It's Been A Long Time, My Friend

The Oscars have come and gone.  The red carpet is rolled up and put away until next year.  And all the dresses and jewels have been returned to their respective owners (right, Lindsay Lohan?).  


Watching the Oscars always makes me take a look at my career.  What can I be doing differently?  How can I hold myself accountable for what I need to be doing?  How I can create more opportunities for myself?


So to tie into one of my first posts this year, here's the lowdown on my progress:


1) I've been auditioning way more this year.  From theatre to film, I'm getting out there for a lot of really cool roles.  And none of them are ditzy cheerleaders.  Thanks to my agent on this front for putting up with my constant emailing about interesting parts I find.  You rock my world, my friend!


2) I'm working out waaaay more.  Thanks to my wonderful fiance for reminding me to kick my own ass.  Not only does this help with the winter blahs, it's lining me up for at least being considered for some great roles.  Oh yeah and to look smoking in the wedding gown;


3) I still have my mountain of debt but I'm being very conscious of how I spend my money and what I'm putting towards that mountain.  It's gonna take me years but progress is being made;


4) I'm in talks with some producer/director friends regarding a feature.  More to come on that front but it sounds really cool.


5) Regarding creating more opportunities for myself, obviously I've been searching out more auditions and working more with those in my network (Hi guys!).  But on top of that, I finally put together an actor's basic tool and made my demo reel.  To be honest, I had enough material for this awhile ago but for some reason just didn't do it.  It took someone else doing theirs (thanks Mel) for me to just sit down and do it.  Maybe I was afraid but it's out there now and I feel much better;


6) I'm taking inspiration from my peers and celebrating their successes.  Yes, there are days it's hard when you hear that someone else is getting a great role you'd kill for.  But I've decided to see someone else's success as a sign that our industry is actually still kicking.  Check out some friends' projects here:  Clutch, TLA Pro, Nocturnal Emissions, Bay Street Visions;


7) I've re-focused on acting and it's made all the difference.


So how have I been holding myself accountable?  Someone I know does a point system everyday to show what he has accomplished.  I'm not sure if it's a game with a winner at the end but it sure helps him stay on track.  I've decided to use a chart.  Kinda like the chore chart you used to have when you were a kid.  I've set out things that I need to do each week and when I do them, I get a star.  OK, an "X" but you get it.  And I've got my chart posted proudly on my desktop so when I turn on my laptop, I see it there, glaring disapprovingly if I'm not working on something productive.


While I may get frustrated at things being slower than I want, at least I can take comfort in knowing that I'm doing something.  Every journey and blah blah blah.


How do you hold yourself accountable? 


Happy creating!


Tags: acting, demo reel, feature film, priorities, lindsay lohan, nocturnal emissions, tla productions, bay street visions, clutch webseries, tonya dodds, producing, auditions, film

Goals, goals, GOALS!!!!

As you all know from a previous post, life has changed for me.  I'm now a Monday to Friday person with two consecutive days off.  I've got a ton more time than I used to which I'm happily using for my creative endeavours.  My artist soul is jumping for joy!


So it's now time to look at those goals and adjust them a teeny tiny bit.  And to really put it out there, I'm taking a page from a follower blogger (thanks Tyler!) and putting those goals out there on the worldwide interweb.  Here they are:


1) Finish my production company's first short film and get it on the festival circuit.  As many of you know, I've dreamed of running my own company for a few years now and I've finally started taking steps towards this.  Look for some great things in 2011 in this regard!


2) Write more.  Writing has always been a big part of my life and unfortunately over the last few years, it has constantly been pushed to the back burner.  So more blog posts, short stories, and maybe a novella in the year to come.


3) Act more.  Yes, yes, yes.  This is always a goal of mine and always will be.  Acting is like a drug to me and I can't do without it!  To clarify what I mean here, I will seek out more acting opportunities either by creating them myself, getting more parts through traditional auditioning, or reaching out to the contacts I have to see what projects they are working on.  Anyone need a cute redhead for a part?  :)


4) Be more financially fit.  I suck at budgeting.  Really, really, REALLY suck at it.  But I swear and cross my heart that I will get better at it.  Debt, I'm coming for you.


5) Be more physically fit.  Showbiz is all about image and a girl's gotta keep at it to keep in it!  I usually love working out but I'm pretty sure our household is about to become addicted to it.  Kinect, anyone?


So those are the biggies.  There are more little ones but that's a good start.  That's me, putting it out there.  How about you?  Any goals you want the world to know?  The web provides great accountability!


Happy creating!