Lydia's Journey BEYOND Hollywood

Today I had an audition for a nice guest star role on Boston Legal . It was for an immigrant from Mexico who was testifying against the priest who helped her. It was a tough and emotional scene, and I'm not exactly sure how well I did. The first time I did it for the casting director, I really felt the emotion and he said "Nice" afterwards. He asked me to do it again and to thicken up my accent even more and not to be on the verge of tears in the beginning. So I attempted to read it a second time, and I wasn't feeling it as much. I think I may have been too in my head, and just coming out of being on the 405 for over an hour, I wasn't "in the zone". He said "Nice" agian which made me question his first "Nice". And I walked out. I'm pretty sure I'm not getting a call back for this one. But then again, stranger things have happened! My manager told me of a great character role on Ugly Betty that I was excited about. ...

I made it to my first audition early. I was a little bummed that I couldn't "dress" more the part since I was working today AND I had an audition right after work where I play a cop/detective. But the part was more of a blue collar/DMV type of employee at the office. I wasn't dressed as casual as I would've wanted...but I'm hoping they could look past that! I love Bialy/Thomas Casting! They are so nice over there! And I really love the fact that they have cast me before (The Unit)! :) I got there and checked out the breakdown for the other characters. There were a couple that were perfectly in my age range and type and they were SERIES REGULARS! But I wasn't reading for those roles...I was reading for the smaller co-star role that would possibly be recurring. :( That was frustrating - because I want to be seen for those larger roles. But I know it boils down to who your agent is. If you're not with a TOP agent, the likelihood of you reading for a serie...

Nice - finally! I love when I have multiple auditions in one day! Only problem is, I'm already subbing! But I will make it all work out! :) First audition is for The Untitled Cops Project @ Bialy/Thomas Casting. I'm not going in for a cop on this one. She is a "civilian support staff" - possible guest star and recurring. After that is an audition for new pilot called Playing Chicken . This one is a cop! YAY!! I'm looking forward to booking a cop role! The show is a 1/2 hour comedy and my character is pretty funny. It's for a nice size guest star role, so send me good vibes all day! :) I went on that audition for the Spanish PSA on Wednesday and I have to say I was pretty impressed with myself! I was a little nervous at first, but once I saw the script, I relaxed a bit. It was pretty easy. I walked in the room and the camera guy was talking to me in Spanish. I gave my name and, what I think he wanted next, which was my profiles! He didn't correct me, so I ...

Audition tomorrow for a PSA in Spanish! Yikes! I guess my agent still doesn't get that I'm not bilingual! They keep sending me out on Spanish commercials. Normally I would've just turned it down - but I decided to get to this one early and practice the sides. The age range is a little too old for me also, but what the hell - at least it would be another audition "experience", right? I got contacted by Backstage who came across my blog and wants to talk to me about possibly contributing to their weblog on their site. Nice! It's weird for me because I never really know who reads this blog! Sometimes I think it's just for me to write it all out, or for my family and friends back in Texas to keep updated...then something really cool like this happens! :) It's been awesome to get emails and requests for autographed pictures from some of you! Thanks everyone for all your support!

Let's see...not much is happening. I'm trying to be proactive in my career so I'm signing up for workshops and seminars whenever I have the chance. I went to a workshop on Saturday at Actorsite. It was for Jeff Greenberg's office. That went very well. Then on Sunday I went to a seminar (at Actorsite again) called "The Business of Show Business", which was showing us how to use our computer to manage our acting careers. It was very informative....Thanks Julia ! I did get a phone call today from one of the producers of The Virgin of Akron Ohio. I was hoping he was calling to tell me that after seeing the footage of the pilot, they have decided to make me a series regular!!! :) But he called to let me know of the screening/wrap party we are having March 31st at the director's home in Brentwood. I'm nervous about seeing the final product. I hope I did a well enough job! The producer said they were very happy with it so I hope that means I did! ...

I assumed I didn't get the detective role on the pilot since I auditioned for it on Tuesday and it's Friday and I still haven't heard anything. But my manager Laura called the casting office to follow up and see if they cast the role yet ot not. They said they have a few "choices" - so I guess that means they narrowed it down. So Laura asks if I was still in the running and they said yes, I'm not out of the race yet. So I guess that's good news - I'm one of the few they narrowed it down to. That's better than hearing someone else booked it. :) At least for now.... A very cool thing happened yesterday.....a casting director who I have met at a workshop a few years ago and who has called me in a couple of times emailed me out of the blue. Basically he said that he did a search for me on Now casting and somehow found his way to my website and blog and that he's still a fan! He even said he's looking forward to bringing me in again! H...

I had an audition for a detective role on a new pilot. I've always wanted to play a detective or cop role! It was a smaller co-star role, I believe, even though it said "guest star" in the breakdowns. There were only like 3 lines - but let me tell you, I nailed those three lines! hahaha No, seriously, I felt REALLY good about this audition. Afterwards they were saying things like "beautiful!" and "perfect!" and they all started to write something down in their notes. The part will be cast from the tape, so if I get a call, it's to say I booked it! So let's hope for the best! :) I auditioned for Actor's Co-Op yesterday. It went well. I got in! :) But then again, so did everyone who auditioned! But thankfully everyone was good so it didn't look like they said yes to just anyone. :) I can start taking workshops with them. They are relatively cheap so I just need to find the time to do it! At today's audition I recognize...

Audition tomorrow for McDonalds. Filing my taxes. Looking for a GREAT play to be a part of this year. Sending out postcards about The Holiday going on DVD March 13th. That's about it. Pretty slow.... Oh yeah, auditioning for the group Actors Co-Op on Monday night, which is another workshop group. Yup, that's about it.

Playing a maid on CSI Well, I took Julie's advice and decided to make a list of my roles to check how many were reliant on my ethnicity. I'll just write "Yes" or "No" next to it if they had "Latina" in the character description or if it was a 'necessity' for the character. FILMS The Holiday - YES The Terminal - NO The Naked Ape - NO Grand Old Party - NO Dial M for Maria - YES The Counselor - YES The Right Girl - NO Winding Up Airplanes - YES The M.O. of M.I. - NO Beyond Words - NO TELEVISION The Virgin of Akron Ohio (pilot) - YES Curb Your Enthusiasm - YES The Shield - NO The Office - YES Paradise Drive - YES CSI - YES Sleeper Cell - NO Everwood - NO The OC - YES The Practice - NO The District - NO Medical Investigation - YES Good Morning Miami - NO The Unit - NO Strong Medicine - YES Notes From the Underbelly - YES What About Brian - YES THEATER Conversations ‘Bout The Girls - NO Real Women Have Curves - YES Tropical America - YES Lock Up...

Well, I went into the audition, but I have to say my heart wasn't in it. I'm pretty sure I won't get a callback - which is fine with me! :) In fact, I was talking with one of my managers afterwards and I felt silly going in for it at all. He told me if I wasn't comfortable doing it, and I wouldn't be happy if I actually booked it, then it would've been better if I passed on the audition. I'm still not used to doing that - passing on auditions. I guess because I know how tough it is to even get called in for one! But he's right - I need to be true to myself and say no to the things I would'nt be proud of doing. That's a tough feat, especially in this industry, where a JOB, any job, usually outweighs how you feel about it. But every day is a new beginning. :) I went to the ADR looping for the pilot on Friday. That was really cool! I don't know how many years I have to do this until I can actually LIKE seeing myself on the big screen...

I was very proud that the last job I had was a "non-stereotypical" role for a Latina. No accent, I wasn't a maid. I was actually a successful, strong business woman. YAY!! That was one giant step forward! Then, yesterday I was told that I had two auditions for today - BOTH were maid roles! wow. Then, as quick as I got both of those auditions, they were gone! :( The first one was a commercial and I couldn't make it because I was working until 2:30pm and they were only seeing people until noon. oops... The second one was for a pilot and they pushed the audition for tomorrow instead. It's a "large recurring guest star" on a new pilot, which probably means series regular but they don't want to negotiate that contract right now! :) But the role is of a maid. Also. Now, I'm having conflicting feelings over this one. Yes, it's work. Yes, it's a recurring role. Yes, it's a guest star role. All things I LOVE. :) And yes, it...