I read this on my pal Michael Lally's blog today. Seemed so apropos for the times.
"Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people's approval
and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity."
Lao-tsu from the Tao te Ching (the Stephen Mitchell translation)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Back to the Blog!
One of my new years resolutions is to get back to the blog--so here I am!
This has been a great year for me as an actor and a teacher. I have been doing a play in Los Angeles, "It's Just Sex", that has been extended twice, a lead role on a Disney Web Series, great guest stars on House and Two and a Half Men, and I even got to be a Casting Director on two projects "Children of the Corn" and the Web Series I am on, In2ition. But the professional development that has made me the happiest, has been the chance to help get some of my students some acting work. Two students, Tracey Paleo and Desiree Dundr have worked in the play I am doing "It's Just Sex", Tracey as my under-study (with guaranteed performances) and Desiree in a fun cameo as "Amanda the Hooker". Pete Punito, my long-time student and Studio Monitor, got cast in In2ition in a role that will return if the show gets picked up for a second season.
Jamie as Mrs. Fox with Pete Punito as Agent Cortell.
This has been a great year for me as an actor and a teacher. I have been doing a play in Los Angeles, "It's Just Sex", that has been extended twice, a lead role on a Disney Web Series, great guest stars on House and Two and a Half Men, and I even got to be a Casting Director on two projects "Children of the Corn" and the Web Series I am on, In2ition. But the professional development that has made me the happiest, has been the chance to help get some of my students some acting work. Two students, Tracey Paleo and Desiree Dundr have worked in the play I am doing "It's Just Sex", Tracey as my under-study (with guaranteed performances) and Desiree in a fun cameo as "Amanda the Hooker". Pete Punito, my long-time student and Studio Monitor, got cast in In2ition in a role that will return if the show gets picked up for a second season.
Jamie as Mrs. Fox with Pete Punito as Agent Cortell.Saturday, November 8, 2008
Back in Iowa
I am back in Iowa--Des Moines this time--teaching a class and giving a talk at the White Rose Film Festival.
The class was this morning. A great group of actors. And the films I have seen have been fantastic. My "Keynote" speech is tonight. More later...
Friday, September 5, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Children of the Corn-Iowa Casting
I arrived in Iowa late Wednesday night, and have spent the last two days from 10am -7pm seeing local actors. Production placed ads in the local newspapers, the director has done interviews on radio and TV inviting kids to come audition, and my assistant, Ben Easter (more on him later), even went to the Iowa County Fair and handed out flyers headed with the title "Want to be in a movie?"
We were all so worried that no one would come to the casting call. Ha! On our first day people were lined up around the block! We couldn't keep up with them. It was completely overwhelming. If it wasn't for Ben and Production Assistant Melinda Burns, I would have spent the day cowering in my hotel room crying
On day one of casting, kids (with their parents) arrived as early as 6:30am to be first in line for our 10am start. We were behind even before we started the day.
Then we had to walk along the line of people and decide who would be pulled into my office to read lines. I have to confess, I just didn't have the stomach for this. I couldn't walk down that line and say "you" "you" "you", passing over some hopeful eight-year-old and his eager mother. I am a coward. I made Ben do it.
In the room reading, the kids were all sweet and of course somewhat nervous. I definitely found some talented kids who will be reading for the director this weekend.
There were a few chilling moments--examples of overly ambitious parenting. A young girl of maybe thirteen read, her reading was good, but she had braces on her teeth. I told her gently that because of the setting of the film, we couldn't use any kids with braces (there is no "Orthodontist of the Corn"), I wanted her to know that it wasn't that she did a bad reading--it was a "look" thing. Ben told me that her mother pulled him aside after the audition and said forcefully :"I want you to know that I will have her braces taken off. This is THAT important!" Ben was stunned. Having a small part in our little TV Movie is so important that she would put her child's well-being second? I am worried about the message this young girl is getting about the priorities of her life.
I was a child actor, I started at age six, and I definitely had some emotional fall-out from spending my formative years in the competitive world of show biz. The sets were great, it was the auditioning. Whether or not she gets the job, I think it is dangerous for a child to be in a situation where they will be "picked" or "not picked". I had enough trauma in the schoolyard when the "captains" picked teams for the softball games. Being hopelessly afraid of the ball, I was always picked last. (Don't even get me started about Dodge Ball--having bright red hair, there I was picked first!) Now imagine an almost weekly situation where I was led into a room full of adults and asked to "perform", and then waiting for the phone to ring to hear if I got the job.
For many years, I wouldn't teach acting to kids. I felt that they should be sheltered from this kind of life. But around a year ago I started giving private lessons to a little girl named Madeline Stauffer. When her mother contacted me we had a chat and I realized that she was a completely supportive and caring parent. She explained that Madeline was driven to become an actor and she wanted to give her the support to explore her dreams. Madeline gets great grades at school and has plenty of other extra-curricular activities so I know she is having the full "childhood" experience. And she approaches her work with me with absolute dedication and seriousness. While I know she has dreams of being the next Miley Cyrus, she also has a deep love of the craft, she wants to be a great actor. It is my pleasure to help her towards this goal.
If it wasn't for Madeline I don't think I would have been able to do this job of casting "Children of the Corn". She has helped me to understand that acting can be a wonderful enhancement to a child's life. I love meeting each child who comes in to read. I feel like I have a chance to make them feel safe and accepted, and in this way it is a kind of healing for me. I get to give the kind of audition experience I would have liked to have had when I was a little girl.
OK. More soon. I am off to another day of Iowa casting! Until then, enjoy this clip of me in my first acting job. A "Kool-aid" commercial. I'm six. I'm the one with the curly hair.
Kool-aid A-gogo
We were all so worried that no one would come to the casting call. Ha! On our first day people were lined up around the block! We couldn't keep up with them. It was completely overwhelming. If it wasn't for Ben and Production Assistant Melinda Burns, I would have spent the day cowering in my hotel room crying
On day one of casting, kids (with their parents) arrived as early as 6:30am to be first in line for our 10am start. We were behind even before we started the day.
Then we had to walk along the line of people and decide who would be pulled into my office to read lines. I have to confess, I just didn't have the stomach for this. I couldn't walk down that line and say "you" "you" "you", passing over some hopeful eight-year-old and his eager mother. I am a coward. I made Ben do it.
In the room reading, the kids were all sweet and of course somewhat nervous. I definitely found some talented kids who will be reading for the director this weekend.
There were a few chilling moments--examples of overly ambitious parenting. A young girl of maybe thirteen read, her reading was good, but she had braces on her teeth. I told her gently that because of the setting of the film, we couldn't use any kids with braces (there is no "Orthodontist of the Corn"), I wanted her to know that it wasn't that she did a bad reading--it was a "look" thing. Ben told me that her mother pulled him aside after the audition and said forcefully :"I want you to know that I will have her braces taken off. This is THAT important!" Ben was stunned. Having a small part in our little TV Movie is so important that she would put her child's well-being second? I am worried about the message this young girl is getting about the priorities of her life.
I was a child actor, I started at age six, and I definitely had some emotional fall-out from spending my formative years in the competitive world of show biz. The sets were great, it was the auditioning. Whether or not she gets the job, I think it is dangerous for a child to be in a situation where they will be "picked" or "not picked". I had enough trauma in the schoolyard when the "captains" picked teams for the softball games. Being hopelessly afraid of the ball, I was always picked last. (Don't even get me started about Dodge Ball--having bright red hair, there I was picked first!) Now imagine an almost weekly situation where I was led into a room full of adults and asked to "perform", and then waiting for the phone to ring to hear if I got the job.
For many years, I wouldn't teach acting to kids. I felt that they should be sheltered from this kind of life. But around a year ago I started giving private lessons to a little girl named Madeline Stauffer. When her mother contacted me we had a chat and I realized that she was a completely supportive and caring parent. She explained that Madeline was driven to become an actor and she wanted to give her the support to explore her dreams. Madeline gets great grades at school and has plenty of other extra-curricular activities so I know she is having the full "childhood" experience. And she approaches her work with me with absolute dedication and seriousness. While I know she has dreams of being the next Miley Cyrus, she also has a deep love of the craft, she wants to be a great actor. It is my pleasure to help her towards this goal.
If it wasn't for Madeline I don't think I would have been able to do this job of casting "Children of the Corn". She has helped me to understand that acting can be a wonderful enhancement to a child's life. I love meeting each child who comes in to read. I feel like I have a chance to make them feel safe and accepted, and in this way it is a kind of healing for me. I get to give the kind of audition experience I would have liked to have had when I was a little girl.
OK. More soon. I am off to another day of Iowa casting! Until then, enjoy this clip of me in my first acting job. A "Kool-aid" commercial. I'm six. I'm the one with the curly hair.
Kool-aid A-gogo
Monday, August 4, 2008
Casting Children of the Corn
I have a new job in addition to my duties as an actor and acting teacher. I am the Casting Director for a remake of the 70's cult horror film "Children of the Corn".
This is an amazing experience. Every professional actor should put in some time as a Casting Director as part of their training. I wish I had done this twenty years ago--it would have saved me a lot of mistakes.
No time for details now, I am off to conduct a casting sesson. More later!
This is an amazing experience. Every professional actor should put in some time as a Casting Director as part of their training. I wish I had done this twenty years ago--it would have saved me a lot of mistakes.
No time for details now, I am off to conduct a casting sesson. More later!
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