Video Distractions: Happiness Edition

Spilling words rapid fire into a vomit draft because deadlines are looming means I've been in a constant state of panic, self-judgement, and dissatisfaction. Here are some videos I've been watching on repeat to wash away the ick. Get ready for some joy!

First, I can't take my eyes off this delightful piece of choreography. "You'll never feel happy - until you try!"



Next, a slightly less finessed dance performance from Paul Rudd, though ten times more hilarious. The last song is my favorite --



In the middle of a 90s music nostalgia binge of old Moxy Fruvous CDs, which led me to discovering bassist Murray Foster's latest creative endeavor - writing and directing his first feature The Cocksure Lads.

Murray and fellow former Fruvous bandmate Mike Ford wrote and performed all the cheery Brit Pop-esque music. Here's one of their new tunes, animated beautifully --



Here's a tidbit from my sports-loving brother The Junk Food Guy that I can't stop watching. Apparently Shaq does not know what a pierogi is. Thank goodness Charles Barkley is there to set him straight --



And finally, some Olicity squishiness is always good for the soul --

Tools of the Trade: Car Survival Kit for Actors

Your car is your mobile office as an actor. Make sure it's stocked with everything you need for your career!

Here are four things I always have in my car --

No, not mints. (Though those are a good idea too...)

#1 - Quarters!

For feeding meters heartily to avoid dreaded parking tickets.

#2 - Makeup!

I guess this is for the ladies. Especially handy for those same day audition notices you get when you're on your way to Trader Joe's.

Safety Alert: Do not do your makeup while driving! Also, be sure to check your makeup in the bathroom of the casting office before going into the room. What looks fine in natural light and might look garish under fluorescent lights.

#3 - Headshots!

I keep mine in this old padfolio. It looks professional and it keeps them nice and flat --

#4 - Thomas Guide

Color me old school. There's nothing quite like locating yourself on a map. And even though I mostly use my maps app to get directions, my trusty Thomas Guide is always there to back me up when my phone just won't connect.

That's my car survival kit! I polled a few actor friends for their car must haves - here's what they said --

"Navigation ability (map or GPS or phone navigation), 3 changes of clothing (casual, business, and fancy), and a hair brush. The fancy change is also good in case you drive by an event/premiere and want to crash!" - J

"Spray deodorant to freshen up." - M

"Hair product, voice recorder to memorize lines." - T

"I keep a mini stapler in the glove compartment so I can tack on headshots on the go." - H

"Extra clothes, especially for commercial auditions. I have a set of scrubs, polo shirts, etc. so I'm ready if they ask for a particular look." - R

"Hand lotion! You have no idea how many times I was surprised at a commercial audition when they wanted to see my hands!" - E

And one fabulously sentimental answer --

"A great support group or people around you who are very motivated so that it motivates you to do things for your own career. That's probably #1 for me. All the other stuff will be affected positively by the group of people you trust and respect in the business." - V

A great answer to any question!

Actors! What do you keep in your car? Post your answer in the comments below...

The Hump Day Update: Birthday Month Edition

Where has the time gone? Spring is springing by way too fast for me. I finished my pilot script mid-April and then quickly dove into other adventures. First up, WonderCon!

Another weekend spent in nerd heaven. Devoted post about that coming later, because there's just too much to say...

Then, two delicious acting jobs. First, Nurse Ruth stopped by the season finale of Grey's Anatomy opposite the oh so phenomenal Sandra Oh--

So thrilled to work with Sandra before she leaves the show after 10 incredible seasons as Dr. Cristina Yang. I wept like a baby watching her shoot her last scene with Ellen Pompeo. Powerful stuff - tune in tomorrow night for the season finale!

Then shot a small role on the upcoming new FX comedy Married starring Nat Faxon and Judy Greer. Gushed to Nat about how much I adored The Way, Way Back, after which I sat awkwardly staring at the wall because I didn't know what else to say.

I played the wife of a recognizable TV/film star who I can't show you just yet. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram to get the full picture when the show airs!

And then, the event I've been busting my ass planning and promoting for months - Lights, Camera, WriteGirl! - a benefit evening to support the innovative creative writing, mentoring, and college guidance programs of WriteGirl. This was me all night - a blur of activity --

The event was a resounding success - brilliant writing by teen girls brought to life by celebrity actors, epic silent auction, food by my friends at Castle's Catering, and a photo booth by my friends at Lucky Laughter Photo Booth.

And then, the very next week, I was promptly laid off by WriteGirl. Sigh. Teresa has left the building...

Onward and upward! Next up, the annual East West Players Visionary Awards Dinner! I've volunteered for this event eleven times. I don't get starstruck at all anymore - now it's just a chance to catch up with friends. I didn't even snap any pics - this one's from my fellow volunteer Ruffy --

(Yeah, I wore the same dress to both events...)

The start of May brought the start of staffing season for my TV writing career. I signed with new literary managers, had a few general meetings, and had one showrunner meeting that has my fingers permanently crossed. I also started (late) writing a spec for the fellowship programs --

In between writing, I spent three days shooting a USC grad student film with a talented director I've worked with before. Proof that if you're a kind, joyful, creative, and acknowledging leader, you'll inspire dozens of actors and crew to work overnight in Long Beach and leave with smiles on their faces --

Just enough energy after the first day to stop by Free Comic Book Day at my local shop Dreamworld Comics --

And then...the birthday activities began! My brother, the Junk Food Guy, arrived for a long weekend of eating, dining, and noshing.

In three days, we visited Roy Choi's new restaurant POT in Koreatown, Take a Bao in Studio City, Bay Cities in Santa Monica, and Furaibo on Sawtelle. And of course, every east coaster's dream, In-n-Out Burger. Seoul Sausage would have also been on the list had they not closed early. I also introduced him to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - how can they not have this on the east coast?

In true Teresa fashion, I started my birthday weekend by giving back - donated a sack of groceries for the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive --

Then I threw a party! I received the best birthday gift imaginable - a home filled with friends, laughter, and cake --

Next up, another storytelling event tomorrow night --

And hopefully a return to semi-regular blogging along with more writing, writing, writing...

The Hump Day Update: Spring Awakening Edition

I have emerged from the ashes...with a pilot script!

Yes, dear readers, that's where I've been these past months. Writing, writing, writing - head down so I couldn't see all the good television and fun I was missing, focused on completing a new original pilot script in time for staffing season.

And I did it! It's done. Which means it's time to share all the things I did manage to squeeze in between my writing sprints these past two months...

In the midst of writing, I shot a vanity video for my agents at The Writers Junction - can't wait to see how it turned out!

Produced a friend's short film, with serious performances from these guys --

That may or may not have involved jumping into a pool fully clothed --

In the middle of the day, I had perhaps the most exciting celebrity sighting of my entire life - KITT!

I shot a few more episodes of Grey's Anatomy, helping to save fake patients like this sweet guy --

Had a handful of auditions at which I ran into lovely ladies like this one --

I attended writing group meetings --

Reading events --

And volunteered, of course. Presentations and events for Break the Cycle --

And WriteGirl --

Including a workshop at the Japanese American National Museum, where I found a profile on Mitsuye Endo, who I portrayed for years in Theatre Espresso shows. Me and Mitsuye --

Finally, nerdiness! Attended two PaleyFest panels, filled with ethnic talent --

And saw Eric Kripke, creator of Supernatural, speak at the Nerdist studio at Meltdown Comics--

The store was filled with comic goodies galore --

Finally, I threw a Pi Day dinner on 3/14, because I'm a nerd who loves pie. I made this banner of pi to over 3,000 digits to decorate my place --

Wow, I've been busy!

Back to writing...

Getting Self-Publishing Help

The first step in my self-publishing journey? Ask for help from friends who've done it before!

Enter my friend Jaclyn, multi-talented savvy businesswoman. She's an actress, writer, filmmaker, and owner of the best photo booth company in LA, Lucky Laughter Photo Booth.

She recently added published author to her credits with the release of her first children's book Friends With Fins. I've been seeing posts on her Facebook wall about getting press for her book and going on a book tour - very impressive.

So when she asked me to help her figure out her blog in exchange for lunch, I suggested we do a trade instead - Blogger info for a lesson in self-publishing. She agreed! The date was set.

The chai tea was flowing as she told me all about the ins and outs of self-publishing on Amazon, her platform of choice. Just a few of the key points I learned --

• Every format requires a different account with a different service. CreateSpace for hard copy books, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) for Kindle Edition books, and iBooks for iPad ebooks.
  
  
• Each service will give you a basic template and guidelines for formatting your book. So no need to download a $50 template from an outside site!
  
  
• Getting press attention takes chutzpah. Jaclyn pitched a human interest story to the local paper in the town she was visiting as an author, and they covered it on the front page! The article resulted in her selling out of all the books she brought as well as selling out online. Press works!
  

Jaclyn's information was invaluable and so helpful. I've decided to just do a Kindle version of this first short story collection, so I'm signing up for KDP as we speak.

Thanks Jaclyn! On to the next step!

Five Ways to Survive Your Survival Job

(A sequel to Five Reasons You Need a Survival Job)

Say you already have a day job. And you feel like it's killing you softly - sucking the artistic life out of your soul like a succubus that feeds on hopes and dreams.

When you're an artist, spending time on anything but your art can feel insanely frustrating. But remember, you need that day job. Here are five tips for surviving your working life so your artistic life can flower.

1. Stick to a schedule

Be a clock watcher. Punch out when you're expected to punch out and go home when you're scheduled to go home.

If your schedule is flexible, make it inflexible. Designate your work hours and don't stray from them. Keeping a strict schedule will help you focus your non-working hours on your art.

2. Find pockets of creative time

At my last day job, I ate lunch at my desk so I could do a smidgen of writing at least twice a week. It wasn't always brilliant, but it was better than nothing!

Try squeezing in ten minutes of brainstorming here, fifteen minutes of Internet research there - it all adds up in favor of your artistic work. Even tiny tasks like reading two industry-related articles or one page of a book on your craft during each shift can help you feel creative amidst all the button-pushing.

3. Stay out of office drama

You're not there to make friends. Or enemies. You're there to make money to support your artistic life. Getting too involved in the goings on around the office takes up valuable energy you could be devoting to your art.

Unless gossip somehow inspires your work, stay out of it.

4. Don't take it home

The to-do list, the co-worker stress, the annoying politics of the break room - leave it all at the office. You should fall asleep every night with artistic thoughts in your head, not thoughts of how to conquer that spreadsheet.

Working hours are for working - the rest of your hours are for you!

5. Remember why you're there

For most people, getting offered a promotion or new responsibilities is the ultimate goal. But you're working a day job to make money to support your creative endeavors.

If you can advance in your job, fantastic - more money for your art! But if taking on a larger role means more stress and longer hours, feel free to pass. Your creative time and attention are much more valuable than a better title.

Diving Into That First Line

52 weeks of writing prompts in Barbara Abercrombie's A Year of Writing Dangerously: 365 Days of Inspiration and Encouragementand I'm tackling them all!

Week 1: What is your own metaphor for fear of writing that first line?

Writing is like skydiving.

(Or at least what I imagine the act of skydiving feels like. I haven't done it myself - perhaps out of indifference but more likely because of fear and an aversion to the high price tag - but let's not get into that now. This is about the metaphor.)

Writing is like skydiving. You have an idea - a concept that you think you'll enjoy writing. The desire to explore that idea is strong enough to get you onto the plane. Maybe you've even hopped on before, so you have a bit of bravado. In any case, before you can have a second thought, you're on board. Pen in hand, blank page open.

The plane takes off, and that is the moment it starts - the panic, the doubt, the fear. It doesn't creep in slowly as you lift off the ground. It hits you instantly and forcefully in the chest, like the boot of an MMA fighter on steroids. What the hell am I doing? Why did I ever in a million years think I could do this? How do I get off this God forsaken plane and back on the ground where it's calm and safe?!

A plane ride to the proper skydiving altitude probably takes at least thirty minutes, but for a writer, these feelings come in powerfully and at a terrifying decibel in the nanoseconds after grasping a pen or opening a laptop. It's instantaneous and debilitating.

And just like in skydiving, the brave ones dive. They breathe in the fear and jump anyway. It doesn't matter why they jump - everyone finds their own reason for bravery. Some have a passion that outshines their fear. Others turn off their brains and just go, go, go.

Me? I hold on to my faith. Faith in myself, faith in my ability, and faith that I learn every time I write. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. I've jumped before and survived. I can certainly dive off one more time. Why should this be the day that stops me?

I stuff down the fear and I write. I let go of needing it to be elegant and graceful and I just do it. My penmanship is atrocious and there are scribbles everywhere, but I don't care.

I dive.

I write.