I had an audition for a feature film two Saturdays ago. My gorgeous bestie, Kimberly (not to be confused with my gorgeous sister, also named Kimberly) was probably more excited about it than I was!

Anyway, we were texting back and forth and I was telling her that now I would have to be patient and turn my attention to other things while I waited to see if I got a callback or not. She responded with the phrase “waiting for Hollywood” And so…Here’s the blog!

Kimberly suggested that people might be interested to read about what it’s like for people who are hopefuls in the entertainment business. Perhaps she’s right. If no one else reads this, she will. And besides, blogging about it is easier than a five hundred text night. :0)

When I use the word ‘hopeful’ in reference to myself and my aspirations towards an acting career, I’m not saying that I hope for fame. Seriously, fame (as many of my friends have heard me say) just seems like way too much work. What I’m hoping for is to be a steadily working actress.

I want to be able to work; to be in the background, or have a few lines, guest-star. I want to be a person that someone might see on the street and say “don’t I know you from somewhere” and have them have to think about it. I want to be recognizable, but not constantly recognized.

To this end, I go on auditions. Getting an audition, for me, is not an easy task (more on that at a later date) but I usually do pretty well when I get one. I think I did really well on this last one. That was a big relief for me. The one before that I know I totally blew and I was really bummed about that (more on crashing and burning at an audition another time, too,) but it happens, I guess.

Even though I believe I did well at this latest audition doesn’t mean that I’ll get the part. I know that. People can go on a hundred different auditions, have every line down, perform well, look great and still not get the role for some reason or another.

Directors or producers can love the acting, but still go with someone who they envision as ‘looking’ the part more closely. Or they want someone with a more extensive resume, or a more recognized ‘name.’

For the most part, I feel very lucky and accomplished. I’ve actually gotten most of the parts I’ve auditioned for, or was cast in some other role in those productions. That doesn’t happen often for most people so I know I've been really lucky.

Unfortunately, auditions aren’t very frequent for me. I have to fight a ‘type/look’ issue and a resume that has a twenty year personal hiatus where I stopped actively working in the film, television and stage industry to raise children. I don’t regret that a bit, but it does put a little damper on the resume building.

But back to actually waiting for Hollywood…I went on that audition and did well, as I said. I had the lines down, performed well…Still, that character is, as the writer/producer stated in the casting notice, “in flux.”
 
Basically, I believe, they weren’t certain if they wanted the character to be a certain age and stereo-type… I think they were planning to go by the auditioners and decide what the character would end up being like by that.
 

While waiting to hear, I keep submitting myself for other projects where I might fit the roles. Boom! I get cast for a background part in another feature film. That’s a big yeah!

I’ll be filming on location on February 5^th. That will give me something to look forward to while I wait to hear about this other role.

And what will I do if I don’t get the part I'm still waiting to hear about? Keep submitting and auditioning (when I have the opportunity,) of course! I’ll also keep up with other projects outside the acting realm. And I’ll keep doing the family thing. That never stops.

And now I have my Waiting for Hollywood blog! (Thank you, Kimberly!!!) And can fill more time with my rambling babble about my striving and waiting. I certainly won’t be bored!

So here it is! 2010! Day two is half gone and I'm feeling optimistic!

I tried to get an early start on the year...Easy enough to do, I just began everything I wanted to accomplish and be in 2010 at the end of November, 2009. I've dropped 10 pounds, so far... More to go with that! Still, I'm happy with my progress thus far. It shows! I've lost inches, people are noticing and commenting and my pants keep slipping down.

My home gym is almost finished and then I can start my hardcore fitness routine to go with the diet changes I've made. Not only am I anxious to get started with the exercise, I'm really proud of myself for remodeling that room! It's going to be awesome!

I did research in Feng Shui for success and energy building for a gym and designed the room to suit my findings. I thought it would be ugly (seriously I was forced into a yellow and bright red color scheme! Ugh!) but it really isn't! I'm also adding green plants (to increase the oxygen levels in the room) and dwarf fruit trees (for the oxygen and the fresh fruit) and a board filled with images of people in the size and shape that I have as my goal (some are even pictures from my past when I looked great... I wasn't always an over-indulgent lazy drudge!) I figure if I start to get lazy I can look up at those pictures as I work out and they will encourage me to push myself into finishing that last rep.

I finished remodeling the kids' playroom, too! And it is gorgeous! So two rooms down in the "great home remodel" project! I doubt that I will be able to get the entire house done (not to mention the front, back and side yards) and remodel the garage into another room within the year, but that will leave me with a short-term project for 2011.

In addition to the exercise and home remodeling projects, I'm still acting. I'm going to try hard to step up that aspect of my life. I have some career strategies that I've dreamed up and am going to apply. 2009 was slow in this area of my life, so I'm hopeful for 2010. I still maintain that I don't want fame (way too much work!) but I want to work, dammit!

Another area that I'm going to be focusing on in 2010 is writing. I'm awfully proud of myself for being a published (and paid!) author, but since the birth of my youngest two sons (five and six years ago) I haven't done much. Resting on my laurels isn't really my style and obviously it doesn't do much good when it comes to getting things done. I've got some ideas for some short stories brewing and they're all related in theme, so I'm planning a personal anthology. I also have several plot and character ideas for novels. And I have a really intensive idea for a series of books for both adults and children that I could be writing for the rest of my life. 

I've signed myself up as an official participant for 2010's November novel writing month (50,000 words in thirty days! We'll see!!!) but I'm not going to wait until November to get going with my writing. I've carved out a chunk of time in my daily schedule to sit and write. I'm determined to write something every single day, even if it's just a blog or journal entry (I hate journal entries.) Of course, actual fiction or nonfiction with publication as the ultimate goal is preferable.

I've started some art projects, as well... I'm planning on finishing those this year. They will really be awesome! It's my secret talent. When they're done, I'll be putting pics of them up on my website for all to admire (or criticize.) I'm not sure yet if I'll want to sell them. They're all going to be one-of-a-kinds and that will make it really hard for me to part with them. People who have seen my previous artwork have wanted to purchase, though, so I'll have to give this some serious thought.

Beyond these things... Well, I just want to be happy this year.

Honestly, last year truly sucked. My best friend of 20 plus years died, one of my kids was making me absolutely nuts and ruining his own life and future with his bad behavior, my marriage wasn't exactly on track and I crashed and burned in my quitting smoking attempt (I blogged about that fiasco and never want to write such whiny nonsense again ever!) Didn't get much done in the way of acting, writing, art or life.

I don't want this year to be like that. So goals for 2010: More acting, writing and art (a LOT more!!!) Achieving my personal preferences in weight and fitness... Home remodeling... Happy and healthy family and friendships.

I can do this!!!

Happy new year, everyone! Happy new year to me, too!