Monthly Archives: August 2011

A Funny Casting Experience!

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So the other day I went to a casting. It was for a TV commercial that required dancing

This was soooo embarrassing!

How it works is that usually they teach you a routine outside and ask you in one by one to repeat it to music

Not this time! No, here they simply asked you inside a room and put on  music…. wait for it… along with another 20 people casting!

So can you imagine.. all of you are in a room together, watching each other

The room was small, smelly and humid (why do castings always seem to happen in such rooms?)

The mood was awkward

Everyone was sweating and uncomfortable while in an intimate space, nervous because we were all being watched by each other..

The casting director calls you up one by one, asks you to introduce yourself and then puts on music and it is then your job to get your groove on in front of the camera!

Now I’m  not usually one to mind people looking on (in fact it usually motivates me to go for gold)

But something about this was way too unnerving!

The people there were interesting…

There was Jonny – first one up. The professional breakdancer. He was an African guy from a North African country. He was very confident and, when asked to dance, he put all the other guys to shame! His moves were so smooth; it was like water off a duck’s back for him. Everyone cheered afterwards and I’m pretty sure he got the job

Next was a girl, Lexi. She was a ginger (ok, no bad jokes here I’m not that bad haha ) And she was the nervous type… Those are the terrible kind; they are the ones that can’t stop talking to the camera and asking questions to the director to stall. You can tell they are nervous and everyone is just cringing for them. She was also wearing the most unflattering blue shoestring top, she looked very uncomfortable and self-conscious. Her moves followed suit and clearly she was not the most professional among us

This is my only problem with castings; they can be so humiliating! One wonders if it is worth it…

All the girls were unfortunately very shy and most of the moves looked like they were from a bad night in a dodgey bar

The guys weren’t so bad… a lot of breakdancers which I loved…clearly their agents only sent them because they knew they were professional dancers

As for me, I think my agent was on coke sending me to that

Let me tell you I can sing, I can act, I can learn lines and recite an audition piece. I can do improv, I can do a voice-over in a studio and baby I can MC with a golden mic wearing booty shorts and stilettos!

But once you put me in a four-walled white room in front of 20 other people all casting for the same job, I go pink!

I go pink in front of guys on the best of days! So imagine 10 uber-hot dancers waiting to see what you’re made of! I can’t!!! It’s too much!

I couldn’t stop blushing and my dancing was probably TERRIBLE hahaha

Was so glad to get out of there! How embarrassing!

Lesson learnt. I don’t know exactly what the lesson is! ummm…. don’t go to dancing castings??

hehe

Anyway I’m off  to another casting later this week and hopefully afterwards I’ll be able to sit down to a nice glass of redemption to go with my dinner

Xxxx

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My feelings on the South African Film Industry

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Ok so let me say a few things about this industry in South Africa

There really are only two cities that the locals take notice of here when one talks about the film industry .. Johannesburg and Cape Town

Difference? Cape Town has a beach

It’s on the coast and many would argue it’s friendlier. It’s known for its harbour and also well-known landmarks such as “Table Mountain” – (look that up on Google:) )  This makes it a popular tourist destination

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and also forms part of the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa

The city is the source of an extensive gold and diamond trade and it has a very urban, industrial feel to it. Because of this, many of my friends don’t like it – they say it’s very dull and the smoky concrete buildings and money-obsessed culture make it very different to a more relaxed, colourful and visually-appealing Cape Town

But Johannesburg IS where all the soapies are. Basically if you want to have a good chance of being in a soap opera here (we have a few popular ones), you settle in Johannesburg

Many of the top studios are there and because the population is bigger, you reach more people if you land a role / become more well-known

I could never go though – I know Cape Town because I studied here, all my friends are here and it’s pleasanter generally. It’s also an approachable city, if that makes sense

Maybe when I’m older I will move

In terms of Films, Cape Town is the place for that! Foreign filmmakers are taking advantage of the city’s diverse and exceptional locations, good weather – as well as low production costs and favourable exchange rate

Apparently all this makes it up to 40% cheaper to make a movie here than in Europe or the US and up to 20% cheaper than in Australia

Some well-known international movies that have been shot in South Africa include Blood Diamond with Leonardo DiCaprio and Lord of War starring Nicholas Cage

Our commercials and TV ads are excellent – very high quality and have won awards internationally

I wouldn’t mind landing a role in a nice TV commercial! The pay is excessive and it’s such an awesome thing to have on your CV of work!

I would LOVE a beauty product such as Nivea or Garnier…. And then I have also thought about BMW or Coke! (big dreams huh?) hahahaha

I just think it would be cool!

But there are SO many young wannabes here going to castings just like me … it’s hard:(

It does get very disheartening when months go by and casting after casting leaves you with nothing

And especially when this industry is so small compared to the rest of the world’s industries, you wouldn’t think that would be the situation

The truth is, the industry may be smaller than the U.S. or U.K or other European countries…. But that doesn’t mean the pool of artists casting is

So in fact it makes it worse. At least in the US or Europe you are guaranteed to get SOMETHING, because of the sheer amount of filmmakers constantly putting on productions of some sort. Here it seems to me that our production crews don’t outweigh, let alone match, the actual people we have wanting to be in front of the camera (whether for presenting or acting)

This is my experience. Here, performers and actors’ best chance of getting something is during what they call ‘SEASON’ – when international films come down to shoot, when ad agencies and the production companies we DO have put on the most stuff, and when the weather is good

The result? Everyone waits around for the 3 months at the end of the year to get work

That’s what I mean – in countries with bigger industries there is work all year around

But I try to be brave and stay positive (cappuccinos and cupcakes help! )


On the bright side it is easier to network here because it’s such a small industry – you meet someone and he or she is probably the make-up artist/ production crew/ director or producer of many things

So I get out there as much as possible and meet as many people as possible, because I would like the opportunity to show what I can do

I also try to find inspiration in everyday things which make me smile

Hope you find your inspiration today too:)

Xxxx

Exciting week ahead

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This week I am going to a superb event called “Success in Heels”

It’s all about Women Empowerment and how to be a dynamic, successful woman in today’s world

I love cocktail functions and this one promises to be slightly edgier than the rest – with belly dancers in the line-up and female guest speakers who will talk about living your life on PURPOSE and dreaming BIG!


I look forward to hearing from these women, each of whom are powerhouses in this country

From business moguls to publishers to entrepreneurs to qualified psychologists….The evening will not disappoint!

I’m all about women doing it for themselves, and this event falls on the first of Spring here in South Africa

-What better way to welcome in renewal, growth, warmth and colour to our lives!

I love Sundays!

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In my opinion Sundays are the best days of the week! They are the days post-partying from Friday and Saturday nights; the days when you are officially allowed to say “No” to invitations if you want to and the day you can sit down and plan the week ahead<3

It is also PIZZA day – when you can forget about being healthy


And GLAM day, when you pamper, preen and prepare to show off your sassy gorgeous self to every other day of the week!


It’s the day you get CREATIVE and GUTZY about your dreams

And it’s the day you can let your IMAGINATION run wild

Happy Sunday all you bodacious beauts Xxxx

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I miss Europe!!

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I must say, I miss Europe…..

I travelled there last year with my family and had the time of my life

Italy felt so international and rich with beautiful history!

I am Italian with family in Milan, so perhaps my spirit just felt at home!

Venice was my best…. we were lucky enough to stay at the glamorous Hilton Hotel, which put the cherry on top for me!

This is me along the canals in Venice:)

Was magical and amazing – the guy who was (can one say “driving”?) the gondola actually sings to you while you sail through the canals!

God it’s so romantic — all you want is a boyfriend and a glass of wine lol

This is me taking my shoes off at one of many fountains that seem to be everywhere in Rome! I’m sure it had a name and legend behind it (like everything there) but I can’t for the life of me remember…. This was after a long day of walking around St.Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel

We also hit  Florence, the Amalfi Coast, the Isle of Capri, Tuscany, Pompeii (where Vezuvias erupted 2000 years ago and covered everyone in ash!), Positano, Sorrento and Assissi

I also enjoyed Germany

We went up the Zugspitze mountain — 2962 metres above sea level, it’s the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains as well as the highest mountain in Germany!#irecommend

I had never seen snow in my life so it was WOW

We actually went to Germany to watch the Oberammergau Passion Play – it’s the story of Christ, put on every ten years since 1634 as a tradition by the inhabitants of the village of Oberammergau

It was very special! I loved the village – think ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Cuckoo clocks!!”

In Germany I also enjoyed Munich very much

See more pics below:)

Xxxxx



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MC’ing at the Baxter Theatre

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Ok…so… while trying to organize the photographs on my computer (story of my life), I came across these photos of an event I MC’d last weekend. It was a fashion show in conjunction with the Wesley Guild society of the University of Cape Town (UCT)

MC stands for “Master of Ceremonies”.. It’s basically your job to host the event. Welcoming the audience, speaking about (in this case) the clothing they are seeing such as where it can be found, what label it is and so on. Maybe a bit about the label or the boutique itself. You pump up a crowd when the mood drops and you end off the event doing all the Thank Yous and saying goodbye

Now this was only my second MC job — my first was in high school MC’ing a Leaver’s dinner for all the girls in their final year. I remember I dressed up as a Pink Lady from Grease and put on an accent! #kindofcringe

Anyway, this was held at the Baxter theatre here in Cape Town – a really expansive and elegant space. The show was actually not in any of the arenas in the theatre, but just outside in a patio-type brickface area….

There were great South African designers showcasing their work – including labels like LoveValerie, MeMeMe, NoNameAttached, Monsoon and Sissy Boy

We as the MC’s were dressed by a well-known, trendy fashion boutique called Michiko London

The vibe was very relaxed – people coming and going between designers – and I preffered it because I was quite nervous! It was nice to have a co-host with me with whom to banter and have fun. Together we enjoyed the space, enjoyed the crowd and in fact I learnt a lot about local designers right here in CT!

I found that I really enjoyed MC’ing and I hope to do / be asked to do more gigs here in the Mother City… one thing to remember though – Do your research! I sat for an hour before the show gathering up as much info as I could online about all the designers ….. I try to prevent that awkward moment when you are standing in front of a crowd with nothing to say:)

Another thing I am learning about this industry….. you need a CONSTANT flow of energy! Your energy and enthusiasm in such an instance directly influences a crowd, so you have to constantly be radiant and up-beat as you take an audience through different stages of an event….

Hmmmm….. I recommend Berocca! Coffee! Chocolate!

See more pics below:)

Xxxx

Ard Matthews & Friends Benefit Concert

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Wow… so glad I bought a ticket! What an awesome night for R150 — and it’s going to charity!

The benefit concert was in aid of the My Life Foundation, for people with special needs.

The concert featured a key South African musician who has served as lead vocalist and founder of the band Just Jinjer, Ard Matthews, along with other equally inspiring artists including D7, Zolani from Freshly Ground, Louise Day, Jack Parow, and Laudo from aKing

The Upper East Side Hotel in Woodstock was the venue …and the verdict? — very chic!

The Wings Group were giving away Riesen chocolate for a small donation and I must say, despite my tight leopard print dress I made a bee-line for the choccies before anything else!

I started with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and by the end of the evening I was very merry indeed… at some point breakdancers from the foundation hit the floor and things only got more festive from there

There were DJ’s there from a local radio station called “2OceansVibe”…. They were awesome guys and gave me a chance to take-over the mic live on air!

I used to be a Radio DJ at my university’s radio station – the University of Cape Town’s  “UCT RADIO”- so I wasn’t too shabby as I spoke about the event on air

They were very impressed!:)

The evening was organised by the Little Black Book PR & Events Group – and wow their events always seem have a powerful impact… love them!

I was so excited that Michael Burt, of sassy Michiko London fashion boutique in Cavendish Square, gave me one of his dresses to wear for the night:)

Check out some of the pics below!

Xxxx