(no subject)
Well, i'm coping okay. It's up in the air. My appetite is coming back slowly, but i've already lost some weight. I can feel it. I'm worried about it, but i'm not force feeding myself. If i pass out from starvation, well, that'll be on mom's head. I wonder if she's reconsidering? She's not doing anything. Good and bad. She's freaking me out bcs. she's bopping about like nothing's wrong, but she hasn't served any papers yet, either. So, i dunno.
I swear, it's like trying to talk someone off a ledge, knowing full well that talking them down will just make them more inclined to jump, but what the hell are you supposed to do? Just sit there and let them jump? I just don't think she knows what she's getting herself into.
Anyway, my interview (which was on Tuesday of all days) went pretty well.
I am glad to finally get some honest feedback in this town. They are a boutique agency, they tread the thin line between managers and agents. They only represent a few hundred at a time, and they speak to every talent in their files weekly if not daily.
The way the interviews work is first you go to an "open call" (though it's not really open, it's by invitation only) At the open call, you first interview with the Assistant Director (who tells you upfront she is kind, but direct. She'll tell you flat out if you need to lose 5 pounds, clear up your skin, or whiten your teeth. Actually, she told two of those 3 things to a girl right then and there!) They call us in 4 people at a time and they do the critique right there in front of the others! Crazy, but interesting. Most agents i've met interview you all alone. For models, they take a look at you and your book, measure you up, have you walk. For actors, they have you read a side, and they give you lots of time. All signs of people who really know what they're doing! If she likes what she sees, she gives you an appointment with the Head Director, who has to approve all new talent. 99% of the time, if you get an appointment with the director, you're as good as in.
The first girl was 16 and 5'9. She had good pics and a great attitude. She was given an appointment right away. The second girl said she was a model, but didn't have any photos. So, the two of them left. It was down to me and one other woman. The woman was older and very plesant, so very marketable, but i thought her read was a little meh. Unpracticed and she didn't know how to analyze copy. Before giving a critique, the assistant director moved on to me.
She said i was great and lovely and fabulous. My read was amazing and warm and real, and i have a great look for an on-air QVC model (hey- don't knock it- it's teriffic money!) but, because i'm at such an awkward age for this market, i have an uphill battle. My delivery is around age 25 and my look is around age 16, and i'm 5'1. She said my photos are good, but they need to be great and i'm going to have to get new ones. Well, she beat around the bush until i said "If i need new photos, i'm happy to get them. All my photos till now were just TFP to get started on!" and she said "Oh, good. I hate mentioning it bcs. it seems like we're running a photomill, but yeah, that's what i was getting at." So, since i was talented and trained, and i was willing to make adjustments, she gave me an appointment with the director, but warned me i was one of those 1% who wasn't necessarily "in" yet. Great. She allowed me to leave so she could talk to the older woman with the shaky read alone, so i'm guessing that woman didn't get accepted. Nothing a few classes can't fix, in my opinion. And that's probably what they told her.
So, i have my appointment with the head director on Valentine's day of all days. All my life, i've had horrible luck on valentine's day. I'm always either sick or injured. I wasn't even thinking of that when i made the appointment. AND i work that day. I work right up the road from this place, so it's not far. But i will have to leave work in the middle of the day, get all dolled up for my interview, and then come back and revert to my shop self. That should be fun and give me plenty of opportunities for bad luck. I really am trying not to be a pessimist.
I swear, it's like trying to talk someone off a ledge, knowing full well that talking them down will just make them more inclined to jump, but what the hell are you supposed to do? Just sit there and let them jump? I just don't think she knows what she's getting herself into.
Anyway, my interview (which was on Tuesday of all days) went pretty well.
I am glad to finally get some honest feedback in this town. They are a boutique agency, they tread the thin line between managers and agents. They only represent a few hundred at a time, and they speak to every talent in their files weekly if not daily.
The way the interviews work is first you go to an "open call" (though it's not really open, it's by invitation only) At the open call, you first interview with the Assistant Director (who tells you upfront she is kind, but direct. She'll tell you flat out if you need to lose 5 pounds, clear up your skin, or whiten your teeth. Actually, she told two of those 3 things to a girl right then and there!) They call us in 4 people at a time and they do the critique right there in front of the others! Crazy, but interesting. Most agents i've met interview you all alone. For models, they take a look at you and your book, measure you up, have you walk. For actors, they have you read a side, and they give you lots of time. All signs of people who really know what they're doing! If she likes what she sees, she gives you an appointment with the Head Director, who has to approve all new talent. 99% of the time, if you get an appointment with the director, you're as good as in.
The first girl was 16 and 5'9. She had good pics and a great attitude. She was given an appointment right away. The second girl said she was a model, but didn't have any photos. So, the two of them left. It was down to me and one other woman. The woman was older and very plesant, so very marketable, but i thought her read was a little meh. Unpracticed and she didn't know how to analyze copy. Before giving a critique, the assistant director moved on to me.
She said i was great and lovely and fabulous. My read was amazing and warm and real, and i have a great look for an on-air QVC model (hey- don't knock it- it's teriffic money!) but, because i'm at such an awkward age for this market, i have an uphill battle. My delivery is around age 25 and my look is around age 16, and i'm 5'1. She said my photos are good, but they need to be great and i'm going to have to get new ones. Well, she beat around the bush until i said "If i need new photos, i'm happy to get them. All my photos till now were just TFP to get started on!" and she said "Oh, good. I hate mentioning it bcs. it seems like we're running a photomill, but yeah, that's what i was getting at." So, since i was talented and trained, and i was willing to make adjustments, she gave me an appointment with the director, but warned me i was one of those 1% who wasn't necessarily "in" yet. Great. She allowed me to leave so she could talk to the older woman with the shaky read alone, so i'm guessing that woman didn't get accepted. Nothing a few classes can't fix, in my opinion. And that's probably what they told her.
So, i have my appointment with the head director on Valentine's day of all days. All my life, i've had horrible luck on valentine's day. I'm always either sick or injured. I wasn't even thinking of that when i made the appointment. AND i work that day. I work right up the road from this place, so it's not far. But i will have to leave work in the middle of the day, get all dolled up for my interview, and then come back and revert to my shop self. That should be fun and give me plenty of opportunities for bad luck. I really am trying not to be a pessimist.