Seriously…I need an assistant.

Oh blog, how I’ve neglected thee!

It’s “funny”…

2011 has been a busy year.  Admittedly, it feels like much of it has been more process-oriented (aka “in progress”), and perhaps that’s why I’ve felt less inclined to check in here.  What?!  Like I only could post something when I had something to “brag” about?  When there was a solid “result” produced from my on-going professional & personal efforts and pursuits?

It’s the process that really counts, right?  The journey?  That’s what they say.  And that’s what I, intellectually, totally agree with, comprehend, etc, etc.

Yet I confess it’s a challenge at times — keeping the faith, keeping spirits up, doing what compels me on a day to day basis, and all that jazz.  I confess that sometimes, when I’m deep in the thick of the journey, and it seems like there’s a hell of a lot of time, energy, money, emotional investment going out, while it seems like nothing is coming back in…what can I say?  It starts to feel really hard, frustrating, and even (on a bad day?) hopeless.  All this “seeming”.  Even on the harder days, thankfully, deep down I’m able to maintain the belief that there are bigger forces at work.  And so, really…I really don’t have anything else to do except enjoy what I get to do each & every day.  As my friend Darrell says, “Fall into that…voluptuously”.  (Forgive my paraphrasing Darrell!)

Now the truth about this year so far is I have and continue to experience & accomplish a lot of cool stuff. For starters…

I now have the framework of my book, The Princess of Fakenham.  There’s still a long way to go, and I’ve been very distracted from that project for the last few months.  But it’s there…and I know it’s not going away.

I started dance class again — ballet specifically — after a very long absence from that world.  My body was so happy to be moving like that again!!  After a month back, my right big toe started feeling this intense pain, and I learned I have the beginning of some arthritis in the joint there.  Presumably from my 17 years of dancing, walking in high heels.  The pressure of all those eleves and releves in ballet are just a little too much for this bod of mine now.  So, rather too quickly, dance had to take a back seat again.  For a bit, anyway.  Maybe jazz, or even modern (hello barefoot!), will make my feet a little happier?  I won’t give up on it yet.  Thankfully, barefoot running makes my feet quite happy!

I started voice lessons again, too!  Opportunities started coming up recently that required singing, and I realized I really need to stop ignoring this other skill of mine.  I realized I not only wanted to brush up the technique but also reassemble an audition book that included not only the musical theatre stuff, but also rock/pop.  It’s been fun – albeit slow going – gathering songs to rock out to!  Eddie Sayegh and Steven Memel have helped & continue to help me get back on track.

Voice overs continue to keep me busy.  With my rockstar agents at VOX, I started off the year voice matching Robin Wright for the upcoming feature film MONEYBALL (also starring Brad Pitt).  That was a cool experience I’d never had before —  callback-to-work.  There were three of us.  We went in one at a time to meet & read for director Bennet Miller (Oscar nominated for CAPOTE).  And then I was chosen!  Went back in & recorded the scene.  A phone call with Brad driving in his car, and me/Robin on the phone with him.

I’ve recorded two spots (so far) for a Ragu campaign called “Mom’s the word on Dinner“.  You can watch/hear them here:

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=915783181065

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=915783620185

I did more ADR on yet another soap — DAYS OF OUR LIVES.  This just aired on May 6th.  I played a young mom in a safe-house where one of the characters used to live.  They hear me trying to soothe my crying baby in the hallway.  Maybe I’ll get a daytime Emmy nom?  Hm.  Probably not.  The post folks there were really fun to work with.  And I love the soaps, cuz whether you’re on or off camera they put you in a very cozy dressing room.

In April, the new MORTAL KOMBAT video game was released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.  I play Sonya Blade again.  It’s been getting fantastic reviews.  G4‘s X-Play gave the game 5 out of 5!

And this week I shot a commercial for Hartford Insurance which was so  much fun!  I had been craving being back on a set again.  And I couldn’t have been surrounded by a better group of people behind and in front of the cameras.  It’s a very amusing spot, and I had the pleasure of working with a wonderful actor — my hubby for the day – Andrew Burlinson, as well as Sarah Rush, who played our hard-selling, “kooky” and ultimately misleading real estate agent.  Patrick Sherman (of Caviar Content) directed.  Alyson Horn cast (she also cast me in my very 1st commercial for Guinness Beer in 2004).  I don’t know (yet) when they plan to air this.  It’ll start national cable, and then they have plans to go network.  Fingers crossed!

Did I mention the 1st audition for this was on my birthday?  April 28th.  Pretty awesome gift, I have to say.

This winter has also been about a lot of auditions (2 pilots, three features, and a couple already-on-the-air shows) that did not lead to bookings.  Several of these were first auditions with film & tv casting offices that had never met me before.  So…even though it was quite disappointing not to book the gigs, I know it’s all a good thing.  I want to be on these people’s radar.  And…now I am.  Seeds are being planted.

I was also seen for the first time at The Black Dahlia Theatre, which has been on my target list for some time.  They do tremendous work there, and I was thrilled to have been asked to return for the 2nd audition (aka “the callback” for the non-industry folks reading this).  Didn’t get this one either (big sigh).  But again, I’m so glad to have met Artistic Director Matt Shakman, Producer Gaalan Michaelson, Director Mark St. Amant and Writer Marco Ramirez during this audition process.  And I look forward to meeting them all again in the not-too-distant future.

Wasn’t I talking about process?  Oh yes.  I returned to The Antaeus Company in April to work with Armin Shimmerman in the Shakespeare Workout.  Awesome stuff!  Learned so much from him. Hello rhetoric!

And this month, I’ve returned to my theatre company The New American Theatre (formerly Circus Theatricals) after an extended hiatus.

Have I mentioned writing makes my brain tired?  Well.  It does.  And on that note…I’m going to send my assistant out to get the dry cleaning so I can take a nap.

A girl can dream…

Tags: Alyson Horn, Andrew Burlinson, antaeus, Bennett Miller, Caviar Content, Dana Lyn Baron, Days of Our Lives, Eddie Sayegh, G4, Hartford Insurance, Moneyball, Mortal Kombat, NBC, New American Theatre, Patrick Sherman, Ragu, Rodgers Townsend, Sarah Rush, Sonya Blade, Steven Memel, The Black Dahlia Theatre, Vox, Warner Bros., X Play