Audition Tips
Focus.

That is the most important aspect to acting. I have to admit that sometimes I have it and sometimes I don't and when I don't-- that's bad. There are a lot of things that can easily throw off focus. And you can get it back mid-scene. That may recover the situation or it may not. And the problem is that often you only get one chance. I had an audition that I warmed into half way through. I wanted to do it again but they felt they "had enough." Nice. I hate the feeling that I could have done better.

Part of the reason for this lack of focus was the fact that we did it absolutely cold with no time to go over it. We read through it twice silently and then went for it. Directors-- insist that actors try it at least once out in the hall. When actors get in that room they are willing to do anything the director says. After all, the director is there to give direction.

My slate was even off. I forgot to give my phone number-- not a huge deal-- but I jumped out of frame to let the other actor slate. He had gone practically across the room to get out of the way. Then they made it seem natural that I should have done profiles. Profiles are not a given. In fact, 90% of the auditions I have been at did not need profiles. Usually a director will say "slate & profile." Then again, it was a high-energy day for me so I may have jumped away too quickly.

Another reason that I may have not had focus was because (and this is rare) I didn't warm up first! Usually in my car on the way to an audition I will say the alphabet clearly, annunciating clearly. I will chant to warm up my voice and I may try to say a couple lines in different accents.

They asked me about doing an accent but none of the ones I knew well were right for the part. Of course, I could have said more about the fact that I am very good with accents and it wouldn't take me long to learn one. But I didn't...again-- lack of focus. Bad.

There was also a scene in which I was supposed to beat up my counterpart. Beating up people or kissing scenes I think require first an ok from the other person and second a moment or two of connection between the actors. That is some serious interaction and just doing it cold is next to impossible if it is going to come off real.

If people are making out or beating each other up, it usually involves some sort of relationship. There is more than just personal intention going on. You need to sit for a moment and look into the other person's eyes and create relationship. Without that, it is going to look bad no matter what.

My choice in the moment was to totally ignore stage direction. After all, we didn't have the props needed anyway. Was that a good choice? Maybe not. My emotion came across but I felt like my acting partner and I were stepping on each other's lines rather than letting it flow naturally.

I jumped too soon into the scene and my energy was so high that I had a tendency to jump to the next line quicker. Meanwhile, he tended to over pause between his lines. The result-- no connection. And that makes for a bad scene.

Having said all that, I don't know if I got the part or not. It really comes down to if I have the look or not. That is something that is often more important than talent-- especially in a cold read situation. If they like your look, then they feel they can work with you.

Poetry Night
Tonight I went to Open Mic Poetry Night at Borders in Coral Springs. This happens every second Friday of the month (except December). It has been going on for years and I have been attending since 2000, although, not every time.

I read three poems per protocol and later read two more as an encore. Most of my poems are untitled. I read a few love poems and being Veteran's Day a few anti-war poems.

I went out with my dear friend, Yoni, and his friend, Greg, and also my friend, Marlene, to IHOP. I got some chocolate pancakes, although, I don't know why. I think just because my friend in Colorado and I got them at Village Inn so I did it as a piece of nostalgia (for last week or whenever it was.)

Out till 1:30 a.m. Whoo hoo.

Helping to Build & Promote a Business
Today, I helped a new company who is looking to create a corporation and promote it locally. I will be working on a flier, brochure, article and advertising ideas.

It's amazing what goes into building a business. I was able to brainstorm ideas with them and remind them of important concepts they must keep in mind, including:

-Creating a corporation (LLC or S Corp, etc)
-Creating a business address, phone number
-Creating a web site
-Creating business cards
-Creating advertising/ promotion
-Deciding form of payment
-Office location if applicable
-Collecting sales tax
-Becoming compliant with city codes & laws
-Getting an accountant
-Setting up a billing system/ payroll
-Hiring/ training employees
-Getting product
-Getting co-op dollars possibly from vendor for selling product

Keep these items in mind if you are considering building a business. And this is just the tip of the iceberg!!!

World Premier of Madonna's "Confessions on a Dance Floor"
Mood:  celebratory
I attended Madonna's World Premier of her new CD "Confessions on a Dance Floor" last night!!! It was held at the Pangea-- a hot nightclub at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino.

The club was dimly lit, mostly by small white candles placed around the club, subtly hightlighting the ribboned ceiling and the bamboo decor. The plush couches served as a bit of futuristic ambience. The other room, closed off is made up in greens and blues with shards of glass reminiscent of thin icicles dripping from the ceiling, bouncing light in every direction like something from Superman's frozen cave.

On to the party, the candles surrounded skulls of rams? Didn't quite understand that reference. But the addition of dancing nuns, wearing a small habit and nothing much else and the red velvet confessional gave me a moment of realization. This is a reinvention of sorts of the "Like a Prayer" song.

The nuns, for those who want details, were wearing a bit of lacy lingerie and fishnets. They writhed along the wall behind the booths. Very LA.

The place filled up quickly, mostly with media. Attractive women passed about silver trays of small appetizers that included duck, salmon, peanut chicken and more. I passed.

When Christopher Ciccone descended upon the scene, the press hovered with their cameras. Several young men hugged him warmly and he became one with the crowd.

It was the presence of Ingrid Casares that drew me. She was sitting on the couch reserved for US Weekly, right next to the couch where I was spending time-- the New Times couch. Not that I was officially there with New Times. I was there with City Smart but I had written for New Times as a theater critic so I introduced myself to the girls there as well as the ones from the Palm Beach Post.

Back to Ingrid-- beautiful, tanned, disarming, fit. While another reporter was talking to her, I moved in as well. Of course, I was not prepared. I managed under the loud music to ask a few questions about Madonna's CD. Of course, she loves the CD. Her favorite song is "Push," which I heard later and also enjoyed.

But just talking to Ingrid was a thrill to me. I also met her assistant, Henry. I wish I had had the state of mind to get contact info. because I would have liked to interview her in a quieter place. BUt the moment was fleeting.

I also danced with Chris Ciccone for about 2 seconds.

When the CD arrived, it came in with five guards, transporting it as though it were the Queen of England...ironically.

DJ and fellow gal pal Tracy Young played the CD and even added her own remix at the end for "Hung Up." The CD was definitely filled with electronic dance numbers. I would have to hear it again to give a more in depth review...don't worry...I will.
It comes out next week, which is why Chris broke the CD when it was done playing and scattered it from the DJ booth above to the audience below. I am one of the few possesors of a piece of this CD... a piece of this momentous ocassion.

I also confessed, by the way. I'll tell you what I said..."I confess... I love Madonna."

What a night!!!

Boat Ride
This morning, I actually got up in time to go on the boat ride! We ended up being out in the sun for awhile and I forgot my sunscreen but someone was generous enough to loan me some.

Aboard ship I had multiple shirley temples and then dove into the buffet: eggs, potatoes and ketchup. They also had ham but I didn't have any. Their grapes were divine. They had other fruit and baklavah.

Enough about the food. I spoke with the French director and crew again. They are looking for distribution.

I also spoke with a reporter from Hollywood Reporter and several other attendees. I even ended up auditioning for an upcoming film!

It was a nice ride down the Intracoastal.

After that, I made the last finishing touches on the calendar for City Smart. Looks good.

Wilma improvements & daily life
Mood:  a-ok
Although Wilma knocked us a whallop and many people still don't have power, I am still impressed with the city and with FPL (or whoever is responsible) in the improvements that they have made. In approximately a week's time, I am noticing that traffic lights are back on in some areas despite the power poles being snapped like twigs or pushed over like a feather by the wind, their wires hanging listlessly in the road.

If the lights are not up...some are non-existent, taken away by the wind and smashed somewhere else or sucked up into oblivion...there are small solar-powered lights sitting in the middle of the street directing traffic, giving the cops a break. What a concept! Way to go Coral Springs! (I live here.)

I think that this hurriciane will bring all sorts of brainstorms and new ways of thinking--- that I welcome. Power poles will be buried deeper, for example. The improvements will be much like post-Andrew and can only be a plus.

It's the trees I worry about. This is a Tree City no longer. These vestiges are not trees but twigs, large lifeless branches that look like shriveled hands barely open, tired and weary and wanting to droop yet slightly open hoping that some great rain will douse them and bring them back to life again, that there ever-spring flowers will blossom playfully upon their dry tops.

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Enough about Wilma.

Today I worked on the City Smart calendar again. I am still not done.

I was supposed to go see Matisyahu-- who is really good--- (and I don't like reggae) but I didn't feel well and I wanted to blog. :)

Tomorrow, I will be going to a boat ride along the Intracoastal...more about that tomorrow.

Fort Lauderdale Film Festival--Review of "Tell Me I'm Pretty"/ Riverhouse
Mood:  chatty
I just got home from attending the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival Gala. It was supposed to be a black tie event but I found there were people of all types and fashions there. There were the wannabes, the already made its, the worker bees, the im' too bored for this, the fighting couples, the flirting girls, the charming older gentlemen and more.

The movie of the evening was "Tell Me I'm Pretty" by Filmmaker Bernard Jeanjean. It was French with English subtitles. The film takes place entirely in an over thirty something woman's apartment. A relationship unfolds between her and her co-worker as the two trade off being flirty and coy and downright distant. What might seem as a boring premise is brilliant in Jeanjean's hands. The acting is superb and very realistic. The ideas seem original and fresh. The theme is something we can all relate to (or at least I can).

This is Jeanjean's first feature film. He has done script writing in the past for television. He hopes to do another project soon also on the theme of l'amour.

This is his first time to South Florida. His film, however, has travelled in other film circuits, including France. He brought other members of his staff and his wife along with him for the journey.

The gala that followed was held at the Riverhouse. I am told this is a historical building with ghosts of it's own. They had outdoor tents set up here, complete with mood lighting and a band that played everything from "I Will Survive" to Big Band music. A few joined in the dancing.

They served a buffet. I had the salmon and because I didn't intend to make this a normal review, I didn't get the full description. However, it was very good. The coating was crumbly and had a slight lemony aftertaste--less stringent and more sweet like a lemon merengue pie. It melted in your mouth and it's color was an orangy pink reminding me for some reason of the tropics. I also had some black beans and rice that were equally tasty.

The Napoleon I had later left much to be desired. Perhaps it had been out too long. It was good but the edges became hard. I am not sure if they brought in the pastries or if they were made there. Of course, washing it down with an Amstel Light didn't do it justice either.

I only had a half of a beer--- and that is a lot for me.

The party rolled on till 12:30pm and as usual I was one of the last to leave....

I would reccomend coming to a gala in the future. They expected a lot more people, approximately 600, but because of the Wilma aftermath, the result came up far shorter...