Glamorous life of being an extra

Everyone thinks that if you work on a tv show, film or commercial it's an awesome experience and sometimes they're close, but never quite right.

You apply and if you get the call you receive little to no information.

Day or night shoot? ...I don't know

Interior or exterior? ...I don't know

Walk away lunch?...I don't know

With all those questions unanswered you can't plan anything ahead of time and basically have to sit and wait till midnight to find out that they want you dressed in heels, hair and makeup on a bus at 5am.

Sometimes you get the answers to those questions but then there's the complicated wardrobe information. You never really know what they're looking for because what ever you do or bring to get ready, they will change it. The best is when they book you im advanced and you are all excited because you no longer have to apply for work and then they send you the wardrobe notes the day before and you don't have any of it.

They get mad when you cancel and evenoread when you cancel because you don't have the wardrobe they want that they never told you im the first place. They are however nice if you at least bring options to set so that's the biggest thing to know. If you bring options they'll be nice to you even if they don't use them. 

Holding- be prepared to sit in a tiny room with a bunch of other people who have carried over their closets to set. You will not have room for yourself or your personal items and people will be fighting for the outlets the entire time. Background is also always concerned with food and are like animals who have never seen food or water and the minute they get a wiff they pounce. Sometimes you luck out and get catered lunch and occasionally breakfast. Those are the best days because that means you can actually continue your diet.

SAG vs. Non Union-

You will be separated by tables and food areas but ultimately treated the same. However you as a non Union will be fully aware of how much less you are making and how your basic human rights are unacknowledge. So the goal is to suck it up and pray for your 3 wavers. But once you get them you'll have to pay 3 thousand dollars and then another 100 twice a year. Oh and you'll still be doing the same thing, just less often and making more money.

Tomorrow I'll discuss the experience on set, but for now my cattle herder is calling me...

Back to Stockholm

We are back in Stockholm after spending a week in Vastevike. It was humid and buggy but we got to use the boat and swim in the sea and enjoy a lot of relaxation...almost too much. I managed to read 2 books, a script and start my 3rd. Also completed 2 500 piece puzzles so I am definitely ready to get back to more of a reality.

We did go boating and kayaking which was really nice and a good arm workout. We walked around the town and attended a rock show where it was a biker fest. I have never seen so many bikers in one place nor did I realize there were so many different biker groups in Sweden. We had fun and its good to be back since the girls are returning this afternoon!

Sweden

Only took 2 days of planes trains and automobiles to get here along with a delay because the copilot didnt have a chair. You think you know what its going to be like, ultimate relaxation l, until you get here. Its only day two and im already spending the days sleeping and being bored. At least for now I have the excuse of jetlag but that wont last for long.

The family isn't wasting time and driving us to the summer house already, which is good so that if im lyin out on the dock sleeping it will be counted as tanning and therefore and activity. They do have a boat so activities are a possible like waterskiing and fishing (although my uncle says they're are no fish) and going for walks and borrowing the car to go i to town. Doesn't seem bad right? Their things could take up two or three days max. We'll be there for a week before returning and spending another week here. Im not complaining, ive been looking forward to seeing my family and relaxing. But I guess without my sister and cousins here I didnt realize how much longer the week is going to seem without them. 

I guess Ill attempt to do the things I normally dont have time for, like reading and writing. But I may not have wifi which means ill have to save all my posts and put them up on my return. Or if we actually make it to town.

Bon voyage! 

Sunday fun day

Reasons an open tab should not be created:

-unlimited drinks

-easier to offer to buy shots for the group

-leads flirting with those who pour your drinks

-easier to forget credit card 

Other side effects:

-getting lost

-being found by an old lady

-lack of memory

-random texts to teacher

-cancellation of responsibilities

On the upside I am not the only one with these experiences but I am the only one who has yet to find out how much was spent between the bar and cab

6 weeks later

I haven't written since my first week in the city. Things have been crazy and honestly I down right just forgot about it. But im going to make the attempt to update it as often as possible.

Not going to recount the boring details of the last month in a long drawn out story but will simply stick to a list:

• thought I had 2 jobs and ended up with 1
• been getting steady work as an extra on tv shows
• decided to leave the salon and pursue acting full time
• had an amazing weekend in the city with my boyfriend
• my boyfriend broke up with me over facebook, which i read on the hour long bus ride home after a shoot, crying the whole way and getting odd stares from the guy sitting next to me
• I got more auditions which helped me cope with the pain...along with several bottles of wine
• my two best guy friends stand me up at the train station, luckily I was smart enough not to get off without confirmation of a pick up

This past weekend was July 4th, a boring one at that but I did manage to party with friends and get burnt to a crisp. Luckily for me i'm not nearly as bad as my sister who peeled off her burnt skin leaving a very gross and infected mark on her boob. Tonight i'll be attending a call back to be a UK rapper's main girl in his music video and performing sides from law and order in a paid-for seminar with the show's casting director. Im sure nothing will come of it, but hopefully will be a positive experience. This week doesnt have anything exciting to look forward to other than a party saturday celebrating the life of my friend who almost died a year ago in a motorcycle accident. 

More details to come as the experiences unfold but one this is for sure...I am so glad to be living in NYC. As much as I miss my theatre friends, I am lucky to be able to see them on the weekends and use my CT house as a weekend home. 

Little Red in the Big City

First week as an independent...well almost

So I have done it! I have finally moved to the big apple after graduating from college 1 year ago. How did a starving artist manage to live on the upper west side? Im squatting at my parents place. Luckily my amazing parents who continue to support me through my pursuit in an acting career. I have done the heavy work of hitting the pavement and cyberspace walls and have found myself 2 part jobs, 1 walking distance and the other a quick bus ride away.

Now for the more interesting experiences...

It began before I even arrived...a 50 something year old man was found sitting 3 rows behind me on the train into the city. He was smoking a cigarette (which is bad enough) and MASTURBATING! I never thought I would be able to say that those types of things happen but they do! And the worst part was that I almost felt bad for the old man because he had no reaction to the cops escorting him off the train. Clearly he was not in his right mind and hopefully will be getting some help.

For you younger men..

There is something in your brain that tells you to "bark" when you see a hott girl. For humans this can mean a weird noise, a 1 word like "damnnn" or a phrase like "you lookin good". For whatever reason these are the things that come into your mind and you choose to act upon that gut reaction. The question is what type of reaction are you looking to get? Is it the same reaction your expecting? Either way you would be wrong because most women will simply ignore you, if you are lucky enough to get a reaction it could be an awkward "thanks" or a complete blow out in your face for drooling and barking at her like the dog you are.

Of course not ALL men do this, but there are enough of them that every women has at least a few stories of when they were oogled in public. But the reference to men as dogs does not always have to be in a negative way because when you think about it women probably are like cats with our judgmental looks. Maybe at another time ill create the comparison between cats and dogs and men and women, but for now I have to look out my window hoping to see a sexy man staring back at me. I mean it happened on Sex and the City.

Summer Internship

I've finally graduated from college and yes do not have a job and so are taking a summer internship. I am working at the Summer Theatre of New Canaan where we are putting on 4 musicals and 1 play for both adults and children. The box office is open and are selling tickets for the summer season so be sure to come and check it out.

Shows:

I personally will be performing in the Little Mermaid as Carlotta as well as some other ensemble roles. I will also be assisting with musical direction for the junior production and the Dramarama camps production of the Little Mermaid.

I will be in charge of Props on South Pacific and the rest has yet to be determined.
I look forward to this crazy summer and hopefully get picked up by an acting agency so I can pursue my acting career!