See What I'm Saying

I saw this incredible documentary today.

It follows four Deaf performers (an actor, a comedian, a drummer and a singer) as they navigate the peaks and valleys of the entertainment business. It's a brilliantly told story, touching and uplifting and heart wrenching all at once. These performers are so talented and passionate, yet they constantly struggle for even the opportunity to perform - and for the hearing world to take them seriously as artists. I really hope this film will help put an end to that, and give some much needed exposure to the vast international community of Deaf performers.

It's playing in LA for a little longer, then they go off to NYC and a limited nation-wide tour. I don't think they're scheduled to hit Washington yet, but do keep your eyes open!

200

Welcome to my 200th post!

Just wanted to say thanks for reading and keeping up with the day-to-day of my little ol' life.

To the next 200!

Cloud Nine - Closing Weekend

We're going into our closing weekend of Cloud Nine - where has the time gone! It's been a great show, really challenging and fun at the same time. Our audiences haven't been huge, but it looks like we'll have good crowds this weekend so it should be nice to go out with a bang.

After this weekend I go straight into rehearsals for a show at Deaf West Theatre that I just got cast in (a different show than the one I mentioned a previous post.) So a pretty exciting week after all!

I thought I'd share some C9 production photos with you - As you can see it was quite an... interesting ... play. :)

Good News, Bad News

Starting with the bad news: neither of us got into grad school this year. Chad heard back last week and I got my letter yesterday. Like I said from the beginning we didn't expect much in the first place with this school since it is so competitive, but with anything like this I guess it takes time to process the disappointment. In my letter they indicated that I was a 'finalist', which seems nice on the surface, but I don't know that I find it much of a comfort - all it does is make me wonder: if I'd worked just a little bit harder, if I would have done A or B or C ... would I have gotten in? Of course I'll drive mysef mad if I keep on thinking like that so I'll try not to!

The GOOD news is... well there's lots of good news actually! First, now we know we don't have to move. And I don't know if you know this but moving is one of the few things in life I can honestly say I despise. And now we have a whole year to decide if we want to pursue this sort of path again, and we'll have more time to prepare for auditions next year and will probably apply to more schools as well (including USD).

More good news is that I'm working on another show - this time a new work that I'll also be writing for (it's an ensemble piece made up of monologues/writings and songs.) It feels good to stretch that writing muscle again! We also have some great stuff in the works with our acting teacher, Paul Kampf. Hopefully there will be more on that soon. :)

Closing a door (for now), opening a window.

A step in the right direction

The good news of the week is this: I am commercially represented!

This essentially means that I now have an agency/agent that is submitting me for commercial projects and (hopefully) 'going to bat' for me for auditions, bookings, contracts and payment. The funny thing is that actors can submit themselves for many of the same projects that the agents do, but actually HAVING an agent means casting directors will take you more seriously and are therefore more likely to call you in.

So let's hope that's the case. I'm dropping off my paperwork soon and then hopefully I'll be meeting with someone in person to talk turkey in the coming weeks. I don't have any lofty thoughts of fame and fortune and daily auditions just from signing with an agent, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.

Quakin'

Last night at 4am I felt my second noticeable earthquake since arriving in LA! Not as big as the first for sure, but it was certainly there. 4.4 magnitude, epicenter in Pico Rivera (which is about 15 miles from us as the crow flies.)


View Larger Map

Chad didn't notice anything - I'm sure he was more concerned with why his slumbering wife was all of the sudden violently whacking him in the face.

And when we got up this morning:

"Why were you hitting me?"
"'Cause of the earthquake!"
" ... "

Happiness is baby lambs frolicking indoors.

I had to share. Thanks for indulging me. :)

Cloud Nine Press

Going into our second weekend of Cloud Nine I thought I'd post two articles about the show that came out in the last week - one is a review in the LA Weekly, the other is a sort of 'preview' article penned by our director for a prominent LA theatre blog.

The review isn't rave, but they do say some nice things about Chad and I at the end which is satisfying. :)

Also I look like I am about to sneeze in both photos, so that's nice.

LA Weekly Review (scroll down)

LA Stage Alliance Article

Ten on Ten :: March

=

Oh, baby.

Our family just got bigger... by two!

Last week we welcomed two new members into the Evans extended family. Our nephew Teague James (top), and our cousin Amelia Soleil. They were born just three days apart! I absolutely cannot wait to meet them in person. I love them already.

See you soon, kiddos!

How doth the little busy Bee...

... Improve each shining Hour?

This little busy Bee has a full schedule this weekend! Tonight is opening for the show we've been rehearsing, Cloud Nine. Tomorrow I have a casting director workshop, a good friend's birthday fiesta (complete with piñata), and another performance. Sunday we have a matinee performance followed by an Academy Awards bash at our good friends Tyler and Erika's place. And somewhere in there Chad and I are going to squeeze in a long run (9-10 miles).

I've also just started taking classes with Paul Kampf, with whom Chad has been working for about a year, and I had my very first class this week. Not to mention the audition that came to me out of Paul's recommendation! I'm really looking forward to this new phase of my acting journey - it will be nice to have someone pushing me that is not myself. I am not a very pushy person.

It's funny how things happen all at once. They say that when it rains it pours, and - in spite of our general lack of precipitation - here in LA it rings especially true.

Here's to a great weekend for your and yours!

Oscar! Oscar! Oscar!

I'd hazard a guess that ya'll are cognisant about how much I love the Oscars. A lot. They always seem to get my motor running, and this year is no exception. Some people say it was not a good year for film but I disagree - I enjoyed a lot of the movies and performances that came out of the past year, and many of those movies and performances got nominated, so I'm happy!

I can't claim any great expertise in foreshadowing who will or should get the statuettes on March 7th. But I'd love to share with you some of my impressions of the past year in cinema anyway.

Best Pic Noms:

Avatar - I did enjoy this movie. Beautiful, striking, exciting - I went with it. BUT. This is not the best pic of the bunch - it's lacking in too many other important categories (acting, screenplay, direction) in spite of it's status as a "game changer". Also James Cameron needs a haircut.

Hurt Locker - Great flick. So effective, stark, real, and ridiculously well-executed on the Hollywood budget equivalent of a 12-year old's allowance. My experience of it suffered a little from all the recent hype, but hopefully that doesn't affect it's chances because this is my pick to win. It wasn't my favorite this year, but I do want it to win Best Pic. Also I'm pulling for Bigelow for Direction.

An Education - A little slow and pensive, but golly that Carrie Mulligan is fantastic. I want to be just like her when I grow up.

Precious - LOVED this film. And I never want to see it again. This is the film that affected me the most this year.

District 9 - My other favorite of the year. The story of a man pursuing a clear, immediate objective with every fiber of his being, all wrapped up in a rollercoaster of a sci-fi action thriller. Is it wrong that I felt more for the 'Prawns' than I did for the Na'vi?

Inglourious Basterds - Christophe Waltz was the best thing about this movie, and that was more than enough for me. As far as Tarantino flicks go Kill Bill reigns as my favorite.

Up - Like so many others, this movie had me bawling in the first five minutes. And then smiling and giggling and cheering like an idiot the rest of the way. A total joy, and proof that carefully crafted animated characters can affect an audience just as much as live actors (ahem, Avatar.)

Up in the Air - Good film, great acting. Topical without being heavy handed, effective yet subtle (well, to a point. Anna Kendrick's breakdown in the hotel is beyond ridiculous, and so wonderful for it.)

A Serious Man - Didn't see this one, and probably won't before Sunday. Sorry Coens. Side-note: they used to live in our old house on Waverly.

The Blind Side - Also didn't see this one, and don't really care to. Sorry Sandra.

In the acting categories it's pretty clear it'll be Jeff Bridges, Christoph Waltz, Mo'Nique and (sigh) Sandra Bullock. I am still pulling for Meryl (I loved her!) but you gotta admit Sandra does have the edge with the Blind Side getting a Best Pic nomination.

But we'll soon see! Sunday is fast approaching! I can barely contain myself...

What are your favorite films or performances from 2009?