Hello World

As the title of this excerpt states, I greet you all joyously. Things are looking up! I have had several wonderful projects come my way.

The fabulous director and writer Miss Assal Ghawami has booked me to play of the leads for her short film called "Ey Pari Kojai" where it's a dramatic short about a Persian mother and her three daughters celebrating Noruz, the Persian New Year. Rehearsals have begun and filming will start in a little over a week from now. I can truly not believe I am apart of this amazing project!

Then on Sunday I was called by producer/artist Rafe Friedman to partake in an interview for his new documentary television series dealing with ethnic backgrounds around the world that are involved in the arts. During this episode there was a singer/song writer female, pianist composer, a basketball player as well as myself. The new show is called "Shoot The Three" by Rafe Friedman and I am excited to see where this goes.

Then yesterday I had an interview with the well known boutique agent Meg Pantera where we had a grand ol' time and talked for over an hour. We talked about the business, what she does, her clientele, projects that are around, her background, my background, etcetera. I have met up with many agents and this one felt super natural. I rreeeaaallllyyyy like her. So I have to prepare a 5 minute scene to perfection and then perform it in front of her and then we can determine if we want to sign a contract or not. I'm excited though, I really like her and I know she'd work hard for me.

I just sent out some mail outs though because I am ready to try a different agent and see which one I mesh better with. I'm eager for the results :)

Until next time!

Summer time and the livin's easy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWFJLUBwpSY

Oh my oh my...summer's nearly over and I'm not quite ready for that. Sure, humidity is awful and heat isn't as friendly as I remembered it to be...but I like how busy the summer is!

Last week I worked on Law & Order: SVU as a rape victim. So far this summer, I went on a go see for a Fifa, Midol, Bank of America, Christian Dior, Pantene Pro-V commercial/print. I filmed that feature film that won best screenplay at the TRIBECA Film Festival. I filmed a short film about an awkward first date. The producer for Peace After Marriage liked me so much that she wants me to be involved in a screenplay she wrote! I had to turn down featured work for Running Wilde, a new television show unfortunately, but I still got the part to begin with, which makes this girl a very happy one indeed.

Adrienne Stern sent me an email about an upcoming Gap commercial, which I am going to submit a video for. There's also a feature film audition this Saturday that I am going to...so things are definitely going on.

Then today I met up with Danielle De Lawder again from Abrams so that I could showcase my new resume and tell her what I've been doing. I did a monologue for her and what's even more cool is that after all the thousands of people she sees...she remembered me-which was pretty awesome.

A good friend of mine told me that acting isn't a sprint, but a marathon. Those are very wise words indeed. However, am I soooo guilty to want things to pick up right now? Can't I have my cake and eat it too?!

Lights. Camera, Action!!!!!!

Wow! So since I last blogged, I have had several activities going on!

First and foremost, my scene has been filmed for the movie Peace After Marriage! The film has officially wrapped in the U.S.A. and will be doing some filming in Israel. It was absolutely so much fun. The scene that I filmed in took place at a Halloween party and I was dressed as a geisha ;) I can't wait to see the finished product...it's full of quirky comedy!

Geisha getting dressed!



Getting the hair done!


Mask of the Geisha!



Then recently I worked as a featured rape victim for the upcoming season of Law & Order: SVU and went on a Bank of America print and commercial audition. I also have a go see booked for an urban magazine company for this upcoming week! About two weeks ago I went to an art gallery of my good friend Nicole Wilson and her work is aammaazziinngg.

Life is great! Will try to keep you all posted about my endeavors!

Auditions today!

It always seems to be this way; for days there will be no auditions, then BAM! (Emeril Lagasse style) there's a lot in a few days. For example today there were two auditions that I went to. Gladly of course.

The first one is the well known "The Importance of Being Earnest", which would just be darling to be in. I hate to say it, but for some strange reason I kept imagining the part from Spiderman where MJ was on stage and she saw Peter in the audience and stammered. Then I'd shake my head loose of such frivolous daydreams and imagine myself being on stage. Then I'd get all giddy with excitement. I read Oscar Wilde's wonderful book in high school, however I was in a pinch and cheated. To re-freshen the whole storyline I watched the movie. I, again, imagined myself being on the screen. I love daydreaming; activates those dendrites!

Then I immediately trotted over to the Equity building for another audition. Bottom Of The World. I don't really know the storyline however it takes place in a small town and I was auditioning for the role of Kate, a young novelist who tragically dies and throughout the play, her ghost tries to rationalize her death. Sounds sad, doesn't it? It pulled me in like a hooked fish.

Then next week there are two more auditions! So the more auditions I go to, the more chances I get to being booked and the more experience I get being out there doing my thing!'

OH! I also film next Saturday for my character role in the movie Peace After Marriage! I seriously can't wait for that!

Updates!!

I apologize for the fact that I haven't posted anything that's new, but it's all because I've been busy!!

Remember that TRIBECA film that I auditioned for? WELL I GOT IT!!!!!! That's right! I shall be "Pocahontas" in the film!!!!!! The movie is called Peace After Marriage and the directors are Bandar Albuliwi and Ghazi Albuliwi. I need to create an IMDB account now so I can be on this baby!! I also am in lllooovvveee with costume fitting. Who says dress up isn't fun?! We recently had a kick off party for the project a couple of days ago because today was the first day of shooting! I'm truly soooo excited and honoured to be in this fantastic film!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1639095/

I'm soooo happy!

I also did shoot a short film with director Josh Edelman called Full Of Surprises about a very horrifically honest first date. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to the finished product. My co-star took a picture of us on set and once I get a hold of it, I'll most definitely upload it.

Then following that I had a singing performance, aka a showcase, at the HB Studios where I performed the song Hallelujah originally written and sang by Leonard Cohen (whom is a genius), but I sang the version that KD Lang did. It was recorded and I, again, must get my hands on that copy. Once I do, I'll upload it for sure.

Speaking of HB Studios, classes ended and I just started a new class with well known actress and ex-casting director Karen Ludwig. It's an acting class strictly designed for film acting and I can already say I love it. She's personable, but she doesn't settle and that's everything I want. I want her to be able to push me to a new level and I can see her doing so.

I also went on a go see for a print ad for Midol and got a call back for it. The photographer Ben Baker was a ssssuuuupppeeerrr chill guy. We talked about my background of being Persian and he told me how he's traveled to the middle east. Not to Iran yet, but other countries there and he's even met Mahmoud Ahmadinejad! Definitely a great photography experience for sure. We'll see how that turns out!

Then last weekend was an entertainment soiree where actors, agents, directors and casting directors all met and hung out in a comfortable lounge. It was thrown by Acefest and I met some pretty nice and cool people there. Everyday is about making connections and networking and it was a really fun and relaxed environment to be able to do that.

June was definitely an eventful month. I can't wait for July!

Upcoming auditions

I am so excited! There are many projects that are coming up. I just got home from an AEA theater production audition. It seems that the Shetler Studios and I have been like buddies the past few weeks. Almost weekly I've been there, whether it be for classes, seminars, meeting agents/casting directors or auditions.

This is obviously very good for me because I feel like I am actually doing something here rather than wasting away to nothing.

I also had another audition yesterday, which I am EXTREMELY stoked about because it was for a feature film. The screenplay won best screenplay for the TRIBECA film festival and with this kind of uproar it has the funding for a full length SAG feature film. I really hope I get this one because the storyline speaks to me. If I don't, it would be heartbreaking, but at the same time I wish the project well (as I do with other projects I don't get) and that I hope that the casting director or director will think of me for a future project.

I also have a tentative film shoot on Tuesday for an indie film! Can't really give away details, but it's a dark comedy that's sort of off the wall. I am excited for the production.

I also have another audition scheduled for Thursday for a short SAG film and tentatively another audition on the 20th for another indie film.

June is apparently an exciting and busy month for me and it's only just begun!

School is still in progress and in my vocal class we are actually holding a "recital" (if you will call it such) where we can strut our stuff out to the public. A showcase for the voice as some may call it.

Life is good :)

Adrienne Stern

About 1.5 months ago I met 4 agents from Abrams Agency: Legit, Commercial, Voice Over and Print. It all seemed to go well with each one of them. Danielle and Joe, however, seemed to have a better connection with me. Danielle being the legit agent and Joe being the print agent (big score I reckon) Joe gave me his card and told me to email him more headshots and pictures of myself because he sees potential and versatility. Danielle and I however had a great chat. She was asking me what I want for myself, what I see myself acting in and I was so honest and upfront with her that I saw the spark of interest. In return that made ME more excited and passionate because it re-confirmed what I really want to do. However, then Danielle asked me the toxic question "Who is the business world knows you". Well, hello! This is a catch 22 because you can't meet anyone that legitimate without an agent and you can't get an agent without knowing someone. Said this before? Well, that's because IT'S TRUE. This question was a curve ball for me and I started to stammer and then I tried to re-collect myself and just start naming the names of the people I have met, but it wasn't that many: Doug Kesten, Ed Batchelor, David Elliott, David Cash, Julie Shoebach....but I knew I had met more, but couldn't remember their names. (This is when something flashed in my head that a buddy of mine did-he made a contact sheet of every person he met and where they are from so when asked this question he just hands the sheet over to the interviewer...genius, but I was kicking myself)

I saw the look of interest begin to dwindle and I tried to keep my smile erect. She nodded and told me to keep on trucking (not exactly in those words but you get the picture) and to keep in touch. Let her know what I'm doing if I am involved in anything.

This is when I decided I needed to meet more casting directors because THEY are the ones who cast the freaking roles!

However, like everything in this city-it costs money to meet people in the industry and I was strapped for cash. So I searched the websites and decided to be very frugal and wise with the people I meet. They must be pertinent to my desires of acting. That's where I found Adrienne Stern. She is a casting director that's pretty well revered and her focus is on independent films. I love the art behind independent films and want to so desperately want to be apart of that world: Sundance, Focus, films in festivals....and Adrienne has casted for those kinds of films.

I met her and I was rather surprised by her relaxed personality. It didn't really feel like a class at all, but rather her just explaining the indie world. I really dug her attitude. I was also impressed with how busy she keeps herself. She had been up since 5:30am to meet up with a director and actor for an upcoming film she is casting for, then did her daily work at a casting director in her office, then came to teach our class afterward and wasn't heading home til 9pm. I also got to see other actors and see them perform. They were good, I'm not going to lie. Pretty darn good. However, Adrienne's face was solemn the entire time so I couldn't tell if she particularly was fond of anyone.

All in all, I am glad for the experience and getting her to see my face and see me act. One step further in networking. I am honestly terrible at networking. I mean, I am friendly and sociable, but not when it's forced. How can one network with acting without it being forced? I.E. paying to see casting directors or agents, paying to send headshots and resumes etc. Every day is a struggle and to anyone who thinks acting is easy has no idea what they are talking about.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827621/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adrienne-Stern-Casting/49493369954

New Headshots

Dawning of a new year

Well well well...times are a'changin' for good and for bad. Let's get the bad out of the way: work is SLOW. Before November my phone was ringing nearly everyday. Now...I'm the one hearing the ring tone as I make outbound calls.

Also, money is going out, but money isn't coming in. That's okay. I have got to have my chin up and ready for the opportunity when it comes my way.

Now for the good: I am currently studying The Meisner technique at HB Studios as well as accents and dialects to expand my applicability with various roles.

I also sought out new headshots and I rather like them very much. I worked with the wonderful Tara Leigh who is quirky, talented, patient and charismatic; makes you feel right at home or that you've known her for years. Not to mention the pictures look exceptional!

Everyday is a step closer to my goal and I am so grateful that I have even the chance to make those steps. I've been very blessed to have had all the open doors thus far. Made another website via iActor provided by SAG :)

http://www.sag.org/iactor/MinaMarieMirkhah

Pics from random sets

On the set of CSI:NY. It was shot on a boat :)





Going The Distance





Wall Street 2:



Sex & The City 2:





Gossip Girl: