Productivity

My PA scene was okay, but I really must do more work on it, especially physically.  I feel like I’m physically restricted sometimes, which is frustrating.  That said, my AA scene with an external went over better than I had expected.  But now I need to find a scene for the third round and begin work on it ASAP!

There was some drama in the (yes) drama department, when two of the most well-known professors decided to refuse to write rec letters for any undergrad due to their busy schedules.  So that sucks, especially since I have classes with both.  Today, I asked a teaching assistant who has seen my work in two classes (and a little bit in a third one) if she would write a letter for me, and she said she’d love to do that.  So that’s great, but I’m upset about not getting a letter from one professor in particular (AA).  He won’t even write a letter for a classmate who he had cast and directed in a show!

Today, I also scoped out books on auditioning, agents, and the industry/business in general.  I’ve requested a bunch of books from the school library (I’m trying to utilize this resource as much as possible before I graduate in January).  I’ve also been using Paperback swap a lot, which is a great tip for broke people whose libraries have limited resources.  There are some drawbacks, such as the varying condition of the books and a limited variety in general of books (although new ones are added everyday).  I just think it’s a great way to save money.  You pay shipping costs to get something new while you get rid of something old.  Everyone is happy!
I did some more research on schools, and I’m trying to finalize a list.  I don’t knowwww, it’s tough cutting schools out of the list, but I know that I can’t afford to apply to more than just a few.  I want to stay in the NYC area, but I don’t want to limit myself.  Also, I think I should find a coach for my auditions.  I asked one professor from school, but she just started rehearsals for something and is too busy.  Ugh. I need to find one last monologue still.

It’s almost Thanksgiving time!  Here are some Thanksgiving break goals:
-do not eat too much!
-go grocery shopping with parents and weasle in some daily essentials along the way that are dwindling down (toothpaste, floss, facial cleanser, hair conditioner)
-read the industry books that are waiting for me at home
-take a look at the plays i left behind and read some more
-try to sell some items on ebay/amazon

I will work out tonight.  woo.

Survival Jobs & My Appearance & Randomness

Okay, so the phone interview went well.  I have to go in for an in-person interview probably in December and sentd my official SAT scores.  I don’t know if any of the other companies offer health benefits to their instructors, so this one would probably be good to work for.  Hopefully, I won’t have to sign some exclusivity contract so that I can work for more than one company.  The hourly pay at most of these places is pretty decent (and some much better than others), but I think the real trick will be finding enough hours to eventually make a meager living, pay off student loans,  eventually move to the city, and make sure I will have enough free time to go on auditions and what not.  Because hopefully I will have auditions to go on!

I also returned a phone call to another, younger company.  I get a great vibe from them, and they pay slightly better than this other company but probably don’t offer benefits.  I think my interviewer likes me so much that she has bypassed the instructor audition process for me and just wants to meet me in person before I start training!  Awesome!  I will meet with her late December, right before Christmas.  I can’t wait!  I feel so close to being hired.  I just want to be able to sit back and relax.

I’m still waiting to hear back from other companies.

On a different note, I had my eyebrows threaded a few weeks ago.  I think I’m going to back in another week to do it again.  My eyebrows look so pretty.  I’ve also started a new skincare regimen that is improving my complexion. So these are good things.

I had been working out regularly, but stopped once midterm season started.  So I think it’s about time to get back in the game.

I saw Equus on Broadway over the weekend, I forgot to mention.  And I’ll be seeing a student play tonight.  I need to work on my scenes a bit more and continue the search for a contemporary comedic monologue.

I’m starting freak out about grad school stuff, mainly the recommendation letters, since I took such a long hiatus from acting during college.  Blah.  New goals:  Finalize a list of schools, preferably by this weekend, but Monday by the latest.  On Tuesday, I will approach my professor no matter what and ask him in person, even if that means being 15-20 minutes late to my next class.  His response will most likely guide who else I will e-mail.  Hopefully, he will respond positively and not discourage me from applying.  I need to nail my second scene for him, just as I did with the first one.  This all must be done by Tuesday.

Realistically speaking… an update

Lack of updates!  School is so stressful.

So what’s new?  I’m single!

A friend of mine who is a professional photographer in NY took headshots for me.  The problem is that she took them for free but is very busy, so it will probably take a while before I see anything.  I will probably shell out real money for headshots by someone who does that specifically for a living, but I need to wait until I actually have said money!

The acting classes are going okay.  I present my second scene in advanced acting on Tuesday, and I’m nervous about that because the external work is challenging. I’m in the midst of working on my second scene for the P.A. class, but I’m having some trouble pushing myself into the action of the scene.  I think I need to tweak my as-ifs.  The professor will critique it on Tuesday, so Tuesday will be a nervous day.

As for my applications to grad school… I’m not really sure where I stand.  I e-mailed one of my professors asking for a recommendation letter, but I have yet to hear back.  I’ll see him on Tuesday, but I usually don’t have time to linger around after class to speak with him.  He’s also incredibly busy and, although I know he likes me, doesn’t know me very well.  Blah.  I suppose I can ask other professors for letters, but I thought he would be my best bet to seal the deal on the first one.  So that sucks.

I have doubts about applying.  That’s a lot of money for such small percentage acceptance rates.  And I feel like maybe my (fleeting) youth is something that be used to my advantage if I didn’t go.  Trying to obtain rec letters has been annoying.  Deadlines are creeping toward zero hour.  I don’t know.

I have all of my monologues now except for the comedic contemporary.  I was thinking of asking a professor or two to work on the monologues with me, assess which are the strongest, etc. if I end up applying.

I should be submitting to films in the local area much more often than I have been.  And I’ve been ignoring responses from areas that are annoying to get to via public transportation.  blah.

I’ve been aggressively pursuing test prep tutoring jobs (my target survival job).  One place turned me down, which I expected because my SAT math score was only in the 95%ile but they wanted people with 99%ile scores. At least I somehow managed to get an interview with them. Another interview went okay–I gave one rambling response that didn’t go over as well as I’d hoped.  A third interview (over the phone) went extremely well, and they’ve been chasing after me for an in-person interview.  The problem is that I have to find time to go to NYC again during school.  I have a fourth interview tomorrow.  It’ll be over the phone, and I’m hoping it will go well.  I think that if I somehow managed to work full-time for them, I would get health benefits (which I will probably need, since I don’t think my parents will be able to claim me as a dependent once I graduate this winter).  Annnd on top of all those interviews, I am going to submit my resume to a few more places.  I want to give myself as many options and opportunities as possible before I commit to anything.

I’ve been trying to focus on my academics, but it’s difficult since I can only think about my future.  I’m both nervous but excited.