When Things Fall Apart

Tough times are afoot, no? Lately, I have experienced more examples than I care to mention that are sad, scary and alarming. It seemed like a theme this past week: Life isn't always secure, life makes no guarantees. 

"When things fall apart and we're on the verge of we know not what, the test for each of us is to stay on that brink and not concretize." ~Excerpt from Pema Chodron's When Things Fall Apart.

So sit tight everyone. This too shall pass, but in the meantime, while the pain or discomfort is present, we might as well sit with it, relax with it, resist it less. Breathe babies, breathe.

xoxoxoxoxooxoxoxo

Ketchup

Hi everyone! Here's a quick ketchup on my last few weeks...
My second Tall Glass screening was a smashing success!! We had over 50 attendees, despite the thunder storm! The films were stellar and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.




Kula and I had a terrific day of shooting at LimeBeat Music on 5th Avenue. Only 2 more episodes to go!




I had plenty of time relaxing and catching up with with friends (Birthday for Rob Gompers in Central Park, Memorial Day BBQ with Stacy in Jersey, Book Club with cousin Sarah, jogging with Jillian)




-- but after all that loveliness, all the socializing and accomplishing.... I realized, through my great friend Colette, that I hadn't been to an audition in months... and it was getting to me. Producing my own work is rewarding and wonderful, but there's something to be said for being cast in a project you don't have to do all the heavy lifting... a project that only needs me to be an actress. So I lined up a few auditions and low and behold, I've been cast in 2! I am playing several characters in a backers reading of a new play by Dale Perreault called ANTEROOMS. And I'm also now a member of Glass Beads Theater Ensemble, helmed by Mari Gorman.
I'm a little addicted to being busy. Jack is nodding in agreement.
xoxoxoxxoxo

Good Day LA

I just got back from a glorious 10 day trip in Los Angeles. How could I have gone another day without a visit with my sister, my mother, my step-dad, grandfather and dear friends such as Erin, Tonia, Katie and Adam? Honestly, I feel revived. My life feels fat, in a good shrimp and grits kind of way. And the food I ate! Oh the food.... Doughboys Oatmeal, Coffee Bean's vanilla iced coffee, the best bloody mary's of my life (yes, plural), endless lavender cookies, shrimp bisque covered in a puffy pastry, Jesus Denis, I will never forget those ribs.... and yes, at one point I fell asleep, next to my mama, with a mouthful of creme brulee. Heaven. Here are some pics I took along the way... in Sierra Madre, in West Covina and Yosemite (Hollywood wasn't privy to my camera).

Chaos & Control

There's nothing like food poisoning to remind a gal that everyday without food poisoning is a good day. Today is day 2... I'm at 50%... still achy but I'm able to spend most of the day in other parts of the apartment besides the bathroom.
I haven't written in 2 weeks! Resistance has definitely creeped up with this blog. I keep thinking... who the hell is reading this? And do I want people to read this? What the hell am I saying that's so freakin' important?!? The after effects of food poisoning makes me respond with: "Who the hell cares. Just write." So here I am, sippin' on blue gatorade and finally overcoming resistance.
But while I wasn't writing, I have been active in other respects. I jog now! Holy moly yes indeedy I jog the bridge every weekday morning. And I did my first headstand 2 weeks ago in yoga. It was Luke's class (the magical little sprite of a teacher) and I asked, "Can I go up against the wall?" He replied. "Wall? Nah. Do it in the center of the room. I'll spot ya." Then he proceeded to dance around singing, "Today's the day!" I guess every yogi has those special days when you can finally do a pose you never could before. And sure enough, I went upside down, in the middle of the room, with Luke hardly touching my legs at all. I was shocked at how much control I had over my up side down self.
So my life is like a Kandinsky, I suppose. Chaos, Control, Chaos, Control.
I think I need another nap.
xo

A Grati-cording

"A what?" you say.
A Grati-cording.
Yep. I made it up. And you can check out my first one by clicking below. It features my great friend Jillian Louis and me, after seeing our friend's play and having a drink in midtown. At any given time, one of us would have the handheld recorder and the other would snap the photo. The subject was our gratitude. It's 4 minutes and it's freakin' cute. Watch it.
Happy Monday everyone!
Jack and I had an extremely wonderful and productive weekend in Pennsylvania. We were location scouting for his upcoming feature, Mount Joy, and by God we actually secured two locations. Now twenty or so more to go....
=)
FUN.
xoxoxoxo

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE GRATI-CORDING!!

What you see is what you get

**Spoiler Alert! Please read the last entry (April 2) before continuing to read this entry!
So many of you responded to my last blog and MOST of you did NOT see the gorilla. My friend Mark saw the gorilla AND counted correctly, so 2 gold stars for him. My aunt Laurie commented that Insurance companies use these "attention test" facts to convince drivers that if they're traveling down a familiar road, they technically will not even see a motorcyclist. Scary! So yes, whether it's a safety hazard or just a new way of realizing how our minds really do shape our world... what we SEE is what we GET.
Stay tuned for a special treat, this blog's first GRATI-CORDING, created by me and my great friend, Jillian Louis.
HAPPY FRIDAY and REMEMBER. there are MANY MORE layers to the world around us. Let's keep our eyes open!
xoxoxo
Katie

What do you focus on?

The other day, my pal Namakula and I attended a free acting workshop. I arrived assuming I'd hear the same old stuff... marketing, headshots, resume blah blah blah. But no! These two teachers: Robert and Michelle Colt, talked about THE BRAIN, THE TEMPERATURE OF SUCCESS and FOCUS.

According to Robert and Michelle, we all have a "temperature" for success / love / money / etc. This "temperature" was formed at the age of 3 and solidified at the age of 7. Yep, by 2nd grade we all had a concrete comfort zone that we then spend the rest of our lives making sure we don't stray from. These two told us that your brain will do ANYTHING not to get too "hot" or too "cold"... aka too happy or unhappy, too wealthy or too poor, etc.
Then they showed us a video, and I encourage everyone to watch it. It takes 2 minutes, and if you're like me, it will BLOW YOUR MIND. I won't comment on the video until tomorrow, giving everyone a chance to watch it. If you do watch it, please leave a comment for me (or reply email) and tell me what you think! You don't need sound (Mom and Maddie!).

Click here to watch this video.


Happy Friday!
Katie

Quote Courtesy of Colette

"Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work."
Gustave Flaubert

Today I am tending to my civic duties, as a juror at Kings Country Court House. What will you do today to make your home/personal/civil life more in harmony?

xoxoxo
K

Makin' it up as I go...

This weekend I graduated Level 301 from Upright Citizen's Brigade (UCB). For those of you don't know, UCB is an improvisation theatre based in LA & NY. Improv is basically standing on stage, facing a fellow performer and beginning a "scene" that neither of you knows anything about. Yep. Just step forward into the spotlight and just start talking. Oh, and be funny... or at the very least amusing. Well, I think I performed the best I ever have, which is a wonderful, albeit painful reminder that if you plug away at something for YEARS, you're bound to get a little better.

You know you're in a good mood when...

...You breeze past the market that sells your favorite cookies (and you've been sans cookies for a week!).

Oh joyous day in NYC. I went to 2 auditions. One was for prime time baby, Royal Pains and the other was a callback for Edward Scissorhands. Royal pains was so so... I think on the first take, I overacted. We did both scenes twice, then the casting director handed me a scene for a different character... a bitch in line at a coffee shop. Much less lines & screen time for the second character. But hey, this would mark my debut on the small screen, so I guess I should stand by, even hoping for the little role. My audition for the character of Joyce in Edward Scissorhands went pretty well actually. One of those callback where you say to yourself, "I could get that." The director said I will know by tomorrow. And then, as if I wasn't already grateful for 2 opportunities to book work, my commercial agency rang and told me to be at an audition for Trident tomorrow at 10am.
I am a happy chappy, as my stepfather would say.

More later on the The Thich Nhat Hanh book. ANGER. It's AMAZING.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo