Getting Started.... Down to business

Ahh, back in business! Last week was great, worked on a video all week for the Park District. Hot as could be, but still was a great time. And the sailing was fun, if only there would have been a bit more wind! Probably worked out for the best though, that way there was plenty of time to get the shot form the shore!

I quit this business for about 9 years, one union was on strike in 2000, the other was planning on 2001, so at that time I took a (sigh) "real", by real I merely mean that there was a paycheck every 2 weeks. What I thought would be a wonderful, supportive work environment was anything but! Not all the time, but much of the time. I was blessed to have met some really wonderful people, still maintain those ties & have been able to put the others behind me for the most part.

After working there for 3 years I left & worked with my new husband, Jim. It's been fun, hard, dirty work, satisfying & frustrating, but now, I get to get back to the business I have such fun at. Yipee!

I started my career as a model. Fun job, travel, some glamour, but really, more hard work than the public thinks. You always have to be prepared, can never be late, but are always late on the other end, family dinners, holidays, etc! Just when you need to be somewhere, a shoot would run over & there is no, "I have to get home for the sitter", or "my family is having a dinner". You work until the shoot is over! And no, you don't go to all sorts of parties, well, I guess some did, but when you have to get up early, dark circles under the eyes just won't do!

And talk about glamor, we would have to arrive at the studio with our hair in rollers! You knew the models by how awful they looked & how much "stuff" they were schlepping. I've always had closets full, not of fancy clothes I'd wear to look like the top of fashion, but to fit a certain persona-young mom, business casual, executive, casual, etc. And all those clothes had to be clean & wearable! My right shoulder is still a bit lower than the other from carrying heavy garment bags!

Modeling was fun, that's when i got to do quite a bit of traveling, but it is a different beast from doing commercials, which is different from industrials, which are different from film. The transition from modeling to commercials was not too difficult, but there was a stigma from being known as a "model", that was a step down from being an actress! So next time, perhaps more about that?

I hate to be so disjointed but there is so much to say (see, I'm getting the hang of it!) & really so little time right now! I'm getting ready for ICVM next week in Denver, and have to get all sorts of things prepared as well as work at the shop. So more tomorrow, or so. G'nite!

Oops, almost forgot, please go to www.Christian-Movie.com I am the featured actress for July. Brittany has done a tremendous job of putting my samples together in a cohesive order. Eric Highland is a lucky person to have found her! I can't wait to see them both at ICVM!

Back to the Blog!

Well, a storm knocked out the internet for a day or so, then an errant button push (standby) on the modem kept me from having internet access!It did give me an opportunity to clean out the fridge & do laundry however & get more info to Britt for the Christian-Movie.com site. Remember to check them out & also me as I will be the July featured actress!

Not much time to post just now, running out the door but will be back this evening & get back on track. Please bear with me....whoever may be listening/reading, & I'll make it worth your while.....yeah right!

Anyway, back in a bit!

Film Contest!

http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETJShows/lensontalent/lensontalent_filmmakerschallenge

Here you go, Johnson & Johnson are the sponsors, looking for a film, no more than 20 minutes, to be aired on BET. If it is aired the filmmaker gets $500, BUT the grand prize is $100,000 to make another film! Deadline is Nov 30!

How cool would it be to have a Christian Film win?????

Get going!

It seems the link doesn't work so Google Johnson and Johnson Lens on Talent for details & entry form!

Best!

The beginning, sort of!

Goodness, time flies! I've been busy compiling pictures, video, etc for Christian-Movie.com. I will be the July featured actress, so be sure to go to the site & learn more about ....me! Funny, being in front of camera is fine, great, I love it, but talking about myself? Tough!

Well, tough, I've never been one to shy away from difficult tasks...(except paper/office work!) so time to get on with it.

It's funny, I've been reinventing myself, well, no not really, just clarifying me & my objectives & what on earth I'm here for. For many years I've been here to be a mom, that was my most important task in life, still is, but I'm relying on other help now, not just me, myself and I. I guess that all has to do with this whole clarification thing.

Right now it seems I'm about to go down an introspective path, a journey of sorts, and I'm not sure this is where I want to start. This whole blog thing is new, and the reason behind it is for more than to tell the entire world (ok, my 2 followers!) who I am & how I got here. I think rather than starting at the very beginning ...Once upon a time at 4:57 on a Wednesday afternoon, a cry broke the still air... No, that is not the way to go. How about from a professional standpoint instead?

Yes, I began by saying I had to compile all sorts of photos, videos, time lines, etc. That has brought back some memories! It's hard to believe I've been acting (or modeling) for over 25 years! Wow, where has the time gone? Looking at the old commercials & industrial films, finding my old resumes, there is so much I had forgotten (now I'm sounding like my mom!). I have done many things, had lots of fun, & have a few things I'd just as soon not remember, but this is life!

Like so many actresses, I started out modeling. You'll find that out when you check out Christian-Movie.com, and see a snapshot of my journey. Which brings me right back to why I'm doing this! Eric, the face behind Christian-Movie.com! I met him and Brittany at the Gideon Film Festival in NC a month ago, as well as so many other awesome people. With his guidance I am coming to realize I have a story to tell. Yes me!

Now one of the things he said was not to make blog entries too long, so I'm about at my limit! How's that for coming full circle & not getting too much out at all? Well, this will be a fine starting point for my next entry.

Till then!

Blogging & Facebook

A bit confusing, but here we are, advancing along in spite of my hesitation! I will do my best to keep this updated with various film festivals, helpful hints, words of wisdom & try to keep the rambling to a minimum!

There is so much going on that it will be difficult, but with the help of modern technology, we shall see what we shall see!

Last minute photo contest: http://www.testifymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107&Itemid=93

$1500 for first prize! Deadline is June 18th, so click on the link for info and enter today!

Eric Highland, HOSFU CEO, is a wonderful, energetic speaker, very knowledgeable, enthusiastic. Please check out his PowerPoint files, you will be informed, enlightened & starting to get on top of the world!

At the 2009 Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival, Eric taught a two-part workshop series entitled "Networking: A Cord of Three Strands."

Below are the PowerPoint files for his workshops. Please contact us with any questions, or if you have issues with the files.

Networking: A Cord of Three Strands, Part One
Networking: A Cord of Three Strands, Part Two

Short Film and Art Design Festival in Puerto Rico

Don't wait too long to get your short film entry in for the upcoming film festival in Puerto Rico, especially since there is no cost to submit a film. This year's special guest is Stephen Baldwin. Eric S. Highland, HOSFU Co-Founder and CEO, will also be on hand as a special guest.

For more information, visit this page or contact festival director Lester Rivé.

http://www.christian-movie.com/short_film_festival.html

http://christian-movie.com/film_production_companies.html

Check out these companies! The link says it all!

http://christian-movie.com
A great site for all things Christian film!

Film Workshop

I'll post the links I run into for various workshops, opportunities, conferences, etc. Check out this workshop held by the Advent Film Group.

This will be an intense 2 days from a solid Christian group that has been blessed by God and is extremely knowledgeable about the craft of film. All aspects of bringing your film (carreer) to market! Please check out the link if you are interested.

Workshop

Source: adventfilmgroup.com
Just one of the breakout sessions:

4:30PM - 5:30PM-Planning Your Film Career - From Children, Teens, Young Adults, Adults (Step-by-step guidelines across various age groups)

Getting Started....

Ok, so this is it, a Blog! My blog! Strange, who would have thought I would finally succumb to the draw, be taken in by the necessity to tell the world......what? What can I tell the world? Hmmmm, well I'm bound to come up with lots to tell, I've never had a difficulty with that! Know what's scary? Not what I may have to say, but all the things I've forgotten! As I continue to "professionalize" my marketing, I realize there is so much that has slipped between the cracks, never to be thought of again....except for this here blog o mine!

Now, lest you think I will bore you with useless rambling, I say neh, nae, neigh, ummmm, well let's just say I won't do that! This is better than mere note-taking, except that spell check does not automatically tell me I've messed up... Now I also have to be sure brain is engaged!

Ok, as this is but an opening thought, I've thought enough & now believe it is time to get my beauty sleep! What fun this is going to be, memoirs, memories, momentous moments, yes, the time has arrived!