Don't Give Up!

[Warning: Inspirational Speech Ahead]

I just added my 21st speaking role to my resume. WOW. All this in the last 4 years! And SEVEN of those credits were from this year alone (with another short film or two already lined up in the next few weeks!). I'm so grateful for the many doors God has opened! I'm blessed to be doing what I love! There are ups and downs, and long dry spells, and many rejections and disappointments, but I can have peace, joy, and contentment because I know I'm where God wants me to be, and He will open all the right doors. There is so much to be grateful for.

And you know what? In 2012, right before I landed my leading roles in The Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club and Touched by Grace, I was almost ready to give up. I hadn't acted at all in the 3 years since I graduated from college, and I wasn't getting cast in any of the films I had auditioned for, so I was seriously doubting myself. I thought maybe I was wrong -- maybe this wasn't what God wanted me to do, and maybe I just wasn't good enough. Then BAM. I went straight from background extra to being cast as the leading actress in two films that are now being seen on TV all over the world. I've heard from so many people around the globe that have seen those films and been touched by their messages.

Not only have I been a part of many wonderful films that have the potential to change lives, but I also have an enormous film family that I hold dear to my heart. I've made so many friends, traveled to new places, and had some incredible experiences in the last several years as I've worked in the film industry. Memories I wouldn't trade for anything. And this year, I received my first two "Best Acting" awards!

I'm so glad I didn't give up.

(To view my resume, demo reel, film trailers, and more, visit my website: staceybradshaw.wordpress.com)

Spielberg's "Lincoln"

Four years ago today, I was a background actor on the set of Steven Spielberg's film, "Lincoln" (starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Fields). It was actually my second day of being on set. The first day we filmed theater scenes all day, and my small group did such a good job reacting to the news that Lincoln had been shot, they actually filmed the front of us in one section of the theater, then moved us to another second and filmed the back of us. However, out of a full day of filming, none of the audience reaction shots made it into the film. That is often how it goes. BUT, Steven Spielberg did touch my shoulder in passing that day, and referred to a group of us ladies as "sugar plum fairies" (probably because of our hoopskirts, haha!). For a story about how I almost literally died at Spielberg's feet, read to the end of the post... 

This second day, I reported to set at 5am after a very sleepless night, changed in a huge tent with outside temperatures probably around freezing, spent two hours getting through wardrobe, hair, and makeup, and then spent 11 hours in holding, not getting on set until the last hour of the shooting day. That is a great illustration of the saying that filmmakers and actors like to joke about - "Hurry up and wait!" 

Apparently, I wasn't supposed to be in holding all day. The Assistant Director saw me first thing in the morning and it turns out he wanted to bring me on set in the first or second wave, which would have put me in the line of people shaking hands with Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) at the reception scene at the White House. But since Production Assistants were sent to pull extras from holding the rest of the day, I ended up being in the LAST wave, and when the Assistant Director saw me again, he made the comment about wanting to have gotten me on set the first part of the day. Oh well! I was where I was supposed to be, and available at any time, so it wasn't my fault. It's too bad, though.

I *thought* it worked out to my favor, because I was featured in the scene that you can see in the picture below, which was the last thing they shot that day. It was for b-roll purposes (no main actors in the scene), but it also featured the wife and daughter of the Governor of Virginia (at the time), so I hoped it would make it in the film. But alas...it was cut. However, it DID make it into the brochure about the awards the film was nominated for, so I have this beautiful screenshot at least! Oh, and during one of the breaks while we were filming this portion, I sat on the floor, and Daniel Day-Lewis came and sat on the sofa a few yards away, silently contemplating in his role as Lincoln, so I got to see the famous method actor up close.

Here's another picture of my dress. Thankfully it was a strangely WARM December day since we were kept in holding outside all day. I actually got sunburnt on the back of my neck (who thinks about getting sunburnt in December?).

One more funny story from the first day of filming! Remember that I said I almost died at Spielberg's feet? Well, during the theater scenes on the first day, I was descending a long flight of marble stairs (Spielberg was standing near the bottom), and the heel of my shoe caught on my hoopskirt, and I would have catapulted quite violently down the stairs if I had not already had a hand on the railing and was able to catch myself. It was a very close call. I probably would have broken my neck or bashed my head open. At a minimum, I'm sure I would have landed in the hospital, so I'm very thankful God spared me from any injury (and embarrassment). 

In closing, I'll just say that it is very unfortunate to be laced up very tightly in a corset on these big sets where the catering is AMAZING, because you hardly have room to eat anything. I was not the only woman to end up feeling nauseous because of how tight the corsets were. I only ate a little (and so sad to miss out on all the delicious deserts), but I still felt sick. I love the styles of this era, but I'm glad I don't have to wear a corset every day! 

Well, I hope you enjoyed my stories from the set of Lincoln! It was a neat experience to be on a big Hollywood set with Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Did anyone watch the movie when it came out? 

Demo Reel Tips

Your demo reel is VERY important if you want to impress casting directors and get work!  Casting personnel see hundreds and thousands of demo reels, and you want yours to stand out for being GOOD, not for being yet another poorly put together reel that makes them roll their eyes and wish that actors would actually do their homework and put their reel together correctly.

To start with, here's a Quick Tip video from casting director Erica Arvold, with 3 tips on how to make your demo reel stand out:

To follow up, here's an article by casting director Marci Liroff with 4 tips for the best demo reels:

http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/casting-director-note/4-tips-best-demo-reels/

I have learned some great information from these resources and will be tweaking/updating my own reel soon to make it better.  We should always be learning and growing and honing our craft!

More Résumé Tips!

This is the most detailed and comprehensive article I've seen on how to write an acting résumé!  If you have any questions, look no further!

http://www.dailyactor.com/acting-resume/

Casting Call - New Film from Dave Christiano - UPDATED

UPDATED POST:

This film has not yet been named, but it's the latest film from the Christiano brothers (Time Changer, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry, A Matter of Faith, etc.).

Here is the casting notice from Dave Christiano:

I am beginning to cast the adult roles for my girls cross country film to shoot this fall. These actors need to be from or near the Nashville area. There is no travel or hotel allowance. This movie is presently shooting Non-SAG, BUT, it may shoot SAG so please if you are SAG, don't shy away from auditioning. 

I need 7 Caucasian males - ages 30 to 55. These roles are for 3 fathers of teenage girls and 4 Coaches. 

I need one Caucasian female age range 40-55 to be a mother for a teenage girl. 

Also, I still looking for 1 teenage boy age 17 to play a role. 

My name is Dave Christiano and my email is: dc@christianfllms.com

Website is FiveAndTwoPictures.com. This is our 16th film. 

Please, no out of town people because these roles will shoot over a period of time this fall. You really need to be local. This is a Christ-centered dramatic film planned for selected theaters in August 2016. Thank you and God bless.

Casting Call - "I'm Not Ashamed"

Casting is open for I'm Not Ashamed​, the Rachel Scott story!  Rachel was the first student to die in the Columbine School shooting.  Be a part of this important movie and apply for one of the many lead and supporting roles.  There are several featured extra roles as well.

See the character breakdown and fill out an application at http://imnotashamedfilm.com

The film is shooting in the Nashville area starting in mid-June, and there is special consideration for local applicants.

**Please note: I'm not affiliated with this film in any way. Just sharing the casting notice.

Christian Worldview Film Festival 2015

March 10, 2015 dawned clear and sunny.  Hundreds of people gathered for the Filmmakers Guild preceding the Christian Worldview Film Festival in San Antonio, Texas.  Teachers included John Fornof, George Escobar, Andrew Garcia, Rebekah Cook, Mimi Sagadin, Rich Swingle, John-Clay Burnett, Brett Varvel, Joel Jost, Jurgen Beck, Nathan Ashton, and many more.

Each day started with a time of worship, followed by a general session.

Break-out workshops followed, and provided instruction in specific areas of interest.  There was something for everyone.  Topics included producing, directing, acting, editing, cinematography, sound design, marketing, distribution, and more.

One brilliant part of the festival's design were the networking lunches.  You could pre-order your daily lunches from the caterer, and tables were even designated for particular areas of filmmaking (i.e. directing, acting, documentaries, etc.) to enable attendees to more easily find the right people to talk to for their networking purposes.

On the third day of the Guild, the Festival began and hundreds more people started filling the church where the event was held.  Films screened simultaneously throughout the weekend, providing viewers with multiple options for each block.

"Wanted" screened three times, and was very well attended and well received each time.  It was fun to watch it with an audience and listen to their laughter and their applause.  There were even audible gasps of surprise on occasion.  We were approached by people all weekend, telling us how much they loved the film.

The week reached its grand finale on Saturday evening with the Awards Ceremony.  The Jost family got the show started with some of their delightful music, and then it was time to start handing out awards!

I tried not to hold my breath while we waited for the Short Film category.  Finally, the time came.  I hadn't let myself believe that we would actually win, but at the same time, I knew it would be close.  The feedback we had received throughout the weekend had confirmed our belief that Roses and Wanted would be very tight in the running.  Little did we know how close.

First, six finalists were announced and their titles displayed on the big screen.  Next, the Runner Up was announced, which was neither Wanted nor Roses (but congratulations to my friend Caleb Hermann for winning Runner Up with "Book Ends"!).  Now my heart was really starting to pound.  Anticipation grew as the box containing the award was carried across stage and handed to Phillip Telfer, the presenter.  The box was opened, and a note was taken out.  My brain hardly processed as Mr. Telfer explained that when the judge's results were all tallied, two films rose to the top and received the same number of votes.  So instead of flipping a coin, they decided to present two awards for Best Short Film.  You could feel the excitement buzzing in the room as murmurs rippled throughout the huge auditorium.

A second award box was retrieved and brought to the podium.  After clarifying that he was not reading them in any particular order, Mr. Telfer announced that the first Best Short Film Award went to...WANTED!!!  Still hardly processing what was happening, I quickly stood to my feet and made my way out to the aisle.  I joined a few more of our team as we walked toward the stage amidst loud, triumphant music, sweeping spotlights, and the applause and cheers of the crowd.

When all had grown quiet, the second winner was announced...  ROSES!!!  We were beside ourselves with joy as we welcomed our friends on stage!

As much as we would have enjoyed winning, we didn't want Roses to lose, so it was perfect that we could BOTH win in an historic tie!  Many of the same crew members worked on both films, and we already felt like a team, so it was very fitting.

We were all still in shock as we made our way backstage and headed towards the lobby to have our pictures taken.  "Did that really just happen?"  "Somebody pinch me!"

The night ended on a great note as the other film I acted in - "Polycarp: Destroyer of Gods" - won Best Original Score, Best Feature Film, and Audience Choice!

It was a wonderful week full of helpful teaching, great networking, and encouraging fellowship!  The Christian Worldview Film Festival has truly become like a big family reunion to me, and is one of the highlights of my year.  I urge everyone interested in filmmaking to attend.

Wanted Poster & DVD Cover!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that "Wanted" is very near and dear to my heart!  I have helped on this short film in many capacities from the very beginning, and I am so excited to share some of the artwork with you now!  Monica Tull did a great job with our graphic design.

We are busy gearing up for our World Premiere and the online release of the film!

Meanwhile, you can Pre-Order the DVD by Feb. 7 to get FREE SHIPPING!

Click HERE to visit our store page!

  

  

Leave a comment and let me know what you think of our Poster and DVD Cover!  :-)
 

Voiceover Resource

Any voice actors or aspiring voice actors out there?  This is definitely an area that I want to explore more!  I just saw this article on Backstage.com and wanted to share it with you!  It talks about voices.com, where you can be your own agent and book paid voiceover work.

Read more here: 4 Reasons to Join the Voiceover Business and use Voices.com

Note: I talked to a friend who is pursuing a career as a voiceover artist, and she said that you can make a profile and put up samples of your work for free, but in order to actually audition or directly contact people holding auditions you have to pay. Voices.com is $40 monthly, so you could cancel if you didn't think it was worth it. Most of the personal testimonies entailed satisfied users who said one job would easily pay for more than the subscription.

She mentioned two more websites: Voice123.com (works much the same way as Voices.com, but if you are not satisfied after 30 days, you can get a refund), and ACX.com, which is all audiobooks.

If you are already in this business, I'd love to hear any advice or information you have to give, so I can share it with my readers! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!  I hope this season finds you full of joy and peace!  Be sure to take some time over the holidays to relax, unplug, enjoy the festivities, and give yourself time to recharge.  This business we're in is very rewarding but also very demanding, and it's important to take some time off to get refreshed.  2015 is almost upon us, and a new set of adventures await!

In the midst of all the busyness of this season, don't forget to reflect on the greatest gift of all -- a baby boy born in a manger long ago.  God gave us the gift of His Son, and Jesus gave us the gift of His life.  We have so much to be grateful for!  Let us celebrate His birth together and keep our eyes fixed on Him as we go into the new year!

3 Tips for Using Social Media for Professional Networking

Here's another great article from Backstage! As an actor, you have to work hard to market yourself. And where's the best place to do that?  Social media!  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, and the list goes on...  These are the platforms that provide you with the opportunity to brand yourself and connect with other professionals in the industry.

This article presents three tips for how to present yourself well when making those connections. They are EXCELLENT points, and when the author said the following...

"How many times have you received a Facebook friend request and decided in a millisecond if you are going to actually consider this request or not? Why? Firstly, because you’ve looked at their profile picture. This picture will make you want to look further into the request or delete it. You may not want to admit that, but I’d bet it’s true."

...I wanted to stand up and shout AMEN! Friends, your profile picture is SO IMPORTANT. It is your calling card -- the first impression people will get of you. Make it a good one. I don't want to be judgmental and I almost hate to admit this, but when I see that someone has posted in a Filmmaking group on Facebook, I will choose to go read their post (or not) based on their profile picture. If their picture doesn't present me with an image of professionality, it's hard for me to take them seriously. (Is professionality even a word? My spellcheck doesn't think so, but it sounds like it ought to be.)

The author also touches on the initial contact you make with someone, and the type of content you are sharing. Here's the link to read the article:

http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/3-tips-using-social-media-professional-networking/

After you read it, come back and tell me what you think!

"Wanted" Official Trailer!

I apologize for my absence over the past few months!  I have been very busy helping with post-production for "Wanted" (particularly in my role as Social Media Marketing Assistant).  We're hard at work gearing up to release the film on March 2nd!

Please like our <Facebook Page> to see fun behind-the-scenes pictures, featured adoption stories, production updates, and more!  (We'll also be doing some giveaways at the beginning of the year, so you won't want to miss those!)

You can also visit our <Website> for more information about the film, and sign up for our <Newsletter>.

Without further ado, I am very excited to present our OFFICIAL TRAILER!

Post by Wanted - The Movie.

  

Casting Call - "Providence"

Shared from The Good Book website:

Mainstreet Productions and Faith Flix Films are excited to begin production on our sixth faith-based feature. PROVIDENCE is a love story that spans forty years. Like our most recent film, The Good Book, PROVIDENCE will be told using only dramatic action, dynamic soundtrack, and no dialogue.

We are currently accepting submissions for the lead and supporting characters (paid). Non-union actors only.

Once these roles are cast, we'll accept submissions for featured and background actors.

Shooting Location: Springfield, TN (Nashville area)
Lodging provided for lead and supporting actors who are unable to work as local talent.
Lead and supporting roles will require 2-5 shooting days.
Shooting Dates: April 13 - June 6, 2015

To submit:
* Complete online application
* Mail headhot (or recent photo) and resume:
Attention: Sharon Wilharm
Mainstreet Productions
305 North Oak Street
Springfield, TN 37172

To read the character breakdown and submit the online application, CLICK HERE.

*Please note: I am not affiliated with this film. I am just sharing the casting call.

Update on "Wanted"

Who wants a sneak peek at some footage from "Wanted" - a short film starring Rusty Martin (Courageous), Andrew Cheney (Seasons of Gray), Eliya Hurt (Polycarp), and myself?  Well, look no further!  I am thrilled to share our new Sizzle Reel with you!  (Be sure to watch it in HD!)

Post production is almost done!  The final edit is locked and color corrected, so now the film needs to go to our sound artist and have a score composed by the amazing John Campbell, and then it will be done!  I'm busy working on the marketing side of things (a new undertaking for me that I'm really enjoying so far!), and we're also researching lots of film festivals.

If you want to learn more about the film, please visit the website that I designed!  You can read about the story, learn about our cast and crew, and sign up to receive our newsletter so you'll be the FIRST to hear our big updates (not only about this project, but future projects from Roundtable Productions)!  Also, there's still time to donate and get some fun rewards while helping with post production costs. 

If you'd like to connect with us on Social Media, here are the links!
  

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Google+ ~ Pinterest

  

Actors Rusty Martin, Eliya Hurt, Stacey Bradshaw, and Andrew Cheney

   

Movement in Auditions

Have you wondered about how much movement you should incorporate into your audition video, especially when the script calls for something drastic?  What about using props?  Here's a short video from casting director Erica Arvold to answer those questions!

Recent Film Releases

There have been a lot of Christian films released this summer, but I want to highlight three in particular that released this week (and that carry my personal endorsement!).

1) Ace Wonder.  I have been waiting eagerly for this film since it was shot 4 years ago!  It's a very fun movie that will entertain your whole family.  It just hit Walmart, so go grab your copy!  (And when you do, post a selfie with the DVD on Facebook or Google+ with the hashtag #acewonder) Watch the trailer HERE.

Website: www.acewondermovie.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/acewondermovie

2) The War Within.  This is a powerful film that has won several awards.  I was very impacted by the message and their unique approach to the story.  Everyone should see this film.  You can buy a copy in Family Christian Bookstores or online on Amazon or the film's website.  (If you purchase the film, the filmmakers would love for you to take a picture of you with your DVD and post it on their Facebook page with the hashtag #TheWarOnTour)  Watch the trailer HERE.

Website: www.thewarwithinmovie.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/twwmovie

3) Touched by Grace.  Yep, this is my big movie!  And I'm super excited that it is finally on DVD!  I starred in this film with Ben Davies (Courageous) two years ago.  It has premiered in three countries overseas - England, Spain, and Singapore - and now you can watch it in your living room!  Buy your copy on Stonetable Film's website on in Family Christian Bookstores!  (And...you know the drill...be sure to post a picture of you with your DVD on my FB acting page, with the hashtag #touchedbygrace)  Watch the trailer HERE.

Website: www.stonetablefilms.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SeniorPranktheMovie

Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival 2014

I have wanted to attend the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival for several years, but I've always been on a film set or didn't have enough money when the time rolled around.  This year, however, I found out they were going to be screening "Touched by Grace" and I knew I had to try and get there.  What more perfect time to make connections and network with the fine folks at Gideon than when my biggest film was showing there?

Long story short, in about a week's time, God had worked out all the details and I had my plane tickets to Orlando!  I can't even tell you how huge this was for me.  My heartfelt thanks go out to Rodney and Lori Marett, who run the festival, for making this experience possible.

Rodney, Lori, and my friend Nate

Okay, now to tell you about Gideon...

First of all, I flew into the wrong airport.  Haha!  In my defense, the airline that provided the cheapest flights from VA to Orlando only flew into Sanford International, and I didn't realize there were TWO international airports in Orlando.  But once again, the Lord provided!  A taxi was going to cost $80 to the hotel (about as much as my flight!), so I called a friend at the conference and he asked around to see if there was anyone with a car who could come and get me (32 miles away).  No one could get away, so I put myself at the mercy of the nice taxi manager who had been so helpful to me, and right after I got settled in a taxi, my friend called back with good news.  A lady had been sitting at his table and overheard my plight, and her husband was out getting supper with their little girl and would be able to drive down and pick me up.  Yay!  The taxi driver was very accommodating and let me back out (I kept apologizing - I felt so bad!).

When Mr. Davis came to pick me up, he asked me where I was from.  The crazy thing?  He lives 40 minutes away from me!  He and his wife just started a community theater, and I came all the way to Florida to meet them!  So even though I was feeling like a complete idiot for landing at the wrong airport and needing someone to pick me up, God was working in the details.

The next four days were amazing.  Truth be told, I was sick in my room almost every morning (thanks to some health problems we're working on figuring out), but every afternoon I was able to go downstairs and talk to people and attend a few workshops, including:

How to Build Your Communication Platform - Gary Zelasko
Screenwriting: Maximum Emotion - Gary Voelker
The Virtual Audition - Katrina Cook
Marketing for the Actor - Jenn Gotzon

Gary Voelker teaching about maximum emotion in screenwriting

Saturday night, I attending the screening of "My Name is Paul," a feature film made by my friend Vanessa Ore and her husband Trey.  I had a lot of friends who worked on this project and I was glad to finally see it!  Great job, everyone!

Trey and Vanessa Ore doing a Q&A after the film

Sunday was the big day for me!  At 4:00, we screened "Touched by Grace."  I did a Q&A afterwards, which was a lot of fun!  I enjoyed being able to answer questions and interact with the audience.  I'm so thankful to everyone who came out and watched the film!  (And honestly, I was just so excited to see it again because I've only seen it once in the two years since we filmed it, and that was 13 months ago.)  Watch the recently released official trailer and get ready to buy your DVD on August 19!

My friends Allen and Grace drove down from Jacksonville to attend the screening!

Romans XIII reunion!  (Sincerity, Jason, and Ariana) 

Sunday night, I attended the late-night screening of "The War Within".  Producer/co-writer/actor Gary Varvel did a Q&A afterwards.  The film was incredible!  It's no wonder it won 4 awards at the Christian Worldview Film Festival in March.  I've never seen a Christian film like it.  DVDs will be available on August 19 (the same day as Touched by Grace)!  Meanwhile, I urge you to watch the trailer.

I didn't get any pictures on Monday, so we'll fast-forward to Tuesday...

Brazilian actor/writer/producer Regis Terencio

Christina Lee Storm gave the keynote address at the awards ceremony.  Christina is an international independent producer who has collaborated with filmmakers from around the world.  She was Production Supervisor for the highly acclaimed, 2012 Oscar-winning film The Artist.   Currently, Christina is Executive Director of Act One, Inc. where she provides leadership and vision for the 15 year faith-based, innovative training and incubator for writers and producers in film, television, and digital media.

My new friend David Helling won the best screenplay award for "In the Beginning"!

After the awards ceremony, I managed to get pictures with most of my friends...

Kyle and Kenny Saylors, of Saylors Brothers Entertainment

Casting Director Katrina Cook, of KatzKasting

Actor/Comedian/Writer Torry Martin (My Name is Paul, Skid)

Producer/writer and editorial cartoonist Gary Varvel (The War Within)

Actress Francine Locke (Stand Your Ground)

Director Gary Voelker (coming down to "my level", haha!)

 Actress Jenn Gotzon (Alone Yet Not Alone, Doonby, God's Country, etc.)

Group picture!

Actor/director/writer Nathan Jacobson (Wanted, Polycarp, Princess Cut)

Producer Del Baron (Adrenaline)

 Gideon president, Isaac Hernandez

Tuesday night was so bittersweet.  It was hard to say goodbye and realize that the festival had come to an end.  I am so thankful for all the connections I was able to make in my short time there.  I was even able to start outlining a new feature film with Nate, my collaborative writing partner, during some down-time.  What a blessing to spend time with old friends, meet new friends, learn from the workshops, swap story ideas, watch films, and enjoy the sweet fellowship of other believers who are passionate about making films that honor the Lord.  I truly hope I will be able to attend Gideon again next year, and I encourage all of you to do the same!

The Art of Networking

If you hear it once, you'll hear it a hundred times.  "It's all about networking."  "It's all about who you know."  Some people will even counter with this clever remark: "It's all about who knows YOU."

And you know what?  They're right.

But how do you network?  How do you walk up to a director/producer at that next film festival and "sell yourself" to them without being merely one out of a hundred actors who wants to hand them a business card and hopefully impress them enough to have an edge the next time they're casting?

My friend Torry Martin is a Master Networker.  Some of his sage advice is to make it not about YOU, but about THEM.  Focus on the relationship, not what you can get from the person.  How can you help them?  How can you invest in their life?  Start a conversation.  Ask questions.  Listen.

To hear Torry expound on this subject in a fabulous podcast, click HERE.  The best 20 minutes of networking advice I've heard.  (And some great humor thrown in, too!)

I remember the first time I met Torry.  We were at an Arts and Entertainment Conference in April 2013.  Right away, he started asking me questions all about myself.  It took me by surprise.  He was a speaker at the conference.  He was a highly experienced actor and comedian.  He was a *somebody.*  And he was showing a very genuine interest in ME and asking me to TALK about myself.  Let me tell ya, folks, that's a nice feeling.  I knelt down and swore my allegiance on the spot.  (Haha, okay, not really.)  But what was he doing?  He was starting a friendship.  And I'll never forget how kind he was.

With Torry a year later at the Christian Worldview Film Festival.

Maybe you're shy.  Maybe the thought of "networking" terrifies you and you're tempted to throw in the towel right now, because if that's what it takes, your ship is sunk before you can even leave port.  Well, I've got some good news for you.  THERE'S HOPE!  Because that's exactly how I felt a few years ago.

People keep telling me I'm good at networking.  I used to look at them like they were crazy and I'd laugh in derision.  "Psh!  Who, me?  You've got to be kidding."  I would go to a filmmaking event specifically to network, then walk into a room full of strangers and suddenly I'd be as scared and as mute as rabbit.  I would leave without meeting anyone new.  Networking FAIL.

"But you know so many people!" my friends counter.  "You have connections all over the place."

"Well, yeah," I reply with a shrug.  "I have a lot of friends in the film industry."

Then I started to think about how I met those friends.  On film sets.  At film festivals through other friends.  On Facebook.  You know what?  I have a HUGE network.  And it keeps growing!

At this year's Christian Worldview Film Festival, George Escobar (founder of Advent Film Group) even singled me out in his keynote address as being a great example of a good networker.  Well, at that point, I couldn't argue it anymore.  If Mr. Escobar says it, it must be true.  :-)

This is why there's hope for you.  I grew up PAINFULLY SHY.  I'm an extrovert, but deep inside, I am SO shy.  (None of my friends believe it, but it's true.)  However, I do love connecting with people!  By now, I'm actually ADDICTED to networking.  It's so much fun to meet people and help connect them to other people!  ("Oh, you need a special effects artist?  I know three that are really good at what they do!  Let me give you their contact information.")  I LOVE IT!!!

The more you do it, the easier it gets.  And the more people you meet, the more people you can get introduced to without having to approach a total stranger (that part is still hard for me).

The key is to make it about them, not about you.  When I put pressure on myself ("I have to meet this director because I want to be in their next movie"), I freeze up.  If I can actually force myself to talk to them, I'm tense.  I'm awkward.  But if I'm just out to make friends, to get to know people, to see how I can help THEM, it's so much fun!

So relax.  Go start a conversation.  And start building that network.  (And don't forget to listen to Torry's podcast because it's really worth it!)

How to Format an Acting Résumé

For everyone who wants to know what your acting résumé should look like...  Here's some advice by industry professionals! 

Source: Project Casting

Trivia Tuesday - Liebster Award

I've been nominated for the Liebster Award by my friend and fellow actress McKenna Rosen of Cherishing my Role!  Since it's not related to acting, I figured it would be perfect for a Trivia Tuesday post so you can get to know a little more about me.

The Liebster Award exists to help bloggers get to know each other and spread the word about your blog and the blogs you love!

Here are the Liebster Award rules:

Acknowledge the blog that nominated you. 

Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger created. 

List 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers that deserve some recognition. 

Write 11 questions for them to answer. 

Notify them they've been nominated.

Okay, now to dive into McKenna's questions...

 

1. (Hardest Question Ever) How would you describe yourself?
Wow, that is really hard! Ummm, first of all, I'm a shy extrovert. Yes, I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but somehow it's possible. :-D I have a somewhat dramatic personality (not like "drama queen" dramatic -- I can be really quiet and very calm most of the time, but I tend to react to things a little more dramatically than my mother cares for. Haha!) Maybe "expressive" is a better word to use. I'm very expressive when I'm talking. I'm also short, creative, loyal, protective, gullible, old-fashioned, easily-excited, and a total romantic (okay, and stubborn and prideful and selfish if I must be honest). :-) There are many facets to me, but this is what first came to mind. :-)

2. How would you describe your sense of fashion?
Unique. Classy (well, I try, anyway). Retro/vintage (as much as possible). Modest.

3. Favorite Music Artist Ever? (Aren't these questions easy?)
Ahhhhhh, I can't do favorites! Everything I like is my "favorite"! Haha! Well, if we're talking about one artist instead of a group, then it would probably be a hot competition between Bing Crosby, Josh Groban, and Deanna Durbin.

4. Favorite Snack?
Chocolate!!! (Okay, that was an easy one. Whew!)

5. What is your favorite Non-Fiction Book?
If I have to pick, I'd say "A Praying Life" by Paul Miller.

6. Favorite Fiction Book?
Impossible question! I was a voracious reader back in the day when I had time to read, and I have SO many favorites. The Scarlet Pimpernel, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and The Count of Monte Cristo to name a few. (As you can tell, I love the classics.)

7. What is your favorite historical era fashion-wise and why?
The 1940's and '50's!!! Such classy, feminine styles. And the fashion silhouette works great with my figure. :-D

8. Tea or Coffee?
Both and neither. I have equal amounts of dislike and tolerance for each one. I'm more of a hot-chocolate type of girl.

9. What are your thoughts on the mismatched sock epidemic?
I've never actually worn mismatched socks, and honestly I haven't had many thoughts on the matter, except I do find it fun and humorous when my friends realize their socks don't match. :-)

10. What Bible Verses have jumped out at you recently?
So many of my devotionals lately (and the sermons at church!) have been about God helping us to grow through suffering. Here are some of the verses that have been used... Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." John 18:11 - "Shall I refuse to drink the cup of sorrow which the Father has given me to drink?" Psalm 107:27-28 - "At their wit's end, they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out."

11. Where in the world would you travel to if you could?
Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, and New Zealand are at the top of the list. :-)


And...as soon as I think I'm done with the hard part, I remember I have to nominate 11 people and come up with 11 questions!  Oh boy...   Here we go...

I nominate...

Grace of By God's Grace
Stephanie of Our Journey of God's Faithfulness
Hannah of Glory and Grace
Karissa of Clothed in Scarlet
Alyssa of Days to Remember
Amy of Pressing Toward the Goal
Courtney of Courtney Comments
Michelle of Singing FarmGirl
Bethany of Bethany's Blog
Elanee of Elanee's Endeavors
Julie of A Lily Among Thorns

Okay ladies, here are your 11 questions (and feel free to elaborate):

1. What is a ministry that you're really passionate about?
2. Random childhood memory?
3. Favorite animal?
4. Favorite ice cream flavor?
5. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
6. Have you traveled abroad? If so, where?
7. What is your favorite historical era?
8. Do you have a favorite author of classic fiction?
9. Do you have a favorite author of contemporary fiction?
10. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up (and how does that compare to what you're doing now that you ARE grown up)?
11. What motivates you?

Have fun!  I look forward to reading your answers if you choose to do this!  Be sure to link your post in a comment below.