Lydia's Journey BEYOND Hollywood

My friend Allie with her "movie husband" on the set of Sympathy for Delicious A very big congratulations to my friend Allie Smith , who just got bumped up to a speaking role on the set of Sympathy for Delicious ! I've known Allie since she was a itty bitty teenager in Texas, and she had moved to Chicago to pursue her career in acting. She's been out here for just a few years, trying to find her way. She was doing a pretty nice featured extra role on this movie and I got to see her on set when I was shooting on Thursday. Well, she just told me today that Mark Ruffalo, the director, gave her a line! Her first big movie job out here in LA! She so deserves it! She was so excited - and so was I! See folks, it can happen, just like that! She was showing up everyday as an extra, trying to soak up as much as she could while on set, and because she is just so darn likeable and professional, they found a way to upgrade her! And in an insant, they moved her from a chair...

Above: with The very sexy Esai Morales, and below with equally sexy, Wilmer Valderamma ;) So Saturday night I performed with Casa 0101 at a benefit gala organized by my friend Yennifer Beherns to raise money for the charter school that her kids go to. One of the award recipients that night was Wilmer Valderamma. When he arrived, I approached him and we chatted about meeting during testing for his pilot. He said that The Emancipation of Ernesto is still being reworked, so I'm not sure when the show will air. Either way, I'm not on it! :( haha He was very gracious and he gave a meaningful and inspiring acceptance speech. Then, I could hardly contain my excitment, because one of my Hollywood crushes entered the room: Esai Morales! I just LOVE him! That man table-hopped and said hello to everyone in the room, he took pictures with everyone, and even stayed later to dance the night away with the kids and ladies who circled him on the dance floor! He has such a positive...

Yesterday I was on set working on Sympathy For Delicious , the directorial debut of Mark Ruffalo ! I was so excited to be on this set! The moment I met Mark and he approved my wardrobe, he was so sweet to me, thanking me for being there and telling me what a great job I had done. I guess he meant in my audition. Then I went to set and we worked on the chaotic scene where the lead character, played by Christopher Thornton (who is also the writer) healed my "son" in leg braces. I think we did maybe two takes and we were done. In fact, my audition consisted of improv, which I realized later that I didn't even do in my scene on set! So I doubt I will be heard - much less seen in this movie! But the plus side is...I did get to meet and talk to Mark and learn what a very nurturing and sweet director he is! :) We chatted again later where he again said what a great job I did and even went as far as to call me an amazing and talented actress. Hmmm...Maybe he was still ...

Victoria Justice, the star of the pilot I auditioned for, and whose mother I would play. So, the weirdest thing happened.... I was out last night with a friend of mine visiting from the East Coast and I get a message from someone I know who works for a different talent agency than who I'm with, letting me know there is an audition for a series regular on a new Nickelodeon show and they were seeing people the very next day. He felt I was perfect for this mom role and wasn't sure if I had gone in for it yet. No I hadn't, actually. He sent me the information and sides and was "passing on the info" for me so I could check it out. Apparently the casting director gave him the green light to send all his hispanic actresses in that age range - so he thought of me - which was nice, considering he doesn't represent me. There were about 6 of us being seen for the role today. One of the actresses, Rosa Blasi , recognized my face as soon as she walked in. She and I h...

Well, last night I audited Howard Fine's master class. I have been feeling like I need to do something that keeps me flexing my acting muscles more. I did a quick one weekend play in January, but I need something to work on on a more regular basis. I really liked Howard's style. I felt comfortable in that environment, felt "at home" even. So I am looking forward to begin on going classes. Maybe in April. We'll see. I have audited a few other coaches around town, but he really felt like a perfect match for me. :) Now, I just have to prepare myself to part with that money on a monthly basis. Yikes! It's not cheap!

Well, today I was nominated for an award at my university for "Distinguished Alumni"! Isn't that nice? My parents attended on my behalf at the awards breakfast today at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. Apparently a few of us were nominated from the theater and film department. One of my fellow co-stars in many plays in college was also nominated: Josh Dubose . Also nominated were filmmaker E. Charlton-Trujillo and actor Todd Pate; both who I knew while in college. I was disappointed that I couldn't be there, but it was nice to know my parents sat and chatted with my acting professor J. Don Luna , whom I just LOVE!!!!!

(Once of my first headshots when I moved to LA! Good old Black and White!) Well, Today marks my 8th year in Hollywood! Can you believe how time zooms by so fast? 8 years ago today I arrived here without any connections or family or close friends. My beginning was a great story that I would tell from time to time over these 8 years. It explains my tenaciousness and perserverance. I knew one girl who I did a film with in Austin. It was prearranged that I would stay with her for a month while I found my own place and some source of income. I paid her weekly to sleep on a dirty futon on her living room floor which I shared with her dogs. Nice. After 2 weeks, she kicked me out, wanting "her space" back. I was homeless my first couple of weeks in town...not knowing a single soul. With all my stuff piled in my car, on a rainy day in February, I had no place to go. Somehow a miracle happened, and a girl who I had just met the week before in person (but I had an email fr...