Oh dear...

Warning: not for the easily offended...Be sure to watch to the end...

Two New Demos!

A BIG thank you to Mr. David Makepeace for producing these demos. Enjoy!

Film Demo

Produced by David Makepeace of First Generation Reels. Featuring work from Hold Your Horses Studios' "Nothing And The Kitchen Sink" directed by Michael Fong, and produced by Kat Klein, "The Continuing Adventures of Suzie Citizen" directed by Suzanne Gallant and produced by Wildrun Productions, "Just Dans" directed by Erin J. Walker and produced by Sekla Carruthers, "Out Of Order" directed by Rachel Matthews and produced by Zach MacDonald and Cancelproof's "Corpses" directed by Ryan Keller.

Commercial Demo

Produced by David Makepeace of First Generation Reels. Featuring "Hold it" produced for MoFilm by Mediaterian Productions and directed by Rob Shaw, "New Undies" directed by Rob Shaw, "The Continuing Adventures of Suzie Citizen" directed by Suzanne Gallant and produced by Wildrun Productions, "Just Dans" directed by Erin J. Walker and produced by Sekla Carruthers and Space Channel's "Slasher Mondays" directed by Daragh Sankey.

You're All Gonna Laugh At Me...

Goodbye Hollywood! (for now...)

I'm back in Toronto, but there are talks of mounting Dairy-Free Love on Theater Row in Hollywood next winter (more details to come) so there may be another trip on the horizon...  Now that I'm home, its full-speed ahead with the upcoming London and Hamilton Fringe runs of the play, but before I get down to work, here's a recap of the last leg of Hollywood Adventure '12.

The stage at The New Collective LA where I was training and working on material for Dairy-Free Love

The storefront of The New Collective, part of Theater Row on Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.

The view from the studio

My vehicle while in LA.  Toronto is WAY more bike-oriented!  I was an oddity there!

Looking West on Theatre Row

For my music geek friends.  Biggest guitar-only store EVER!  On Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood.

Looking West on Sunsest Blvd, just before sunset on my last night in LA.

The plane took off over the ocean before doing a big turn and doubling back over the coast, so I got to see the birds eye of the whole city from the unique vantage.

I had a brief stop-over in Chicago.  Another place I'd love to visit!

O'Hare airport in Chicago in the early evening.

Boarding the plane to Toronto.  Everything looks better at sunset.

Goodnight everyone!

"Guess the Celeb" Answers:

Well done to those who made guesses in yesterday's Groundings Celeb Challenge!  Here are the answers:

Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow, Kathy Griffin, Patrtick Bristow

Will Ferrell

Chris Kataan

 Thanks for the guesses!

Challenge: Can You Spot the Celebs?

I took an acting workshop at the famous Groundlings Comedy School today.  While I waited for the instructor, I snapped some pics from the lobby display featuring notable alumna.  There are at least four famous faces.  Who are they?  Which picture are they in? (1 through 4)  I'll post the answers tomorrow...

Picture #1

Picture #2

Picture #3

Picture #4

Post your guess in the comments section below.

Good Luck!!!

New DFL Business Cards Arrived!!!

I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Dairy-Free Love business cards, so I can let people here in LA stay in-the-loop about the show.  (I would LOVE to produce it here next winter!)  They have finally arrived, and I couldn't be happier about how they turned out!  Special thanks to photographer Joanna Haughton and Makeup/Hair stylist Jessica Jean Myers for the promotional pictures - you both produced some fabulous work!

Hollywood Hills Adventure!

After an orientation session at the Margie Haber Studio yesterday, I found myself very close to the edge of the hills.  The sun was shining, the air was warm, the stage was set for my mini adventure...

I started by parking my bike at the base of the hill, and walking up this San Fransisco-style street.  My butt was already thanking/cursing me.

As I walked through the narrow roads lined with beautiful homes carved into the side of the hill, I looked back to see the winding, steep street I had just climbed.

I MADE IT!  And was treated to a full view of downtown LA as my reward.

On my way down, the sun had started setting behind me, and it looked as if my shadow was trying to stop me from leaving.

At the bottom, I decided to do something totally touristy: walk along Sunset Boulevard.

And as luck would have it, standing on Sunset, facing West, I was treated to a spectacular show.

They don't make too many days like that one.  I'm one lucky girl!

View My New Commercial! / Scott Sedita Sitcom Workshop:

Wow, sitcom acting is much harder then it looks!  The lines must be exact, rhythmic, quick, snappy, punchy and FUNNY!  Reading Scott Sedita's book The Eight Characters of Comedy really took some of the mystery out of the whole business.  I have always loved comedic acting, and would LOVE to work on sitcoms, but had little practice with the style.  The experience of reading the book and attending the workshop helped me look at sitcom acting from a different perspective, and break it down into its methodology and parts.  At Scott's workshop, I got to play around with a number of scenes while adopting traits from the characters featured in his book.  When I read the book, I though FOR SURE I'd naturally fall into the "Logical Smart One" character, with a tendency towards the "Neurotic" character, (quiet you!) and perhaps I still will; however, once we were in class and playing around with the dialogue, I seemed to gravitate towards the "In Their Own Universe" character, which I wouldn't have predicted!  Although, now that I look back at some of my more recent roles, I can totally see where that is coming from.  Speaking of recent roles, here's a commercial I did for a Mofilm contest with director Rob Shaw.  Definitely some "In Their Own Universe" happening there...  Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

My Trip to Venice (Beach)

I biked down to Venice Beach today to see what I could see.  And here's what I could see:

The sign welcoming me and my bike to the beach after a 1.5 hour ride.  Granted, it was a rather slow and relaxing ride.  The bike has no gears, so it literally forces me to go at "Vacation speed"

Today was the warmest, most beautiful day of my trip so far.  The water is still cold, but really nice on my tired pedaling feet!

The famous pier.  It stretches so far, I only went down part way.

Who's that pasty Canadian!?!?  Don't look, you'll be blinded by the white!!!

This one's for my dad and sister.  They like sailboats.

This one's also for my sister.  She likes birds.

This one's for me.   No really, can I have it?

The "Freak Show", with promises of many animals with multiple heads and too many legs.  Ummm, no thanks!!!

You can't really see it, but there's the beginnings of the nightly drum circle on the far patch of green.  That's my ride in the foreground.

I heart palm trees.

I waited until the sun was setting before heading home, but wait, what's that, it is a bird?  A plane?

A spectacular ending to a spectacular day.  Goodnight everyone!

Goodnight East Coast

I spent the day at the studio today working on my upcoming show as well as some scene exploration, followed by a relaxing reading session in the front window of Cafe Muse, or "The Muse" as the neighborhood artsy types call it.  I learned after I made my first post about this place that it is closing its doors next Friday and looking for a new location, which is a serious shame, cause its a great little spot.  The weather today was glorious, and it looks as if tomorrow will be even more glorious, so I've given myself a "day off".  I'm packing my reading for the sitcom intensive on Sunday, sunglasses and purse-related essentials, and heading to Venice Beach to see what I can see.  Goodnight East Coast!

Hollywood's Theater Row - Cafe Muse

The view looking North from Theater Row

The studio that I am now a member of here in LA is a part of Hollywood's Theater Row.  Nestled between numerous TV and film studios is a wonderfully arty strip of Santa Monica Blvd that provides a home for Hollywood's theater arts community.  Before last night's studio session, I found a cozy little spot to do some of the reading to prepare for class.  Cafe Muse is Theatre Row's hangout - complete with exposed brick, super-high ceilings, a full menu of cafe eats, coffee, tea, a liquor license and a piano against one wall.  This is clearly the bohemian place to be.  I had a lovely cup of tea, but perhaps I'll be a real artist-type and go back for a glass of something stiffer after our next night session at The New Collective.  And now, back to reading.  Cheers!