sitting here like...

it's been almost a month since my last blog post and sadly NOT A DAMN THING HAS CHANGED!
i've been on two more "auditions" since i last checked in.
i put auditions in quotation marks as i don't think a print campaign for a coffee shop hardly equates to an audition.
the second audition, which was for a MOW, i got due to my attending a workshop with the casting directors the day before.
my agent even mentioned that i was submitted and wasn't called in, until after the workshop.
initially, i was happy to hear that i impressed them enough to get myself an audition slot but then got a little depressed that i wasn't initially called in.

this entire situation is beyond frustrating.
i keep coming across stories or hearing through the grapevine that so and so booked project and i'm just sitting here like...

i don't want to be the girl who switches agencies every year but honestly NOTHING is happen with this agency.

i'm not one for regrets but i definitely regret leaving my previous agent.

yeah she was rude, yes she was waste.

but at least she responded to my emails and got me in the door every once in a while.

depressed,

TA

crap update!

so from my last post eons ago, i alluded to the fact that i would be signing with a new agent whom i adore.
well, i did sign with her in october and up until now, my audition count is at *drum roll please*...4.
that's right - un, deux, trois, QUATRE.

one PSA.
one voice audition for some children's cartoon.
one self-tape for a show casting out of toronto.
and, one audition for a stage play.
you know, theatre...the ONE thing i said i don't want to do.

i'm so frustrated of being sold friggen dreams - i was promised self-tapes galore.
that i would be sending tapes to the states.
"get a camera and a tripod 'cause it's gonna be busy".
"get your us passport ready because you're gonna be busy." blah blah, lies lies.

i'm telling you nothing hurts more than seeing other people live your dream.
i'm so fed up with this entire process.

alllll i want is a good agent who gets me seen.
is that so much to ask?
damn.

:(
toronto actress

update!

it's been forever since i last posted, so i thought i would just update you on the progress of my goals!

1) sign with a new agent! **check**

it's no secret that i am unhappy with my current representation.

complaining and whining about the situation i was in did nothing to better it.

i found myself in the same spot...with elevated blood pressure.

so, i've decided to start taking the steps towards finding better representation.

last month, i had a consultation with one of toronto's top acting coaches.

after our meeting, that the acting school will help me get in contact with bigger, better agents in the city.

having their support is amazing and i can't wait to start the process.

i'm officially a FREE WOMAN and have met with an agent whom i absolutely adore and will definitely sign with!

2) book my second union project! **check**

one step closer to full union status!

**i'm just going to throw this one out there - DEGRASSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!

i'm not allowed to announce the project but i recently wrapped on a new FX pilot that is currently shooting in the city...

3) attend the mandated workshops for ACTRA apprentices

this one's pretty self-explanatory.

4) contact YEAA and start attending meetings (network, network, network) **check**

those are basically all my goals for the time frame mentioned above.

i just want to audition regularly!

because the relationship between the number of auditions and the number of bookings is a positive correlation - the more you audition, the greater the likelihood of you booking something...

pray for me.

xoxo,

TA

"crystallize your goals."

as mentioned in my previous post, i wanted to take some time to write out my goals for june  - august 2013.
i've always made dream boards and the like but there's something about not only writing down your goals but how you'e going to go about achieving said goals, that i feel holds you more accountable.
*holy run-on sentence, batman.
it's like paul j. myer once said:

crystallize your goals.

make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline.

then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and other people's criticisms carry out your plan.

so, i present to you my goals (aka. dreams with a deadline) for june - august 2013:

1) sign with a new agent!
it's no secret that i am unhappy with my current representation.
complaining and whining about the situation i was in did nothing to better it.
i found myself in the same spot...with elevated blood pressure.
so, i've decided to start taking the steps towards finding better representation.
last month, i had a consultation with one of toronto's top acting coaches.
after our meeting, that the acting school will help me get in contact with bigger, better agents in the city.
having their support is amazing and i can't wait to start the process.

2) book my second union project!
one step closer to full union status!
**i'm just going to throw this one out there - DEGRASSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!

3) attend the mandated workshops for ACTRA apprentices
this one's pretty self-explanatory.

4) contact YEAA and start attending meetings (network, network, network)

those are basically all my goals for the time frame mentioned above.
i just want to audition regularly!

because the relationship between the number of auditions and the number of bookings is a positive correlation - the more you audition, the greater the likelihood of you booking something...

pray for me.

xoxo,
TA

how dare my last blog post be on may 7th?

i've always been the worst at keeping up with diairies/journals/blogs/the kardashians, etc.

but i will try and be more diligent with this blog starting...now.

anyways, from my last blog post, i have some updates for you all - i've decided to kill two birds with one stone and cross of the items off my goals for march - june 2013 list as i update.

so, without further ado...

i) book an actor or SOC role (or two) on a union project  
at the end of last month, i booked my first actor role on a union project!

i also got thisclose to booking a recurring role on a episodic here in the city...

when i got word that i got a callback with the writers and the producers, i was like:

when i got word that i had in fact not booked the role, i was like:

the CD later sent me a note saying how i was fabulous and how i've grown so much as an actress in the past year and to be discouraged, and i was like:

"no, it's totally fine.
thank you for the opportunity."

i was just about to crawl under a rock and fall further into the abyss that is rejection when i got the most amazing email from my wonderful sister.

(i loved it so much that i actually wrote it out in it's entirety and read it often to keep my morale up.)
a little excerpt:

you don't know what amazing, wonderful, incredible reason there is why you didn't get that role. 

you have know idea what's coming, but whatever it is, it's going to be AMAZING. 

i know it!

after reading her email, i was like:

"you right, you right."

i'm now ready and anxious for the next audition that comes my way. 

ii) contact ACTRA toronto as soon as i receive my first union credit and begin the paperwork needed to become an apprentice
i'm now happy to report that i am an ACTRA apprentice member!

*i don't know who this baby belongs to, but i love him!

iii) as soon as you're all set up with ACTRA toronto, contact YEAA and start attending meetings - set up connections!
i'm slacking on this one...

iv) continue practicing and working on my craft in the downtime - get together with contacts, watch movies, practice cold reads, etc. 
i've signed up for a week long workshop with the director of one of toronto's more prestigious acting schools.

v) and lastly, don't get discouraged!

so, yes.

that's bascially what i've been up to in a nutshell.

since these were my goals for march - june 2013, i should probably create a list of goals for june 2013 - august 2013...

until next time.

xoxo, 

TA

purpose of bookout dates?

i recently returned from the most amazing trip to the ums.
upon booking my plane tickets months ago, i sent my agent a quick email letting her know i would be unavailable during said dates.
upon leaving for my trip, i emailed my agent again reminding her that i would be gone for said dates.

so, please, riddle me this - why am i receiving an email with an audition notice?
what's the purpose of book out dates if you're going to submit me for projects that conflict anyways?
needless to say, i was not impressed as it's just not a good look for either one of us.

this whole incident reminded me that it was time to call in my reinforcements and request the industry consultation i spoke about in an earlier blog post.
i need to sever ties with this agent.
stat.

yesterday's audition?

"success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it."

so, how did my audition go you ask?

my audition time was 4:10 pm and i got there super early to do my hair and makeup/get in the zone, blah.

anyways, there were three other girls in the waiting room with me - two of which were "visibile minorities", which i took as a good thing for me as it seemed like casting was leaning in that direction.

the girls were in and out of the room at a rapid pace until it was just me in the waiting room.

the casting associate asked me if i was ready and i was like, you know what?

so, i went in and did my scene the way i had rehearsed it and was told to do it again several different ways.
by my count, i must have performed the scene at least 5 times.
i was told my take was wonderful and that it was always nice to see me.
the CD and i laughed at an inside joke (i love that we have inside jokes...) and i was sent on my way.
i'm not sure if i booked the job (*crosses fingers*) but i definitely booked the room.

xoxo, TA