"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

love me some will smith.

obviously, will smith is a phenomenal actor.

his resume speaks for itself.

but, he's also been known to drop some serious words of wisdom.

i found this compilation video on youtube of some of his best inspirational quotes that i'd like to share.

my personal favorite?

his theory on talent vs. skill:

"the separation of talent and skill is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams, who want to do things, talent you have naturally. 

skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.

i've never really viewed myself as particularly talented.

where i excel is ridiculous, sickening work ethic.

you know, while the other guy's sleeping, i'm working.

while the other guy's eating, i'm working.

there's no easy way around it. 

no matter how talented you are, your talent is going to fail you if you're not skilled.

if you don't study, if you don't work really hard and dedicate yourself to being better every single day, you'll never be able to communicate with people - with your artisitry - the way you want...

it's really that simple."

that master william <3

xoxo, TA

an ode to netflix

let me just take a moment to express my love for a little website named netflix.

dear netflix, 

you have single-handily changed the way i choose to spend what little spare time i seem to have.

on my bed, wrapped in my comforter, eyes glued to my macbook as i watch whatever tv series i'm currently obsessing over.

first, you brought me 90210.

albeit, i no longer have any desire to finish the series, i thank you for the memories.

i really do hope naomi finds the love she truly deserves.

then, netflix, you brought me misfits.

i never thought a show about a group of troubled youth from england would entertain and enrapture me the way this show did, but it did.

although, there were far too few episodes, i had some great laughs.

i thank you.

and most recently, sir netflix, you brought me the vampire diaries and for that, i will be eternally grateful.

i've just completed at all three seasons available on netflix and was able to locate season four episodes and am now all caught up.

now, i'm just (im)patiently waiting for the series to come off their spring (?!) hiatus.

i honestly don't know what to do with myself.

i haven't known life sans vampires diaries for a while now.

so, netflix, as i raise my figurative glass to you in a virtual toast, i ask you for a new series to obsess over.

whenever you're ready to provide me with one...

whenever you're ready.

*sips figurative champagne.

speaking of vampire diaires.

this scene (please see below) from episode 416 just sends shivers down my spine.

impeccable acting from miss nina dobrev (toronto, what what?!).

my heart really broke for miss elena.

***spoiler alert - watch at yo' own risk.

xoxo TA

full circle.

"the wheel is come full circle, i am here."

shakespeare's king lear

act v,  scene iii

we've all heard the stories of "normal" people being catapulted into fame just by being in the right place at the right time:

rosario dawson - discovered while sitting on her front stoop in NY

pamela anderson - discovered after appearing on the jumbotron at a CFL game

johnny depp - attended an audition with a friend out of sheer boredum; asked to read for a part in the film by wes craven himself; nailed it; booked it

charlize theron - discovered by an agent after throwing a fit at a LA bank

natalie portman - discovered while eating pizza in long island

jennifer lawrence - discovered while walking through the streets of NY with her mother

david boreanaz - was out walking his dog in LA; a talent manager spotted him and thought he'd be perfect for the role of "angel" in "buffy the vampire slayer"...

and, my personal favorite: 

harrison ford - while building cabinets for george lucas, he was asked to read lines for absent actors starring in his upcoming film, star wars; steven spielberg overheard these readings, loved them and hired him for the part of han solo...

i think you get the picture.
now, i am in no way demeaning the success of these actors/actresses but their respective "big break" stories is something most actors dream of.
that is why i find it so refreshing when i hear stories of successful actors whose rise to fame didn't come so easily.

one of my favorite examples of hard work and persistence is bradley cooper.
a few months ago, i watched his episode of "inside the actor's studio" and i was enamored.
he talked about being a student at the actor's studio drama school and asking robert de niro a question to starring alongside him in "limitless" (and now, silver linings playbook).
it was such an awesome feeling to watch him get emotional at the realization that he had just come around full circle.
the entire interview had me inspired and now has me longing for the moment when i realize that i, too, have come around full circle :)

enjoy the clip below!

xoxo TA

words of wisdom...

why, hello there :)

like i mentioned in one of my previous posts, i am obsessed with quotes.

so, i've decided to start sharing some of my favorite ones with you!
i'd like to call this segment of the blog 'words of wisdom'.

*corny, i know.

so, without further ado, i present to you today's 'words of wisdom' from the one and only, mark twain:

now, i don't believe that you should keep all your ambitions and goals a secret (which may be apparent by my previous post...)

i think that telling some people these things will give you the drive and determination to follow them through.

however, i do wholeheartedly agree with mr. twain  in that you should select those individuals you choose to confide in very selectively because, like another one of my favorite quote says : "few people actually care, the rest are just curious."

xoxo TA

goals are dreams...with deadlines.

"our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must

feverently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act."

- stephen a. brennan

(you'll quickly realize that i, "toronto actress", LOVE quotes!)

this particular blog post is pretty much self-explanatory - my goals for 2013.

i think it's important to write down any goals one may have as it gives you a clear focus on what you want to achieve. it is only then that you can then formulate a plan of attack as to how you're going to go about achieving said goals.

so, with all that being said, here are my GOALS for 2013:

i) book union gigs - an actor or SOC role on degrassi, la complex (*this list was written before the show was (unjustly) cancelled), hannibal, port hope, beauty and the beast, saving hope, rookie blue, cracked, MOW, feature film, etc.

ii) obtain FULL ACTRA MEMBERSHIP - i've come to realize that if one wants to be taken seriously in this industry, union status is a must!

iii) join YEAA - network! network! network!

iv) self-tape for projects in the US - i need to start taking advantage of my dual-citizenship...ness.

v) immerse yourself in the acting world!

vi) keep training! 

vii) diversify your special skills.

now, on to the HOWs:

i) coaching prior to auditions, isolating myself for an hour before auditions, arrive at least 30 mins early;  relaxation exercises, use nerves to benefit (ex. practice lines after doing jumping jacks so you're used to increase heart beat, etc.)

ii) goes back to #1 - don't forget about ACTRA classes for additional credits!

iii) as soon as you get (i) and (ii) under control, THIS!

iv) movies at the TIFF lightbox, film festivals, watching inside the actor's studios, etc.

v) classes and privates at lewis baumander's, john riven (*keep emailing), second city...

vi) keep horseback riding, sign up for silks class, take dance classes, etc.

hopefully writing down these goals and the creation of my vision board (i will post it in a later entry) will help me remain focused on my goals and the steps i need to take to achieve them.

xoxo

TA