I need your help!

I've started an internet campaign to try and get the lead role in the film adaptation of the musical "Rock of Ages."

I figure I make an audition video, and I release it on the internet. If I can get as many people to watch it as possible, my hope is that it will eventually find its way into the hands of someone who can get me an audition or a meeting or SOMETHING.

Because, let's face it. Internet Video is kind of my thing. You know this, you've watched my videos before. Well, now I need you to send it around, get everyone you know to watch it. Let's all come together in support of my ridiculous dream!

Visit the website! Click the link below!

My Shot At Sherrie
My Shot At Sherrie
My Shot At Sherrie
My Shot At Sherrie

Shoots and Giggles

2011 is already turning out to be a pretty good year. Last Thursday I combined two of my New Year's resolutions: Get a reel, and actually do more New York-y things.

Because seriously, I've lived here all my life and I've only been to Central Park five times.

Well now, make that six. Josh, A.K.A. the guy who gave us pizza and beer at the audition for Max August, asked me to come out and shoot a short with him. Mainly because they got some lenses on loan and didn't have anything to use them on. So he grabbed me and Gary (whose back is pictured at left) to put together a little short while they're developing Max August.

We went to Central Park (so that makes six) and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, which I have never done, but have been saying "I should" for the past year. Our bridge shoot was at sundown--freakin' gorgeous.

My favorite part of filming something in public is everybody looking at you, trying to figure out if you're famous, and that moment when they realize, No, you're not important.

However, there was a young French girl with her parents on the Brooklyn Bridge, who must have been about thirteen, who made her parents stay and watch almost the entire shoot. Between one of the takes I looked over at her and stuck my tongue out and she laughed and said something to her mom in French.

We didn't end up getting all the shots we needed, so we're going to be continuing this week.

Then Sunday was my shoot for "Finding Me," with my lovely co-star Coco (yes, that is a real dog). This shoot was a lot of fun, but very indicative of the rigors of film acting.

I was up at 7am to get to Brooklyn by 9. The shots were all evening interior shots, so when I got there, the crew was taping black garbage bags over the windows to block out the daylight.

I was a supporting role, so I was not in a lot of the shots, so I spent a lot of time sitting in the dark. I kept falling asleep, and waking up just before I had to go on film.

The shoot was a lot of fun, and I got some really nice stuff, including a few tears. I'm really excited to get all of this stuff back and start putting together a reel. Next up, the second half of the short with Josh and Gary, and then a music video on Monday.

Huzzah.

"Hello life; This is what it feels like when I take you by the balls." -Jen

Upcoming Film shoots: 4

Sunday, February 20th
"Finding Me," Student film

Thursday, February 24th
"Keep the Party Going"

Monday, February 28th
Music video

And the Max August webseries, which is TBA sometime in April


Upcoming Auditions: 2

Sunday, February 13th
Student Film

Sunday, February 13th
Comedy news network

Hat Trick

I've had three auditions in the past two weeks. All of them have been for film projects, non-union, no pay. But I've been looking for stuff like that because I want to have a reel by the end of the year. A good reel, with high-quality clips that really showcase my abilities and talents.

Of those three roles, I've gotten all of them.

Every. Single. One.

I apologize for my hubris. But day-um.

The last couple of months, when it was getting cold, and auditions were pretty thin on the ground, I was having a motivation problem. I'd sit at home at night, watching YouTube clips of my favorite celebrities, talking about how they got started, and I'd feel incredibly frustrated that I was still stuck at home emailing my resume.

But I was hibernating, and I didn't want to do the work. I flaked out on a couple of auditions, though I felt like crap afterwards.

So now that holidays are over and there are plenty of auditions to go around, I've been trying this whole new, positive attitude thing.

While I'm on the subway, taking my hour-long trip for my five-minute audition, I'll listen to "Lose Yourself" by Eminem, and think to myself, "I have to buy groceries, and go to the bank, and call my Mom... but first I'm going to go get this role."

And apparently, that train of thought is working.

So now, I have two projects filming in the next couple of weeks, and one around April. And in the meantime, plenty more auditions.

I Have A Theory...

If you are at an audition, and the people running that audition offer you a beer, they are testing you, in order to find out how Awesome you are.

Because a director who offers you beer at an audition is surely Awesome, and only actors of an equal or greater level of Awesomeness can work under such Awesome direction.

So, when I turn in for the night and look back on my accomplishments for the day, will I be happy with the level of Awesomeness that I attained?

Indeed I will.

The audition was for a promo for a mock-umentary webseries. It's similar to The Office, it chronicles the production of a reality show. The audition was unconventional, but really fun.

We all arrived at the same time, and though we went into the room either one or two at a time, the majority of my time there was spent sitting with all the other actors, hanging out. They bought us pizza, soda, and (the aforementioned) beer.

The actual audition was great, too. They gave me a scenario and let me improvise it. I was supposed to be some tough-as-nails production manager with tattoos.

I cannot stress how much I want to wear temporary facial tattoos.

The Importance of Being Polite

My parents taught me a few valuable things in life. Always hold onto the banister when you go down the stairs, don't run by the pool, and good manners are hard to come by.

I had an audition today to be a featured extra in a film. Now, I've had a few chances to do extra work in the past couple of weeks, but for no money, in the kind of weather we've been having, I've passed. But this one was for a "Featured Extra" (with a name!) and they were asking me to come audition, so I figured there was probably more substance to this one.

I walked into the room and shook the Director's hand. On the far side of the room was the Producer, and between us, laid out on the floor were about 25 head shots. I felt a momentary hesitation at the thought of possibly stepping on some girl's face, but I pushed through and stepped over to shake the Producer's hand.

In that momentary lull, the Director glanced down at my resume-- which he later told me he hadn't been doing throughout auditions until the girl had left the room.

He saw that I had "Impressions" listed on my special skills. So instead of just asking me a few questions about my experience and schedule, like they'd been doing for the other girls, he asked me to do an impression.

I did Gilbert Gottfried.

They ended up having me do several more, tell jokes, and do stand-up, and while I was in the room, they developed a character for me. So now, instead of being an Extra in a bar scene, I am going to be a comedian performing during a separate scene in which everyone is watching a show.

Which means lines, more screen time, and a high-quality recording of my Gilbert Gottfried impression to put on my reel.

And all because I shook hands.