Well, before I get on about the meeting, let me just mention the photoshoot that I did on Sunday. It was for Petal and Thorn, an online bridal accessories boutique that I mentioned in my last post. I arrived at the salon (Flawless Faces) where the other model, Adrienne Ackerman (only 19!) joined me. We had our hair and makeup done and then went to the studio where the shoot was going to take place (iWink Studios) where the photographer soon showed up and then we waited a couple minutes for the studio to open and the designer to arrive.
First, I wore an Adrianna Papell white satin gown which was gorgeous and fit like a glove (and the designer, Kristin let me keep it since she only bought it for the shoot and it doesn't fit her. I was fitted with a headpiece that I never actually got to see and then the shoot began! After we got the shot, they'd switch the headpiece and keep going. So I'm kind of dying to see the pictures just to see what all the headpieces and accessories look like! haha. Well, the shoot was a total blast and a great experience, and the photographer (Juneberry Photo) told me that I should get a lot of jobs from this one shoot.
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| After getting hair and makeup done before heading to the studio. |
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| The Adrianna Papell gown. |
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| The other gown I wore - so pretty! |
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| Photographer and other model Adrienne at work. |
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| Behind the scenes with the designer and her assistant putting on my next headpiece. |
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| The Facebook cover photo from Petal and Thorn's page. |
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| Sneak peek from Juneberry Photo. |
Alright, back to the meeting. Well, for the full story, I need to start the night before. My husband had to work and didn't get home until after midnight and then left at 6:00 the next morning. He walked out the door, and I tried to go back to sleep but then a couple minutes later he stormed in saying "The car got towed!" He was going to take my Nissan Murano to work so I could take his little Fiesta to LA for the better gas mileage, but had accidentally parked in a handicap spot when he got home so late cause apparently it was dark and there were no other spots open. Well, he was in a panic and was apologizing to me "I have to leave baby I'm so sorry." And then I'm just sitting there in a shock, cause that means he has to take the only other car leaving me stranded, and I'm thinking I'm going to have to cancel the meeting. He leaves, I start crying, and then decide to get dressed and figure out what to do. I called the number I found online for if your car got towed, they gave me the number of the company that towed it and I called to see if they had my car and how much it'd be to get it ($265!). A little while later, my husband called me to say that he'd leave work if he could and if he couldn't, his Lieutenant had offered to pick me up and drive me onto base so I could take the car that Ethan had driven. So, I started getting ready, doing my hair and makeup and stuff, and then Ethan calls to say he's on his way home. I get totally ready for the meeting, and then we go to get the car that was towed, and come home so I can eat lunch. I manage to convince him to go with me to LA for moral support, and we left. Got there about an hour and 45 minutes early, so we just relaxed in the car for a little bit. I went to the office at 12:15 (meeting was at 1:00) and waited until about 1:15, where Sandy surprised me by arriving behind me from the elevators and then leading me to her office. lol.
I totally bombed it. The stress of the morning and then waiting in the lobby for about an hour had completely shot my nerves. I think my monologue went great, but I was terrible at telling her about myself (first thing she asked me to do). I had prepared answers to other questions that I had found a lot of agents asked (according to acting websites) but that question threw me and she stopped me mid-sentence to tell me that that is something I need to work on. :P I also bombed my cold read. I know HOW to do it, I know the basics, but I just stared down at the script the entire time cause I was so nervous. So she told me not to do that and then to do it again. She then said that if I did what I did the second time the FIRST time, it would've been so much better because I emoted and was funny etc. Also, she said I cut off my right arm cause she noticed I had a lot of comedy and drama on my resume, and just making conversation and trying to be honest, I told her that I thought comedy was not my strength and she asked why. Then, like a bumbling idiot, I prattled on about why I was bad at comedy. ARGH. But, she gave me some great notes and after all that, still said she wants to meet with me again in January having put her notes into practice. Mostly, she just said I need to work on my confidence, but that there is absolutely no reason I can't be a successful actress! (YAY!) So, I ordered books to read she told me about, and watched young actresses interviewed on Jay Leno like she said (to try and pick up their confidence and things that they do). Probably the best advice that she gave me though was something she learned in a workshop. "If you're NOT confident, you're still an actor. So ACT like an actor who IS confident." "Fake it til you make it," she kept saying.
I need to start with the studio I interviewed at (oh, yes, I had a meeting with an acting coach at the Actors Workshop - there's one in LA and one in Orange County - this coach's dad, who is also an instructor at the studio, studied under Meisner! - and I am starting with them in January). She told me what kind of "looks" to get with my headshots at the end of the month - but she listed more than 4 which is the amount I'm getting, so I somehow need to whittle the list down. She said "teenager/college student" (said I could portray 17-23!), "hot/sexy girl," "hipster," "young mom," "edgy doctor/business woman," and "geek/nerd." I guess hipster and geek could be about the same, if I wear my glasses. And maybe college student/hot girl could be about the same... I mean they're headshots, so what I wear won't really be seen, so I'll only be achieving these different looks through facial expressions, but the facial expression shouldn't be all that outrageous because for headshots they're just kind of intense/neutral/non-smiling. Though she said also to get some smiling, for commercial work. Whew.
But that reminds me, I need to email my manager all the notes she gave me.
Oh, and I got my hair cut yesterday at a salon that I just adore now (Shampoo Cocktails)! The stylist was phenomenal and we got along really well (normally I find the small talk the stylists try to create really awkward!). But my hair isn't too different, just reshaped and my bangs were trimmed.
Well... I think that was it for now.
Gotta get back to watching interviews :P
And, gotta get ready to go see The Hobbit! (Midnight premiere was last night!)
Thanks,
more later.
Laura
