Approaching 1 year anniversary

People are asking me what I’ve been doing on the front, so I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate my next post to the topic.    Almost a year has gone by since the move.   The timeline was this…..

ACCLIMATION.  It took a couple months to settle in and acclimate to the area.  LA is quite large, and VERY dispersed.  The highways and traffic are a nightmare.   I learned the different neighborhoods, and am happy to report that today GPS is rarely used.    Not to mention…. I know three ways to get over the canyon to the valley.   Making friends and finding a permanent home fall into this bucket too.

GETTING IN SHAPE was next.  I gained (hmmm…) a tad of weight post-surgery and while traveling last year.  Daily wine + rich foods/eating out – exercise = 20+LBs for Kristin.   Not
good.   I had one pair of jeans that fit – and they were the stretchy kind.    One
needs to be confident in order to make it in this business.   This is something that was never a problem for me but I will say my confidence was lost with the extra weight.    If I
had any chance in this town, I needed to get it back.   So, I cut back on food and alcohol and started working out with an amazing trainer.   I need to give a shout-out to Jim Barcena.  He’s worked on numerous celebrities, and was kind enough to give me a deal so I could afford him.   Ladies/gents, if you’re in LA, he’s fabulous.   I lost all the weight and
attribute it to him.  Thank you, Jim.

EDUCATION.   I started acting classes.  Up until this month, I was attending classes regularly at two well-respected schools – Margie Haber and Lass Moss studios.   I recently
wrote about my experience with Everybody Loves Raymond’s Brad Garrett.   Pepper in some one-off improv classes and workshops, and my daily reading (including books, trade rags and plays), I’m learning the craft.   I plan to start classes again once the holidays are over.
To be an actor is a lifetime pursuit.  I will take classes as long as I can afford it.

Attending productions is important too.  Part of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way is taking yourself on weekly artist’s date.  One of my fav experiences was attending John Lithgow’s one-man show “Stories by Heart.”  I drove downtown to the Mark Taper Forum to see Lithgow’s autobiographical solo performance.   He began by greeting the audience, seating himself in an armchair with the only prop being a family-owned book of tales, and then stated the evening is going to be about storytelling.  He acted out his favorite short stories from his childhood while sharing memories of his dad reading to the family. I have always admired Lithgow as an actor but to see him act out multiple characters was impressive.

EXPERIENCE/THE WORK.
My first project in LA was taping integration pieces (or b-roll) for an Emmy-winning medical show.   I never actually saw the episode air so I have no idea how it came out.   Nevertheless, I appreciated the opportunity.  Thank you to my actor friend, Svetlana, for the invite.    I started auditions with my old DC head shots.   Auditions are tough!  This is an
animal in itself that needs constant attention and practice.  I’m getting much better though.

For the first year, I’ve focused on student and short films.  I figure this is the perfect place to learn and make mistakes.   I’ve been involved in some great projects, one of which is called “Maple Syrup.”  I’m dedicating Thursday’s post to it so stay tuned.  As the other projects are
finalized, I will plug them on Damn the Odds.

One of my favorite pieces of advice or words of wisdom that I have received is “do shit!”
Along the same lines is what my former acting teacher in DC, Brenna McDonough,
used to say at the beginning and end of every class…”Do something for your career every day.” These are simple but so very true.   An actor needs to put in the work if he/she wants to make it.  As Actor and Instructor Adam Hill says, “Work produces work!”

Admittedly, I haven’t put in the time/work this deserves and what is needed to make it.  Over the last month, I’ve been deep in self-reflection about what I have and haven’t accomplished.
First of all, friends, plleeeease don’t do this.  DO NOT focus on what you haven’t accomplished.  This is not good.  Trust me.  Look at the things you have done.  When I did this, I realized that I have done some great things in my first year – things that have helped me build a good foundation for what I’m trying to achieve here.   Also, I had some unexpected challenges happen that took my time and energy away from acting.  Thankfully now,  these are close to being in order.

I am looking toward the future now.  2012 will be different.  It’s all about putting in the work.   I am motivated more than ever to do this.   My new head shots are done
(thanks to Lorenzo Hodges) and come the new year, I will start auditioning again.

I’m making a commitment to work harder…..to put in the work….to do shit!!!!  You can hold me to it.   Please do!

Tags: acting classes, Adam Hill, Auditioning, Auditions, Brad Garrett, Brenna McDonough, Everybody Loves Raymond, Jim Barcena, John Lithgow, Julia Cameron, Lorenzo Hodges, Maple Syrup, Stories by Heart, The Artist's Way