DreamLAnd

Yesterday marked the two week anniversary of living in LA. Its still strange to me to write my address on applications and have to put Los Angeles, CA. It is incredibly different in our part of town and I adore it. We share a one bedroom apartment in K-town (Koreatown for the non-locals)...

As I sit on my balcony and write this, because yes we have a balcony, I see an older gentleman walk down my street holding two $1 scratchers. I hear claps and yells of excitement coming from other apartments surrounding me because of the Superbowl. I see people; regular, every day, ordinary people live their lives from day to day. All of their situations are different. Some are struggling for food and money. Others have families. There are a lot of children here, especially in my neighborhood, and it makes me worry and wonder if they are all sharing a one bedroom, because that's not uncommon here or in any place. From the people I have met, they are kind, nice people from all different walks of life.

In no way is my apartment complex different from the ones in Chico, or Sacramento, Fairfield or Fresno. These are people living their lives the best they can to better themselves and their family. It is incredibly reassuring to know that we are not alone in this world.

I have acquired a J-O-B rolling burritos at Chipotle on Sunset Blvd. It has a sort of movie star feel, saying that sentence. Especially the Sunset Blvd. part. It's a really nice Chipotle too, small but very open, large windows on two walls and the kitchen is the opposite the windows. From sitting in there for about 2 hours doing interviews, very attractive people walked in, so it's not ghetto. I love Chipotle, therefore this will be interesting to see what's behind the counter. My goal is to work at the Roosevelt Hotel, whether that be front desk, valet, server in their restaurant or housekeeping. The inside of that building is phenomenal, eerily beautiful. It has so much history. I applied at the Beverly Hills Hotel, but it was so giant that I couldn't really get a feel for it. And it took me 45 minutes to get to it. Not a fan.

The first week we got here I replied to an ad on Craigslist for TV CRIME PILOT LOOKING FOR EXTRAS. Sounds simple, right? I called the number, scheduled an appointment and hung up. In shock. Was this real? Did I just book an actual audition within the first 3 days of living in LA? This can't be real. The audition day rolls around and I am excited. Knees weak, shaking excited. It's been a long time since I have auditioned and for it to happen so soon in LA, WOW. What a dream. I go in, sign my name, pick up a monologue and wait for about 15 minutes. This place looked legit. It had headshots and movie posters all along the wall. A secretary. Someone organizing the auditioners, bringing them in and such. Again, unreal. My name is called. I take a breath. Walk in and shake Theresa's hand. Sit down and talk with her about a funny story (Pedro from Napolean Dynamite walked in, and then left in a fuss because his agent sent him there). Tell her LEGITIMATELY a little bit about myself. She asked me to read the monologue. I did so. She loved it. Said I was fantastic and she loved me. Said I looked great ("No, really, you look GREAT" are her exact words). Told me to call her the next morning at 9:15 a.m precisely, they were going to have a meeting about everyone they liked and wanted to keep, so I agreed. Shook her hand and said thank you. Then I left. WHAT!? I go home and immediately get on the computer and find whatever I can about this place to make sure it's not a scam. I googled the address and only about 5 reviews came up for it, four of which were bad and one was excellent. It's becoming less real, and more of fantasy. The next morning I call at 9:15 a.m exactly but the line is conveniently busy. She doesn't pick up until 9:19 a.m where-in I tell her who I am, she says "congratulations!" I am one of 18 to be chosen to be represented by them blah blah blah. Tells me to go get headshots by this guys Mitchell. Mitchell was in the four bad reviews, saying that this place I auditioned at was going to have you go to him for headshots. DING it's all making sense. I call Mitchell, schedule something for 6 that evening, and don't call Theresa back. She calls me about 30 minutes after I talked with her saying it was urgent I got back to her about Mitchell. As I am listening to the voicemail from Theresa, I get another one from Mitchell saying they suddenly have an opening at 1 that afternoon. I call neither of them back. Theresa calls me again at about 3 that afternoon asking me to call her back and such. I don't, of course. And that was that.

My first audition was a fake, but it felt so good to read something for someone that I didn't care. I'm registering at Central Casting tomorrow, where REAL gigs happen. I'm going to orientation for Chipotle at 4 so I can earn REAL money. I'm getting brand new headshots on Wednesday so I can submit to REAL jobs. Real things are coming in the future. I can feel it. Taking one day at a time though, which is hard when I am so excited to get up and do it all.

<3