We are not our parents

Edit: Please read the following with the light-hearted smiling voice it was written in. My in-laws are some of the most wonderful people I know and I’m proud to have their name.

You would be amazed how many holiday cards we received this year addressed to my in-laws. And yet when I opened them, inside they said “Mic & Chloe”.
My mom chose her last name. It was her father’s mother’s maiden name. She felt a connection to her grandmother and wanted to carry on her name, so she legally changed hers.
And when I was born, it’s the last name I was given.
My mom and I were the only people in our family with that name, and now that she’s gone, I’m the only one left.
So there was very little doubt that I wasn’t giving it up when I got married.

So Mic and I talked. We wanted our kids (if we have any) to have the same last name as both of us — We heard stories of parents having trouble traveling with kids that had their spouses last name — but if I wasn’t giving up my last name, Mic shouldn’t have to give up his either.
So, when we took our marriage certificate to Service Ontario, we BOTH changed our names.
That’s right. Both of us. Please wipe that shocked look off your face Mr. Service Ontario Guy and pull out a second application form for my husband.

I get that it’s the norm for women to change their names, not the men, but there is history attached to both our names. And hell, I’m older so I’ve even had mine longer.
I LOVE getting cards in the mail. It’s one of the few non-virtual interactions left. And if people want to send cards to my husband’s family via our address I will happily pass them on.
But, if they’re for us, please address the envelope to The Whitehorn Gillam Family. We’re making our own history.

Mortal Woes

I hate my “job”.
I put “job” in quotes because it’s really more a place I go a couple times a week, sit at a desk all day wasting time by surfing the internet. They don’t need me. Really. I think it’s some bureaucratic thing that says they need to have someone here in case the phone rings to say “I’m sorry, I can’t help you, but if you call back tomorrow there will be someone here who can.” It’s pretty pointless.
And I get that it’s super easy money and tons of people would kill for a requires-very-little-work-and-you-get-paid job, but I’m starting to feel like not having to wake up early in the morning to get here is worth more money than what I’m making.
Days like today when I’m running all over doing stupid things like paying the pizza guy and signing people in and printing addresses on envelopes are rare, but still, that I came in and felt put out because there was actually work for me to do… well that says something right?
Anyways, I’m coming to the conclusion that I’m not going to live forever (I know, I’m slow to the realization). I’ve basically just realized that I’m not immortal. You laugh but seriously, think about it. How much are you actually aware that your days are numbered? We’re like “yeah of course I’m not immortal, that’s stupid” but then you actually get it…. well that’s something different.
And I’m realizing that this is just a serious waste of my time for what basically works out to just enough money to put a roof over my head. If I only have X amount of days, why am I spending so many of them here doing stuff that ultimately isn’t important and won’t change the world in any way?
So… Who is going to give me permission to quit in the new year and use the time productively?

Work/Flow/Muse

I have a friend (several actually, I’m not a leper. But I’m referring to one particular friend here) whom I get together with sporadically to churn our creativity. We’re both creative performers/writers, her in music, me in theatre, and there’s something about being around each other that inspires us to actually work.

I’m inspired by all my friends. I get great ideas just being around them. But there’s something about this particular friend that makes me actually want to DO something with the ideas.

What’s with that? Why can’t I be on my own and write? Why do I need her presence as a kick in the ass to get me going? And what do I do when our lives are too busy to schedule a weekly get-together? Like now.

Maybe I need a virtual her. I’ll just take a big doll out to cafes and sit at tables with it and somehow it’ll make me actually do work instead of just thinking about it. Anyone know Voodoo?

The hazards of being a fantastic friend

Good thing I got married first, otherwise I’d be worried about that “always a bridesmaid” adage. That’s right, I just found out I will be a bridesmaid for a third time in a 9 month period!

I’m pretty blessed to have such incredible, sweet, gorgeous friends (who also have great taste in wedding attire) who love me enough to want to include me in one of the most memorable days of their lives. Anyone have any pressing wedding questions? I think I’m becoming an expert.

 

I’m so fickle

I’ve moved, sort of. I discovered Tumblr and I really like it. And my new website points to it. So, I’m using it for my photo posts. If I feel the need to wax verbose I will probably still spew it here. But in the meantime, check out some of the photos I took of my gorgeous friends Amy and Nathaniel at their wedding this weekend:

Find more here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amuse-photography

It’s not over yet!

I’ve been hard-core fringing. It’s been a blast. Because I am not IN my show I get to spend a ton of time seeing other shows and hanging out at the tent making new friends, and of course promoting  my show. Which has been surprisingly easy. After each performance I’d get a text message saying “Another standing ovation”, which when you’re then trying to tell people about your show, makes it a lot easier to interest them. God, I hope that’s not ’cause we’re all sheep.

Anyways, fantastic news today. “Love, Virtually” was picked for BEST OF FRINGE!!

For those of you who don’t fringe, let me explain. A jury chooses these shows (rather than a lottery) and getting chosen is A FREAKING HUGE DEAL!

So, the cast and crew get to do the show 3 more times (in addition to the 2 performances they still have left at the Fringe–crap, I’m trying to see those two shows. I might have to actually line up really early to get a ticket.) at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Which is awesome!

This is only adding to the already fantastic buzz about the show. I’ve been getting Twitter messages from people who loved it (and think I’m brilliant), there have been a bunch of rave reviews (and one weird review that was middle of the line, very complimentary, and down right idiotic all at the same time. And he said HE was confused.), and tremendous audience response.

A round up of what I’ve been too busy to post:

The Metro (which the billion Toronto commuters pick up every morning) featured the show on page 4 of the paper on the opening day of the Fringe Festival.
“Do You Have Any Singles? Go Fish” by Phoebe Ho.

And then there were reviews:

First Audience Review

The first audience review for my latest play “Love, Virtually” presented by Working Title Artists Company has been posted on Now Magazine’s Fringe Guide site. I’m still amazed that people seem to like what I write, and how I write.

So I can share it with you (and re-read it again and again whenever I feel sucky) I’ve pasted it below.

Oh, and come see the show! There are six more performances at the Tarragon Theatre. Tickets are $10 at the door an hour before showtime.
Jul 9 at 5:15 pm | Jul 11 at 8 pm | Jul 12 at 3 pm | Jul 14 at noon | Jul 15 at 8:45 pm | Jul 17 at 5:15 pm

The play’s the thing… (posted by dratusny)

Anyone who has ever seen any of Chloe Whitehorn’s work is likely thinking the same thing I am: “It’s only a short matter of time before this mega talented woman is working in L.A or on Broadway – or anything else that she decides on.” This extraordinarily brilliant gal is the reason this play is a must see!

For without an epic script, you have little to stand on. LOVE, VIRTUALLY is a production that hits a raw and compelling chord. You see, it tackles the expansive topic of social media as it is experienced through on-line dating – and what it means to be true to yourself – as you contemplate finding love.

And….like any of Ms. Whitehorn’s intelligent and ingenious scripts – you must pay close attention! There is serious depth to her writing, and like the often complex layers of a person’s life – LOVE, VIRTUALLY tells an important story – with humour, meaning and a surprise or two to keep you on the edge of your theatre seat.

The cast and crew were supurb. Bunmi Adeoye, Krista Barzso, Eve Wylden, Nick Stojanovic, Alan Norman, Joshua Wiles, Michael Donnelly – you are all so wonderfully talented! A delightful bonus was the masterfully written music by Cat Ratusny (performed together with musician Jamie Matsukubo) in conjunction with many of the actors, showcasing their multi-gifted abilities! Hats off to David Owen, Director; Lenore White (the Diva who sets stages and lighting while climbing ladders in heels!); Joe Pagnan, Set Designer; and Elizabeth Stuart-Morris, Stage Manager….you are the geniuses behind the scenes!

A ‘must see’ before it hits Mirvish and then Broadway….LOVE, VIRTUALLY is “literally” perfection!

Pic a Profile

I’m shooting some promo photos for Working Title Artists Company’s Toronto Fringe production of “Love, Virtually” (which incidentally I wrote) and the posters are going to be styled like internet dating profiles.

So today I’ve been doing some research to find various typical dating profile photos and I came across this site that I think was worth sharing.

http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/the-4-big-myths-of-profile-pictures/

Incidentally, we’d already planned to include the guy showing his abs shot as well as the myspace angle.

This is my favorite quote:

“The older the woman, the more relatively successful she is showing off her body.”

Wedding Season in full swing!

Congratulations to my friends Becky and Graham who tied the knot this weekend!

One down, three engaged couples (that I know of) to go.

The Other Side of the Audition Table

Cat walks the line, a photo by Chloe Whitehorn – aMuse Photography on Flickr.

Sitting on the other side of the casting process, there are things I was reminded of that I knew as an actor but now will be more vigilant about.

1) Don’t cancel your audition on the day. It is super annoying to have a perfect audition schedule shot full of holes you can’t fill with the actors on the waiting list because it’s too short notice. And there is always a waiting list of actors that would have LOVED to have had the opportunity to audition.

2) Don’t cancel an audition because you think you might not get the role anyways. I’ll say this, there were a few actors that the director and producer said “where’s so-and-so? oh, that’s a shame, she/he would have been perfect for this. I was looking forward to their audition”. You don’t know what the casting people are thinking and you don’t know who the competition is.

3) Look like your headshot. OMG! We know this but actors seem to forget. We saw quite a few people I wouldn’t recognize on the street with their headshots in my hand.

This works on many different levels. There were people we didn’t call in because they looked too young for the roles in their headshots. Now I’m wondering if we should have seen them, ’cause they considered casting someone who almost didn’t get an audition time because I thought she was too young. In their headshot they looked 10 years younger than in person. We almost missed out on seeing them because of that. I know it’s a flattering shot, but is it accurate? Sometime accurate is what they’re actually looking for.

On the other side, a number of times I wrote “much cuter in person than photo” because the photos were just so bad. Again, another cast member that we LOVE almost didn’t make the audition list because their photo was dreadful. Again very glad we saw them.

4) If you have a lot of theatre experience on your resume, we expect that you know how to audition for theatre. IE, reading the stage directions out loud to us in your read demonstrates your inexperience. On the flip side, if you have a lot of stage experience, put it on your resume. It’s reassuring to us.

5) If you can’t make it, call. I know I said don’t cancel on the day, but I might actually consider those canceling actors for an audition again (unless they cancel again, two chances is enough) but the two no-shows we had? Yeah, big giant NO for anything ever again. And yes, I will remember their names.

6) And lastly, and I know I’ve heard/read this tons of times before but it really is true: Relax, we really are on your side and rooting for you to be good. Cause then we can cast you.

Thanks again to everyone who came out for the auditions. There was a ton of talent and I had a great day.