I got my SAG-AFTRA letter!

I recently received my letter allowing me to join SAG-AFTRA. I am so thankful and proud that I was a part of the hilarious, award-winning "Actors Anonymous." Look out for the web series to premiere soon on YouTube. We will film additional episodes next year.

I’m not being punished, I’m being protected

I got the call right as I was going over my lines for a scene I was struggling to memorize.  “We’ve decided to go with another actress for the lead role.” The role I had been working on and developing for six months.  Six months! The role I thought was mine after several starts and stops, dizzying cast changes, and several directors.

I’m still processing it. But as I think back, I see a lot of red flags. To be honest, I wasn’t having fun.  I was starting to dread it.  I felt…uneasy. Sometimes spending time with my husband or just being in front of the TV sounded better. And I didn’t realize how much time I devoted to this role. With so much free time now, I’ve been doing so much.

I should have listened to that voice that was telling me “Something isn’t right about this.”  I ignored it, and now I’m resentful, my confidence is shaken, and I feel as if I wasted my time. Over and over, my instincts told me to get out, give up, throw in the towel, but I didn’t.  I didn’t want to appear as a quitter or that I wasn’t up for the job.  I kept telling myself, “It’s almost over, just hang in there.”

So though I’m a little hurt, I remind myself that I wasn’t punished but instead protected.  Whatever happens with the project is no longer any of my concern.  I’m just glad that big weight has been lifted. 

Baytown's Finest Full Movie

Please take a look at my latest movie. I had so much fun playing Malia Miller.

Baytown's Finest Movie Promo 2016

Baytown's Finest

I am filming an independent film in the Houston area called "Baytown's Finest."  I play Malia, the older, bossy sister of Hakeem, a high school basketball player who doesn't want to focus on the future. I continue filming in February.  The film comes out later this year.  

"Unnatural"

I filmed "Unnatural" recently.  I am Cree, half human/half wendigo, in a symbiotic relationship with Amago, half human/half vampire. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Tom Todoroff Master Class

I attended a workshop taught by Tom Todoroff, a NYC-based acting coach. He has trained Hollywood heavyweights such as Liam Neeson, Samuel L. Jackson Claire Danes, and Tony Goldwyn. 

I arrived early so I could get a good seat. The class had around 40 other actors, some very accomplished. The three and a half hour master class was accelerated but very informative. I walked out with five pages of notes that I can apply immediately! I'm considering attending his one-week summer intensive in New York City.

Moving on to bigger and better things

I just finished my Acting II class,  and I got an A! Ending the class is bittersweet since this is my last class at N.C. A & T State University. I will miss my classmates and Professor Day. They are all so talented and pushed me to step it up to become a better actress. Since I was working at the university, my classes were free. But since my job is ending this summer, I cannot afford to stay in the program.

 The film industry in North Carolina has dried up for the most part. I am looking forward to moving out west for better opportunities. My future move to Houston is a little scary but exciting at the same time. Houston's film industry is booming, and New Orleans is a short drive too! I'm looking forward to networking with news actors, directors, writers, and producers in another state and city. Houston isn't Los Angeles, but there seems to be many plays, commercials, TV shows, and movies being made. I can't wait to see where I'll be a year from now.

The Vagina Monologues

I am very excited about being cast in this production. If you are in the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem area, please come out and support.

Hurt People, HURT PEOPLE; but God Can Heal the Hurt

I have one more performance left for my play on Nov.1. If you are in the Winston Salem/Greensboro/Burlington/High Point/Charlotte/Raleigh area, please come out and support. You will be blessed! I am having so much fun working with such a talented cast.

'Hurt People, HURT PEOPLE'

If you are in the Burlington-Greensboro-Winston-Salem, NC area, please come out to see my stage play, "Hurt People, Hurt People: But God Can Heal the Hurt". Show times are 3 and 7:30 PM on Oct. 25, 5 PM on Oct. 26, and 6 PM on Nov. 1. 

event

Would you answer the casting call?

Since I read so many character breakdowns in a day, I’m looking for words that disqualify me so I can quickly move on to the next one. I read many breakdowns hoping I see the words “any ethnicity” or “black female.” Sometimes they are pretty vague, but most of the time they can be pretty descriptive. I also look at age range and skin color. Yes, skin color.

Sometimes I’m disqualified because even though the character is black and in my age range, they may be looking for a “thin, model-like black female, preferably light-skinned, mixed, or Latina.” Or maybe “a dark-skinned sassy, overweight black female.”  I get it, I can’t have every role. But more times than not if the character is a dark-skinned female, she usually has deplorable characteristics. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen “hoodrat,” “bad attitude,” or “overweight.” It’s disheartening.

 
Check out the breakdown for the upcoming N.W.A. biopic:

SAG OR NON UNION FEMALES - PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN. DO NOT EMAIL IN FOR MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY:

A GIRLS: These are the hottest of the hottest. Models. MUST have real hair - no extensions, very classy looking, great bodies. You can be black, white, asian, hispanic, mid eastern, or mixed race too. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@g mail.com subject line should read: A GIRLS

B GIRLS: These are fine girls, long natural hair, really nice bodies. Small waists, nice hips. You should be light-skinned. Beyonce is a prototype here. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@g mail.com subject line should read: B GIRLS

C GIRLS: These are African American girls, medium to light skinned with a weave. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@g mail.com subject line should read: C GIRLS

D GIRLS: These are African American girls. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin tone. Character types. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@g mail.com subject line should read: D GIRLS

I won’t judge the actresses who want to be a part of this project. I understand that an actress who wants experience or a resume credit may submit her information to be a “D Girl.” You have to start somewhere. But when I see something such as this that in my opinion perpetuates racial stereotypes, I pass on it.

I've been cast in a play

I received the news today that I've been cast in a play called "Hurt People Hurt People." I'm so excited, because I've had the desire to do another play for some time. I will be playing Joy, who everyone thinks is straight-laced, but she really has another side. I had second thoughts about even going to the audition. After deliberating with one of the producers, I decided to go and see what happened. I'm so glad I did. I auditioned, and the director asked me to stay for the table read. What was supposed to take only 30 minutes turned into four hours. I was happy, famished, and exhausted at the end. The cast is very nice and super talented. Can't wait to take the stage!

Eyeglass World commercial

This was a fun, quick shoot I did a few months ago.