Some days I have NO IDEA where my inspiration comes from and yet I have insane bursts of energy and focus and do 10 amazing things for my career in one day. Other times I have to trick myself into just getting my butt to the gym! There are a few ladies in my life right now that I need to give a shout out to. These women are strong, focused and honest, and their accomplishments and drive help me to stay on track when I lose the plot. Today I'm going to focus on one particular lady who continually inspires me and whose story needs to be heard.
Krysten Siba-Bishop This gorgeous woman and former roomie of mine has been fighting a genetic battle like you wouldn't believe. She is the reason that I started a blog in the first place. Not only does she have Long QT Syndrom and a pacemaker, she is also undergoing a double preventative mastectomy on March 5th. Her blog "MisAdventures of a Darwinian Fail" is an absolute inspiration and is filled to the brim with her bubbly personality, stories that will keep you grounded, grateful, and inspired, and other fun stuff like healthy recipes and workout tunes. Click on her name to visit her amazing blog and you will be hooked.
When I was little, and I had to do something that scared me or that was really hard, I would make a pledge to do it for someone that I loved and cared about. It's like in Yoga when sometimes you dedicate your practice to someone. I think I need to start doing more of that. So today - the work I'm going to do, I'm doing it for Krysten.
The "whore" is what my incredible acting teacher and mentor Richard Pinter uses to describe our brains when they turn against us. When for some unexplainable reason the buzz of an accomplishment can slowly morph into worry and stress and we start to see the potential problems that this opportunity has seemingly "created". This "whore" also loves to come around right before an audition (sometimes not until you're in the waiting room) and then sneaks up and crushes your confidence - thus blowing any possibility of booking it.
Recently I had a run in with my own little whore. It was shortly after I was cast in Queen Marie and I started to worry about what I was going to do before that, and after. What I'm trying to do now, and trying to make a habit of it, is shifting that energy into positive actions for my career rather than useless worrying. Instead of stressing about the imaginary gigs before and after, I will edit my resume, update my website, read plays, etc. Anything that is positive for my career and helps me feel like things are moving forward, because they are!
It really all comes down to fear, and that's what I need to keep reminding myself. Confidence is the arch enemy of fear, and as May West once said when asked how you "get" confidence, "I dunno, you just GET it!". True dat May West.
I caught the tail end of "Master Class" on tv last night featuring Morgan Freeman. His words stories were incredibly inspiring and useful for any career. He shared a few tips for success that really stuck with me:
Make the Best of it
That means every situation. See how your current situation will help you in the long term, and if not, at least in the short term. Even if it seems completely unrelated to what you really want to do - make the best of it.
Follow Your Own Muse...Always
Don't just be different for the sake of being different - do it because it makes sense to you.
Follow Your Principles
And you will have no regrets
Be Irreplaceable
Because you know you are
You Have to Listen!
This is the biggest lesson I had to learn in acting and in life!
Adios ya Whore! Gracias Morgan Freeman.
Teaser poster for Memories is here courtesy of Joseph Procopio! Next week is a private screening of Footsteps for the cast and crew to see the final cut.
Still on track for 26 Days of Fitness. Wish me Luck!
xoxo Allie
Here's a little Stars...always think of this video on snowy days!
Just got a phone call from my agency and I booked the part of "Claire" in "Queen Marie" the musical! It's a 9 month contract (my longest one yet!) and I will be rehearsing/performing this summer at the 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook. Something really is in the air :)
With my adrenaline a pumping and happy thoughts abound, I went to a Moksha Yoga class and on my way home made the decision to do a fitness challenge. Will I regret this decision? Probably at some point, but not in the long run. It started today with Monday Moksha and I will continue to exercise every day until Sarah's Wedding on Feb 11th. That's 26 days of fitness. No excuses! I'm going to do my best to try some new classes too and change things up a bit so I don't get bored. Might even bust out my cross country skis!
I think I will spend the rest of my day off listening to dance music and cleaning the apt, including the dreaded office! Then I think I'll treat myself to a much needed haircut tomorrow and try to keep myself away from the GIANT leftover cake from the Bridal Shower this weekend.
Take care, and if you need a pick me up - watch this video. It gets me every time!
I spent most of last weekend in Woodbridge, just outside of Toronto, shooting Joseph Procopio's "Memories" (working title). Procopio, the 17 (!) year old writer/director was named one of Canada's Top Ten Under 25 (2011) by Maclean's magazine. Working on the film was an absolute treat. Not only was Joseph fantastic all around and the crew amazing, but I was co-starring alongside my boyfriend! Unreal.
After the shoot I headed to NYC for a last minute day job trip . Although going back to NYC was amazing - it really boosted my confidence in the decision to move back to Toronto. I'm definitely enjoying the smaller pond right now.
Yesterday was my sister Sarah's Bachelorette party and it was epic. We started at Terroni on Yonge Street (which recently opened its upstairs) which was excellent, and then headed to Le Petite Castor across the street and danced our brains out! You know it's a good night when you pee your pants...literally.
Moving right along...
In between the bridal shower and bachelorette I had to boot it to the Distillery district to audition for 4th Line Theatre's production of "Queen Marie" the Musical. I think it went fairly well - running around beforehand definitely helped in a weird way to settle my nerves. Sometimes when you're not busy - it gives you too much time to amp yourself up about the audition which can interfere with your performance.
I've been a little bit off track with fitness (under statement) but I'm feeling happy as a little clam and ready to get back on track, starting with a Moksha Yoga class tomorrow morning (detox!), and a new workout schedule. Something good is in the air and I'm loving it. I'm so excited for this year.
This song KILLS ME! Give it a couple of listens and I guarantee you'll be hooked. I'm literally listening to it on repeat right now. Also - there's an amazing cover of it that's flying around Facebook right now, but this original version is incredible.
I recently shot an Independent Feature called FOOTSTEPS which I will write an entire blog about very soon. The director, Noam Kroll is an amazing man who is not only a creative genius but wonderful to work with. He called me late on Sunday night because he had an actor back out on him for a commercial shoot the next day. I really needed to get some fairly basic aspects of my life under control (ie laundry, and definitely xmas shopping) but Noam is awesome and I was happy to do him the favor. We shot on the U of T campus and luckily the weather held up for the most part and my hands only went ET on me once (I have bizarrely poor circulation...). It was especially worth spending the day shooting just to hear some exciting news about FOOTSTEPS, there is interest from some major Film Festivals (AH!). Stay tuned.
The day before the commercial shoot I had auditioned with my boyfriend for a short film called MEMORIES and we were both pretty keen on the sides. The director didn't realize that we were a couple and we decided to leave it that way. We found out yesterday that we booked the part! Shooting will be over 3 days in early January. So excited to work with my man and such a young and bright director.
Murphy's law struck pretty hard when the shoot dates conflicted exactly with my sister's bridal shower/bachelorette which I am helping to plan and partially hosting. Luckily, both of my sisters and the other bridesmaids are amazing and my initial meltdown was totally pre-mature as we have moved the entire weekend of celebrations to the following weekend.
I've been slacking pretty heavily on the running this week. Last week I ran 20K and this week I've only run 5K total. No point in dwelling on it though - going to get back on that horse tomorrow morning before work and ride into the sunset. And I'll be listening to this song to get me going (shout out to my sister Meg for introducing me to this awesome running tune)...
Good luck with the Christmas shopping! Remember: If you find yourself standing in the middle of THE GAP or some comparable store with arms full of generic t shirts in a cold sweat...put the clothing down, go to Starbucks and REGROUP! I'm not speaking from experience here or anything...
Take care, enjoy the Christmas lights and music and treat yourself to something yummy or pretty, or both!
I had the chance to meet with Canadian actor Riley Gilchrist (Degrassi the Next Generation, Being Erica) over a sushi lunch yesterday. I haven't been great about networking with people in the city but am making a concerted effort to do so more, and it turned out that this was the highlight of my week! First of all, I've recently become a die hard Being Erica fan so that in itself made me pretty hyper. Also - he was an incredibly down to earth guy who had a lot of great advice on classes in the city and was very complementary of the training I got at The Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC. The meeting left me feeling motivated and on track. And that carried into my audition for CanStage today.
I literally imagined that my acting teacher from the Playhouse was with me (sounds crazy, but it works). I did my two monologues and sang my song and aside from fumbling up one of the lines, I think it went ok! It was one of those auditions where you leave the building and the next 10-15 minutes are an absolute blur because you're on such an adrenaline rush. Fingers crossed but either way it was an excellent opportunity and it's always good practice to do a monologue audition.
I headed to work and en route stopped at the Starbucks at King and Yonge and ordered my festive special a "decaf grande half sweet skinny peppermint mocha" - it's effing delicious try it when you can. The Barista drew me a skinny chocolate man on the top and I almost spewed my rice krispy square all over the bar laughing. Amazing.
If you can tear yourself away from the Christmas tunes - Check out the album "A Different Kind of Fix" by "Bombay Bicycle Club" on itunes. This is my favorite tune of the moment but the entire album is awesome. This tune is great if you need an addition to your workout/running playlist. (Shout out to Christine Wheatley for recommending Bombay Bicycle Club to me!)
Enjoy the Christmas Lights :)
xoxo,
Allie
Weekly Goal Update:
Acting Career: CanStage Audition done! Cards sent out to industry, done. Meeting with Reel editor tomorrow, try to get it finished and sent to casting directors before x-mas!!!
Running: 12.5 out of 15 K complete
For Fun: Christmas Treeeeeeee!
Something inexplicable has happened since my 25th Birthday. I knew that at some point my metabolism would slow and my body would change a little, but nobody warned me that my once flat-as-a-pancake bum might transform into a full blown rump. And so it has. Interesting.
So I decided to run the 5K Santa Shuffle for the Salvation Army. I was encouraged by my good friend and fellow blogger Krysten (Misadventures of a Darwinian Fail) to run with her.
The weather was great, the spirit was incredible and Santa gave me a high five as I crossed the finish line of what was my very first race. Aside from accidentally throwing my iphone into the middle of the stampeded half-way through the run, it seemed to be a success! And I made my goal of completing the run in under 30 mins. I also completed what is the first step of an even larger goal, to run my first half marathon in May.
I Auditioned for a condiminium commercial yesterday with more complex dialogue than I've had to memorize for a Shakespearean piece! This should be illegal. After stumbling over the company's name a few times, I finally spewed out "TAMPAX!" and after a small rumble of laughter I was excused from the room. The funny thing is - I'm probably more likely to book that commercial than all the other ones where I left the room thinking the audition went really well! Totally unpredictable.
CanStage General audition coming up this Thursday. I've got my 16 bars of a song and 2 contrasting monologues picked out and ready to go. Wish me luck!
xoxo,
Allie
*Note to self for goal setting - make small realistic goals for short term but remember to keep the big ones within sight!
Goals - This Week
Acting Career: Mail Holiday Cards to Toronto Industry (half-done), prep for CanStage Audition, Network with people in Toronto.
Fitness: Run 15K (4.5/15 complete)
For Fun: Get a Christmas Tree!!
Goals - Longer Term
Acting Career - Audition for The Stratford Festival, book a good commercial, Act for a Living
