The questions we ask ourselves.

Today I filled out and submitted an application for an opportunity which I very much desire to be a part of.
The application posed several questions for us to answer: Why I want to be a filmmaker, how would I  describe myself and my work in one sentence, a bio, my inspiration, and what do I want to talk about in the film industry these days.
All of these were challenging to answer, but in a fun way!

It was the final question that took me off guard, and into mini tailspin over the last few days as I've been working away at the app:

"How do you consider your chances to succeed in the film industry as a professional film actor?"

Wow. Blunt.
Well the statistics say slim to none, but my grandmother totally thinks I'll be famous, so wheres the in-between? 
I've spent many a sleepless night debating this, many a coffee with a girlfriend too, but never have I ever had to seriously consider it and answer it in 1000 characters or less for a panel of film professionals. 

(If you're not an actor, I suggest you listen to this song, it's an example of our way of life)

I hope I'm not the only who worries, who stresses, who wonders where I'm going with this whole acting/filmmaking thing. I don't think I am.

After some mediation and listening to my heart, this is what I came up with for my answer. This is me, and how I feel today. I wanted to share it, for anyone else out there who sometimes feels frustrated too:


It's not a sprint, it's a marathon; a life long marathon full of joy and disappointment. 
It requires persistence, and inner honesty to be an actor. Plus everyone else and their dog wants to do this too. 
I don't know the 'chances' of success because sometimes decisions are based on height, or hair colour, or being in the right city.
I work hard to hone my craft, stay in touch with my agent, and create my own work to stay creatively fulfilled. 
By taking classes, workshops, doing yoga, personal growth, seeing as many plays and films as possible, and knowing deep down why I want to do this crazy job, I know I will succeed. 
Maybe one day, with all my hard work, that will lead me to be in the right place in the right time when they need someone with my hair colour who is 5'4".
In the meantime I find joy in the auditions, even the rejections, patience in being 'put on hold' and acceptance when the choice comes down to someone else.
Even with the stats, I continue to believe that my skills and love for this profession will lead me to success.



Fingers crossed they weren't looking for a business plan!

Happy Tuesday. May you listen to your heart today about why you are an artist.

xox

Jane

Dance like it's the roaring 20's

I love TED talks.

Usually when I watch them I feel inspired, moved and also mildly inadequate.
Recently I watched one which left me feeling inspired, moved and really proud of myself.

A few weeks ago I had a birthday. I turned 25. Normally on my Birthdays there's a slight sense of panic and 'what am I doing with my life!' This year actually passed by quietly, without that. I actually feel solid with what I'm doing with my life and where it's going. In the past I was always stressed I hadn't accomplished enough! But now I see things a little differently.

In this Ted talk Meg Jay talks about how 30 is not the new 20. How being a 20-something is actually a sweet spot to get things moving in your life, not just a time to grow up while putting off adulthood. Finally somebody agrees with me!

Constantly people ask me why I do so much, work so many jobs, have so many projects on the go. People ask me why I got engaged so quickly. Why I don't relax, take it easy? What's the rush? they say.

There is no rush, I just like living my life.
I have high expectations for me and my life and I want to start working on them now, well I want to start working on them yesterday, but patience it's my strong suit. I've always been extremely persistent, driven, and I often over-extend myself. But I like that, I function well with my to do list full. (Many thanks goes out to Omnifocus, the magical app that keeps my life together!)

The only thing with me is that I'm not very good at owning it. At talking about my wins, achievements, and success. With some reading, journaling, coaching, therapy, and talks with my fiancé, I've come to determine this is because of my deep rooted fear of failure. I don't want to admit my successes - because I'll also have to admit my failure, and then it viscerally and literally feels like the world will end!

So in the blog post I'm admitting some wins, in hopes of overcoming my fears, and to inspire others. To not slide through your twenties, or any decade for that matter. Get passionate about something and make it happen!

Here goes: I've recently completed my second short film this year, and submitted it to it's first film festival in LA. I got my first 'Director' credit on IMDB for the other film I made this year. I'm looking into distribution options for both right now. When I Saw You is currently at the Cannes Short Film Corner. I just got cast in play which will be going up in October. I got put on hold for a major commercial and even though I didn't get it, I did get a very supportive email from my agent, which feels like a win. I'm currently working on two-three writing projects. (that varies depending on the week.) Tonight I'm back in acting class at The Foundry, doing Shakespeare, my favourite! And tomorrow I'm planning a special event to inspire other women to do any of the above, if it moves them.

The statistic of female roles in front of and behind the camera are dropping. And I want to do something about that. I believe women have stories to tell, and ways to connect and change the world!
Tomorrow night I'm organizing an networking event: The Female Voice in the Film Industry, with a panel discussion.
A great panel has come together and I'm so excited to talk with them on the topic of women's roles and the voice we have or could have.

If you live in Vancouver and want to experience this, and connect with other women, please come check out the event!
There are limited tickets, and a capacity at the venue, so I'm encouraging people to buy their tickets in advance.
If you're interested, here's the link with all the details:
http://thefemalevoiceinfilmnetworkingevent.brownpapertickets.com/

If you are in your 20's and don't feel so driven, that's ok too. This blog is in no part a judgement. But watch the TED talk. And please believe me when I say that every little step, each day, is what actually moves you forward, not aging.

Enjoy being a 20's something. - And might I add that with The Great Gatsby in theatres, every 20's is cool again!

This is a little inspiration for me. To remember that failing, falling, and making mistakes is part of it all:

 "Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again."  - Vincent Van Gogh

Have a wonderful week!

xox
Jane

Is it all a Scam?

So I'm riding the bus yesterday, and I hear this couple talking. I'm not really listening, because personally I use bus time to people-watch and day-dream about film scripts, but they said something that grabbed my attention:
"blah, blah,... total scam!! Blah.. blah"
And it got me thinking, what is a scam?

I try to remember back to the first time I've heard the word, or maybe the first significant time.
I was maybe 11 or 13, and my dad shared an interesting email with me to see what I thought about it.

"Dear Sir/Madam,
I am the Prince of (important far away Country). I am (blah, blah) and I have X amount of $$$ that I want to give away to you!
Please give me all your banking info and sell me your soul. (blah, blah)
P.S. Thank you for helping me out!"

It was slightly more eloquent than that, and very official sounding. I was in the childhood frame of mind that yes, of course, we should indeed take the money off this person's hands! That is when my father explained to me that is was a scam.
Though he didn't really explain what a 'scam' was.

Since then I've heard the word used for all sorts of things! "Those shoes are so over priced, what a scam!" "My massage therapist keeps telling me I NEED to come back, what a scam!""My email's been hacked, don't open the messages, it's a scam!"

Last week I even caught myself using the word. I had an audition to put on tape, (for a US pilot that shall go unnamed) and in doing my actor due-diligence I research the project to find out anything I could about plots, scenes, other actors, etc. And what do I find? About eight news articles on the first page of Google telling me all about the actress who's been cast in the role I'm auditioning for! But it's being shot in Canada, so apparently they 'have to' see a certain amount of Canadians. What a scam! Or is it?

The main reason 'scam' has been on my mind is actually because of a sticker. A sticker you might be seeing around town...

Two friends of mine, Sage Brocklebank and Patrick Sabongui are making a movie called SCAM. And they gave me some stickers to hand out and stick about town, to raise awareness about their film.


Their production company, Dreams Beyond Thirty, brought you “Felony” The Fringe Play, the award-­‐winning smash hit at last year’s Vancouver International Fringe Festival. Their latest venture is a new movie, “SCAM”: an electrifying crime drama about the very real phenomenon of telephone fraud, the scammers who perpetrate them and the elderly victims they prey upon. 


Fascinating right? But the way they're making their movie is actually what's interesting! The film is an entry in the CineCoup Film Accelerator: a nation-wide competition that awards the winner with a ONE MILLION DOLLAR budget and a guaranteed theatrical release in Cineplex Odeon theatres in January, 2014. 

You know what a big fan I am of creating one's own work! The contest ushers in the new generation of independent filmmaking so that micro­‐budget films can compete with Hollywood blockbusters!  

They need some help. Because Cinecoup is about the people. People's involvement and people's opinion's actually matter.
The more 'likes' and fans they get on the site, the closer they get to move towards that $1 million!

Meet the team and check out the trailer because we can help them reach number 1! How cool will it be, when they actually make their movie, to be like 'Ya, I voted for that, helped make it happen, no big deal!'
That could be you!

Have you ever been a victim to a scam? On their facebook page they want to hear about it. Big, small, hilarious, tragic, they want to hear it all!

I decided that my taped audition situation wasn't a scam, it was a reality of the film industry. A reality we have here in Vancouver, because we rely so much on LA. That's why I want to help build an industry here, and this Cinecoup project is helping with that!

Support work that's being created and made in your backyard, because trust me, it comes full circle!

xoxo
Jane