Do the Right Thing.

Over the past week, a lot has happened.  I shot a commercial for CenturyLink High-Speed Internet last Friday.  I was in and out in less than 2 and a half hours, INCLUDING lunch!  Actual shooting took about 15 minutes.  Bam, baby!  :o)

This week, I have had seven auditions, and 3 of them were today between the hours of 3 and 5!!  The second one was a really high-stress situation because I wasn't able to go to the first audition last Friday (they were running late, and I had to get to the set), so they called me in straight to the callback today.  Again, they were running late, and I was about to leave because I didn't want to be late for (or even miss) my 3rd audition.  The casting staff was awesome - they got me in and out as quickly as they were able to, and I have been put on avail!  Whoo hoo!  I'll tell you for sure what it's for when I know if I booked it or not.  I will say that it's a store that I told my agent I wanted to shoot a commercial for 5 years ago when I signed with him.  I may have blogged about it at some point, and if you search, you may be able to find it, but I'll tell you soon anyway, one way or the other.  My fingers are crossed.

Speaking of agents... I am now theatrical agent-less.  I made the decision to end my business relationship with my theatrical agent.  I have nothing bad to say about her or the agency, it was just time.  I still have a great manager, and great commercial agent.  Will I look for another agent?  We'll see.  Right now, as you can see, the two of them are keeping me busy!  It was a tough decision, and a hard phone call to make, but it was the right thing for me at this time.  When I left my last agent, I didn't handle it properly.  I sent a certified letter, but was nervous about calling, so I just waited until I thought she got the letter, then stopped by to talk to her.  It was more awkward than it should have been, and I learned from it.  "Don't be a punk, Nicole!!"  It's important to handle things the right way in order to move forward without regret.

Something else happened this week that really made me really aware of the importance of doing what's right.  I confirmed a theatrical audition with my manager, then got a call from my commercial agency for an audition at the same time in a different area of time.  I haven't yet figured out how to clone myself, so I asked if the commercial audition time could be changed.  My agent's assistant said she didn't think so.  I called my manager, but she couldn't move my theatrical audition because it was for producers and not just with casting (producers are only available for a limited time).  My commercial agent tried to get me another time, but casting never called back.  I went early anyway, and they wouldn't see me, but told me they would call me in for something else.  I left and went to my theatrical audition - it went well.

Here was the dilemma:  TV shows are great for the resume, and it's always good to be seen by producers (if you're ready, of course).  Plus this was for the upcoming "Criminal Minds" spinoff.  I'm sure the fact that I had that ABC audition, then got called back to read for the "Criminal Minds" script had something to do with it, so of course I was excited to go in.  The downside?  It was two lines.  So, if I book it, I've basically given up a chance to have a bigger role on the show in exchange for 2 lines.

Commercials don't even go on your resume, but they are great for the bank account.  And I SO need my bank account to look better than it does right now.   So does my landlord.

At the end of the day, I agreed to go in for the TV show first, and that's what I needed to do.  I had to decide to just attribute the commercial audition to someone else needing it more, and release it.

I have to believe that if I do the right thing, good things will happen.  And if they don't, I still find that easier to live with than not doing the right thing.

Headed to bed early.  It has been a long day, and tomorrow is looking like more of the same.

XXOO


--Nicole

Been Around The World and I-yi-yi...

(For anyone who isn't familiar with the chorus from that early-90s hit song "All Around The World", I've included to a link to the CD: "Affection")

I haven't really been around the world, I just feel like it!  I shot HBO's show "Funny or Die Presents" and I got to work with über-talented actor Romany Malco.  He's been on my radar (not in a weird, stalky kinda way) since the first season of Weeds.  Y'know how some actors have the ability to pull your focus in every scene?  No matter what's going on in the scene, my eye goes to him because his work is very honest.  Even when not speaking, he's paying attention & genuinely reacting to everything that's happening in the scene (instead of just waiting for his turn to say his line, which a LOT of actors do), and he's just very present in every scene.  Now, I would love to say that I booked it, I shot it without incident and everything was wonderful, but that wouldn't be entirely true.  The truth is that I had a minor meltdown the morning before I was supposed to shoot.  Thankfully I called a friend who talked me down off of the roof.  My concerns ranged from "What if I forget all of my lines??" to "This is the biggest TV role I've had so far - what if I suck??  What if I'm only good at little TV roles?"  The more my friend deflected my craziness, the crazier I got... until I heard myself.  And then I heard him.  And then I calmed down.  And then I laughed.  Ridiculous.

I got dressed, and drove to the house where we were shooting.  When we started working, I kept getting the note that I was "being too big."  I had to remember that I was working on-camera, and not onstage.  I reeled it in, reeled it in, and pulled it back.  I brushed away my ego (which was sitting on my shoulder, whispering in my ear "you're not doing it right") and I focused on doing what I was already doing, but smaller.  Romany asked me if I was familiar with Meisner repetition.  What???  Dude was speaking my language.  We started doing repetition (which is to acting what the alphabet is to reading).  We went back to basics, made it very simple, and I was able to find the sweet spot.  In the end, everyone was happy with the scene.  I was/ am disappointed that I didn't walk on set, do one BRILLIANT take without needing all of that, but all I can do is grow from that experience.  The show won't air until the fall - and I think it's going to be HILARIOUS.

You know the ABC Talent Showcase audition that I had?  Well, I got a callback!  This morning I had two auditions: the first was the ABC audition, and the scene they gave me was for a series-regular character playing opposite Forest Whitaker in the "Criminal Minds" spinoff (it doesn't have a title yet).  I worked this scene more than I've worked on any scene.  I even enlisted a friend of mine to work with me twice in the last 3 days.  Moving to the next level takes more than I've had to give so far, and I am so ready for this.  My second audition was for a co-star role for a new show called "Make It Or Break It."  Two auditions, back-to-back with very different stakes, and I gained some perspective:  If I move up the ranks and book the ABC one, my career will take off in a way that it hasn't yet.  If I book the co-star role, it will be one more solid credit on my co-star-heavy resume.  Either way, I'm still the same actress.  It's a real trip to realize that one audition can change the course of your career, and also to realize that you have to think of it as "just one more audition" in order to stay focused on the task at hand.

Whatever the outcome of these particular auditions- I'm still in the game, I've worked long and hard to get here, and I know that I belong here.

--Nicole

Took Headshot Pix Today!

Hee hee, I am just tickled because I knooooow I got some good shots, and I can't wait to see 'em. I used to believe that all I had to do was smile pretty and look serious, alternately. My commercial look was the smiley picture, and my theatrical look was, well, you get it. Now I know better, and I approach a photoshoot like I'm preparing for roles. Everyone can smile or not smile and wear different clothes - my job is to get photos that evoke recognition of the characters that I present. My job is to help my team help me, and to help casting directors to see me as a potential solution to their casting challenge (and then deliver when called, of course).

I had already decided to work with Dennis Kwan again (we did a short-shoot last year when he was shooting headshots for a friend of mine), and knew that I had a 4-look (clothing changes) package. In order to maximize that package, I decided that I needed to get 2 "characters" from each clothing change, one that would work commercially, and one that would work theatrically.

Then I decided what shots I wanted out of this: Commercially - young mom, warm businesswoman, funky fashionista, blue-collar worker. Theatrically - woman-next-door, authority figure, edgy/sexy, urban. My manager has been asking me for "sexy" shots for awhile now, and I haven't done them because I felt that if they were looking for "sexy," they're not going to come looking for me, they're going to go looking for someone who better fits the Hollywood idea of sexy. This time, instead of being resistant, I decided to go with it. My manager has been in this business much longer than I have, and I owe it to her and to myself to at least TRY and get her whatever she feels she needs to better market me, as long as it doesn't violate my principles. I had to define (in pictures) my brand of sexy. What I discovered is that I was short-sighted when I wrote myself off as "not that type." I still don't see myself as being sold as "the sexy vixen" - I had to do sexy with an edge: a little leather, a little attitude... we'll see how those pictures come out, and we can all be the judge.

After deciding what shots I needed out of this, I went through my wardrobe and picked clothing for each of the 4 looks. The looks are about clothing, the characters are about the emotional component. After choosing the clothing, it was time to prepare emotionally. I wrote out descriptions for each character, and worked on them as if they were each a role in a movie. I wrote down some notes for myself and took them with me to the shoot. I knew I would be moving from place to place (we shot in different locations around West L.A.), changing quickly, so I had notes about clothing, but more importantly, I had written down a sentence (my objective) that would allow me to quickly find that character. I felt good about it, it kept me focused, and I was able to succinctly relay my intention to the photographer.

Something else that I think is really important when having photos taken is connecting with the photographer. Yes, it's important that YOU get what YOU need for YOUR business (after all, you are the paying customer), but it's really a collaborative effort, and the two of you should be working together to get you what you need. Hire someone talented that your gut tells you that you can trust, so you don't have to spend your time and energy directing. You can just say "I need this." present the character, and trust the photographer to capture it.

Oooh, I can't wait to see them.

I wore my hair curly, and on top of my head for most of the shots, and then just curly & wild for the last batch. That's how I wear on most days, and on the days when I don't, it will just provide some contrast.

It was fun, and, oh - did I say I'm excited to see them? When I do, I'll post the ones I pick here, and on my website, along with some behind-the-scenes info about how the shot was captured.

XXOO,


--Nicole

I shot "The Mentalist" today!

I know I need to be in bed right now (because I have a callback in the morning), but I took a long nap earlier, so hopefully excess sleep can be used as currency. I want to let y'all know how my shoot went.

Today I shot my episode of hit CBS show, "The Mentalist." My car is in the shop right now, so I had to enlist a friend to drive me to the set for my 5:48AM call. Of course, there was no traffic headed to Burbank at that time of the morning, so we got there very quickly. I ended up being about 20 minutes early, it was dark, there were a few crew people there, but nobody from production, and I couldn't find a trailer with my name on it, so I just wandered around the lot for about a half hour until somebody 'found' me, lol. Since I got dropped off at base camp instead of parking at crew parking, I didn't get coffee (!) or breakfast (!!) and I was a little worried about that, but production had someone go pick something up for me and all was well.

I got my makeup done, the hair person tried to "pat my hair down a bit" (HA!), I put on my bailiff uniform and headed to set for rehearsal at 7AM. I recognized the wardrobe team (because I've worked with them on "Boston Legal" and "Legally Mad," I recognized the director (Eric Laneuville) from my audition, and I recognized Robin Tunney from TV (she later came over and introduced herself to me)! Everyone was really nice, and I think I've worked enough now to formulate the opinion that this is the norm. I know we only hear about the sensationalized stories where someone is a screaming harpie throwing diva-tude everywhere, but so far, I have only seen one 'episode' that even came close (and still it was pretty mild), and have only had to interact with one nasty crew person. Don't believe the hype - most like to keep their drama onscreen. More on this in a later post (because I now have a better understanding of how a lot of little things can get blown out of proportion).

So, after rehearsal, I went to my trailer, ate my BLT & fruit, then went back to set to shoot at 7:30. I only had one scene and was WRAPPED before 11AM. It was just very professional, everyone came, did their thing and that was it! Not bad for a workday, huh? Still, I would prefer to have more scenes and MUCH more time on set. Still working toward that, but this was a nice, easy day working with great people on a great show.

I do find it interesting that I keep working on shows with Christian Clemenson (who I think is very talented). Unfortunately, he wasn't on set today, but he will be in "my" episode.

Right now, IMDb says that my episode will air on October 2, but casting has told me that the episode, entitled "Red Badge," will air on CBS on October 8. I'll let you know for sure when it gets close.

I have a commercial callback in the morning, so I'm off to bed now.

Every moment on set just makes me want to be on set more. That's how I know I'm on the right path.

Still enjoying the journey,

--Nicole

I'd Rather Be...?

I've written a new blog post at Backstage's "Unscripted". To read it, click HERE.

--Nicole

The Latest...

I will be on "ER" this upcoming Thursday, March 12! I'll be in the operating room administering anesthesia. Watch for me!

Also, I just updated my website. Check it out when you get a chance (and be sure to check out my "News" link)!

NicoleJButler.com


Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement!

XXOO

--Nicole

A GREAT Start to 2009!

(PICTURE IS FROM MY "ER" SHOOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.)

So, my 12-hour "ER" shoot made for a loooong day, but it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E! I got to work with Director John Wells, and actors Noah Wyle, Eriq LaSalle, and Christian Clemenson (best-known for his work on "Boston Legal"). I spent about 10 of those hours on my feet, and those once-comfy clogs were merciless, but I didn't EVEN care. When I arrived, I had about 10 minutes to change clothes and then was shuttled to the stage where we were to shoot the scene. I was introduced to Dr. John W. Fong who taught me the proper way to intubate a patient (I was playing an anesthesiologist). I practiced on a stand-in until Noah Wyle arrived, then I spent the next 9 hours sticking stuff into his mouth and taking it back out again. He told me "Just don't break my teeth and we're cool." No pressure at all. Everyone was really nice. Especially John Wells. And Christian Clemenson recognized me from from "Boston Legal" - He asked "Wasn't that your first TV gig?" (How did he remember that??) I told him that it was and that I figured if I just follow him from set to set I'll do okay. He laughed. (I think he thought I was joking, lol.)

I've been told that a lot of big names are going to be in this episode, so they are expecting high ratings. I don't have the date yet, but it's episode 19, and it is supposed to air in late March. Watch for it. I have a mask on throughout the scene, but I'm the only dark-skinned black woman, so I'll be preeetty easy to spot.

I'VE ALSO JUST BOOKED a little role in David E. Kelley's new pilot, "Legally Mad". I was sick when I got the audition call and thought about calling to cancel because I wasn't sure I'd be at my best and I didn't want to expose anybody else to whatever "bug" I might have, but I decided to go and just not cough on anybody. Good thing because I BOOKED IT! Like I said, it's a little role, but my 'little role' on Kelley's show "Boston Legal" turned into a recurring role, so who knows?

I was going to share some thoughts about the celebs that have been falling from grace lately, but this has already gotten long, so I'll save it for another time. A-Rod, Chris Brown, Michael Phelps...my thoughts are probably not what you would expect. I'll comment later.

--Nicole

My Walmart Shoot!

I had a GREAT time. Read about it HERE.

--Nicole

It Is Finished.

Click HERE to read this blog post.

--Nicole

I Can Do This!

Read this blog post HERE

--Nicole

Shot Wal-Mart commercial today!

I had to be on the Sony lot at 6:30AM, which means I got up at 4:30 (okay, 4:39--I hit snooze once). It was dark and my pet birds were looking at me all crazy, not saying a word (which seldom happens).

I left home at 5:30, and got to Sony at about 6:05, parked my car, and found soundstage #19. Funny thing--as I got onto the lot I began having flashbacks! When I booked my first commercial ("Milk", Nov. 2005) I was working as the credentials coordinator for the Vibe Awards, and I was SO stressed out. The news came as a welcome sign that there was light at the end of the tunnel. So I remembered that as I walked to where I would shoot my 7th commercial since that time. What a difference a day makes.

I got my makeup done by Katinka from Amsterdam, and since my spot was selling "organic cotton pajama pants" I didn't require much makeup. In order to fill time, Katinka and Isaac (the makeup guy from LA, with really great hair) gave me a hand massage. It was wonderful.

There was some back-and-forth regarding the top I would wear in the spot. When I left the fitting on Saturday they had me wearing a deep-orange spaghetti-strap tank that went well with my skin. Apparently that was out since they put another woman in red ("how come they didn't change HER clothes? My stuff was cute, lol?") So the three choices were now: an olive-green tank in the same style as the orange one, a peach tee that made me look kinda frumpy, and whose only saving grace was that I look great in peach, and a mint-green tee just like the peach one. Not feelin' it. At all. As soon as I walked on set, I earned the nickname "minty". Not hot.

After several rounds of "try this on" and "let me see that other one again", the clients (very nice people--I mean that) decided on the olive green tank, which was the first thing they saw. LOL Always happens.

Right here I'm gonna digress a little bit. I don't know who all of my readers are--some of you are probably even more industry-savvy that I am becoming, but for those among us who don't already know, let me break it down for you:

it is an exercise in futility and frustration to look at people in magazines and in the media and use them as a gauge for how you should look. Few of us (yes, US) can look that way without a whole team of folks poking, prodding, double-stick taping, stitching them into their garments, and touching up their makeup at every turn. It's cool to see the transformation happen. I give makeup and wardrobe props BIG time. (Not hair. I do my own hair.)

Anyhoo-- I was all made-up and wardrobed, I filled out my contract and went back to the set. Hurry up and wait. After all of the focusing, lighting, and decision-making, there were a couple of line changes. Nothing too extensive. Then came time to rehearse.

This was my first time in a speaking role in a commercial. At first I was a bit unsure, and after a couple of rehearsals I was revved up & ready to roll. The director (Brett Simon) told me he liked the element of "shyness" I had at first. (Me, shy?? Hahaha!!) I rehearsed several more times, and got some alternate lines (so they could shoot the spot in different ways and decide which ones they like during the edit). Then the director said rehearsal was over (by which time I had forgotten we were rehearsing) and all of a sudden it was for real.

We shot for the next 3 hours.

For a long time I've held the belief that theatre acting is more difficult than television or film acting because when you're onstage and people have paid good money to come see you, you have one shot at giving them a good show, whereas when you're working with film (or even moreso with DV), you can do it over and over again. Personally, by working on Boston Legal, and this experience today, I feel that neither is inherently "easier". Each medium takes a different type of expertise. Shooting rather than acting live takes a different level of endurance than I am used to. After 2 hours of standing barefoot on a concrete floor (covered with brown paper, but concrete nonetheless), my feet and knees hurt. I was so glad the lights warmed the place up b/c it was freezing when I got there, and all I had on were pajama bottoms and a little tank top. I was tired b/c I got up earlier than anybody should ever have to, but because we were all in this together, and we were all working for the same thing, each of us had to do our job (and it is a J-O-B, even if it is my "dream job"). It just so happens that my job requires me to be in front of the camera.

The last shot of the day was of my (dancing) feet. I have surgery scars on my feet, so..."makeup!!" When Isaac got done with me I was ready to get 'em insured with Lloyds of London.

After the shoot, I said "thank you" to all of the really nice people that I got to work with, and headed back to the dressing room to get back into my own clothes. One of the clients (client=Wal-Mart exec) followed me out and asked if they could all take a picture with me. One of the people from the ad agency said she would e-mail it to me. I'll post it when I get it.

Since the spot is for "Earth Week", it will start airing in 2-3 weeks, and it won't air for very long (but hopefully it will come back next year). My name is "Jenny" in the spot.

After I was done, I called my mother on the ride home to let her know how it went. I was feeling really tired, so instead of going into the NAACP office (I'm still working on sending trophies to the winners of the Image Awards) I went home, ate a sandwich, took a shower (I had makeup and tape all over me) and slept for 7 hours. I woke up feeling sick, but in hindsight, I thing it might just be dehydration and fatigue.


I'm a bit chattier tonight than I thought I would be, but lately a lot of people have been asking me questions about what happens on a set, and for all sorts of advice. Maybe if I am more detailed, this can be a resource for them. When we decide to commit to "show-business" as a career, many of us (myself included) first approach it from a point of artistry. At some point, however, in order to build a career, we have to understand that it is a business, and while we may be artistic, we have to know how to brand and sell what we each have as individuals. Not "sell out" but market our unique talents and abilities so we can pay our bills, fund artistic efforts, and help those around us. This is a J-O-B. And the more I work, the more I learn, and the more I enjoy it.

Alright, I'm done.

--Nicole

I'm back!!

Hey, I've been so busy lately that on the rare occasion when I did have time to post, I was tired and couldn't wrap my brain around it. A lot has happened:

I SHOT BOSTON LEGAL!! And it was cool. I arrived on the lot at a little before 6AM (ouch), and was taken to my trailer, which was, by far, the largest trailer I have had to-date. As soon as I stepped into the trailer I noticed a faint foul smell. I thought maybe it was just because the trailer hadn't been used in a while and was a bit musty. I read over my contract, signed it, and started settling in. One of the ADs came and took me to makeup. There were 3 of us women getting our makeup done: without telling too much of anybody's business (including my own) the transformation from "just woke up" to "camera-ready" was amazing to watch. Thank the LORD for MAC!! "Autumn" airbrushed my face, and at first I was concerned b/c the shade she used was much darker than my skin tone. I waited to se where she was going with the whole thing. She put a lighter shade on top of it, then an even lighter one (as a highlight) just in the center of my face, and my face just lit up. It was a WHOLE lot of makeup (like wearing three days' worth at once), but I think (I hope) it turned out looking good on camera. I had breakfast, and when I returned to my trailer, wardrobe had come in and left my (fabulous) clothing for me. As I was getting dressed I noticed that the smell in the trailer seemed to be getting worse (and no it wasn't me). I did some investigation and it was coming from the restroom. I closed the door tightly and kept getting dressed. I hung out in the trailer and watched podcasts until I was told that it was time to go to set for rehearsal.

We rehearsed and I got to watch James Spader, Christian Clemenson, and Gail O'Grady do their thing. Christian Clemenson blew me away. VERY talented.

I got to say the one line I had in that particular scene, and I felt like "this is what I'm supposed to be doing--only more of it". No apprehension or "am I doing it right?" I'm an actress, this is what I do.

I went back to my trailer & the stench was unbearable. I opened the door so that air could get through the screen door. It didn't work. The funk was so bad that people could smell it OUTSIDE! I found one of the ADs & told her--long story short, she moved me to a different trailer.

The first day was a very long day. 16 hours. There was a lot of waiting. More waiting than acting, actually, but I got to wait in my trailer because I had a stand-in: (Melanese Way--cool people). But because the last shot of the day is just as important as the first, everyone stayed focused and kept working. It was good to see what it takes to work on a TV show. We were getting script changes even while the shooting was going on, and were required to make the change right then and there. Professionals.

When I left the set at 10:15PM, I thought about staying at a hotel in Manhattan Beach since I had to be back there in 12 hours. The first hotel I called was $249 a night and I wasn't quite rich, tired, or crazy enough to pay that so I drove home and set two alarms so that I would be sure to get up on time the next day.

I was originally hired for 2 days, but because the first day ran so long, I ended up working for 3. People were nice as well as professional. Friendly even. In some ways I felt strange b/c some of the people working as "extras" seemed to go out of their way to be nice to me, talk to me, or smile at me (except for one who was as catty as can be for no reason that concerned me). I found out later that they had been told not to speak to "the cast". O...kay.

All in all, I didn't see anyone doing anything that left me feeling like I am unprepared to do what they do. This was my first TV show experience, but I've been acting for well over a decade now, and while I'm sure that there are some technical things that I do not yet know, I do know that I how to act.

"My" "Boston Legal" episode airs April 17 on ABC.

Both my Lexus and Rozerem commercials are running:

Click HERE to see the Rozerem spot. I'm near the end.

Click HERE to see the Lexus spot. WARNING--this is a really bad copy, but I haven't received my DVD copy yet, so it's the best I could find for now. I'm in the front pushing the car.