Movie Meeting

I can't write much tonight. I have to read a script. I have a meeting on Tuesday for a supporting role in a sequel to a very popular comedy series of movies. So I want to be able to read it through a couple of times, as well as prepare for my first rehearsal for JUNK and watch the previous movie in the series. I've seen the first 3, but not 4 and 5 yet. And my birthday party is tomorrow.

I am exhausted though...the smoke from the Hollywood Hills brush fire got to me...not to mention living on the same hill stressed me out. All day I kept thinking our condo would burn down. Thank goodness for the fire department. They are amazing.

So goodnight...I probably won't write tomorrow (I'll be out playing billiards and hanging with friends).

actorsite

I met a bunch of cool people tonight at a place called actorsite. I used to regularly attend workshops and such there, but faded out for a while due to schedule. I went back tonight for the first time in a while. I met some really great people. It's funny too, because there is a great forum for members to use to write each other. Many of the folk had been writing to me on the forum without ever meeting me....giving feedback on my new headshot, etc. So I am thrilled to be inviting them out to celebrate yet another year marker close to OLD.

My workshop went well. Directly before I spoke with Glenn Gaylord, an amazing director. He's really easy to work with and I especially love him because we communicate well with each other. He is trying to schedule me for something to do with the pilot. I don't know if I can talk about it yet, but I will once the show is public knowledge. Anyway, we are trying to work my schedule around JUNK: A Rock Opera. I am so excited for my first rehearsal. I'm frightened that if I learn the songs before I get there, that I will have a harder time learning harmony if that's what I am expected to sing.

I am rambling on...sorry I am exhausted. Type more tomorrow.

Getting older

I am watching a program on the television about how 50 isn't old anymore...my parents generation is changing how we look at retirement and making it more of an active lifestyle rather than sitting around watching tv. I'm glad because the thought of sitting in front of the tv for 30 years doing nothing is pretty frightening. Although living beyond our means and getting in massive credit debt started with that generation too according to the show. Not sure that's so good.
Well, anyway... I am having another birthday this Saturday and in a panic that I am getting old. Yes, I still play a teenager, but no I am not a teen any longer. I do this every year on March 31st...evaluate my goals and dreams and get down on myself about not being where I pictured myself being at this point in my life. I suppose that is pretty normal for actors because the process takes time. I think there is some saying about how overnight success in the biz takes years. Come April Fool's day I'm sure to feel better about everything...or at least have a hang over that prevents me from thinking about it. :)

So I have decided to move from the Saturday morning group to the Sunday night group at LA Connection Improv Theatre. I am excited because I think I can still fit both improv groups performances and rehearsals into my crazy (JUNK) rock opera rehearsal schedule. I need to send postcards to all the casting directors in town about JUNK. I always try to send out postcards when I book a gig. I should start working on that. I have to type in all of my addresses onto the new site I am using to send postcards. It's gonna take days!

:)

Overcoming my fear of musical theatre auditions

Well so much for EVERY DAY thoughts. Wow I have been busy, but that's no excuse.

I was freaking out about this audition for Junk: A Rock Opera. I couldn't choose my auditions songs and then had to change my audition time. Then I thought I blew it....But I got a callback. At callbacks I watched everyone dancing and singing and thought, "WOW these girls are really dancers, I don't really dance...at least not anymore." What a SHOCK when they called and offered me a spot in the ensemble. I think I squealed so load the walls shook. I would've jumped up and down, but I was too sore from the dancing at the callback. So that's the big exciting news of the day. I think I've finally overcome my fear of musical auditions.

It's strange to me because so many times I hear that I appear so comfortable in auditions. I usually feel pretty relaxed, EXCEPT for musicals. Something about being judged on my singing and dancing used to really scare me. I'm perfectly fine with doing the performance, it's just the AUDITION that gives me butterflies. Like anything else, I think I overcame it by doing it a few times. So you are witnessing a stepping stone in my career.

Be sure to check out the website too: http://www.junkrockopera.com

My first blog

I'm Christine Barger and this is my first blog. I moved to Los Angeles a few years ago after booking my first acting job in Along Came Polly. I got an agent, but only one audition....so I did background work. Well, that was fun for a week or so, but after several months of getting hand cramps from hitting redial trying to get through to Central Casting to check for my next gig... I took a break. I worked in an office for the real estate company Douglas Emmett for a little over a year. However, I was never fullfilled in my office job and constantly longed to be back in the "biz" so I quit my job and got a part time gig as a dancing monkey at a theme park. I got a new agent and started going on auditions. I have been auditioning and working as an actor pretty regularly for over a year. I plan to use this blog to talk about my daily thoughts and adventures in my journey to becoming an established working actor.

So what's going on right now you ask?

I was on USA Network's Character Road Trip last week. You can see the episode on thier website. I did ventriloquism with my "friend" Darlene Hollywood.

http://video.usanetwork.com/player/?id=81347

I shot the lead in the pilot Lez Be Friends a few weeks ago. That was an amazing experience. I am so excited to see it. I talked to the amazing director, Glenn Gaylord, today. He said it will be a while until we get to see it. I have a good feeling that it's going to be a big hit. It's very funny and that's about all I can say about it for now. More info on it later.

I am a member of Scriptease improv. We had rehearsal tonight. The concept of Scriptease is strip poker meets who's line is it anyway. We play short form improv games and have rules that if we break them, we strip one article of clothing at a time. It's a blast.

Well, it's really late and I am exhausted. So...I hope my first blog hasn't put you to sleep, but that's what I'm gonna do now. Night Night