Catching Up

It's been awhile since I've updated my journal. I've been really busy with a bunch of things. I joined up with an acappella jazz group, had my first 2 rehearsals in January, and then we had our first appearance. Our group is The Greater Vancouver Verve Collective (GVVC), and we guest starred at another group's concert in January. It's a great group - there's 6 of us altogether. 3 men and 3 women, and most of the songs we do are 6 part harmony. It's extremely challenging, but I'm loving it.

I've had three bookings this year, but tomorrow is the first one I've been able to accept. I'll be shooting a commercial and corporate video for a legal options ad. I had a fantastic audition for it on Monday! I didn't book principal, though, but they wanted me for a featured background role. So that's cool. I'm just happy to be booking. Plus, the casting director was really cool, very friendly, and I got a good vibe from him.

I've been on quite a few auditions, so I'm definitely in the throes of playing the numbers game. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I book more. Almost all of the auditions I've been out for recently have been commercials. It's interesting because probably over half of those have been for "mom" roles. I've auditioned with the cutest kids, too. But it's weird, because when I look in the mirror, I don't see the Mom-look, and when I'm at the auditions, I don't seem to look like any of the other "moms" in the room. But I must have some sort of maternal instinct/look, because I keep getting called in. I'll take that as a good thing. :)

In other news, I've been asked to be the featured guest soloist for the Burstin' With Broadway's June concert. It sounds really exciting, and I'm going to get a chance to do a couple songs I've always loved but have never performed before. That will be on June 3.

Oh, and I just had a long weekend down in Vegas and saw AVENUE Q! I've had the music for awhile, and know all the songs, so when I found out it was playing in Vegas, I had to see it. OHMIGOD, it was hilarious! If you're easily offended, don't go, but if you're like most of us, you will love the show, too.

Oh! The spa print shoot I did in December... looks like I made it to that company's website. We just saw it a couple days ago. It's hilarious. If you want to check it out, go to www.pacificspas.ca and click through their menu. I wonder if I think it's funny just because it's me? Like, if I didn't know the person in the picture, would it just look like a normal picture? That's something I can never answer. Anyway, I still have to see if I can get their brochure/catalogue, and see if I made it onto that, too.

I think that's about it for now. I'll try to update my journal more often. :)

Lead pre-screen for "Rogue"!

I just got back from my pre-screen for the feature film Rogue. That's the new Jet Li action movie. Jet Li! I was brought in by Maureen Webb & Colleen Rogers. They were seeing me for one of the lead roles! I haven't met Maureen before, but Colleen remembered me from my 88 Minutes audition. Both were super nice, and Colleen read with me. When we were done, Maureen was very positive about what she'd seen, and I feel so great! I know some may say, "It's just a pre-screen" but those are SO important to me. Like with this one, now Maureen Web knows who I am, and what I can do. And with her positive reaction and comments, I know that I left a good impression on her.

The audition itself was for such a great character - like no other character I've ever played. Whereas most of my roles place me as the ingenue, this one was villainous, cool, cold, sexy. She's described as "a tigress in black, able to instill fear into the hearts of the highest ranking... clan". I loved it! And I would love to audition for the role. But you know, if I don't get that chance, I'm pretty confident that I opened the doors to future chances. :)

And that ends a 5-auditions-in-a-row streak for me. I taped my Irreversi audition on Saturday, had 2 auditions Monday (one was for Coreen Mayrs!), then one Tuesday, and finally, the Rogue audition today. Plus I had a singing gig on Saturday night, my mom was in town so stayed with me for five days, and I have my full time day job! Oh, and I'm preparing for another small singing appearance this coming Sunday. All this while trying to fight off whatever is causing an icky cough. What a crazy time, but I love it! Cross your fingers for Rogue!

Feature Film, Lead Audition!

I just got off the phone with my agent... I have an audition for the lead in a feature film! They called him and asked to see me in LA on Friday, to which he responded, "Oh! She's Vancouver based. Can we put the audition on tape for you?" And thank goodness, it's no problem at all. That would freak me out to go to LA to audition! I was on the phone right away to book time with the woman I tape with. And that worked out, too, as she's available this weekend. I'll be taping my audition with her in the afternoon on Saturday, then heading out to my concert right after. Hectic, but it'll all get done.

The movie is called Irreversi, and the character has a "beautiful soprano voice". How perfect would that be to combine my singing with film work? And as if this all wasn't enough, the movie is shooting in Hong Kong this spring!

I'm super excited for this project. It sounds really intriguing! From the character breakdown I received, and the sides I got, it sounds like a great, juicy movie to do. Keep your fingers crossed! :)

Booked a Print Work Gig!

Last night I got a call from my agent with a booking for me! It's for my first print work gig, and I'm so excited! We do the shoot this Friday. It's for a spa (hot tub) company. The only thing is that I have to bring along a couple of bathing suits. I guess this isn't such a big thing, except the thing is - I haven't had a bathing suit for years. YEARS! The last time I bought one was 1991. Seriously. Anyway, I'm just taking this as the kick in the butt that I've needed to go out and do the dreaded deed. I'm so glad I have a few days to find something! Plus, getting booked just before Christmas is sure a nice present. Woo hoo!

More Singing Opportunities!

Ahhh, last night I took part in a new format cabaret, presented by Applause Musicals Society. It was awesome! We sang down at the Arts Club Backstage Lounge - the cabaret was titled "Showtunes! Year by Year: 1956", and we sang music from musicals released in 1956. It was really well done, and we had a great turn out.

AND, because of the people involved, I now have a new opportunity to sing! One of the other singers leads a small group of singers, and she asked if I would like to be a part of her group. It sounds fantastic - it's just a small group, performing songs with amazing harmonies, one voice per part, all acappella. This is something new for me and I'm so excited for my first rehearsal. I picked up the music today after work, and it's going to be so awesome! Tricky and challenging, but, well, what good would it be if something doesn't challenge you?

"Supernatural" Audition!

It feels so good auditioning for things other than commercials. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy those ones, too, but there's something about getting sides, developing your character, and getting to act! Today marks another first, too. It was my first audition for Coreen Mayrs and Heiki Brandstatter. Oh, and my first time over to Lions Gate Studios. The audition itself went fine. I didn't get the sides until I got there, but there were only a few sentences, and I got there in plenty of time to go over them, and to develop something. Even if I'm not right for this character, I'm glad to have gotten the chance to audition for them. I hope this leads to more down the road!

"88 Minutes" Audition!

Woweeee. Yesterday, late afternoon, I got a call from my agent saying she has a "very interesting audition" for me... for a movie... with Al Pacino... and my scene would be with him! It was for a very emotional scene in the feature film "88 Minutes", where I had to react to a speech given by Al Pacino. So I went to the audition today, and TOTALLY ROCKED! It was what I consider to be a very hard audition - a very emotional scene, with very little lead up into it. In fact, it was "slate your name, and go right into it". We had to react to the last few sentences of the speech. But I totally got into it. It felt awesome! At the end of it, the casting director even gasped, "Aw!"

I feel so great to audition for a movie, and even greater that the audition went so well. I really have no indication, though, of what they're looking for. But I'm just elated that I had a great audition. It could be tricky getting this part, though, as they're also casting a mom & dad for my character. I always have trouble getting cast when there's family members involved. But no matter - I left with the knowledge that I prepared my ass off, performed my best, my best was "on", and that's all I can ask for.

Cross your fingers for me. :) HOO-ahhhhh!!