Meditation

Last week, I attended an open meeting with a commercial agent at the actor’s union (SAG-AFTRA) office. As a Meisner trained actor, I am confident stating listening is a strength of mine. Commercials, however, while they may involve listening or reacting to another actor or situation, are more likely to be a monologue. In every situation an actor must bring herself to the material, let it flow through without pushing, relax, have fun, and ultimately play!

The ‘Casting Access’ opportunity stipulated “bring 30 seconds of commercial copy”, your headshot and resume, oh, and it is not advised to wear flip-flops. They really have to say that; maybe it’s for the L.A. folks. This was to be my very first foray into commercials. Of all the classes in which I have invested, from improv to auditioning for the camera, I now shake my head that so potentially lucrative a field as commercials was overlooked. Commercial acting is … acting, but it is also specific in its technique, and thanks to the Q&A with the agent, there is now a serious value for years of thorough improv training.

Google [personally I utilize blackle.com] knows everything, and with a quickness I found an ice cream commercial that felt right for me, “my type”, the young mom, shall we say. I worked on memorizing it, and the day came for my very first commercial audition, albeit for a commercial agent. As far as I could feel, it went exceedingly well. He was very positive with his feedback, remarking he could see me recalling the memory like we do in real life (the cogs turning so-to-speak), I was warm and brought my organic essence; I felt like I had nailed it. Then, I had to let it go. Doing fantastic makes one levitate with ecstatic satisfaction- you feel validated, like “yeah, I am very good”. In the end, though, in every aspect of life, we have to let it go, move on, because after we do whatever it is we do, there is the next moment in life, and holding on to the past stifles the future.

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I am one of the http://www.PerksOfNature.com

check out the YouTube I recorded a week ago!

Poison Practice

Today, casting inquired my availability to audition: today. “Yes!”was the natural response. One always enthusiastically replies affirmative. At least, this is the habit we cultivate when desiring positive reverberation from Universal Energy to all our own hopes and dreams answered. This audition was specific to redheads … and could I be there by 2:00 pm. Again: “Yes!”.

Quick like a bunny, I hopped in the shower and blow-dried my hair, found my last remaining prepared headshot and resumé [they pleasantly remarked how I was the only one who had come prepared] and off I went into the magic that is Manhattan. Arriving, after discovering the entrance, though listed on Broadway, was truly on 40th … being photographed by security in order to have a barcode printed with my photo so I can to scan my way through the gates to ride the elevator, I land on the 23rd floor to a standing-room-only waiting room full of glorious redheads!

Rocks and leaves

Pleasantly chatting up the male receptionist for approximately half an hour … it was my turn. They were looking to fill five positions for a live event to include: the cowgirl from Toy Story, Lucille Ball, Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman, Wendy from the fast food restaurant, and Poison Ivy. I think every woman instantly wants to be the tall, sexy Pretty Woman, but reality helped me consider the chances of me, at 5’3”, fitting that tall bill … upon re-evaluation, my excitement grew as I realized my long tendrils would be a perfect fit as Poison Ivy. The audition consisted of improvisation, which was immense fun. Sexy, seductive, deadly Poison Ivy. Needless to say, [I forgot to mention, a bird made a tiny poo landing right on me surfacing from the subway] … the audition went splendid! They confirmed my availability both the 16th and the 18th … I am completely available ALL the 18th, however, I am already booked for the 16th … because … I said “Yes!” to another casting director for a show I work on all the time! “Friday is a rehearsal, it is an hour, everyone has to be there, we’ll be making our decision tomorrow” … oh well! It would have been immensely fun to dress up in an amazing Poison Ivy costume. At least I got to practice auditioning!

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http://www.KatrinaPerkins.com