Bitchy Actress

New York, Acting, and Attitude: Believe These Stories Or Don't - But I Betcha They're True.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Is 30 the New 20? I Sure Hope So.

So, I've accepted that fact that I'm not going to be a superstar by the age of 25. Partially because I'm already nearly 38, but also because I've gotten to know the industry like the back of my hand already, and find it startling that so much of it is about not just who you know (or who you blow) but also that you actually seem to get ahead if you're younger and less talented...and yes - skinny.

Look. I'm not just bitching because I just lost out on a part to someone else who, if she stands sideways, you might not see her; I wish her the best with keeping her boyish figure. Oh, and also the fact that I'm wondering if she's even old enough to have her period...

I am actually in a good age group, where there are lots of parts for women my age. The problem is that I might actually look too young (YAY!) so I have to compete for younger parts and then lose them to women that are more suitable for that age (NOT YAY!). I mean, it's not THAT bad - I've actually had another good year where between acting work and voice-over work I have been able to live comfortably (as long as I dont buy anything for myself or go on a vacation)...so I can say that I'm a working actor.

But when I go to an audition and see the sea of ladies that are younger...I try to chant the mantra that "30 is the new 20" in my head...and it just doesn't fly so well. The only thing I have on these other ladies is experience and acting ability (in most cases). Then there are the really talented young ladies that piss me off...because I am not above being jealous. But I'd rather lose the part to someone who can act, than someone who is just eye-candy.

Is that true? The 30-20 thing? Who came up with that? Some crusty old bat who was trying to deal with the same issues that I am? Because I'm approaching 40 and I don't know if they have the same mantra but in a size 30-40.

I also get discouraged because people don't take the work seriously. They just go from talking about what they had for dinner with a fellow auditioner, and then walk in. And sometimes they get the part. I am auditioning for people who were a baby when I was 18. It's a little weird. I applaud people for getting the gumption to try to make films or produce bdwy and off-bdwy shows when they are in their 20's - but I know part of the money is coming from their parent's trust fund - and I question why I'm even there when I would be willing to put money down that they couldn't tell you the difference between Elia Kazan, Tennessee Williams, or Jimmy Stewart.

But I might be just really assuming too much - except that when I try to have conversations with so many of the people I'm competing against and they have never read any Williams or seen a Hitchcock film, I have to ask myself: where is the industry going? Why am I here? And, most importantly, WTF?

David Duchovny: This Makes Me Sad


Celebitchy has some pics of Duchovny looking like death warmed over - and it's really sad because I am SO thrilled with his show Californication - it's really incredibly well-written and he is so amazing - his acting is fantastic.

I loved him on X-Files because I loved the theme of the show, but never really thought he was all that amazing of an actor - but I think his craft has grown SO much.

The whole sex-addict-rehab bit is saddening, like something out of Auto Focus - which, if you haven't seen is amazing - I know a couple of sex addicts...it's devastating to families and the people themselves.

I just hope that Duchovny gains a little weight, eats some vitamins, and goes home and sleeps with his wife...if she'll still let him.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Oh, Marcia, You've Been Naughty!

Oh, for Chrissake. Another tell-all.

But this one really blows the mind, 'cause it's juicy as hell. Maureen McCormick, aka Marcia on The Brady Bunch, has decided to spill the beans on what went on during the show and her tumultuous life afterwards. I think it was appropriate after Barry Williams who played Gregg (who any kid in my generation wanted to make out with, too) wrote his tell all - Growing Up Brady, and talked about boinking her. I actually have on tape (audio, yeah, I'm really high-tech) recorded off the radio when he was on the Opie and Anthony show (before it got yanked off the air) his interview with them. It was such a let-down...he sounded like such a schmuck. He was kinda funny, but he seemed to be doing the tell-all without really putting his own life screwups out there as much as just dishing out the dirt on everyone else.

McCormick, on the other hand, I have a little more respect for. She's putting her ass on the line and really telling all...like how she became addicted to drugs and did the whole Tatum O'Neil thing...oh, wait...it's also almost the Dana Plato (RIP) thing...and...well, holy shit, guess what? If you're a child star it's a 7 out of 10 chance that you're going to be seriously screwed up.

But, hey - you know what? I hope her book sells, if only so she can make some money off of what to the rest of us was a fun show to watch as kids, but to her was probably a doorway to both lots of fun...and the end of her childhood very early on. With the exception of the adults who has already established some career before the got on the Good Ship Brady, the kids all faded into oblivion afterwards. It must really suck to be a star for a long period of time, and then...not even be able to get a commercial. Especially for a kid.

They all got to wear really cool clothes, though.

One child actor, who, thank God has not gone down the path of hell, is Haley Joel Osment. Okay, he got busted for a DUI and marijuana posession as an adult, but who hasn't? *smirk*

Actually, I always hoped that he would step away from the industry and be a regular kid for a while. It seems like his parents were good to him and he was brought up well; and when you have a family that is already in the entertainment industry and who are relatively normal when it comes to having a loving environment at home, you might actually turn out all right...even when you get nominated for an oscar at age 11.