January Update!

Hello all!

I know I promised to update more, but I've just been so darn busy!  So here's what's been going on with me...

As some of you may know, I performed in a short run of a show with Simpatico Theatre Project rightfully called "The Meep Project".  We performed at the Walnut St. Theatre in their 5th floor performance space.  The show was initially conceptualized by my boyfriend Ed Swidey when he was working with theatre camps with young kids.  While working with the kids he wanted to create a movement piece for their final presentations and the kids begged him for lines.  He said alright you get one word: meep.  That's all they could say throughout.  And it turns out the piece was wildly successful with those kids.  The show was also successful this past summer when we did the piece with our summer camp kids.

 

 

 

Meep set and meep kids!

Ed had the idea of proposing it to a theatre company in Philly to see how the show would go with adult actors, since he had never tried it.  After getting together a seriously sick cast of adult actors in Philadelphia to do it we jumped into a short term rehearsal process and before we knew it we were in tech!  And then we opened!  Lo and behold we were a hit, receiving stellar reviews and overselling our last weekend, people getting turned away at the door!  And to boot some of our original meepers made the journey from Westport Mass. to Philadelphia to come and see the show.  I've never felt more honored.

Read our fantastic review!

With Sara Howard in The Meep Project

Well, I can't say too much more in detail but since that extraordinary experience we've been asked about what the next step is for Meep.  There might be a remount...or some other things are in the works.  Once I get the go ahead on disclosure, I'll make sure to keep you posted.

So that brings us to a little update about my movie.  First off let me just say that making this movie was an incredible experience.  I just fell in love with everyone on set, I was able to work with remarkable actors, and the director and I were like two peas in a pod.  When we wrapped this Sunday, I cried saying goodbye to everyone, especially Steve, the director.  Sitting here at my desk in my apartment I'm reminiscing about the experience and I find myself speechless.  There are no words for how joyous I was when I reached set, and how excited I was to try new things with the actors.

I believe I've stated on here that I haven't ever done film work before.  Working on this has been a true testament to how adaptable you have to be as an actor.  Film work is a complete 180 from on stage work.  It's compressed, it's focused in a different way.  The fundamentals are the same, in a "what-I-want-and-how-I'm-going-to-get-it" sort of way, but film is not shot in a linear fashion.  Meaning you film different parts of the movie while on set. 

For example, if there is a bedroom set that shows up 4 times in the script, most likely you are going to shoot those scenes in one day, or in several days in a row.  The editor takes all of the shots and pieces together the story the way it is in the script.  Not going to lie, when I realized this I felt like I went through an existential crisis: "So does that mean that's how they shoot The Office?", and "That feels disingenuous!", and "Theatre just makes more SENSE to me!?". 

The experience of acting on screen was most enjoyable because it was just so different to me.  There were times that I did feel nervous because I simply felt like I didn't know what the hell I was doing.  But I confided in the director and other people on set and I felt sated.  Honestly, if you're doing a film for the first time don't fret, just take a deep breath, remind yourself why you're there, and just do it fully. 

As far as the timeline for when it premiers, I'll let you know.  Steve is hoping to have it ready for a premier in September.  And yeah, I'm going to let the world know.

In terms of trying to further my career, all I can say is never stop submitting.  I went from ZERO auditions to FOUR in two days.  Also, I bit the bullet and signed up for a personal trainer at LA Fitness, just a few blocks from me and let me tell you I'm already seeing results (there was some turmoil with the guy who signed me up got reassigned and they had to reorganize and blah blah blah...I won't go into it).  What's nice is...it's a tax write-off.  Seriously!  It's a business expense.  I am a business.  I get all types of advice and it's good to have a support system there while I work out. 

My advice: it's a good investment if you invest in yourself.

The brings us up to date.  I actually should get going because I need to start looking over my audition materials and get it in my skin. 

Here's hopin'

-Cindy