Donna in Hollywoodland

Balancing Auditions, The Cat and The Painters

On Friday I had TWO auditions !!! Woo-Woo !! That was a first, two in one day - and I was thrilled.
I had already planned to take the day off because the Apartments owners finally cleaned up the mold. And they were sending the painters by to re-drywall and paint, per the Health Departments instructions. Well, since they were going to be knocking holes in the wall - I wanted to be home to take care of the CAT while the painters
where there. So what to do with my big huge 11 year old Cat, Cinnamon, while auditioning ?

I put some blankets on the passenger seat.. and Cinnamon the cat road along with me. She was not to happy. She hasn't been out of the house in a few years. So she was pretty mad. She was meowing all the way as if to say "You stupid woman, what are you
doing to me?". She did stand up to look out the passenger window a few times. She likes looking out of the apartment windows, so I thought she would like to look out the car windows. I guess not.

My first audition was in the Beverly/Fairfax area for a commercial playing a tourist. It was about 10am, so I found a nice shady spot to park the car. Someone had brought their little pug dog along for their audition, and I wondered what Cinnamon the cat would think if she knew...

Then my next audition was right after, over in the Miracle Mile area - For a company that does alot of Industrials and Infomercials. I drove around until I found another shady spot to park. The audition was more of an interview thing, and they wanted to film me talking about something I felt passionate about. I told them about Cinnamon the cat, and how my big huge cat likes to sit on my lap while I have my half-caf coffee and read the paper in the morning. That is my favorite time of day, first thing in the morning with the Cat.

Well, both auditions went really fast. So we were only out 2 hours. By the time I got back to the car, Cinnamon was not happy. She was crawling under the breaks and gas pedal and refusing to come out so I could drive. I am glad it was a quiet residential street because it took me some time to get her.

Of course, Cinnamon and I arrive home - and guess what ? No painters working on the apartment. I went through all that with the Cat for nothing. The landlord said they were coming by first thing in the morning. UGH !!! The hadn't even arrived. I called the landlord to remind her I was home and waiting for the painters. I fell asleep on the couch, and there was finally a knock on the door. The painters finally
arrived ... and it was 4 o'clock !!! They started knocking out the walls at Four Flippin' O'clock !

I told them I had to leave about 6:15. I had signed up for the Membership Class at church. One of the sessions was tonight, and I wasn't going to miss it. The painters managed to get everything done in that time period. But I am glad I was there, because there was drywall everywhere, and the cat was hiding under the couch. I had to open all the windows and leave the ceiling fan going because of the paint smell.

Well, Cinnamon the Cat seemed to forgive me for sticking her in the car in the morning. Actually, I think she really did enjoy the ride but she just won't admit it.

Weekend Stuff -

What are you thinking of doing over the weekend ? This is what I did last weekend... you might want to check some of these places out:

Saturday night I met a friend at The Arlight Cinema. My friend was seeing a double-feature, and was at an earlier movie. Our plan was to meet in the restaurant after her film
was over. Well, the place was so full there was a 40 minute wait. The upstairs cafe was also full. So I left her a message and said I was going over to Schwab's Restaurant across the street.

As I left the Arclight, I noticed the entire outdoor eating area was completely empty except for one lone person. Now I know it was cold and windy - but come on, this is Los Angeles! Even when we are cold... the rest of the country thinks we are warm ! And they had Outdoor Space Heaters too ! But none of us warm-blooded Californians can deal with eating outdoors on a windy January night. We are spoiled by our weather. Oh, boy ....
So at Shwabs I grabbed a burger. They have little crunchy french fries and they are really good !

We walked back on over to the Arclight and saw In Good Company . I liked it alot alot. Both Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace were perfect together. It showed alot of the reality of working in corporate America with take-overs and mergers and more. After the movie, we decided to walk back to Schwabs and I got this blue green Rum Drink that was really yummy. And my friend had the Apple Pie ala mode.

Even after my Rum drink on Saturday night, I still made it to Church Sunday morning. And I even had to be there a half hour earlier than usual to help pass out bulletins.

I ran over to the Beverly Center afterwards to see Lemony Snickett. I am so behind on my movies, because I was home ill over the holidays with that stupid pnuemonia and didn't see any movies. Little bitty screen at the Beverly Center. But the matinee was only $6.25. I loved Jim Carrey - he was great. And I especially loved Billy Connolly as the Uncle with the Snakes.

Sunday night, went out with another friend in the evening for dinner. We went to the Edendale Grill in Silverlake. It is an old Firehouse that has been re-done into a restaurant. There are pictures of old-Hollywood on the walls. The atmosphere there is just amazing. We ordered the cutest little half bottle of Chardonnay.
I got the Trout that was stuffed with rice and wrapped in spinich. Very yummy. My friend had a salad with Goat Cheese and walnuts, then got the Crab Cakes. We had the carmelized Creme Brulee for dinner - it was creamy and delicious.
Oh, wow ! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the Silverlake area.

What are you doing Saturday 2/5 afternoon ?
Go see the Original 1967 Dr. Dolittle at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.
It is screening in a newly restored 70mm print.
I saw this at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood just a few weeks ago, and it was fabulous. The soundtrack with Rex Harrison and Anthony Newely brought back the memories.
The print is wonderfully gorgeous up on the big screen. This is a real treat for both young and young-at-heart. I highly recommend you check out this newly restored print.

Today (Tuesday) I had an audition at 2:00. So I took a late lunch, and headed down the the Beverly/Fairfax area. It was for a commercial. To get from Sunset to the audition studio during the day, takes over a half hour easily. I made the mistake of going straight down one of the busiest streets in Hollywood.
And when I got there, I thought I had found the perfect parking spot. Then a nice man told me it was "Street Cleaning Day"... Thank you, Nice Man, where ever you are.
So I had to run and move my car. My audition was 2pm and I got there at 2pm., huffing and puffing from running - but at least without risk of a parking ticket.

The thing I liked about this audition was they knew they wanted a Plus Sized woman. And maybe a brunette, as a few were brunettes. So at least they knew what "type" they wanted. And I was that type.
The actual auditions took alittle bit of time. They let us run through the commercial. And then he gave us direction, and we got to do it again.
These are my favorite kind of Auditions.

I am not to thrilled with the auditions where they want a "character". And I go in and audition with little old men, and ethnic types, and tall skinny blond women, and whatever - because they haven't decided what they are looking for.
In this case, they knew what "Type" they wanted, and I like that. And they gave us Direction and let us work the Commercial Sides almost like an acting scene in a class, and I liked that too.

Then as I was driving back to work, going north - my Agent called me with an another audition for tomorrow !
So Wow ! Its been a good day !

I was late getting home from work because I am filling in for someone on maternity leave. I had to make up the extra time I took for my long lunch for my audition, plus do the extra work of my co-worker. I got home late, (still nothing done about the Mold in my apartment), dyed my hair to cover up the Grey, did my nails to get ready for tomorrow ... and caught Leonardo DiCaprio on Jay Leno.
Now its time for a good nights sleep. Alot of Work tomorrow.. and another audition !

Movie Star Sighting at the PHARMACY !!!!

My doctor gave me a prescription for Serious Cough Medicine with Codeine (Yum Yum), because I still have a cough even though I think the reason is the Mold in my apartment, which they are still cleaning up.

After work I went to Rite Aid. I picked up a few things like Oust Air Sanitizer and they are having a big sale on Charmin Toilet Paper $1.99 for 12. So I was carrying all this stuff including the big package of Toilet Paper.

I turn the corner of the Aisle to get in line at the Pharmacy. And I notice a huge line of like 4 people in waiting ...and I stop and LOOK at the line and say "Oh, no...there's a LINE !" And person #2 in line is a BIG Movie Star... talking - or pretending to talk - on his Cell Phone. He looked sick, and was all bundled up in a sweater and sounded bad, like maybe he has Walking pneumonia, I mean everyone else had it, even me. Especially me. But then, I also think his wife is pregnant, so maybe it was something for her. However, don't all BIG movie stars have Assistants to run their errands ? ... hmmmm...

Sooo....it takes forever, and he is just repeating pretty much the same thing over on his Cell Phone. So I guess no one will bug him.
I am looking at the floor, and reading the Nutritional Supplement Display -and trying not to LAUGH or Giggle. I mean, the whole thing is pretty weird and funny.

Finally its his turn to go to the Pharmacist. And I hear him say "His Name" and "I dropped it off this morning". As he left, I turned my back to him and looked at the floor. I think he looked at me. But I was trying to respect his privacy since it was the PHARMACY. And no way could I act natural, it was to funny. So I looked at the floor and kept my back towards him.

There was a little old Armenian couple next. Then me. And I said to the pharmacist, "That guy two people before me, he's a BIG movie star!" She just looked and grinned, I am sure she sees Stars all the time. And then I felt bad for telling the pharmacist that her customer was a movie star, cause it was a "private" moment, and I didn't want to dis-respect his privacy.
And then yes, I emailed a bunch of friends and told them about it using his name, but I decided if I posted it on the website, to keep his name private.

But I laughed all the way home .... only in LA ! This is why I put up with living in East Hollywood and having a moldy apartment. Its moments like this, that make having to take Prescription Cough Syrup with Codeine worth it all !