Soap Opera Intensive Day 2

My Class didn't end when I left on Saturday evening, it was still going as I wanted to be as prepared as possible to do my best work for Casting Director, Bob Lambert, who casts Days of Our Lives.  The second day of our Intensive started on Sunday morning but I rehearsed as soon as class was done on Saturday and right up to class on Sunday morning!

Neil helped me prepare and go through my scene, being an awesome 'Cara.'  My scene was between my frenemy, Cara, and Amanda, whom I was playing.  Basically, I tried to get her deported because she's in love with my husband, but is marrying someone else and she confronts me on her Wedding Day.  The scene had a lot of fun moments and I was able to take my note from the first day to make sure that I had variety, levels, and changes throughout the scene to really build it and make it fun.  By Sunday morning I was memorized and Neil and I had played around with emotions and ideas for Amanda and I felt very strong and understanding of my character.

Annie and I practiced on Sunday morning of Day 2 as soon as she arrived at Act Now.  I had to laugh when she walked into the room because we were both wearing a sweater of the exact same color (Bright Royal Blue) and style.  We must have been on the same wave-length as we got ready in the morning and wanted to wear something bright that popped.  After running the scene a few times we hit a high point and decided to stop because we wanted to keep things fresh for both of us.

Day 2 began with Bob showing us some examples of good and bad Headshots and Postcards and also gave some notes for taking good headshots and what he likes to see on Resumes.

Next up, each scene went one by one into the room with Bob to run our Screen Test where we slated and then performed the scene.  Annie and I hit the mark as both of us really felt the scene and became a part of the world and Bob noticed and gave us some great compliments.  He said it was strong and perfect for the show, so different than yesterday, he could feel all of our emotions and we kept the scene going and the energy up.  He loved the emotion I had brought to the scene and my final moment where I actually had tears in my eyes.  YAY!  After each of us performed our scenes we got to watch all of them on camera and I was really proud of Annie and I and the changes we had made to make our scene pop and come to life!  It was very relateable and the connection between the two of us was strong and I knew my moments were truthful because I realized I couldn't remember what I did because I lost myself in the scene.

The last part of the day were one on one meetings with Bob and when it was my turn he asked about my representation and said I had really proved myself and he would love to call me in when a role fits me!  We talked about my headshots and a little more about the scene and I thanked him for giving me new ideas to think about, that I had learned a lot from him and that I was thankful for such a wonderful experience.  

I would recommend this Intensive to anyone interested in Soap Operas because Bob has a vast knowledge of information to share, he makes the class fun, and really helps you improve on your Audition skills and wants you to succeed.  He was honest and fair and ran his class with enthusiasm, and I can't wait to work with him again :)

Soap Opera Intensive Day 1

This weekend was crazy busy for me...I had work on Friday and Saturday night and had a Soap Opera Intensive with Bob Lambert all day on Saturday and then again on Sunday morning until the afternoon.  Running around well weekend was so worth it for a wonderful learning experience and a lot of fun!

The Intensive was at the Act Now Studios in Sherman Oaks and Bob arrived right on time and a bundle of energy and smiles.  He is a Casting Director for Days of Our Lives and used to Cast for All My Children.  We all introduced ourselves, talked about where we were from and what our experience was.  Bob was full of information talking about the types of roles they cast for Days of Our Lives, what to expect, pay rate, and the Audition process for each of them.  We had a note-taking session on all of this which also included expectations from Soap Opera Casting Directors and Audition notes specifically for Soaps.

We were all given a scene that we looked over in the hallway and 20 minutes later we were all performing our Cold Readings on Camera.  Bob gave some re-directs and ideas for each of the actors and some of us performed again and after everyone finished we all sat down to watch the performances on camera.  He gave me some great notes, telling me that I was a strong actor, had good pacing, and that I was living in the scene.  He said I could add more levels and variety so I made sure when I was Reading for the next Actor I was already applying that note.  When I watched myself on camera I saw what he was talking about and would make sure my next performance on camera would include that note.  I don't usually get to see myself Audition or on camera so it was nice to see what a Casting Director or Producer may see after Auditions.  This way I was able to see what worked and what didn't work which was super beneficial for future Auditions.  I was really nervous when I got up there and was actually shaking but as I watched the playback you couldn't tell at all so that was awesome!

What does this Headshot sell to you?

Next up we talked about the Camera Shots they use on Days of Our Lives and most Soap Operas, blocking, and what to do during your scene based on the camera angles.  Then he gave us some more notes on what to look for in your Sides and talked about our Headshots and Resumes.  I have an exercise I'll be working on this week to make sure my Headshots are selling me and how people see me.

The last part of the day was working with a Scene Partner where he gave us another scene and we would be doing a Screen Test.  So Annie and I worked on the scene for a few minutes, he gave each group blocking and then we rehearsed the scene once through and next up we were filmed.  Our scene definitely felt like it dragged and that was the first note Bob gave was that the energy was brought down with the emotion of the scene and even though there were some sad notes we still needed to keep it up and exciting.  When I saw it on camera, he was 100% right, we were kind of boring, and although he said both of us were living in the moment and were natural there was room for improvement and we were up for the challenge!

That was Day 1 of my Soap Opera Intensive with Bob Lambert and I felt like I had already learned so much and had so many ideas for what I wanted to do with my scene and couldn't wait to perform again and show him the changes I would make to make our scene exciting and feisty!  He's a fantastic teacher and made this intensive interesting and fun :)

Bold & Beautiful

I woke up this morning before my alarm clock even went off, so at 8:10 am I was pouring my cereal, heating up my curling iron, and getting dressed to play a 'Soap Star'.  The Soap Opera workshop for 'The Bold and the Beautiful' was at The Complex Theater in Hollywood, and started at 10 am, but I wanted to give myself 45 minutes to get there, and be at least 15 minutes early, so by 9 am, I was out the door!  As I drove to the Workshop I recited my lines in the car, and listened to some Sara Bareilles to keep my emotions at the surface for the scene.  I had also grabbed my iPod and had it set up in case I needed to hear something before I went up for my scene.  

Sarah from the Casting Department at B&B was very energetic and smiley and excited to answer our questions.  She was really informative as to how they cast for the roles on the show, and what they're looking for on our resumes.  She also gave some great feedback about certain teachers and classes that are really beneficial.  After the Q&A we got started with our scenes.  A couple of the guys in our class did the same scene as me, but no other girls did, so I was glad, that no one would be compared to what I did or vice versa.  The reader was another actor, that worked for Industry LA, so it was nice reading with someone that gave you some emotion and a good reading!  I started my scene, and a couple lines in, Sarah stopped me, and gave me a back story for the scene, and told me, Steffy was really mean to Liam, and even though they were married, she had put him through the ringer, and now that they're going through a divorce, she's still playful with him, but she understands how they've fallen apart, even though she still has feelings for him.  It definitely took the scene a different way, but that was good, because then she could see that I would take direction.  After we did the scene once through, we made a couple more tweaks and did it again, she said I did a great job, and had great emotion, without taking it over the edge.  It was so nice to get feedback from her, and really work on the scene, that's what these Workshops are for.  When the Workshop was over, I thanked Sarah and I asked her about my Theatrical headshot and for a role like Steffy, would she prefer something more serious, she said she liked my Theatrical more than my Commercial, so she kept both, and I was happy :)

After my Workshop was done I drove just down the street to my Audition for the Feature Film.  There were a few people in the room when I got there, and they had a lot of assistants helping people, signing us in, getting sides, etc.  They had two separate rooms for the auditions, because when I had spoke to the CD yesterday, he said it was a huge call of almost 400 people.  They were casting 2 main characters, and I was going in for a Supporting role.  When I got the sides, I was told to do a Proper Southern accent, so I was thankful for my Dialects class in College, and went into a corner and just read through the scene a few times.  After a couple minutes, I was called into the room, and they asked me if I was like The Bionic Woman in any way, since I had the same name as Lindsay Wagner.  I told them I had a 6th sense at times, and could see things; I recalled a dream I had earlier this week, where I think it was me, auditioning and it went terribly!  I told them the Workshop I had just been at went well, so I was hoping this wasn't the audition and everyone laughed.  After getting some direction and more back story that I was the Mistress of General Grant (before he was President Grant), that I was an over-achiever, and very sexy, we got into the reading.  We did the scene once through, and the CD loved it, said my accent was perfect, and asked if I would be available for a call-back!  I said of course, and the woman reading with me joked and said, guess it wasn't you in your dream, and smiled.

On the way I home, I grabbed some Yogurtland as a little treat to myself, and was so happy to have had 2 great auditions today!  Keep them coming :)

A Green Weekend!

Little did I know that St. Patrick's Day was being celebrated early at Gabe's on Friday Night!  I totally forgot to wear green, and while it wasn't St. Patrick's Day till Saturday, I still had to worry about getting pinched after midnight without some sort of green on me.  Mike saved the day by cutting down some green garland for me, and I made a little bracelet!  Whew...that was a close one!

It was a very busy night with lots of new people coming in for Karaoke.  I didn't realize how excited people got for St. Patrick's Day, so many people were drinking and getting tipsy, and I thought they would save it for Saturday, but was really surprised!  That's hardcore :)  Because the night was so busy, I only sang a couple of times, but was able to do Heart's 'What About Love' and thought it would be my new song of the night, until realizing half-way through that it sounded familiar and I think I sang it at Lucky Strike years ago!  I ended up closing the night with 'Crazy' by Britney Spears, never sang it before, although I did Choreograph a Cheerleading Routine to the song in High School!  Blast from the past, but very fun!  Overall, it was a really great night, everyone was very generous, and seemed to be having a good time, with all the alcohol that was flowing!

Since it was a busy night, I didn't get home until later, and I had my Casting Workshop the next day so I wanted to get as much sleep as possible.  Five hours later I was getting ready for the Workshop to the pouring rain outside!  That made me even more nervous, because I wanted to make sure I could be on time and prepared.  I talked to Neil once I got to the theater, and we went through my scene over the phone, and he gave me some advice and support before the Workshop.  There were about 20 people there and we got started promptly at 10:30 am.  The Casting Director started with a Q&A which was interesting, and I learned a little information, and then we got started on our scenes.  When it was my turn, I handed in my headshot to the CD and then performed my scene with a Reader.  The Reader was better than I had expected, so that made it so much easier to perform the scene, be organic, and really listen to what he was saying, so I could react.  I felt really confident and proud of my work, and took my seat after a thank you.  When everyone had finished, someone asked the CD for his feedback, to which he responded that not everyone committed or understood their scene, and that people need to speak more clearly.  There was no individualized feedback, and no positivity at all.  I was told we would be able to perform our scenes twice, thus making it a Workshop so I could work.  It was so disappointing after working at my scene all week long.  I came completely prepared, and most of the students in the class didn't even have their scenes memorized.  I know I'll take another Workshop, but I'm really going to research to make sure that I'm benefiting from taking it.  This is my career and unless something is going to help me grow, it's not worthwhile.  The good thing from all this was the rehearsing I did with Neil earlier in the week, the scene really grew with our practice, and I'm so glad I was as prepared as I was, so I could take it wherever it needed to go with what the Reader was going to give me.  So kudos to Neil for helping me rock my performance!

*Side Note.  I did call the Company that booked the Workshop, and the owner said he was completely frustrated and disappointed with the CD as well, and that they would never have him back again.  He told me that's now how they run their workshops and even offered me a 50% discount on my next workshop.  The owner used a few choice words which made me laugh, but I was glad to find out the other students were disappointed as well, and it wasn't just me.  Onto the next one...

After my Workshop I was on my way to Irish Times to Bartend for St. Patrick's Day!  It was almost a 15 hour shift at the end of the day, so I was prepared with a change of clothes and had a bite to eat before I got there.  The bar was full when I got there, and they had just started charging a Cover Charge.  They had traditional Irish Food (I later got the Beef Stew and some Fish), and even had Corned Beef & Cabbage.  There was an Irish Band that played all day long, and a new Irish Band that started later at night as well.  I only drank a couple of beers throughout the night, and never any hard alcohol.  So proud I'm keeping up with my Lent agreement!  It was a steady stream of people through the whole shift, and with 6 of us Bartending, we were never slammed, just moving all day long.  It's so nice to be in a Bar environment that's actually positive.  Everyone's helpful, and there's teamwork.  We can all joke around and have fun, and if someone's being rude, we stand our ground, and protect our fellow Bartenders.  Such a change from my last Bartending job which was what I believe Hell is like.  We made great money and all had a great time, but I was exhausted by the time I got home, so excited for my bed, and getting some sleep after a long and crazy day!