you are supposed to have a headshot. The headshot is your brand, a bit like a trademark.
In 2020, when I was filming a self-taped audition, I got a still from my slate that I really liked. This is a version with the background removed
I really like this photo. It is warm and welcoming. I think I've been booking more gigs since I've been using it.
There is a problem, tho. It's five years old and I don't have those glasses any more. I think I need a new one. It's actually not so easy to get that exact expression.
Here are some selfies I've been working with -- trying to make a new shot that I like as well
So far, I'm not sure I like any of them as well as the first. Of course, I'm five years older, so I'm not going to look quite as good -- but, also the expression is not quite the same.
More to be revealed.
Also all of these are with my computer glasses. None of them are with the progressives that I use most of the time.
Here's a picture with the progressives, just for clarification. Obviously, the expression on this is even less right.
1. When asked what she would have done differently from Biden, she shouldn’t have said “nothing.”
He was unpopular. She needed to distinguish herself.
She could have said something like “I believe in loyalty. I believe you shouldn’t throw your boss under the bus. I know Joe has tried very hard to increase the amount of food getting into Gaza and to reduce civilian casualties. I don’t know for sure that I can do better, but I certainly would like to try.
Israel has been a long time ally of the United States, and a good ally. I’m not sure Netanyahu is a good ally, though. Because of the corruption charges pending against him, he has a motivation to keep his country in a state of perpetual crisis. The perceived crises strengthen his support amongst voters, but this motivation is resulting in escalating violence in the region.”
2. When asked about inflation, she should have said “the inflation that Joe encountered early in his term, was a direct result of Trump‘s policies of not enforcing the antitrust laws, particularly in the wholesale food distribution market. Joe has brought that Trump-induced inflation under control.“
3. Instead of saying those things, she made a very tone deaf statement, about two days before the election, about how she wanted a strong defense — while Trump was telling a war weary population that he was the “peace candidate,” and did not adequately counter the inflation message.
Of course Trump was lying about being a peace candidate. In the short time following the election, he began making aggressive statements, threatening the sovereignty of peaceful countries who have been long time friends. But from the perspective of those listening before the election, particularly those who didn’t like all the money being spent on foreign wars, he sounded better than Harris.
Item number one above cost Harris the votes of black men and Muslims. Item number two above cost Harris a lot of white working class votes.
If the campaign had been longer, she might’ve corrected these problems. Unfortunately, she did not have time to fully formulate her platform and talking points in response to input from the populace. Of course, there is the issue of Trump being a professional performer with tremendous charisma who tapped into anger well, but Harris made critical mistakes in how she responded to the press.
A lot of my friends and acquaintances are telling me that they've seen me in this vertical drama, where I play the powerful billionaire gramma. Here's my blog about it Blog link
Feb 16, "Protections of Geographical Indications in the EU and Beyond" IIPS
Media consumed
Movies seen in Theatres:"Moana 2", "Wicked", "Venom: Last Dance", "DeadPool & Wolverine", "American Fiction", "Aquaman 2"
Audio purchased (Yeah, I haven't joined a streaming service yet) : "Impossible Dream" by Aaron Lazar, Everything I could find by Tony Ann, "Hell Together" by David Archuleta, "Fraggle Rock" with Adam Lambert, "Musical Priest" by Lucia Micarelli
Live theater & Music: Find your Light Benefit Appel Room; "Cabaret" at the Weathervane Theater in NH; "Cabaret" featuring Adam Lambert; Concert by Dave & Kat Foster in Staten Island
I moved these from my primary log of ongoing updates
News from 2023
Performance
Oct 10 & 18 recording VO for Count of Monte Cristo
June 8&9 -- recording VO for undisclosed commercial -- very pleased that new XLR mic is giving satisfactory results -- after struggling with USB mics for years.
April 14 -- filming "Fear of Getting Old" Bridgeport CT d Leo Caserta
Courses
Netflix CD's -- Actor's Connection
CLE
11/8/23 "One-Day Patent CLE Seminar" NYIPLA in person
11/1/23 "Is It Obvious? Let's Reconsider. Design Patent Obvioiusness vs Utility Patents" NYIPLA in person
9/7/23 JPPCLE -- on Zoom
Dartmouth Lawyers Association’s July 18, 2023 program entitled, Generative AI and Its Legal Implications in IP Law,
6/22/23 "Anti-counterfeiting Procedures in Latin-America and Europe" IIPS
6/10/23 "From Madoff to SBF to Trump: The Changing Role of White Collar Prosecutions" Columbia Law School & a conversation with Dean Lester & Preet Bharara
Dartmouth Lawyers Association’s May 24, 2023 program entitled, Town Hall,
2/3/23 "The New Unified Patent Court and "UPC Land" IIPS
Media consumption
Live shows attended: Lindsey Stirling 8/1/23; Sweeney Todd 7/15/23
Recordings purchased; Josh Groban (20th anniversary edition of Closer); Mat & Savanna Shaw (2 albums); Lucia Micarelli & Leo Amuedo (Saudade, 2 Christmas Singles), Tony Ann ( Emotionally Red, Emotionally Blue, Emotionally Orange, Something I could ..., Rain); Jackie Evancho (Behind my Eyes, Carousel of time); Connie Talbot (4 singles with Boyce Avenue); Adam Lambert (You Make me Feel...); William Goldstein (Collaborative Composition); Voces 8 & Eric Whitacre (Home):
Movies seen in theaters: Trolls, Wish, Spiderverse, Oppenheimer, Barbie, Mission Impossible VII
Other events attended
NYYM Sessions in April, July & November -- all on Zoom
40th Law School Reunion, Columbia -- in person
50th High School Reunion, Livermore, CA -- in person
May 6-9, 2024 I had my first sleep away acting gig. We were shooting a vertical format movie of mini-episodes. This is a remake of a series that has been very successful in China. Apparently, this particular one was the most popular vertical drama in China.
Here's a promotional video for the series, my part starts shortly after 19 minutes. It's a long promotional video. These vertical series are typically viewed in an app on cell phone. This one is apparently called Short TV, tho I've also heard the app called "Shortmax." I haven't actually gotten the app myself.
Thanks to my sister-in-law for finding this clip. She immediately remarked that the real "Raft of the Medusa" is 16'x24', much larger than the one shown in this clip.
The team that made this series is very impressive. Since the film uses vertical [aka portrait] format, they can have multiple cameras at once, each one focused on one actor. They only had to do one or two takes of each scene. Normally you get a separate take for each view, but this way they don't have to take separate takes for different views.
****
Concerns:
The characters in this show are mostly very poorly behaved. My cast mates compared this show to a series called "Succession," which I haven't seen.
Some of the characters are depicted committing crimes such as commercial bribery and conspiracy to monopolize interstate commerce. A concern I have, as an attorney, is that viewers may not realize that these acts are white collar crimes.
If you see a murder depicted on a a show, I think you know right away that that's a crime. You immediately know that you're not supposed to do that yourself.
I'm not sure if the viewer of white collar crimes -- as shown here -- knows that they are just as much crimes as physical crimes like murder and assault.
I wish there were some kind of warning about the criminal nature of the activity depicted.
This was a student movie that I did at SUNY Purchase.
The author/director/producer was Cheye Bieber.
My character was called Amaryllis Vacanti.
Here's the YouTube video
This was filmed in the admissions building at the college. I was wondering all the time if this was a sign that I should maybe take some courses there. I think this is a surprisingly good student movie.
It's always an internal debate for me, if I should accept unpaid positions in student films, when I'm trying to position myself as a professional actress. I like to help students, tho. You never know when student is going to become a famous director later and hire you.
I don't just go out for any role however. I don't like to play "sick grandma" who has cancer or Alzheimer's. I am a real cancer survivor, but that's depressing and I'm doing acting as a fun retirement activity, not to get depressed.
Most roles for grandma are either "sick grandma" or "flashback grandma" who is already dead.
This one was different. This is grandma who is still alive -- tho not too sympathetic in her reaction. Also I think the plot is very topical
I am very interested in this business of long lost family members appearing after DNA tests. There were a couple of instances of this in my personal life.
My ex has a biological cousin who was put up for adoption in infancy who reappeared later as an adult. Most family members welcomed her warmly and invited her to family reunions. Her bio-mom was long deceased, in fact her illness was why the baby was put up for adoption -- and she was never married to the father, so he wasn't around to object. One aunt was suspicious of the young woman, as possibly wanting money, like the character in this film. Actually, that woman, like the one in this film, did not need money.
Later, I was approached on FB in a situation where there was a long lost member of my cousins' family. She was not a blood relative to me, because she was from my aunt's husband's family. I was approached, because I'm active on FB, while the relevant cousins are not. In that case, sadly, the cousins who were her blood relatives (tho somewhat distant) did not welcome her -- being concerned about embarrassing her bio-dad, who conceived her in a non-standard relationship.
Then, this summer, when I was driving through Ontario, I heard a radio broadcast on the car radio, about some research that had been done on this topic -- of the long lost relatives turning up after DNA tests. The researcher found that out of wedlock children were generally not welcomed by their bio-dads. Even the moms were often not happy to see them -- which was sad.
In any case, I thought that this was a very interesting topic, so I was happy to play this role.
I think the student did a good job with this film.
I do feel sad that my glasses sometimes blocked my eyes, but for the most part I think the thing is good for a student production.
