Hi all,
Well, that was a long gap in posts. How are you all doing? It’s Spring Break but I haven’t slowed down at all. It’s crazy that when I’m vacation from the day job, I still have so much to do. I just auditioned for the relaunched Reprise Theatre cast by Michael Donovan Casting. I briefly met Michael when my Acting Business class in college had a commercial presentation at his office. We learned about commercials and got to even try reading copy boards and improvising on-camera. Speaking of commercials, I’ve had several commercial auditions since January but not the past two weeks. I even got to audition for a Google ad. We also sometimes get voiceover requests. The only booking I have gotten in the past few months is background on a Cisco commercial, that I got myself from Actors Access. That’s the only site I usually get auditions from, except those I get through my agent on Casting Networks. I also auditioned for a student film for Mount St. Mary’s University held at Sunset-Gower Studios yesterday. A friend of mine recently had an audition for a series regular and has booked a few co-stars before that. I wish I had his luck. I’m considering using the representation finding service through Actors Access/Breakdowns Express to obtain theatrical representation and a manager. My only manager meeting was not what I wanted. I’m specifically looking for someone who believes in me auditioning for Union projects and doesn’t insist I keep working non-union jobs that don’t have consistent pay, protections, and residuals. I can work a few more non-union projects, but that doesn’t pay the bills. This is in regards to theatrical projects; my commercial auditions are taken care of. I also did a large mailing this week of postcards and three headshots and resumes. I’m doing one last push before Pilot Season ends. I know many people say that a non-theatrically represented non-union person like me has no hope of obtaining a pilot audition, but I don’t care. No famous person ever said they didn’t go for something before they became successful because they weren’t union yet or didn’t have the credits or even the agent. So I have no idea where this attitude came from. And many people mean well when they say it, but it doesn’t help me to place limitations on what I want or tell me it isn’t possible.
I once again auditioned for my favorite outdoor (and sometimes indoor) Shakespeare company and then went to Las Vegas for my birthday. (Happy Birthday to me!) I also recently took an amazing Shakespeare Monologue class with veteran Shakespearean actor, Joseph Culliton, and we had a student showcase last week. And I’m auditioning for the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival on Saturday. I’m bringing my Cordelia.
The weekend after this, I am attending the Supermentors Showrunner Summit hosted by Marc and Elaine Zicree, the founders of The Table of which I’m a member. I am hoping for solid connections and good things to come from it. The showrunners will have me in the same room as them for two whole days straight.
Well, Happy Easter! I need to get back to work. (Or maybe go to the beach.)
Anna Sahlstrom.com 