Before I address the blog topic referenced above I want to mention that a (we)blogs’ job is to share information. Back and forth between two sides. I am one side and you are one side. A one-sided blog, or a blog that no one comments on or responds to is like a cute girl on myspace that no one has ‘friended’. A waste of cute. A one-sided blog is sad. It’s like writing in your diary that is secret and safe and then having a party with the theme ‘Come Over and Read My Diary’. Do you see how this only works if you are involved? Don’t waste the cute. Write to me. Comment on my random musings, challenge me, ask questions you want to know the answers to about fighting the good fight as an actor in NYC. If I don’t know how to help I’m sure one of my colleagues here at TVI NY will have something to say on any topic you throw our way…
Now for the sharing of information.
If you are a hispanic or latino actor in NYC please go to www.hellohola.org and take a look around. HOLA administrates the largest database of hispanic actors in the US & it is a valuable resource for casting directors and agents seeking talent for a particular project or for their files. (Their counterpart in LA is www.nosotros.org) Register and create a profile for yourself. The HOLAPAGES directory is separate from your yearly HOLA membership but membership includes receiving the casting notices. My first few years in NYC, before I had agents or union cards, I booked most of my work through HOLA. It was also helpful to surround myself with a community of like-minded actors. Because work begets work it allowed me to add many non-college credits to my resume. You can set your preferences to receive casting notices via e-mail, which I suggest for actors just starting out. You may have more auditions than you know what to do with (a nice problem to have, you would think) but understand it is your job to truly qualify which projects are legitimate or not, HOLA does some screening but use your own common sense. If a commercial agent or a manager calls you in to meet with them based upon your HOLA profile you must do some research on them but it is likely you should go. If there is an audition that turns out to be singing to a karaoke *tape* in someone’s living room in the projects in the bronx, maybe skip it. (…lesson learned the hard way by an overzealous Celina circa 1998…)
And remember, we do not compete with each other. We rise in order to raise each other upon our shoulders.