I had the pleasure of playing a nurse in a Homefirst commercial this past Saturday. The job was booked through Ken Park Management and Don Case Casting and shot in Brooklyn by a Production Company. A first for me on this job was being provided limo service from my home in New Jersey to the set in Brooklyn and then back! What a treat!
On set, I met Kim, one of the other “nurses,” who wrapped soon after I arrived. After some natural makeup and designer scrub changes, it was time for Mr. Lee, my “co-star,” and I to shoot our scene! Mr. Lee was an 88-year old Chinese man who was actually street-casted from Flushing, Queens. He was a natural, however, and surely won the entire crew over…I may venture so far as to say that he stole the scene!
Our shots were simple, taken in the kitchen, meant to portray an early morning setting. In actuality, we were shooting at 8pm, but with production magic, they were able to create the illusion of sunlight streaming through the window and splashing onto the tray of oranges just perfectly! The task was to capture moments of connection between me and him. That was simple, as Mr. Lee was adorable, repeating the word “action” in his Chinese accent each time after they spoke it! We also conversed in Mandarin in-between takes and shared many laughs. He had me rolling when he commented on how much tea we were drinking and I got a chuckle out of him as I told him he could go on to Hong-Kong movie stardom!
I wrapped around 9pm (started at 3:30pm) and my limo awaited me, whisking me back to Jersey. I felt like a princess indeed. Check out the pictures below. Good times!
I have always always ALWAYS been a lover of good comedy. Dane Cook, Mitch Hedburg, Russell Peters, Demitri Martin, Chris Rock, Pablo Francisco, and Jim Gaffigan are just a few of my rockstars. I had my favorite bits from each of them that I could literally recite verbatim…Dane Cook’s “Chicken Sangwich story,” Mitch Hedburg’s line about flyers being given out in New York, Russell Peter’s “Indian customer-Chinese salesman” joke, Chris Rock’s “bad phone-sex” rendition, Pablo Francisco’s “Spanish girlfriend” story, Jim Gaffigan’s “robe” joke..and of course, “hot pocket” joke. And since peering into NYC’s own local comedy culture, I also quickly came to respect Wil Sylvince, Godfrey, Eliot Chang, and Kevin McCaffrey.
Now, enter another factor into this equation. People have always told me that I am funny. Some people have even gone so far as to say that I should do comedy. So, for the average person, this would elicit something to the tune of a “psssshhh!” in response and the notion would soon evaporate from their mind. For me, however, this often offhand comment excited me. Part of me wanted to believe that it was true! Part of me would have loved to possess just an iota of this comic genius I had come to so admire. But alas, standup was always fear’s reach away from me. I didn’t spend too much time brooding over it, but for the record, I loved the fantasy.
I went on to live vicariously through comedians that I dated, an impromptu jump up onto stage at an open mic, and glossing over a standup class that did not fit my schedule. Eventually, the planets aligned and God must have deemed me ready. And about two months ago, I received an e-mail from the PIT promoting a standup class that actually cooperated with my schedule. Now, it was scarily possible! I diligently surveyed my comedian friends and non-friends alike as to the necessity of a standup class. Most of them touted it as unnecessary, pointing instead to open mics as being the true training ground for any standup. I could see their point but enjoyed the structure that a class promised. I hinted at my dad enough for him to spring for half of my class tuition. And it was done! A day before The Art of Standup was scheduled to commence, I was enrolled!
For the next two months, I was thrust into the world of New York’s amateur comedy circuit…and I have lived to tell the story! Following are the most prominent observations from my experience in the standup world!
Comedy is hard work! Comedians walk into a stigma of being a lazy, bitter, late-night drinking, non-contributing members of society. What the general public doesn’t see, however is that these guys are constantly working! They carry a pad and paper with them at all times to record joke material as it is inspired and have stacks of already-filled pads at home! According to comedian Joe Wong, the average comedian uses about 1 out of every 10 jokes that is written and then practices that joke nearly 72 times before it is perfect. That means a comic, at any given point, is simultaneously thinking about material, writing material, and practicing material…meaning the cyclical process is never done. That’s a lot of work!
Comedy Open Mics are a twisted concoction. I remember thinking that it was backwards for comedians to have to pay in order to perform. Yet, I found myself doing it during these two months! What I quickly learned was that http://badslava.com was the go-to resource for open mics. Every comedian in New York hops on this site to see where open mics are happening on any given day. They then attend these open mics, taking place anytime between 4pm-10pm, and tolerate the 5-minute performances of their fellow amateur comics until it is their turn to hop on stage and try out their material. Open mics are accepted as being a brutal setting where laughs are not expected, as the audience usually consists of hard-to-please fellow comics. The organizers of these open mics strike deals with the clubs with the door and drink fees and are usually comedians themselves and host the open mic. In the end, all anyone wants to do is practice. The hierarchy of spots seems to be open mics, bringer shows, scheduled spots, and eventually headline spots. It’s an even crazier industry to navigate through than acting, I believe, and that’s hard!
Comedy is teachable. I used to see what standup comedians did as this intangible gifting that they possessed. I used to think that I could never do something like that. But upon closer examination, I realized the methods and the practice and the true, blue work that went into comedy. I realized that comedians often repeated jokes and that sets were no different than monologues, save for the risk of unexpected hecklers. I saw the discipline behind comedy, especially after watching the documentary “Comedian” by Seinfeld, in which one comedian tirelessly recorded and played back performances, kept a file cabinet full of jokes, filed according to category, and truly breathed comedy. And I was reassured that I could do this thing.
Comedy is terrifyingly exciting. I performed at a total of 5 open mics and 1 show during the course of my standup class. Every single time, my heart raced in anticipation. Every time, I threatened to jump ship. Every time, I experienced mini-anxiety attacks. And every time after a good set, I was elated! It’s the natural nervousness and accompanying high that accompanies doing something you love. I know that every artist has thought to themselves at some point, “Why am I torturing myself like this?” And the ironic answer is “because I love it.” I know. Crazy.
Comedy is not my new career. I am so glad that I can now check “do standup” off my bucket list. I feel a personal sense of accomplishment. I am already reaping the benefits of having done this, both personally and professionally as the needle on the funny meter has climbed in both my conversations and auditions. I am beyond happy with this foray that I took. In the same breath, however, I know that I do not want toinvest the amount of time necessary to do this thing well. I am very happy to draw from my comedy experience to complement my acting career, but don’t look for me at a comedy club near you anytime soon! For now, you’ll just have to make do with this video of the fruits of my labor!
I am the face of “SHAPE’s New Workout Builder Tool!” In short, I’m demonstrating 100 exercises which you can drag-and-drop into a playlist and when you hit “play,” I will lead you through to your fitness goal! It’s all about interactive, portable technology, and SHAPE’s got it right! Especially when they chose me!
Screenshot: Shape Workout Builder Tool
Screenshot: Drag & Drop to create your "Workout Playlist!"
This was an incredible shoot. I had so much fun. We shot in Jersey City, for 3 full days. I was so sore, let me tell you! These shoots are actually very challenging because you have to execute the moves with an expression of ease and mistakes are expensive because your body tires with each take! I was doing exercises that even impressed myself! Be sure to check out the one-legged squat, the weighted push-up, the triple-stop push-up, and the dive-bomber push-up! What, what?! Amazing! I admit that I was nervous about some of these exercises, but I had a lot of support from the crew and there were times when I had to eeeek out that last repetition and they would start cheering and clapping to squeeze it out of me!
It was a great shoot and the first time that I asked everyone to pray on set with me afterward! Check out that story in my keynote speech! If you want to use it yourself, check it out here! And since we shot for three days, I had plenty of time for fun behind-the-scenes shots, now included in my gallery!
Fun Fact: This has always been a dream of mine, to model for a fitness magazine. No exaggeration, I have a composite of my image superimposed on a Shape Magazine cover that I created as a visualization tool! I bet it’s still lurking around in my hard drive somewhere, but I don’t even know if I want to reveal it. The point is, I visualized and focused attention on this goal and it came to fruition in this project! Praise God and Hallelujiah!
In the midst of promoting my missions trip to the Himalayas like crazy, I contacted a reporter I knew, Howard Thompson, of Help Me Howard, in a long-shot attempt to gain him as a celebrity guest at our fund-raiser. He declined my invitation. And counter-invited me to do an interview with him to be featured on WPIX11! Here it is!
THE BACKSTORY: I’m going on a service trip to the Himalayas and I want you to come with me! Through your financial support, you can be a critical component of this effort! This seed was planted last summer, when I embarked upon my first service trip to Taiwan. I was spiritually awakened, shaken, and re-committed. In retrospect, this trip was the catalyst for a wealth of astounding developments this past year. One of the most impactful individuals that I met during my time in Taiwan was Professor Hsieh, a mountain-climbing former gangster, now professor, who has dedicated his life to doing good for people in God’s name. He journeys on an adventure service trip every year, combining a physical feat with a philanthropic effort. He might as well have been the Pied Piper [except with good intentions!]…I wanted to follow this man wherever…he was that powerful! And my excitement only rose as he described the physical feat of climbing the Himalayas. To read more about him, read this post.
2010 MISSIONS TRIP TO TAIWAN:
THE MISSION: Cut to 6 months later and I was e-mailing him to learn of the details. And here I am, signed up and ready to start raising the funds! The trip is around the corner and I have $5,000 to raise. This 25-day trip will begin on July 25th when I fly to Kathmandu, Nepal to join the students of Taiwan Sport University and Tunghai University. Together we will trek through the Himalayas until we reach Mt. Annapurna, where we will help the villagers of this mountain. Our service to them will include providing medical assistance, conducting a summer camp, and building a latrine. And no doubt, we will be praying for them and loving on them the whole time too!
THE TASK AT HAND: So as I mentioned, $5,000 needs to be raised, as the cost of the missions trip is NTD 95,000 [$3,300] and we have to first fly ourselves to Kathmandu. It’s very daunting to think that if that money does not come through God’s grace, then it may have to come through American Express…but I’m not going to worry, because I trust God more than that! I was floored by the financial support I received to get me to Taiwan last year and I look to this year to be another powerful testimony! I came very very close to not fulfilling the financial requirements last year and I don’t wish for that again!
THE ASK: And so, I ask you, as my friend, brother/sister, family, and soon-to-be-friend, please open your wallets and give just a little bit to send me to the Himalayas to pray for and provide for the people in need over there. It’s a solid effort in its 7th year of successful adventure service efforts.
Learn more here: Chih-Mou Hsieh Profile
Give below!
Thank you in advance!
Exactly one month ago, I visited the Manhattan Monologue Slam, an amazing evening of talent and energy and support and free wine! It takes place at Ed Bennett Studios, a space in the West Village that houses everything from Ed Bennett himself to Food Network cooking shows to Esquire Magazine photo shoots to the Manhattan Monologue Slam! I went knowing that there was an opportunity to go “balls to the walls” for 30 seconds, meaning there is a portion of the evening that is open to the audience to perform on stage. And oftentimes, high off of the inspiration of the earlier part of the show, consisting of 3-minute monologues delivered by very talented actors, one finds him/herself toying with the otherwise crazy idea!
And cut to me. There I sat, knowing that I wanted to do it, yet simultaneously terrified. I was the only one in my group seriously contemplating the idea…and so I was in this myself…no Bonnie to my Clyde. I knew that I should do it…every instinct in my body knew that I wanted it and needed it and could and should. So, down my name went, on that list of 30 second warriors! My name was called, I hopped onstage, I delivered my 30 seconds, and was received with silence. “That’s it,” I explained. “Ahhhh…” everyone seemed to say before they applauded me off with a nervous laugh. I was mortified. And then I didn’t care. And then people told me it really wasn’t that bad and admired me for even doing it to begin with. I left with a feeling of satisfaction. Thank you, I said to God, for that dose of courage/irreverence to get me up and the wherewithal to get me off.
Cut to two weeks later. I received an email from the host of the show, Phillip Galinsky. He is a hilarious host, first of all. He had everyone rolling on the floor with his jokes, his dances, his sequined purple button-down, and his glitter showers to the audience. I suddenly had an email from this guy asking for my participation in the first half of the show. What?! The first half? the 3-minute monologues in which actors delivered amazing pieces that drew the entire room in to their disposition of anger or comedy or drama in their world of a welfare office or Southern Baptist Church or NY prison…that’s what you think I can do?! I was floored. I had no idea why let alone how or what.
I opted for my first life line…”phone a friend,” and called my friend whom I consider to be an exceptional actor and whose presence at the monologue slam would enable him to commiserate with me on the gravity of the situation at hand. He was happy for me! He understood my anxiety, but he was happy for me. And so, I consented to being a part of their roster and soon found myself at the Drama Book Store searching for the perfect monologue. It was still surreal, I felt, even as I searched for monologues, rehearsed with my friend, rehearsed with the host, rehearsed for Actors InC, rehearsed for my roommates, studied Italian-accented movies, and just dedicated a large part of myself to this “first” for myself.
Last night, I did it. I had a packed schedule yesterday, thank God, protecting me from my own nervous energy. Before long, it was 5pm and time to get ready. I felt the minutes ticking much too quickly as every piece of jewelry and makeup and detail of my costume was so much more important than ever. And then it was time to arrive on set. Oh, and by the way, every spare moment that I had up until this point was spent rehearsing out loud and to myself…on the train platform, in the subway, on the bus, while walking, at the gym…every where, every time. I couldn’t do it enough. And so, when I found myself with 45 minutes to kill at the monologue slam, what do you think I did? It was almost comical as I sought out private spots to practice to myself until someone would inevitably give me a funny look or interrupt me or walk in on me. And I would usually try to act as if nothing unusual had been happening. I probably fooled no one. ha!
At 7:45, moments before the curtain was scheduled to rise, the Galinsky brothers, bless their heart, came down to hold hands with the 6 of us, calm our nerves, give us basic instructions, and love on us. It was such a beautiful moment. I love those guys for what they do. I think I’m going to write them a thank you note. I can’t wait to work with them again soon. But back to the dark moments before my name was called. I stood by the door, unsure even of how to navigate through the lighting cues! “Do I wait for the lights to go off before I start walking? Then how do I see where I’m walking? Do I walk off in the dark after I perform? Then when do I bow?” I probably asked the stage manager more questions about lights than she had answers for. I read her face and saved her, saying, “Nevermind, let me just pray.” And pray I did…for success, success, success, please!
“And put your hands together for our neeeeexxxttt theeeeespian!,” Phillips booming voice commanded the audience. And to a thunderous welcome, I hopped onstage, awaiting my light. On it went, and on I went. With my best Brooklyn accent, head shakes, and hand gestures, I delivered my monologue straight to the back of the room, eyes locked on the spot that I had designated “Angelo,” and with a control, confidence, and comprehension that won me 103 out of 120 points from the panel of judges! I was happy…so satisfied…and once again, I prayed. I said, “Thank you…for the friends that are out there supporting me, for this undue opportunity, for a sound performance, and for the graciousness of the judges…thank you.”
Then I opened my eyes, grabbed my cup of wine, and was off to sit with my friends and support everyone doing the 30-second monologues! The rest of the evening was fun magnified by the relief so welcome after closing the case on this darn monologue performance! I was happy to clap hard for my friends, [one of whom won!], chat with the judges, take pictures, eat, drink and be merry for the rest of the evening.
And to think it all began with a terrible 30-second monologue. All things are possible. Just do it. Just. Do. It.
Actors InC is a Christian-inspired commercial acting workshop that has touched over 40 individual actors in its mere months of existence. We get together on Monday nights and jam with different scripts, video tape and play back, challenge each other to do it better, or perhaps “more urban!” and close every evening with discussion, fellowship, and a prayer. We’re always laughing, sometimes nervous, but never at loss for Starbucks goodies.
Oh yes, and when not flexing our acting muscles, we work out our volunteer chops as well! This is an amazing way to interact with fellow actors in a comfortable, creative, and supportive atmosphere. And things are only swinging up from here! I can’t wait to see our actors signing, auditioning, booking, and all due to Actors InC! See what we did this past Monday!
I shot a Lexus commercial for a dealership in Glen Cove, Connecticut. Here is the morale behind this gig: “it is worth the trouble.” When I received the call to audition for this commercial, I was excited…until I learned that it was taking place in Long Island! To be frank, I was put off by the idea of traveling on my own dime, for an hour, to this audition. I must have secured my fate at that point because my own misadventure manifested.
I missed my scheduled train and the destination was not a major hub, so the next train would not be for another hour! I called my agent and she recommended that I hop a train to a nearby town and cab it from there. I made the best of the cab ride, running lines with the driver as he gave me feedback and sang my praises, predicting my booking [he was right!] To be short, the audition was quick but the trek home was yet another feat involving no-show car services, speeding to the train station, multiple delays, and cumulative frustration over an audition that consumed half of a day!
Yet, here I sit, satisfied with the finished product, so glad that I did this job, and with some new connections from that job…oh, and I can’t forget that Lexus…keychain! So, for the future, Jeanette and all those reading, if you can do it, just do it…it might be well worth it.
Shot a Madison Square Garden Varsity Channel commercial. We shot this outdoors in a town near either Palisades Park or Leonia, somewhere very Korean in NJ that wasn’t Fort Lee! In any case, it was a good time, as usual. I remember the AD taking his job a little too seriously for my taste…you know, one of those older, super-stressed, everything’s an emergency, the sky is falling down type people! It all worked out though! The audition took place and Don Case Casting and I tried out with Mimi, who would later go on to attend one of my Actors InC workshops! I also met Chris Chan, who immediately offered his services for anytime I was looking for an [onscreen] asian husband and clearly remember being impressed by his suit that he pulled out of his backpack because he biked part of the way in the morning! The funniest last scene was half the cast jammed into one of the actresses cars as she shuttled us home!
