Cristy Joy's Blog

Well, another day another blog. Happy New Years Eve everybody!

Believe it or not, I am still at it. As a matter of fact, I continue on this quest on a daily basis. Today I have several updates to report.

First, I received an email invitation to an audition. I’m honestly a little bit skeptical of this one… only because the “production company” is also offering a deal on headshots.. and because the “production company” donates to charities (it says so on their website).. etc. It makes me a little bit leery.
They want a 3 minute monologue prepared.. and I know this may sound strange.. But I really don’t believe in monologues.
How does preparing the same piece of verbiage, which probably has nothing to do with what you are auditioning for… how does that make sense?
This same “speech” you’ve recited and practiced for months or maybe even years which spells “look how great of an actor I am”. Bullshit.
I think, if you’re really a great actor, then you should be able to do it on the fly.
Monologues are boring to me. I’d rather read a piece from your project. It just makes more sense to me.

They also mentioned in the email that sides will be available. If they want a monologue they can watch my demo reel on YouTube. Maybe I will do that. Maybe I will just burn them a copy of my demo reel instead. That’s pretty much the same thing to me.

I’m sorry, but I am stubborn about this. This is also part of the reason why I switched from theatre to film 10 years ago. I think monologues are out dated. This is the information age! You want me to read a monologue!?
Maybe I will just make one up on the fly. I can do that. I’ll just pretend I’m arguing with someone and call it my monologue. I can bullshit a monologue. Easily. Maybe I will do that.
Although this rule that I learned in an acting class like 15 years ago always pops up into my brain about how you should “never” make up your own monologue.
And then there are people who say otherwise, of course.

That is the biggest thing I have learned about being an artist… is that nobody else can tell you what is right. You really have to develop your sense of intuition with things. You have to keep true to yourself as an artist. You have to be bold.. and you have to be willing to take risks.. all for the sake of your artistic integrity.

But I digress, as usual.

So yeah, I am going to sleep on it and see how I feel about this “audition”.
It’s also at a studio which records your auditions and posts it on your website.. and then afterwards.. if you want to view it.. you have to pay them a fee.
I’ve auditioned there a few times before.
I’m going to feel it out… The audition isn’t for another week or so anyway. I’m sure I will know by then. But it looks as if I might just pass on this one.

In a few days I should be receiving a shooting time/location for that other one I blogged about yesterday or the day before. I’m really excited about this one.
This guy is a real indie filmmaker. I can tell by the clips I saw. That excites me.
He said he found my clips exciting too. I find that exciting that he found my clips exciting. The whole thing is exciting! LOL

What else?
Oh yeah, I found this website a while back… They offer free headshots, free acting classes.. they have 3 divisions.. an acting division, a filmmaking division, and a writing division… The filmmaking division, they offer free access to cameras.
Needless to say, I think I am going to check these people out… see what it’s about.
They are having an acting workshop this coming Monday that I am thinking of going to. It’s like an independent film group.. that creates together.. or something.
I just like that it is free and that there will be access to cameras.
Free camera access makes my mouth water. It kind of reminds me of being in film school again. Needless to say, my curiosity if piqued.

That’s about it for now. I just deleted an email from someone who said that they will be in touch with me after the New Year.. about a romantic comedy they are going to be doing.. and they want me to read for one of the leads.
I told them I’m interested.. we wished each other a Happy New Year…
and I hope they get back in touch with me with a day to meet.
Fun stuff.

There are a couple more of those emails with looming auditions and exchanges of Happy Holidays which I threw out.. or moved into my ‘Contacts’ folder.
Only because they all said that they will get in touch with me after the Holidays and everything. So good. Do that. I’m ready to act! Always.

On a side note, I’ve been dancing on a weekly basis for this online radio station. I think I’m their official dancer. They sent me a tee shirt and everything that has their logo on it. It’s been a lot of fun and it has kind of inspired me.
On the website that I receive audition breakdowns on… I saw a notice for some hip hopper who has an upcoming live show and is in need for dancers.
So I sent in my information and told them the show that I dance for and they sent me a casting notice. I actually need to go reply and confirm. I just reminded myself.
But yeah, I may be on stage again with another rapper, dancing.
I think it’s fun and people seem to be entertained by watching me dancing.
Some people think I got cool moves, other people laugh and think it’s funny, either way they are amused… which I like.
But I have a really good time doing it… AND people are entertained. It sounds like a win win situation.
This live performance though is supposedly going to be taped. So that will be a fun little thing to add to my YouTube repertoire.

Anyway, that’s about all for now. Gonna check and see the date for that audition… flip my calendar.. maybe send out a few emails with my headshot and resume.. and then wind down for the New Year and watch some balls dropping!

Fun times!

I am just starting to get used to this whole idea of blogging.
It is an “artistic choice” for me, whatever that means.  But I figure that, my life as an artist is a journey.  Actually, life in general, is a journey.  So why not document my experience as an artist/actress?  I think it sounds like a good idea.  To me anyway.  So why not?

But I’ve never really done this before.  I’ve always just kind of “hid under the covers” in a sense, and have just kind of gone about my way.  I do what I need to do and don’t really discuss it much because, I guess I figure that most people aren’t really interested in knowing.  But perhaps I am wrong about that assumption, and I guess I will find out as the days progress and as more people find out about this little blog of mine.

So to document my artistic experience today.. Well, thus far.. I have emailed a couple of headshots/resumes for some upcoming auditions for independent features and shorts.
I also received an email today from somebody who I submitted to recently.  They sent me links to a trailer for a feature they last shot  and a behind-the-scenes clip.  The nature of the film was pretty gruesome and graphic.  It kind of reminded me of a more raw/indie version of Natural Born Killers, but needless to say I was impressed.  The clips I saw were very well put together and there was a feeling behind it.  It felt like a “real” film to me.
Perhaps later on I’ll explain in full detail what exactly I mean by a “real” film, but at this point I can tell you that… From my experience thus far here in “Hollywood”.. there are few “real” indies being made.  Sure, there are a lot of films created, but few of them have any real substance to them.  I guess that is what I mean by a “real” film.  A film with real substance.
Anyway, the trailer peaked my interest.. and this new film that the director is creating, is kind of like a polar opposite (narratively) to his last piece of work.  I’m curious to find out the direction he chooses to go.. but needless to say I am definitely interested in working with him.. and, judging by the email I received today, the feeling is mutual.

This will be shot in early January.. so we shall see what happens.

What else?  Well.. hmm.. I have a couple of other projects which are looming in the air.. but these are being handled in a more “traditional” sense.. I have a few upcoming auditions for a few different indies.. To be honest with you, I’ve completely lost track.  I had to clean out my email inbox.. I just can’t look at more than 25 pieces of email without feeling messy.
But I know that about a handful of people have said to me that they are interested in having me read for them once the holidays settle down.

Also, I have a friend who wants to create some stuff for the web… and she has a few people who have stuff that they want to create.  There’s like a whole *web* of people actually who are just kind of looming around in that whole world..
Basically, a bunch of projects are in the pre-production phase at the moment… and of course, with anything, only time will tell where everything ends up.

I acted in a short web piece about a week ago… and my scene isn’t up yet.
That is all I will say about that, for now

I just opened up my email and received a follow up response from the director I was telling you about before.. things are moving forward with that process.

That is the one thing I think that is very important to being an actor/actress.. PATIENCE
Although, at times I think that IMPATIENCE is also important because… well for me personally.. it is what ends up spurring me into action.  That is partially the reason that I have all these personal projects happening with friends and friends of friends.. because instead of waiting for someone else to cast me in their film or project.. I’d rather just do stuff on my own in the meantime.

This acting thing, for me, is a personal addiction.  It’s just who I am and what I have been doing my entire life.. and what I will continue to be doing for a very very very long time

Well, it looks as if I am getting the hang of this blogging business.
Now I am going to go out on a limb and post a link to this on my Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.  Just for shits and giggles.

Let the games begin!

Love, Inspiration, and Creation,
Cristy Joy