Blithe Spirit and The Full Monty

Well I finally made my way back to my blog. Although I am not thoroughly convinced I was missed. Since I finished The Butler Did It last August with Richmond Players alot has transpired.

I traveled to Qld to be a part of my brothers wedding and on my return started work at Nepean Waterside Restaurant at the Log Cabin in late September. Work was insanely busy on the build up to Christmas and with the children and their birthdays and extra activities there was not much time for anything else. So I was resigned to the fact I would not be able to perform again until 2010.

Auditions for Some Like it Hot were held in January. With not enough actors at auditions to cast for the show it was postponed until later in the year and the cast of Blithe Spirit were auditioned from the same group of actors. I was successful in being offered the role of Edith the Maid. Edith was not a principal role but a great role none the less. I did not have alot of lines as other cast members did. I perhaps took a while longer to find her then the other cast did but after a night of hot seat with the rest of the cast I finally found her. So our journey began.

Doing Blithe was an often difficult journey. I am unsure whether it was the distraction of work, or home, or working with a hard script. I am not as experienced as the rest of the cast were and learnt alot from watching them 'between scenes'. It was quiet a wordy script and I began to understand what people meant when they said how hard it was to perform 'a Noel Coward'. The first performance at Wentworth Falls was by far the best for me. By the end of the tour when we reached Wollongong I was happy we reached the end. I felt my performance was sloppy and half hearted. The atmosphere made me feel uneasy. I have again rested my script on the shelf with the rest and moved on a wiser Actor.

So now I am performing in a Musical in a non~singing role as 4 parts of the Full Monty crew. I will be playing in Act 1 .......a Jogger, a Latino Dance Instructor and a 'Young' Woman..........and in Act 2 I will be playing Toni the 'butch' niteclub owner. As I have come to realise the are no small roles only small Actors. I am looking forward to putting my whole heart into my performances and having a bit of fun with it. The cast is quite large and it will be fun to be a member of a large cast again. It is always interesting to be involved in a new company and to see how others Direct, Produce and Perform. I will also be making a few more conscience and much wiser decisions in the future. I don't know what the future holds for me in terms of my acting...........but I have a feeling there is a turn in the road just up ahead.

Blackadder

So I was wondering where to go next after Mum's the word and had heard about auditions for ' The Butler did it' at Richmond. I had known that Blackadder had already been cast for sometime so I auditioned and was told I did not fit the vision of the director, and that was okies but I was still sitting stale and getting increasingly nervous as to my next project. Carol (the director in Mum's the word) had been so kind to me, accepted my incessant phone calls as to where I should go and what I should do, offered me stage assistant in Black adder. I was elated and accepted immediately. I then received a phone call from Tracey offering me a role of Rita in 'The butler did it' due to recasting. I accepted the role and was traveling to my first rehearsal when I received another call from Carol. Due to some heart wrenching news from a fellow cast member (so many hugs her way) she needed to recast a role. With 3 weeks notice I was offered the role of young crone/old crone /witch in Blackadder. I was beside myself. was this really happening I went from nothing to insanity within a few days. I - of course - accepted straight away.

So we are now half way. We have done 4 shows at Riverside Theatre Parramatta. I am starting to become concerned. It has passed so fast. I don't want it to end. I have been swept up in the momentum of amazing actors and I adore everyone of them. Mum's the Word was a small cast of six, and there are about 12 to 15 people involved in this one. The costumes, the props, the sets, the wonderful people. Where do I go from here? How can I possibly move on? I can only hope that Carol's vision for future productions includes me...........

please comment.......xx

Ntt Productions

Yes I know it has been some time since I have last blogged. And I assure you it has not been complacency but rather a time factor. I was very lucky to have been successful in an Audion for Ntt Productions back in February. I was offered a role as Robin Nicol in the very publicised production of Mum's the Word. I was able to perform at 2 new venues - The Riverside Theatre Parramatta and Wentworth Falls, and I met some amazingly talented actors in my co - cast. It was fabulous and I learnt so much. My usual no - nerves proved fallible when I walked out on stage for the first time at Riverside and my leg began to shake. I felt silly to have been nervous after perfecting hiding it for so long. Proving that every performance is as important as the next and requires focus. I had felt the role I was cast in fit me like a glove but the venue was what had freaked me out. I was however quiet humbled by the fact we had made history being the only Amateur production of Mum's the Word in the world. I was lucky and wished it would never end. I was bought back to earth buy the request of a meeting with an Agent. Who I paid 2 tickets for attendance on opening night and they were not validated. During a meeting the previous day I was told they were interested in my talent but I was too fat to be cast in normal roles and to thin to be cast as a large actor, a suggestion of 'surgery' was also mentioned along with names of fellow peers who had 'enhanced themselves' to further themselves in the industry. Being a novice, the impact of the meeting did not hit me until further discussion with fellow actors. Feeling foolish I have listed another learning curve and moved on, however my obsessive compulsive personality has provided me the ability to - and I quote - flick the switch - and loose 5 kgs since and I must say I am still obsessed and speak constantly about it to cover my nervous embarrassment of being so 'chunky'. Perhaps my goal of 2010 being my 'year' is not so far out of reach?
moving right along now.................please comment............

Opportunities, short films and Auditions

Well time seems to be slipping though my fingers lately. Since my last blog I have been for 2 auditions. One was actually held in the Penrith Plaza behind the MacDonalds with my 9 year old daughter holding the camera. The role was highly emotive and I had to cry....not an easy task at 3 in the afternoon with your children off camera eating ice-cream and another looking at you through a mobile phone camera lens. But done none the less. Unfortunately they were looking for someone a little more slutty then I and with blonde hair. Hey if they had of really wanted me I could have vamped up the look and dyed my hair. I am learning to just accept the no and move on. No point in trying to convince someone you are better for a role then they think. it is their vision and if I am not a part of that vision then so be it. Disappointing for my son who was meant to be in it with me.........poor bugger.........

I decided to concentrate on doing a short film. I had some ideas in my head and as my late teens were not the easiest for me (or my entire first 22 years really lol) I was able to draw from some of my experiences. I had quiet a few perks of interest which really encouraged me. My older brother had a peek and asked me to hold on to it. Not that I could really do anything with it at this stage anyway. It has certainly encouraged me to write more. I have done a first draft of another one. I am about to expose my first one to be critiqued, and if all goes well I am hoping to steal a portion of my brothers brain at Christmas to finally begin the screen play on our grandfather. I am expecting to not have it finished for an entire decade soooo starting it now is probably the best option. Lucky my brother is a successfull.....about to be published..........author and I can steal his talent.

In the mean time I have just been watching opportunities walk on by. It has been a little heartbreaking. But my family comes first of course. Timing has been the operative word these days and none of it has been in sink. I have had to turn down 4 auditions and 2 film roles thus far just due to having no one to care for the children (Geoff works 7 days). But never one to give up I am determined to troupe on. Writing.........working on my show reel and playing with head shots.........

Sooo stay tuned to see what I have been up to next.........I am sure it will be BIG!!!
Lea

It was Dark and Stormy Night

So it is the end of yet another project. The play I performed in for Richmond Players ended and we said goodbye. I will really miss the comradory of doing Theatre but I really think if I am to get serious I need to concentrate on what I really want to do.........which is film. Playing Mary Shaw in It was a Dark and Stormy Night was so much fun. But i am not going to do anymore theatre until at least next year.

I have already begun moving on. I have had several opportunities arise. One was a short film role I was successful in being offered. It was for a short film headed for Tropfest new York. Unfortunately I had to turn it down due to my stage commitments. I traveled into the UTS for an audition in a short film to play a Juror, but was notified that they did not have a role to fit my profile. I did not mind, I gained valuable audition experience just by attending. I have been in talks with a lady regarding a project I may be able to act in with my son. It looks very dramatic and I actually find him in a pool of blood.........he finds it very very exciting an wants to know how they are going to make the blood........typical 7 year old boy hahaa. I am hoping to be offered the role but will not count my chickens as yet......

Finally this evening I have accomplished something even I thought was out of my own scope of capability. I wrote my very first short film. I had begun writing it sometime ago and sent it to a friend to see what they thought of it. I got such an amazing response. I told a few more friends about it (not showing anyone else) and have been offered so much in terms of producers and actors etc. And whilst I may be a novice, these people are far from it. I am very excited about and hope I am not toooooo heavily critiqued.....so......watch this space..........

Thanks for the support,
Lea

SES......Role playing for the State Emergency Service

I had a successful audition on Thursday night with the SES. At the time we were told we would be doing 3 elements........an interview, networking and finally we would be videoed role playing as SES recruits having an argument. The idea is that a group of SES recruits were finishing a course and needed to be assessed. We had to act in the 3 elements to create real life situations for them.
We arrived at Rooty Hill RSL around 2pm on Saturday the 26.07.08 for an introduction to the SES. We meet fellow actors and were briefed on the expectations of the following day. Around 6pm we moved to the function room for a 3 course meal. We then moved onto the first round of interviews before finishing for the day.
We arrived at the Rooty Hill RSL before 8:00am on Sunday the 27.07.08. We were immediately fitted into our costume (the SES orange overalls) and briefed on what would follow. We were already given several scenarios as suggestions for our conflict. The role played by my partner Nikki and I was of 2 SES officers.......both with over 10 years service.....we were friends......during a training session we have a falling out and have an argument. During the argument an SES officer enters and tries to moderate and come to a resolution. This is videoed.
After 2 sessions we moved onto more interviews, lunch, and finished the day with networking.
All in all it was an great weekend. We were told we would not receive a cash payment for our time as the State Emergency Service is a non profit organisation. However, the experience alone was worth the weekend. As we finished the day we were presented with thank you gifts. As I drove home in my car I totaled exactly the cost of my time and what I received.

I was gone for a total of 16 hours.
I received:
footage for my show reel (DVD to be posted)
1 pair of Dunlop Volleys
1 SES collectable spoon
1 SES brass drink coaster
1 SES key ring torch
1 SES pen
1 SES fridge magnet
3 fully catered for meals
as well as experience and some industry friends.

I would suggest that I actually did receive payment and it was definitely worth my while.

Insight SBS experience - Beijing Olympics & Human Rights in China

Well, what an interesting night it was. Firstly we missed the turn off and were 20 minutes late. After a quick dash in the rain, a visit to the bathroom and a touch up we were ready to enter the Green Room. A mixture of faces. Some casually dressed, some in suits, a Tibetan Monk, and a handful of people dressed similar to my friend Michele and I. We all seemed to have the same white stickers on our lapels that said 'Focus Group'. I was about to find out what this meant. A couple of big screen TVs were turned on, showing clips regarding the topic on human rights. We had just found a seat when we were asked to file into the studio. We were asked to remove our stickers and pointed out to specific seats (all Focus Group members were seated in the back row). Lisa Forest, Nova Peris, Michelle Engelsman, Marayke Jonkers and a few other VIP guests had already taken their seats. Jenny was chatting with crew. We were told if we had something to add to say during the show to raise our hand and Jenny would reach us........
I will not detail blow by blow the entire show. There was alot of interesting points made and at times the mood was low and Jenny lifted everyone whilst not losing momentum. All in all it was quite fascinating listening to the different views. The gentleman beside me was also part of the Focus Group but seemed to not be able to contain himself. He had his hand up frantically several times until Jenny finally asked him to speak. He seemed very pro China and in my opinion was taken aback by views by others regarding living in China. I listened attentively and believe I did learn a great deal.
However my goal was to be seen and thanks to my chatty neighbour I seemed to be on camera in profile for quite some time. I also received a full head view. Jenny did ask the Focus Group to voice their opinions to the camera after the show, however I could not in all honesty profess to know a great deal on the subject and preferred to have my photo taken with Jenny and I even shook Nova's hand. I would have liked to have had a photo with Marayke.....
So all in all we had a great night, got some exposure for the show reel, visited SBS studios and even learnt a little. Baby steps...that what it was a baby step.........