¡Hola! I wanted to share that I'll be in Barcelona for 3 weeks in January! For 22 hours a week, I'll be learning the Margolis Method approach to acting from Kari Margolis herself. In between all that training, I'll be exploring Spain, practicing my Spanish, and partying hard with Europeans. I have never been outside of the US, so this is a big deal for me! While I know this trip is approaching, it won't feel real until I get there. I promise to write a long post about it when I get back about what the training was like and what I loved most.
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Hey Blog, I went on my first commercial audition and it was an experience!
My instructions were: 1) Improv a conversation with the girl next to you 2) take a bite of the tortilla 3) completely overreact to how delicious it is. 4) ACTION!…. Nope! Not what we were looking for. So yeah, that happened. I took too big a bite and was like YAAAAAAS! Never fear, because the next weekend I attended a commercial workshop with Carol Hickey and that woman is a GOD. If you’re an actor in Austin, you HAVE to take a class with her. She knows her stuff! I know I could trust her, because she’s booked like a kajillion commercials. I’m definitely (more) ready for that next commercial audition. She talked a lot abut being relatable and being yourself. It would be so totally amazing to book a commercial, because they shoot for like a day and pay pretty well and who wouldn't want to be that relatable chick selling you cell phone plans? I could be that chick! Let me talk you into a phone plan! HIRE ME!!! So much has happened and I’ve been working so much that I have forgotten to update my blog. So here it is!
As you can see from my website, I got some new head shots. Also, I got signed with my first ever talent agent! My agency is awesome and I’m getting all sorts of casting notifications and workshop recommendations! Also exciting news is that I was cast as Joan in a production of “Melancholy Play” by Sarah Ruhl (who I love). This semester I’m taking three acting classes, which I’m super thrilled about. It's pretty rad! I'm taking Comedy Acting, Acting III (doing Waiting for Lefty and Proof scenes), and Acting and the Camera- we're collaborating with grad film students to make films. Anyways, that's what I've been up to! I'm so grateful for the support I've had leading up to my Senior Year in Undergrad. My parents, professors, friends, and acting teachers have inspired me to get to this point. :') Reel- Katie Janner from Katie Janner on Vimeo. While on my beach trip, I read eight plays published after 2000. Just for fun, I decided to summarize/review them.
This Is Our Youth (2000) by Kenneth Lonergan Warren comes over to Jeff's place after stealing $15,000 from his sketchy dad. They decide to buy and sell cocaine to make a profit with the money before returning it. Warren blows a ton of cash on his crush Jessica. Getting all the money back is harder than expected. There were so many great monologues and some unexpected plots twists. I would love to play Jessica! Suburbia (2009) by Eric Bogosian A group of burn-outs hang out, drink beer, and loiter outside a convenience store in the suburbs.. Their friend Pony has become a successful musician and is coming into town to catch up with them. The group's feelings toward Pony range from jealous to spiteful. These young adults express a struggle to find meaning in their lives. Is it art if you have no audience? What does it mean to be a "real" American? I liked this story and the poetic language. Bachelorette (2011) by Leslye Headland Bachelorette is about some gal pals getting together the night before fat Becky's wedding. Gena and Becky are a cocaine-smuggling, binge-drinking nightmares. Regan is a backstabbing bitch. “Katie” is my new dream role. Someone please direct and cast me in this. This contains a lot of adult humor, but if you’re looking for a funny script with women characters, look no further. 10 outta 10 would recommend! Circle Mirror Transformation (2012) by Annie Baker Five characters enjoy a six week community acting class in Vermont. Through games and exercises, the teacher and students learn about each other on a personal level. I almost cried, because it was so sweet. Growth happens when you go outside your comfort zone and befriend strangers in acting class. Some Girl(s) (2005) by Neil LaBute "Guy," decides to visit some of his ex girlfriends before he gets married. He travels across the country so he can apologize to each of them. I watched the movie version with Adam Brodie, which was mehhhorible. In my opinion, the dialogue was a bit boring, but there are some strong female characters and nice monologues? Reasons to be Pretty (2008) by Neil LaBute Everything is set in motion when Steph finds out her boyfriend, Greg, said her face is “just regular.” Steph is so upset, that nothing Greg can say or do can keep them together. Kent and Carly, have even bigger problems when Kent gets kinky with the new girl. I enjoyed reading this scrip. My only complaint is the repetitive dialogue. Hello? Hello! Hello? No. No! No. No! NOOOOOO! Hello? NOOOOO! Reasons to be Happy (2013) by Neil LaBute This is the sequel to Reasons to be Pretty. There’s new drama brewing between the four characters as Greg is now head over heels for both Steph and Carly. Again, it was sort of repetitive dialogue, but I like it and would go see it. Kitty Kitty Kitty (2006) by Noah Haidle This is the obscure, perverted, offensive tale of a suicidal cat, Kitty, that gets cloned by a lonely scientist. Kitty starts an inappropriate relationship with his clone, Kitty Kitty. When Kitty Kitty is adopted, Kitty is sad again and decides to clone himself three more times to create Kitty Kitty Kitty, Kitty Kitty Kitty Kitty , and finally Kitty Kitty Kitty Kitty Kitty. However, these new clones suck and his one true love is Kitty Kitty. Now they must find each other against all odds. I only checked out this script, because I was amused by the title and holy cannoli it was WEIRD. I would pay GOOD money to see this. #kittyandkittykittyforever Hello lovely people who take time to read my blog posts (you're the best)! How is your summer? Mine is fantastic/stressful/busy.
Truthfully, this summer is not quite as exciting as I was hoping. Nonetheless, I decided fill my time by setting and achieving a list of goals. Here they are and how I'm trying to achieve them before school starts back up: 1. Gain awesome professional references and resume material. Getting an internship was tricky. I ended up emailing two places seeing if they wanted an intern and whallaah! I’m a part-time intern at a talent agency and part-time intern with a children's theatre company, Pollyanna Theatre Company. At the talent agency, I scout for models, help build a website, and do odd jobs. At Pollyanna, I’m helping sell tickets for their upcoming summer children’s shows and I will work front of house for our two summer productions at the Long Center! 2. Get healthier. This is a toughie, because I've been eating so much free catering food. (Oops!) My friends and I joined LA Fitness and I’ve committed to going to a "Body Sculpting" class on Mondays and "Boot Camp" on Fridays. The Boot Camp class kicked my booty! I couldn't move the next day. The progress of getting fit is slow. I’d be super happy if I can lose 10 lbs by my birthday. I need to start running again and cutting down on catering food and eating out. Why must I be surrounded by so much yummy food? 3. Take acting classes. I’m training with the wonderful Paula Russell on Monday nights and she’s a GODDESS! Her focus is on meditating and relaxing and not doing anything unrealistic or forced during scenes. And being very s t i l l . 4. Get new laptop and travel. Where’s all my money? So sad, true story- I haven’t really had a saving account in almost a year, because normal life expenses and being a student blah blah blah. I tend to spend all my catering paychecks by the time the next paycheck comes. Paycheck to paycheck is my life, which is kind of okay since everyone else my age is probably living the same way (or so I tell myself to feel better). The real issue is that I have no money to buy a laptop. My current one is close to 10 years old, overheats, and is super slow. My hope is that I can cater enough to buy a laptop and also go on a few trips. I would love to finally see the Grand Canyon or go to California. If anyone knows of a way to make money with very limited schedule that isn’t sketchy, let me know. I can babysit on date nights! 5. Act and read plays! I have an exciting audition tomorrow and also I checked out over 10 modern plays from the library to read this summer. Well, these are my goals/plans for the summer. Working two internships and catering is definitely putting a toll on me, but I can't complain too much because I spent the entire weekend tanning or in a hot tub. My internships are chill about me working from home, and I also have Fridays off to do something fun! Plus in month, I'll be sitting on the beach with a mojito. Not Picture Perfect from Katie Janner on Vimeo.
About a month ago, my professor asked me to write a script about high school detention- something I've never experienced. I'm not sure my high school even had detention. We did have a Senior Slideshow though and I was traumatized.
I know what you're thinking. "Katie, this website of yours is great and all, but I need some video evidence of your acting and creative skills.' YES! I know and I agree. My Vimeo page features some projects I've recently been working on including: a monologue I really like, a scene I worked on in class, a "tone poem", and a one minute video that I shot, directed, and edited. Link below :) https://vimeo.com/user49332570 There's nothing you can't do! My week in New York is a little more than half way over and I'm not ready to go back. Some highlights so far include- eating pizza on Arthur Avenue, walking on the Brooklyn Bridge, the Orchid Show at the Botanical Garden, admiring seals in Central Park, and seeing a play called "The Woodsman." The Fine Arts Career Services supported me to come here and attend the Texas Exes New York Seminar, a program which connects undergrads with successful professionals in their field of interest. Today I soaked up lots of career and general life advice from some non-profit arts organization workers. Truly aspirational!
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