actors journey – Page 3 – Chasing The George

What The F#@k Was I Doing Again?

December 8, 2024 Chasing The George

LOL Where the f#@k have I been? Did I take an extended LOA (leave of absence)? My reemergence from the depths of hell feel like the opening lyric of Madonna’s single, Like a Virgin: “I made it through the wilderness, somehow I made it through.” Child. Girl. Bitch. Challenges came up that made me process, pivot, and proceed with my life-ing and adulting (although, to be honest, I’ve been life-ing and adulting for a very, very long time…hello!) But this recent spell was different though. This spell literally stopped my career administration in my tracks. I found myself not doing ANYTHING for my career. At one point, I asked myself, “What the f#@k was I doing again?”

Fortunately, I woke up and realized that I needed to reconnect to my career. I needed to administrate my career again. I told myself, “Take one action today, dammit!” LOL. And I did. And it was glorious. The sweet taste of career administration. How I had missed it so! Taking that one action was like drinking a cold, tall glass of water after being in the desert for days. I also read my raison d’être and postulates again. I looked at my goals for 2024 again. I handled the spell I dealt with and things are back on track. Keep reading below 🙂

Kelly and I met recently to continue shaping the second draft of the script for “The Third Act.” We also met with Richard Lawson to get clarity on a story point that stumped us. After meeting with Richard and rewatching the recording, I have clarity about how to proceed with his suggestions. I am excited to take this second draft to the next level with Kelly. Once this second draft is completed, we will coordinate a second table read (which will also be directed in order to further bring these characters to life.) It feels great to be back on track. I also can’t wait to reach out to more feature film directors on my target list to continue that successful line of action. Keep reading below 🙂

To remind everyone again, here are the goals I’m working on for 2024: Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios and 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.

LOL:

Update On My Outreach To Film Directors!

October 13, 2024October 13, 2024 Chasing The George

In my last blog post, I began watching the list of independent feature films I’ve researched that screened at various major film festivals in 2023 and 2024. I’ve also started reaching out to their respective directors to let them know how much their work impacted me and how I would like to work with them in the future. Crafting letters for them has been fun, exciting, and empowering. Three directors have responded so far and thanked me for my communication! I will continue watching the films on my list and send out communications. Keep reading below 🙂

The other cool aspect of watching these films is how much they represent the WHY behind my goal. In my DOIN (Declaration of Independence), I wrote: “Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios like A24, Annapurna, Focus Features, Neon, Searchlight Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, etc. Why? Because 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, 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.” Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week!

Double Whammy Acting & Writing Update!

September 15, 2024 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 we are focusing on BOTH of my goals for 2024: Book supporting roles in feature films produced and distributed by independent or mid-sized studios and 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.

On the acting front, I’ve begun watching the list of independent feature films I’ve researched that screened at various major film festivals in 2023 and 2024, and I’ve started reaching out to their respective directors to let them know how much their work impacted me and how I would like to work with them in the future. Keep reading below 🙂

On the writing front, the Professional Development Program 3.0 Collective just finished designing a lookbook for “The Third Act” feature film script. This upcoming Wednesday, we will comb through the feedback we received from different artists and industry people to decide what we’re keeping and what we’re discarding. As soon as we complete that, Kelly and I will start working on the second draft of the script while the other members of the Collective will start working on the production aspects of the script. Keep reading below 🙂

And some quick, additional wins: I had a great self-tape audition for an untitled HBO series! Also, in my June 30th blog entry, I wrote, “Remember the Sundance course I took during the summer of 2023, where I created a 11-page feature film treatment as a result? I picked it up again on May 31st to continue carving it out. It has since expanded, and I will do a few more read-throughs…” I finished expanding my feature film treatment on July 23rd! The next step is to start writing the script for it!!!! Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week!

Photo by Emily Sandifer Photography.

Directors! Directors! Directors!

August 25, 2024 Chasing The George

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I finished entering the contact information for the directors behind the indie feature films that caught my attention from the 2023 and 2024 film festivals I researched. I have since decided on the first round of movies to watch and the directors to contact afterwards. I feel so excited and empowered. Letters will go out this week and I’ll let you all know how it goes. **One thing about me is that I love writing letters. Once I connect with a particular material, I love letting that person know how their work impacted me.

Acting Goal Updates!

August 4, 2024 Chasing The George

It’s been a MINUTE since my last acting update! So here we go. I finished entering the contact information for the directors behind the indie feature films that caught my attention from the 2023 and 2024 film festivals I researched. I feel so accomplished and empowered. I will now decide on the first round of movies to watch and contact the directors afterwards. **One thing about me is that I love writing letters. Once I connect with a particular material, I love letting that person know how their work impacted me. Keep reading below 🙂

In other fun acting updates, I checked in with my agent to give him some updates and to see how submissions were going. He not only congratulated me on my wins, but also sent me his submissions report. Three days later, he secured me an audition for a co-star role on an Apple TV Plus series. No kidding. Nine days after that, he secured me another audition for a recurring guest star role on an ABC series. (Reach out to your agents and check in with them!) Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week!

Our Table Read Is Coming Up!

June 30, 2024 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 writing goal for 2024: 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.

Emails have been sent out this past Wednesday for our table read on July 14th, and actors have begun accepting our offer to participate! The PDP 3.0 collective is excited to hear these talented actors bring our script to life. The collective will meet this Wednesday to formulate the questions we want to ask the actors after the table read. In the meantime, Kelly and I have been meeting to make cuts to the script. We have cut out 34 pages already! Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week! (P.S. Remember the Sundance course I took during the summer of 2023, where I created a 11-page feature film treatment as a result? I picked it up again on May 31st to continue carving it out. It has since expanded, and I will do a few more read-throughs before I start WRITING the SCRIPT for it!)

Booked A Feature Film, Turned It Down, Still A Win!

June 23, 2024 Chasing The George

Two weeks ago, I shared that I had the opportunity to audition for a feature film! A friend and colleague of mine reached out and said that she was pitching me for a role in a feature film that she was producing and acting in. She sent me the sides and I put myself on tape. I was very happy with the product I created. Well, I booked it! They offered me the role and it was a two-day shoot for my character. I was thrilled and excited to play this role. I asked them if this film was under a SAG-AFTRA contract. Unfortunately, it was not, and I had to decline the offer. I still took my booking as a win and as a step forward toward booking supporting roles in mid-sized and independent movie studios! I’m not disappointed at all. I wished them the best in finalizing their cast with this role and moved on. Keep reading below 🙂

Also, in the last two weeks, I created a spreadsheet listing the directors behind the indie feature films that caught my attention from the 2023 and 2024 film festivals I researched. I will start looking up and entering their contact info into the spreadsheet (and I’ll play my Madonna playlist on Spotify to be my motivating soundtrack while I do this!) FYI, I still don’t have the 2024 feature film lineup from Telluride and Toronto, and here’s why: Telluride keeps its lineup secret until the day of the festival, and Toronto will reveal its lineup on August 13th. Keep reading below:)

See you all next week!

A24, Can You Hear Me?

June 9, 2024 Chasing The George

In my last acting update, I looked at opening up the aperture to bigger studios. I realized it could be that role in a Universal Studios, Warner Bros., or Netflix feature film that creates the pathway to booking roles with A24, Focus Features, Searchlight, etc. And since my last acting update, I had the opportunity to audition for a feature film! A friend and colleague of mine reached out and said that she was pitching me for a role in a feature film that she was producing and acting in. She sent me the sides and I put myself on tape. I was very happy with the product I created. Keep reading below 🙂

I looked through my DOIN (Declaration of Independence) and I’m ready to tackle the next round of administration for my acting goal. If you all remember, I researched indie directors and producers whose feature films screened at the 2023 and 2024 Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Tribeca, Telluride, and Toronto film festivals (I still need to research this year’s Telluride and Toronto film festivals.) I made a list of the films that caught my attention and I will now reach out to the directors behind these films. Wish me luck! Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week!

Am I A Movie Star Yet? The Sequel.

May 19, 2024 Chasing The George

I’m still at it! Since my last update, I have continued outflowing support to my relationship map. I also researched the 2024 feature film lineup at Cannes and Tribeca (I will finish my research with the 2024 feature film lineups for Telluride and Toronto.) During this meticulous research, I came across three names I recognized and reached out to them to offer congratulations. I’m looking at these specific film festivals 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 a mid-sized or independent movie studio or will acquire a distribution deal with them after they screen. Through my research, I 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 and producers behind these films? Who are the casting directors behind these films? How can I outflow to them in a supportive and professional way? I’ve also researched more SAG-AFTRA Foundation Casting Access classes to find classes with my target list of casting directors. Keep reading below 🙂

In assessing my year so far, I am adding a few more things to my DOIN for my acting goal (including a friend’s idea that I write my own film in the style of a mid-sized/independent movie studio and cast myself in it.) I also looked at opening up the aperture to bigger studios. I realized it could be that role in a Universal Studios, Warner Bros., or Netflix feature film that creates the pathway to booking roles with A24, Focus Features, Searchlight, etc. Keep reading below 🙂

See you all next week!

Where Them Wins At?!

April 28, 2024May 18, 2024 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, Telluride, and Toronto film festivals. I also researched the 2024 feature film lineup for Sundance and SXSW (I still need to research the 2024 lineup for the remaining four film festivals on my list: Cannes, Tribeca, Telluride, and Toronto.) **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!