Lydia's Journey BEYOND Hollywood

I went to 'Conversations with Burt Reynolds' at SAG last night. He is very entertaining to watch! His delivery is so funny - and he's a great storyteller! I can't believe he's been a working actor for 50 years! His good friend Dom DeLouise was there as well for moral support. they are both a riot! Well, I had somewhat of a crisis today. It's been slow in every area of my life it seems. NO auditions since almost everything is on hiatus, and not a lot of subbing work since many schools are on summer break. I just set out a bunch of flyers to year round schools so I can get some work this summer. Just as the calls started to roll in to 'book' me for next week, I ran into computer problems with LAUSD when they tried to enter in my employee number. As it turns out, I renewed my credential for the fall - but I missed the deadline to renew for the summer! Apparently there are two separate processes which makes no sense to me. So that means I'm no...

Finally! I got the call that I booked that industrial that I got through my Austin agent. I shoot the week that I get back from Texas. It's very cool how it all worked out that way! I'm very happy! This summer has been pretty slow - and I was hoping to book another film - but I'll take this with a smile! :-) You know, sometimes I need to be reminded of how lucky I am. I don't think people outside of this industry fully understand just how competitive it is out here! I need to remember that when I'm so hard on myself for not booking everything that I go out for. I was just discussing this with a fellow actor the other day. I was saying to him how difficult it is when family members or friends back home ask me when the "next movie will be" or when will I "get my own show". As if it's that simple. It's funny because I remember when I first moved to LA and I started doing background work, my parents were so excited just to see my el...

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Pics of my and my daddy. He's always been there holding my hand and by my side. I love you! My father is an amazing man. He really is. Just ask anyone who has ever met him. He has such a HUGE heart and he cares about people. All people. He has a joyful spirit and is always laughing or smiling. I can't even express what this man means to me. I remember a time when I was a teenager and I was in this very awkward stage where it bothered me to have my dad's arm around me. I remember when we had to pose for family pictures and he would put his arm around me, I would shrug it off in embarrassment or disgust. I never understood why I even felt that way as a teen but it hurts my heart to even remember it now. I never said I love you to him at that stage in my life. But now, I tell him every time I hear his voice, and I hug him whenever I see him. I guess the thought of ever having to lose him or my mom scares me so much because they both have been there for me in ways I could'...

I went to my callback yesterday for the industrial. It went AWESOME!!!! I walked in and everyone seemed very friendly. I did the scene as one character and then was asked to try the other role. The client went on to tell me he wanted me to relax and move around in my chair - have fun with it. So I went for it and while I was performing I could see him lean over and whisper to the man next to him - while nodding his head up and down and smiling. So I knew he liked whatever I did. He seemed very pleased with my work and complimented my name. (I wonder if he questioned it being my real name....? It doesn't sound like a stage name, right?) Then he quickly said that he will be letting agents know by next week. There are 2 spots that they are shooting, one of them being the week I'm flying to Texas (the end of July) and the other is shooting the week that I fly back (beginning of August) . So, if I get it, and I feel REALLY good about it, I would hopefully shoot the day af...

Ok, so I don't know why I couldn't post these on the previous post. It just didn't let me. But, here are a few pics from my vacation to Oahu. I took the majority of these pics (excluding the ones with me in them!) and I'm not a great photographer by any means - it just looked this beautiful! It was paradise. Absolute paradise. I'm already thinking of a trip to Maui next summer! :-) The sunsets were just breathtaking. I could post every single one of those that I took - but it would take up the whole page! The helicopter ride was amazing! We saw the entire island! It was definately my best vacation ever! I am well rested - and very happy. and I needed that. bad!

In more ways than one! I am back from my much too short vacation to Oahu. I've already decided on a trip next summer to Maui. The Hawaiian islands are just so amazingly beautiful. I was watching a postcard with every sunset. The air was clear, the weather was perfect, the water was tourquiose and clear. It was all so beautiful. It did make me appreciate living in LA more too. It's crazy that I live so close to the beach and I don't go out there nearly as much as I can - or should. I'm also BACK in the way of my career as well. I had two auditions and they both felt great! Maybe that vacation did wonders for me! I went on my first audition at 11:20am for a feature film called Reservations. It was the role of Marlene, a cuban hotel housekeeper who mainly speaks Spanish with some broken English as well. I did it the first time and thought I did well - extremely well - considering most of my lines were in Spanish and I don't speak it fluently! I'm just happy they co...

ok, tomorrow I am off to Hawaii (!!!) for a much needed rest and relaxation session....and oh yeah, to see my friend Tonya get married. ;-) I had never been to the big island so I'm excited! I'll be in Waikiki for just 5 days - but I'll enjoy every second of it! You have no idea just how much I need this. No, really. Hopefully I'll come back energized and ready to go! I have an audition scheduled for Tuesday for a feature film called Reservations . I think my agent and manager are trying to get me seen on Wednesday instead since I don't come back until Tuesday night. But I'll make sure I'm ready!

ok, I had TWO auditions today. It's been so dead that when I get TWO auditions in one day - that's freakin' amazing! But what I'm pissed about is, today should've been a great day. And it wasn't. ok, let me explain....I headed over to my first audition for the day. It was for the Eddie Murphy feature Norbit . The role was a very fun beautician with lots of attitute. I felt good going in. I chatted outside with some other actors waiting to go in, and it got me in the comedic mood. I felt great. I went in and did an ok job. Just an ok job. Then I had my second audition for a new 1/2 hour comedy called The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman . The role calls for an actor with great comedic skills. I read for an immigrant's wife named Leticia. Most of the dialogue was in spanish - or with a thick accent. It's a very funny scene where I start off sweet - then my husband's fingertip gets cut off and I'm in this frantic mode - and quite pissed at t...

Production still from the feature film The Holiday due out in theaters this Christmas! :-) It's funny how if you just let life happen, things will fall in your path which you never expected. That seems to be the theme of my new film The Holiday - and of my life. The people I have met and come across on my journey in this town and industry have been an interesting lot - but they have all brought something special and significant to my learning experience. It never fails. And it always seems to happen when you least expect it. Everyone has a different story. A different history. And different past. But sometimes we are all in the same boat when it comes to passion or dreams. I finally have another audition. It's been SO dead for me lately! But then again, it's been dead for everyone I suppose! I am auditioning for an Eddie Murphy feature film on Tuesday called Norbit . It looks like a fun scene so I'm looking forward to it. The role is a beautician and the scene will be...

My week in pictures! 1st pic: Me in Santa Barbara, 2nd: Dan performing in his show, 3rd: Me and Haneefah after her show, 4th: dancing with Pluto! :-) I feel like I've been on vacation for a week! Oh wait - I have! I had a friend in town from Texas and we had a lot to do and see! My birthday was this past Saturday and I spent it in Las Vegas, watching my friend Haneefah in Avenue Q . She is nothing short of AMAZING! I love her! She's a great talented performer! :-) Before heading to Vegas though, we spent a day in Santa Barbara (always nice!), and saw my friend Dan of The Dan Band perform at the Avalon in Hollywood. He was very awesome in hooking me up with free tickets and a nice VIP table/box booth. The show was incredible as always! We spent memorial day at the beach...both Venice and Santa Monica. I got a bit of a sunburn but the weather was perfect! (ok, maybe a tad too hot around noon). Then, we ended the vacation with a 10 hour trip to Disneyland and California Adv...