And by that, I mean none of the characters I've played have died onscreen. Which is kind of a feat considering the fact that it "just wasn't a UCSB play if Alexia didn't die in it". Okay, maybe that's not a fact, but a widely-upheld opinion. I died (off-stage and on-stage) exactly 5 1/2 times in shows at UCSB, and you can tack on another 2 for scenes. Oh, the '1/2' is for Winter Fruit as Persephone. We decided I was half-dead when I came back from Hades.
As a result, I pretty much could put "dying" as a special skill.
But as much fun as being limp and bloody, taking pills, and stabbing myself was...I kinda really missed comedy. And after a few years of putting it on the back-burner, it's starting to look like that's where I'm headin'.
So a few week ago, I did this improv pilot sizzle reel in Joshua Tree for the same people who did the one in New York. It's funny, because every time I go into an improv-based scene, I always have this tiny panicky feeling of "What if I forget how to be funny?". Like, what if I just suck and can't do it? A lot of people say it's like riding a bike, but what if suddenly the bike becomes a unicycle or is lit on fire? I don't know how to ride a bike that's on fire.
But like improv does to me every time, I get the weird panicky feeling and then do it...and then after, I wish I could just do that for the rest of my life.
I wonder if there's some sort of adrenaline high from that? Like a milder form of skydiving. Okay, like a waaaaay milder form of skydiving.
Anyway, it was a really fun shoot, and I should've eaten something before wearing a corset/full on western pioneer gear in a 90+ degree desert.
But on the shoot, I met this guy who had done a couple things with John and Nancy before and was playing opposite John's character in this reel. Super nice and is in the main company at the Groundlings. And he was nice enough to recommend me to his manager, which was ridiculously kind of him.
So I e-mail him my information, and a few days later hear back from him and his manager, who wanted to meet with me before he left for New York. I was kinda stoked. It looked like he was dealing with a lot of comedy-type actors/writers, and especially one from MADtv that I grew up watching.
And straight off the bat, he sends me an audition for a pilot for Nick at Night. Without even meeting with him. Which is kinda hilarious, because I had seen the second e-mail he had sent about it while I had a quick break on set, and thought he meant to send the e-mail to the two characters that were in the name of the pilot...durrr. 40 Points from Hufflepuff.
I went to the audition a few days later, and did my thing. And didn't suck, which I think is important.
And then from there went to meet with him for coffee.
And it all seemed to really mesh well. Like, I had gotten a huge fall in my stomach when I talked to that other manager (re: douchetastic controling-boyfriend man) and got really panicky when I had to talk to him again. But this guy was really chill and calm, but really seemed to know what he could see me playing and what direction he wanted me to go in. And it wasn't dramatic HBO shows. Douche-master had said to me: "There aren't any roles for you in comedy. I can give you the breakdowns myself, there's nothing for someone of your type." While this guy straight up said the complete opposite: that he thought I was exactly what people were looking for.
It's funny because I was almost hesitant to look into a manager because of the last guy, thinking every manager was just going to try to suck my soul out. And I happened to find someone who seems to kinda want to put my career somewhere I actually want it to go. Sans crying, probably partially naked, on HBO.
And after just triple-checking to make sure everything checked out, I now officially have a manager.
Which I think is exactly what I need at this point.
Awkwardly enough, though, he left to go to NY for a week after we met (but said we'd get the ball rolling when he came back)...and then after pushing it back and rescheduling my trip to visit the family (and a really sad e-mail from my mom...YOU CAN'T SAY NO TO A SAD E-MAIL FROM YOUR MOTHER), I told him I had to go back home for a few days.
Is it weird that I feel bad about that? I actually felt uneasy writing and sending the e-mail. Like he'd suddenly decide that because I left, I must've not cared about my career...
I think I really might be a workaholic.
Although I do wish I could've gone home at a better time...I think my mom would've actually been pissed if I didn't come home this time. Oh look, my first family vs career moment.
I guess it's a good thing I haven't had time to go home...right? Or is it weird that I think that's a good thing.
Anyway, at the same time all of this was happening, I just wrapped the bigger project I've been working on for the last few weeks: 1 CHANCE....2 DANCE.
Okay, it's just 1 Chance 2 Dance...but I wrote it out how I usually say it to people.
It's a teen dance movie where I get to play a theater-enthusiast, red head mean girl. Which is fun-tsatic, by the way. Who knew being mean could be so entertaining?...okay, not in real life, but....you know what I mean.
It was a super chill cast/crew environment: never felt stressed out about anything, never felt weird or awkward being there. Super fun group of people. And I can't wait to see how it all comes together.
Someone told me they might try to sell it to someone like ABC family, which. Would kind of be ridiculously awesome. We'll see what happens. Like all films, this one's not going to be finished for another half a year, most likely.
But the last day was probably the best day.
I don't think I can say anything about the plot because I think that's illegal...but my character has a house party with a theme that involves our independence day...in April.
It was my 1 CHANCE 2 DANCE...and probably my last.
Now, pretty much EVERYONE dances in this movie. I don't know how I got lucky enough to not have to do any, since my character happens to be a theater kid. So I knew I had to make it count.
So the scene comes, and I have two guys who definitely do not know what they've signed up for. That's right. My character gets to dance with two guys at once. I mean...it is her party.
One of them asks me if they can put his hands on my hips. Which makes me wonder if I should've asked them permission for what I had planned....uh. Too late.
And they call action: my dance was the worst/best mixture of old people crunking, the stereotypical "white girl rhythm" (google it), a few hairography moves, and a tiny american flag I used as a dancing prop.
I think the two guys might've been under the impression that I was actually going to dance like a normal slutty person. They must've been a little confused, but mostly scared to dance with anyone ever again.
Honestly, if I could do that stuff the rest of my life...I wouldn't be a sad camper.
Right now, the writing bug decided to bite again, and I'm trying to write out a full episode of this webseries/TV show idea that I think with the right people, could be really fucking good. So if anyone's around this summer with some extra free time...let me know.
Let's film shit.
