MOVIES: Playdate & WER (and more)

The last week of March was pretty incredible for me work-wise… I was shooting a guest star spot on The Mentalist, which started about 3 days after wrapping on BONES, and we were shooting on the beach up in Malibu, which is beautiful… but also translates to basically no cell reception for a great number of hours. When we finally did wrap, I grabbed my stuff, and started driving down the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway… and my cell phone lit up with messages. I started to listen to the succession of things that had happened since that morning… And it was honestly rather dreamy…  I found out I had officially gotten a part in a movie called WER that I’d been auditioning for for WEEKS, and I also learned I had been offered the leading role in a movie I hadn’t even read yet- but sounded awesome- and they needed an answer that night! I was freaking out…  I didn’t fully understand even what the project was… but I knew some of the people involved and I respected and trusted them… and so I had a very good feeling.

Now it’s a few couple weeks later and my life has been going 100mph so I haven’t had a second to sit down and process it til now! The second movie I booked has pretty much consumed my life since that day… it’s a dark comedy called PLAYDATE and it’s kind of like Mean Girls except with young moms, kind of? I play Amy, and I can honestly say it’s the single best role I’ve ever had There is so much to work with and I tear up with gratitude every day when I drive home from work… I cannot believe I am #1 on the call sheet either, yes I am dorking out about this!!! It’s been just over ten years since I came to L.A. and for me, this is an incredible accomplishment. I get to the end on SO MANY THINGS and it always seems that the part goes to a “Name Star” which is such a Catch-22, because you can’t really become a name without someone taking a chance on you. Of course, it’s also an intense responsibility- I’m in every single scene, and I have just under a billion lines to memorize. That said, I am grateful and present and aware of every single moment of it… and though it’s been challenging at times (since we’re shooting on a low budget and it’s a passion project for many involved) it’s truly been wonderful for me… I am loving my fellow cast members, our producers, our crew, and our director, the fabulous Melanie Mayron. And of course, our writer, Melissa, whose script cracks me up and makes me cry every day as I work like hell to bring it properly to life. 

Moving on, I am scheduled to leave for ROMANIA (so exciting!!!) the first couple weeks of May to start shooting the other movie WER- which (thank dog!) had its start date pushed back due to scheduling conflicts with other stuff on their end- meaning I am able to do both (I still can’t believe they didn’t conflict.) I *love* this role also (it’s SO different!) as well as the people involved, and am really looking forward to doing it- and of course, exploring a new country. Plus, I will have just a couple weeks between the end of one movie and the beginning of the next which is kind of a dream come true for me also… Since the worst part about being an actor (for me anyway) is truly not knowing when your next job is going to come … so this has been pretty freaking fantastic all around. Especially after the crappy year I had last year. However, I am still grateful for that since it spurred me to get new agents which I believe is why I am seeing so much more work… and that change was long overdue, honestly.

Anyway, rounding out the cherry on the top is the great news that I booked several voice-over jobs as well recently, and my wonderful v/o agents have arranged it so that I can record these on my days off between the movies, aka I heart them very much! All in all, I am definitely reminded of the saying that in the business of acting, it’s typically FEAST or FAMINE. All I know is I am grateful to everyone who cares to support and believe in me (from friends and fam, to agents… casting directors, etc) and also that… well, all these analogies have made me kinda hungry. So yeah… I must go eat now- will write again soon when I have more career news to share- and thank you, thank you, thank you.. I am definitely not taking this moment for granted.

xo

~me

GUEST STAR: The Closer (TNT)

Well I am newly obsessed with The Closer on TNT. Quite possibly the nicest cast and crew I have ever worked with!? I couldn’t believe how gracious and kind and cool everyone was. I had a really fun part, albeit kinda quick… but thinking about it from their end… They have SO MANY guest stars who come in and out… and they’ve been on for a very long time! So I definitely did not expect anyone to really care about getting to know me in the short amount of time I was there… But wowza! Not only did everyone welcome me with open arms, the director even let me have a take where I literally got to play around and do what I wanted (so cool!?) Seriously… may be in my top 5 guest star experiences ever! With the first of that list probably being… THE MULLETS- a short lived series that very few people watched that I guest starred on many, many moons ago. But honestly the most hilarious job I have ever had. I played a Stunt Woman named Stephanie (!) and in the course of one episode was axed in the stomach, blown up, and got to punch a bunch of people. And make out with a guy in a mullet. Which reminds me that I also made out with a dinosaur (pretending to be a human) as well as a Caveman (several times)… But I digress. My point is… I have a strange job. No! My point is… right- I loved working on The Closer.  I watched a bunch of episodes online prior to working on it to familiarize myself with the tone and feel of the show (I often do this before I audition for a show, anyway) but I don’t normally watch more than 1 or 2 episodes in a row. And I skim through them. In this case, I watched 3 eps and barely Fast Forwarded… maybe even set my DVR to record it. And get this- Kyra owns a pit bull. I know, I know, I shouldn’t just automatically love her (right?) But I did, before I even met her. And then… she was just as awesome, if not more so, then I could have hoped for. Anyway- will let you all know when I know when the episode will air. It was called “Relative Matters” and my character’s name was Claudia. And Claudia was a fun one to play

GUEST STAR: The League; a couple of Indie Movies; and… long overdue update!

Ahhh! Happy Summer to you all. Hope you’ve been enjoying it so much you’re behind on all your blogging as well

What fun job stuff can I tell ya? Last month I filmed a fun li’l guest star spot on the FX show “The League”– which was a unique and cool experience… First time ever showing up to a set and having no idea what I was doing that day. They improvise most of their dialogue- so I did not get a script the night before. And while you know the gist of the scene and what your character’s main intent/function is… they truly allow you to play! Since I love improv, this was exciting, though I wish I’d had more to do, because it *was* so much fun and freeing!  Actors on shows like these are definitely lucky duckies in my book…  how neat to get paid on a regular basis to have so much fun. The title of the particular episode I am in is called “The Au Pair” and while I don’t know when it will air just yet- I do know it’s on Thursday nights on F/X!

Then, a couple weeks ago, I worked on an indie film currently called “Republic of Two”- which I think is a good name for the film actually. I don’t know quite why I said ‘currently called’- maybe because all the indies I do seem to get their names changed when they get picked up for distribution. And by all…  I really mean just the 3 we’ve produced now that I think about it? “The Thirst” became Bloodwars… “Disarmed” became Special Ops- and we just found out recently that “Project Fear” is going to be renamed Absolute Fear when it gets released in the late fall/early winter. At least, that is when I think they said it’s coming out? I will check in about that, too.

And shortly before THAT, I worked on a short film called “The Number Nine” with a great group of people. I’m not sure how much I can say about that just yet, but when they release more info I will

What else? Hmmmmm…… Angel City Pit Bulls is going well! Have to admit, it takes up A LOT (too much?) of my time and energy so I am trying to get some balance back. Just so hard, knowing how many are in need, and sometimes I feel like such a small drop of water in an ocean of sadness Ewwww. Depressing. Sorry. To try and combat this, I am truly trying to expand upon the education and awareness part of our non-profit, and not just the rescue aspect, which can be very emotionally draining (but also rewarding, beyond words.) Am working on some cool P.S.A.’s to promote positive awareness and perception of the breed, along with responsible ownership. And we’re also starting a new program at the South LA Shelter this weekend to teach volunteers how to work with, train, and care for the pit bulls. So am excited about that. And of course nervous about how many we may fall in love with while we are there. Especially since we are so full on a regular basis. Anyway, I will stop rambling about that- but if you want to learn more- pls do click here to check out our website.

Lastly- am super excited to be back to work on Young Justice Season 2! And still working on The Croods with Dreamworks… Oh how I LOVE the v/o jobs. I just want to do more and more and more. They are so much fun and I get so jazzed every time I work, truly.

Alright, on that note, I must go study my lines for tomorrow’s auditions. Oh wait! That reminds me… I changed agencies a little while back also. After 8 years (though there was a change in ‘management’ during that time so it almost felt like 2 different places) I left Paradigm and signed with APA. So far so good. It was time. New, positive energy only brings more of the same… and I am looking forward to the months ahead. I’ve had a string of close calls these past few months, where I seem to get down to the wire and it’s between me and one other person… but I have faith my time will come. I have to…

Still truckin’

~Stephanie

M&R: The best birthday gift of all…

A couple days ago I celebrated my birthday by asking friends to join me for some tasty wine, even tastier cheese, and lots of cuddles with a dozen fabulous doggies I personally know and love that are currently available for adoption! For me, it was a glorious night, with so many shiny happy people having fun, loving  doggies, taking pics with them and forwarding those pics to friends of friends. My goal was to raise money for the charity, build awareness of the death sentences facing so many innocent homeless pets, and– of course– find some beloved rescues their new fur-ever homes

Since I started volunteering several years ago with the Best Friends Animal Society, I have truly seen / experienced / benefited from /and been inspired by the *amazing* (& tireless!) work these volunteers do both in the shelters and beyond (fostering rescues, taking them to weekly mobile adoption events, caring for their medical issues, rehabilitating those who have been abused, training them, and getting them ready for their new lives and homes that they so deserve!) Always an animal lover and with 2 gorgeous rescue dogs of my own, it’s a cause that is near and dear to my heart.  Sadly, the animal shelters of Los Angeles are almost always full, and many beautiful, wonderful, loving pets are euthanized due to overcrowding and need for space. While I know this is supposed to be “humane”, it sure doesn’t feel that way– when so many innocent lives are unnecessarily being terminated… daily. There are ways to combat this, and I love the BFAS’s approach. In addition to funding and coordinating the rescues of so many pets, they have also created some fantastic campaigns to help end this cycle of sadness and death. Below I have listed some of my favorites, which I encourage you to click on and learn more about:

No More Homeless Pets: Our Mission to Save Lives

First Home Forever Home

Helping people provide a loving, forever home for their pets

Focus on Felines

Keeping cats safe and out of shelters

Puppies Aren’t Products

Exposing the puppy mill / pet store connection and encouraging adoption

Pit Bulls: Saving America’s Dog

Restoring the image of pit bulls and challenging breed discrimination

Learn more about this campaign

The last campagin is very near and dear to my heart, since both of my dogs are “Pittie Mixes” and they are truly the most loving, loyal, and wonderful little men I have ever encountered.

<—— I mean… just look at these cuddle bugs!?

So without further adieu, I just want to say THANK YOU for reading this today, and supporting this cause. It’s truly the best birthday gift I can ask for.

XO XO XO,

Stephanie

Thanks for your support! Your support today means we’re one step closer to creating a world where there are No More Homeless Pets. There are many flexible and convenient options – whether you want to sponsor an animal or make a Gift of Life and Love, there is something for everyone! Your gift to the animals provides food, shelter, loving care and so much more! Go Members are some of Best Friends’ best friends! Go Make a gift in honor or memory of friends, family members, or a pet. Choose from a variety of e-cards to let them know. Go Choose from hundreds of animals to find your perfect match! Go Monthly gifts ensure that we can continue to help animals with special needs. Stay up-to-date with these featured friends on the Guardian Angel web pages. Go Celebrate the life of a loved one by making a gift in their memory. Go
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M & R: 2010 Pilot Updates

This week the UPFRONTS are taking place in NYC… which is when all the major networks announce which TV pilots they are picking up for the fall (or midseason) schedule. Having been involved with two completely different pilots this year, I am pleased to share that BOTH “Bleep My Dad Says” and “The Whole Truth” have been picked up for series– on CBS and ABC, respectively. Both shows were well-written, well-cast, well-directed– and I feel very blessed to have worked on each, regardless of the outcome– which for me, unfortunately, has been rather bittersweet… I think it’s best summed up like this:

“Life’s not always fair.

Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow.”

~Cherralea Morgen

So what happened? In a nutshell, CBS has decided to “retool” the pilot– and rewrite the character of one of the 2 sons on “Bleep My Dad Says”– and sadly, since my character was an extension of the one they are replacing… my character no longer exists. I played the younger son’s best friend and future love interest, and while a version of that character may be brought to life one day down the line in the NEW son-character’s life… there is no way of telling, right now, without having that new guy written or cast, who will be the right person to star opposite him. It’s definitely a tough pill to swallow, but that is show biz, and I certainly have been taught (after many years in this crazy biz!) that there are no guarantees, other than that there are no guarantees… and one should always be prepared to expect the unexpected. My heart is thrilled for the rest of the cast and crew however, who are nothing short of awesome, and with whom I hope to work again someday! So fingers crossed in that arena.

And as far as “The Whole Truth” goes– they are recasting the lead actress in that series as well (reposting an article about that in a sec!) However, am feeling positive about this news (admittedly the other news got me nervous!) since my part in this show is connected to the role of the Defense Attorney (whereas she played the Prosecutor)– so am thinking my character’s team should not really be affected…  Anyway, am looking forward to growing in the recurring role of Rhonda, as this series develops!

Until then, I am very thankful for everyone’s support…  and, of course, will continue to pound the pavement for every job opportunity I can get! I wonder how many other careers out there entail so much of their job being dedicated to GETTING A JOB, but I digress and leave you with a couple more quotes, which pretty much sum up how I feel today…

“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same.

Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”

Don Williams, Jr.

To be successful in show business, all you need are fifty good breaks.

~Walter Matthau

MEDIA: tarte make-up, guest blog #2

Click here

for Part 2

of my tarte guest blog, called…

“Getting into Character”

xo

GUEST STAR: GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)

It’s currently pilot season in Los Angeles (which is basically when way too many actors scramble to get way too few parts in a way too short time span) and I– like everyone else in the game– have, of course, been running all over town auditioning like crazy! And somehow– in the midst of all the madness– I’ve had the incredible fortune to land a guest spot on the wonderful show that is the Ghost Whisperer! Whether or not you watch the show, I wanted to say… that they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. Seriously, it’s almost… weird!? Ha! Being a guest star on a show is not unlike being a guest in someone’s home. The best analogy I can give is when you are a kid and you have a playdate at your friend’s house. The thing is, you and your friend know each other… but sometimes they have siblings, or a pet, or a neighbor, or SOMETHING or SOMEONE that may not really love having you there, and they may have varying degrees of letting you know this. I’ve guest starred on some shows where I just did my “bit” and then “bit my lip” if you know what I mean… and then some where it was easy, breezy and lots of fun. However, this experience, so far, as been uniquely lovely and bears its own mentioning… Last Monday night, the entire cast and crew celebrated their 100th episode, and to mark the accomplishment they had a fantastic party… and I was beyond touched that they would invite me!? But they did! My husband and I attended and were welcomed as if we worked there weekly. Which in this town… feels very special, very rare… and meant a whole real lot. Anyway, I am still in the midst of shooting, AND simultaneously auditioning for pilots, so I promise to update more soon. In the meantime, if you haven’t seen this show, give it a shot… they deserve it Thanks for reading… as always. I’ll let you know when the episode I’m doing airs just as soon as I find out! xo

MEDIA: tarte make-up, guest blog #1

So fun! Click here to read Part 1 of my new Guest Blog for tarte Make-up!

MEDIA: Lock & Mane

At the start of 2010– in preparation for pilot season and getting new pics and for this whole website thingy– I took part in a really fun photo shoot– which (believe it or not) is a very strange sentence for me to write… since I kind of LOATHE taking photographs! People often say to me, “You’re an actress, taking pictures must be easy!?” But in actuality, it’s the exact opposite…  When you take a photo, you are being YOU– not a character (which I much prefer)…. and also, you have to sit still… which is– well– WAY TOO HARD for an energizer bunny like me!

However…  I was overdue for new pics and needed to get out of my head since this attitude truly does not serve me or my career… So! I enlisted the help of some fabulous friends and artists, including talented photographer, Suzanne Campbell, and make-up/ hair stylist, Coco Yuon (who also worked on our movies Project Fear & Disarmed) With their help– for the first time ever… I didn’t freak out and get all nervous and take a whole bunch of horrifying photos… (Thank you ladies for making this possible!!!) I was also incredibly lucky to get some MAJOR help from the team at *tarte* (they came up with some how-to-get-this-look GUIDES for different characters I often find myself playing using their fabulous make-up products… and even asked me to go a guest blog about the experience which I will post soon!) And if that weren’t enough, I also got some amazing hair stuff from LOCK & MANE… You know what? I *could *say more, but they truly do explain it best themselves, so without further adieu, I give you the link to Lock & Mane’s fun blog– Enjoy!!!

M&R: Why the Website?

“In free countries, every man is entitled to express his opinions and every other man is entitled not to listen.”~ G. Norman Collie

So… why the website? For starters, I have learned so much from reading other people’s stories. If any of mine can help some other like-minded individual out there… why not share? Our lives are so busy, and the web offers an accessible way of keeping up to date with the goings-on of our industry and an awareness of the avenues that are open for creative collaboration. Since my career is ever-evolving, my hope is to use this site as a way to reflect upon my journey, and to connect with others who have similar paths. So, if you’re looking for information on me and my career… here it is, straight from the horse’s mouth! And if you aren’t– um… why are you reading this?  

M&R: Storytelling…

“Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it.” ~ Hannah Arendt

Apparently, when my mom asked me at 4 years old what I would like to be when I grow up, I replied, “An actress, writer, or the Easter Bunny.” 2 out of 3′s not bad, right? I’ve always been a storyteller. Growing up, I was happiest either acting on stage, or…. furiously writing novellas in my room. Today, I’ve written children’s books and screenplays, and I pinch myself whenever I get paid to act.  While it’s my work, it’s also my life… I’m so grateful to have married my best friend, and that he shares similar career interests. The personal and professional is quite blurred, and thankfully, we’re okay with that (not that it’s always EASY!)

“The essence of childhood, of course, is play, which my friends and I did endlessly on streets that we reluctantly shared with traffic.” ~ Bill Cosby

I love the quote above because I think so much of our work feels like playing. The true work we do is dealing with all of the traffic that comes with this business– so that we feel safe enough to play and enjoy ourselves, and to not get discouraged, or hurt, by any of the other random drivers with whom we must share the road.

“The events of childhood do not pass, but repeat themselves like seasons of the year.” ~ Eleanor Farjeon

My childhood definitely helped grow the storyteller’s seed inside me.  Because of my dad’s job as an NHL goalie, our family moved several times, and every time I entered a new school– I was challenged by the many new people to meet, and things to learn– from names and faces, to accents and expressions, to local heroes and sports affiliations. I marveled at how other kids adamantly believed their team was the best team, their way of speaking was the right way… and I was fascinated at how different everyone seemed on the surface, but how similar we all were in the end. I was definitely making connections that would help in my career one day. Thankfully, my family is very close, and remained a strong constant for me alongside so many changes. Also, seeing my dad go to practice every day so that he could be conditioned and strong for the challenges he faced (both on and off the ice) had a huge influence on my work ethic. In addition, he did countless charity events and community benefits and I witnessed how moved people were by the time and energy he dedicated to his fans and people in need. I carry these lessons with me daily, ingrained from an early age.

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” ~ Seneca

Growing up, I did lots of community theater. At the end of junior high, my mom finally broke down and brought me to an agent after years of my begging.  For the next several years,  I worked on numerous local commercials and industrial films in New England. Then it was off to college where I pursued my other love, writing, and a Communications degree at the UPENN. I took as many classes in the business and production side of entertainment as I could, and used my summers off to intern back at the wonderful agency that helped me out so much as a kid (The Cameo Agency!) During my junior year, I studied abroad in Australia, and interned as a production assistant and in the editing bay for two TV shows. To anyone who is thinking of getting involved in this business, in whatever field, I would say that these experiences helped me tremendously… If you want to be a writer, take an acting class. If you want to be an actor, assist an editor. There is no shortage to what you can learn about your field by seeing it from a different angle. And of course, if you want to be good at whatever you do… TRAVEL! Live life– get out there and try new things, especially ones that scare you. Talk to people, watch movies, read books, immerse yourself in culture. I am telling you, despite how scared it made my parents…  when I finally graduated college in 2001, I felt confident and ready to take on the formidable and majestic town of Los Angeles… and I’m not sure I could have survived otherwise.

“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.” ~ William Arthur Ward

In general, I don’t really think you can teach someone randomly off the streets how to act or sing or write…  the seed’s already gotta exist within. It’s the same with sports… you have to be naturally athletic if you’re gonna make it one day in the big leagues. I believe all people are born with some innate talent (the trick is finding out what!) And then, it takes proper nurturing, conditioning, training, coaching, and your life experiences– positive and negative– along with hard work and determination– to help grow that seed successfully over time. When it comes to being an actor, writer, director…  I think the key point is “over time”…!  To compare one person’s story of “success” to another’s (especially in this field) is truly to compare apples to oranges. We can only learn from and be inspired from each other’s stories. But then, we must to go out and DO things on our own. There’s no ONE path. And… there’s the capricious nature of “good luck” to take into account. With so many flowers in a field, how can you control which gets picked, and when? That’s why, in the meantime, it’s incredibly important to be in a place where you get enough sunlight and water to survive, and hopefully flourish. If ever you’re feeling droopy… Perhaps volunteer your time, energy, and talents with someone who not only appreciates it but very well may need it. I think being artistic and creative is a gift that keeps on giving.  In the end, we’re all connected and can truly benefit from sharing our stories, and lending a helping hand.

On that note, I can’t help (from time to time) use this website as a platform to share some amazing volunteer opportunities and stories about charitable organizations as they touch me along the way!  ♥  Here are two of my favorites in L.A. that I truly feel blessed to volunteer for…!

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end” ~ Ursula K. LeGuin

No one can *sustain* a career in this business on freebies and connections alone. You have to at least some talent and you definitely have to be willing to put in the work. As individuals, my husband and I have been working tirelessly to make things happen in our careers, and our workload definitely increased when we started a production company. We feel both blessed and inspired by the many people we’ve met and worked with along the way who’ve shown the same amount of passion and perspiration. We’ve also been let down and frustrated by people who’ve over-promised and under-delivered on just as many occasions. In the end, we have truly learned so much, each step along the way… and every lesson counts. Life (synonymous with work for us) continues to be a roller coaster, with plenty of nauseating falls and thrilling highs. Our goal remains, however– no matter what happens– to enjoy the ride along the way. Now it’s nearing the end of 2009, and I’ve had 8 straight years of ups and downs in this business. I’ve done 9 television pilots for major networks, some of which got picked up and aired, others which have only been seen at parties thrown by my parents. I’ve guest-starred on shows and met countless inspiring and interesting actors along the way. I’ve had small parts in big studio films and big parts in small indie films. And man, have I AUDITIONED!!! Recently, I began doing voice-over work, and my hope is to parlay my love of acting into some animated characters as well… which has always been a dream of mine. Of course, I’ll be updating here whenever that happens- so thanks again, for caring and your support.

xoxo

New Website… and Blog!

I am so excited that the lovely ladies of Sunfish Design are busy at work re-imagining this website and blog…!!! From here on out, I’ll be checking in to update this site with news about recent work, press, volunteer opportunities, and maybe even some “musings and reflections” for anyone who cares to know. Thanks for your continued support, and much love…

Stephanie