Archive for » 2009 «
I have had one audition a week for 5 weeks in a row (or is it 6?).
I’m counting last week’s call back that led to my first gig. Yay!
And I have another one tomorrow.
For an Olympic commercial.
Pray for me again please.
Thank you. 
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I wrote this post a mere 8 days ago.
And crazily enough, I JUST BOOKED A COMMERCIAL!!!
YAAAAY!
So weird that it happened so soon after I wrote this post.
But not so weird because God answers prayers!
Funny thing is, I had auditioned for the gig before I wrote that post. I then got a callback this last Tuesday. About an hour later, my agent texted me to say that the client liked me and to keep the dates open in case they book me. Yesterday they called to get my measurements, but told me that I was not formally booked yet.
TODAY, my agent called and said they booked me. Jesus, thanks Sir (said in the Igbo accent of my grandmother).
What is the commercial you ask?
It’s a soda commercial, so we know it’s a US production (hehe… as an American educated Canadian, I stubbornly still made sure I said “pop” whenever referring to the beverage).
It’s going to be shown worldwide I believe. And I play a sports fan.
Description of the callback.
It was pretty funny. It was about 40 minutes behind schedule. I saw a couple of friends of mine there. This one guy, had on a Boston Celtics shirt. He went in before me. When he came out, he gave me a quick run down: “They will ask you who your team is (you can pick any team) and they make you cheer individually for the camera.” Although I am an athletic individual, I am not an athletic-watching individual. I thought to myself, I don’t have a team… oh and I said it out loud too. I decided to go with the the Boston Celtics.
Three of us went in. We slated (said our name) and I went first. I screamed for the Celtics like my life depended on it. Then the guy at the table stopped me.
Guy: So, the Celtics are your team?
Me: Umm…. nope.
<<laughter from others in the back watching the monitor>>
Guy: Wow, you did a good job selling it then.
Me: The only person I know who played for the Boston Celtic was Larry Bird.
<<more laughter>>
Guy: Ok, so do you have a team then?
Me: Uhh…. no.
<<laughter again>>
Me: But sommmetimes, I watch university volleyball.
Guy: Ok, what’s your team?
Me: The Spartans [the team I played for in uni].
Guy: The Spartans?
Me: Yep.
Guy: Ok, cheer for the Spartans.
I did. And then the other two went and then we all left. And the rest is history.
My New Anthem
Ok, so people may know that I went to the Toby Mac Winter Wonder Slam concert last Friday. Believe me, this reference relates to this booked gig news.
Toby brought three other acts with him: Relient K, Stephanie Smith and B. Reith. My new anthem is a song by Mr. Reith. I had never heard of him before Friday. I wrote a status update about the concert on my facebook and my friend commented saying that B. Reith was going to be there. I quickly googled him so I could see what to expect.
Anyway, he KILLED IT at the concert.
My sister and I went home and Youtubed his music. And then I bought his Now is Not Forever album on iTunes (*gasp* cheap me bought something on iTunes)!!!!
It’s just that good.
So, fast forward to Tuesday, driving to the audition, I discovered a song called Old School. I soon put it on repeat.
Here are some of the lyrics (verse 2):
They said keep on doin’ what you do B
And maybe one day you’ll end up in the movies
Maybe I can play Shaggy in Scooby Doo 3 and co-star with Angelina Julie
Oops I meant Jolie okee-dokee
I didn’t come just to mess around and make jokes see
I got a mission an agenda and an antidote peep
A contradiction to the message of Oprah Winfrey
Oops, did I just say that out loud? Well there you go now it’s out
I won’t be in her magazine or on her t.v. show now
But I refused to be duped into believin’
The truth is whatever you choose to believe in
Oh boy here come the protesters
Get out your helmets and your bullet proof vests ’cause
They’re comin’ for you if you rock the boat
But I’m gonna go against the flow of the status quo ’cause I’m
Chorus:
So tired of trying to please everyone, a million different opinions
I’m just going to be myself whether they like it or not, I’m giving it all that I got
The song talks about being yourself. Keeping morals whether others like it or not. Sometimes that is hard, especially in the industry that he and I have chosen. It’s difficult, but doable. I have found that sometimes when auditioning or even in class, I try to perform or audition in the the way others might want to see it, instead of letting myself shine through. Listening to this song on repeat loosened me up and I felt a calm. I took myself into that audition, complete with answering the auditioner guy’s questions my way and not in the way I thought he would like to hear.
The client liked me. The real me.
It’s not to say that the song got me the audition, but needless to say, it is my new anthem.
Click here for the rest of the lyrics.
And here is the song.
You’re welcome. 
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Audition tomorrow.
2nd Thursday in a row.
Same casting director.
Different project.
Pray for me.
Please.
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Today I had a chance to see myself on a big screen. Besides the fact that I cringed everytime I saw myself and my humongoid thighs (blah), it was a great experience.
As I mentioned in this post, I was part of a team that put together a film for The 2009 Laughing Stock 72 Hour Comedy Film Competition. Today all the films entered into the competition were premiered at a movie theatre in Vancouver. Our film was called A Christmas Miracle and I have to admit it was darnright HI.LAR.IOU.S! I think we did a good job all around and it was awesome to be part of the team.
This talented individual, Miss Beth Garner, wrote the script in less than a night. Superb. She is someone to watch for.
Only thing I was a little bummed about is that I had to curse (**gasp!**)
Hmm… maybe sometime I will upload A Christmas Miracle sometime for all to see. We’ll see…
Or will we?
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Creating your own work. That is a very effective thing an actor can do,
This can entail writing your own material. Such as short films and web series. Recently some of the latter has emerged out of Vancouver. Some of them, really good. The people behind them are inspirations to me. These people actually sat down and wrote scripts and got people together to film them. They created their own work. There are three that I take time out to watch. They are:
Rise ‘n Shine Og
For Your Security
Riese: The Series
Inspiration. Inspiration. Inspiration. I am currently trying to discipline myself to write two pilots for two series ideas. Especially with the Olympics coming – which equals an almost shut down of the industry here – it would be good to work on something. And who knows, someone, somewhere, high up…somewhere, might see it and if it’s good… hmmm….
I love this industry.
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Turning over a new leaf. The leaf: writing more entries, like a blog writer does. You know… consistently. Anyway, here is what I have done for my career most recent.
A few months ago, I took part in a webseries. It is called “Rise ‘n Shine Og.” <<– Watch it there. Anita Smith is one of my current inspirations. She had an idea and went with it, developing it until fruition. That’s what I call dedication. Ridiculousness. Watch it. You won’t be disappointed.
And this weekend, I had the opportunity to take part in film festival. The 2009 Laughing Stock 72 Hour Comedy Film Competition to be exact. I just have to say it was amazing. I know that this is what I want to do in life. It was great participating with others with the same passion. And the good thing about film festival films is that there is a strict deadline and things get done pronto. So, this festival deadline is tomorrow. The film must be done by tomorrow. Can’t wait!
Read my last entry on my other blog here. It’s about reigniting my passion for acting…not that I ever lost it. But… you know. This specific inspiration was a scene from the latest Grey’s Anatomy episode, “Holidaze.” Here is the scene:
Other things that are adding to the fire of my passion:
Good Webseries
Farrah Aviva
Good TV
Good Movies
Other Actors
Classes
Good Scenes
I love this industry.
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