Casting Call

I’m expanding into niche markets and looking to build a bit of a portfolio with that in mind. I’m looking for Burlesque Performers and Roller Derby Girls who would like to do TF (time for photos) for their own portfolios/promotional photos. I’d like to photograph performers who have their own developed characters. You can do your own hair and makeup or arrange a MUA or Hair Stylist for the shoot.

This is an opportunity to get FREE photos of your character for your own promotional use (with the only stipulation that I am credited as the photographer). Some photos may be used on my website for promotion of my photography, and I will gladly place a link to your webpage (or team/troupe) if you’d like.

Please send me a message if you’re interested with information about your character and the look you want to present.

Speakeasys

When Cat and I were in San Francisco we went to a very cool club (and I’m not really the club type). It was called Bourbon and Branch and it was inspired by the speakeasys of prohibition. There was an unmarked door with a secret password, and a bar behind a hidden door that looked like a book shelf. I would have taken photos but that wasn’t allowed–neither were the use of cell phones or pretty much anything that didn’t exist back then.

LOVED IT.

The Speakeasy (like burlesque and roller derbies) has enjoyed a revival of late. There are apparently clubs with similar set ups all over the continent. Although I hesitate to say I don’t think there’s one in Toronto. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I have the idea (don’t steal it) of writing a tour guide type travel book about them, giving me the excuse to do a road trip around North America visiting speakeasys. I think it’d be fantastic.

The Roosevelt Room is opening next month. It’s a 1920s inspired supper club with art deco interior, waitresses as flappers, jazz music… Completely my sort of place. I assume the dress code referred to is pretty upscale, and the minimum age is 25.

Can anyone suggest any great vintage shops I might find an appropriate dress? I’m thinking girls night out.

Guys Who Can’t Dance

I’ve been watching Glee and for the most part I love it, but I got to say there’s been something bothering me from the beginning. The young male lead (the high school quarter back) can not dance. He tries, he does the steps… but it just looks awkward. Painfully awkward. But I couldn’t pin point exactly what he does wrong.

Until today. I watched a bit of Battle of the Blades and the first hockey player who skated… He was trying to groove, but it just looked bad. Awkward. Because of his hips. He moved them like little kids dancing, where the hips sway side to side locked to the rest of the body.

How do adult men do that? I don’t get it. Especially how a musical theatre performer can do it. Meh.

Fantastic Theatre Post

Travis Bedard has posted a great list of info anyone (newly graduated or even years out of school) pursuing a career in the arts should know called 10 Things I Wish I’d Been Told in College.

My favorite:

There’s no time limit.
Unless you want to be a Broadway ingénue. You haven’t failed if you haven’t done “X” by 25 or 30. You “fail” if you stop. You rarely stop something you are still in love with. If you stopped because you don’t want to do it anymore? You didn’t fail – you changed. You don’t owe theatre anything.

Reliving my youth… With more style

I just bought a pair of roller skates. Not the inline kind. The old 4 wheel, skating in a rink with Guns and Roses ballads playing over a speaker system on a Saturday night kind.

I grew up on skates. My mother was a huge fan of walking all over the city. With her lack of a driver’s license and lack of funds for public transit that meant I too got to walk all over San Francisco and Berkeley with her. Which I HATED. And I;m sure I complained about alot.

Until she bought me a pair of roller skates. I don’t remember if it was for my birthday, or christmas, or if it was even her that got them for me. But once I had them I went everywere complaint free with her. On my roller skates. They were white with red wheels and a rainbow on the outside of each one.

I have no idea what happened to them. Probably got garage-saled when we moved to Winnipeg.

I have spent a lot of money on skates since then. Figure skates. OMG expensive figure skates. That was back when I was a competitive skater so it was justifiable. And I’ve owned two pairs of inline skates since junior high. My current pair are grey and orange. Yeah, gross I know. But according to Mic they were a fanstastic deal for the quality vs price. I’m pretty sure the colour-scheme has kept me from using them much.

RollerStar skates from Roller Bug

So today, I bought a pair of skates to love. Aren’t they beautiful? Yes, they will be even prettier once I switch the wheels from icy blue (very nice yes, not me) to a fantastic sparkly purple. *sigh*

Now all I need is a friend with a car who wants to go skating at the only roller rink nearby in Mississauga. Saturday nights 8pm-2am.

I wonder if they play Guns and Roses.

Still Dealing With It

I’ve noticed a recent shift with how I’m dealing with my mom’s death. It’s still challenging on a daily basis, and I’m surprised by the oddest things that cause me to burst into tears, but lately it’s been possible for me to think about her and not cry. That’s an improvement right?

Yes, days that I don’t have anything specific to get up for I find it almost impossible to get out of bed. I’m told that’s a sign of depression… apathy. I’m choosing to see it as me living my life in another realm–the dream world. that can be quite fulfilling. There’s even a movie about that. I think Penelope Cruz is in it.

Anyways, I stumbled across a blog today about a book a woman wrote that expands on what I was referencing in my Painting Approval post the other day–about how liberating it also is to not need approval from my mom.

The book is called Death Benefits: How losing a parent can change an adult’s life for the better.

“When you never again feel guilty about disappointing a parent, just imagine! It’s like sprouting wings.” The author refers to people getting divorced, or coming out of the closet. For me however it has meant that a large portion of my diet has consisted of cupcakes lately. That’s not necessarily a healthy change. Sure lack of guilt is great, but that’s still going to leave me with a body that will limit casting range as well as the clothes I wear–and I do have a very distinct sense of style, just not one I’m willing to pay for at this point. And yes, I’m blaming that on the cupcakes.

It’s a phase. I know what I want. My mom instilled in me that addage that I can be anything I want if I want it badly enough. I just have to want it more than I want to drown my depression in icing sugar. Which seems to be the problem lately. I don’t really want anything. We’re back to the apathy thing.

My mom told me she loved me and to go live my life and be happy. I know she was proud of me, and I’ve heard it from so many people since she died. Letters from people I never knew who had heard so much about me have told me how much my mother loved me and how proud she was of everything I was doing. And it’s really good to know that.  I’ve been able to think about things I’ve done lately and know how proud my mom would be of me, how much she would have gushed over a photo I took, or a show I performed.

So maybe that’s the key–I knew her well enough to know exactly what she would say about things, how she’d respond. So, I can give myself that feedback from her about my accomplishments, but also not worry about disappointing her with other things. I just need to worry about disappointing myself.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll go grocery shopping, and skip the cupcake aisle.

You want to make $ in Theatre?

I’ve got the ultimate money making theatre production idea…

Twilight the Musical

I’m telling you, it’d be huge! And also exemplify everything I hate about theatre audiences and how they spend their money.

Tell me a little about yourself

I almost want to say that I’ve taken a hiatus from acting simply because I hate this question. It’s not even a question. It’s a “we just want to look at you and hear you talk and maybe you`ll entertain us while we do that” statement that really doesn’t accomplish anything.

I want to yell back “WHY?!” or “What specifically do you want to know?”

Um…. I’m an actor. Oh, but then you know that because I’m here auditioning for you. Yeah, I went to Queen’s. Oh right, that’s on my resume that you have in front of you telling you everything you could possibly actually need to know about me to determine if you want to cast me. I wear mittens to the movies. Okay, now you just think I’m weird.

I don’t particularly like long walks on the beach–I’d rather sit and enjoy the view or play in the water. But this isn’t a date so that’s not relevant. I get that you’d like to know who you’re talking to, but that’s not going to happen in one question. And how unfair IS that?! Who are YOU? Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself? Oh, you’d rather tell me about the project. Well, yeah. That makes sense. Because it’s relevant.

Directors, casting directors, and student film makers…. Why do you ask this and what is it you would really like us to tell you?

Amy in Graffiti Alley

I had a great photo shoot with Amy in Graffiti Alley over the weekend:

We Think… Or at least I do.

Mic and I started a blog together. It’s called We Think, sort of a reference to couples who quickly lose their individuality and start using the word “we” way more than the word “I”.

The idea is to write about everything, but show both points of view on it (specifically when it comes to reviewing theatre).

He hasn’t posted yet. Perhaps his first blog will be about how I won’t stop nagging him to post on the blog–after all it was his idea.

In any case, the banner is really pretty.