Wednesday, October 24, 2012

A Girl's Survival Guide to Working with Guys

Some tips I've picked up along the way. For some reason, I find myself the only female in most of the group work I do. You never know, these may come in handy for you if you find yourself the lone female in a group of guys.

1) Get used to the line, "You're really funny...for a girl."
2) Prepare to be talked over. You have to talk loud if you want to be heard and you may have to repeat yourself. Prepare to be talked over. You have to talk loud if you want to be heard and you may have to repeat yourself.
3) Do NOT be over emotional about anything. They will blame this on your "Lady time". If it is your "lady time", DO NOT CRY! 
4) Practice saying four letter words. Out loud. In front of your mirror. You don't want them to come out as a whisper when you're in front of the group. Ladies, I'm not talking about CRAP and GOSH. You know the words I'm talking about.You don't have to cuss like a sailor, but it's good if you can say them without blushing.
5) Courtesy laugh. They will know you are being sarcastic, but, hey, they won't care. Reserve your real laughter for the really funny stuff.
6) Learn to hold your breath. You will smell things that you cannot understand. 
7) It's ok for you to smell good. Believe me, they appreciate it even if they don't say anything.
8) Get comfortable with penis jokes. No matter the age of the guys...it's going to happen.
9) Stand your ground. They are going to test your limits and boundaries but don't take anything personally. If they tease you, you're in. You are one of them! Listen to how they talk to each other. It's a sign of affection.
10) Laugh at yourself! When you can laugh at yourself, it gives you the right to make fun of everyone else! Trust me. It's worth it!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Birth Control



One day after I post, "I'm Pregnant", I land a humorous birth control commercial! Coincidence, I ask you??? Yeah, probably. While I would like to say I'm sorry for all of the heart attacks I caused, mom, of course I would TELL you before I plaster that kind of news all over the internet, I can't apologize. I just had WAY too much fun. That will teach you to read a blog and not just the title. No, I'm not REALLY pregnant this time AND have probably jinxed myself for all time. That's ok. You probably shouldn't even trust me if I have a kid on my hip or in tow....they are most likely on loan from a prop department somewhere.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

I'm Pregnant!


Look at that cute little belly! That's three months along. Well, at least for my character, Sherri in "Endings". Did I have you going for a minute? I know, I know, I've been told I would have pregnant looking legs and a pregnant looking butt and my FACE would be fatter! Ok, all you haters. I thought it was pretty good and had a blast on this set. It was so good, I left the belly on and went to the store. People are really nice to pregnant woman! (They do stare a lot! Whew, you have to get used to that, don't you?) I was tempted to stop by one of the bars on my way home and order a Manhattan. You know, just hangin' out sittin' at the bar. What? I need to blow off some steam! I chickened out. I'll have to get some reinforcements for that one.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

I Can Run in Heels



I'm all of 5' 2" and have been wearing heels as long as I can remember. If you ask my mom, I learned how to walk in heels. I used to pride myself on the fact that I could run in heels. (You never know when this skill may come in handy. There are some real creepers out there lurking in dark parking decks.) Well, since there is nothing better in life than walking around looking cute, I had on the exact pair of Charlotte Ronson heels on this morning as shown above. Except in taupe. They really do go with everything. Minding my own business, after leaving the post office, I caught the heel of said shoe on the side of the sidewalk. Instead of gracefully stepping down QUIETLY, I let out a loud Monica Seles backhand scream and crumpled to the ground. It was crowed on the street because it was lunchtime. I think 10 whole people saw me fall. I will NEVER brag about  running in heels again I guess it's payback for laughing at the model falling on the runway so many times. AND since I didn't catch my tumble on video, let's all join in and laugh at this video together because it never gets old.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Wine Dungeon Still Life


How far we've come from a fruit bowl and lemons! A very talented friend of mine,Cedric Stewart, drew this based on the official FOODIE trailer. Now, this OBVIOUSLY, is based VERY loosely on my character in the film since I was only in the trailer for about 5 seconds. Regardless, I am thrilled that he took the time to draw this. Have any of you seen "Mickey Blue Eyes" with Hugh Grant? This reminds me of Jeanne Tripplehorn. (Not the outfit, just the face!) Don't you think?

Monday, July 2, 2012

Scene Stealer


A conversation is not a hard thing. Person One talks while Person Two listens. Then Person Two talks while Person One listens. Both people are talking and reacting. Simple, right? Well, for normal people. And, I assume that most of you reading this are normal people. Actors, more specifically EXTRAS, are NOT normal people. On a shoot last week, I was in a scene with the man in the picture above. We were right behind the main actors in the commercial and could be seen very well. We are having a real conversation before the cameras were rolling. THEN, when the director yelled, "ACTION", he literally turned into a dummy. He was flailing his arms around and just moving his mouth up and down, ya-ya-ya, not pausing for any reaction, just a wild lunatic. He didn't even look at me. On the second take, the director came over to our table. I knew right away what he was going to say. "Whoa. You are certainly animated. Can you not wave your arms around so much, you are right behind the lead actor and it's a bit distracting." I think everything is taken care of and the next take will be much better. Third take, forth take...the EXACT same thing. The whole time I'm just acting like I'm having a conversation with him. All I can do is laugh. Before the sixth take, I see the director slowly shift the camera over, cutting him out of the frame. Luckily, I was on the other side of the table. So, I say, thank you, sir! More screen time for me.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

I Could Tell You...But Then I'd Have to Kill You



I am TERRIBLE with secrets! Believe me, I can keep them. But it's hard. AND it takes work. So, the last project I worked on is KILLING me. It's top secret. We're not allowed to talk about it. We can't post photos from behind the scenes. We can't say who it was for or ANYTHING about it. Whew! So, please don't ask. My lips are sealed!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Wrong Way




Driving to an audition is stressful even if you know where you are going and have been to that location a hundred times. I hate to scare all of you non-actors out there, but we aren't paying attention to the other cars, or the traffic signals. No. What we're concentrating on are our lines for the scene. How does my hair look? Crap. Can you see those dark circles under my eyes?! Let me just fix that really quick. And, maybe if we have sweat rings under our arms.

My audition this past weekend went exactly like that. I had never been to this location in Raleigh so I was EXTRA nervous. You know, all of the above, plus the added anxiety of whether my GPS would die on me and if I would get terribly lost and be late.  When I drove by and realized I was at the right location, I drove a little further down to find some street parking. Nothing close. After crossing the five way intersection, I make a three point turn and head the other way. Hmmm...why aren't the traffic lights facing this way? How the heck do I get back across there? I look right. I look left. Oh. No. I see a one way arrow pointing the OPPOSITE direction of how I am going. And the light turns green. AND there are cars now coming toward me. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. So I back up and pull into a bank parking lot. Whew...that was close.

I head back over to the audition location. Heading the RIGHT way on the street. I find street parking and walk to the audition. Surprisingly, I'm not nervous about the audition anymore. Nailed it!

Monday, April 2, 2012

The Ants Go Marching

This was a fun commercial shoot two weeks ago for Triangle Pest Control. Like a magician, I will NEVER reveal how we got those ants to carry off the orange juice and place mat. Anyway, check it out and don't get carried away!!!


My photo is also on the website. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

Soggy Britches

Picture omitted for obvious reasons.

You know you aren't starting the day off right if you've got soggy britches. Usually. There's always an exception to EVERY rule, so why not soggy britches? In this case it was a-ok! We were filming a PSA in a stadium and the seats were still damp from the morning dew. It was a fun day. Although it's not fun to sit for 4 hours with a damp backside, in this case the end really justified the means.

Monday, February 20, 2012

This is NOT Betty White



Hmmm. This just doesn't look right. It's the correct address I was given for the shoot. But this is a house not a school. And there are no other cars. Hmmm...let me pull all the way to the back of the driveway. Nope. This is not right. I'll just sit here at the end of the drive by the road and call my contact. Great! No answer. Well. Let me just pull up my email and check...yep...it's the address I was given. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. In my rear view mirror, I see an old woman in her bathrobe and curls approaching the car. Oh, she looks nice. I'm thinking she's going be like a curler and bathrobe clad Betty White.

"Are you having a problem?" 
Oh good. She IS like Betty White. She's going to help me figure this out. 

"I'm so sorry ma'am. I was given this address for a film shoot today but it doesn't look like anyone else is here yet."

"Well, there sure as hell better not be anyone coming to film here! This is my house!"
Whoops, I guess not.

"I'm so sorry to bother you. Maybe there's another street with the same name? I just called to make sure and left a message."

"This is NOT public property!"
NOT Betty White. This is NOT a nice Betty White.


"Again, I am so sorry, I'm going to just head down the street."

"Well?! What are you still doing here? I told you this isn't public property!"
Jeezaloo. OK! I'm going! I'm wondering if she has a shotgun hidden under that bathrobe. This is the real life Maxine, curlers and all! 















"Well, what are you still doing here?"

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Questionable Judgement

It's no secret that actors do questionable things, especially in college. But my friend, Marjorie and I REALLY had a lapse in judgement today. We were working on lines for an upcoming show and decided it would be best over lunch. The only place close was a shady looking Chinese place. Our first clue as we walked through the door should have been that the cooks were not Chinese. Not a good sign at a Chinese restaurant. Our second clue should have been the 3, yes THREE other customers during lunch rush. Not a good sign for any restaurant. BUT, my friend, Marjorie and I did not walk out of there like reasonable people. Nope. Instead, we ordered the lunch special. Each ate half, and politely threw the rest away. We are both hoping it won't turn into the scene from "Bridesmaids". Only time will tell!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Hot For Teacher


This was from the set of "The Blank Page" a short film in Winston-Salem with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. I was playing a 4th grade teacher. I really don't remember any of my elementary teachers wearing such tight sweaters, but maybe I just wasn't looking. Just when I'm starting to feel super sexy, one of the PA's asks if I have a daughter enrolled at UNCSA as a freshman. That's right, he thinks I look old enough to be a COLLEGE FRESHMAN'S mom!!!!! Well, at least I know.

Monday, January 30, 2012

People Can't Drive



Driving to a call back audition last week, I almost lost my life. Maybe that's a little stretch. But I was pretty scared. I was in the right lane just driving along. (doo dah doo). Then the white bronco in the left lane started coming over. Just honked a little to let them know I was there....BUT he didn't stop coming over!!!! I had to slam on breaks and get completely over driving over the rumble strips! Thank the Lord there was a median there or I would have been crushed. What an idiot! He never once looked over to check his blind spot!!! And people think women are bad drivers.


By the time I got to my audition, my hands had finally stopped shaking by my legs still felt like jello. Nothing like a little adrenaline to give you that extra edge! It must have helped because I landed the role!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Role Reversal

Never thought I'd say this, but my husband looks pretty good in makeup. A little powder, a little concealer...hey, it's a good thing! Now, don't get the wrong idea. He doesn't wear makeup everyday. He's a manly man. Really he is. It's not like I walked in on him in the bathroom stealing my blush this morning. No, nothing like that. He's got his own, of course! That's right. You heard me. He has his OWN. Not to worry, it's for a commercial. Now, I've really got to step up my game!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

New Beginnings

Don't you love the beginning of the year?
2012
It's like a blank slate, an empty canvas.
I'm a glass half-full kind of girl.
Positive thinking and all that jazz.
So excited to see what's in store this year!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Just a Blur

If you squint and sort of cross your eyes, you will see me at the end of this video. I'm the plaid blob on the left of the screen in sunglasses. Second 21 and 26...trust me, you have to pause it to see me! Oh, yeah...I've hit the big time! haha...