"Mommy, I Wanna Be in Movies!" OR Teresa's Year in Review

2010 has been a full and CRAZY journey for me, from losing my full-time job at the World of Disney NYC of 5 years (thanks to an INSANE rent increase in which helped 200 people lose their jobs all in one fell swoop --- thanks, 5th Avenue!), actually being picked to perform at and WINNING at Amateur Night at the Apollo (who freakin' knew that that would EVER happen?!?), to becoming SAG-Eligible in a very short amount of time. Without further ado, here are the Highlights of Teresa's 2010 (bullet-pointed for your reading-ease, and you can click on links where available for videos and other cool stuff!):

• Thursday, 1/7/2010 - I worked my very last shift at "The Happiest Place in NYC" - the World of Disney NYC due to the store closing. I served 5 years there, making Magic for all those who entered the doors on 55th and 5th. (Kinda sounds like a prison sentence, from the way I worded the first part of that sentence, doesn't it???)

One chapter of my life ends, starting the next chapter of my life...

• Thursday, 1/14 - I bought a ukulele at Guitar Center for $39.99, since I was finding out on YouTube that people seem to think that playing ukulele was really cool.
• Sunday, 1/17 - Since I was blessed with the ability to learn instruments really quickly, I started learning right away and after a couple of days, I recorded my 1st YouTube vid of me playing uke and singing "Dream a Little Dream of Me." I got the most hits on that one vid that I had on any of my covers of me playing guitar, and also of me singing musical theater stuff. The uke is indeed Magical.

Went slightly out of order, in case to make it easier to get that one idea out, moving on...

• Part II of 1/14 - Went to an audition for a national print campaign for a clothing company called Rebecca & Drew Manufacturing, thanks to old high school friend, Lila Smith. I went in, got some pics taken of me in one of their shirts, and Rebecca of Rebecca & Drew commented on how "that shirt fits your PERFECTLY." And I BOOKED THE JOB! My very first print modeling gig!!! 1st Success!!! :-) Not only that, but I became one of their 3 main models on their website, plus I got to be the model on their Sizing Page!!!
  
• 1/25 - Booked my 1st Commercial! Played a red carpet gala guest for Excella Pay-o-Matic Visa. It was a non-union gig, but you gotta start somewhere!
• 1/26 - Registered with Central Casting to get some background work for tv shows. Was BOOKED ON THE 1st DAY for Law & Order: SVU!!!!! And of course, being the doofus that I was to take a nap, I missed the call and when I called back, the spots were filled! Grrrrrr..... Lesson learned, turn up the ringer on your phone when you don't need it on silent!!!
• 1/27 - Was booked for and worked my 1st TV background job for Gossip Girl by Central Casting! I played a Goth Girl in a big art deco party scene with other goths, hipsters and rockabilly types. On that day, I also was called again by Central to work on Mercy the next day, where I got to work with James Van Der Beek, Aka DAWSON!!!!! THANK YOU, CENTRAL CASTING!!!
• 2/5 - Booked and filmed my 1st reality TV pilot pitch called "I Object." Note to all fans of reality TV: Don't believe everything you see on tv! Das ist alles.
• 2/6 - Was invited to my 1st feature film audition with Incredulous Pictures for the two principal female roles!
• 2/11 - Booked my 1st short film titled "Hunting"!
• 2/18 - Filmed my 1st music video for Breaking Benjamin's "Give Me a Sign"! The director was Nigel Dick, who's a VERY well-known director who has directed...uhhh....EVERYBODY! Britney, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, you name it, he's directed them! I was cast as the female doctor, and you can see my backside in the video from 0:04-0:05, so DON'T BLINK! It was a loooooooonnnng day cuz that's how it works with music videos. The background didn't get to work until 2am, and most of the background actors were cut out of the final cut of the video. Fortunately, I got some screen-time, even if it was my butt and about a second of it. I feel so incredibly blessed to get to work on that video, and Nigel Dick even had his crew drive me to the city after we wrapped cuz it was super late, and apparently I looked super miserable walking to the train station. Haha! What a nice guy!
• 2/18 - Was called by The Onion News Network to audition for a PRINCIPAL ROLE as the role of the "Singer" for a segment! My 1st UNION (AFTRA) principal audition!
• 3/3 & 3/5 - Got to sing at Seth's 100th Showcase at Don't Tell Mama, NYC! I was invited to perform, and got to sing one of my fave songs of his, "I'm Not Interested in You"!
  
• 3/12 - Worked my 1st AFTRA job for The Onion News Network! I didn't book the principal role, but they called me in for some background work, which was cool cuz it was SOOO much fun, and I got my 1st AFTRA waiver from it! Woohoo!!!
• 3/19 - Presented for Career Day at MS 137 in Ozone Park, and was invited by former Murrowite Danielle Monock. The kids asked me to sing, and the kids wanted me to sign autographs at the end!
• 3/29 - My Golden Birthday!!! "29 on the 29th"! YAY!
  
• 3/30 - Auditioned for and BOOKED my 1st National TV Infomercial!!!!
• 4/5 - Performed in "Got Talent?," a benefit for Autism at Times Square Arts Center as a quarter-finalist. I had a lot of fun, though unfortunately, didn't raise enough money to make it to the semi-finals. However, I'd like to thank all those who donated cuz the money went towards a great cause, and it was an honor to perform for a charity!
• 4/10 & 4/11 - I was the 1st person to line up for auditions for Amateur Night at the Apollo at 930pm on 4/10 for a 10am audition on 4/11. I didn't get selected on that day, so I was interviewed by NY1, who actually had been following my "journey" throughout the day since I was the 1st one crazy enough to get in line and camp out overnight in Harlem for a shot at the Apollo stage! The NY1 news segment actually was shown all day that day, so if you were tuning in, you saw me!
• 4/13 - Worked on the very last episode of Law & Order! Well, we didn't know that it was going to be the series finale, since at that point, NBC didn't give the ax to the show yet. I played an off-duty NYPD and a grand juror. When the episode aired, I was only seen in the grand jury scene, however, I was featured A LOT! One of my goals was to be on L&O, and it happened before the show ended! Yay!
• 4/21 - Got a call from the Apollo! I was selected to perform at Amateur Night at the Apollo!!!
• 4/30 - Performed in Rori Nogee's "Fragments" at Don't Tell Mama! It was an evening of songs by Rori, monologues by the cast, and a scene from a show concept by Rori. I got to sing "Photograph Junkie," which was an AWESOME song! Rori Nogee is so incredibly talented, and it was an honor to get cast and perform her music along with other amazingly talented people!
• 5/6 - Worked on my 1st industrial for Teliris Telepresence! I was cast as a businesswoman, and had a GREAT TIME! Plus, I met some amazing people who I still keep in touch with! Definitely one of the best shoots all year!
• 6/4 - Was cast in the off-off Broadway production of "Sex, Relationships, and Sometimes...Love" by Joelle Arqueros, to be performed at the Producers' Club on 6/19 , 6/26 & 7/10!
• 7/16 - Received my 1st SAG waiver from working on the feature film "Premium Rush"!!! only 2 more to go until I become SAG-Eligible!
• 7/31 - 8/1 - Worked on the Justin Timberlake/Mila Kunis film "Friends With Benefits" as a Flashmob dancer in the scenes at Grand Central and Times Square. I was cast after attending an open call and had my first "dance" audition in a VERY long time! It was extremely scary to go into that audition after not dancing in FOREVER, but apparently, I've still got it! Both shoots were overnight shoots, and were looooooooonnnnnggg, but they were sooo much fun, plus, since it was choreographed dancing, I felt like I was PERFORMING on a stage again, which is what I had been doing my whole life! LOVED being brought back to my musical theater roots! Watch for the film's release this summer!
• 8/17 - Worked on a webisode for Macy's Fashion Director with Clinton Kelly for Macys.com! It was the 1st big principal role I auditioned for and then booked!!! I got a complete make-over from the host of TLC's "What Not to Wear" himself, Clinton Kelly, including a haircut from their professional hairstylist! SUPER fun shoot!!!!
• 8/18 - Performed at Amateur Night at Showtime at the Apollo --- and WON 3rd PLACE!!! That means that I get to come back for the next round, which is the "Show-Off" round! I performed "Dream a Little Dream of Me" on ukulele and sang, and it was thanks to my AMAZING friends & family that made this all possible! It was definitely the SCARIEST thing I've ever done (the crowds "BOO" you for ANYTHING!), but one of the most rewarding! How many people can say that they dared to even audition for the Apollo, get selected to perform, and then come out as one of the WINNERS??? Well, at least THIS GUY can. :-D
• 8/26 - Interviewed with and was signed to freelance with Avanti Talent Management!
• 9/10 - Got a call from Cindy Tolan's casting office to audition for the Avenue Q National Tour! Didn't book it, but was glad to still be on their radar even though I hadn't auditioned for them since last year when they had called me in to audition!
• 9/29 - Performed in the "Show-Off" round for Amateur Night at Showtime at the Apollo. Was executed this time around (thanks to the infamous tour buses with people who go in just to "Boo" the talent!), however, had an AMAZING journey, and it was an honor to get to perform on the same stage as legends like James Brown, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson! Thanks to her friends who came to support her on this adventure!!!!!
• 10/7 - I received my 2nd SAG Waiver from working on the Jason Statham film, "Safe"!!! One more waiver to go!!!
• 10/20 - I GOT MY 3RD SAG WAIVER from working on "The Sitter," starring Jonah Hill!!!! SCREEN ACTORS GUILD, HERE I COME!!!! BIG thanks goes out to Sara & Allison from Grant Wilfley Casting for making this all possible!!!
  
• 10/22 - Had my 1st SAG Commercial audition for New Balance! Was very happy to get invited to audition!!!
• 10/25 - GOT MY 1ST SAG COMMERCIAL AUDITION CALLBACK FOR NEW BALANCE!!!!! Ended up not booking the job, but it was AMAZING to get that callback!!!!
• 10/27 & 10/30 - Worked on the HBO film "Too Big to Fail" as James Woods' character's assistant! 1st SAG OK-30 booking, and it was a good one!!!
• 10/28 - Worked on an independent film called "That's What She Said" as a Chinese Beautician. Originally, since I was cast as "featured background," production was going to give me screen credit, in which I was MORE than happy about. Well, the director, Carrie Preston (actress from "True Blood") decided to change my role when we got there, and I GOT MY 1ST LINE IN A SAG FILM!!!! I signed my 1st SAG Principal Contract!!! SAG has already been good to me!
• 11/15 - Received my official SAG-Eligibility letter in the mail!
• 11/29 - Worked on my 1st major promo for Cinemax!
• 12/9 - Worked on a promo for Samurai Love Sake playing an Opera Singer!

So those are my notable highlights. Obviously, there were plenty of other jobs and auditions during that time. And there were also the AWFUL "jobs" that I took on, and these are the winners for the "worst of the worst", such as:

• A "comedy show" that was supposedly being shot for CW, and it was nothing but a big joke (pun intended). They were charging for admission, and it was sooo disorganized, and just awful in every way. Not only did this "show" start about THREE HOURS AFTER THE SCHEDULED TIME, after that nonsense, they utilized those of us who were there TO FILM A COMMERCIAL for the venue where it was held! Take about use and abuse! I felt not just terrible for the performers, but also for the poor audience members who actually PAID to see this atrocity.
• A "reality TV" show about the music industry, where they had cast people to play roles in the formation of a band, BUT, the musicians brought in had NO IDEA that we were actually NOT who we said we were. In the end, me and the other girls who were at the "shoot" (where they were just using a hand-held camera, btw) felt like besides the musicians being fooled, ALL of us were just being Punk'd in the end.

There were more horrible shoots, with awful conditions, including safety (seriously, have BACKGROUND ACTORS climb THREE STORIES UP A FIRE ESCAPE LADDER with NO safety. Ok, obviously SAG would NEVER approve of that!), shoots with SUMMER EXTERIORS when it was actually 40 degrees out, bug-bites GALORE (especially in the summer whenever there was a shoot on Long Island), and lots of other stuff. It's not all glitz and glam like you would think!

Goals for 2011:

• Join AFTRA as soon as I book another AFTRA gig. Fortunately, I saved up enough money from my SAG jobs to at least make the down payment.
  
• Join SAG as soon as I have $2,335. Provided that they don't raise the initiation fee again. Rumor has it that they wanna raise it to $3,000! OUCH! I will hoping book enough AFTRA work to pay for SAG!
  
• Book an Under 5 in an AFTRA project.
  
• Book another SAG principal role. I was SUPER lucky to get upgraded to principal in a SAG film this year, I would like to book again!
• Get an agent, and a GOOD one.
• Take more classes! Besides the on-camera acting classes, I also want to go take dance classes again, such as ballet, jazz, tap, etc...since I DO want to end up doing musical theatre again, since that's always been my bread and butter. I also would like to find a good voice teacher, but my budget won't allow me to do that just quite yet (my Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance still has me in TONS of debt!), but I should update my book of audition songs. I also would like to take improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade, since improv has always been such a challenge for me, but I know that it's such a great skill to have.
• Actually GET SEEN for an Equity audition! I haven't really done much theatre this year, and it's because it's really REALLY difficult to find PAID theatre work. Like I had said above, musical theatre is really my bread and butter, and a majority of my roles have been in musicals. I would love to be on Broadway one day, and that has always been, and always will be, my ULTIMATE GOAL in life. Nothing is as thrilling as being on stage, and as much as I love being on set and working in tv and film, the stage is where I feel the most at home. I know that I can "buy in" to Equity after a year as a member of one of the sister unions (AFTRA, SAG, etc), but, that union card is one where I want to feel like I got it because I went into an audition and NAILED IT, so I booked the role and got my card. I'm DETERMINED to one day be a proud member of AEA!
• Run a sub-5 hour marathon. Ok, I know that that has nothing to do with acting...kinda. I got to work as a jogger for the film "We the Peeples" recently, and if I wasn't in shape to run and didn't have good form, I would've looked stupid on camera. I LOVE running, and just ran my 10th full marathon with a personal best of 5:12:17. Not fast, but faster than the other 9. Running keeps me in shape, and therefore, able to maintain my weight. In this business, looks mean a lot (in terms of fitting into the wardrobe for shoots, plus, the camera adds about 10 lbs), so I really NEED to keep myself in top shape so I can keep on booking work.

So that's basically it. 2010 has been a very busy year, and even though some people have told me that I made it look "easy" to book work, it wasn't easy at all. Everyday was a struggle, and each week, I never knew where my next paycheck was going to be coming from. I booked a very small percentage of what I had submitted for, but I was also looking for work EVERY DAY, and never actually really had a day off.

I've actually had some people write to me, and think that I'm actually "famous" and if I could give them the "hook-up" to get into show biz. First of all, I'm nowhere NEAR being "famous," and second of all, I don't have ANY pull whatsoever on getting people cast in ANYTHING! The reason why I had success in what I've done is because I'm ALWAYS thinking about my career, always Google-ing my gluteus off (yes, Google IS your friend) to find auditions, work, and industry events to attend. That way, I can get my face and name out there. This industry is also A LOT about networking, so it really doesn't hurt to attend some of these events, such as ActorFest or Showbiz Expo.

This is an EXTREMELY competitive industry where EVERYBODY wants an in, and to be successful, you need to get yourself out there. Also, I've learned that not everybody will give you honest advice, cuz of course, no one wants you to take their roles from them. It's everyone for themselves, and the role of Nina in "Black Swan" is a perfect example of how the most competitive performers feel and think (or at least how I function, but then again, I've always just been a neurotic New Yorker who thinks that everybody is trying to sabotage me). Oh yeah, if you haven't seen Black Swan yet, GO SEE IT! It's a BRILLIANT film, and the director, Darren Aronofsky, actually went to my high school!

I would like to thank 2010, and also 5th Avenue for raising the rent so I was able to lose my job of 5 years at the World of Disney. If I didn't lose my job, I'm pretty sure that I would still be there now, and not trying to move forward with my career just for financial stability's sake. It's all about taking risks, and just taking charge of your life! I was meant to break free from doing what I wasn't meant to do and just dive, head-first, into this crazy, crazy business we call "show".

Here are a couple of quotes to leave you with, in hopes for a bright, productive and successful 2011:

"If you don't get what you want, then you don't want it bad enough." - that's my motto!

"The most important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it." - Random modeling postcard handed out during Fashion Week in NYC. Brilliant words of wisdom. Brilliant.

Goodbye 2010, it's been great! And 2011, I CAN'T WAIT to see what's in store!