debor009

In Los Angeles and still transitioning, but what an exciting time! This morning I was scanning YouTube over breakfast and came across the Small Market Actor channel and some wonderful advice on how to respond to the dreaded "Tell me about yourself" question that often crops up in an audition. I wrote about this topic a couple of years ago, but this is so concise I'll let Kurt tell you himself.

One of the things I’ve been bumping up against in the past year, with great frustration, is being called to audition for a role that seems the polar opposite of the roles I’m usually cast to play (i.e. senator, judge, executive, strong women). Blue-haired granny is the one I see most frequently – small, plump, caring, no strong identity, sometimes comical. It's like when you get older you become a ghost; just the faintest impression of a person. The only apparent fit for these roles is the age range. I’m not plump. I don’t have gray hair. I'm 5 ft. 8 inches tall. Nothing in my posted head shots or reels gives me any clue as to what the casting director might have been thinking of in asking me to audition. Blue-haired Granny? Nah. I’ve discussed this with actor friends and the responses have ranged from the limited vision of American film and TV (if you’re a certain age, you’re a blue-haired granny) to the possibility that I’m “above market” in the southeast, where many of these...

I’ve been off the grid for the past couple of months trying to figure out how to move to Los Angeles in 2018 without breaking the bank. For two years my husband and I have been making periodic trips out to LA to check out neighborhoods, apartments, acting classes, travel distances to the studios, and the feasibility of getting to auditions by driving the grid and staying off the freeways. (As Bette Davis famously said, “Take Fountain.”) We really thought we could make it work, but the more research we did the less it seemed feasible. Paramount Pictures where Gloria Swanson makes her entrance in Sunset Boulevard . Single actors may join forces with a roommate or two and romanticize the Bohemian life, but husbands frown on additional bodies in the home and I’ve reached a point in life where dirt and junkies are just…well…dirt and junkies. Last August we flew out to LA to check out apartments in a few neighborhoods we’d identified as pleasant, reasonably safe, and within easy commute to t...

We’d never thought of creating a base in southern Nevada, or of splitting the year between two (or more) locations, but the minute we got home I was online and looking into it. The distance (about 300 miles depending on the route) was about the same as from my current location to New York, so even when I wasn’t physically in Los Angeles I could still make it to scheduled call times and classes, and there was still the option of uploading audition tapes. Taxes? Nevada has no state income tax, check. Apartment costs? A two-bedroom in Las Vegas can be had for around $1,000 a month. In some of the small towns to the south, like Laughlin , it drops to $550. So rent for a whole year in Nevada is roughly equal to the cost of one or two months in Los Angeles, which eases the pain of paying rent for a year when we may be away for long periods of time. Pets? We didn’t see any massive up-front pet fees, but breed and number limits are in place in some places, but not all. Location? The desert is...

The more we thought about getting an apartment in Nevada, and taking our own mobile accommodations to Los Angeles for that prime part of the year for auditions, the more it seemed like a good idea. My husband will be polishing his three draft novels - and developing new ones - so he can work anywhere. We would be out of the desert during that part of the year when it's ridiculously hot. We could park ourselves in different locations, from beach to mountains. If neighbors nearby got noisy or unpleasant, we could move. Plus we could stay mobile for location filming and take our pets with us. We're Westerners by birth. No limits, Baby! But what kind of mobile accommodations were going to feel most comfortable and at the same time be the most mobile? We found out that with more and more employment being do-able online a lot of working-age people are ditching the 9-5 routine and opting for a place-to-place life on the road, so researching RVs and what is involved was easy (search RV...

You have to have a touch of the wanderlust in you to be an actor - travel is frequently part of the job, after all - but if as part of your travels you happen to wander into an old film location, so much the better. I often seek them out: the LA river bed where the giant ants hole up in Them! , the old train depot in New Jersey where they filmed The Station Agent . The Caribbean island of Dominica Last week my dear husband and I went farther afield to Dominica (pronounced Doh-meh-nee'-kah), the volcanic island near Barbados where many of the scenes from the Pirates of the Caribbean films are shot. What an unbelievably gorgeous island. It rises from its black sand beaches more than 4,000 feet, all tropical rainforest with streams and waterfalls at every turn. Breathtaking. The next in the Pirates series - Dead Men Tell No Tales - is now in preproduction. Lucky the actors who get to leave gray skies and brown trees and work there. The beach is indeed black

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...

As I've often said in this journal, I'm a thinking actress, not a feeling actress, and I'm always looking for shortcuts to developing a character. Brits are known for an outside in approach, for example: get the walk and the talk first and then to let the character develop from there. Actor Michael Chekhov, nephew of playwright Anton Chekhov, developed a system that can help in capturing the walk and the talk. Chekhov said all characters fell into one of three archetypes, which he called Head-, Heart-, and Groin-centered. “Head” characters seem to draw their emotional energy from the head and all of their gestures seem to come from there. They slap or tap their head, scratch their head, make sweeping farewell gestures from the head. They also sit forward in chairs and walk forward on the balls of their feet. Head characters are perceptive. Consider Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, who frequently tips his hat, touches his moustache, and nods his...

--> You lost out. You auditioned and they loved you. Casting was so moved by your performance they were in tears. You were called back, more than once. They said you nailed it. Or maybe you even got the part in the big budget production and shot the scene. The famous director told you how terrific you were on camera. You went home walking on air. You told all of your actor friends. Everyone said you were on your way. And then….nothing. The part went to a different actor. Your scene was edited out of the film. Your big moment turned to sand. It doesn’t feel like a gift at that moment, (No, it hurts like hell.) but for an actor early in their career it may just be the best thing that can possibly happen. Why? Because you want that role desperately.   You need it. Your sense of self-worth hangs on it. You leave auditions replaying the scene in your head: “Maybe I should have done it this way, maybe I should have done it that way.”   You’re a bundle of nerves with ...

Auditioned this morning in NY for a role in a new TV series that's been green-lighted. A lot of production companies with streaming capability are bypassing pilots and committing to projects right off. This is a positive new trend, because it means they're putting thought and money into development of a superior product, like House of Cards . Anyway, this one is with a major production house. I think I did well, but two other actresses auditioning for the same role were on a first name basis with casting. It's a tough market. 4 a.m. in Washington's Union Station, waiting for a train.

--> Last week I got together with a group of local actresses to discuss career issues, and one of the topics that came up was how we get stereotyped into certain roles. Some of us had brought our headshots along with a list of our last six bookings, and the niche each of us filled was pretty clear: “wholesome mom,” “woman on the edge,” “intimidating authority figure,” and so on. A stereotype isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s common among actors for the roles we book to run against the image we have of ourselves. One actress friend books a lot of blue-collar "lady plumber" roles, but feels frustrated she’s not playing executives and attorneys. I’m typically wearing a suit or upscale casual clothes in what I book, but long to play hardscrabble, Depression-era types. (High drama!) Stereotypes are your bread-and-butter and can help get you in the door on a big budget film or TV project. That’s why your headshot folder should always have at least one photo that re...

--> Lately I’ve been getting a lot of invitations to TV/film industry mixers, large gatherings that promise to provide access to those in the business who can help your career.   To be sure, networking can be critically important to getting better roles, but large crowds annoy me and I have to wonder if these events aren't too dark, too crowded (300-400 people said one invitation) and too noisy to be worth anyone's time? Yesterday I turned to L.A. networking guru David Patrick Green with the following: What do you think of the networking value of industry mixers? His answer? Not much. T he main purpose of these mixers, Green says, is to make money for the organizers. Sure it’s possible to meet producers, casting directors, and other industry people there, but if you just go and don't know what you want to accomplish, you're not likely to accomplish anything. If you go in with a specific purpose, he says, then maybe something can happen, but even then you nee...

There's an old army saying that assumption is the mother of all screw ups, and it's as true on set as it is on base.  This week I came across a terrific article by Casting Director Lana Veenker on errors to avoid on set.  I've copied them below, but here's the link to her original article .  Lots of good advice here.   From "12 Major Faux Pas to Avoid on Set," Backstage magazine, January 13, 2014: 1. Working with cameras and mics. “One of my most embarrassing acting memories was forgetting I was miked.” Between takes, the crew can hear your every word. Never make fun of, hit on, gossip, or gripe about your colleagues. This is one of the most common on-set blunders. (See also: looking into the camera; not being off book.)   Kay: I would add to turn off the mic before heading for the restroom. 2. Handling food and drink. “During the lunch break, I dipped my tie into the BBQ sauce and soiled my white shirt.” Protect your wardrobe from spills and stains. Also ...

There aren't many films about the acting experience that I would recommend, but this one is pure gold and no one seems to be promoting it. In That Guy...Who Was in That Thing , a 2012 film from #NewWaveEntertainment, serious (and recognizable) supporting actors talk about the ups and downs of their careers in Hollywood. If you've hit a slump, this film will help you get your head on straight. Stream it off of Netflix as I did or, if you can find one, buy a copy on DVD. Why is it so good and so useful?  Because it's about the struggle to succeed.  Human beings like stories about struggle.  That's why star autobiographies are often so inspirational and a treasure trove of good advice; they tell us how hard and long the road can be, and that it's still possible to survive and succeed.  Now if they'd just follow up with That Gal....Who was in That Thing ....  #KathrynBrowning #ThatGuyWhoWasInThatThing

--> Slowly easing back into the saddle after 3 months of near total focus on home repair and remodeling. Getting the manse in shape for an eventual (sooner than later, I hope) move to Los Angeles and, yes, it’s a nightmare. Fortunately, the activity has moved to the exterior, so I don’t have to spend my days wiping drywall dust off the furniture (plates, food, pets, etc.). Came up for air in time to book a speaking role on a national TV series. I had two scenes in this same show last year only to lose them to editing and rewrites. (Bah!) It’s one of the hazards of acting. You struggle to get into a hit show, get all excited when you do, and then have your hopes dashed. Losing the whole scene isn’t the worst-case scenario, however. Some of my actor friends have landed speaking roles and then had just their lines cut. That means their character is reduced to "featured background" and they can’t get a different role on that same show for years. I must say though...

Back from a week in Los Angeles to attend the LAWebFest, where my web series CapSouth was screened.  Now catching up on my laundry.  I had an amazing time. Took advantage of the trip to meet with actor and production friends and scout the area.  Stayed off the freeway and drove through the neighborhoods – Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Koreatown, East LA, Burbank, Pasadena, Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, all over.  This is what I learned and heard: 1.    Vastly more production going on there than in the East (not surprising), but also vastly more competition from other actors. I bumped into performers everywhere: coffee shops, on the street, and two  stand-up comics just while waiting for the rental car at the airport. Kept overhearing snatches of conversations like: “we just shot their commercial last week” and “we start shooting the film in May.”  2.    While many of the big production studios are in the Burbank/San Fernando Valle...

A lot of actors say they are too self-conscious or too critical of their own performance to ever watch their own clips. I say watch your clips. More than that, develop a loving eye about how you look expressing the whole range of emotions. Why? Because it's freeing. The more comfortable you are with how you look on camera, the more you can let yourself be free to act and to have fun with your character. Starting out in this business, I think we all want to look as attractive as possible on film and in photos. Hollywood projects glamor, after all. American films and American television in particular reach for a certain standard of physical perfection. Even Jennifer Lawrence gets photoshopped in print to look thinner and have more hair! (Good grief!) The tendency is to be overly conscious of our imperfections. My eyes are a bit too close together, for example. My nose definitely has a "good side." My face in the throes of deep emotion has hundreds of little muscles that cre...

There is a running debate among actors about Agents, Managers, and Publicists, and whether you need them outside of the New York/LA areas. Those who have them feel strongly that professionals can help push you to the front of the competition. Outside of NY/LA the sense is that there are fewer casting directors and that they tend to know their local talent and decide whom they are going to bring in for auditions (as opposed to publishing breakdowns and expecting submissions). An actor can get a manager without having an agent, and it’s the manager's job to guide your career and help you find agents in an entertainment world that has become very specialized (theater, film, TV, commercial). Ideally, your relationship should work like this: The manager helps you set a vision for what kind of work you would like to do as an actor and helps you build a portfolio. They then provide guidance on appropriate training, photos, and reel. The manager works to sign you with agents, researching t...