Matt's Just Being Honest

Got a message from a random person named Matt today. The subject, "You're Beautiful."

I saw the Haunting At Winchester the other night and although I did not find the movie that great, I enjoyed your performance, especially the end, that was a nice twist.

Thanks Matt. :)

A Very Stuggling Actress Day

Yesterday, I went to my new waitressing gig, having to ask a coworker to close for me because, yay! I had an audition. Worked, changed, and then drove to my audition in Beverly Hills. It was for Match.com, which, is such a huge bummer, because I thought their commercials featured REAL couples! It's all a sham! And I love that website! I was on it. I always tell people to join it. They should pay me anyways, but at any rate...
The commercial audition had us paired up. I sat next to a guy I started talking with, and it turns out he went to my alma mater as well, graduating 2 years after me. We hit it off a bit and talked, and then when the casting director paired me up with someone else, I immediately thought, "I should ask if I could do it with this guy!" But I didn't. And man, I wish I had. Lesson learned: This is my audition, and if I want to pair off with someone else, they're not gonna give two shits. And our audition would have been awesome, as we were near the same height and already had a lot in common.
Instead, I was paired off with New Actor.
New Actor was obviously not hetero. Obviously not. I dated a gay for two years, so I know (now). New Actor was also much taller than me, which meant I had to crane my neck up to look at him, which is probably not my most flattering angle.
And New Actor was adorable, because after we had slated, or, said both our names for the camera recording our audition, the casting director said to him, "Profiles." That means you turn 45 degrees to show the profile of your face, on both sides. But he, bless him, started talking about how he liked hiking and was really outdoorsy. Cute!
The audition had us pretend we were together for two years, talking to the camera what attracted us to the other's profile when we were on match.com, and then had us pretend that we were meeting for the first time, and then switching back to our two year old relationship, joking and laughing, and then pretending we were at the end of our first date and showing how we really liked each other, and then dancing together.
Commercial auditions are so bizarre. Especially when you have to have a partner, but lesson learned: I can partner up with whomever I want.
You learn something new everyday!

After the audition, I drove alllllll the way up to Northridge to have the hair/makeup artist look at my hair to see if she needed to dye it so that I would match the character I was playing on "Untitled Post Partum" series. I have three different highlights in my hair, thanks to being an Artease hair model (thanks Ash!) that did not match Shelly's look. (I had referred to her as Shelby in earlier posts. Whoops.) So we dyed my hair.  Bye bye highlights. I'll miss you. I'll get them back once we're done filming; the hair/makeup artist will put them back in, they just won't be the same colors or applied the same innovative way, which makes me shed a bit of a tear. Sniff. Sniff.

I then get home and am exhausted. But when I check my email, I see that I have a print audition for the next day.

It all feels pretty awesome right now.

Booked It!

Seriously, the next time you are watching TLC or Lifetime, or Discovery Health, and it's a recreated events show, look for me. I'm all over the place.

Booked Untitled Post Partum Series! Hooray!

The Things We Go Out For

Or rather, I can't go out for this, as they have also printed in bold:

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT if you have appeared on Mystery ER, I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant or Twins By Surprise.

LARA
Late 20s- early 30s. CAUCASIAN. Shoulder-length dark brown hair. While her kids are making a craft project, Lara steps away for a brief moment to check on dinner. Her youngest daughter, Caylyn, puts a little foam heart into her mouth and begins to choke. When Caylyn begins to spit up blood, Lara rushes her to the ER with the family in tow. The doctors release her after deciding that the foam heart is just in her stomach cavity and will likely pass through her system. A few months later, Caylyn becomes sick with a cold and doesn't seem to improve. Caylyn is put on many medications and diagnosed with several conditions. After getting many opinions from several doctors, Caylyn is admitted to a children's hospital where it is discovered that an infection has been growing on the foam heart for months. The infection leaves Caylyn in a very touch-and-go state for a few hours, but she is finally stabilized and eventually released. Lara is thrilled to finally have her healthy baby back.

Keep on Keeping On

Sometimes, when I feel a little stagnant in my career, I'll schedule some free photoshoots,
peruse The Agency Book and research agencies I want to submit to, and troll Craig's List's Talent Gigs to see what I can find.

I got an email the other day from someone I don't know with the subject, "Well, well!"

Lira,

We checked out a movie last night called THE HAUNTING OF WINCHESTER MANSION (or something like that) and low and behold, who's the lead? I saw you and was like, I totally recognize that girl. Give me the DVD case! Looked at the back and indeed it was you. I imagine you've been in several more feature films, but this is the first I've seen. Congratulations to you!

You submitted your info for a short film of mine a couple of years ago. I saved your info for future projects. I have two feature scripts in development right now, one set to go next year. Shooting in Colorado or Alaska if the budget allows. Right now the budget is looking around five million. Would be my first big writing/directing gig. There might be a role in it that's good for you. I'd be happy to put in a good word if you're interested (logline below). In the meantime, I'm always working on short projects on the side. Just enjoy doing it. If you're ever up for working on another short film, just let me know.

He had attached the original Craig's List email I had sent him. From June 10, 2007.

Keep on keeping on, my friends. You never know. If you haven't booked a series regular on a pilot, or the lead in a film, all it means is that the role you're absolutely perfect for hasn't arrived yet. But in the meantime, make friends, meet people, and train, train, train, so that when it comes along, you WILL be ready.
Keep on keeping on.

Models Don't Eat

But I rarely model, so I can eat when I'm hungry!

I stumbled upon the most amazing food blog ever. Here is only one recipe I cut and pasted, so imagine how many other incredible tasty items are on there as well. No, wait, don't imagine, just go! Stacey, thank you! You are awesome! Now go to her blog and thank her for your happy tummy.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Coconut Lemon Cake

My friend Cathy at Noble Pig is a great baker and her boys requested this cake.
Well, my husband requested a coconut cake, so this fit the bill. Don't all boys love coconut?

This was a very moist, dense and sweet cake. Good enough for a birthday!

Thanks Cathy, for posting another great recipe.

Coconut-Lemon Loaf
Adapted from Family Fun

1 cup granulated sugar
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 Tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1-1/2 Tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon extract (I used lemon juice instead of extract)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (2 ounces) sweetened flaked coconut

Coconut-Lemon Glaze

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon melted butter
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
1/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, butter, oil, lemon zest, lemon extract, vanilla extract and milk.

In a small bowl, whisk eggs and buttermilk until evenly blended.

With a wooden spoon, stir about a third of the flour mixture into the sugar mixture, then alternately add half of the egg mixture and half of the flour mixture, stirring after each addition just enough to blend. Stir in coconut.

Pour batter into a 9 x 5 loaf pan lined with parchment paper (or greased and floured). Place in a 350 degree oven on the center rack for about 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

When it comes out of the oven place pan on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes before removing the loaf from the pan.



While it's cooling, make the glaze.



For the glaze, combine confectioner's sugar, lemon juice, butter and lemon extract. Whisk to blend. The glaze should have the consistency of heavy cream. If needed, add more sugar to thicken it or more lemon juice to thin it.



When the bread has cooled, spoon the glaze evenly over the bread and immediately sprinkle the coconut over the top.

Purgatory

I went to an audition last week when it was still raining. I was auditioning for "Untitled Post Partum Series." If it's a recreated events show, I've got a good chance, as you might have seen me on such classic re-created event shows as, "What Should You Do?", "Unsolved Mysteries of the ER," "America's Most Wanted," and "Twins By Surprise."

I went out for "Shelby," a woman suffering from, you guessed it, Post-Partum Disorder. And since it's a recreated events show, I have to look like Shelby, a real person. Here she is.


















Now, I don't look like Shelby at all. ANYMORE, but I swear to god, I SHOULD'VE grown up to look like her. Here is me at 14!
Aren't I adorable? Those teeth are pushed forward so much that I can't actually close my lips around them. They always stuck out. But look at my glasses. They are the exact same ones Shelby is wearing!

I got a call from the casting director last night that they loved me and was one of their top picks, that they sent my tape to network and they'd like to put me on "avail."

Being on avail means that I have not technically booked anything yet, because if they literally say "booked" it, then they have to pay me. So they make sure I know the dates I would be needed. Now, because they didn't tell me I was their first pick, I'm assuming that I'm second or third, so that just in case their first pick and second pick can't get off work, or book something else, or get sick, or run over, they still have one more actress for the dates available, and production won't be postponed or move, costing them lots of money.

As my good friend JenIsIris knows, being on avail is kind of a drag. She was on avail for like, 7 commercials this year, all of which she was released from. It's a game struggling actresses play, called "Imagine What I Could Do With All That Money!" Like pay off credit cards, take more classes, update my headshots, take a few casting director workshops! That kind of thing.

But I'm not holding my breath. It's the reason I didn't post the original audition notice when I got it. I didn't think I was going to get it. I still don't. I just love that picture of me at 14 and wanted to share it.

Bring in DaNoise, Bring in DaFont

Hey Guys!

I don't know about you, but I get lots of compliments on my name on my resume.
1) because it's an unusual name. (not Lisa, gosh darn it!)
2) I messed around with fonts and put on some embossing and shadow so my name stands out. It's pretty.

But look! A wesbite FILLED with FREE FONTS! and there's like, millions of them! Go nuts! Go play! Go have fun!

Little Birdies!

Shhhh!!!!!!

If you're quiet, you can hear the little birdies....


I was just told by a very good source that Schuller Talent is accepting submissions and looking for new talent.

Kim Matuka
Schuller Talent
9107 Wilshire Blvd
Suite 600
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

enclose a cover letter, your headshot and resume, and links to your reel!

Best of luck!

If You Can't Afford to Rent a Casting Studio for $15/hour

Then you can't afford me. I mean, I know the economy has gone to pot, but it's just unsafe and unwise to audition for anything anywhere other than a casting studio or theatre. But hey, A+ for trying. I wish your project lots of success.

Project: Gorgeous on Sunset Casting Director: Jay Ellis

FLOOR DIRECTOR Twenties or Early Thirties, normal height and weight, sexy and charismatic, natural acting style, some fashion industry knowledge and enthusiasm helpful, entertainment business savvy and highly motivated to succeed. Either gender and all ethnicities welcome.

Notes:
Thank you for your submission to Gorgeous On Sunset. You are part of a small group of finalists from a field of over 1,000 submissions. Your audition will be held at Taix French Restaurant in Echo Park, at 1911 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026. The nearest major intersection is Glendale Blvd.
Parking –
Please park on the nearby small streets north of the Restaurant to avoid Valet Parking Fees - on Reservoir Street or probably better on Liberty Street. It’s about a 200’ walk away.
Sign-in and Waiting –
Once inside the restaurant, please sign in and wait to be called in a small area on the other side of a brick partition wall near the reception area. This small area has several seats at tables. The area is recognizable because it has a small fireplace and a circular ceiling light fixture.
Your Turn –
We realize your schedule may be tight. With very few exceptions, you will be auditioned in the order that you arrive, except in some instances where time slots are precisely arranged. We will keep order in the process to minimize your wait. IMPORTANT NOTICE –Re Floor Director Role Actors = Priority will be given to those actors who have affirmed their interest in the Real Expanded Production Position.
Complimentary Beverage and Food Service, Plus Meal Discounts –
We will provide complimentary coffee and some food for your enjoyment while you wait. For those of you who wish to dine at Taix French Restaurant, you will find the menu is superb and the pricing is surprisingly affordable. Furthermore, we will pay you five dollars cash toward your check for amounts over $10, and ten dollars cash for amounts over $20.
Short Notice -
We apologize for any inconvenience in the event this audition scheduling is short notice for you. Actually, our schedule is quite open, so please Cmail us to request a change in your time, and even if you cannot reach us, please arrive at a later time. We will sign you in and audition you as soon as possible.
No Sides Needed –
No sides are needed because the Host and Floor Director roles will be improvised at the audition in keeping with the partly unscripted nature of our show’s main content, which will consist of interviewing fashion designers. Basically, you’ll be auditioned in pairs and take turn interviewing each other. Guests will appear on the show and talk about the fashion they and their models are wearing. Floor Directors will improvise directing crew and hosts. We’ll get a clear idea of your talents from this format.
Attire –
Don’t worry a bit about wearing “fashion” to this audition. If you want to dress up, please do, but we’re going to be impressed with your talent, not your wardrobe. Let’s have fun. Let’s Make History! Thanks!!

YOU HAVE MARKED YOURSELF AS UNAVAILABLE FOR THIS APPOINTMENT