Tag: actorjourney

Where Them Wins At?!

Chasing The George

Hello, my fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my blog. As you all know, I have two goals that I am focusing on this year. And each week, I am alternating between the two goals to provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging. First goal: Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. Second goal: Finish the 1st draft of the “Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. Once that’s done, do a table read, get feedback, and complete additional drafts.

However, this week, I’d like to share my first quarter wins! And yes, I’m a little on the late side for first quarter goals since it encompasses January, February, and March. Then again, I started my 2024 blogging this past February, so MY first quarter would be February, March, and April LOL. Either way, I’m recapping and sharing my wins. This is also a good time to assess what worked and what I need to adjust for the next three months. Keep reading below 🙂

A sampling of my first quarter wins as they relate to my two goals: **Emailed my agent my goals for this year. **Identified and wrote down my favorite/impactful films that were nominated during the 2019 to 2024 awards season. **Identified who the casting directors were for my favorite/impactful films that were nominated during the 2019 to 2024 awards season. **Created a Google Spreadsheet of these casting directors and inputted their contact info. **Emailed my agent the list of casting directors and asked if they had a relationship with them. **Reached out to these casting directors. **Self-submitted to feature films via Actors Access. **Looked up the company rosters for A24, Annapurna, Focus Features, Neon, Searchlight Pictures, and Sony Pictures Classics. **Looked up Casting Access classes through the SAG-AFTRA Foundation to see if my target list of casting directors were teaching classes. **Looked up the managers for the supporting actors who played parts I could have played from my favorite films from the last five years. **Extensive relationship map research and outflow. **Researched U.S. indie directors and producers whose feature films got into the 2023 Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Tribeca, Toronto, and Telluride film festivals. I also researched the 2024 feature film lineup for Sundance and SXSW (I need to research the 2024 lineup for the remaining four film festivals.) **Identified the castings I want to play in feature films. **Updated my agent on the administration I accomplished in the 1st quarter. **Weekly writing sessions with Kelly (160 pages and counting with our script!) Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week!

Remaining On The Saddle With My Goals!

Chasing The George

Hello, my fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I have two goals that I am focusing on this year. And each week, I am alternating between the two goals to provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging. This week, we are back to my acting goal for 2024: Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios.

Hollywood is currently in a state of contraction, creating limited opportunities for actors, writers, casting directors, executives, and other departments. The entertainment industry is still dealing with the effects of a world-wide pandemic, last year’s strikes, budget cuts, artificial intelligence, and the consolidation/sale of media companies. That being said, I am still remaining on the saddle and not giving up. I will continue forward with what I have control over: the administration that is listed in my Declaration of Independence (DOIN). Keep reading below 🙂

Since my last update on my acting goal progress, I have researched U.S. directors whose films screened at the 2024 Sundance and SXSW film festivals (A few weeks ago, I researched a few 2023 film festivals.) I still have to tackle the upcoming 2024 Cannes, Tribeca, Telluride, and Toronto film festivals. And the reason why I’m looking at these particular film festivals is because the independent films that screen there are the kinds I want to be in and the kinds that already have distribution in place with an independent or mid-sized studio like A24, Focus Features, Neon, Searchlight, and Sony Pictures Classics, or will acquire a distribution deal with them after they screen. These are compelling, engaging, interesting, and unique films that speak to me. Through my research, I get to see what’s out there and what is being made. Which films speak to me so that I can watch them later? Who are the directors behind these films? Who are the casting directors behind these films? How can I outflow to them in a supportive and professional way? Keep reading below 🙂

I’ve also looked at more Casting Access classes to see if any of the casting directors from my target list are participating in them. Again, I’ve created a specific list of casting directors who have cast independent and/or mid-sized studio films over the last five years that have impinged me. This list may grow once I watch the films I wrote down from the 2023 and 2024 film festivals. I’ve also made movement to expand my relationship map to continue building meaningful relationships built on professionalism, support, and a mutual love for art. Keep reading below 🙂

What are you doing to stay in the saddle? Are you creating your own content? Are you enrolled in an acting or writing class? Do you have an artistic collective or group that meets once a week to create art? I’d love to read your comments below. See you all next week!

Photo courtesy of: https://www.doversaddlery.com/how-to-select-and-size-an-english-saddle-for-a-rider/a/519/

Utilizing The Power Of Abracadabra In My Career.

Chasing The George

Hello, fellow artists! Let’s jump right into another exciting edition of my weekly blog. As you all know, I have two goals that I am focusing on this year. And each week, I am alternating between the two goals to provide updates that are hopefully inspiring and engaging. This week, we are back to my acting goal for 2024: Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios.

I am a long-time student at the Richard Lawson Studios, and I am constantly inspired from one class to the next. This past Thursday’s class was no exception. Towards the end of class, Richard talked about the power of postulates, belief, seeing the vision, going after it, putting in the work, vibrating on the level of the things you want, etc. It was incredible. At one point, he shared an inspiring Instagram video where a woman named Liel Eden talked about the origin of the word, “Abracadabra”. I’ve provided a link to the video below. The origin of this word (“I will create as I speak.”) was a great reminder because I sometimes get so caught up in my daily administration that I sometimes forget what I’m doing all of this for. I have to remember that my administration is connected to a specific goal. And that specific goal is connected to a specific postulate that I see and believe in. Each day, I will speak my goals and postulates out loud to keep creating the magic. “I will create as I speak.” Create and speak. Speak and create. That combination will be magical. Keep reading below 🙂

Here is the link to her video: Click Here Keep reading below 🙂

Here is some of the administration I’ve executed in the last two weeks for my acting goal: I submitted myself for a feature film. I researched a few Latinx directors upon the recommendation of a colleague. I picked one of those Latinx directors from the list, watched a couple of their films, and reached out to them. I watched a SAG-AFTRA Foundation panel because a few of the casting directors that I reached out to this past February were on it. I did relationship map outflow. I researched U.S. and Latinx indie directors and producers whose films screened at the 2023 Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Tribeca, Toronto, and Telluride film festivals. Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week!

The Path To Booking Roles Is Not Always Linear.

Chasing The George

Hello, my fellow artists! I hope you all enjoyed the Oscars last Sunday. This was a solid awards season, and I look forward to the next one!

I’m still on my journey of booking supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios. My administration, my admin brain, works in a very A to B to C kind of way. It’s very linear. That being said, I’ve also had to accept that things are not always linear. As Kelly Tighe once said, outflow equals inflow is not always linear. The inflow can come back to you in a crazy, zig-zag, left-of-center direction that could appear today, tomorrow, or sometime in the near or distant future. And sometimes, the inflow you receive may be different from what you expected. I recall her words to remind myself that my outflow matters even if “nothing” happens right away. Even if results “don’t” happen right away. Something does happen because outflow equals energy. Outflow keeps me involved, invested, and in the game. Every outflow is a step forward. And eventually, thing(s) will happen and come back either linearly or nonlinearly (and it did which I share later on!) Keep reading below 🙂

Inflow not always being linear is something I have to remember because I have a ton of action items on my list, and two plus two will not always equal four. I can’t get discouraged because an action I took didn’t produce the results I wanted or expected or because “nothing” is happening. Who knows what will be the piece of administration that helps me achieve my goal at the end of the day? Maybe it’ll be the collective administration I have done up to a certain point that helps me achieve my goal. Maybe I’ll achieve my goal when I get halfway through my action items list. Maybe I’ll achieve my goal when I get to the second to last action item on my list. Maybe I’ll achieve my goal by rearranging the order of certain action items. Maybe I’ll achieve my goal one month after I checked off everything on my action items list. Maybe I’ll achieve my goal by doing something arbitrary that wasn’t even on my action items list. For example, I go to a party, make a connection, we hit it off, and they want to hire me. But they hire me because of all the outflow I’ve done up to that point. The key is for me to keep outflowing because I’m putting energy out there. This energy will not be for waste. Keep reading below 🙂

Since the last time I updated you all (February 25th) on my progress towards booking supporting roles in 2024, here is what I have accomplished so far:

**I finished emailing my target list of casting directors, casting associates, and casting assistants!!!! This was a huge win as I completed a total of 65 individual communications. Two casting directors wrote back to thank me for my kind words of acknowledgement! This was an example of linear inflow. And in the process of writing to these 65 awesome individuals, I saw a casting notice on one of their Instagram pages. She was casting a new feature film for the same person who directed one of the films I wrote down in my DOIN! If you recall, part of my administration to book supporting roles in 2024 was to write down the films that impacted me over the last five years. His film was on my list, and here I was now submitting myself for their next project. That’s an example of non-linear inflow because I wasn’t expecting that opportunity to occur! Keep reading below 🙂

**I looked up the company rosters for A24, Annapurna, Focus Features, Neon, Searchlight Pictures, and Sony Pictures Classics. **I looked up Casting Access classes through the SAG-AFTRA Foundation to find classes with my target list of casting directors, casting associates, and casting assistants. **I looked up the agents and managers of certain supporting actors from the films that impacted me over the last five years. **I created an account with my alma mater so that I can connect with like-minded alum, while also making myself available as a resource. Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week!

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Dear Super-Duper Casting Directors!

Chasing The George

Happy SAG Awards weekend! Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners! In today’s blog entry, I continue the journey of achieving my goal of booking supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios like A24, Neon, Focus Features, Sony Pictures Classics, Searchlight Pictures, etc. My latest round of administration (aka action items) was to start getting on the radar of the super-duper, wonderful, and amazing casting directors behind these films!

As I mentioned two weeks ago, I identified and wrote down my favorite/impactful films that were nominated during the 2019 to 2024 awards season (and most of these films were produced and distributed by the above movie studios.) I identified and wrote down the casting directors for those films. I emailed my agent the list of casting directors to see if they have a relationship with them and to put an introduction for me (and forward my communication to them regarding the film(s) they cast.) If they cast these types of films, chances are they will cast similar ones in the future. Keep reading below 🙂

This past week, I created a Google Spreadsheet to type in the names and contact info for these casting directors. In addition, I also typed in the names of the casting associates and casting assistants who were involved in casting these films as well. As a result, my target list grew and I ended up with a total of 73 names! Once I typed everyone’s names into the Google Spreadsheet, I utilized different resources from IMDB Pro to social media to get contact info for them. This took a MINUTE to do, but it was worth it in the end. I had to think of the bigger picture! I ended up getting contact info for 65 people. I will reach out to my relationship map for help on the 8 people I was unable to get contact info for. Keep reading below 🙂

Next, I began drafting my communications. And I knew that these couldn’t be generic and general communications. They had to be specific and authentic about how their casting impacted me. After sending out a few communications this past week, I realized this would take a little longer than expected because of the specificity and personalization of each communication. So, I need to write and send out at least one communication every day to move through this list with intention. Keep reading below 🙂

As I continue sending out communications to each casting team, I’m already thinking ahead to the next round of career administration for this particular 2024 goal. I already highlighted the next section of administration in my Declaration of Independence (business plan) that I want to tackle after I finish sending out these communications. This highlighted section also includes a couple more things to tackle with my list of casting directors so that I can continue getting on their radar and get called in for future films they will be casting.

Am I A Movie Star Yet?!

Chasing The George

Hello, my fellow artists! The adventures of Jorge (“George”) Ortiz continues! Last week, I shared two of my goals for the year. One of my goals was to book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios like A24, Neon, Focus Features, Sony Pictures Classics, Searchlight Pictures, etc. So, am I a movie star yet???? Yes, in my heart, mind, and postulates! Did I become a movie star yet this past week? No! But I’m still a movie star in my heart, mind, and postulates. Keep reading below 🙂

I love film. I originally came out to Los Angeles because I wanted a career in film. Film is in my heart. Film is a medium and process I enjoy. And as I look at the above studios and films they produce and distribute in particular, this is what attracts me to them: These films excite me! They turn me on! They are on another level of artistic excellence and expression. These studios release daring, provocative, left of center, smart, intelligent, imaginative, visceral, impinging films that make people FEEL something. They get people TALKING. These films have incredible creative freedom and license. They break the rules. And at the end of the day, these films are driven by complex human stories, connections, and relationships.

Here’s what I tackled this past week to achieve my goals. I shared my goals with my agent so that they are aware of what I am after this year. I identified and wrote down my favorite/impactful films that were nominated during the 2019 to 2024 awards season. I identified and wrote down the casting directors for those films. I emailed my agent the list of casting directors to see if they have a relationship with them and to put an introduction for me (and forward my communication to them regarding the film(s) they cast.) Keep reading below 🙂

Done. Straightforward administration. Clear. Doable. Fun. One building block and action item at a time. This week, I will continue tackling and checking off the next set of action items for this goal. Also, for this week, I will work on my action items for my second goal of the year: Finish the 1st draft of the “Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. Once that’s done, do a table read, get feedback, and complete additional drafts. Keep reading below :)

Am I movie star yet???? See picture below 🙂

2024, Here We Go!

Chasing The George

I’m back!!! I hope all of you artistic badass warriors are having a great 2024. You may (or may not) be asking yourself, “Why the hell did Jorge (“George”) wait till February to post his first blog entry of 2024?” That’s an excellent question. Keep reading below 🙂

In December 2023, I knew I wanted to revamp my entire Declaration of Independence (aka DOIN, aka business plan) from top to bottom. My DOIN is supposed to be a living document, and I wanted to ensure that I hadn’t allowed it to become stale or something I took for granted. In this new unit of time, what was true for me? What still resonated with me? What do I keep? What do I get rid of? What do I make more specific? Do I change the font to make the words pop more? Keep reading below 🙂

I gave myself a deadline to complete my revamped DOIN by December 31st, 2023: “I MUST have my DOIN revamped and ready to unleash to the world by January 1st!!!!” LOL. I then realized that was unrealistic. Why rush it? Take my time, but be intentional. Let things sink in and digest. My DOIN has to resonate and be alive for me. So, I gave myself permission to keep revamping it during January 2024. I’m glad I did that because I got clear and excited about what I wanted to do this year. And the one area I needed help with was my administration plans (aka action items to achieve my goals.) I had a good foundation, but I knew more was possible. To address this, I had the pleasure of meeting separately with two of my career administration group colleagues (and friends), Lindsay Hopper and Kelly Tighe. They asked me the next question and generated additional ideas for my administration plans. They were an incredible help because the DOIN document was right in my face, so it was a little challenging to step back and see other possibilities with my administration plans. Lindsay and Kelly were powerful outside eyes who helped me see more. The teacher became the student, and I couldn’t be happier 🙂 Keep reading below 🙂

My main goals for this year: 1) Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios like A24, Neon, Focus Features, Sony Pictures Classics, Searchlight Pictures, etc. (And knowing WHY I want to act in films from these companies.) 2) Finish the 1st draft of the “Third Act” feature film script with Kelly. Then, do a table read, get feedback, and complete additional drafts. (I will be doing other things such as scenes in class, but even those will be geared towards supporting the first goal.) Keep reading below 🙂

Join me every week as I take this exciting journey towards these goals. Hopefully, my actions and lessons learned will inspire you as you pursue your own goals. See below picture of me looking forward to 2024 🙂

My Wins Video For 2023!

Chasing The George

Hello, my fellow artists! My final blog entry of 2023 is here, and I’ve made a wins video for 2023. Check out a sampling of my wins below. Over the holiday break, I will be reading a few books and revamping my Declaration Of Independence (aka business plan.) See you all next year! Play video below 🙂

Returning Home From Yellowstone.

Chasing The George

Hello, my fellow artists! My penultimate blog entry of 2023 is here. One more to go after this! My scene from “Yellowstone” went up this past Thursday in the Richard Lawson Studios scene study class…and it went great! It was my first scene back on a stage and as a returning student in the Thursday class (remember, I did a scene from “Beverly Hills Cop 2” on November 7th in Kelly Tighe’s scene study class which takes place over Zoom.) It was a wonderful and solid first take that I am very proud of. My scene partner (Beth Berlin) and I delivered our product. We put in 20 hours of rehearsal into this first take, plus additional hours of our own individual work into this scene. I played Jamie. Beth played Beth 🙂

It felt great to be back on stage. It felt great to articulate what I was working on and to see it manifest and translate on stage. I’m honored to understand and apply an approach and nomenclature. Richard gave me a great assessment that started with how long it had been since I last put up a scene, why I took a break from class, my commitment and belief with acting, and the importance of Plan A vs. Plan B. And it culminated with him saying that he is certain that I am committed to my acting, to class, and to my journey. He then proceeded to assess my work in the scene and how he saw everything that I worked on. He also loved our fight choreography, which made us so thrilled because we worked so hard on it (the repetition of it, understanding the angles and lines of stage fights, why we are fighting, the progression and chapters of this fight, the story of this fight.) He said it was incredibly believable and violent. Richard said many wonderful things to Beth and I during our assessment, and we are excited to do a second take of our scene! Keep reading below 🙂

And going back to how he started his assessment with me, I am thrilled to look at what 2024 is going to be about for me as an artist.

From LA To Yellowstone.

Chasing The George

Hello, my fellow artists! I have a few more blog entries to go before 2023 ends. I can’t wait to end this year with a bang before embarking on a new year of artistic creation and goals. In this week’s blog entry, I wanted to revisit the other scene I’ve been working on for class. My scene partner and I have been rehearsing a scene from “Yellowstone”, and we are putting it up on November 30th! And what makes this different from my “Beverly Hills Cop 2” scene from a couple of weeks ago is that this will be on a stage versus Zoom.

My scene partner and I started rehearsing in the theater space this past Tuesday, and it was exciting. Starting rehearsals over Zoom to transitioning to in-person rehearsals at my scene partner’s home to being in the theater space has been an adjustment of understanding the stage I’m on. The work done on this scene is still present. The foundation is secure. I just had to know and understand how to walk and talk in these different environments. Keep reading below 🙂

For example, when we rehearsed in the theater space, we did paint-by-the-numbers blocking and choreography several times to understand the dimensions of this space, get comfortable with it, make adjustments as needed, and get those adjustments into our bodies. We also got to finally implement some things that could only be done in the theater space. For example, we implemented a long walk that our characters take from the house to the barn. And, in terms of asking the next question, what exactly happens during that walk to the barn? I solidified my sightlines at the top of the scene. I also had to adjust my voice in the theater space to be heard in the back row. I rehearsed with the shoes I’ll be wearing in the scene to see if I would be safe from slipping during any blocking and choreography. The theater space gave us more permission and space to take our characters further. Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week when I share how our scene went!