I’ve found myself often using the phrase, “living in LA is like playing the lottery and hoping you’ll get the one phone call that could change your life”.  I should preface this also by saying that I do believe one has to prepare and work hard so that when that one opportunity to arises, we are ready for the challenge.  Essentially, we are attempting to create our own “luck” through persistence and hard work.  Yes, there are always those actors who win the “jackpot” with an amazing agent who not only gets them auditions with top casting directors but also is interested in them enough to work together to create a plan of attack. 

I’d say that 90% of everything on my resume is through my own sweat, hustle and determination.  I’ve booked jobs through Craigslist, friends of friends and have even worked for free all in the name of building up my resume and reel.  I’ve even been known to work an occassional extra job because honestly, it sounds more proactive to be on a set where people make decisions than hoping I’ll get  hired while sitting at home, right? A big piece of the “game” is establishing credits and relationships and it has just been until recently that I truly feel like I’ve established both of these to the best of my ability.  I am now hoping to find a team mate who is willing to work with me to help guide and encourage me.  

I have done a lot of random things this week and it’s only Tuesday!   My friend, Sommar, asked me to do a testimonial video for a new electronic product from a major software company (signed a confidentiality agreement but you can probably guess).  I should be receiving the product soon and will film at the end of June.   I think it will be great footage for my reel!  Next, my friend, Lori, is working on a fantastic film, Sironia, and asked if I’d like to be an extra and I said heck ya!  Not only is it a rad film, I also think the director, Brandon Dickerson, is a wonderful person and I think I can call him ”friend” but I use the term losely as not to sound totally cheezy “Hollywood”.  Lastly, I auditioned for ”Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader” (no laughing….it was a very tough audition but I’ll take $250k any day).

Such a random beginning to my week but wanted ya’ll to know what I mean when I say that I ”hustle” for work.  Sometimes I find myself lured by the predictability of a career lobbying and government affairs and then I realize that I have a job in lobbying and it’s right here in LA (minus the “predictability” part)

All my best!

My good friend, Matt Fox, and I began filming a web-series, Judith and Judis: Life is Fabulous After 50 in December of 2008.  Our characters were developed in the advanced improv class of the fabulous Donovan Scott and we had such a great time working together that we thought it would be fun to take “Judith and Judis” to the next level – a webshow. 

What began as a simple idea with a video camera has evolved into something much more -  -  a web-series that gets better with each episode and a friendship between two good friends who happen to be actors.  I have heard that the best way to learn is to ”do” and much learning has happened under the guise of J&J.  We’ve learned the importance of good equipment, sound, editing and effienciency of movement.  Thanks to a good friend who happens to work at “E”, we’ve been fortunate to have solid editing and she managed to do an excellent job despite our poor quality of filming.  We now understand what we are looking for and what shots we need to make a good episode (close-ups, wide angle, reaction shots, Point of View shots, etc…) 

We also are beginning the process of editing our own footage (we can’t exactly keep asking our friend to take hours of footage and put together a coherent webisode for a measly bottle of wine).  Plus, it’s fun to learn and Matt just bought a brand new MAC (holla).

Producing this show has been educational on many fronts.  I have a much greater appreciation for the other aspects of “the industry” and while we aren’t exactly a “Saturday Night Life” sketch, we have greater understand as to what goes into making sketch characters funny and how to construct a successful episode (i.e. an arc, character development, conflict, backstory etc…)  For the record though, I think we could def. be a sketch on SNL.

This past weekend, we filmed our fifth episode and I think it is the best one yet.  It is entitled “Girlfriends Getaway” and well…let’s just say “girlfriends” is a different definition than J & J were prepared for.  We had the support of many of our acting friends and “friends of friends” as goes the industry.  Our fellow DuckTape Improv actor/friend, Tommy, who is also in the works to produce a feature film volunteered to film this episode.  Despite the bare bones camera and only one working body microphone, I think he captured some hysterical footage. 

I’ve heard some in the upper-echelons of the industry say, “don’t just put together a web-series” because you don’t have the expertise to do it well.  While I recognize the sentiment here (only put stuff out that is reflective of you and is high quality), I believe that the benefits of producing ones own series outweigh the slight possiblity that some hot shot director will see J & J and decide NOT to hire me because it’s not fancy enough.  I also do it because because actors (i.e. “me”) don’t like to wait around for some imaginary person to offer me a “job”.  I believe that the process of creating J&J has been one of the most educational and enlightening things I have done since moving to Los Angeles.  I have “learned by doing”.  Another cliche I have heard is that “90% of life is showing up” so I guess I’m wondering what will happen if I “show up AND write AND perform AND edit AND….”  You get the gist.

Judith and Judis isnt’ just about two fabulous older women experiencing Hollywood, it’s also about two actors who are anxious to learn and grow and experience success in Hollywood whether or not anyone pays us.  I’ll definitely let you know when this last episode is edited and up for viewing. 

Over and out~ Ang

I find myself often going to callbacks and even to producers so this is a great thing but I’d love it book the job.  I got called in again for Chips Ahoy and it went great.  The casting director was rad and let me know taht I am in the final “6″.  I did my best and that’s all I can do.  I trust that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. 

On the flip side, my buddy, Bob Lambert (casting director for All My Children) called me last week to ask if I’d like to work as an extra on All My Children.  Of course I said “yes” and it was a quick easy day in the casino.  Not to mention, I even shared a bathroom with Rebecca Budig/Greenlee (she is beautiful in-person too).  Perhaps I should clarify one minor detail… Bob isn’t really my “buddy” but I’ve found that many people in LA use the word “friend” loosely and so I figure I can too

I also heard back from Jason Kim, a fabulous manager at Lovett Management, and he told me that my scene was, “one of the best of the night” last week.  He seemed kind, smart, articulate and has an incredible roster of talent that he manages.  Fingers crossed.  He said he’d be in touch shortly…ah, the life of an actor.  

Now I’m off to my ”other job”….managing a tiki bar – - the fun never stops    I can feel it, good stuff is headed my way!