Musings and Reflection
GUEST STAR (Recurring!) – MEN AT WORK on TBS
Exciting news! My character, Rachel, is back on the TBS comedy MEN AT WORK this week and next week so set your DVR’s, people! It’s a great little character arc, and it’s been months since we taped this, so I am really looking forward to seeing the finished product. I not only love the storyline, but I’ve also been dying of curiosity (on a personal level) since we filmed these episodes during my 2nd trimester of pregnancy … which was definitely an interesting experience for me as an actress, ha! I can’t wait to hear what you all think 
PS Here’s a pic from set, with Michael Cassidy, the actor who plays Tyler on the show. Fun, fun!
NEWS: Baby XL has arrived!
Ten days ago, our lives changed forever for the better. My husband A.J. and I welcomed our son into the world on the morning of March 6th. We simply could not be more in love, and have been thanking our lucky stars every second, of every hour, of every day since for this perfect, amazing, beautiful little boy. We are in awe.
Welcome 2013! A preview of all things COMING SOON :-)
Hello, 2013! Let me start by saying this — I have never before been so thrilled about the advent of a new year as I am this one! 2013 brings many exciting new things our way, both personally and professionally. I just know we’ll remember this year as a turning point, well, forever…
For career stuff~ my new movie PLAYDATE (with Alicia Witt, Greg Vaughn, and Diedrich Bader; directed by the fabulous Melanie Mayron) premieres next week on AOL, see more on the website here: http://on.aol.com/partner/playdate-517475023. The producing company, Vuguru, is doing a creative new distribution model, releasing it in online segments in the U.S. first, and as a feature in other countries. I’ll be doing a bunch of interviews next week in conjunction with its release (like Huff Po Live next Tuesday!) and will be sure to let you know about it via this blog and/or twitter. The first ‘episode’ btw airs this upcoming Monday, Jan, 7th- and I cannot wait to hear what you all think! In my ten years in this crazy business, I have to say- this was one of my favorite projects I’ve ever been a part of, so I really appreciate any and all support. Thank you!
Also returning to the airwaves this weekend is our favorite DC NATION cartoon: YOUNG JUSTICE: INVASION!!! For whatever reason, they put our show on hiatus (AGAIN) so we’ve all been anxiously awaiting the 2nd half of season 2 and it’s 
finally here! Tune in tomorrow (Sat) at 10am/9amC to see Artemis & friends (& foes) as they continue to battle everything from themselves, each other, their families, and oh-so-many enemies (from all over the universe) in arguably one of the most adventurous, emotional, and layered cartoons on television! Big shout-outs to the talented fellow voice-actors on the show: Khary Payton, Jason Spisak, Jesse McCartney, Nolan North, and of course my beloved ladies Danica McKellar & Lacey Chabert– just to name a few
In addition, the hilarious TBS sitcom Men At Work (created by Breckin Meyer) on which I have a great guest starring arc also returns in 2013. I had *a lot* of fun reprising my role as Rachel, and I just love how they worked me back into the show this season. It’s so funny and was such a blast to do- I think you’re all very much going to enjoy it! The guys on this show (Danny Masterson, James Lesure, Michael Cassidy, & Adam Busch) continue to crack me up, and I feel fortunate to have met and bonded with the adorable Meredith Hagner while shooting this past fall. Will be so fun to see it on screen!
Aaaand, another project I did (back in the spring of 2012) that will debut later this year will be the intense horror movie I shot in Romania called WER – which I sooooo want to tell you about, but have been sworn to secrecy. Just know, I plan to attend the premiere when it comes out, but will probably end up watching the entire thing with my hands over my eyes. I can’t handle scary movies. I remember attending the premiere of Texas Chainsaw Massacre many moons ago, and my husband remarked afterwards that he was more scared of me ripping his arm out while watching then anything he saw in the movie itself. He kept trying to point out to me that our friend (who was in the movie) was sitting directly in front of us and was fine and alive, but it still didn’t stop me from digging my nails into him every time Leatherface came at her with his trusty chainsaw! Anyway, I can’t help be reminded of that now that yet another remake of that SAME movie has come out and I keep seeing previews everywhere. Craziness.
In calmer news, which isn’t exactly news yet — we should be finding out about whether the most recent pilot, Satisfaction, that I shot back in November (with the lovely miss Leah Renee, whom I somehow roped into fostering for Angel City Pit Bulls once we got back to L.A., um yes, I love her!!!) will be going to series in 2013!? They have us under contract til the middle of February, and if we are picked up by CTV, we will likely start shooting in May or June. Which will of course signify some big changes for our family, since we will have to relocate from Los Angeles to Toronto… Something that I can’t quite think about just yet, because the whole situation with our beloved dogs being discriminated against by the entire province is too much for my heart and head to handle. That said, I do love the show and the cast and the town otherwise, so it’s just a lot to wrap my brain around, and I am sticking to the “cross that bridge when we come to it” mantra, taking each day at a time. Especially since we have some REALLY big personal stuff happening soon that is going to be nothing short of ENTIRELY life-changing…
So on that note, I think it’s finally safe to announce some big news that has been, errrr, ‘brewing’ for quite some time, now The last 31 weeks… to be precise! My husband and I are expecting a BABY!!! A boy, due March 2013!!!! To say we are “over the moon” is an understatement, but it does feel like the right expression these days, and I understand why people use it. It’s such a surreal feeling, knowing you are about to bring a new life into the world, and all the responsibility and joy that comes with that… And it’s definitely not even possible to put into words the love you feel for this person that you know is there, that you feel kicking and moving all around inside you, but that you haven’t quite met yet. Just the fact that I have no idea what he even looks like fascinates me on a regular basis! However, I do feel like I have a bit of a sense of his personality already- ha! I found this picture and it pretty much sums up who I picture when I imagine our little man, who is definitely a mini version of his daddy already, I am sure of it! So without further adieu… I leave you with this image, at the end of my first blog post of 2013, where I feel certain that I definitely saved the best news for last
PILOT: Satisfaction (CTV) and GUEST STAR: Bones (FOX) and our 1st PSA Campaign: I Love My Pit Bull
Hey people! So I just found out that the episode of Bones I did awhile back will be airing in a couple weeks finally! Set your DVR’s for Monday, Nov 26, 2012 – for Season 8, Episode 8: “The But in the Joke” – it’s a good one!!! Click here for related article.
In other news, I am currently on location in Toronto, Ontario, Canada filming a comedy pilot called Satisfaction (for CTV). So far I am loving the cast and crew and feeling very excited about the entire thing. Am also really enjoying the city of Toronto. Though, admittedly, there is one large caveat I am sad to report. I recently learned that the entire province of Ontario has a ban on pit bull type dogs, which deeply disturbs me. While I am intensely against BDL- breed discriminatory legislation, click here to learn more - I have never felt it hit so close to home, and it really hurts. Basically, this means that if the pilot I am working on should go to series, and my family were to relocate here, they will most likely not allow our dogs into the province. Some cities (in the U.S.) have passed legislation which requires anyone who owns a pit bull type dog to get a special permit, pay for special insurance (as if we had a wild, Bengal tiger as a pet, not a domestic dog) and to muzzle one’s family pets while outside the home AT ALL TIMES… And this is similarly true here in Ontario for people whose pit bull type dogs have “status”– meaning they had them before the ban went into effect in 2005. However, we would be new people coming in, after the ban… so our dogs wouldn’t have “status”– aka, even if we paid the extra money and got the insurance and muzzled our extremely loving, well trained dogs, just to follow their rules (even though they have never done anything to warrant this) - we still wouldn’t be allowed to have them here. If we did bring them, they could literally be taken away from us (by law) and KILLED.
Can you imagine this?????
It’s really hard to summarize in a quick little blog post how heartbreaking this is (our dogs are our family, and they have done NOTHING WRONG!) Brucely is almost ten years old, incredibly docile, and we have had him since he was 3 months old when we adopted him via the South Los Angeles Shelter. He has never known life without us, and has been one of the brightest lights in our lives. Our dog Stanley is a street rescue, whom I met while volunteering in New Orleans several months post-Hurricane Katrina. He is now around 8 years old and has come so far since those days– truly having inspired and taught us so much. Together, they have been foster brothers to countless ACPB rescues whom we have sheltered in our home while we network them for adoptive homes. We love our dogs, and we can’t imagine not having them in our lives. Especially for a reason like this one: blatant, thoughtless, painful discrimination.
Discrimination in all forms (from dogs to people) only harms and hurts. When it comes to BSL (Breed Specific Legislature) or, better yet- BDL (Breed Discriminatory Legislature), more and more victims are created, and it does not solve any of the original issues people might have had for passing it. It also wrongly blames dogs instead of cruel or irresponsible humans. Just this past summer, the American Bar Association agreed and firmly recommended against breed BDL in general. Still… the whole thing makes me feel heavy all over… Threatening my innocent pets’ lives on account of… what? Ignorance, hysteria, misinformation, and myths? It blows my mind. Honestly, this subject calls for a much larger and deeper discussion. Which, in truth, is something I intend to have… With whom, and where and when, all TBD. Though a friend did recently send me this timely news article (see here) about MLB player Mark Buehrle who was recently traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. I know his name well, since his family are fellow animal lovers who have experienced (and stood up against) discrimination before… So am already thinking I am going to have to meet these wonderful people and start an alliance! We need to spread some education and compassion… The dogs need our voice.
Rather than continue to try and TELL you why this is all so very important to me, I think it best to just SHOW you And so, I present our brand new PSA Campaign recently completed by the ACPB Media Team. It’s called “I LOVE MY PIT BULL” and below are the first 2 PSA’s in our 3 part series that highlights how all dogs are individuals, just like their owners. Please enjoy, and please do share, far and wide! Our positive, happy, loving stories deserve to be heard, too!
xo
~Stephanie (Bruce & Stan’s proud mama- who appear in PSA #2 btw!) p.s. Make sure to click the button on the bottom right below to watch the videos in HD.
I Love My Pit Bull – ACPB PSA #2:
I Love My Pit Bull – ACPB PSA #1:
MOVIES: Playdate & WER (and more)
The last week of March was pretty incredible for me work-wise… I was shooting a guest star spot on The Mentalist, which started about 3 days after wrapping on BONES, and we were shooting on the beach up in Malibu, which is beautiful… but also translates to basically no cell reception for a great number of hours. When we finally did wrap, I grabbed my stuff, and started driving down the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway… and my cell phone lit up with messages. I started to listen to the succession of things that had happened since that morning… And it was honestly rather dreamy… I found out I had officially gotten a part in a movie called WER that I’d been auditioning for for WEEKS, and I also learned I had been offered the leading role in a movie I hadn’t even read yet- but sounded awesome- and they needed an answer that night! I was freaking out… I didn’t fully understand even what the project was… but I knew some of the people involved and I respected and trusted them… and so I had a very good feeling.
Now it’s a few weeks later and my life has been going 100mph so I haven’t had a second to sit down and process it til now! The second movie (which will also be released online via AOL as a series) has pretty much consumed my life since that day… it’s a dark comedy called PLAYDATE and it’s kind of like Mean Girls except with young moms, kind of? I play Amy, and it’s honestly the single best role I’ve ever had There is so much to work with and I tear up with gratitude every day when I drive home from work… I cannot believe I am #1 on the call sheet either, yes I am dorking out about this!!! It’s been just over ten years since I came to L.A. and for me this is an incredible accomplishment. I get to the end on SO MANY THINGS and it always seems that the part goes to a “Name Star” which is such a Catch-22, because you can’t really become a name without someone taking a chance on you. Of course, it’s also an intense responsibility- I’m in every single scene, and I have just under a billion lines to memorize. That said, I am grateful and present and aware of every single moment of it… and though it’s been challenging at times (since we’re shooting on a low budget and it’s a passion project for many involved) it’s truly been wonderful for me… I am loving my fellow cast members, our producers, our crew, and our director, the fabulous Melanie Mayron. And of course, our writer, Melissa, whose script cracks me up and makes me cry every day as I work like hell to bring it properly to life.
Moving on, I am scheduled to leave for ROMANIA (so exciting!!!) the first couple weeks of May to start shooting the other movie WER- which (thank dog!) had its start date pushed back due to scheduling conflicts with other stuff on their end- meaning I am able to do both (I still can’t believe they didn’t conflict.) I *love* this role also (it’s SO different!) as well as the people involved, and am really looking forward to doing it- and of course, exploring a new country. Plus, I will have just a couple weeks between the end of one movie and the beginning of the next which is kind of a dream come true for me also… Since the worst part about being an actor (for me anyway) is truly not knowing when your next job is going to come … so this has been pretty freaking fantastic all around. Especially after the crappy year I had last year. However, I am still grateful for that since it spurred me to get new agents which I believe is why I am seeing so much more work… and that change was long overdue, lemme tell ya…
Anyway, rounding out the cherry on the top is the great news that I booked several voice-over jobs as well recently, and my wonderful v/o agents have arranged it so that I can record these on my days off between the movies, aka I heart them very much! All in all, I am definitely reminded of the saying that in the business of acting, it’s typically FEAST or FAMINE. All I know is I am grateful to everyone who cares to support and believe in me (from friends and fam, to agents… casting directors, etc) and also that… well, all these analogies have made me kinda hungry. So yeah… I must go eat now- will write again soon when I have more career news to share- and thank you, thank you, thank you.. I am definitely not taking this moment for granted.
xo
~me
GUEST STAR: The Closer (TNT)
Well I am n
ewly obsessed with The Closer on TNT. Quite possibly the nicest cast and crew I have ever worked with!? I couldn’t believe how gracious and kind and cool everyone was. I had a really fun part, albeit kinda quick… but thinking about it from their end… They have SO MANY guest stars who come in and out… and they’ve been on for a very long time! So I definitely did not expect anyone to really care about getting to know me in the short amount of time I was there… But wowza! Not only did everyone welcome me with open arms, the director even let me have a take where I literally got to play around and do what I wanted (so cool!?) Seriously… may be in my top 5 guest star experiences ever! With the first
of that list probably being… THE MULLETS- a short lived series that very few people watched that I guest starred on many, many moons ago. But honestly the most hilarious job I have ever had. I played a Stunt Woman named Stephanie (!) and in the course of one episode was axed in the stomach, blown up, and got to punch a bunch of people. And make out with a guy in a mullet. Which reminds me that I also made out with a dinosaur (pretending to be a human) as well as a Caveman (several times)… But I digress. My point is… I have a strange job. No! My point is… right- I loved working on The Closer. I watched a bunch of episodes online prior to working on it to familiarize myself with the tone and feel of the show (I often do this before I audition for a show, anyway) but I don’t normally watch more than 1 or 2 episodes in a row. And I skim through them. In this case, I watched 3 eps and barely Fast Forwarded… maybe even set my DVR to record it. And get this- Kyra owns a pit bull. I know, I know, I shouldn’t just automatically love her (right?) But I did, before I even met her. And then… she was just as awesome, if not more so, then I could have hoped for. Anyway- will let you all know when I know when the episode will air. It was called “Relative Matters” and my character’s name was Claudia. And Claudia was a fun one to play
GUEST STAR: The League; a couple of Indie Movies; and… long overdue update!
Ahhh! Happy Summer to you all. Hope you’ve been enjoying it so much you’re behind on all your blogging as well
What fun job stuff can I tell ya? Last month I filmed a fun li’l guest star spot on the FX show “The League”– which was a unique and cool experience… First time ever showing up to a set and having no idea what I was doing that day. They improvise most of their dialogue- so I did not get a script the night before. And while you know the gist of the scene and what your character’s main intent/function is… they truly allow you to play! Since I love improv, this was exciting, though I wish I’d had more to do, because it *was* so much fun and freeing! Actors on shows like these are definitely lucky duckies in my book… how neat to get paid on a regular basis to have so much fun. The title of the particular episode I am in is called “The Au Pair” and while I don’t know when it will air just yet- I do know it’s on Thursday nights on F/X!
Then, a couple weeks ago, I worked on an indie film currently called “Republic of Two”- which I think is a good name for the film actually. I don’t know quite why I said ‘currently called’- maybe because all the indies I do seem to get their names changed when they get picked up for distribution. And by all… I really mean just the 3 we’ve produced now that I think about it? “The Thirst” became Bloodwars… “Disarmed” became Special Ops- and we just found out recently that “Project Fear” is going to be renamed Absolute Fear when it gets released in the late fall/early winter. At least, that is when I think they said it’s coming out? I will check in about that, too.
And shortly before THAT, I worked on a short film called “The Number Nine” with a great group of people. I’m not sure how much I can say about that just yet, but when they release more info I will
What else? Hmmmmm…… Angel City Pit Bulls is going well! Have to admit, it takes up A LOT (too much?) of my time and energy so I am trying to get some balance back. Just so hard, knowing how many are in need, and sometimes I feel like such a small drop of water in an ocean of sadness 
Ewwww. Depressing. Sorry. To try and combat this, I am truly trying to expand upon the education and awareness part of our non-profit, and not just the rescue aspect, which can be very emotionally draining (but also rewarding, beyond words.) Am working on some cool P.S.A.’s to promote positive awareness and perception of the breed, along with responsible ownership. And we’re also starting a new program at the South LA Shelter this weekend to teach volunteers how to work with, train, and care for the pit bulls. So am excited about that. And of course nervous about how many we may fall in love with while we are there. Especially since we are so full on a regular basis. Anyway, I will stop rambling about that- but if you want to learn more- pls do click here to check out our website.
Lastly- am super excited to be back to work on Young Justice Season 2! And still working on The Croods with Dreamworks… Oh how I LOVE the v/o jobs. I just want to do more and more and more. They are so much fun and I get so jazzed every time I work, truly.
Alright, on that note, I must go study my lines for tomorrow’s auditions. Oh wait! That reminds me… I changed agencies a little while back also. After 8 years (though there was a change in ‘management’ during that time so it almost felt like 2 different places) I left Paradigm and signed with APA. So far so good. It was time. New, positive energy only brings more of the same… and I am looking forward to the months ahead. I’ve had a string of close calls these past few months, where I seem to get down to the wire and it’s between me and one other person… but I have faith my time will come. I have to…
Still truckin’
~Stephanie
M&R: The best birthday gift of all…
A couple days ago I celebrated my birthday by asking friends to join me for some tasty wine, even tastier cheese, and lots of cuddles with a dozen fabulous doggies I personally know and love that are currently available for adoption! For me, it was a glorious night, with so many shiny happy people having fun, loving doggies, taking pics with them and forwarding those pics to friends of friends. My goal was to raise money for the charity, build awareness of the death sentences facing so many innocent homeless pets, and– of course– find some beloved rescues their new fur-ever homes
Since I started volunteering several years ago with the Best Friends Animal Society, I have truly seen / experienced / benefited from /and been inspired by the *amazing* (& tireless!) work these volunteers do both in the shelters and beyond (fostering rescues, taking them to weekly mobile adoption events, caring for their medical issues, rehabilitating those who have been abused, training them, and getting them ready for their new lives and homes that they so deserve!) Always an animal lover and with 2 gorgeous rescue dogs of my own, it’s a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Sadly, the animal shelters of Los Angeles are almost always full, and many beautiful, wonderful, loving pets are euthanized due to overcrowding and need for space. While I know this is supposed to be “humane”, it sure doesn’t feel that way– when so many innocent lives are unnecessarily being terminated… daily. There are ways to combat this, and I love the BFAS’s approach. In addition to funding and coordinating the rescues of so many pets, they have also created some fantastic campaigns to help end this cycle of sadness and death. Below I have listed some of my favorites, which I encourage you to click on and learn more about:
No More Homeless Pets: Our Mission to Save Lives
The last campagin is very near and dear to my heart, since both of my dogs are “Pittie Mixes” and they are truly the most loving, loyal, and wonderful little men I have ever encountered.
<—— I mean… just look at these cuddle bugs!?
So without further adieu, I just want to say THANK YOU for reading this today, and supporting this cause. It’s truly the best birthday gift I can ask for.
XO XO XO,
Stephanie
Thanks for your support! Your support today means we’re one step closer to creating a world where there are No More Homeless Pets. There are many flexible and convenient options – whether you want to sponsor an animal or make a Gift of Life and Love, there is something for everyone!
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By Mail or Fax: Donate by mail or fax with this printable form: Mail and fax form |
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Automatic Monthly Donations: You may also make monthly automatic donations with your credit card with this printable form: Automatic Donation Form |
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By Phone: You can also donate to Best Friends by phone: 435-644-2001. Select option 5 |
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M & R: 2010 Pilot Updates
This week the UPFRONTS are taking place in NYC… which is when all the major networks announce which TV pilots they are picking up for the fall (or midseason) schedule. Having been involved with two completely different pilots this year, I am pleased to share that BOTH “Bleep My Dad Says” and “The Whole Truth” have been picked up for series– on CBS and ABC, respectively. Both shows were well-written, well-cast, well-directed– and I feel very blessed to have worked on each, regardless of the outcome– which for me, unfortunately, has been rather bittersweet… I think it’s best summed up like this:
“Life’s not always fair.
Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow.”
~Cherralea Morgen
So what happened? In a nutshell, CBS has decided to “retool” the pilot– and rewrite the character of one of the 2 sons on “Bleep My Dad Says”– and sadly, since my character was an extension of the one they are replacing… my character no longer exists. I played the younger son’s best friend and future love interest, and while a version of that character may be brought to life one day down the line in the NEW son-character’s life… there is no way of telling, right now, without having that new guy written or cast, who will be the right person to star opposite him. It’s definitely a tough pill to swallow, but that is show biz, and I certainly have been taught (after many years in this crazy biz!) that there are no guarantees, other than that there are no guarantees… and one should always be prepared to expect the unexpected. My heart is thrilled for the rest of the cast and crew however, who are nothing short of awesome, and with whom I hope to work again someday! So fingers crossed in that arena.
And as far as “The Whole Truth” goes– they are recasting the lead actress in that series as well (reposting an article about that in a sec!) However, am feeling positive about this news (admittedly the other news got me nervous!) since my part in this show is connected to the role of the Defense Attorney (whereas she played the Prosecutor)– so am thinking my character’s team should not really be affected… Anyway, am looking forward to growing in the recurring role of Rhonda, as this series develops!
Until then, I am very thankful for everyone’s support… and, of course, will continue to pound the pavement for every job opportunity I can get! I wonder how many other careers out there entail so much of their job being dedicated to GETTING A JOB, but I digress and leave you with a couple more quotes, which pretty much sum up how I feel today…
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same.
Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”
Don Williams, Jr.
To be successful in show business, all you need are fifty good breaks.
~Walter Matthau
MEDIA: tarte make-up, guest blog #2
Click here
for Part 2
of my tarte guest blog, called…
“Getting into Character”
xo
GUEST STAR: GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)
It’s currently pilot season in Los Angeles (which is basically when way too many actors scramble to get way too few parts in a way too short time span) and I– like everyone else in the game– have, of course, been running all over town auditioning like crazy! And somehow– in the midst of all the madness– I’ve had the incredible fortune to land a guest spot on the wonderful show that is the Ghost Whisperer! Whether or not you watch the show, I wanted to say… that they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. Seriously, it’s almost… weird!? Ha! Being a guest star on a show is not unlike being a guest in someone’s home. The best analogy I can give is when you are a kid and you have a playdate at your friend’s house. The thing is, you and your friend know each other… but sometimes they have siblings, or a pet, or a neighbor, or SOMETHING or SOMEONE that may not really love having you there, and they may have varying degrees of letting you know this. I’ve guest starred on some shows where I just did my “bit” and then “bit my lip” if you know what I mean… and then some where it was easy, breezy and lots of fun. However, this experience, so far, as been uniquely lovely and bears its own mentioning… Last Monday night, the entire cast and crew celebrated their 100th episode, and to mark the accomplishment they had a fantastic party… and I was beyond touched that they would invite me!? But they did! My husband and I attended and were welcomed as if we worked there weekly. Which in this town… feels very special, very rare… and meant a whole real lot. Anyway, I am still in the midst of shooting, AND simultaneously auditioning for pilots, so I promise to update more soon. In the meantime, if you haven’t seen this show, give it a shot… they deserve it 
Thanks for reading… as always. I’ll let you know when the episode I’m doing airs just as soon as I find out! xo
MEDIA: tarte make-up, guest blog #1
So fun! Click here to read Part 1 of my new Guest Blog for tarte Make-up!
MEDIA: Lock & Mane
At the start of 2010– in preparation for pilot season and getting new pics and for this whole website thingy– I took part in a really fun photo shoot– which (believe it or not) is a very strange sentence for me to write… since I kind of LOATHE taking photographs! People often say to me, “You’re an actress, taking pictures must be easy!?” But in actuality, it’s the exact opposite… When you take a photo, you are being YOU– not a character (which I much prefer)…. and also, you have to sit still… which is– well– WAY TOO HARD for an energizer bunny like me!
However… I was overdue for new pics and needed to get out of my head since this attitude truly does not serve me or my career… So! I enlisted the help of some fabulous friends and artists, including talented photographer, Suzanne Campbell, and make-up/ hair stylist, Coco Yuon (who also worked on our movies Project Fear & Disarmed) With their help– for the first time ever… I didn’t freak out and get all nervous and take a whole bunch of horrifying photos… (Thank you ladies for making this possible!!!) I was also incredibly lucky to get some MAJOR help from the team at *tarte* (they came up with some how-to-get-this-look GUIDES for different characters I often find myself playing using their fabulous make-up products… and even asked me to go a guest blog about the experience which I will post soon!) And if that weren’t enough, I also got some amazing hair stuff from LOCK & MANE… You know what? I *could *say more, but they truly do explain it best themselves, so without further adieu, I give you the link to Lock & Mane’s fun blog– Enjoy!!!
M&R: Why the Website?
“In free countries, every man is entitled to express his opinions and every other man is entitled not to listen.”~ G. Norman Collie
So… why the website? For starters, I have learned so much from reading other people’s stories. If any of mine can help some other like-minded individual out there… why not share? Our lives are so busy, and the web offers an accessible way of keeping up to date with the goings-on of our industry and an awareness of the avenues that are open for creative collaboration. Since my career is ever-evolving, my hope is to use this site as a way to reflect upon my journey, and to connect with others who have similar paths. So, if you’re looking for information on me and my career… here it is, straight from the horse’s mouth! And if you aren’t– um… why are you reading this?
M&R: Storytelling…
“Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it.” ~ Hannah Arendt
Apparently, when my mom asked me at 4 years old what I would like to be when I grow up, I replied, “An actress, writer, or the Easter Bunny.” 2 out of 3′s not bad, right? I’ve always been a storyteller. Growing up, I was happiest either acting on stage, or…. furiously writing novellas in my room. Today, I’ve written children’s books and screenplays, and I pinch myself whenever I get paid to act. While it’s my work, it’s also my life… I’m so grateful to have married my best friend, and that he shares similar career interests. The personal and professional is quite blurred, and thankfully, we’re okay with that (not that it’s always EASY!)
“The essence of childhood, of course, is play, which my friends and I did endlessly on streets that we reluctantly shared with traffic.” ~ Bill Cosby
I love the quote above because I think so much of our work feels like playing. The true work we do is dealing with all of the traffic that comes with this business– so that we feel safe enough to play and enjoy ourselves, and to not get discouraged, or hurt, by any of the other random drivers with whom we must share the road.
“The events of childhood do not pass, but repeat themselves like seasons of the year.” ~ Eleanor Farjeon
My childhood definitely helped grow the storyteller’s seed inside me. Because of my dad’s job as an NHL goalie, our family moved several times, and every time I entered a new school– I was challenged by the many new people to meet, and things to learn– from names and faces, to accents and expressions, to local heroes and sports affiliations. I marveled at how other kids adamantly believed their team was the best team, their way of speaking was the right way… and I was fascinated at how different everyone seemed on the surface, but how similar we all were in the end. I was definitely making connections that would help in my career one day. Thankfully, my family is very close, and remained a strong constant for me alongside so many changes. Also, seeing my dad go to practice every day so that he could be conditioned and strong for the challenges he faced (both on and off the ice) had a huge influence on my work ethic. In addition, he did countless charity events and community benefits and I witnessed how moved people were by the time and energy he dedicated to his fans and people in need. I carry these lessons with me daily, ingrained from an early age.
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” ~ Seneca
Growing up, I did lots of community theater. At the end of junior high, my mom finally broke down and brought me to an agent after years of my begging. For the next several years, I worked on numerous local commercials and industrial films in New England. Then it was off to college where I pursued my other love, writing, and a Communications degree at the UPENN. I took as many classes in the business and production side of entertainment as I could, and used my summers off to intern back at the wonderful agency that helped me out so much as a kid (The Cameo Agency!) During my junior year, I studied abroad in Australia, and interned as a production assistant and in the editing bay for two TV shows. To anyone who is thinking of getting involved in this business, in whatever field, I would say that these experiences helped me tremendously… If you want to be a writer, take an acting class. If you want to be an actor, assist an editor. There is no shortage to what you can learn about your field by seeing it from a different angle. And of course, if you want to be good at whatever you do… TRAVEL! Live life– get out there and try new things, especially ones that scare you. Talk to people, watch movies, read books, immerse yourself in culture. I am telling you, despite how scared it made my parents… when I finally graduated college in 2001, I felt confident and ready to take on the formidable and majestic town of Los Angeles… and I’m not sure I could have survived otherwise.
“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.” ~ William Arthur Ward
In general, I don’t really think you can teach someone randomly off the streets how to act or sing or write… the seed’s already gotta exist within. It’s the same with sports… you have to be naturally athletic if you’re gonna make it one day in the big leagues. I believe all people are born with some innate talent (the trick is finding out what!) And then, it takes proper nurturing, conditioning, training, coaching, and your life experiences– positive and negative– along with hard work and determination– to help grow that seed successfully over time. When it comes to being an actor, writer, director… I think the key point is “over time”…! To compare one person’s story of “success” to another’s (especially in this field) is truly to compare apples to oranges. We can only learn from and be inspired from each other’s stories. But then, we must to go out and DO things on our own. There’s no ONE path. And… there’s the capricious nature of “good luck” to take into account. With so many flowers in a field, how can you control which gets picked, and when? That’s why, in the meantime, it’s incredibly important to be in a place where you get enough sunlight and water to survive, and hopefully flourish. If ever you’re feeling droopy… Perhaps volunteer your time, energy, and talents with someone who not only appreciates it but very well may need it. I think being artistic and creative is a gift that keeps on giving. In the end, we’re all connected and can truly benefit from sharing our stories, and lending a helping hand.
On that note, I can’t help (from time to time) use this website as a platform to share some amazing volunteer opportunities and stories about charitable organizations as they touch me along the way! ♥ Here are two of my favorites in L.A. that I truly feel blessed to volunteer for…!
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end” ~ Ursula K. LeGuin
No one can *sustain* a career in this business on freebies and connections alone. You have to at least some talent and you definitely have to be willing to put in the work. As individuals, my husband and I have been working tirelessly to make things happen in our careers, and our workload definitely increased when we started a production company. We feel both blessed and inspired by the many people we’ve met and worked with along the way who’ve shown the same amount of passion and perspiration. We’ve also been let down and frustrated by people who’ve over-promised and under-delivered on just as many occasions. In the end, we have truly learned so much, each step along the way… and every lesson counts. Life (synonymous with work for us) continues to be a roller coaster, with plenty of nauseating falls and thrilling highs. Our goal remains, however– no matter what happens– to enjoy the ride along the way. Now it’s nearing the end of 2009, and I’ve had 8 straight years of ups and downs in this business. I’ve done 9 television pilots for major networks, some of which got picked up and aired, others which have only been seen at parties thrown by my parents. I’ve guest-starred on shows and met countless inspiring and interesting actors along the way. I’ve had small parts in big studio films and big parts in small indie films. And man, have I AUDITIONED!!! Recently, I began doing voice-over work, and my hope is to parlay my love of acting into some animated characters as well… which has always been a dream of mine. Of course, I’ll be updating here whenever that happens- so thanks again, for caring and your support.
xoxo
