McKeith helps you "reprogram your mind." I sound like an infomercial...but it's true! Through varies activities you come to realize what your eating and why your eating it..once that's out of the way you can begin to adopt healthier habits.

Being the good little aspiring actress that I am, I used a few of the activities and applied them to acting. I especially liked her visualize your goals activity. I think I'm going to post that on the blog.

After completing her book I was so inspired...I wish that I could bottle what I felt and re-open it everytime I feel down. Unfortunately I can't...but I have my notes and charts and I'll look over those weekly.

Maybe you should keep your day job....

2009-06-10T22:47:00.000-04:00

Bonnie over at The Actors Voice wrote this interesting article.

Thoughts??

I agree with her for the most part...there's always something else that we as actors can be doing.

By the way, if you're not reading her column every Monday you should be!

What's Goin' On

2009-06-10T21:32:00.000-04:00

Not much going on right now...which is my fault because I haven't been submitting like I should be.

- Working on my website...having a hard time with the color scheme.

- Photoshoot Monday morning...I need a few promotional pics for my website

- Starting a production company with a close friend of mine...very excited about some of the ideas we've been coming up with.

It's time for me to buckle down and start submitting/auditioning like crazy!

An Actor Trains...

2009-06-01T20:09:00.000-04:00

The single most important thing an actor can do is train. I feel like I should say that again...The single most important thing an actor can do is train. Ok, you get it! I'm not just talking about taking an Acting 101 class...There's Voice Production and Speech, Scene Study, Cold Reading, Stage Fighting. A ton of different classes out there that every aspiring actor should be looking into. When your not working you should be training. What training do I have you ask..

I mentioned before that I attended a conservatory in Manhattan straight out of high school. The focus was on Musical Theatre and I received some great training which I'm thankful for, but I wasn't ready to be a "professional"(more on that in a later post).

I recently wrapped up a workshop with an amazing teacher Paula J. Riley. It was an intense 4 month workshop and I loved every minute of it.

In September I start a year-long apprenticeship with The Barrow Group here in NYC. I auditioned a week ago and I got in! They only accept 20 students each year...I'm super excited and will defintely blog about my experience in the program.

Cliff Notes- About Me

2009-05-30T08:14:00.000-04:00

I always struggle with writing things about myself. My solution the cliff notes version- all the important stuff with no "filler." Let's begin...

- I was born in Fort Hood, TX, but spent the majority of my life in FL

- Grease is the movie (it's ok if you thought I was going to say word...lol) that made me want to act. I can remember laying on my cousin Tiffany's bed watching it for the first time

- I attended a musical theater conservatory in Manhattan, NY

-My very first role was Dwarf #7 in a production of Snow White that my middle school put on.

That's all for now. I'm sure that as my blog grows you'll learn more about me.

Hello World!

2009-05-29T18:31:00.000-04:00

Welcome to The Diary of an Aspiring Actress! I went back and forth with the idea of starting my own blog...I finally decided to do it. It's a great way to keep track of my progress and hopefully share some useful info with other aspiring actors.