It’s my birthday!! I spent the first half of today writing (what’s new) and the second half with my family and boyfriend. Dinner was amazing, the cheesecake was divine, and my gifts were perfection.

 

And, of course, I couldn’t help but look back on the last year, what I’ve accomplished, who I’ve met, how I’ve changed, and where I’m going. August brings my consecutive string of filming months to a grand total of 12 now. I shot a short film in Brooklyn a few weekends ago, and we’re set to shoot some pick up scenes in September. I’ll have footage from some of my recent films to add to my reel soon, so stay tuned for updates.

 

I also met with another casting director, Candice Alustiza, at the Actor’s Green Room and am going to be signing up for additional classes, workshops, and voice over intensives in September at a few different schools.

 

But right, back to the last year -

 

After my birthday last year, I told myself that I would devote the next year to films, and I did just that. It has been an incredible (and exhausting) experience. For this year? I want to continue that intense dedication, together with my agent, who I also met and signed with this past year.

 

In regards to writing, I did a lot more copywriting and ghostwriting than I had first intended, and while I am extremely pleased with the body of work that I have put out, I know that my true passion lies in my creative writing, my thesis (which will complete my master’s degree), and my magazine, The Vigilant Monkey, that had to take a hiatus because of some of the craziness that the past year also brought. So now that I’ve focused on every form of writing but the writing that really drives me, it’s time to change direction. As the summer comes to a close, I know exactly where my priorities are and what goals I have to reach. That’s something to smile about.

 

So the last year? Was a great year. And now? To an even better one.

I just finished a very long, but very enjoyable, week of shooting in New Jersey, NYC, and Queens. I played one of the lead roles in the short film Legacy, due to be finished in September. We had four days that ran more than 12 hours, so to say I am still a bit exhausted is an understatement.

 

This month now brings my filming streak to 11 straight months of shooting short and independent films. When I was cast in my first film last August and started filming in September, I couldn’t have imagined that I’d be going for this long without stopping. And I don’t even always realize it because I’m just going from project to project, but when I step back to take it all in, I know that I’ve made some very big strides in my acting career. Here’s to the streak continuing…

 

I also met Philip Huffman, associate casting director of Law & Order: SVU, yesterday at an Actors Connection workshop. Not only was he super nice, but he gave some great critique on everyone’s sides. And I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the side I was given (they were all chosen in advance, based on our headshots and resumes) – a tough bartender getting interrogated about the untimely demise of a patron. Aahh, to actually get a scene on the show…soon enough!!

 

I also started the Monday night agent class at the Actor’s Green Room last week. We got to work with Patrick Goodwin of Telsey + Company, and this past Monday we worked with James Calleri of Calleri Casting. Next week we’re going to be working with Cristina Martinez from Adrienne Stern Casting.

 

And back to work we go…

Summer is officially here!! But while my family and friends all seem to be going on vacation, I have inadvertently made this the time to kick everything into high gear. As an example, we’ll take acting…

 

1) I attended a workshop last week at The Actor’s Green Room with Faryn Einhorn, Associate Casting Director for Law & Order: Criminal Intent. It was my first time attending an event at this particular networking studio, and I was more than impressed. The class size was kept really small, the Q&A with Faryn was very conversational, our sides were sent to us with a good amount of time to prepare, and all of our auditions were videotaped and emailed to us within minutes of our reading for Faryn.

 

2) I just started a four-week seminar with Kim Miscia, casting director of, among other things, the television series Gossip Girl and the film Bella. I had a 3-hour intensive with her back in April and am happy to have the opportunity to work with her for a lengthier period of time.

 

3) I’ve also signed up to meet with and read for Philip Huffman, Associate Casting Director of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, in mid-July at Actors Connection. I’m excited about the workshop, especially since it’s been just about a year since I worked with Jonathan Strauss, Casting Director of SVU.

 

4) I’ve been cast in two short films shooting this August, both for the Art Institute of NYC.

 

5) I have a little, but substantial, pile of letters to send out to casting directors of currently filming or soon-to-be filming television and film productions. Thank you, Backstage, for giving me every reason to be proactive.

 

6) I also signed up (with all this time I don’t have) to meet with four new casting directors in July at The Actor’s Green Room. I’ll keep you updated…

 

7) I haven’t had time to go to too many self-submitted auditions (as opposed to an audition from my agent; if he says I have an audition, I drop everything and go!!), but for the ones I have been invited to and been able to attend, I’ve been very happy with my performances. I still find the audition process to be one of the strangest things I’ve ever done and will ever do – very dance-monkey-dance – but when I go in there, I go all out; and when I walk out, I forget about it, and move on to the next one.

 

8 ) My headshot photographer, Sam Khan of Image Works NYC, won Backstage’s Readers’ Choice Awards in NYC for the category of Favorite Headshot Photographer Under $400. It’s much deserved!! Check out the article, and visit his two websites (and look for me!!) at www.skheadshots.com and www.imageworksnyc.com.

 

So yes, one thing keeps turning into the next. But while I couldn’t be more thrilled, I’m starting to get antsy for more substantial pay and bigger screens. Is that so wrong?

Resume? Check. Website? Check. Reel? Check =)

 

After one too many requests for a non-existent reel and new footage being sent my way from some of my recent films, I'm excited to announce that I finally have a reel to showcase my work. Right now, it's hosted on Vimeo, and it will also be featured on my Acting page. Let me know what you think, and, as always, thank you for your support!!

 

 

In other news, I finally got a chance to send some follow-up postcards to casting directors I have met in the past year. I also signed up for a class with Kim Micsia, casting director of projects like Gossip Girl, Bella, and Bored to Death, at TVI Studios, set to start in June. And I'm looking into classes at T. Schreiber Studio and One on One NYC. Not to mention, I have to get back to taking classes at Penny Templeton Studio, where I did my first on-camera work and met my current agent =)

 

Any suggestions on what classes to take/where to take them?

 

Now for writing and the rest of my life: I've been doing a ton of copywriting and ghostwriting, but not nearly as much creative writing as I'd like to be doing. Time to look over my goals again? I think so. Two upcoming projects/partnerships will hopefully kick my butt in the right direction. One is a screenplay, the other a fiction novel. At the latest, these will get off the ground in June.

 

Oh, and with the start of May, the adventure season has officially begun. We ran a 5K last weekend and ran a very short distance in a marathon to catch a train (long story). Next up are a host of more 5K races, a triathlon, a few bike tours, a couple of adventure races, and some sick obstacle courses.

 

Now if only I could find some time to sleep…

 

I was thrilled to find out this past week that one of the films I shot was recently nominated for several awards at the 6th Annual Baldwin Awards in Boston. Although Maroon & Gold will officially be cut as a two-part, feature-length film, it was submitted to the film competition as two individual short films, one Maroon and one Gold. 

 

Maroon was nominated in three categories: Best Acting, Editing, and Cinematography.

 

Gold was nominated in five categories: Best Acting, Editing, Cinematography, Drama, and Screenplay.

 

And the winner is…Gold for Best Acting!!

 

Congratulations to the amazingly talented cast and crew who worked for more than three months rehearsing, shooting, and editing. I look forward to seeing the final film and getting to hang out with everyone again.

Happy New Year!!

 

Things are still busy – always a good thing – but I'm working extra hard on getting and staying organized this year, both personally and professionally. When you're doing so much and you have so much more that you want to be doing, it's far too easy to get bogged down doing…not very much at all. For instance, that pile of receipts that was building up for the greater portion of last year took several tedious, undisturbed hours to sort through and make sense of – two good hours that I could've spent being far more productive in the creative realm. But nevertheless, it got done, and I couldn't have been more thrilled. Note to self: Don't let paperwork build up, ever, unsorted, unchecked, unmonitored. Lesson learned.

 

I recently signed up for the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) International Winter Conference in NYC at the end of January. The last time I went was…two years ago? Since then, my writing goals changed a bit, from concentrating on my novel to working on freelancing, ghostwriting, and copywriting projects, which I am doing all of now. But while I love my current work, I'm aching to complete my children's literature novel. The idea is that this conference is the kick in the pants I need to sit down, tough it out, and finish my manuscript by, dare I say it, May 2010.

 

As for acting, we finished filming on a NYFA short film this past week. Nothing says commitment like 1 AM call times and bitterly cold temperatures in Central Park. I have gained a new level of respect for warm socks, winter boots, and the power of layering.

 

Also, we're happy to announce that the two-part film we're shooting in Boston, where I play one of the leads, has now been moved up to feature-length status and will be ready for festival submission by mid-February.

 

Stay tuned for more headshots, my updated reel, and additional writing excerpts to be up on the site soon!!

 

- Melissa

It has been an amazingly busy few weeks!!

 

I was just cast in my third film, this time in a supporting role. It's a short being shot in January in NYC.

 

I also went back out to Boston for more shooting on a two-part film we're doing out there. And I even got to check out a rough cut of the trailer last week. After some more pick-up shots in January, the final product should be finished by February.

 

As for writing, we have been busy working on The Vigilant Monkey. I'm looking forward to creating new advertising relationships in the new year.

 

And finally, I am thrilled to announce that I am now signed with Michael Rodriguez of The Roster Agency. I first met Michael last year when he came in to speak to my on-camera acting class at the Penny Templeton Studio. By total chance, we ran into each other again at a headshot workshop at TVI Studios last month and once more at an Actors Connection seminar. Words cannot adequately describe just how happy I am to be working with him =)

 

2009 has been an amazing year, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make it such an experience. Have a Merry Christmas, enjoy the festivities these next two weeks, and I'll see you in 2010!!

 

- Melissa