If you're looking for new blog entries I've been blogging regularly in my other space here. I still have lots to say! Hope you stop by. That would be most awesome.

With the impending WGA strike coming up, you'd think now would be a great time for producers and agents to gobble up all the untapped writing talent out there. Somewhere out there, under many thousands of people's beds, is a script they've written that will go unread by the powers that be. How does one go about getting their script into the hands that wield the power? I've written 2, both of which made it to the second round of judging; and one that went on to be considered in the quarterfinalists round, only to be snuffed out by the judging process. Now, I'm not complaining about the competitions; there's some really good shit out there that's most likely better than mine. What isn't better than mine is much of the crap that ends up on television and movies. Who green lights these things anyway and who are the lucky bastards who get their scripts developed? What is the process? Seriously, I want to know!

No production company, big name or otherwise, will even open an unsolicited script. That's their policy, period. Even harder, is getting an agent to read your hard work, let alone represent you. You end up stuck in query letter hell, unanswered, and in limbo. I could do the "drop off" at these agencies instead of mailing, but since this is highly frowned upon, I won't. I'm savvy enough to know that burning your bridge and shooting yourself in both of the feet that would end up in your mouth is something ya just don't do.

How does one become successful? Or at the very least, read?

Long time since I updated...apologies. My baby sister started college today. I can't believe it. I can't believe that THAT much time has passed so incredibly quickly. It's like I blinked and 18 years had gone by. It literally feels like yesterday that she was an infant and I would creep in while she was sleeping just to make sure she was still breathing in her crib. I remember not being able to wait until I could get home from school just to play with her. She was like a new toy that I was madly in love with...she was mine, mine, mine! And I kinda resented having to share her with good ol' mom. I gave her, successfully, her first and only bottle (she no lika the bottles). I was so damn funny that I caused her to squeal her first real laugh. She adored me and I adored her. She would beam when I'd walk into her room to get her after her nap; and I'm quite sure I was beaming too. I was the first person she wanted to see in the morning and she'd burst through my bedroom door at 6am and crawl into bed with me...and I looked forward to her charging through the door because she was the first person I wanted to see too. We would hang out in my room listening to music and she would do her little sit/spin dance on my bed. I cried, HARD, when she first learned how to walk...not because I was sad but because she was so cute and I was so so sooo proud of her.

And I'm still proud of her. I'm proud to say that we only grew closer over the years and I'm proud to say that she's not just my sister; she's my friend.

I made it to the big screen kids! Oh yeah. Ocean's Thirteen baby! I was that stunning blonde looking around wondering if that was an earthquake she just felt. I'm shocked I got a close up. Much of what I did for that particular moment never made it in, in fact, a LOT of what was shot was cut. For those of you who've yet to see the movie, look for me just as the earthquake starts. If you've already seen it and missed it, check it out on DVD latahhhh. I've seen it twice already. Once at an employee screening on the Warner Brother's lot...I gots connections (actually I'm married to said employee connection) and while I was there I walked right by George Clooney's Smoke House Productions office; tried to take a picture of his parking spot with my cell phone camera, but the sun wasn't havin' it and the pic didn't take well. Then again on opening night with my family and the rest of the world! I may just go again.

YAY!! *giddiness*

I've completely neglected my site by my lack of updates. With babysitting back in place I should be getting back to working on my acting career this summer, which will include (hopefully if accepted) acting classes at Playhouse West. I'll keep you posted!

Ocean's Thirteen opens this Friday, June 8th!!! Keep an eye out for me!

Life is all about choices. I’m not talking about those random instances in life when you are robbed of your choices; I specifically mean your everyday, average life. If you find that you’re happy, cool; if you’re decidedly dissatisfied, well that sucks. I imagine that if you set aside some time to thoroughly reflect on your current state of dissatisfaction, you’ll more than likely find that you made a choice or a set of choices along the way that have put you exactly where you didn’t really wish to be. That is always a disheartening revelation. Trust me. I’ve so been there done that. If you are troubled by having to live with the consequences that were created by your own behavior; at some point you're going to have to accept that you've made the bed you are lying in and no amount of wishing it to be otherwise will make it so. If you consciously make a choice that creates a negative consequence you cannot label it a "mistake". It was a choice, plain and simple. You're just unhappy that it turned out the way it did. Sorry Charlie.

If the people whom you've scorned in the past do not wish to forgive you or have chosen to forget you...accept it. Move on with your life. And choose carefully to treat those whom you claim to care for with the utmost respect, henceforth. Consider it a lesson learned. When you repeatedly insinuate yourself into the lives of those you've wronged, uninvited, you're only making a pest of yourself AND reinforce that the decision they made to cut their ties with you was absolutely the right one.

It's been eons since I updated. My apologies. Honestly though, there's not much to tell and frankly, I think I'm the only one reading my entries currently since the move. A move that was prompted because some psycho ex-friend from high school...yes high school, we won't even talk about how that was nearly 20 years ago... was stalking me on my old site. Since I can't post a link from the old place to the new without bringing that element along with me over here, I think many who were stumbling across my blog aren't able to find me now. Enough of that.

On a more productive note, I sent off my short screenplay (comedy) and my feature length (drama) to the Slamdance Screenplay Competition and a copy of the feature length to Scriptapalooza. I won't know how I do until August, but it's out there. Wish me luck! Oh yeah, and I've started writing a novel.

My background acting has hit a minor (read major) snag. I'm having babysitting issues that are preventing me from accepting and/or submiting for any work and I haven't worked on anything since Grey's Anatomy... WHICH, btw, I didn't even receive any screen time. All of that work on my stellar make up...for what? And since when did babysitters start making $15 fucking dollars an hour??? Are you serious? So that you can sit on my couch, watch my tv, eat all of my food, and most likely ignore my children? Fifteen dollars...dream on!

On a personal note (as if all of what I write isn't personal!), I acquired 3 nephews in less than 2 weeks since the last time I posted. That has got to be some kind of record!

UPDATE: Part 2 of the Grey's Anatomy episode has aired since this last entry and I made it to the small screen! For those of you who Tivo'd, I can be seen in the moments leading up to the first commercial break...critically wounded on a gurney while "McDreamy" questions the little blonde mute girl...what was up with her not speaking anyway? I kept waiting for them to elude to the purpose of her McSilence, and nothin'.

So I'm sitting in my kitchen yesterday, my hairdresser meticulously applying bleach filled foils to my head (shhh...don't tell), and she innocently mentions how her own mother took over Christmas morning. She spoke probably all of four sentences about the incident. It was funny. I laughed. Hard. Then my mind took off and before I knew it, I had a whole story screaming to be typed into my Final Draft Screenwriting software. I sat down with my trusty laptop today and 3 hours later ("Gilligan's Island", "A Three Hour Tour" is playing somewhere off in the distance)...a 10 minute short screenplay ready to be entered in the Slamdance Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. If drawing from your own experiences to write doesn't inspire you...draw from others', and just fill in the blanks.

I've had a couple of requests via email and the like asking for details regarding my time on the set of Grey's Anatomy. Unfortunately it's really difficult to do so without revealing too much of the plot. And really, if you're an avid watcher of the show, you don't really want to know what's gonna happen, do you? Don't you want to be surprised? Besides which, confidentiality agreement or not, it's generally understood by those who work on a set not to discuss, in too much detail anyway, what happens.

I can tell you how they applied my makeup (prosthetics, glue, and the hand of a theatrical makeup god...picture located in a previous post below), how long it took (about 25 minutes) and how they got it off (a slow, methodical process involving chemicals, brushes, and surprisingly, baby wipes). I can tell you I was a critically injured victim, but I can't say a victim of what. I can tell you I was strapped to a gurney for the majority of the three days (which, by the way, limited my ability to really see what was going on around me).

I can tell you which cast members were there...George, Izzy, Meredith, and McDreamy (what's with all the "Mc", McAnyway?). What I can't tell you is the location, nor can I describe the set because there's no way to do it, even in a limited way, without saying too much. You wouldn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out (although I know just how brilliant you all are!).

So there you have it. Or not. Depending on how ya look at it! Once the episode has aired I'll go into more detail, but for now...we wait. And I keep-eth my mouth-eth shut-eth.

So here we are, more than a couple of weeks into the new year and a good time to reflect on the events of the past year. I had such an amazing 2006! Nothing I would have ever, EVER dreamed of! I completed a screenplay that made it to the second round of judging in the Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. I didn't win. I didn't even place. But I don't give a crap! It was the first time I ever wrote a script. Ever! And the judges at the AFF decided it was worthy of not one but two go 'rounds. That is great for me. I'm proud of myself. I'm able to look at the story objectively and see that it is missing that "something". So, I'll work on it some more and make it mo' betta. More bad ass-er, if you will. I continue to work on a second screenplay that I think is going to totally blow the judges away at AFF this year. But we're not talking about this year...I digress...

Acting is one of those things that I've always dreamed of doing but just never took the time to do anything about. I've been busy with things like raising a family. Now I know that working as a background actress, I'm not really an actress, but I get to be on the set and learn how things work. I get to meet some amazing people who are passionate about what they do (and some who are just there for the snacks, but we'll not discuss them)...people who offer words of encouragement, give gifts of advice, and who genuinely wish you success. With the help and support of my incredible family, I'm able to pursue my dreams. Many, mucho, mucho thanks to them! My kids think I'm a movie star and that is A-OK with me.

On my first ever background job in the movie Cougar Club, I got a featured part!

I got to be a part of Ocean's 13! I mean, how freakin' cool is that? I got to be within arms reach of some of the hottest people in Hollywood. Steven Soderbergh is a classy guy. Al Pacino is fiercly passionate about what he does and watching him work is more beneficial than any acting class anyone could take. You could learn everything you need to know after spending one day on the set with this legend. George Clooney is funny, charming, witty, devistatingly handsome, and has an amazing ability to be just an average guy at the same time.

Then came Charlie Wilson's War in which I earned my first SAG voucher! A testament to being in exactly the right place at the right time...and wearing the right wardrobe. Two more and Screen Actors Guild here I come! I got to meet Mike Nichols, have Tom Hanks joke around with me, and witness how breathtaking Julia Roberts is up close and in person.

I also was fortunate enough to work on some of television's most popular shows. Studio 60. Gilmore Girls. And Grey's Anatomy. It's been a great year, and even if my entertainment career, be it acting or writing, never goes any farther than this, I'll always be grateful for what it was... because I tried.

Hello there! How'dya like the new digs? I've finished moving all of my content from my other blog to here, so chances are (if you're a friend or family) you've already read it already. I'll keep the place updated just like the old one. I'm still trying to figure out how things work behind the scenes here. If you have any comments, requests, or suggestions, please post a comment below. Thanks for stoppin' by!

Ciao!

A disturbing image from my second day on the set of Grey's Anatomy. Thought I'd share...and yes, that is a chunk of glass sticking out of my face. Well, not really glass. It just plays glass on TV. (click on the pic for a larger image)

Update: This episode will air Thursday, February 8th at 9pm on ABC.

It's getting close to the end of Scrubs' holiday hiatus and still no word if I'm needed back for my scene that they didn't get around to pre-hiatus. In the meantime, I've been booked as an accident victim on Grey's Anatomy starting this Wednesday! This will be my first experience with special effects makeup...should be fun! Stay tuned.

The holidays have got to end. If I eat one more piece of See's candy, one more slice of pie, one more cookie, or anymore succulent morsels I may just explode! How I've made it through the gorging and still fit into my jeans is beyond me. Aside from spending time with friends and some family that I hadn't seen in years, I'm ready for the partying to be over. The holiday spirit even took priority over work when I was booked as a grieving mother for an episode of "Scrubs" the Friday before Christmas, as the cast and crew wrapped early for their own holiday party. I was invited to join them, which I did, since they weren't terribly motivated to shoot many scenes. Hopefully I'll be asked back when they return from their 2 week hiatus. I hope you all enjoyed your holiday season!

Happy New Year to you all!!!

The "gamblers" are being recalled to the set of Ocean's 13 Tuesday and Wednesday of next week! And just an FYI: As I understand it, the trailer for Ocean's 13 will debut in theaters December 22nd with the feature Night at the Museum (source: Clooney Studio).

A shot of me on the set of Charlie Wilson's War, channeling Krystle Carrington in my Dynastyesque attire. Even Tom Hanks himself pointed at me, snapped his fingers and exclaimed, "Linda Evans!". I didn't have the heart to tell him that I had heard that several times in the last two days. The photo was captured by a fellow castmember's cell phone camera. It's funny how many compliments this dress received considering I couldn't stand the thing!

I love my life! I've been cast as an upscale Texas party goer for the new Mike Nichols feature, Charlie Wilson's War. A chance, once again, to work with some Academy Award winners...Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and of course, the director, Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?). It takes place in the 1980's, so my wardrobe isn't as snazzy as my Ocean's Thirteen garb. Unless, of course, you still consider the fashion of Dynasty snazzy. If you do, well, I'm afraid there is no hope for you. We're talkin' big shoulders, bold colors, busy beaded work, some kind of metallic fabric that I haven't been able to figure out, and let's not forget, really big hair and a whole lotta makeup. Should be fun! Kinda like getting ready for Halloween.

On a side note: I have yet to see my Gilmore Girls episode because of a Laker game. I will have to wait until Saturday, the 25th to see it, and apparently everyone I know who doesn't live on the west coast has already seen it. Oh, the unfairness of it all! Damn Lakers. Although, they were playing the Clippers...yeah, I'll blame the Clippers. Damn Clippers!

We're once again officially wrapped on Ocean's Thirteen. "We" meaning the gamblers in the casino. I've no idea what else needs to be done. We just did a couple of pick up shots today that included Bernie Mac and "Yen". Not much to write home about but apparently the shots will make Mr. Soderbergh's life smoother come edit time. Again, I cannot say enough good things about the cast and crew...such a wonderful experience all the way around.

Speaking of experiences, on my lunch break today I met Mr. Timothy Busfield from Studio 60 (shot on Ocean's neighboring sound stage). When I say I met him, I mean that he walked right up to me and introduced himself! As we shook hands I thought how I really am living the dream. I'm hoping he'll remember me if I'm ever cast as an extra on Studio 60!...Throw me a line? Recurring role? Stranger things could happen. It can't hurt to have caught the attention of the director/producer/actor. *fingers crossed*

My apologies for not providing an update regarding my last day on the set of Ocean's Thirteen. Frankly, there wasn't much to tell. We did a couple of hours of evening exterior casino shots with the marvelous Al Pacino. It was a thankfully short evening since it was a might chilly out! But....

We are being recalled yet again, tomorrow, for some more casino shots and I will be there! Ocean's Thirteen...the gift that keeps on giving! In the meantime, I worked on the show Gilmore Girls in the role of a "PR Woman" and that should air sometime in November. If you're looking for me I'll be the woman wearing the black skirt suit, pearl choker necklace and earrings, with my hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail...looking very official. I will post the exact date once I'm certain.

Stay tuned!

The cast and crew of Ocean's Thirteen must have missed me as much as I've missed them. Well, maybe not, but some of us are needed back for a pick up shot on Wednesday evening at Warner Brothers...I am one of those people. Hit me baby, one more time!