In early 2008, during the Writers Strike, my dad took me to a meeting at the WGA theater in Beverly Hills. A new online network was being formed called StrikeTV. My dad decided to develop a show for this network and wanted me to not only cast it but to be an associate producer!
One of the episodes called for “2 hot girls in bathing suits”. It was a mock porn. Anyway, believe it or not I had trouble finding two girls that looked good in bathing suits that could also act. On audition day, I found two but they were both blondes and it was originally suggested that I find two girls with completely different looks.
A family friend, also an actress who appears in another episode of our show, recommended a young Canadian actress, a brunette. She sent me her pictures, resume and some links to some of her work. She looked like she would be perfect next to the girl I had already chosen. I sent her the script and she called me and said she was in!
Day of the shoot: Two hours after call time, she has yet to show up. My father had assembled a top notch crew, but time was a luxury we didn’t have with six episodes being shot in one weekend. With the clock ticking, I call her and she says, “I just can’t do this, I didn’t come to Los Angeles to do porn.”
I did my very best to explain to this girl that it was not actually porn, it was a faux porn. a spoof, a send-up. I said, “My father is here directing this, do you think he would have me here while shooting a porn! My dad has written huge Hollywood blockbuster movies, he doesn’t do porn!”
She seemed to understand and calmed down a bit and agreed to come. Another two hours passed by and still a no-show. I called her once again, this time she told me that her manager was against it and she just could not do it, then she begged me not to hold it against her and to keep her in mind for future projects. Because THAT was going to happen!
Luckily the other actress that I had auditioned was available and drove over immediately and saved the day.
I guess some things in Hollywood don’t change, strike, or no strike, big production, little production, what can go wrong usually does.
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Kid in that Commerical
Growing up in L.A., the daughter of parents in (as much as I hate this expression) “The Biz”, naturally I wanted in. From as far back as I can remember I wanted to act and had plenty of opportunities to do so growing up in this town.
When I was 7, my mom and I went to visit my dad on the set of one of the TV shows he was working on. The casting director suggested that I audition for a role she thought I would be perfect for. I went up against some seasoned 7 year olds (that’s right, kids that had been working for years, including the little tap dancing girl that was in all the Tang commercials). I booked the part (tap dancing Tang girl ended up as my understudy) and from that point on I was certain that I wanted to be an actor. My parents did not encourage me to pursue this career. They had their concerns. Nonetheless, they allowed me to pursue it on occasion.
By the time I was in college, still thinking I wanted to be an actor. I signed up for a course called Acting For The Camera. Literally within the first 15 minutes of class I saw myself on camera and that was it, my dreams were forever crushed. As an adult I had way too much self-awareness to even feel remotely comfortable anymore.
So, where do you go from here? Well, hell - managing actors!
I starting working for a small, start-up management company and I really liked it for a while. With all the acting classes I had taken throughout my childhood and with my love of it all, I could certainly recognize and scout talent.
The only problem was that nobody had heard of our little company and my best client was a former sitcom star, whose latest role was that of an alcoholic. When she wasn’t hung over and could rise to the occasion and book the job it was profitable, but more often then not, it was a disaster.
One afternoon while on a lunch break I met my friend Leni for a quick shopping trip at a local thrift store. We saw Drew Barrymore buying bags and bags of stuff. When I returned to the office I mentioned it to my boss and she said, “I hope you gave her your card, she doesn’t have a manager you know? “ I thought, ummm she has CAA and her own production company, why would she need us? Yeah, I was pretty much over that company from that point on, finished up the contract I had signed and got out as fast as I could.
Where to now? Casting! Paycheck every week (when working) whether or not the actor booked the job. Casting is what I have been doing since 2002. I love it!
When I was 7, my mom and I went to visit my dad on the set of one of the TV shows he was working on. The casting director suggested that I audition for a role she thought I would be perfect for. I went up against some seasoned 7 year olds (that’s right, kids that had been working for years, including the little tap dancing girl that was in all the Tang commercials). I booked the part (tap dancing Tang girl ended up as my understudy) and from that point on I was certain that I wanted to be an actor. My parents did not encourage me to pursue this career. They had their concerns. Nonetheless, they allowed me to pursue it on occasion.
By the time I was in college, still thinking I wanted to be an actor. I signed up for a course called Acting For The Camera. Literally within the first 15 minutes of class I saw myself on camera and that was it, my dreams were forever crushed. As an adult I had way too much self-awareness to even feel remotely comfortable anymore.
So, where do you go from here? Well, hell - managing actors!
I starting working for a small, start-up management company and I really liked it for a while. With all the acting classes I had taken throughout my childhood and with my love of it all, I could certainly recognize and scout talent.
The only problem was that nobody had heard of our little company and my best client was a former sitcom star, whose latest role was that of an alcoholic. When she wasn’t hung over and could rise to the occasion and book the job it was profitable, but more often then not, it was a disaster.
One afternoon while on a lunch break I met my friend Leni for a quick shopping trip at a local thrift store. We saw Drew Barrymore buying bags and bags of stuff. When I returned to the office I mentioned it to my boss and she said, “I hope you gave her your card, she doesn’t have a manager you know? “ I thought, ummm she has CAA and her own production company, why would she need us? Yeah, I was pretty much over that company from that point on, finished up the contract I had signed and got out as fast as I could.
Where to now? Casting! Paycheck every week (when working) whether or not the actor booked the job. Casting is what I have been doing since 2002. I love it!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Urban Camping
So, I actually enjoy camping. Well at least I did when I was a kid and into my early 20’s (that was the last time I camped). These days I may feel differently now that I have the most comfortable bed on the planet and go to Dr. Ken Gee Ehrlich the most amazing Chiropractor in the world. I am not sure how my body would take it, but if I took an air mattress and had running water nearby (always a requirement) I might still be up for a camping trip.
But camping in my apartment - every day? Now that is another story all together! The thing is, I bought a refrigerator from Sears a few years back and it has been nothing but trouble. It has stopped working over 17 times and Sears sunk over $3,500 in parts, which includes 6 compressors, and who knows about the cost of labor.
Finally, just before the New Years, Sears approved a replacement. It took lucky number 17 repairman to decide that it was not worth it for them to keep replacing parts. What is truly amazing is that I have actually grown accustomed to not having a refrigerator! I know how to survive on fresh fruits, vegetables and “just add water” foods.
Last spring, Josh (my ex-boyfriend) banished my microwave claiming that it caused cancer. And when the weather changed a few weeks back and I tried to put the heat on it failed to work. The gas company came out and turned off the gas, as it was a hazard to my health. I am waiting on my landlord to get someone out to repair it.
Basically, I have been camping in my own home.
If the water stops working I am heading into the yard, at least there I have a fire pit and a fountain.
But camping in my apartment - every day? Now that is another story all together! The thing is, I bought a refrigerator from Sears a few years back and it has been nothing but trouble. It has stopped working over 17 times and Sears sunk over $3,500 in parts, which includes 6 compressors, and who knows about the cost of labor.
Finally, just before the New Years, Sears approved a replacement. It took lucky number 17 repairman to decide that it was not worth it for them to keep replacing parts. What is truly amazing is that I have actually grown accustomed to not having a refrigerator! I know how to survive on fresh fruits, vegetables and “just add water” foods.
Last spring, Josh (my ex-boyfriend) banished my microwave claiming that it caused cancer. And when the weather changed a few weeks back and I tried to put the heat on it failed to work. The gas company came out and turned off the gas, as it was a hazard to my health. I am waiting on my landlord to get someone out to repair it.
Basically, I have been camping in my own home.
If the water stops working I am heading into the yard, at least there I have a fire pit and a fountain.
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