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. 

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Acting class

            On August 20, I started my first acting class at North Carolina A & T State University. My Acting 1 professor, Frankie Day, is amazing! I have learned so much so far – acting lingo, articulation and relaxation exercises, stage combat techniques – and it’s already mid-term!

            We meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 to 3:15 PM. Wearing all black is a requirement for class. It’s been quite an experience interacting with my classmates, who are mostly freshman and eighteen. I’m a little older.

             I’m so glad I decided to take this class. The program is theater-based so it’s different from all the other acting classes I have taken. We are discouraged from doing monologues and scenes from movies. But I do have a new appreciation for theater now. I love Ms. Day, who is warm, knowledgeable, and talented but firm when she needs to be – the perfect balance. 

Actors seem to be prone to depression

A few days have passed but I can’t stop thinking about actor and comedian Robin Williams. I’ll admit that I never really paid attention to his personal life. I was scrolling my Facebook page and saw that he was found dead, which was shocking enough. But then I was really astonished that he had died from an apparent suicide.

As I thought about it more, I wasn’t really surprised that a high number of entertainers suffer with depression and mask their pain with drugs and alcohol.  When the pain becomes too great, some want to end it permanently. Williams used his gifts and talents to entertain his fans and make us feel better, but he was seriously tormented in real life.  

As an entertainer, you really put it out there so to speak. Having to always be “on” can get draining after a while. I had a rehearsal about a week ago and felt rotten (body aches, tired, and emotional) but walked in smiling and acting as if I didn’t have a care in the world. It didn’t help that it was pouring down raining. At one time, I thought I was going to pass out, but I kept up my façade. I didn’t want call in sick at the last minute and be seen as unprofessional. Imagine being a big star such as Williams, and always having to appear happy and perfect when you felt the opposite.

Add insecurity, messed up childhoods, broken dreams, rejection, cutthroat actors, and not knowing when you will get another acting job, and you have a recipe for disaster. I’m starting to realize that many entertainers, namely actors, are damaged creatures. I’m introverted and shy so every time I write my blog or post a photo of myself, it feels unnatural. I used to get in the trap of wanting to have my hair styled perfectly and wearing makeup when posting on Facebook. You never know what people will think or say about you. Having to be “on” is one of the things I hate about starting an acting career.

My old acting teacher told my class one time to not make acting your life. Acting won’t fulfill you but having other interests and goals will help when the phone stops ringing. Mental illness can happen to some of the most talented, loved people. It’s tragic, and it’s rampant in this industry. 

If you are having any suicidal thoughts, please call 800-784-2433. 

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 have had a very busy month

I did three auditions, which is good for being in the Southeast. I heard back from one of the auditions and was cast. It's too early to tell from the other two. I also had my first real rehearsal for "Hurt People Hurt People" this past weekend. It went well, and I received some good, encouraging feedback from the director. I did a fun photo shoot with a local photographer. I've been trying to get back into modeling. After having a bad experience on my last shoot, I was glad that this one was nice, gave directions, and excited to shoot. Lastly, I was an extra on the show "It's Supernatural." I am trying to cut down on background work and focus more on lead and principal roles. However, from time to time I will be an extra if the pay is nice.

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!