A Handshake, a 'hey baby', and a peace sign-The Quentin Tarantino Experience

About a month ago I was in a commercial workshop and the casting director/teacher asked us all 'if you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why'? I said 'Quentin Tarantino because maybe we could have coffee and talk about his next film that I should be in'. So when I got an email last week from a friend saying he won the opportunity to meet QT, I knew where I was supposed to be. No coincidences.

My friend won a contest by killing the most nazis on some video game (I didn't ask for details!). What he won was a flight out to LA, a hotel, a pass to see the opening night screening of Inglorious Basterds, and a meet and greet w/QT. He asked me to go because...well...I'm not sure why but I jumped on the chance and preceded to tell every-single-person I saw that I was going to meet QT. Well, things don't always turn out like you hope and then sometimes they turn out even better.

My journey started out on a flight to LA on Thursday. This is me beginning my trip. Don't I look happy? Got on my short plane ride to LA and began the anticipation of meeting a director that I had just told the universe I would like to meet not to long ago. The company that was hosting this award, also provided a car service. So all I could think about was a guy at the airport holding a sign w/my name on it. And that's exactly how it happened.

This is my first driver (yep there are more).

Got to the Renaissance and had to race against time to get ready for our dinner reservations at Katsuya. (This is our view from the hotel. Recognize anything?)

We chose Katsuya for the whole touristy LA experience. If you watch TMZ you know the paparazzi hang out there and usually get a photo of some celeb just trying to eat their dinner, darnit! (Ya right. They go there to be photographed and so did we!) Reservations 7:30- don't be late or you may miss your expensive table. I got there early and started on the Saki. I couldn't go to a fancy restaurant w/my work clothes on so of course I had to doll myself up. I don't look very happy here but I am doing my best mysterious look!!

Dinner was delightful. I do suggest eating there for the LA experience. We got back to the hotel around 9 and drank some more wine and touched up. At 10:30 our driver was downstairs waiting to take us to the screening and to possibly meet QT. The anticipation was exciting but the journey was just as much a thrill. To the theater we go in the black Lincoln Towncar w/Bernard. I asked Bernard, if you had a chance to ask a celebrity a question, what would you ask them? He said "good question. I guess I would just compliment him on his work." Good advice Bernard. So here was the expectation of our adventure w/QT: QT does a signing at Amoeba Records and after that signing we go to meet him at an undisclosed location for a quick photo and maybe a high five.
Here is the reality of our adventure w/QT: QT did a signing but ran an hour late. He rushed outside Amoeba w/about 4 body guards and went directly into this restaurant where we proceeded to stalk for the next hour. The guy was hungry. Who could blame him? Leave him alone for pete's sake! But curiosity got the better of me and I "had to use the restroom". I walked into BOHO and got a long straight arm from a man that looked like he was in the secret service. He was blocking a table and my route to the bathroom. "Where you going?" he demanded. I told him I needed to use the restroom and he let me pass, talked into his sleeve, and went back to his position. Who knew Quentin worked for the government?!!!

We waited outside for a good hour. The movie was supposed to start at 12:15 am and it was getting late. Our contact finally came out to meet us to "take us back to meet QT" -not so much. He gave us our movie tickets and sent us on our way. Urrrg??? That's it? All the anticipation, hopes, dreams of meeting my next director- gone? No photo op? No high five? wahh waahhh waahh... deflated.

But I didn't give up. I wasn't just about to go in the theater and miss any QT sitings. So we waited. And waited. And FINALLY the secret service escorted him out of BOHO to the theater. They were walking so fast in such a tight group I felt like the President was in the middle. I stood on the sidelines, got my camera ready. (BTW: This is where I begin to hate digital cameras. I already hated them before but now I hate their guts. Why don't they adjust to the light? Why don't they just take the picture when you press down? HOW HARD IS IT?!!!)

When QT walked by me, he gave me the peace sign because he saw what he thought was a camera that would WORK when Quentin Tarantino walks by and gives it the peace sign!!!! Nope. When it did finally click, I got someones back. While this was happening my friend was by QTs side and got a semi handshake....kinda like a, 'how's it going man' thing that guys do.

In the theater we go...booking it to catch up to QT and get a well-lit photo. He went in on one side of the theater and we walked around the other side. The side that our seats were on was where QT was standing. This is the only usable photo I got of him. What is he the Loch ness Monster?

I walked up the aisle and saw QT standing there. My first thought was to put my hand out and touch his shoulder but that is really overstepping my boundaries! So I waved at him and he said "hey baby".

The next morning, I asked my friend, "Did you see me wave to Quentin?" He said "Yes. And the funny part about it is you waved at him w/your hand in front of your face kind of like a 5 year old waving to Santa Clause for the first time."!

We didn't get to bed until 4 am and only got about 3 hours sleep. I told my last driver that took me to the airport that I was going to sleep all day today. He said "You can't do that. That is a waste of a day." My driver told me not to sleep so if some of this makes zero sense or there are horrendous spelling errors, you can blame him!

This photo was of QT giving his opening speech. Nice of him to wear a neon hat!

More to come...

Brite Eyes is finally finished!!
http://cristynsresume.blogspot.com/2007/09/brite-eyes-short-film.html
The short film is being submitted to multiple film festivals as we speak.

In the works:

High Cost of Living-short film in which I play the wife struggling to make ends meet. Filming July 2009.

American Dream-Feature film. I play a grieving widow. Filming in the next couple of weeks

Abroad-Feature length film-the part I'm gunning for is a group therapist for war veterans. A major role that will be filmed in Mexico either Sept or Oct of 2009.

I was about to quit and then...

You know this business is hard. The actual acting is not hard, it's the busy business-the picking the right headshot, the targeting casting directors, the agents, the mailings, the driving to auditions 3 hours away, the finding a monologue, the begging, the pleading, the saying your sorry to your family because you can't come to their birthday party because you have an audition-it's ALOT of work dammit! Yesterday I was tired of it all. I felt bogged down by any activity stated above. There was no email in my inbox that said "Cristyn come to our agency-we'd love to have you". I couldn't even get an email response from a class I wanted to take. I mean I'm tired of it.
And then..early this morning came a theater call back email. "Cristyn we loved you. You were great. Please come to our call back on Monday". Is it sad to say I feel better after reading that? Am I SO self-involved it takes a production assistant to say he loves me for me to be happy? Isn't giving to the poor and searching for Mother's Day presents and doing secret birthday surprises for family enough? Why is it just different when my sister says "You are great, sis" than when a production assistant says "We loved your energy!" Why is one answer better than the other?

Acting is a very selfish career-ask any actor. Everything we do, is to make us look better, better hair, work out more, eat less, whine, complain, be self loathing...it's pathetic. I guess if you take a look around at the actors in the world, really take a look at them and their life they had before acting, you'd see why they got in the business. Something was missing. And the only way they could get that 'something' back was to be up on stage or in front of a camera- to be told "you were great". So you can't fault us for being selfish, we are just trying to get back what is missing.

Those people in the world who give unselfishly-I know who you are. I see you all the time. You aren't missing a piece in you, you are complete, giving, loving and beautiful.

David Duchovny, '-Why Won't You Love Me?'

To understand this blog, I would read the story below first ("Secret").
It pains me to write this. It means that I didn't get the job and I'm writing you to tell you what happened. Ahhh the journey! Driving back from a horrible audition on Monday in Los Angeles, I turned to my sister and said "I need to take a break from LA. I am just coming up here too much. It's wearing me out." Then I get an audition notice for Californication. Not for an extra. Not for the secretary or the saleslady or girl on bike or women #2. For a costar role with David Duchoveny. I was amazed. And worried. And quiet. I didn't tell anyone (See blog below for explanation!). I just sat there and looked at the audition notice waiting for a voice to say, "it's just a joke"! Well, that voice didn't come but others did-such as "you are not a SAG actor", "Why would they hire a no-name to be with David Duchovny", "you don't even have an LA agent-they will not hire you". I didn't want to go. I got the sides and they seemed simple enough. But I started getting upset, crying, mad...all this emotion. I needed help!
I emailed my acting coach and asked for an emergency private session. Told him the situation and he said, 'sure- come on by'. I adore this man. We are on the same page when it comes to fate, and the energy of the universe and where you are at this time is where you are supposed to be. I knew he would set me straight. I was so annoyed by this audition. It was interrupting my life and I knew it was just a waste of time. He said "it is a test of whether you are brave enough to conquer this task. Enjoy the rush of the audition because that is your job. To get the audition." I am paraphrasing his words of wisdom-he said it much better than this!

The audition.
By now my sister is hyperventilating at the fact I was 'this close' to David Duchovny and my dream of being on television. I'll just tell you right now, he wasn't there. The day before, I tried to visualize the casting director as being this nice person that treated me kind. She was. She was very kind. I walked in and she was sitting on the couch and I confidently said, "Oh. There actually IS a casting couch." and she said "ha ha". Then we talked a minute about the scene and I did it and they laughed and said "you're a good actress"! Got in my car and obsessed the whole way home. The goal is to leave the audition and never think about it again. Here I am blogging about it. But it was 10 times worse in the car. What if I DID get cast? NO-there is no way. Maybe? I'm not SAG. I'm not thin enough. I'm a no-name. I rushed it. I didn't use emotion. Stop thinking about it! I needed to distract myself during my 2 hour hike back home. I needed to talk to someone. If I call my sister, I'll blurt it out-I can't keep anything from her. I need to talk to a non actor, someone who doesn't care about me or my stories at all. I decided to call my pharmacy to check on my prescription. That helped for about 5 minutes.

Today I am back at work and back to my normal life. This is where I'm obviously supposed to be right now. Something big like a TV show just isn't in the cards for me at this time. I have to trust that where I am is ok. It's the journey and the journey took me back and forth to LA 3 times. It got me to spend quality time w/my sister, a quick lesson in auditions, and it got me in front of a pretty big casting director. That's something. That's exciting. That's my life-as an actress.

ps-the lyrics to the song: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/x-filesepisodes2/davidduchovny.htm

Secret

I totally believe in superstition. Never talk about the audition until you know you got it, or didn't. But to talk about it before hand, will just jinx you. But I'm about to blow! This audition I have tomorrow is big but unfortunately the odds are stacked against me. The audition calls for SAG actors-not SAG. The audition is for a show w/a big name attached-Never worked w/big names. So that leaves my winning personality. Will that win? I keep saying, I'm giving LA one more shot and that's it. Then it magically gives ME another shot. Stop toying w/me Hollywood. Either you want me or you don't. I'll go to your big name audition tomorrow but after that, that's it! I can't keep taking days off for you. Either take me back or break up with me dammit!!

ps-I love you.

Lesson learned twice

Craigslist can suck it. It's the white trash trailer park community service site that pulls in all the rif raff and I fell for it. I got this email this morning:

Dear Participant,

You have been selected for this upcoming cast pre-screening tomorrow. After reviewing your credits we believe you are good fit for a role in our upcoming motion picture. Please bring an extra copy of resume and head shot just in case we don’t have it already. No need for wardrobe dress is business casual.
Good luck

Where: 330 N. Coast HWY; Oceanside Library Heritage Hall
When: Monday 12th 2009 @ 5pm

Any questions Contact Persons below....

I was suspicious, as I should be, when a random audition notice comes in. I don't think I submitted to anything lately but when I looked back at my email, it seems I did submit for feature film. The thing about craigslist is they are always so vague and that should be your first sign. Well, to get a random email like the above had me curious. So I asked them to please email the details of the film. This is what they said:

"The only details i can give you without an NDA are, It's a 90min drama/suspense feature film, expected late quater release in theatres. if you are union industry rates apply. Filming will be on location in the San Diego area, and some other states. So this pre-screening for local talent, some consideration for major roles.
Thank you,"

There are so many things wrong w/this, it's insane. Why would a feature film that will be in theaters advertise on Craigslist? Why do you need to sign a 'non -disclosure form' just to get information on the movie premise? And why am I such a doofus that I still drove my little butt to Oceanside afterwork?
I got there and there was no sign in sheet. Just people waiting outside-waiting. 5:00 was the call time-the "cattle call" time. Everyone started showing up and no one knew what to do. Finally about 5:15 they come out w/the sign-in. We rush the hallway. They have a photo release form and it asks to sign all your photo rights away. But we still don't know what the project is! So I just kept mine w/no intention of signing.
Then...nothing. No one got in. We sat and waited, outside, in the cold. 5:22 the Monitor comes out and asks for everyone to hand in their headshots. Another sign. So much un-organization. 5:40 still no one called in. 5:45... 5:50.... 5:55 -I'm out. My body is saying it's dinner time and I could feel myself about to lose it.
All the people checking in at the desk were so unprofessional. The Monitor told one guy she needs his headshot and resume and he said "I'll be right back". He came back w/2 pieces of paper stapled together-one was his 4 credit resume, the other....oh boy....the other was a photo copy of a picture of him and his buddy. He went to the car, found a random picture, copied it and used it as a headshot.
During all this, a craigslister (which I regrettably was), befriended me. He wanted to know all about me. What do I do? How long have I been acting? He was nice enough, but at one point I said, they have me for 15 more minutes and I'm out. I just couldn't stand around anymore. And being the positive, willing participant that he was, he gave me some words of wisdom, "Why would you leave now? It would be like swimming the english channel halfway then turning back around because you were tired."
I said "Ya. True. Goodbye."