kristalgrace.com Blog

About being a part of Off Centre TV this season!

We had our first meet and greet tonight at the Backstage Lounge on Granville Island, and it was amazing. Amazing. AMAZING, I tell you!

I found out that a lot of my cast mates are people who I’ve either already worked with before, or who I’ve been auditioning with and everyone seems eager to work and very excited about it. And with good reason!

We’re aiming to start the season in September, and we’ll be on KVOS at 11pm Saturday nights, right before Saturday Night Live! This is going to be an amazing experience. The producers are all awesome and friendly and they know what they’re doing, and I feel so lucky to have been asked to be a part of this show.

Not only that, but I met a guy who’s working on a Short Film Challenge, and I will be acting in that as well! It’s all going uphill… and I love it.

Know that there WILL be a posting as soon as things get underway and I know more!

It took me a while (until 1:15am on July 29th, to be exact), but I just realised that I double posted an entry from last week. Whoops! Sorry! I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again. Thanks for bearing with me!

I had a fabulous day today, FYI!

Today I was a part of a Voice Over Animation and Narration Work Shop, taught by Cathy Weseluck. And it was amazing. The first part was super informative, and in the afternoon, we actually got to try some voice overs ourselves, at Koko Studios on W 8th!

The script I got to read from? 1) A commercial from Overwaitea foods, and 2)…HE-MAN!!! It was fabulous! I got to read for Mara the first time around, and Sebrian after.

I am so glad I took this course. It’s just opened up a whole new realm for me, and I am excited to get started! I’ve got this drive now to find material, practice, get into a studio and record, find out if my agent does V/O work as well, and get cracking!

Plus, to help on my egotistical side, a few people in the class told me that they thought I was really good, and I did great work. AND I went up after class to say thank you to Cathy, and she looked at me and said, “You have a lot of talent.” !! HELL-o! To get a comment like that after a one day workshop, is a fantastic compliment. I felt wonderful after that, and I already felt pretty great after being in the studio!

I have a good, good feeling about things.

…drives me crazy sometimes. This may not be fair to say, since I haven’t been doing film all that long (since last fall), but honestly!

A pro AND con is this: it all depends on what you look like. Really. Before they even consider letting you audition/be submitted for a role – even for extras work – you have to have the right look. And I understand – to a degree. The director(s)/producer(s)/casting agent(s) know what look they’re going for. Understood. But what if there was someone with phenomenal talent out there, who has no chance in hell because the sides say a specific ethnicity that you’re not?

On one hand, it’s great if you’re part of that specific minority. On the other hand, being SOL because you’re not whatever race they’re looking for, is really shitty.

So, what’s going on right now that deserves this post?

The fact that I’m wondering how, in Vancouver, when there are SO MANY movies/tv shows/commercials being filmed, why in the name of Jeebus am I practically never working?

From January up until now, I have worked 6 times. SIX. That’s less than once a month. For months now, I’ve been told that the summer will be really busy, it’ll pick up, there will be LOTS of work – so where is it? It’s not like I’ve been super busy with other things either. I like to keep my days open as much as possible, and book all of my meetings/auditions/interviews/errands for the same days so I have a pretty open availability.

Is it that there is no work for “my look”? I don’t believe that. There have got to be general group scenes as well. Other people are working!

I’m just frustrated right now. I got a call checking my availability for today and Friday (I was free), and I kept the two days open. I kept asking about if they’d heard back from casting yet. No. I hate waiting. I may have missed a chance to schedule an interview because of this, and I’m not even working tomorrow now! This is seriously ridiculous. If they were looking for THAT many people, and I couldn’t land this EXTRAS gig…I’m annoyed. Working once a month is ridiculous. RIDICULOUS.

/rant

…for now.

And there’s still a lot of room up there!!

We had out last clowning class tonight! It was fabulous. My partner du jour and I realised we both brought skipping ropes in to class – so much fun. Really. I’ve learned a lot these past 5 weeks. If you want to take a fabulous clowning class, go to www.fantasticspace.com and take a lot! It’s definitely worth it.

Anyway. Back to the title reason.

I had an audition last week, and besides sitting on the wrong floor of the building for close to 45 minutes, it went fabulously! Did a bit of a monologue, sang a bit of a song, did a bit of an improv. Later, went in an had a phenomenal time doing group improv games and left feeling rather pleased with myself!

Apparently with good reason, too.

I got a phone call today, and I have been cast in Season Two for Off Centre TV! (www.octv.ca) I’m not sure when filming starts, but when it eventually goes on air, you’ll be able to watch me at 11:30pm on Saturday nights on KVOS-TV! I’m excited. It’s not prime time, but it’s still TV!

Relatively short entry today. My brain is on overload and I should really get up to go for a run in the morning.

If you haven’t already done so, take a look at my site – www.kristalgrace.com – and feel free to leave me a comment!

Yes, that “/” is supposed to be there!

Last summer, when I worked on “Jmambin Yaztropp Kabalump and the Journey to Meatballs” (I know, it’s a mouthful!), some of us were talking about how we were “Actors/____.” I, if I remember correctly, am an Actor/Director/Writer/Singer/Mover/Producer/Model/Choreographer! Wow. I hope I didn’t leave anything out. I wouldn’t want to be modest or anything.

…that was a joke. You can be confident in this work, but not egotistical.

At any rate, since I seem to be fond of going off on tangents, is that I’ve been hired as the choreographer for a couple (for now) of week long musical theatre workshops! In Washington! For 12-18 year olds!

Not bad for a girl who has absolutely no formal dance training, eh?

I’ll be working with CM Productions, with two wonderful women named Michelle and Catherine, who I may also be raccoons with! (That’s for another entry.)

So depending on registration, we will hopefully be starting on July 22nd and staying there until July 28, and again for the third week of August.

Fun? Yes. Exciting? You bet? A challenge? Bet your bottom dollar it will be! I think the last time I choreographed a dance was during my first year at Douglas, for my group’s Brecth collage, to The Doors “The Alabama Song.” Before that was during the musical I wrote back in Grade 12 – “High School Is A Soap Opera.” Besides that, I’d never even considered being a choreographer – I left that to the “real” dancers!

I so far have the piece I used for my “audition” choreographed: “Popular” from the musical “Wicked.” It’s a lot of fun, and really cutesy adorable. Also on the agenda are “Seasons of Love” from RENT, “Does Your Mother Know” from Mama Mia, and two more songs whose titles have now eluded me.

The major point of this entry: I HAVE A JOB! Sure, it isn’t a forever kind of job, but that’s all right. I don’t want to be a choreographer, but I love knowing that I CAN – at least for this level! And it’s always wonderful to get paid to do something that’s related to the Performing Arts field. I love it!

Keep your fingers crossed that enough kids register!

I know this is my 2nd entry for today, but the gems I’m finding in my journals are wonderful! I’m sure there will be more in the next day or so.

These are the author’s notes from “The Big Funk,” written by John Patrick Shanley.

“Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done. When it’s not a safe place, it’s abusive to actors and audiences alike. When it’s safety is not to protect cowards masquerading as heroes, it’s a boring travesty. An actor who is truly heroic reveals the divine that passes through him, that aspect of himself that he does not own and cannot control. The control and the artistry of the heroic actor is in service to his soul…

Don’t act for money. You’ll start to feel dead and bitter.

Don’t act for glory. You’ll start to feel dead, fat and fearful…

There are lies you must tell. But experience the lie…And let it go. Act from the depth of your feeling imagination. Act for celebration, for search[ing], for grieving, for worship, to express that desolate sensation of wandering through the howling wilderness. Don’t worry about Art. Do these things and it will be Art.”

I’d like to share a journal entry from just over a year ago with you. I was going through journals from the last 2 years, looking for notes I may have written on Public Transportation for a play I’m currently writing, and this entry (March 16, 2005) caught my eye. I went through a bit of a rough patch while I was training, and I had a glimpse of … well, self-affirmation. Realisations like this are super important – we remember things that we should never forget.

“5 minutes ago I was in the bathroom…about to brush my teeth, I looked in the mirror, saw my mostly naked body, with my tummy and beginnings of vellulite, and one thought flashed into my mind – I Am Beautiful. And I know I’m not anywhere near perfet, but for that short time, I was absolutely, wholly beautiful. And I started to cry. I am worth everything I put into my life, and so much more. I have a home and a wonderful family. I have fantastic friends who still keep in touch and let me know they’re there for me whenever I need them. I have a dog who loves me unconditionally…I have freedom. I have choices. I am lucky enough to already have had almost two semesters of training at Studio 58, and have met wonderful people. I am talented. I am loved. I am respected and admired. I am going to do something with my life. I have drive. I am needed. I am wanted. I am brave. I can sing. I can cry. I laugh at anything I find funny! I am supported. I am encouraged. I am passionate. I have opportunities. I have connections. I have a home away from home. I can laugh at myself. I can make people smile. I am a friend. I am a singer. I am an actor. I am a writer. I keep trying. I am importatnt. I want to do the best I can. I have worth. I can do no wrong. I am special. I am a part of peoples’ lives. I am healthy. I am intelligent. I have a future. I am unique. I am Perfectly Kristal.”

Thank you to all of those who have, in your own way, touched my life and who continue to believe in me. Yes, a lot of it is about believing in yourself, and knowing/trusting that you can do what you set your mind to, but having outside support is a wonderful, wonderful thing, and I am ever thankful for that!

Happy Canada Day!

I’m a fan of long weekends (Who isn’t?) especially when I’ve been working and feel the need for a break. Then I get some “me” time that doesn’t have to be slotted away for anything in particular – sometimes a rare occurence, sometimes there’s all too much of it. Hi, my name is Kristal, and I suffer from Grass Is Greener Syndrome

Today is one such day. I found myself soaking up some sun on my back deck, reading a play and thinking. Are you happy with yourself, and what you’re doing with your life? If/when people ask you if you are, do you give a generic answer (”Hey, how’s it going?” “Fine, you?”), or do you actually think about how you are?

I mean, essentially, I’m asking how honest are you being with yourself and your answers?

Now, I understand that some people just ask out of politeness (read: “training”), and they may or may not be interested in how you actually feel, and sometimes it’s just easier to give the generic answer (read: “little white lie”) and move on. I used to answer without thinking, too, but really, why not tell the truth? I personally find it amusing at times to answer with, “I feel like I’m dying, how are you?” or “Well,  besides only getting 2 hours of sleep and freaking out because no one knows their lines and we open in 3 days, I’m great!”

But that’s just me. Maybe no one else finds that amusing and I’m just crazy.

I’m also off topic.

Getting back on track, here, are you happy with where you are at this point in time? Do you feel fulfilled? Are you doing what you want to be doing, or are you running the hamster wheel of life because really, what else are you going to do?

I want to be able to make a living doing what I love. People who can do that are some of the luckiest in the world! I’m not talking about working a job you’re good at – although that helps and often plays a key role in why you’re doing that in the first place. I was a good swim coach and lifeguard/instructor, and I generally had fun when I was going it, but it’s not something I’d want to do as a career. Some people do. It works for them. That’s great. But if you are lucky enough to be able to work at something you love, it’s not work. And as much as I hate cliches, it’s true! I would love to work full time as an actor, and that’s what I’m going to do. It’s what I’ve been striving for, and putting my energy towards, and this drive is going to help me. And I’ll get to be one of the lucky ones.