People often ask me what it’s like to be in LA pursuing acting. I recently read an awesome blog post from Jenna Fischer (who plays Pam on The Office) about her journey and how she finally made it. Her post does a good job at summing up the typical actor experience. Here are a couple excerpts from her blog:

I fully expected to be working in movies within a year of moving to LA.  That was not my reality and it is not the reality of most people who move to LA to pursue acting.  It can take a very, very, very long time to succeed in this business and my best piece of advice is to not give up.  You have to motivate yourself and just keep going.  Create projects for yourself.  Don’t whine.  The first year is the hardest followed by every anniversary up to about year 5 when you’re so beaten down you don’t notice the years passing anymore.  I have a friend who is so incredibly talented it is a crime that after 10 years in LA he still has to wait tables to make a living.  He gets acting work here and there but he can’t hold down an agent.  This business is not fair.  It is not like other businesses where if you show up, and work above and beyond everyones expectations, you are pretty much guaranteed to move up the ladder.  I don’t know why it works out for some and not for others.  And when you move here you have no idea which camp you are going to fall into.

It isn’t who you know.  It just doesn’t work that way.  I didn’t know anyone when I moved to LA.  Most people don’t.  I shared an apartment with an old college buddy.  He had a commercial agent and I was sure that by knowing him, this agent would take me on.  She didn’t.

Here is how I got “discovered”.  I had been living in LA for about 2 years.  A friend wrote a TV script and wanted to do a live stage version as a way of attracting TV producers.  He asked me to play a small role.  It meant lots of rehearsal for very little stage time and no pay.  Along the way I questioned why I had agreed to do it.  But, it was very funny and he was a friend, so I agreed.  After our 3^rd performance, his manager approached me and asked if I had representation. I said, no.  She offered to represent me saying she thought I had a real future in television comedy.  Naomi is still my manager today. 

 A month later, I was doing a very strange play – a musical adaptation of the movie Nosferatu – at a small theater in Los Angeles.  I was doing it because I loved the Commedia dell’arte style of the show and the people involved.  I worked all day as a temp doing mind-numbing data entry for a medical company and then went to rehearsals for 5 hours a night, often getting home past midnight.  One night an agent came to see the play and left his card at the box office asking to meet me.  He became my first agent.

Now, that sounds easy right?  Well, that was all after 2 years of working as a temp, doing every acting gig I could find – usually for no pay, borrowing money to buy a new engine for my car and wearing a pair of shoes with a hole in them because I couldn’t afford anything else.  Did I mention my living room curtain was made from a torn bed sheet?  It was another 3 years before I got my first speaking part on a TV show.  That show was Spin City.  (I played a waitress in a scene where the girl playing Charlie Sheens crazy date threw bread at me.)

Every year I did a little more than the year before.  My first 5 years I probably earned between $100 – $2,000 a year from acting.  Year 6 brought me some of my biggest success and I only made $8,000 from acting.  But, I put a lot more money into my career than that.  Headshots are expensive.  The photo session and getting prints can run anywhere from $500-$800. Classes range from $150-500 a month.  It costs $1,200 to join SAG once you are eligible.  And apartments are crazy expensive.  $700 – $1,000 for a crappy apartment that you share with at least one roommate.  Its no wonder my living room curtain was a bed sheet.

So, how did I get The Office?  Spin City was cast by Allison Jones.  She also casts The Office.  She became a fan of mine through a series of auditions.  I kept going into her office year after year auditioning for different things.  I got some and not others but she kept bringing me back.  I developed a relationship with her – not because I met her at a party and we schmoozed – but because I had proven to her over the course of many years that I was a reliable and serious actor capable of providing a consistent body of work.  That is what this business is all about – from a real working actors perspective.  Allison remembered me when it was time to cast The Office.  She called me to audition and I finally got the part.

Thankfully, I’m not struggling financially like many other actors here. I have a steady job as a tech PR consultant that pays the bills. I’m incredibly fortunate to have the best of both worlds. It’s so important to have a job outside of acting. Given the small amount of money an actor makes when starting out, one can’t rely on acting to pay bills. Otherwise, you’ll be constantly stressed and won’t be able to enjoy the journey.

Jenna also talks about how friends and family don’t quite understand the biz. I get asked all the time from friends and family back east “when am I going to see you on TV?” Folks, it’s going to take time so please be patient. This is a process and I have a lot to learn.  Like any job/career, it takes time to move up the ladder.

It will be hard to explain your first milestones to friends and family back home.  They are waiting to see you on TV or on the big screen.  It is hard to explain how a 2^nd callback for a job you didn’t land was the highlight of your month and a very valid reason to celebrate.  I remember one year my proudest moment was at an audition for a really slutty bar maid on a new TV show.  It was written for a Pam Anderson type.  I thought, “I can never pull this off.  I just don’t have the sex appeal.  I feel stupid.  No one is going to take me seriously.”  But, I committed to the role and gave the best audition I could.  I didn’t get the job.  I didn’t get a callback.  But I conquered my rambling, fear-driven brain and went balls out on the audition anyway.  That was a huge milestone for me – but hard to explain at Christmas.  A year later I booked the role of a trashy prostitute in a little indie movie called Employee of the Month.  In the past I would have turned down the audition thinking that I would embarrass myself.  But after that earlier breakthrough I felt confident.  The success is not always in getting the part but in the seed that is planted.  

I have countless examples like the one Jenna describes above. I have small wins and count every one as a milestone. The auditioning process is crazy, and I’m getting stronger, smarter and more confident with each audition.

As an FYI, Jenna did not land The Office until year 8. Her colleagues on the show have similar stories — it took Rainn Wilson almost 10 years to become a recognized actor, and Steve Carell had been working at it for almost two decades.

For me now, it’s all about having a balanced life. Between PR consulting, acting, writing and volunteering, I have this. I’m grateful for this balance. As far as the acting, I’m working on my craft. We’ll see where it takes me, but for now, I’m certainly enjoying the journey.

 “I read a Chinese saying some time back and it stuck with me. The saying goes- “We are so busy making living that we  forget to make a life.” This really got me thinking. How true! We are so busy running around in life that we have lost the sense of direction and purpose. The pleasure of living life has given way to the stress and strain of earning a livelihood. Life has become a tedious journey which often leaves most of us discouraged, depressed and drained out.”

Boy do I understand this.  For a long time, this is how I moved through life.  Career and money were all that mattered to me.  I was definitely not living life! I lost myself for a minute.

Dr. Roopleen goes on to say….

“Life is precious. Respect it. Live it with a purpose and live it to the full. Don’t make your life a passive series of coincidences and accidents. You didn’t come into this world to drift in the ocean of life. You are here to LIVE your life. So adjust your sail and guide your way even if it means sailing upstream or against the wind. Don’t just exist- LIVE!”

How true is this??????   So, why don’t we come to this conclusion on our own?  It took some time but I SO get it now.  My epiphany came after a series of life-changing events.   Life is a gift that you need to cherish every day.  Life can be short – you never know when you’re going to go.

With my new mantra “live life to the fullest” in mind, I’m trying to fill my life with new experiences….learn new skills.  I’m expanding my palate.   For instance, I’m learning to shoot.   Yes folks, I am exercising my second amendment right.  Kristin and a weapon?  Some have remarked that’s a scary thought.  Ha ha……If you share that sentiment, let me tell you – I’m a regular Dirty Harry.  Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I
am good shot…and only getting better.

I have two great teachers, my stepfather Brian and boyfriend Michael, both of whom are skilled marksman.   They are quite responsible so they both took me through the steps.  Learn the proper safety precautions.  Check! Learn how to hold and operate the weapon. Check!

What did it feel like to fire a gun for the first time?   I was initially shocked by how loud the bang was and then came the recoil of the weapon. One gun in particular, a KAHR CW9, took some time getting used to the recoil.  The gun kicks back into your hands.. into your shoulders.  Take a look at this video.

The overall experience?  Empowering and exhilarating.   I think it has to do with once you know how to do it right, you feel more like a badass.  Like you can protect yourself better.  Well, I guess that would mean that you’d have to own a gun (which by the way, I have no interest in becoming a pistol-packin’ mama).  But, if I find myself wrestling a gun away from an attacker, I now know how to use it!

A word of caution to the ladies – do NOT wear loose fitting, scoop-neck shirts.   When you fire a semi-automatic weapon, the shells (or brass) eject and fly everywhere, including unexpectedly down my shirt, causing my aim to go a bit awry.   Ouch….. my poor cleavage…the shells are very hot from firing.   A week later and the burns are finally gone. LOL.

Smith & Wesson 6906 9mm and Glock 17

While I won’t be winning any NRA’s shooting competitions today, I hold a gun like a pro.  I can definitely can play a cop on TV.  Now, I’ll work on improving my shot.   Stay tuned for other new things I’m trying to expand my horizon. 

I’m not new to volunteering — I’ve done it throughout my life.  An experience that I regularly think of is my time as a Big Sister with the Big Brother/Big Sister organization in Boston.   The need was far greater to have mentors for boys, so I was a big sister to a 7-year-old boy named Frankie from South Boston.  He lived with his sister and parents in a small one bedroom apartment in the projects of Southie. I spent the day with him once a week. Despite my efforts to help him learn and expand his horizon with cultural/history-related trips/activities, all he ever wanted to do is to go to the arcade in Dorchester and play video games. Dah, Kristin???  This is what most little boys want to do.  I didn’t know…  Anyway, the sad thing is I lost touch with Frankie when I moved to DC.  Hmmm, I wonder what happened to him?

So, fast forward to the present in LA.  I started researching non-profits shortly after I got here. Shame on me for just now acting on it.  Albeit a little late in the game, I finally found a great organization to support – the Concern Foundation.  Founded in the late 60’s, it’s dedicated to raising and granting funds to support cancer research worldwide.  Concern Foundation is a rarity in the non-profit world as it maintains an administration overhead of 5 per cent or less, which means about 95 cents of very dollar goes directly toward research. This is made possible by remaining primarily volunteer driven.  Concern has provided grants to more than 650 gifted cancer researchers at major institutions locally, nationally and around the world; more than $45M has been raised and granted.

An important part of the org’s efforts are with kids.  On December 11, I volunteered at the annual Holiday Party, which took place on the grounds of Paramount Studios.   Concern invited children from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, City of Hope National Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Sunset, and Camp Ronald McDonald.  More than 150 kids showed up.  This event is not just for the children – it’s for their families too.  There were approximately 600 guests that day.

When I arrived at Paramount, the organizers and volunteers were mingling.   I didn’t know anyone so my first line of business was to introduce myself to the event coordinator.  She informed me to sit tight until the guests arrived.   I made use of time by meeting as many volunteers as possible.  I learned quickly that this is a multi-generational organization – generations of families were working side by side.  I’m told that Concern is being now run by the second and third generations but that the majority of the original 15 founding couples are still actively involved.   This is very much a family affair.  As an outsider coming into this close-knit community, everyone was very welcoming and friendly to me.

When the children and families arrived, we escorted them into the theatre.  As they watched a movie, the volunteers set up – unloading trucks, setting up the tents and different stations.  As guests exited the theatre, everyone received a bag of candy.   For the next four hours, guests moved around to different tents –cookie decorating, arts-n-crafts, beauty/make-over (for moms), Santa Claus and gifts (each family received a large garbage bag of toys), food, and dancing.   My job was to interact with the kids and do what it takes to get them to have fun. I bounced around to different areas, but I spent most of my time in one particular area. For those who know me, I am sure you can guess where.  The dance floor!   The DJ, Dwayne Brown of D’City Sound & Event Production, was amazing.  He’s fabulous with children and has a knack of getting everyone involved, even those who wanted to remain on the sidelines.  Eventually, they got up there.   By the end of the day, the dance floor was packed with kids.

As for me, I had a blast with the kids.  There were some kids that gravitated to me…my moves on the dance floor must have impressed them.  LOL. Then, there were a few whom I scared and sent running to their parents.  They did NOT want to dance.  Everyone was having fun.  I didn’t see anyone who was not smiling.  A job well done, Concern Foundation!

This was such a special day for me – one that I will never forget.  I got so much enjoyment watching these kids just be kids.  It was equally moving when parents would come up and thank you and Concern for giving their child this.  I had a woman who said to me, “thank you, she hasn’t smiled in a long time.”  Ahhh………I teared up many times during the day.

Concern is a fabulous org to be part of, and I plan to get more involved with it.  If you’re interested in learning how you can help, please contact Megan at Concern.  She can be reached at (310) 360-6100 or megan@concernfoundation.org.

Giving is a much more powerful feeling than receiving.  For me, it reminds me of what I’ve got and what I’m grateful for.  It’s a good way to bring you back down to reality.  We forget how lucky we are, and although we face a hurdle here and there, or go through a hardship(s) in life, there are people who are much worse off/have less than us.  So, be grateful for what you have.  And, if you don’t know what that is, take some time and think about it.  You’ll get a new perspective.

I was at BRICK CrossFit in West Hollywood taking my first class.  If you haven’t done it yet, let me give you a heads up – it’s brutal.  I walk into class and see a guy who I (think) know so I smile and wave.  He gives a polite smile back.  How do I know him?  I had no idea.   I’m racking my brain during the entire class.  How do I know him?  It’s killing me. I start going down the list of my regular jaunts.    Starbucks, grocery store, bank, etc….. No clue.  In the end, this turned out to be a good thing as it kept my mind occupied during the most grueling workout in my life.  Yes, the most intense workout.  AND, I ran a marathon and boxed for three years.   Anyway, I digress….back to the story.

I could not figure it out.  At the end of class, when everyone separated and found some private space to stretch and cool down, I walked over to him and introduced myself.   I realize now that it wasn’t the best time to strike up a conversation as we’re both sweating profusely and having trouble catching our breath.   The conversation went quick.

Me:      “Hi.  You look so familiar. I know we’ve met but I’m not sure where.

Guy:    “Hmmm, I’m sorry but I don’t think I know you.”

Me:      “Do you work in the neighborhood? Starbucks, perhaps? I know I know you. “

Guy:    “Ahh, no. CBS”

Me:      “Ohh, CVS.  Yes, that’s it.  I’m there all the time. ”

Guy:    “No, I work at CBS.”

Me:      “Ohh, CBS.”  (By this time, I feel a tad stupid but it doesn’t end there…I keep                         going. I’m sure you can guess how this plays out.)   “What do you do?”

Guy:    “I’m an actor.”

Me:      “Me too!”

Guy:    “Are you familiar with the show ‘CSI: New York’?”

Me:      “Yes, of course.  (Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.)  Ohhh, I know who you are –                      you’re fabulous.   Ahhhh, sorry to bother you.  I guess I don’t know you.

We both chuckled.   He was a good sport about it.  Ladies and gentlemen, the guy was Hill Harper.  He plays Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on the hit CBS drama series, CSI: NY.

Hill Harper

I  WAS mortified….at first…but then you just have to laugh at yourself.  As I limped home (yes, I was already feeling pain.), I replayed the incident in my head.  I laughed all the way home.  It’s important to laugh at yourself.  I need to do this in this business.  There’s a reason they say laughter is the best medicine.  Check out all the health benefits.

THE DEAD is being touted as one of the most unique zombie movies of all time.  Why?  Don’t ask me.   I’m not a fan of scary movies, let alone zombie movies, but this is what I heard from some key people involved in the movie.   The film is unique in that it was shot in never-before-seen locations in Burkina Faso, French-speaking West Africa, and Ghana, including the Sahara Desert.   I overheard producers talking about the harsh and life-threatening climate for the cast and crew in making this film, e.g., the lead actor almost died of malaria, muggings by gun point and an attempted kidnapping.

According to other attendees (again, I would NOT know), THE DEAD abides by true Living Dead conventions.  Whereas many movies in this genre like 28 Days Later show fast-moving zombies, and take on an action movie feel, THE DEAD portrays slow-moving George Romero-type zombies.  So if you’re a fan of zombie lore, this would be one for you.

After the screening, my girlfriend and I attended the after party at Infusion Lounge and mingled with industry folk.   Unfortunately, there was no dancing on my part (I recently sustained a neck inquiry and it’s putting the kibosh on many of my fav activities.), so the crowd did not get to see any of my famous Martell moves.

The movie opens today in San Francisco, San Jose and Austin.   To view the trailer, click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJVdqZww9aEU