Filling Space For Oscar

Yesterday marked the culmination of everything entertainment. This was MY SUPERBOWL, The Academy Awards. Instead of spending my Oscar Sunday in typical fashion, (watching from home with Ben and Jerry) I played a “background artist” of sorts all day for E! Entertainment Television.

I was an audience member all day for E! Live From The Red Carpet Countdown Show, and the E! After Party Show. The location was the beautifully transformed Roosevelt Hotel, right next to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The day was long and exhausting but totally worth my time.

7:30am- My call time for the day. I arrived at the hotel for check in, and then was taken into a holding room with all other "space fillers." They served us coffee and tea and told us to hang tight.

8:30am- The live events producers tell us that we will be taken to set in 15 minutes. At this point, I was half asleep since I had been sitting for an hour. Instead of drifting off daydreaming, I decided to listen in on some conversations around me.

8:35am- I find out that the majority of the people here are from a casting agent and are getting paid for the day! Hey heyyyy! Unfair! These “pretty” people were talking about their aspiring acting/modeling careers. I found it interesting how insecure some of these people are about breaking into the industry. No conversation that I was listening in on had determination or gusto. It was more or less, “Well if this doesn’t work out I guess I’ll have to find another job.”

8:50am- They FINALLY took us down to set. We were unable to bring cameras/recording devices down to the stage. The set was dressed to the nines. It was a beautiful canvas for the hours upon hours of live event coverage about to go down.

9:10am- The talent starts rehearsal. The hosts for the show were Ross Mathews (Ross the Intern), Catt Sadler, Kris Jenner, and Holly Madison. The staff told us it would be almost 4 hours of coverage, and I immediately thought about how much content they needed to fill a show like this. The answer is A LOT.

10ish?- The time gets a little fuzzy here since cell phones had to be off and out of sight. The show started, and all I can say is it was a smorgasbord of randomness. Here is a breakdown of most of the segments…There was a segment about animal actors (doggies, chameleons, and an ostrich), crazy diva-licious hair makeovers a la Nicki Minaj, a fairytale princess Oscar dress makeover, a kiddie fashion show, a Victoria Secret underwear fashion show, a bikini runway show, and Burlesque dancers. These were just a few of the things they filled the show with.

1:00pm- The audience handlers told us we had one more hour! Yes, yes YES! My butt was numb from the chairs and my stomach was rumbling from the eight-hour span of not eating.

1:05pm- The last portion was a Fashion Police segment with Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne, and George Kotsiopoulos. This went by very quickly, and we were finally released.

2:05pm- They had a small lunch up in the holding room to thank us for our time. It was clearly geared towards the models and actors…Fruit plates, and teeny-tiny finger foods. I decided to leave, eat a “proper” meal, and take a little break before I had to come back at 6:30pm for the After Party Show.

5:30pm- I was re-primping myself while watching the Oscars opening video. I loved it! I thought it was really funny that James and Anne inserted themselves into the best picture noms. It was very MTV Movie Awards. Gotta get that younger audience in…right Academy?

6:30pm- I was back at the same holding room I was in earlier that day. There was a different crowd of actor/models, and “regular people” like myself waiting to be taken down to set. Everyone seemed more laid back than this morning. The Academy Awards were nearly over and everyone was ready to have fun at the party.

7:30pm- We were all brought down to set in small groups. The show was hosted by Jason Kennedy. It also featured film critic, Ben Lyons, Elle Magazine Creative Director Joe Zee, and some comedians from Chelsea Lately.

8:00pm- Rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal. We couldn’t hear anything so I mingled with the people around me and took pictures (We were allowed to bring camera to this show)!

9:00pm- The show finally goes up. Everyone is having a great time! The told us to not look in the camera, and act like we were at a party! This was easy because the set really felt like a cool Hollywood lounge.

9:30pm- I was moved into a lighted area where the producer said I would be in a bunch of shots. I was really excited for my parents to see me back on the east coast. They totally get a kick out of these things! During the taping, my cell phone starts buzzing with text messages from friends back home and my family saying that they can see me on camera! How cool is that?!

10:00pm- We get served the signature cocktail of the night. It was delicious! Moet Chandon, OJ, and Svedka? Whatever- It was really good, and they continued to serve throughout the night to the 21+ crowd.

10:30pm- The show finally wrapped! After I stayed around to mingle and take pics with some of the talent.

11:30pm- Finally back home eating dinner and relaxing. All in all it was a great day. Oscar Sunday- you did me right. Thanks for the memories J

Youth Meets Oscar

The Academy was excited to announce new changes made to this years Oscars. I asked a few aspiring film makers their thoughts on the Academy taking a youthful spin on the classically mature show.

See the full article in The Hollywood Reporter

The Social Network Launches Careers

The Social Network is filled with many things: Love, Betrayal, Sexy Harvard Nerds, and a whole bunch of new Hollywood talent.

Before the movie, many of its stars were waiting for their big break. Since the release, a handful of the actors have launched into Hollywood superstardom.

1. Jesse Eisenberg
Before his Sorkin stint as famed Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, Jesse was a little known actor that appeared in a variety of lower budget films including Adventureland and Zombieland. Since the Facebook movie, Jesse has hosted Saturday Night Live, and has four movies coming out in 2011.

2. Rooney Mara
This doe-eyed brunette got her start acting on TV shows like Law and Order: SVU. From there, she did a few episodes of ER, and then played Nancy Holbrook in the critically acclaimed Nightmare on Elm Street (just kidding.) In The Social Network, Mara plays Erica Albright, a Boston University student that dated the Facebook creator, Mark Zuckerberg. The infamous opening scene at a Cambridge, MA bar got the attention of Director David Fincher. After months of auditioning A list actresses, Fincher decided to cast Mara as the lead female in the film adaptation of the wildly popular book series, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. The movie has created a TON of buzz, and I have a feeling Rooney Mara will be booking way more jobs after its release.

3. Andrew Garfield
Andrew Garfield is a British actor who received his big break in the 2010 movie, Never Let Me Go, starring Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley.  This jump started his on screen career, and landed him the coveted role of Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network. The movie made him a buzz-worthy actor. Because of this, Garfield was recently named the "new" web slinger himself, Spiderman. The Amazing Spiderman is set to hit theatres in 2012. If Andrew Garfield works that spidey-suit right, he could be Hollywood's newest "it" man.

Checkout theater goers first reaction to The Social Network.

Inside The Movie: 127 Hours

I was lucky enough to sit down with Oscar winning director Danny Boyle, about his film 127 Hours for the web series Reel Reactions. 

Starring James Franco, 127 Hours tells the superhuman story of Aron Ralston who had to cut off his arm in order to save his life from a hiking trip gone terribly wrong. Boyle spoke openly about what goes into filmmaking, developing a project, and important notes on casting. The interview gives an inside look on everything from the technical elements of the film, to this year’s Mr. Oscar himself, James Franco. Any new actor looking to gain some insight from a director should check this interview out!

127 Hours is a 6 time nominee for the 83^rd Annual Academy Awards:

Best Picture

Best Actor (James Franco)

Best Editing

Music (Original Score)

Original Song

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Which awards do you think Boyle and his crew will be taking home?

Lindsay Lohan's Hot Date With Court: Necklace-Gate 2011

Fellow Breakers- This is Lindsay Lohan. She once had a career that you all would have yearned for. Luckily, for those trying to break into the industry, this one isn't keeping you from being cast in any desired roles. I decided to attend Lindsay’s court appearance this morning to find out what happened with this fading “starlet” gone bad. 

Li-Lo, as the media affectionately calls her, was scheduled for an LA Airport Superior Court appearance today to discuss charges and a possible plea deal stemming from a felony grand theft case (necklace-gate 2011.)

Following today's proceedings, Lohan has 2 weeks to fight the charges, or take a plea deal that Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz offered up this morning. He told Lohan there would be definite jail time her the future if she accepted the deal. "If you plead in front of me, if this case is resolved in front of me, you are going to jail," Schwartz said.

And all for stealing a $2,500 necklace? I say NOT WORTH IT LINDZ! Why not steal a car or maybe even a yacht. In Hollywood, bigger is better.

If Miss Lohan decides not to take the deal, it will cause a hearing where prosecutors would present evidence to another judge. Then, it would ultimately be decided if she should stand a trial. All of this lawyer jargon is great, but what did the media care most about today?

What will Lindsay wear this time?

I have to say, this time around- she did class it up in a pants suit, and some sky-high black heels. But the young actresses fashion sense didn't count for anything in this courtroom. She is still in trouble, and still has to face the judge yet again...

Her next court appearance for this case is set for March 10^th.

So to my young, naïve, actor friends, let Lindsay lead by example. Drugs, alcohol, and stealing (the “Hollywood” trifecta) is bad. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

Check out some (paparazzi-ish) video I shot earlier today.

Clip 1: The reporters’ gather

Clip 2: Michael Lohan (Lindsay’s father) enters the courthouse

Clip 3: Lindsay enters with mother, Dina

Clip 4: Lindsay leaving court

Clip 5: Portion of a press conference featuring Michael Lohan

Some insight from Joan about LiLo via Twitter...

Tis' The "Pilot" Season

I live in the Burbank Oakwood. This can be known for many things, the beautiful apartments, pools, gyms, and…actors.

            It seems like everyone I meet here is into acting. The age range is wide. Some are eager children hoping to get their break on the next Disney Channel hit, while others are a bit older, hoping to step onto a new sitcom and become a huge success.

            Lately, there seems to be two buzzwords getting thrown around town. Those words are, “pilot season.” For those of you living under a rock in Los Angeles, pilot season is a period of time, usually between January and April, where studios are looking to cast new shows and shoot 22-55 minutes of footage to be picked up by a network. 

            In researching, I have found that a pilot is where a lot of actors get their start. The competition is fierce, with so many executives and producers looking at shows. A newer actor is bound to get noticed. Pilots have launched the careers of Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney just to name a few.

            Pilot season seems to be the current trend with young actors. The nameless would finally like a name for themselves, with high hopes of breaking into the industry. Kim Richards, of ABC Studios says that a young group of new faces might just have their shot this pilot season. “The pilot I am working on is looking for no names, which is great because rarely do you find a cast that is brand new.”

            Many of my fellow Oakwoods residents are new to the area. While at the pool, I begin to observe the twang of a southern accent, and the east coast whine of a native New Yorker. Many actors are taking advantage of this time of the year by temporarily moving their homes to California while the season plays out.

            Due to the competition of pilot season, the edge that many actors need is an agent. They are the key players that can get you the face time with casting directors and writers. If you do not have an agent, not to worry, the work may just be a bit harder. There are a number of groups in Los Angeles that feature casting director workshops on an almost daily basis. These workshops provide a great opportunity to establish and develop a relationship with the casting directors you meet. Many actors have been brought in to read for producers and have booked roles from these workshops alone.

            So pilot season babble will be the topic of every actor’s conversation in the next few months, with no end in sight. For now, the next time you meet an actor at a bar, listen to what they have to say. Who knows? They could be the next Clooney…

A day in the life of a "Stand In"

I am Nicki Minaj. Okay so I am totally NOT Nicki, but I did get to pretend to be her for part of my weekend. I spent the day before the Grammys playing mental dress up with an elite group of singers and musicians. I was a stand in.




Stand in- to act as substitute: to take the place of somebody or something else as a substitute.

I was able to cruise the Grammy red carpet to help major entertainment outlets prep for their live broadcasts. This was my role.

We arrived at the Staples Center, and received credentials to prepare for the rest of our night. We were rushed to a tent where other stand ins were being held. Everyone was mingling and eating a delicious spread that was provided for our volunteer time. As I looked around, I noticed that I hadn't seen half of these people before. I don't work with them in the office! My mind was racing- so I began introductions. Quickly, I found myself immersed in a crowd of actors and musicians. AHH! Can I ever escape this in LA? I began to ask why they decided to do something like this, and logically they said to make connections. I have realized, in my few weeks of being here, it’s ALL about who you know in the industry. The performers were looking to make a connection with someone on staff to hopefully jump start some element of their career. You could tell who the wanna-be celebs were. They stood a little taller, primped a little more, and came in high heels (which we were clearly advised via email NOT to do.)

This made the experience all the more fun- watching people trying to chat up staff members, and over ask questions. They were not volunteering to have fun. This was strictly business.

I took a slightly different approach. For one, I brought friends. Why not share the experience! I also had a great time with it. Clearly, stand ins are meant to help the camera and reporters rehearse, but they never said anything about being creative.
The format of the carpet went like this. Each stand in wore a huge blue name tag around their neck of the celebrity they had to pretend to be. After you were assigned a star, you began to walk the carpet slowly, one at a time. There was one reporter at the start with a stage. If you were pulled up on it, you had to answer questions as if you were the actual celebrity. After the first station there was a long alley way of sorts to the next stopping point. This was in the middle of the carpet where another reporter was ready to ask questions. It was the same deal as before- you answer questions as the celebrity. The last stop of the carpet was a photo wall. You had to stop to pose at three X marks. After making it all the way down, I repeated the same process with a different celebrity each time. This could have gotten boring, but I loved every minute of it. My personal favorite part was the posing at the end. Everyone else looked nervous and bored. I decided to spice it up with crazy poses to the camera. It ended up being really great joking with the staff. It made the time go by much faster. And I think showing my personality, left much more of an impression on “staffers” rather than the serio-actors in my group. I am so glad I experienced this, and came to realize the important role we played in rehearsal. They try everything with us; set the lighting, work out the bugs, to make as little mistakes as possible. Imagine if they made all the celebrities rehearse walking the carpet a day before the show. That would be ridiculous!! So hear is to the “little people” that make the big stars look so fabulous at award shows!

Inside the Grammy Awards

This past Sunday award show season hit a high note. The notably most "laidback and fun" award show of the season had a memorable dance heavy performance from Her-GAGA-ness, Justin Bieber's Usher-like dance moves, and an epic Indie end with Arcade Fire winning album of the year.
I thought I would give readers a behind the scenes look at what it takes to put on an awards show of such monumental proportion. Since most people are trying to break into the industry, why not take a look at the process behind what you do when you actually achieve success...right?

I was lucky enough to tag along at Grammy rehearsals with a major entertainment outlet. When I arrived at the Staples Center last Thursday, the sports arena was completely transformed. The only trace of basketball was a dimly lit banner on the very top of the roof.


The stage was evolving right before our eyes, with light and set changes, getting ready for the acts that were about to rehearse. While we waited for the set up of the first band, I scoped out the seating cards to see who would be sitting where. Not surprisingly, Gaga was front and center, with pretty much every big time nominee snagging an isle seat. The Smiths (Will, Jada, Willow, Jaden) would be sitting stage left, while Justin Bieber would be hanging cool with Usher stage right. I am so curious how they decide who sits where. I asked my producers, but they had little insight on the topic. Do any of you know how seating placement in award shows are done?
Anyway- after checking out seating, we were gearing up for first to rehearse, Lady Antebellum. This trio was a big winner Grammy Sunday walking away with 5 awards, and I know exactly why. This group can sing! It was so nice to get a free concert with real talented musicians. There was no auto tune here- just solid a-capella harmonies. They were so professional and poised, making their job seem effortless. The biggest issue with their rehearsal was change. All media on site got a real sense of their creative process. At one point the trio had to stop rehearsing because something wasn’t working. After a bunch of trials, they finally figured out a new portion of the song to sing and new harmonies. It is kind of crazy to think that major changes like these happen on their final rehearsal day before the actual performance. But, they took it all in stride to finish the rehearsal. After the singing was over- the media circus began. There were reporters lined up with cameras hoping to get the groups final thoughts on everything from their performance, to who their favorite American Idol judge is. I guess the media really can ask whatever they want.
So the rehearsal I attended ran rather smoothly. I am curious if there were any other major bumps in the road. As an audience, we see a perfectly manicured final product. Teams and teams of people work hard to make sure the talent is showcased in the best way possible. I hope my little snippet of an experience put things into perspective.

Rolling The Dice In The Fame Game...

Welcome to Breaking Hollywood, the blog that takes a candid look at breaking into the industry.

            The common cliché about Los Angeles is that everyone wants to be famous. If you are looking for fame, or helping someone else achieve celebrity status, you might want to examine the question of why. I thought that it would be a good idea to look at what exactly draws people into fame. Celebrity has always been something that fascinates me in particular. I watch in amazement as these "regular" people turn into mega-stars. I get excited to find out what celebrities are doing, what trouble they may be in, or what projects they are working on, and seemingly get wrapped up in their dream lives. It gives off the feeling of living vicariously through them. That's just how I see it. I live life with little consequence, and can never imagine having to deal with the fame monster in my reality.

            Now, the people that actually want the fame see themselves playing amazing roles, live for the paparazzi and night life, and love all eyes on them 24/7...right? That is the perception I get from Hollywood, but it is far from the truth.

How are the stars reacting? 

R-Patz reaction to his “Celebrity Status”

Snooki’s “Fame Game”

So actors and non-actors a like, sound off! What is the obsession with fame that draws people in? Are actors in it for the art anymore? Do they know what kind of situation they are putting themselves into?