Update & Stuff....

My overarching February goal is to get balanced with all the plates I have spinning, and so far so good.  I'm up to date in school, I've got a shoot with a model on the horizon (yay money!) and I'm staying focused with my acting.

I'm having some yuck luck with auditions this week: 

Monday I had a hair modeling casting, by the time I arrived they had already picked the women they wanted.  Boy am I glad I rushed and ran for that one! hehe

Wednesday I went to a student film audition at NYFA (NEVER AGAIN I SAY!!) I get there and it's a madhouse, I go looking for a sign in sheet and this tiny child guarding the list was like "yeah...um...you probably won't get seen, there's like a lot of people ya know?"  I asked if I should just come back at a later time...she LITERALLY looked me up and down and pointed to someone who I'll assume was in charge of the craziness "talk to that one" she said.  So I go to "that one" and start to ask about whether or not I should come back, and he just walks away from me midsentence....I was too through.  I just went back home.  F it.

The funny thing is, Saturday, I was told by 3 different working actors not to waste my time with certain schools and just focus on submitting to Columbia and NYU projects....I should've listened to their advice. ::sigh::

Today I was supposed to have an audition....right now actually... but was told earlier that they're too full and I should try to come next week...it's for voiceover on a film.  Let's see what happens next week.  No other auditions on the horizon yet.

That reminds me:
I got some great advice from an actress/writer I met on the subway, I didn't get her name, but she had a sick red coat, if you're reading red coat lady, email me!  I mentioned that things are kind of slow for me this coming week and she said that her mentor told her: An actor should never have a slow week, there's always something to read, monologues to practice/film, classes to audit, etc... And she's so right!  I've decided I'm going to try to schedule some TFCD shoots for when I have a "slow" week, so I'll gradually revamp/update my book and won't feel stagnant.

GOOD NEWS:
I found a headshot photographer who has great work and doesn't cost $900!  (it costs half that lol) If people don't like the results I get with this guy I'm going to either a) shoot myself b) shoot everyone else or c) suck it up and call Laura Rose or somebody

Other than that....still submitting like crazy.



www.DanielleFaust.com

Booked!!

So I booked a role in that feature film I auditioned for on Saturday.  Yeah, the one where they hated me lol. 
I didn't get the role I auditioned for, but I didn't get the smallest role they advertised either.  Instead, they're writing in a role for me.  It'll only be a few scenes, but I'll take it! :)  Yay for another line on the resume, and more footage for a reel!!



www.DanielleFaust.com

Casting Lessons

I was fortunate enough to be able to assist Seth Ruffer and Miles Maker with casting for the upcoming film The Three Houses.  It was a blessing to work with these talented (and all around awesome) gentlemen (i use that term ever so loosely), and even though I was just working in the casting assistant / reader capacity I learned A LOT that I can make use of as an actor.  The two things that stood out:

1. Be prepared:  A lot of really great actors brought their A game to the casting, it was apparrent that a lot of great actors brought their B game or had an off day, and sadly, it was also very clear that a lot of people were just unprepared.  It's hard to say whether they were just undertrained and not ready to tackle the scene for the audition, or if they were capable, but just lazy.  I learned that I will have to be 100% prepared at each audition.  I admit, sometimes I just wing it, and sometimes I book from winging, and sometimes I don't.  But with something that I care about so very much... I think from now on, no more winging.  I'm going to prepare as best I can for every single audition, and every single modeling casting/gosee as well. (sounds like common sense right?  I know, I know, I'm a slow learner lol)
    
2. Training Matters / Training Doesn't Matter:  I peeked at most of the auditioners' resumes and saw a wide variety of training, from BFA/MFAs to 2 Year Conservatory graduates, to folks who just had a class/seminar here and there.  Training does not a good actor make.  But a good actor makes use of their training.  Some auditioners threw it down in the casting session and their training was literally 2 lines of seminars, while others, with credentials out the ying yang, just flopped in front of us.  Not that I was happy to see anyone do poorly, that's not the case at all, It just made me a little bit more comfortable with the fact that I will be able to be a quality actor even though I won't be able to afford to go to a 2 year program.

The other "lessons" I learned during the casting sessions were more dos/don'ts...okay really just "don'ts"... from the perspective of Miles, the director:

• Don't put crap on a reel just for the sake of having one (gulp! ::looking around guiltily::)
• Don't rely on talent when you have a crappy headshot (lord knows that resonated with me)
• Don't stalk the filmmakers  (i know, right?)
• Don't crash closed auditions (yup, it happened)

I loved the casting experience, being on the other side of the table was really eye opening.  I hope to do a little more of it in the future, and I hope to be a better auditioner because of it.

Post Casting Goals: 

• Get quality headshots - stop being cheap and just bite the bullet and pay the grip needed to get awesome shots that'll serve me well.
• Get my reel materials - i'm going to stop pussyfooting around and demand my copies/scenes so I can see what's reel-worthy and get that project started
• Get into a class - I was going to wait until June to start another round of classes, but I think I'll go to HBs next semester, April start I think?

www.DanielleFaust.com

Staying Busy

Wednesday
I did the voiceover for the comedy central cartoon this day.  It was really easy and fun.  It's going to be uncredited background voices, so no specific characters, but I'm glad for it anyway because it can go on my resume.  It was a quick recording session, 3 hours, and lots of fun/laughs with the other actors.  Got to catch up with Cathy, from last year's shoot and met some people I'm happy to keep in touch with.


Friday / Saturday
My actor/producer buddy Seth Ruffer cast me as one of the leads in his project Three Houses.  I'm super grateful.  I asked him if I could assist him and the director Miles Maker with the casting, and he said yes! Yippee.  So Friday and Saturday I helped with casting, and boy it was so different being on that side of the table!

I also had an audition on Saturday for an indie feature, they hated me, lol.  The email they sent me said that I would be performing my monologue but when I arrived at the audition location, they gave me sides for a cold read and I literally had 6 minutes to prepare myself.  The reader, well...English didn't seem to be her first language, and the vibe was just strange in that room.  I did my best and left to get to the casting session for Three Houses.

This coming week I have just one casting for hair modeling.  I'll be submitting like crazy as usual, and hopefully have more stuff on the horizon.  My main goal for this month is to get a comfortable balance with my acting stuff/school stuff/photography stuff.  Let's see if I can pull that off.



www.DanielleFaust.com

Update and Don't Blink!

Saturday: I missed two student film auditions, I just plum forgot. And I have no good reason. I felt like such a jackass. I simply neglected to look at my planner the night before, or throughout the day....on the upside, I did watch Avatar that day, and it was SO well done.

Sunday: I had a shoot out of the blue with a great photographer Henry Jacobson, for a jewelry line by Studio of Ptah. The model bailed and I was called in by the MUA, Denise, to help 'em out. I'm grateful for it because the work we did was different from anything I currently have in my book. Also, the jewelry line is SO AWESOME...I can't wait to get the pix and show you guys.


Monday: I had a seminar with, Danielle Russo, a print agent from CESD.  She was super nice and had a great vibe.  I wasn't feeling 100% myself, but I think I made an OK impression. I completely forgot to show her my book, which I schlepped all over that day, just to show her...::sigh:: But at least getting a bit of face time was worthwhile and I asked good questions so hopefully I stick out to her as someone to bring in.  Cross your fingers for me!

Tuesday: Today I was supposed to shoot a corporate video, but I was notified yesterday that it will no longer be happening. Bummer, and bye bye money. But, not having to shoot, freed me up to do an audition for a hair infomercial (which if anyone knows me is SO up my alley because I buy all kindsa hair crap from TV lol - don't judge me). The audi was pretty simple and I think it went okay, literally I just pretended to flatiron my hair on camera. Oh, and smile while I did it. I had some time to kill before school so I stopped by Central Casting to register, but they needed a passport (?) so I'll put that off 'til some other time when I have time to kill.

Tomorrow: I record the voiceover for that cartoon project I booked last week. I found out a woman I worked with before (Cathy) will be there as well. Cathy also notified me that one of the stock video clips we did together last year is currently being used in a Public Storage Commercial.....you know I had to go hunt it down. Don't blink or you'll miss us!





www.DanielleFaust.com

VOTE FOR DANI!!!

OK
Guys, I really need your help!
PLEASE go to: https://www.thegreatmodelsearch.com/profile.asp?CustomerID=5178
and vote for me to be Johnsons next hair model!!!


You can win ipods/iphones and a trip to LA for voting. 
PLEASE vote as much as you can.  I'm trying to convince my family to vote for me every day so I have some chance of winning :) 
I really want this.  Thanks in advance for your support and vote(s).




www.DanielleFaust.com

Booked Again!!

I just got a call for a voiceover project I submitted for TODAY.

The 'audition' was the phone call I had with the producer.

EASY BUTTON!!!

We record on Wednesday and get paid same day.  Me likey!!





www.DanielleFaust.com

Audis and Audis...

Had an audition at VH1 today that I should have rocked!!  ......buuuttt..... I didn't. 
It was an audition for a commercial to be aired on VH1 only (i think) and the breakdown said they needed lipsynchers. So I submit, letting them know that I'm way better than Milli Vanilli ever was and I get called in....

We were given 4 songs to choose from to lipsynch to.....NONE of which I knew the words to...but I picked the one I could best fake it to. (Like a Prayer by Madonna, fyi) 

I go in, and the first thing they do is PUT A SNUGGIE ON ME!!!!!!  

Please note, the snuggie and all it stands for is antithetic to my entire being. 

So I barely get one word of this song right, but I'm really trying to 'sell' it with my movements and dancing and pulling faces while trying not to trip on the bottom of this goddamn extra large bright red snuggie.  ::sigh::

It was a TRAIN WRECK.  But a funny one at least!  I wish it was a taped audi so I could ask for a copy hahaha.

Anyway, I have an audition tomorrow for a play, and Saturday for a short film.  Monday I meet with a print agent via The Network.  Keepin busy :)



www.DanielleFaust.com

BOOKED!!!

So I booked something today that I don't even remember submitting for!  (I have to go scour through my submissions) And, they booked me off of my actor slate!  It's a corporate video methinks, but I need to get more info. Yay money!!



www.DanielleFaust.com

Stock Shoot / This Week

Yesterday was the quickest shoot and easiest money in a long time!  The shoot was for stock images to be used by real estate companies. 
Hair/Makeup was provided but I had to bring my own "summer upscale casual" wardrobe.  Of course I over packed and ended up using .00001% of what I brought. 
It was the easiest shoot ever.  We had to do very simple poses on a plain white background standing/sitting.  They mixed and matched the models up and at one point we just had to walk and talk while they photographer snapped away.  Oh, and then we had to do one wierd pantomiming type deal and that was it!  
The folks were really nice and hopefully they'll call me back for more work when they have it.  We got paid via check on the spot.  No waiting! Yay. 
All in all it was an easy peasy day.

It's February 1st!  Besides being my anniversary, today marks the end of my self imposed 'industry break.'
This week is looking okay so far.  I have a stock shoot on Wednesday, and I have an audition for a play on Friday.  Hopefully I'll be able to book something else or at least get some more auditions lined up for the week.
Today I'm going to just submit like crazy to castings and review my goals/action plan for the month of February and get cracking on it. 



www.DanielleFaust.com