Lydia's Journey BEYOND Hollywood

So I landed in Iowa Saturday afternoon. I went straight to my hotel room to drop off my bags and freshen up before I joined the rest of the cast and crew at a 4th of July BBQ party. It was the first time I got to meet the executive producer of the film, Tim Anderson , and the rest of the crew. Everyone is so unbelieveably NICE! I'm so excited to be a part of this project, and it just makes it sweeter to know I get to experience this with my good friends Jennifer and Marlo (the writers/producers/star/director of the film). It's so surreal and amazing and I'm just trying to soak up every moment. Today we spent the day shooting the picture props that will be in my character's office at work. My character, Missy, is so self absorbed that she decorates her office in just photos of herself at various times: birthday, with her dog, at work, etc. She is going to be SO MUCH FUN to play! I can't wait! Tomorrow morning I have a wardrobe fitting at 9am and then I'...

I'm packing for my trip to Texas and Iowa right now. I'm heading out tomorrow morning and flying into San Antonio. I'm spending a couple of days in Texas before I head out to Iowa to shoot the film tentatively titled " Who's Your Daddy ". I believe I will shoot for about a week, then head back over to Texas to finish up my vacation with friends and family. Who knows, maybe I can score an audition for Friday Night Lights while I'm in Texas! haha Always looking for work! Ok, back to doing research for my character! :)

What a crazy day it's been today. Well, they always say it happens in 3's. Ed McMahon died a couple of days ago and now today I hear Farrah Fawcett has passed away. Then, just a few hours later, I hear about Michael Jackson passing away as well. It's a sad sad day. Farrah Fawcett actually graduated from my high school so I have always looked up to her in a way, because she showed me that someone from my small town can make a name for herself. She followed her dreams and made it happen, and for that, she will always be an inspiration to me. And Michael Jackson! Are you kidding me?! Such an iconic person! Whatever has been said about him, good or bad, and even all the wacky things he has done - no one can deny the talent that this man had. He will be forever missed, impersonated, and remembered.

My headshot on the poster for The Photoshop on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. I've been getting my headshots printed here for a few years now, and I refer everyone I know to this place. I love Norman and he's really helped me out over the years! :) Trying to be productive this week, but kind of hard with no other auditions lined up. Reading play scripts so we can produce something for the stage this year. And also updating my business resume so I can try and get a studio "day job" instead of subbing... We'll see how that goes. I've also had people ask me if I've ever tried to "write" something - like a script. I have in the past, but just figured I wasn't any good at it. I'm thinking I trying my hand at that again and see what I come up with. That's something I can do to kill time before my trip to Texas and Iowa in July! :)

Calling for full length play submissions!!! If you have a great full length play that has yet to be produced, we are looking for you! We are interested in allowing a playwright the opportunity to showcase their talent to an audience! Our preliminary timeline is to open in late September, so we want to begin reading material as soon as possible. If you have something that is important to you, a passion project that just hasn't had a chance to see the light of day, something that will knock the breath right out of the audience's lungs, send it over. We aren't limiting genre at this stage. We are open to everything, as long as it is full length. Please email: lydiablanco@hotmail.com

Happy Father's Day to my daddy - the greatest man ever! :) I have another commercial audition tomorrow! YAY! This is the most I have gone out commercially - ever. I wonder why the change? Anyway, tomorrow I'm going in for "hero woman" on a Glade commercial - which just means the main girl. We'll see how that goes. I'm also getting together with a small group of people to produce original plays on the stage here in LA, so we are looking for scripts. Maybe this will lead to that theater company I've always wanted to open. Gearing up for my trip back to Texas to see the familia Juky 1st - then off to Iowa to shoot the film! Not a bad summer so far! :)

I had two commercial auditions on Tuesday of this week. The first one was for a Geico commercial. I really wish this one went better than it did. I had one line and for some reason it never came out right. :( I went in with a partner and I was the one that was getting all the notes. Just seemed like I couldn't get it right - take after take. :( Then I rushed over to my second audition of the day for Time Warner Cable. This one went better. I got to use my comedic abilities and play the demanding wife. Nice. Didn't go PERFECT, but it did go better! I'm meeting a friend tomorrow afternoon to discuss the possibilities of producing theater together. Both of us have been wrapped up with shooting film and TV that we haven't had much time for the stage. And we both really miss it. So hopefully something can come of this. I'm realy liking the idea of taking on the producer's role. In theater, TV and film. I may have found a new road for me to explore... ...