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?

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