Remember I wanted to give something back to say THANK YOU for supporting my blog?? Well, I came up with something. You ready??? Aaaaahhhhhhh! I'm really excited about this as you can tell....
Drum roll pleaseeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
I'd like to be an ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER for a reader!!!! Yes, that's right. I'll be partnering up with one individual to see how much we can get done for one whole month! Grateful to Dallas Travers and her workshop for this one. I'm all about accountability. ALL about it. Did you know that it takes 21 days to develop a habit? We have one month! Let's build a healthy habit together.
You want to start something new? Finish something old? Want to work out regularly? Want to eat better? Want to meditate more? Want to get up earlier? Want to take cooking classes? Want to sign up for workshops? Want to find an agent or manager? Want to start training again? Want to write a script or a blog?? Want to create an online presence for yourself? No matter what that may be, as long as it makes you happy and feel good......I'll be your private accountability buddyyyyy! I will share everything I know to help and support you. I hope as my buddy, you'd do the same. :)
We're artists...and the majority of us have to make our own schedules and deadlines. This can either get you super excited or get you feeling overwhelmed and lost. Don't worry. It just takes a little stepping back, seeing clearly what you want, prioritizing, and taking the first step. Baby steps...we'll be taking one step at a time but, sooner or later, you'll see one BIG jump from all those little ones. You'll see. I buddied up with a friend and within a couple of weeks, she had more done than she did in months. It was pretty cool to see. And I guarantee you'll start seeing magic happen around you.
Why? Because there's something about action and consistency. You're moving energies around that have been stationary...and once those energies move, things around will move, and YOU will move. :) Doesn't that sound wonderful?
So, this is how the buddy system will work. It's quite simple.
* You and I will talk on the phone everyday.......EVERY-DAY. Excluding weekends. And don't worry, I won't keep you on the phone for too long. ;) That's pretty much it in a nutshell. We'll first discuss what it is that you want exactly for the month and we'll go from there. You don't have to do this alone...I don't have to do this alone. We're all in this together. "And with our powers combined.....". Just trust and believe, get excited, and get committed. That's all.
How will I pick my buddy????
Email me folks! Just shoot over your name, phone number, email address, and your top three goals. They can be long term and/or short term. I'll probably just throw names into a hat and draw. I'm old-school. ;) alexandra@alexandrachoi.com
Deadline for submissions is August 5th, midnight!!
I will officially announce the buddy August 8th. And we'll get started!
I'm really really happy about this. Because, it's something I'm good at. I know that. And I guess when you're able to use what you're good at to help and serve others, it makes your heart even happier. So, thank you everyone for giving me this opportunity to open up my heart a lil more. :) :) :)
Last Week's Goal: I want to shoot a scene for my reel. Research scenes.
Update: Done! I found two actually. Here's one of them....but I won't be falling down the stairs. I'm a pretty good 'fighter' so I thought this would be a good scene to showcase that side of me. And, it's from my favorite movie of all time.
This Week's Goal: Talk to my friend Dylan to schedule a shoot date, cast my scene partner, and start memorizing my lines. I can't wait to finally put together a reel...oooh! it's going to be so badass!!!
I found out because of Google Alert. Google lets me know when my name is used anywhere on the web. Set this up if you're interested in creating any online presence for yourself. Another cool thing I learned in Dallas Travers's workshop. :)
And this week's post is a VLOG!! Yaaaay! Enjoy! :)
This Week's Goal: I'm really excited about this. I don't have enough footage for my reel....that I LOVE and that showcases the dynamic actress that I am. ;) So, I'll be shooting a scene to add to my reel. I'm really really excited about this. My friend Dylan will be helping me out. I'll keep you posted on how it all turns out. Woo hoo!
I am so ECSTATIC about this! My first horror film!!! I am so proud to be a part of an upcoming feature film called 'SCARY OR DIE'!!! If you used to stay up late to watch Tales from the Crypt and The Twilight Zone like me, then you're gonna LOVE this!! It's a horror anthology…about 4 or 5 scccaaaaaarrrry short stories. I'm the female lead in the vampire story!!! It's due to come out this Fall…probably just in time for Halloween! It's produced by Canal Street Films and Bleuman Entertainment. Canal Street Films, known for 'Maneater' and 'Uninvited' (for you horror buffs), and Bleuman Entertainment is Corbin Bleu's production company. And Corbin stars in one of the shorts! Here's our trailer! Take a look but be warned….it's not for the faint. ;)
So, how did you like the trailer??? Looks good, riiiight?!!! Did you see how all grown up and handsome Corbin Bleu is now?? He's no longer the cute kid from High School Musical, that's for sure!
I feel as though I got very lucky with this project. I worked with some amazing people...some are good friends now. The producers and director....a dream. Professionals. One of the most professional sets I've been on. I loved it.
Are you wondering how I got the part????? I have a cool story for you because I almost didn't get it THREE times! :)
About a year ago, I was literally submitting myself on LA Casting and Actors Access everyday. Actually, I was obsessed with self submitting...I would log in more than 5 times a day to see if I missed anything. I was auditioning everyday, sometimes twice or three times. Both theatrical and commercial. I was on a roll! So, one day I see a breakdown, non-union short film, and they were looking for a young Korean girl. Without hesitation, I submitted.
I get the audition. But, guess what....last minute, I was ready to bail. Why? Well, I guess I got a little cocky. I figured, "Eh, I've been auditioning a lot these days, I don't feel like going to this last one today...besides, it's all the way in Santa Monica. Yeah, I'm gonna skip that one." And that was that. I was in front of the mirror washing my hands, looking at myself, acting out a scene by myself and then something told me to go back and check the breakdown again. I go to my computer and pull up the breakdown for the audition. There was a link to Igor's reel...the director. I was super impressed. Igor's a respected 2nd unit DP. He's done a lot of stuff....A LOT. This short was going to be Igor's directorial debut.
I look at the clock. Uh oh. I had an hour, maybe, to get to Santa Monica from Koreatown. Young Korean girl, young Korean girl, so I gotta look younger. I print out the sides as fast as I can, throw on a blue t-shirt, skinny jeans, my riding boots, and I'm out the door. I'm hauling ass and reading my lines. By the grace of God, I get there on time. Happy to be there but, nervous and frazzled like crazy. It's my turn. I get into the room. I couldn't even think straight. I see the producer/writer, director, casting director, and more producers. I was physically in the room but, everything else about me was clearly not. There I was, standing in front of them, sides in my hand, ready to begin. Feeling unsure about my lines, feeling unsure about my Korean accent...I went for it.
Cut to: end of audition. They had me try it a couple of different times. I'm not too sure if I even took their notes or direction. All I remember was nodding "uh huh, yes, ok, got it" but, truth be told, I was clueless and scattered. As soon as I heard "Ok, great, thank you" from them, I couldn't get out of that room fast enough.
I drove home really slowly that day.
A couple of days later, I get a callback. Yes, that's right, a callback. Serious?! Again, by the grace of God, I get another chance. I felt more relaxed and focused. I had no idea what was going to happen this time but, there was comfort in not being TOO prepared. I just knew who this girl was, I felt like her already. I walked back in the room. They were all there. They had the male lead there too to read with me. No acting...that's what it felt like. It was just me and Rahi talking. It felt easy and still.
I drove home slowly again.
Few days passed and still no word. Something in my gut wanted the part so badly but another part of me was just happy to have had a second chance. I was sitting in my car waiting for a friend. I took out my journal and started writing. "Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. But, I want the part! Let it go. Let it go. If it's meant to be, it'll be. Let it go. Let it go." I wrote this for about 2-3 pages, front and back. My phone rang. I answered, and it was Mike, the producer and writer. I got the part. I kid you not! I thought I was hallucinating. Of course, I accept and Mike tells me the shoot schedule. OMFG. Schedule conflict. After all that, I have a schedule conflict. I committed to another feature film and the shoot dates were the same! I hung up the phone with Mike to see if I could work it out with the other group. Nope, they couldn't. I was so bummed. I called Mike back and told him that I tried...and as much as I wanted to work with them, I couldn't because I already committed to the other project first. And that was that. As sad as I was, I knew it was the right thing to do....I followed my heart.
Next day, I get a phone call from Mike. They switched around all cast and crew schedule to accommodate my schedule! Whaaaaaaaaat!!!!!! Can you believe how shocked I was? I wanted to drop to my knees and cry because I was so grateful.
Finally after our short was wrapped, I had a little heart to heart with the director. Igor thanked me for my hard work and said he was happy with everything. Then he brought up the dreaded audition...my first audition for them. He said my nerves got the best of me that day and if it wasn't for Mike, I wouldn't have even gotten a callback. Mike, who is also an actor as well, saw through the nerves and said "Let's give her one more shot."
Wow, when it's meant to be, it'll be. No matter what. First, I didn't want to go to the audition.....second, I bomb it.... then the schedule conflict. But, I tried my best...I did my part. Then, I just had to let go. I still feel like crying now when I think about it. In hindsight...every moment was so magical. Every moment.
So, just do your best...in every moment...and then let go. You just have to do your part and let God/Universe do its part. Hope you have magical week!!!!
I keep seeing a common thread in people I admire...people I consider successful.
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." -Seneca
"Success is something which as to be planned and success is something which as to be earned in advanced." -Napoleon Hill
I've always said "I'm a lucky girl"....always. And if anything, I'll only get luckier because now I'm preparing for opportunities.
I've been hanging with Mrs. Lee. Mrs. Lee is a family friend who checks on me to make sure I'm okay...since I don't have family out here. She's like an aunt. Mrs. Lee is extremely successful....she owns properties all around Koreatown, has a wonderful relationship with her husband and two sons, lives in a humongous house in La Canada, has a deep spiritual life, and she smiles and laughs a lot. This lady is one happy person and it's infectious.
Whenever I meet, read, or hear about someone who is successful, I get curious. So curious. So intrigued. How did he/she do it? How long did it take? How did he/she grow up? Did he/she know it was their dream? Did he/she avoid it? Did he/she stumble upon it? Were there a lot of obstacles or was it just easy? What was going on in his/her life just before inspiration hit? What is his/her astrological sign? Were there others he/she teamed up with? How did God line up events, people, places, and things for him/her? I know it's part magic/blessing but, there's also a logical, scientific, mathematical explanation to it. It's like I have to get to the bottom of it....because there's got to be a formula.
Mrs. Lee had no idea she had a knack for real estate. In fact, she was content with her new role as a wife and stay-at-home mom. Just before her first son was born, she developed a new hobby. She would wake up in the morning and look through the newspaper for new properties listed for sale that day. Then, she would just drive around and check them out....not because she was interested in buying but, because it was just fun. She admitted that it started out as fun but she became almost obsessed with it. She did this for a year....every single day. Still no desire to pursue it professionally. Then one day, she came across a property. She said she just knew. She somehow persuaded her husband to consider investing in properties and they bought the place. Now, years later, still with no license or degree in real estate, Mrs. Lee owns much of Koreatown.
In Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers, this is what he talks about. All successful people have something in common...they put in the work.....they were prepared for opportunities. Have you heard of the 10,000 hours rule?? In order to become an expert at anything, you must put in 10,000 hours. Gladwell uses Bill Gates as one of his examples. When Bill Gates was in high school, his school was one of the first in the country to get computers. Bill Gates became obsessed with it. He spent all his waking hours in that computer lab...he would lose sleep just so he had more waking hours in front of the computer. Mrs. Lee was the same way, she became so entranced with real estate that she couldn't wait to wake up the next day to see what else she would discover. Neither expected or wanted anything out of it...they were just having too much fun. 'They were in their element', 'They were in the Vortex', 'Time flies when you're having fun', 'They were in the zone', 'They were using their genius/talent', 'They were flowing downstream', 'Feels like heaven'. Some expressions we hear when someone's in alignment. And they were both putting in their 10,000 hours....preparing.
Now that preparation is underway, Part 2 of the equation is opportunity. Because Bill Gates spent so much time on computers, naturally he became an expert. His expertise became so indispensable that golden opportunities specifically came his way...because no one else was able to do the job but him. Some people may say Bill Gates was 'lucky' first because his school got computers before other schools but how many other students could have taken advantage like Bill Gates did? Hundreds but, in the end, it was just Bill Gates. For Mrs. Lee, it was trusting in her preparation and expertise to see an opportunity, seize it, and turn it into luck.
I believe luck and opportunities come to all of us. Some people believe that they're un-lucky, or opportunities rarely come their way......I disagree. I believe luck and opportunities come so often that we can take them for granted or overlook them. It also has a lot to do with perception...do you choose to see your opportunities and luck? Because they can show up in unexpected ways and you may not recognize them. I think a prepared person will have a much easier time recognizing opportunities than someone who isn't as prepared. And the more you do anything, it becomes a habit....and because we are creatures of habit, I want to make a habit out of recognizing luck and opportunities.
So, here's what I'm doing as part of my preparation. I'm a professional actress. I'm a professional. When I'm working, I'm working....when I'm not working, I'm training or working on my craft to get better. This is the way. Stay in the game always, at all times. Whether it's blogging, editing, auditioning, kickboxing, reading a play, writing a script, workshops, helping a friend memorize lines, anything related to my craft, I consider it putting in my 10,000 hours. After training with Larry Moss, I realized....I have talent and I want to nurture it. I want to take my love for it more seriously, fiercely. I just joined Margie Haber's school. They specialize in auditioning techniques. I start my one month intensive at the end of August. I want to get so good at my craft that my unique expression becomes indispensable. I want to be so prepared that when opportunities and luck come my way, I'll OWN that!
But wait! Here's the most important part of the equation! Remember to FEEL good. Just like Mrs. Lee and Bill Gates, you have to enjoy it so much that you lose all sense of time...you don't care about time...in fact, time is the only thing keeping you from feeling happy. But, what happens if you don't get excited and inspired as often as you like? Honestly, I don't walk around smiling all day long...I don't always enjoy taking actions on my dream's behalf. This is when I do kickboxing or kundalini or just go for a walk with my dog. Because, my priority is to feel good.....feeling good doing any activity, whether it's acting related or not. If you don't feel good about doing something...give yourself a break from it and do something else that will make you feel good. Because in the grand scheme of things...as long as you feel good, it will all come full circle and take you to where you belong.
How cool is this? As I 'obsessed' over writing this post, I checked my email.....got a commercial callback. :)
All in all, here's the formula for success......do the work. God/Universe wants to give me everything I want and ask for. So the question isn't 'Will God/Universe give this to me?' but, 'Am I prepared and ready to receive what I asked for?'.
Have an obsessed and successful week!
Last Week's Goals: meetings, audits, administrative things.
Update: Done! I felt excited and scared at Margie Haber's orientation. That was a good sign for me so I signed up. I'm so stoked because I'll be studying with Courtney Burr first. Heard he's noooo joke. Our class starts at 6pm and I heard that he keeps you til 1 or 2 am sometimes...because he's so passionate about the work. So, bring pillows they said. Hahaha. Gulp.
This Week's Goals: I'm doing 3 workshops this month. They are all with television show casting directors. Bob Lambert for All My Children, Scott David for Criminal Minds, and Lindsay Jameson for Hawaii 5-0 and CSI NY. I have to bring in prepared scenes. So, I've started researching for scenes that really 'sell' me. And kickboxing and kundalini. :)
