Acting

Happy Sunday Creative Army! Here's hoping you had a happy, healthy, and creative week. What is your coffee of choice today? I had my first americano in weeks recently and it was glorious. Let's dive in - grab your coffee because I've got your weekly dose of content coming in hot.  First up, Vanity Fair sat down with real-life astronaut Chris Hadfield to discuss how Hollywood has portrayed space in the movies. Chris talks about the authenticity of the visuals used, as well as the actual scien...

I always just assumed that I would get an email one day asking about some old footage I had of Lin-Manuel Miranda busking in the streets of Scotland. I knew I had the footage on a drive (even some of the old tapes on my desk now) and at some point, there would be a biographer or documentarian who would realize that I am the person to ask about this old footage. Lin, after all, had become quite literally become one of the most famous people in the world and I had some pretty magical moments captu...

A NOVEL IDEA It was back in 2010 when I was first approached about publishing a novel. I was a lighter shade of Latina actress who had met the frustration of waiting for casting directors and agents to notice me, and see me as Latina enough...so I decided to write my own stage play. It was my autobiographical, coming of age story, that would show people once and for all who I was, instead of waiting for them to see and find a place for me. My one-woman stage play (Brownsville Bred) took the fe...

In 2014 I screened my first short film The Window in front of an audience at the London Independent Film Festival where it played to a full house. We won the audience award for 'Best Short Film' and I had my first taste of success as a filmmaker. Standing there with my trophy in hand, I stared blindly at a room full of blurred shapes and flashing lights who I knew to be my friends and fellow artists. I can't see the faces watching me, but I can feel their smiles. Do I feel disabled or cursed in...

Happy Wednesday Stage 32! We hope this blog finds you healthy, happy, safe, and creative. Over the last two months in quarantine, we have been working tirelessly to make Stage 32 your online home to stay connected with over 650,000 film, tv, and new media creatives from across the globe - no hand sanitizer or face masks required. Stage 32 is committed to bringing you entertainment, education, and community from the comfort and safety of your own home.  Now, we are excited to host another f...

Welcome To The Family. How to cast a winning team for your film. Casting isn't just about finding great actors, it's about recruiting a team who will deliver your vision. Here are some key ideas to help you recruit your ensemble.   Actress Sian Youngerman as ‘Amelia’ in a still from my 2017 experimental indie feature ‘The Madness of Tellaralette Seville’.   Read Between the Lines Ensemble casting is a magical part of filmmaking. No other medium seals the chemistry of a group of p...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! Here's hoping you had a happy, healthy, and creative week. With everything going on right now, it is important to focus on things you can control - like soaking up new information and learning a new facet of the entertainment industry. So, are you ready for your weekly dose of content? I've got my coffee in hand and some piping hot content coming your way.  First up, the folks over at Indy Mogul sat down with cinematographer/director Justin Jones to talk about the...

Very early in my career as a storyteller, I adapted a few practices that relate back to lessons I learned from my yoga practice. This came about because I had a break-down/break-through moment during my second year in art school. The result of creating several projects with less than desirable results was devastating. I felt miserable. I put my whole self into every aspect of the work, and when it failed, I felt internally as if I had failed. Hence, began my search for something that would not f...

This article’s a little different than my previous ones. And, in some ways, it’s the most important. It’s less structured and more conversational. I’m not using headings, because it’s all of a piece. It’s an open letter, fully from the heart, to an amazing community with so much to give. I appreciate the opportunity given to me by Taylor and the amazing leaders at Stage 32 to share my thoughts in this way during these Times of Crisis. These Unprecedented Times. Times that don’t exist in a...

A bit of Background…I’m of the belief that if I can make my own opportunities I should. As an actor and a writer, I shouldn’t be waiting on someone else’s approval to gauge my fulfillment. So, I make a lot of my own content, which has been helpful in building my body of work. I wrote this goofy little six-page costume drama that I wanted to produce. One set, 4 actors, and not a big deal, right? Well, it’s a big deal where my available budget is concerned. From what my research showed, getting...