Television, here I come! Week 25. 'Clean and Clear'

Let's begin with some GREAT NEWS!!!

1.  A BIG Thank You to everyone for reading, joining, and supporting me on my journey as an actress.  I'm almost at 5,000 views!!!  I'm so proud of myself for being able to stick with it and hopefully, adding some value to the world.  But, I am so grateful to you, from the bottom of my heart because you helped me be accountable for every goal.  :*)

And I wanna give something back.  I will have more details soon!!!    :)  

2.  Cool Find of the Week!!!!  Pay It Forward!  My friend Sulinh told me about this.  Thank you lady!  Oh yes...this is what I'm talking about.  ActorLikes.  Check them out and you'll see why.  As you all know, I'm like the crazy StarMeter girl.  I stay on top of my 'ranking'...seriously.  And I do believe it's all about karma.  I belong to two groups that click on each other's IMDB links.  So, jump on the karma bandwagon!  And here's my referral link!  I refer you, I get points, and you refer people, you get points.  Yay!
http://www.actorlikes.com/?r=2610
And I post more cool actor-friendly finds throughout the week via Facebook or Twitter.  Or if you have something cool to share!  Friend and/or Follow!  

I had a freak-out moment this week.  Woke up one morning to find my whole text message history on my phone….gone.  I was so furious but, managed to get myself to kickboxing class and then straight to the Verizon store after to make someone paaaaaay!!!!  I get there and they look at my phone and say, "Sorry, once it disappears from the phone, it's gone for good."  What?!  They get me on the phone with a technician.  Though they've been getting similar complaints about the Thunderbolt 4G, turns out my phone just committed suicide for a second.  To put it oh so morbidly.  :)   I've been letting all my texts pile up and it just crashed on me overnight.  

I guess everything in life, living or non-living, needs to be cleaned out.  Because if it doesn't, there's a breaking point.  Because it's just following the Natural Law.  There's got to be room for flow, room to grow.  I've always been an advocate of cleaning out your mind, body and soul…regularly.  I'm not talking about Master Cleanse or any other harsh detoxes but, simple things like breathing, exercising, meditating, and free form writing.  

I took my first Kundalini yoga class this week.  Kundalini, though you do poses,  focuses more on breathing and spirituality rather than poses/postures.  I thought my first yoga class would be quite the zen-like experience….no it was not.  I'm still learning how to breathe properly so I couldn't keep up with the class too much but, I did try to get as much out of it.  So, I focused on breathing and being silent and present.  I was able to breathe a couple of full breaths.  I let it circulate, let it live in my body and felt its energy moving…hitting each organ.  It was as if my body was a pinball machine…I felt each organ light up as the energy traveled.  As each organ lit up, it made my stomach tense up from feeling something.  I felt sad.  

My yoga instructor asked me after class how my first experience was.  I told him that instead of feeling peaceful and wonderful, I actually felt more crappy.  I felt sad, guilty and uneasy.  He said it was 'one' of the normal reactions.  Energies are being shifted around and depending on the person, every experience is going to be different.  Don't judge it.  Let it be what it is and continue coming to class and see what happens.  

Weirdest thing…I get out of class and on my drive home, I had 3 cars flip me off.  I mean, their crazy came out.  I haven't been flipped off in a long time but thrice at once?  Coincidence?  I think not.  And I wasn't at fault...honest.  ;)    

Ok, so my first yoga class tells me I've got some more work to do.  I'm doing my part to clean out what needs to go so I can make room for new things to flow in.  Free-form writing for my Mind, Kickboxing for my Body, and Kundalini for my Spirit.  Balance.  Because this is where my career begins.  This is where everything begins.

Have you been feeling stuck or stagnant?  Or what about that 'something's gotta give' feeling?  Or just plain indifferent.  Let's shift some energies around!  Because you see that picture up there?  I don't know about you, but, I'd like to look and feel like that all day, everyday.  ;)    Pick one...Mind, Body, or the Soul.  And do something for it consistently.  And consistency doesn't mean everyday...it's whatever you decide on but, once you decide...stick to it.  For example, "I'm going to free-form write every Tuesday and Thursday mornings."  Simple as that.  There's no overachieving or underachieving...oh thank goodness, it's QUALITY here, not quantity.

Happy Cleaning to you all!  Wishing you balance, peace, and LOVE.  :)



And my interview piece with RAD Studio!
www.RealizeArtistsDreams.com










Last Week's Goals:  Research and pick two monologues...Dramatic and Comedic.  Finish short.

Update:  I found an awesome Comedic one and I already have it memorized!  Dramatic, not yet but, I have been memorizing a dramatic scene for my Scott David workshop, who is the CD for Criminal Minds.  Added more writing to shorts but not married to the ideas...didn't feel like the ideas naturally flowed.  I forced them.  So, will keep trying!

This Week's Goals:  I have a meeting on Wednesday with Baron/Brown Studio.  I'm researching and auditing different classes because I want to go back to honing my craft consistently again.  I'm looking into Cold-Read classes because I think it aligns with my television goal for this year.  :)
Oh, I'm also attending a Meisner workshop to see what that's like.  I'm just so curious about everything now!  I'm also looking into getting my reel made.  Holla.
I also got my new headshot in the mail!  I placed the order online...first time doing it and uh, love it!  So much faster and easier.  So, some administrative things this week.










with LOVE,

Alex

Television, here I come! Week 24. 'New Headshots'

My friend Anna and I took some interim headshots OURSELVES this past week!  Since my hair is long now, I've been needing some new pics.  Not having up-to-date photos have kept me from submitting for new projects as well as looking for representation.  And "can't afford" is not an option.  So, we walked around her hood and tested out her new camera.  Thanks Anna!!!  And the retouches are by my friend Natalia at NataliaFednerDesign.com        What do you think?!?!  I rike'em...a lot.  :)

My parents, as newlyweds.  A year before I was born.  My dad worked as a camera operator for 3 blockbuster films in Korea, back in the day!  Directors insisted he get in front of the camera because of his good looks but he never did do it.  Why?  He was too shy.  :)  Looks like an Asian Paul Newman!  I love you Appa!  Happy Father's Day to you.  Thank you.

My friend Dennis posted this on Facebook.  Thank you!  Awesome stuff.  Enjoy and have a great week everyone!

Ignite Your Passion

There are a few ways in which you can recognize whether you are connected to your soul’s passion.

1. Feeling inspiration – wherever it flows, that’s where you need to be

Surrender as a lifestyle means that you let yourself be guided by what truly inspires you. Surrender is not a passive energy. By surrendering to what really motivates and inspires you, you open the gate to a lively and active flow of energy within. To discover that flow for yourself, you need to find out with what kind of activities your energy naturally flows. What things make you feel happy and peaceful? In what kind of occupation or pursuit do you feel that things move effortlessly and gracefully? What is the essence of these things or activities? Feel the essence of it – and know that there may be a variety of ways for this essence to take shape and form.

2. Being true to your own nature -  what you do naturally, is what you are good at

To recognize your passion you need to realize that it is always something that is very natural to you. It is something, an activity or occupation or expression form, that you are drawn to, feel interested in and enjoy pursuing. It is something close and natural to you, almost self evident from your perspective. To bring your natural gift to fruition, you may have to learn some skills or pursue some formal education, but it will be relatively easy and joyful for you to do so. Your passion is something that your abilities and talents are attuned to; it involves activities that you are good at from the start.  

3. Maintaining clear boundaries and daring to say “no” – take yourself seriously

You are in the flow of surrender to yourself if you take yourself seriously enough to say no to things or people that inhibit or cut off that flow. You can only follow your passion if you dare to say no to what does not fit or feel right to you. Surrendering to yourself, your unique inspiration, entails being precocious and stubborn sometimes, standing apart and trusting the messages of your heart even if people say you are silly and foolish. It is about loyalty to yourself. Dare to be grand, dare to make a difference! There is really no alternative, you know. The alternative is that your natural flow of inspiration gets stuck and dries up and you start to feel frustrated, empty, angry and unfulfilled. If you do not choose for yourself, you choose against yourself. The energy of the rose, your passion, withdraws and this creates psychological problems such as loneliness, estrangement and eventually depression. Therefore, dare to say no, dare to take up space with clear boundaries. Do not fear to be “egotistical” according to the standards of false gods.

4. Patience and rhythm – do it step by step

If you are connected to the energy of your soul, your inspiration, it will clear a path for you in your everyday life. Opportunities (in the form or people or situations you encounter) will come to you in a pace and rhythm that suits you. If you want to be attuned to that flow of manifestation, stay in the present and take it step by step. Try to not run ahead of all the things that need to happen to realise your dreams and passion. Life takes care of you, you need not take care of life. Simply feel your passion and entrust it to the hands of the God within you. Let the angel inside keep and watch over the dreams and longings of your inner child. Surrender and trust!

I invite you to dare to live, dare to be who you are!  

extract from Pamela Kribbe

Last Week's Goals:  manager follow-ups, workshops, finish a short.

Update:  I workshopped and started 2 more short ideas...but, none got finished.  Eh, it's okay.  I got a brand new week.  But, I did get some major administrative stuff out of the way!  I got new headshots!  I took them Friday and the new photos are uploaded to all my accounts!  And I ordered some prints too.  Will order postcards as well.

This Week's Goals:  Research some monologues.  Have a dramatic and comedic ready to go...getting prepared for meetings!  Finish a short.





This song always gives me the chills.  Fave of all time.

Television, here I come! Week 23. 'Hustle and Flow'

Howdy!

Check out these pics!  I took them with my camera phone! 

 I know I know...you can't believe I took'em myself.  Good job, right?!  :)

I made some scary follow-up phone calls to managers.  6 out of 7....I left a message for.  1 out of 7...I spoke to.  I asked him if he had received my follow-up letter, he replied no.  He offered me his email address so I can email him everything instead.  This was Thursday.

Ask me to be on set for 20 hours....no problem.  Ask me to make a follow-up phone call or to whip up a cover letter...I'd rather yank my hair out and run around in circles.  Drama Queen.  :)
I'm not kidding you.  To be on set...it's labor of LOVE.  To make phone calls, revise resume, update accounts, do mail outs, and drop offs...it's just plain labor.  Oy vey.  But, somebody's gotta do it.

This is the hustle of it all.

Hustling isn't something that will happen when I start auditioning more frequently.  Hustling isn't something that will happen when I become a 'working' actress.  Hustling isn't something that will happen  when or if _____________.  Hustling happens now...it's always now.

Picture this.  You have 3 Acts to your career.  I think many of us are in our 2nd Act.  Like any great play or story, the 1st and 3rd usually is more entertaining than the 2nd.  And the 2nd tends to be slower and more detailed.  But, if you miss the 2nd Act, you miss the meat.  The 1st and 3rd won't taste as good without the 2nd.

I'm in my 2nd.  I'd like to be in my 3rd and I daydream about it but, I'm in my 2nd.  And daydreaming is an important part of getting to that next Act.  It's just 1/3. The 2/3 is taking action.  And the 3/3 is allowing and receiving.  And assuming that all of us have the first third down, let's focus on the second third.  This is where the hustle comes in...the meat.  This is where it all happens, where it all goes down.  I think this is where you learn the most...learn about YOU, life, the art, and the craft.  This is where you grow...and sometimes the biggest growth comes from growing pains.  This is where you build...build a strong foundation inside and out.  This is where you create....create and put out into the world your talent, your genius, your story because this is what you're meant to do.  This is where you give and share...give and share support, give and share time, give and share love, give and share kind words, give and share a hug, give and share a smile, give and share YOU.  This is where you do....do what you gotta do....no matter how much it scares you, no matter how much you think you don't want to, no matter how much others don't want you to, no matter how tired you feel, no matter how long it will take, no matter what.  And then this is where we patiently wait...wait for our turn.  This is where you earn it.

And don't you want to earn it?  I sure do.  I want to look back one day and realize that I'm in my 3rd Act, and rightfully so.  I want to look back and remember those times when I wasn't auditioning enough and thinking, 'What am I doing wrong?'  I want to look back and remember those times I wanted to call it quits but, didn't.  I want to look back and remember trying and trying and trying to get representation.  I want to look back and remember writing my blogs.  I want to look back and remember editing my vlogs.  I want to look back and remember booking my first television credit.  I want to look back and remember calling my family about my first big paycheck.  I want to look back and remember creating with friends.  I want to look back and remember taking classes and training all over the place.  I want to look back and remember doing something that scares me everyday.  I want to look back and thank my inner child for being so courageous and say to her, 'Look at all you have accomplished.  Look at your beautiful life.  I'm so glad you didn't quit.  I''m so glad you shared yourself with the world.  I'm so glad you believed in yourself.  I'm so glad you kept dreaming.  I'm so glad you listened to your heart.  I'm so glad you trusted yourself.  I'm so proud of you.'

If you're in this for the long haul like me, then our 2nd Act seems too important to half ass through..doesn't it?  From this Act on, I will HUSTLE and let it all FLOW.  Flow more love, flow more heartbreaks, flow more loss, flow more peace, flow more joy, flow more curiosity, flow more life!  I trust that I'm on my path, I trust that God/Universe will take care of me, I trust that I'm here for a reason and I'll find my purpose.

So, the next time you don't book that job, and you see the commercial playing on tv with the 'other' actress....instead of thinking, "They picked HERRRRRR?!?!  WHYYYYYYY?!!!", I think "Oh, just wasn't meant to be...that's good for her."  Building my foundation now.  It's inevitable that I'll lose out to many many other actresses but, what determines how successful I will be is how I deal with it.  This is just a little part of my 2nd Act.

So, are you excited about your 2nd Act?  Stay present in the 2nd....looking ahead into our 3rd is okay but don't live in it just yet...it's not time yet.  Hustle Act 2, then Act 3 will Flow.  And our turn will come.  My turn will come, so will yours.  There's a place for all us in this world, in this town...we just gotta earn it.    



Have a great week hustlers!







Last Week's Goals:  Start my vocal workshop and Hawthorne casting director workshop, follow-up calls to managers, and impromptu headshot session.

Update:  Done and done!  Our first vocal workshop went well.  I learned how to breathe properly and loosen up my body.  I love it so far and will probably share more about what I'm learning, how I'm learning after another class or two.
Oh, the follow-up calls.  I haven't heard back yet but will try again this week to follow-up again.  This is part of my hustle.
The headshot session has been postponed to this week!

This Week's Goals:  Follow-up with managers, workshops, I started two separate shorts...so, I'd like to finish one this week.

The song I've been shaking to while writing this.

with LOVE,

Alex

Television, here I come! Week 22. 'The Superhero's Journey'

My new motto:  'Take care of me, take care of others, and take care of my sh*t'.

I am just lovin this kickboxing thing, let me tell you.  (in my Brooklyn/Jewish accent).

Two weeks and my body does feel tighter...or I'm just in pure pain.  Either way,....I like it.  :)

 Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd scene.


How was your week?!

As you can see, I'm cuckoo for kickboxing.  My instructor says I'm a natural (ahem...dust my shoulders).  I'm learning fast and already I feel like I can be the next badass ass kicker!  Or a Bond girl.  I'd make a great Bond girl.  Oh yes, of course, and a superhero.  :)

If I were a superhero....if I were a superhero, I'd probably have fire power.  I can throw fire, I emit fire, I can give light, and I can give heat.  And as cool as my power is, the fire protects and keeps me from everything...the good and bad.  I can kick some ass but, can't get too close to people because I'd burn them.  Superheroes get lonely too.  Then I fall in love with another superhero.   His power?   Water. Unfortunately, fire and water don't go together....all you get is steam.  Too much fire would cause the water to boil and/or dry up, OR too much water would put the fire out.  Each of their powers becomes too destructive when around one another so, they painfully had to let each other go.

Sad, huh?  My version of star-crossed lovers.  :)  I'm sure you've had to let go of something or someone you didn't want to let go.  I had to this past week. I was dating a great guy but, things just didn't work out for us.  Who knows why....it could be timing or we just weren't compatible.  We tried and tried...but, that's the problem, too much trying.  It was like we couldn't be ourselves to make the other happy...we felt like we were walking on eggshells with each other.  I can hear one voice saying, "hey kids, it ain't working, take a hint", while another voice kept saying "but, we wanna be togetherrrrr!"  But, I had to listen to my quiet voice....the quiet voice that's so quiet that, if you didn't want to hear the truth, you wouldn't hear it at all.  And because I didn't want to be alone again, I ignored that voice.  It's scary to follow my heart because it first takes me somewhere I don't want to go, or somewhere I'm uncomfortable going.  But trust and go.  Trust and go.  So, I'm trusting and going.  I still miss him.  And as sad as I am saying goodbye to that experience, I know it was meant to be a part of my life.  The lessons are being revealed in the wake of it.  I still have lots of growing to do.  I still have lots of forgiving to do.  I still have lots of loving to do.  But, it's all good because this experience is getting my inner compass back on track again...I'm given a direction.  I am being guided.  I'm grateful to him and the relationship for opening my heart up.  So, my job is to stay open more than ever, take care of my sh*t, and just enjoy life day by day.


Have you talked or listened to your heart lately?    


My friend Jessica sent me this video.  Thank you again.  FYI, it's a tear jerker.   But, in a good way.  It'll wake you up and if it doesn't, then I don't know what to tell ya.  ;)






News/Goodies/Updates:

Pictures for Fuzzy Connections screening at Dances with Film festival!

Last Week's Goals:  Revise acting resume, follow-up letters to managers, kicboxing!

Update:  Doney Done Done!  I actually mailed out my new resume and follow-up letters to managers!  Holler!

This Week's Goals:  I start my 4 week vocal workshop with Kevin Quinn Tuesday!  Also, my 4 week Hawthorne/Law and Order workshop too!  I will wait until Wednesday or Thursday and see if I can do a follow-up phone call with the managers.  And my friend I'll be doing some impromptu headshot sessions with friends.  

Have a wonderful week you superheroes.  :)

with LOVE,

Alex