First let me say that, of course, there are nice, grounded, generous people in LA. God Bless them. But so often you see those that aren’t so nice, grounded, or generous. I just got back from a week long trip and I saw both types of people.

I started my week with an orientation for a very well renowned acting studio. As events transpired, I was appalled by the behavior of the instructor and some in the class. I won’t go into specifics, but let’s just say that I will not be taking a class from said instructor. It was my second day into my trip and already I was feeling hopeless about the quality of people in LA. Luckily, a dear dear friend of mine from college invited me to volunteer with him.

Drew has been one of my dearest friends since we did a show together at the UW. He’s one of the nice, grounded, generous types. So before we got to visit, I met him at the food truck for the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition. Here is a description of what they do from their website:

“Every night between 6:15 and 7:30 a community comes together at the barren street corner of Sycamore and Romaine, along the border of Hollywood and West Hollywood. On the one hand – on one side of the table – are the volunteers of The Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition, a broad-based grass-roots organization which for the past 25 years has served a hot, fresh, and nutritious meal every night to the homeless and hungry. On the other hand are between 150 and 200 men and women who have somehow or other fallen through the cracks, and for whom the meal they are about to eat, sumptuous as it is, might well be the only meal they have all day.”

I was one of the people serving food to those that came for a good meal. No questions were asked about need, or how they got into their situation. We just fed them as much as they wanted and sent them off with a smile. Not only was there plenty of food to offer, but there is a mobile clinic run by UCLA students for those that can’t afford medical attention. There was also a legal aide to help those that need it but can’t afford it. I was amazed by the whole operation. Everyone was treated with dignity and respect.

I am so glad I got to have this experience. It is so easy to get caught up in the superficial and selfish world that exists in the entertainment industry. Admittedly, I am not immune to it. The GWHFC reminded me what is really important: making the world a better place for each other, be it through a good meal or a good story.

And if you have a bit to spare, please consider donating to GWHFC or to your local food bank.

xoxo,

Ten minutes into Morocco it becomes clear that she would have eaten Angelina Jolie for lunch. All her roles have a ferocity to them; a woman that can’t be tamed. She also had a colorful personal life. Ms. Dietrich had the credit of bedding three members of the Kennedy family among many others… She was a woman that lived by her own rules, but kept us wrapped around her little finger.

I have been looking forward to the next chapter of my Screen Icons series (you can see my last installment here), and I have wanted to do Marlene from the beginning. It was thrilling trying to embody her: I felt like a little kitten trying to be a tiger. Just channeling her I felt more powerful and sexy. Also, I learned that tuxedos are far more comfortable than traditional ladies formal wear. So, you may be seeing me in a white tie and tails again sometime!

Here are my favorites from our session (all done with the ever-fabulous John Ulman).

****DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT SMOKE OR CONDONE SMOKING. THE CIGARETTE USED IS A PROP CIGARETTE*****

xoxo,

You. Just you. As you are, right now.

As I write this, I still struggle with feeling that I am enough. It’s hard in this business of rejection, and when you don’t get any feedback how can you know for sure? All you hear over and over is “NO”.

That is hard for anyone.

So for you and for me, let’s remember:

xoxo,

Thus, I would like to share with you the highlights of that conversation. Hopefully they can help you out, especially if you are just starting out  on your acting career.

Unions: There was a question about whether to join the unions or not. The students had gotten mixed reviews. Now, I’m a little biased because I joined Actors Equity (the stage union) before I even graduated college. It has paid off well for me, but I know others that struggle. So here is my advice: if you want to pursue acting on a more casual basis and do community theater, or a play at a smaller house, and not depend on your acting income to pay your rent- don’t join the unions. If  you want to make acting your career and/or work in a big market (LA/NYC) you will need to join the unions at some point.

Pasta: There was a lot of the “what do I do?” energy coming my way. Well, here is my advice: do as much as you can! Don’t be afraid of messing up. Throw as much pasta against the wall and see what sticks. A lot won’t, some will. But the biggest mistake is not making mistakes. You don’t know what will work and what won’t, but do it anyway. That’s the only way you will find out. Don’t be led by your fear.

$$$: As I told the students: HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT. If you want a life in the arts, and especially as an actor, you will be living off your savings at some point or another. So when you book that show or commercial and your paycheck looks pretty sweet, save half of it. Or 20% As much as you can, because you don’t know when your next gig will be. And remember, the Feds are going to take back a huge chunk at tax time if you aren’t a union member. Also find a survival job that will pay your rent and put food in your fridge. You can’t perform if you don’t eat. *Side note: find a job that can serve your goals. Like teaching and working with kids? be a nanny. Want to produce? Get an office job. Love interacting with people? Bartend. Find a job that fits with your personality. Then it isn’t just about collecting a paycheck.

Work/Life Balance: I’m pretty bad with this one. I am notorious for pushing myself as hard as I can and then wearing myself out. You have no control over when you book work, so sometimes, you are doing four jobs at once. It’s not pretty, but there it is. Sometimes you are unemployed for stretches at a time. What is important is to find things that make you happy outside of your work. Love gardening? Start an indoor garden. Love biking? Allow time for a ride every week. And make sure you surround yourself with people who support your dreams and understand your crazy life. But that doesn’t mean you can just call people when you’re bored- be a good friend and stay in touch. Same goes with relationships!

Getting your own work: I’ve been in this for a while so I can rely on my agent to get me most of my work, but I never stop looking for work either. To start out, look at community callboards for student films or fringe plays. These are your training grounds. They will build your resume and get you experience. DO NOT accept projects that require any kind of nudity. Unless you are a life model or have and agent to negotiate a contract, you should not be taking off your clothes. This can lead to some scary situations especially for young women. After scouring the callboards, think about making your own work! Get some friends together to read a play in your living room. Make a short film. Start a youtube channel. In the internet age, the possibilities are endless. Then when you’re ready, you can start looking for representation.

Training: You may be so happy to get that diploma and think you are done with your education. WRONG. As an actor, you will be training for the rest of your life. Sorry to burst your bubble. As I told one young woman, “You have built your foundation. Now you have to build your house. It is up to you what it looks like.” Now you can expand your repertoire with improv, commercial classes, dance, camera classes, scene study, the list goes on and on. And like a professional athlete, you have to work out regularly to be able to compete.

Bigger Markets: Live where makes you happy. Some people love New York, some LA, some Austin. I happen to be stupidly in love with Seattle. Remember, you are living 24/7 in a place, not just when you audition or perform. So if another city makes you happy- move! But if you want to stay in your hometown, explore all avenues there and get yourself in a fighting position to move into a bigger market. Yes, now I am spending more time in LA, because that is the work I have graduated to. Just remember, life comes first. Pick your zip code accordingly.

I hope all of this is helpful. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to post below!

xoxo,

In December we finally found a time in our crazy schedules to meet for some photos. Dawndra sent me an inspiration image and we went from there. It is so fun to start with an idea and see where it goes! I also finally had the chance to use these awesome fake lashes my friend, The Geeky Hostess, gave me for my birthday.

As we went through different poses and costumes, I insisted that Danwdra’s dog, Bruce, join me. He had been sitting and watching patiently the whole time, and he is one of the handsomest models I have ever worked with!

Please enjoy the photos and leave a comment with your favorite one!

xoxo,

Tickets are very reasonable and will sell out: we only have three performances! So get your tickets and I’ll see you at the theater!

xoxo,

I’m not a huge New Year’s resolution person, but I do often put a few things on my list. Sometimes it is just about finding peace in the coming year, sometimes it is about specific goals (getting on network television- thank you Grimm!), sometimes it is just about being open to anything that comes my way.

What are you looking forward to in the next year? Did you make any resolutions?

I will leave you with some of my favorite images from pinterest that will help our 2013 be great!

xoxo,

I won’t go into specifics now, but here is what you can expect from the blog in 2013:

1. More AMAZING photo shoots
2. MIND-BLOWING project announcements
3. and more INSIGHTFUL tips for actors

I also will not be blogging every week, but you can expect something at least once a month, and maybe more depending on what I have to share. I am hoping to deliver more in depth, quality posts that will really be something to look forward to!

Thank you so much for joining me in 2012 and have a Happy New Year!

xoxo,

Next week I will talk about all of the big things that are in store for the blog in 2013, but I wanted to go over the highlights of 2012:

TOP POSTS- These are the three most popular posts this year, and I think some of my best!

Grimm

The post that garnered the most comments was:

Acting Bibles

And the most popular photos are from my #BeBreastCancerAware Campaign.

What were your favorite posts? Any that really stuck with you? Is there anything you would like me to post about next year?

xoxo,

You can also view these projects anytime by clicking the film posters in the sidebar!

For Patrick- A Film by Jessica Martin from Jessica Martin on Vimeo.

REVELATION: Omnibus from Revelation Film Project on Vimeo.

WRECKED Season One, Episode Six: The Wave from Honey Toad Studio on Vimeo.

In The Pines (Short Film) from Shep Films on Vimeo.

Happy viewing!

xoxo,