Things I Love

So, I'm one of those odd ducks who really likes auditioning. I mean really. I liked interviewing whenever I was looking for a job, too, so it's not an acting-exclusive kind of thing.

I also love, love, love cooking. I love it enough to wear a paper hat and spend an entire day of vacation in a kitchen. (A longer story, but one of the best experiences of my life!)

Today I had an audition that, happily, combined two of the things I love most--acting and food! The audition was a Q&A, conversational thing. Really fun, actually. And in the process, I got to meet someone I otherwise probably wouldn't have and enjoy an interesting conversation about food and farms, brothers and sisters, divorce and reconciliation.

There are a lot of things I love about acting, but some of my favorites are the meeting new people, the working together toward a common goal and, yes, the auditioning. And craft service. I love craft service.

A Little SXSW Magic

So. I've been remiss. Obviously. Since it's the end (for me anyway) of day four of my SXSW experience, and I've written...nothing. Few tweets. No blog posts.

The Luddite thing kicked in. I'm taking notes in a notebook (a very cool notebook. with owls on it) with a pen. I can't seem to tweet and listen at the same time, so all the hashtags assigned to panels are somewhat (what am I saying, are entirely) wasted on me.

I would say my favorite part of SXSW this year, every year, are the luddite-esque moments. And now, so you can live vicariously through me:

1. The I lost my cool owl notebook, but when I retraced my steps, I found it in the hands of a guy I met walking from the parking garage more than five hours earlier. Super amazing.

2. The sitting in movie theaters, genuine movie theaters, like in a group experience, watching a movie together. I know. Old school.

3. The SXSW as summer camp experience of meeting friends because you're all foreigners, making a little clique where you're on the inside (for once), and feeling as if you've known each other for days.

4. Photo booth with new camp friends!

5. Eating with my hands in front of a trailer!

Why are they Luddite? None of my favorite bits required any exceptional technology. Buuut, I'm learning. Because now, through technology, I get to keep up with my SXSW camp friends. Until I can see them again next year.

And, so I remember later, the movies watched so far: The Will, Black Pond, The Scarlet Road, Jeff

Dear John

Dear John,
Today, Auggie and I went down to Shoal Creek to watch the marathon. We sat in the sun in the backyard. We took a nap on the couch. And then we went to Central Market to walk around the lake. Teo's was to be the sweetness in an already wonderful Sunday.

When we got there, I looped Auggie's leash around a metal chair not too different from the one in this picture. I gave him a milkbone and his chew toy. And when I tried to go into Teo's to order, he pulled that chair almost through the front door.

And then you! You came over and asked if you could watch him while I went inside. And you picked up your New York Times and your coffee and sat in the chair and pet him while I waited for the five people in front of me to taste everything in the case and then pay in pennies. So John, it may have felt like a tiny kindness, a nothing-at-all kind of kindness, but you made Auggie happy, and you made me happy, and we hope that your kindness is returned tenfold.

And John, is there any better place in this world to live than Austin, Texas on a warm, sunny February afternoon? With homemade gelato, perfect coffee and a sweet puppy at your feet? We don't think so either.

xoxo,
Aimee & Auggie

The other side of the camera

So, my alter ego (the one who pays way more of my bills), works in advertising. As a copywriter. So that me has written commercials. Has seen them in my head. Has hoped they translate through the talent (or get any better). So what fun to get to do that for someone else this weekend!

I spent Saturday afternoon shooting a couple of commercials--unfortunately, they'll only be playing in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, but if you live there, watch for 'em! In the movie theater! (Sorry. I understand if you don't want to watch commercials after you've already paid to watch the movie. I do get it. Really.)

I played the wife of a good real-life friend of mine, Kevin McCarthy from Cell, and his kids and dog, Zoe, also took part. All in all, it felt way more like fun than work, which is really awesome when it works out that way. And I saw the rough cuts--they look great!

In related news, tonight was the Super Bowl, and I have to send a shout-out to the copywriter(s) working on Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" commercials--"It's Half-Time, America" was really spot-on. Great, great job.

2012's First Project: Weird Girls!

When I heard myself actually say, out loud, to witnesses, that "I wish I was 13 again," I knew something amazing had just happened. Because I thought there was nothing on this earth that could make me wish to be 13. But then I was invited to participate in Lovable Varmint's Weird Girls first season table read, and over a Saturday afternoon, I saw four bright, unique, independent girls brought to vibrant life by four really talented young actors. Must admit, I loved their parts--I wanted to read those parts!!--which even in this early stage are exquisitely crafted by writer Mark Gardner.

I am really excited about this project. Really compelling story line, honest relationships between the characters, scary, funny and fun to watch. (But the little secret that makes me super love it? These weird girls are loyal, resourceful, funny and smart--they are the kind of girl I would have loved to be at 13, and they're the kind of girls I want the girls in my life watching and emulating right now.)

Keep an eye out for this web series--I've seen nothing like it out there, and it's going to be great.

Want to read more? Check out these links:
Lovable Varmint: Weird Girls Meet the Actors
Weird Girls First Table Read Recap

Writing...just not here.

Hey guys! It's Nanowrimo time--National Novel Writing Month to those of you who aren't literary masochists. I'm trying to write 50,000 words before midnight November 30. I am currently many thousands of words behind. This novel is going to suck. But this novel is a brilliant exercise in getting my writing muscles more limber. Yes, there are writing muscles.

So, adieu for now--may you also do something before the end of this year that is a little crazy awesome. And to learn more about Nanowrimo, click!

Hibernation

Do you guys know what it's like to live in 100 degree temperatures week after week after week? I'm thinking it's like wintertime in North Dakota. You just learn to stay inside unless you're desperate to get outdoors. Here, we do our weekend running as early as possible, hibernate through the hottest parts of the afternoon, and then crawl outdoors with containers of ice to try to breathe the scorched air before we go to bed. The yard is beginning to look like hay. This family definitely has cabin fever.

We are catching up on movies, though, so that's a good thing! We saw Source Code last night--enjoyed it. We were debating the 'science' behind it today, then decided that was pretty much a lost cause. We opted to just go with it. This time last year I spent a solid week and a half outside filming, in a wedding dress. I miss my peeps, but can't imagine what a tough, tough ride it would have been for the crew in these conditions.

Everybody stay safe, careful and drink lots of water!