Greatest Week

This was the first week I was paid to work full-time on-set. Hugh Jackman is starring and producing a biopic of P.T. Barnum, a passion project long in the works, titled “The Greatest Showman”.  By far the best production I have ever been a part of, both because of the entertainment level of the movie and the kindness of the crew. The songs are incredible, one better than the next, written by two of the composers from award winning “LaLa Land” (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul) with splendid dance numbers (I only know the choreographer as Ashley, he is amazing!).

http://www.PerksOfNature.com

From the fitting a month ago, where the wardrobe department dressed me three different options, to the first day of filming this past Monday, even with a 3:30 am wake-up to begin filming at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, I have been completely enthralled. This energized and colorful movie set in the 1860’s feels like it is going to be the Christmas blockbuster of 2017. I have never encountered such a kind and truly generous leading man as Hugh Jackman. He handed out lotto scratch off cards to the crew Friday morning, upon introduction – hugged their friends and family visiting the setup, and hired an Italian sausage food truck for the final late night of the week, too. No wonder the production feels so happy and work proceeds with ease, even on perpetual 14 hour days.

The inspiration from the beautiful, uplifting, strong songs, seeing the unrelenting happiness and work ethic of the main man, and the collaboration of many talented artists to create this masterpiece goes without compare. What a powerful way to begin this new year. Two weeks in and it is a blessing I am grateful to have experienced this motivating force of art that emboldens one to continue recent endeavors, to push for more achievements, and to dream even bigger with the belief that enough hard work, perseverance, and patience, can, and will make all dreams true. Everyone starts somewhere; everyone is inspired by someone. I am a very thankful woman; may I grow ever more so throughout the year.

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I am one of the Perks Of Nature

Be a part of growing me on the star-meter at IMDb.com 

Source of Sunshine

I have plants surrounding where I sit.  Basil, oregano, chard, they grow towards the light.  I turn their pots, they stretch to straighten, to lean in the other direction, always toward the source of Sunshine. Human beings can be this way, too. We gravitate toward happy people, we soak up their good vibrations.

Personally, I know I will not call or meet with someone specifically if I know I don’t have a high frequency, am not feeling well enough to deflect or ward off their bad joujou and keep my own essence positively strong. This is important. There are enough negative energies bombarding us, from the outside world, and even more so sometimes from the inside. The self-defeating thoughts our brains can torment and torture us with is as bad as cutting or bulimia. Moving, stretching ourselves toward the inner Light we are all capable of creating is powerfully rewarding.

This year has thrown a lot of intimate, terrible yuck at my heart, and this has made my head exceedingly defeatist. I certainly wished for the pain to stop, sobbing and begging many times to no avail. Sleep eluded/eludes me, still, though this has gotten better with daily exercise again (when I am focused and allow life to be the imperfection it must) and a natural stress-free sleep combo from the Whole Foods Market. Sleep and exercise, dormancy and challenge, these are what makes Life.

A lot of accomplishments have occurred, too, though those are not as easy to dwell upon, but they can be. I learned I can memorize well and quickly, thus that is no longer a fear. I was shown I can audition and get a callback, when I go and have Fun, because Fun is part of the Light, and everyone wants to be comfortably warm and smiling. I laughed at myself, and still do, with many others also laughing at themselves and the challenge of learning choreography. To be challenged is part of living. All beings yearn and strive to be whole, to be well, this is our natural homeostasis, to grow and be healthy and shining with confident eudaemonia.

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see my StarMeter rise on the  International Movie Database

http://www.PerksOfNature.com

Mirth Worthy

Moments of inspiration, respiration, perspiration, they come in and out of life.  When a person is born, we celebrate.  When a person dies, we mourn.  A celebration

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of the life they shared with us and the world is a productive, optimistic, motivating choice. I wholly empathize, and cry hard, to the point of nausea, when a close loved one croaks.  All that morose feelings, though, is for me, my regrets for not seeing them that one last time, hurt I did not soak up every opportunity with them because my “life”, and appointments, and commitments got in my own way. Excuses.

Our loved ones know we love them, they know this because we spent loving time and shared deep unexplainable connections, over countless moments together. To have regrets, the pain is deep. A pain unalterable, all we can do is allow, and let go. How easy it is, two simple, short words, to say: Let go, of all we wish had happened, would happen. How brief this life is, and how peaceful we can choose to breathe. Or to heave, with sobbing thrusts, when all is truly out of our little control. Control, like time, and money, are, in fact, illusions. Death commands: Relinquish.

This year has proven a grand reminder, to live in this moment, this present before me NOW. To breathe deeply, in and out, to seek ways to calm myself and care for this little being, channeling the most energetic essence, that is me. Many times, folks have told me I have to take care of myself, and those too are easy, valuable words. Figuring out HOW to care for myself, when life has thrown much seriousness to deal with onto the playing board, I try to … PLAY. As a wooer of words, I adore looking up synonyms. My favorite for months has been

PLAYFUL [adj] funny, fun-loving: coltish, flirtatious, frisky, jaunty, jesting, jocund, mirthful, rollicking, snappy, vivacious, whimsical, and zippy.

Simply typing these words has spanned a smile wide across my face. May mirth rollick into you day in many ways.  It’s all worthy.

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www.PerksOfNature.com

This Monday 10/10 I am enthralled to be a guest on BBox internet radio!  Have a listen from 1-3pm EST!!

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

 

Mis.CON-ception

KatrinaPerkins.com

One day last week two people, at independent times, asked me if I “went to work today” or stated with a tone of accusation “you don’t work every day do you?!”  NewsFlash: I Do in fact Work *every* day- I work for Katrina Perkins, Inc.  Simply because I may not leave the home office space to work on-set, just because I may not have an appointment, interview, or audition to prepare for and get to, every single day I am still (shocking!) working: follow-ups, marketing, and yes, even networking. These are only a few of the elements that must be built up and combined in order to get to and enjoy the fun bits I work to increase: moments to actually act.

To limit “work” to what is defined by leaving/going to an office is a misconception of those who work for others. Rather than investing their best energy toward achieving their own dreams and putting words to what they might silently wish to achieve, many people slave as an employee for another- to achieve the goals of someone else, and miss out on knowing what is required to work, and be successful, for oneself. There is banking, contracts, emails (writing takes time people! To craft these words!?!), memorizing, researching and reaching out to connect with new people and create the potential for future possible opportunities. If I were to not make phone calls and send emails, to reach out to make new relationships, how would my business grow?

I took offense to the tone of accusation, and this, I realize represents an aspect within myself that because I reacted to it, there is some actual issue for me. Being my own Boss is hard. Staying focused and motivated and figuring out what the heck to do day by day- these are the tribulations of *successfully* working for oneself. I am responsible for wins, and the opposite side of that coin, I am also at fault when the business seems to have plateaued. Brainstorming at the rise of each day has become a focused productive solution. Consistency is a concept still to be mastered.

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www.KatrinaPerkins.com

regarding the previous post :  YouTube

Business Adventure!

Business must progress in order to remain viable attain growth. Therefore, 2016 will bring the addition of Vlogging to the enterprise of Katrina Perkins, Inc. Management has suggested this for some time, and finally, it shall be implemented; the video is scheduled to drop on YouTube the final Friday of the month. Now… I have decided on a topic: Five Things I wish I Knew (Before I began working background), next is to record the video, then edit, and finally set it free upon the internet!

This is splendid practice on several levels. 1. Choosing a topic (I am challenged when it comes to finalizing a choice, it’s the Libra in me only possibly). 2. Dissecting with intent realistic, weekly goals in order to achieve this monthly project consistently. 3. Recording myself (I am self-critical and have a silly belief I must look perfect, everything must sound perfect, and the ideas I string together must be perfectly understandable). 4. Editing! I have never edited video before, and this might turn out to be easier to learn than I anticipate, which is what I hope! 5. FREE me up to Doing something and Allowing it to BE! I am excited to be undertaking this endeavor, many other humans are capable and I too shall succeed!

This new year is only a week in and many good moments are opening up to me. A regular yoga practice has helped (I was off for a bit, and am now back Om haha) AND I have taken up meditation, at the same yoga studio, which has ben truly beautiful. It is a chakra balancing meditation which lasts about 45 minutes weekly and the energy is sublime; peaceful, centering, vitalizing, uplifting, and I feel stronger, too. Every new beginning has it’s wobbles, but perseverance and consistency bolster any adventure!

 

www.KatrinaPerkins.com  see my rising StarMeter on the IMDb icon too!

Shower the People . . .

. . . You Love with Love.  A dear friend, who happens to live across the globe, and whom I have yet set eyes on in person, sent me a most thoughtfully artistic gift.  As ‘pen pals’ we communicate through this delightful invention termed “The Internet”.  He consistently brings me laughter and smiles with his blog BlueFishWay and we have a running callback of having breakfast together each morning- a goal I hope one day to realize in the flesh!

In this life that is all too brief, one leaf on a tree in a forrest but for a season, it delights me much to have found friends who believe and support creative efforts.  It is a pleasure to applaud them, as well. We each have a voice, and this is recently reminded to me as I am in the midst of listening to a powerful audiobook, for perhaps the second or third time, “The War of Art” by S. Pressfield.  It is important to remember that the act of creating is selfLess.  The actor/writer/photographer creates to serve The Muse.  So many strive to create, to bring life and inspiration through art and its platform to bring clarity and beauty into the life of another human. Write the stories You want to read and watch . . . this is what occurred to me when viewing a movie I had once, in another chapter of my life, enjoyed.

Still I feasted visually on the location: Ireland.  However, the trite pursuit of a woman to wed, left me rolling my eyes skyward, and wishing for more stories of Women of Courage.  Throughout history many strong females existed, at the forefront of change and perseverance – Pocahontas, Debra Sampson, Elizabeth Blackwell, Annie Oakley, Annie Sullivan, and Amelia Earhart – are a mere half dozen.  This comes on the heals of a one woman play I am currently rehearsing which features these daring and brave women. Respected, admired, and inspired by true actions, these are the traits I seek in a Hero – someone to love.  Courage is a twinkle, a star that makes others smile and breathe deeply.  Thank you, to all who inspire themselves, fore YOU inspire me!

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www.KatrinaPerkins.com

With/out

After writing the entire blog, uploading a photo, and clicking ‘insert into post’ … POOF! away went the words and ugh, and now … about what am I to communicate?  Knowing, from previous akin events that for safety, I should have typed all this up in a document and finally pasted it in: I feel a fool. One easily frustrated at that, who then quickly closes the window [sigh] completely loosing any hope for ‘undo’. On the good side, you are all saved from reading a rant on iPhone vs. Android and the non-turn-on-able phone I have been with/out for the last week- Yeah, a whole week.  Considering this is my business lifeline, the freakout was considerable, at the start, especially because the contract is not up for renewal until I celebrate a birthday in 3.5 months, but then my marvelous mother [with the assist by my generous brother Austin] sent me a replacement battery.

Hallelujah to the Universe in all infinite energy!  Salvation has arrived [albeit three days later than scheduled thanks to the U.S. Post], but I am saved (from the shackle-less-ness-of-not-having-a-phone?)! Fingers crossed that this simple battery is the fix … and it was!  The Peace made and more easily maintained [surprise!] than expected throughout the past week’s stresses was immediately replaced with rapture for [WOOHOOOO!] once again being technologically linked instantaneously to every social connection . . . soon to be overwhelmed by the belabored, immediate influx of the finally received texts, emails, WordPress updates, oi Oi OI!  It was so funny going back to sending emails and remembering a time, not so long ago, when email was the quick way to connect, now replaced by the [sometimes] most rapid text message.

I am grateful to be back in business, and cannot believe the week has passed.  It was rather quiet 🙂 and that was nice for a change. However, back to the complete beck-and-call availability to all, casting, manager, and agent alike.  Thank you for the moment of/and return from technological solitude.

Please do weigh in, if you have an opinion, on the iPhone vs. Android query.  I would love to read and learn more than research has revealed.

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www.KatrinaPerkins.com

p.s. 01:42 the next day = 21:42 the night before

Standing on One’s Head

An “unlimited” monthly pass to the Yoga studio around the corner has inspired more and deeper breathing in me.  Normally (realistically) this is not in my budget, yet the festival I am performing in deserves to showcase me at my most relaxed and focused.  My usual practice includes Yoga DVDs, and honestly, lacks consistency, because although it should be as simple as roll out a yoga mat and start stretching, somehow the act of vacuuming impedes my dedication.  Perfectionism gets in my way.  Things needing to be just so holds me back from doing things that are just enough.

When I took acting classes with D.W. Brown at the Baron/Brown Studio in Santa Monica, California, I came to realize by carving out time to practice an hour of Yoga prior, the scenes I was in were more consistently in the moment and relaxed.  Coincidence (noun) = a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance.  “Apparently” is the optimum word. One moment affects the next, and so on throughout existence.  I certainly feel more clear and focused, and certainly breathing more since last Monday when I began ‘knocking myself out’ with unlimited Yoga – up to number five today!

Friday, I did a headstand.  Technically, I did two headstands, because I fell out of the first, very brief, one and while others in the class were still in their pose (one person in Headstand 2!! – a variation on the already challenging) I had enough time to attempt a second.  I had more difficulty getting back into the headstand the second go, because, as the instructor said, I was too excited. “Take a breath, calm down, focus” and up I went.  One might think a strong head is required for this pose, however, as I learned a strong core is necessary, and today (I did another headstand AND this time held it for even longer!) I realized strength in the shoulders helps, too, because that is truly where the weight is placed.  NOW, off to Tech Rehearsal for opening night Wednesday!

May you feel beautiful, listen lovingly, and be determined!

“The Light in me bows to the Light in you.”

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www.KatrinaPerkins.com