debor009

Lucky Money Toad Another Year and, no, not the Mike Leigh kind I hope, although it was probably the most profound film of 2010.  Actually I was thinking about that film the other day and how – despite the synopsis – it was really about Lesley Manville’s character, Mary. Another year older. Another year alone. Another year of desperately looking for Mr. Ideal (and with her options becoming less and less ideal.) Profound, and heartbreaking. For an actor, however, the arrival of another year is about staying positive. On New Year’s Day we rush to read our astrology forecast, seek out messages in fortune cookies, tarot cards, runes, hold onto our lucky numbers, lucky jewelry, lucky audition outfits, lucky Chinese Money Toads….anything to keep our energy up and our attitude optimistic. Because no profession brings more rejection and uncertainty than acting. It takes, on average, about 10 years of hard slogging to support yourself as an actor.   Sure, some are seemingly ov...

Arlan Godthaab, Vampire Hunter A Los Angeles actor friend, Arlan Godthaab , posted photos yesterday on Facebook from "I Had a Bloody Good Time at House Harker," a horror-comedy now shooting in snowy Wisconsin, with a cast that includes Jacob Givens , Derek Haugen , Noel Carroll , and Keely Gelineau. These were interesting shots that not only made me want to learn more about the film but also got me thinking about how actors and production companies use social media to publicize their product. His is one way, and it’s a good one. Yet most production companies, even the big ones, don’t yet get social media. Filmmakers trying to break into the business have enough on their plate just trying to figure out funding, casting, logistics, lighting, shooting, and editing. Marketing is rarely in the budget, so they don’t even think about it. They should. They have a whole team on set that can help get the word out about their production, but often the best most young filmmakers can d...

From time to time people will ask me what I do to advance myself as an actress, or what do I do to get auditions, or how I organize my day to hit all the agency bases, or....whatever. The question "What do you do to......?" is the one that For non-linear thinkers, explanations  can be tough. causes absolute panic, because it asks for a linear explanation: "Well I wanted to achieve this so I did this, and then I did that, and then I did this other thing, and Voila! Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!" The problem is that in a world of largely linear thinkers, I am one who is not. My thoughts contain random bits of information that travel in totally unconnected orbits around my head. No one bit relates directly to any other bit, but from time to time they connect and make sense in the center....in my head....resulting in sudden insights that I couldn't possibly explain. People like me can have an intuitive understanding of a thing or process and yet be utter di...