A Letter to Agent Carter

As I keep waiting for the official word on the status of Agent Carter, I have realized something quite groundbreaking.


In this day and age, superheroes are a dime a dozen. But, what is still not as prevalent, is women. Women role models who are just as super as men. Women who are proud of their intelligence and bad assery and use it to fight the greater good. The greatest example I have of this, is Peggy Carter aka Hayley Atwell. I have an extraordinary amount of admiration for this woman.

She is everything we should strive to be. Determined, smart, motivated and strong. She doesn't shy away from a tough situation, she embraces it. She has been dealt a tough deck of cards in "life" and yet that doesn't slow her down. Believe me, I know she is fictional. But, as I sit here and write this, I have to wonder... Why is this type of woman fictional? Why doesn't this kind of woman exist in real life?

Peggy Carter shows us that it's ok to stand up for your beliefs. No matter who may question them.

It's ok to be classy and have strong ethics and morals. We need to use our wits, intelligence, strength and optimism no matter what life brings. Let that be our mission.

To be the people we were meant to be. To never shy away in the face of diversity or tough times. To move forward with our head held high, knowing that we are doing what is right and just.

Let's all be like Peggy Carter. And when life gets too serious, let's all have a good laugh like Hayley Atwell. Like I said before, this woman is extraorindary. She has brought so much light and joy into everyone's lives that it saddens me to think that Agent Carter may be no more.

But, for two incredible seasons, Peggy has been everything I want to be. She is a fighter, she is a high-class agent, she is smart, strong and most importantly, she is a badass woman.

Photography

"Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world."


Life is like a picture. A moving picture. It's a dance. It captures joy, sorrow, laughter, misery and love.  It captures those moments as a child that you may not remember as an adult. It captures those moments between your parents that you may not have paid attention to. It captures the generations of your family as the years and decades pass.

Photography is one of the most beautiful inventions this world has ever seen. It allows us a glimpse into countries on the other side of the globe. It allows us to travel back in time to see the historic events that shaped our nation. And, it captures those incredible moments we want to remember for a lifetime.

How do you want to be remembered? How will your photos be seen a 100 years from now? We may not all be in the spotlight. The whole world may not know our names. But, in those photographs we become legendary. Thanks to those photographs we leave behind a legacy.


Keep that in mind as you go about your day to day. Smile, laugh, remember all the reasons why you are blessed. Remember what you are thankful for. Hug your parents, your siblings, your friends and capture all the emotions that you experience. Because, one day, someone will see your photos and say, "My, how she lived."

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come...

Life Doesn't Always Turn Out the Way You Plan

A very wise actress in a very wise movie once said "Life doesn't always turn out the way you plan."
-Sandra Bullock, While you Were Sleeping.

Maybe everyone else doesn't find that movie very wise. But, sometimes the best advice comes when you least expect it. That's why I love that quote so much. It teaches you to always keep an open mind about life and to remember that sometimes the best things are completely unexpected.

Take my life for instance. A decent chunk of it has not gone as planned at all. And I am a planner. Always have been, always will be. But, even I cannot count for the unknown. However, I've learned that, it's ok, thanks to another one of my favorite quotes. "Have courage and be kind." That's Cinderella for you non-cinematic folks. The live action film of course. As I get older, and by older I mean 30 is approaching far more quickly than I'd like, I've realized that both those quotes are greatly significant.

I've worked in film industry.
I've moved across the country
I've moved back across the country
I've started my career over
I've fallen in love
I agreed to marry the love of my life
And still changes are coming. They never stop.

So the reminder for today is, have courage and be kind. Because, life doesn't always turn out the way you plan. You never know, your glass slipper could be right around the corner.

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come...

Take an Adventure

"It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves - in finding themselves."

The other day I was sitting at my computer and I started looking through my pictures over the years, and I couldn't believe how many adventures I have had. All the places I have been, the experiences I have had and all the wonderful people I have met along the way. I was surprised to rediscover so many wonderful memories.

A big part of my travels has always been with my family, and I remember thinking when I was younger that I could never travel on my own, because I would be to afraid to navigate around by myself. However, in the past 5 years of my life, I've lived in three different cities, including one that is on the other side of the country. The best part is, I moved out there all on my own. I am enormously proud of that, especially when I look back and realize I used to be afraid. There is a part of me that has grown tremendously from taking that leap and and I have made so many wonderful memories all on my own.

It is thrilling to look back and remember all the adventures.  The rolling hills of Austria, the Swiss Alps, the power of the Hollywood sign and the majestic Eiffel Tower. Or some of my absolute favorites, Venice, the sunrise on the beach in Charleston, and the time I worked alongside my favorite actress of all time. No matter where you go or what you do, if it is something you've never done before then it is an adventure.

It made me realize that we don't take enough time these days to go on any adventures. Whether it's somewhere close you have always wanted to go, across the ocean, or even across your own country, we need to take a moment and experience as much as we can.

Time is fleeting and we need to make the moments count. So take that drive you have always wanted to take, book that trip, and go have an adventure. You won't regret it and one day you'll be sitting at your computer looking through the pictures and you'll have the biggest smile on your face as you look back and remember.

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come.

My Inspiration

My last blog post was about my mother and how truly exceptional she is. She is my everything and I meant every word, but I realize now I need to also give some recognition to my other constant supporter. The one who is my absolute inspiration, pillar of strength, source of giggles, and the role model for the kind of man I want to marry one day. My dad, Tony D'Onofrio.

They say daughters quickly become their father's pride and joy almost immediately from birth, however according to my mother we have been twins since I was created. My personality, behavior traits, and most of my features all primarily come from my Dad. She even likes to joke that she had almost nothing to do with creating me because it seems like my Dad spit me out on his own.

To say he is the greatest man I know is not an understatement. My admiration and love for him are infinite. His kind hearted nature, tenacity, compassion, love of conversation, and outgoing personality are everything I strive to be. Not to mention his constant and endless support of me, my dreams, and my life. I honestly cannot stop praising his talents and who he is as a person. I could gush about him for days because I have learned over the years that it is incredibly hard to find another man who is as wonderful as he.

The film industry dreams I've had over the years are actually quite rare. It is a tough industry and definitely not for everyone. No matter what I wanted to do, or where it took me in life, my Dad was always there telling me to dream big. He was one step behind me constantly reminding me that the sky is the limit. I honestly cannot say how much that has meant to me over the years. To know that you are infinitely loved is a beautiful thing, but to know that you are infinitely loved and can pursue your dreams to your hearts desire is incredible. I knew he would be there if I ever failed. I knew he would be there if I ever stumbled. I know he is always there. That is what I am in awe of sometimes, and those are the moments when I know I am so incredibly blessed. He is always there for me. He is the most incredible man I know and I wanted to take a minute and acknowledge him as well. By yourself, you are my biggest inspiration, together with Mom, you both are my greatest joy and strength. Thank you for loving me, supporting me, and being there for me. I will do everything in my power to continue to make you proud.

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to Come...

A Mother's Love

“My mother... she is beautiful, softened at the edges and tempered with a spine of steel. I want to grow old and be like her.” 

Mothers are such an important part of our lives. When we are growing up, we do not realize how much our mothers impact our lives. Every decision, every situation, every moment somehow ends up coming back to what Mom would say. For myself, I have been extraordinarily blessed with my Mother. She's been there for the good times, and she's been there for the bad times. The times when I wouldn't listen, and the times when now I do. She is one of the permanent constants who has always been part of my life, and who is my ultimate cheerleader and supporter. For that and so much more, I love her more than infinity. 

Growing up, Mom's were always a bother. We didn't want to listen, we didn't want to do anything they would say, we didn't want to do chores, or homework, or go to the stupid dentist. We just wanted to live our lives the way we wanted to. So how funny is it, that now when I am living my own life away from my Mother, I somehow cannot make certain decisions without asking what she thinks. The irony is definitely not lost on me. In reality, now that I am older and wiser, (of course) I see how fantastic she is. She's strong, she's patient, she's kind, she's generous, and she is the smartest person I know. How did I miss all of that growing up? 

I hope for this Mother's Day, we all open our eyes a little more and see the person our Mom really is and how amazing they are. Every single day, I am grateful for my Mother and I cannot believe how blessed I am. I know I rebelled, argued, and fought constantly with her growing up, but I hope to make that up to her for the rest of my life. So thank you Mom for always being there for me, for teaching me, believing in me, listening to me, and supporting me. I hope when I become a Mother I am half as amazing as you are, because I have been given the best example. 

Happy Mother's day to my Mother, my best friend, and all the other Mother's out there. 

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come!

Life is a Dance

"Life is like dancing. If we have a big floor, many people will dance. Some will get angry when the rhythm changes. But life is changing all the time."

I am sure most of you have noticed, but there have been quite a few changes in my life during the past few months. Doors have opened, and doors have closed, big decisions were put in front of me, and I found myself conflicted. I was at a crossroads, and no matter how I looked at things, I couldn't seem to decide which was the right way to go. I know most of you have been in similar situations and I wish I had some words of wisdom for you when it comes to moments like that. All I can say is what worked for me, and what helped me make up my mind and find absolute peace, is I simply sat down and listened to my heart. 

Fast forwarding many months later, to right here in the present, I am sincerely amazed at how in that moment months ago when I didn't know what to do, my heart did. It knew what was waiting for me, if I just had the courage to trust it. A few months ago I was living in LA. The year I lived out there was a wonderful adventure. Many good things happened to me, and some bad things as well, but I was surrounded by people living and breathing the film industry and that was exhilarating to me. When they say LA is the city of dreams, they are not exaggerating. Everyone is a dreamer, including myself. The question is though, how long do you keep dreaming? What do you put yourself through to see that your dreams come true? To some, that may seem a little over dramatic, but to those who are part of the film industry, they know exactly what I mean. So when my parents called and told me they were moving to Switzerland for three years and asked if I wanted to come back across the country to house sit for them, I felt that I was failing myself and my dreams for even considering it. 

I went back and forth about it for months, driving everyone crazy with my indecision. I just could not decide which was the better choice for me. And then one day, everything suddenly made sense, and my decision was crystal clear. I don't know how many times in life we find ourselves in perfect harmony with our lives, but that's exactly how I felt. Suddenly I knew that coming back was the right choice, I didn't know why, but I knew that when I thought about it, I was at peace and I saw it with perfect clarity. 

So yes I am back on the East Coast now. I know most of you have been confused as to what's been going on with me lately so I thought I would let you know. I am so incredibly happy. I haven't given up on the film industry completely. Those who know me, know that I always have something up my sleeve, and indeed I do. Despite all the things I have gone through in the last few months, and all the decisions I have made, I truly believe that right now in my life, I am in the right place at the right time, and I am ready for whatever happens next. 

I wish you all have those moments of perfect clarity. Yes I am still having ups and downs but I know that everything will work out in the end. I haven't been good at updates lately, but I promise to be better at it and keep you involved with my stories and my life. Thank you for all your good thoughts, and love that you've sent my way, I sent it all back!

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come....

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Dance in the Sun, Sing in the Rain.

Today I saw rain for the first time in almost a year, and let me tell you, I was overjoyed! I honestly never thought I would say that because for years rain has always been a damper to my life. I never wanted to walk to class in the rain, I never wanted to venture out anywhere in the rain, let alone work in the rain which I have had to do many times. However, now living in a place where rain is a extremely rare occurrence has now altered my perspective on my youthful misgivings about rain. In my wise and soulful twenty four years I want to proclaim that rain is truly a beautiful phenomenon. Sometimes it takes going without something for a really long time to realize how wonderful it really is, and because of my new found (current) passion for rain, I am using it as a metaphor for life. I have always been a firm believer that sunshine is better and far more superior to rainy days. I mean what's not to like, bright sunny days, no clouds in the sky, warm warm weather. (Except when you're in LA and it's warm when it rains too). Sunny days always make everything better and happier, or so I thought. When you have endless sunny days you begin to see that there are better or different things in life that you are missing out on. I cannot tell you how many times I have told my friends back home that I am dying to hear and see a thunderstorm again. I never realized how enormously I enjoyed those until now. Don't forget about the wonderful things in your life that you haven't appreciated lately. Just because they haven't been around or you haven't thought of them lately, doesn't mean they aren't still there. Whether it's people, places, things, or memories, it could be anything at all. So never take anything for granted, because it could be a long time before you realize what it meant to you. So to all my friends and family, Dance in the Sun, but Sing in the Rain. That's my heartfelt message for the day! :) xoxoxo


Stand By and Stay Tuned...there's more to come.

Cherish Who You Are

You are unique. You are precious, you are unforgettable, and you are without a doubt the most incredible person. There are moments in life that define you. Moments that make you smile, moments that hurt you, moments that lift you up, and moments that you remember forever. Through all those moments, the challenges, the triumphs, the pitfalls, and the surreal, remember exactly who you are and how precious you are. I have had many moments that define my life. There was the Miss Congeniality moment that defined my career choice (and total admiration for Sandra Bullock) there's the moments when I'm on the phone with my parents and they remind me how incredibly much I'm loved. There are moments of my past that remind me how much stronger I am and how much I've already overcome, and there are moments where I dream of what I still want to accomplish.

Cherish everything you have in your life, everything you want to have, and everything you've been through. Because of those moments, you are exactly who you are supposed to be. It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are. It takes courage to face the things that have hurt you, and to move on. It takes courage to move across the country in search of your dreams. How will you know what you are capable of if you don't challenge yourself.

Life is all about these moments. Ones we remember, ones we don't. Ones we save for later, and ones we hope to happen. Our lives are defined by so many. Through everything in life, just remember that you are unique. Your life is meant exactly for you, I do believe that. Embrace it, cherish it, and remember it all for later. You are unrepeatable, there is a magic to you that is all your own.

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come.

What Matters Most

What I've come to find in life, and in my life especially, is that the people you surround yourself with make all the difference. They comfort, they amuse, they support, they listen, but most importantly, they love unconditionally. I've learned the hard way which people to trust, which ones to befriend, and which ones are loyal. However,  I've also learned in my 24 years, that when you find the ones that matter, the ones that make all the difference, you cherish them and make sure they know how much they mean to you.

My family is always first and foremost with me. We're incredibly close and I would not be whole without them. I know they love me, and I love them, but I get enormous satisfaction in doing little things to make sure they know. Or even just to make them smile one more time that day. I have special little traditions with each one of them. I leave notes, I leave surprises, I send my Mom flowers without a reason, because she matters that much. You never need a reason, you never need an explanation for doing those little things. Even if they know it, it never hurts to remind them daily, weekly, monthly. Plan a surprise night out, go to dinner, go a play, plan an unexpected outing. They won't question it, they'll know you were thinking about them when you put it all together. My Dad keeps telling me that sending cards in the mail is going out of style these days, but I absolutely love sending cards. I do it all the time, just because I can.

Don't take for granted the ones that you have in your life that love you unconditionally. Sometimes in this day and age with all the technology and distractions available to us, we overlook what, and who we have in our lives. I may be guilty of it occasionally, but I've tried to fix it because I would be lost without my family, my best friends, my circle of people who I couldn't live without. They show me that I matter with the smallest things they do, so why not show them too? Because of the advances of technology and the world today, there's so much more you could do and plan. The possibilities are endless these days. Take advantage of that and do something special. Do it often, and do it because you want too.

I love sending flowers and cards to my Mom with no other reason then because I just want too. But even better then that, is the baffled phone call I get from her, asking why I send flowers, because I can hear the absolute joy in her voice. It's the least I can do for one of the most important people in my life. And if I weren't so far away,  I would be doing a lot more. What matters most in life is not what you achieve, but those who are standing next to you as your dreams come true.

So I hope I'm doing something for all of you and reminding you of the little things. And if anyone's wondering I like flowers too, or cards in the mail ;)

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come....

Beverly Hills Adventures

It's been a while guys, I know. I haven't kept up only because all my energy has been going into work lately. I get home each night and literally collapse on the couch, but I'm going to be better about it again. So much has happened in the couple months I've been working. But first, can I just say how much I love Beverly Hills?! What a cool part of LA and I love that I am able to be there every day and explore new parts of it. Working there every day motivates me even more to achieve all that I want too and more because it would be awesome to live there too one day. Plus the celebrity sightings are no hardship either. I was at Starbucks this week and this man came up to stand beside me as he waited for his coffee. I happened to glance up and I thought "Hmm that guy looks a lot like Kelsey Grammer." I looked again, very subtlely of course, and thought "Nooo that can't be him, I'm just imagining it." Then the barista asked him a question and as soon as he spoke I knew I was standing right next to the legendary Dr. Frasier Krane. I'd recognize that voice anywhere. I wanted to tell him how much I love Frasier, but as I was standing there grinning stupidly to myself about the whole thing, I decided just to keep it to myself and not bother him. Just standing next to him was enough, I'm actually still smiling about it haha. Although if it becomes a regular thing, you can bet I'll start chatting with him!

Another cool story that happened recently from another morning also occurred on my way to Starbucks (I'm sensing a pattern here, is that just me?) I happened upon a movie set on my way there - Imagine having a sort of movie set radar, because that's what I believe I have. I can spot them from 10 blocks away and I immediately zeroed in on the prop truck, so I knew I had indeed stumbled upon an actual movie set. (As opposed to an imaginary one? I don't know where I was going with that, but just roll with it) Well as I started toward the movie set, because it was taking up the whole street and of course I'm not going to go around it. I wanted to walk right through it. (Side Note: When you've worked on movie sets before, you learn how to do that so that no one questions you or what you're doing. I'm afraid I can't tell anyone how that works or I'd have to kill you. Wait, what?) Back to my story, so I'm walking through the movie set and all of a sudden I see a couple guys I recognize. It turns out part of the camera department from this movie (which I found out was a Steven Soderbergh HBO movie) also worked on Hunger Games with me, so I had tons of fun catching up with them for a bit and getting to see them again.

Of course when I got back to the studio (coffee cup in hand, I did eventually make it to Starbucks amid all the excitement) I was telling Janice Dickinson about my movie set adventures and low and behold she jumps up and decides she has to go talk to Steven Soderbergh right then and there. She strides out the door yelling over her shoulder for me to follow her, so we head back there and I get to see my Hunger Games friends again while Janice takes pictures with the crew and tries to find Steven. We never found Steven since we didn't have a lot of time before we had to start her morning show, but I did see Matt Damon! So it's a success in my eyes even though I was running around like crazy trying to follow Janice around. (She has really long legs, it's harder then you think...)

Anyway those are a couple adventures I've have lately. As you can see I'm really enjoying this new chapter of my life and the experiences I'm getting to have. I'll post more updates in a more current fashion from now on I promise. For all those who were worried about me in the last few months, I'm doing really great now.  I'm enjoying this next phase and the opportunities that have become available to me and what I'm doing. I don't know if I'll ever become one of those people who are no longer star struck, it happens to the best of us, but sometimes I still can't believe I'm here in LA. One day it'll sink in, but for now I'm loving every minute. I'd like to give a shout out to everyone at FilmOn, especially Kato Kaelin who is awesome and has given me a segment on his show! Much love to all my friends and family. I miss you all more then you know. Stand By and Stay tuned, there's more to come.

The World of Live Shows

So it's been about a month since I began working at a TV station and what a whirlwind it has been. Initially I didn't know if I had what it takes to be a part of running live online talk shows. It's extremely different then working on movie sets, which is all I had done before this. But with a lot of practice, and encouragement from everyone who works there, I learned the rhythm and I am now completely comfortable with the job. Of course I'm doing fifty million things at once every day, but that actually suits my personality quite well.  (For those of you who know me well, when am I not running around and doing fifty million things??)

Some people are still asking me what exactly it is that I do there so I'll go into detail for you guys. Earlier I had said I help run the control room during the shows, which is the short answer. The long answer is that I run the photos and videos, that go up during the show. All the while running the teleprompter, the skype calls, phone calls, and getting people to sign the release forms, before, during, and after each show. Sounds like a lot doesn't it? Well it is a lot, but again, I prefer to be running most of the time then sitting still, so I don't mind. And again, it's all live so you have to be on your toes the whole time. Tuned in, paying attention, and anticipating the hosts and what they'll need next. On average we do about 11 shows a week. I know that's actually quite a bit, and it does get a little hectic, but the rest of the crew that works there is fantastic, and we all pitch in to help each other when it's a high stress day, or during any crazy moment. I'm really grateful to be working with such fantastic people.

The hosts of the shows are pretty fantastic too. I'm lucky to say that in a month I've become good friends with Janice Dickinson, Kato Kaelin, and Natalie Nunn and many more. We have many other hosts, and a variety of shows, so it's a pretty fun environment. We have live bands, and football players that come on the show. Bachelorette's, and 2012 London Olympians. It's something new every day, and I'm thrilled to have learned about this new aspect of film and online TV that I didn't know about before. I'm also quite thrilled to know that I can handle it and work there as confidently as I did on a movie set.

So that's an overview of what I do and what's been going on. I'll do more regular updates, I've been a little lax lately as I've been getting into the rhythm of working, but stay tuned, because as always, there's more to come.

People

Airports are a cool place. I love all the different people and the mix of cultures. There's the families who travel together as a pack. I'm familiar with that, as I spent most of my life doing that with my own. There's the single business men who move through the airport as if they were forever on the motorized walkway, phones glued to their ear. The business women, who move a little slower then the men, but at their lighting speed I think they actually still notice what is around them. The tourists with cameras still strapped around their necks, T-shirts exclaiming how much they love the city they are departing from. Then there's the people like me, who neither fit into the business person nor family category. The one who closely watches everything going on around them.

Sometimes I want to stop the business men who travel at their warp speed and tell them to slow down. Life isn't always about rushing around. We all need to remember to find the joy and peace that life can give us. Now if I'm running late for a flight of course I go into warp speed myself and the only thing I'm aware of is the vague bodies of people as I go sailing by...but on days like today (when my flight's been delayed) I'm allowed the chance to stop and observe the comings and goings around me.

I like to smile at the tourists who cannot contain their excitement about how big the airport is or how many different selections there are at the food court and surrounding shops. I like to smile at all the families, at the laughter and arguments that always happen during traveling. It makes me think of my own and wish for the days when we used to all travel together. I see couples who are so completely in love, that they only see each other, and I wish for the day when I'll have person in my life too.

I even smile at the foreigners, because it makes me think of Europe, and being surrounded by so many types of people over there. I love the mix of accents, the clash of cultures, and the ability to see so many different people in one place. Airports really are the best place to people watch. You see love, you see sadness, you see people working, people relaxing, people hurrying, and people strolling. So as I continue to people watch (since my flight is still delayed) I'll leave you with this quote from Love Actually that I think sums all this up.

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around. "  - Love Actually


Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come.

The Journey Continues

Six months ago I moved to this big, brand new city. You've probably heard of it. It's called Los Angeles. Bright eyed and bushy tailed I literally packed up my entire life and moved here. Along with the masses, I had a dream and nothing was going to get in my way.

Well it ended up that a few things got in my way. Like the thousands of other people looking for a job and wanting to work in the film business, the insanity of gas prices, and expenses in this city, as well as rent of course. So I exhausted all my contacts, met new contacts, and pounded the pavement. I'm not going to lie, I got a little discouraged along the way. All the coffee and meetings, and lunches, and dinners with people led to nothing. All my existing contacts led to nothing. Hollywood's a harsh reality when you tear away all the glamour and gloss and sparkle of it all. But I never lost hope, I never stopped believing that there was something waiting for me. Even when I missed my family beyond belief they showed up here and helped me through it. And you know what? There was something waiting for me, and I finally found it.

As of this week, I now work full time at a small production studio named FilmOn in Beverly Hills. They do 10 live online shows a week. It's a little different then what I'm normally used to doing in a production studio. I've had to adjust and learn new things, but I'm slowly finding my way and my place there. The crew is fantastic as is the cast. It's a really cool group of people. I help run the control room during the live show as well a  few other random things. It's a new experience that I'm welcoming and embracing. Plus, I'm really loving being in Beverly Hills every day. That in itself, is really fun. Yesterday Stephen Baldwin stopped by the studio and I got to meet him. He's a really awesome guy.  I'm sure there'll be many more of those moments to come, and I'm looking forward to them.

So thank you to everyone who believed in me and thought of me, and helped me along the way. All of that lead me to here and I'm eternally grateful for such a wonderful support system. It hasn't always been easy over here, but I never stopped believing. That's what I hope to pass on to all of you who read this. During many points in your life you'll have periods that get you down, but never give up hope. The sun will always shine again, the days will always get better. Don't get down in the dark periods, chase the light instead.

Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come.

Let Me Entertain You

It's been a while since I have updated you on my journey of taking over of the world...oops wait, I meant impact. I'm updating you on how I'm impacting the world, because why would I want to take it over? I mean if I did take over the world that would mean I could have anything I wanted at all times, and why does everyone always make that sound like a bad thing?? That actually sounds kind of awesome! Although then your friends leave you because you're bossing them around with all the power you have from world domination... and then that makes it hard to buy new friends because they talked to your old friends, so maybe I should rethink this whole taking over the world thing....what was I talking about again?

Right, impacting the world. Well if my taking over the world tangent doesn't open any doors for me, or at least make anyone smile at the absurdity then I guess I should come up with a Plan B. In my case, I think that's probably what I've been doing in the film industry. Although it doesn't seem as appealing now as taking over the world. Maybe I should hire an assistant and then when they assist me and bring me things it'll feel like I'm king of the world, when in reality I'll just be king of the snack table. Oh... King of the Snack Table, I like how that sounds. It's powerful, like Cake Boss, which is another powerful title. I love watching that show, although it makes me really hungry and then I usually have to run out to the store and buy a cake, which is terrible. It is absurd that Cake Boss has that much control over me, maybe he should be King of the World instead, or Snack Table. I've lost my point again and now I'm really hungry.

Maybe I should hire an assistant just so he or she can keep me focused. Then I could be King of my own Thoughts, although that would be a boring job. My thoughts aren't all that exciting, unless you count the one about being king of the snack table. That one was actually quite appealing. But for a normal person, having thoughts that constantly revolve around junk food would probably be irritating so maybe I don't want to be king of my own thoughts. Maybe I just want to be me. And since I'm being me, I hope you've laughed and enjoyed this comical post because I certainly have enjoyed writing it. Not everything in life should be serious, I like things that make me laugh at least once a day. So my mission today was to make some of you laugh, which I truly hope I have succeeded in. Smile, laugh, be happy, and find something you can be king of, if only just in your mind.

Stand By and Stay tuned, there's more to come.

King of my own world, my own life. That's enough for me.

Surprises

Life is full of surprises. I know that we sometimes love that and hate that about life, and while we will never understand the mystery of life, it's the people in our lives who go out of their way to surprise you that matter and make it all worthwhile. Two weeks ago I got the surprise of my life when my Mom showed up here in LA. I was shocked to find out that my family had kept the secret from me of her visit for a month (if any of you know my family, that is quite exceptional of them...Europeans can't keep secrets!) and it wasn't until she was on the plane out here that I learned she was coming. It was the most wonderful, amazing, thrilling and much needed surprise. She knew I have been a little homesick over here and there was nothing more I could have asked for. It made me realize how lucky I am to have such a wonderful support system like that. It also made me realize the lengths she would go to just to make sure I am ok. We need to be like that for the people we care most about in our lives, and remember to show them how much we care. Whether it's a big surprise, or little surprise, or even just something that will make them smile, do something every once in a while to lift their spirits and remind them they're important to you.

I had ten wonderful days with my mom around LA and it was some of the best days I've had over here!  I truly believe that people are one of the most important parts of life. Don't take them for granted. You could have the best job, the best car, tons of money, or the biggest house, but for me that wouldn't mean anything unless I had the people I loved most around me. Show the people in your life how much you love them, remind them of that, or surprise them because not everyone is so lucky. Live. Laugh. Love.

Stand By and Stay tuned, there's more to come.

Just Be You

In our world today we have so many different types of people. This world is filled with numerous cultures, nationalities, customs, and traditions, and I never take that for granted. I love being surrounded by so many diverse groups of people. There's just as many types of people on TV and in the movies, and it's really easy sometimes to fantasize about being someone else. I've done it too, we see someone on the screen and we think they have a better life, and most of the time, they do. But you know what they don't have? They don't have all the amazing qualities that make up you. You are just as special, you are just as worthy, and if a camera followed you around all day, there would be just as many people wishing they could be you too.

I feel that we lose ourselves sometimes in this world. We listen to other people who say we're not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough. Nothing ever seems to be enough for some people, I've been there too. I've felt my heart being battered and bruised by society and people in my life who didn't think I was enough, but it was that feeling that made me stop and evaluate. Who are these people to judge me, and tell me I'm not worthy? They're not. I've gotten where I am today, gotten this far, by being exactly who I am. I'm the person that smiles all the time, that almost never gets mad, I work incredibly hard, and I always think the best of people. And yes I get disillusioned sometimes by people who set out to prove me wrong about my mentality of people and life, but I just keep going.
Use that feeling to prove them wrong. There's a reason you are exactly who you are, you were made that way. At some point in your life you'll find certain people who absolutely love that about you. You'll be surrounded by an incredible amount of love, and it will be those people who know you are more then enough for them.

I think it's worse in the film industry sometimes, whether you're in front of the camera or behind it. There's a lot of judgement that goes along with being in this business, but you can't let it affect you. Up to this point in my life, I've had great work experiences, and I've had absolutely terrible ones. I've had people who believe in me, and people who throw me under the bus. I got through it all though, and I'm stronger today because of it. That doesn't mean I've changed myself to be what people want me to be, I just keep being exactly who I am, nothing more, nothing less. You can't change what people think about you, but you can change how you feel about yourself. You are incredibly talented, smart, capable, gorgeous, worthy, and most importantly, you are who you are.


Stand By and Stay Tuned, there's more to come.

Before the Cameras Roll

I've told you all before what happens behind the scenes on a normal shooting day....but what I haven't told you before is how the process works on days before the camera is even there.

Once Upon A Time... there was a TV show. So many things happen behind the scenes on this TV show that no one even knows about. Two weeks before the cameras roll on a new episode, preparations are under way. First come the meetings with all the department heads, directors, and producers. Then the table read with the cast, and the writer's in LA, and then everyone gets to work.

Once everything is decided in the meetings, the production designer meets with the set decorator and the director to design and create any new sets that are going to be built. Then once it becomes finalized, construction comes in and starts building the set. For the next couple days it's a whirlwind of carpentry, paint, saws, and a familiar rhythm of hammering. They work quickly and efficiently and usually within three days the set is built. The rigging department works after they are done putting in metal beams above the sets that gives the electric department the ability to hang lights from, on the shooting day. Then the set dressing department comes in with furniture, curtains, lamps, picture frames, rugs, couches, desks, and anything else the environment needs. No detail is overlooked when it comes to set dressing. They put files in the file cabinets, medical equipment in the hospital rooms, they put up decorations when theres a party, and many other things.

While all this is going on, the prop department is shopping for the props that will appear in the episode, just as wardrobe is doing the same for each character's costumes. Days before the episode begins to shoot the prop and wardrobe departments do a show and tell for the director. Things are approved, things are added, things are taken away. From then on it's a mad dash to find any other items that were added, age any of the props, etc. In the prop department it's also very important to have multiples of almost all the props, especially the ones that the main characters use or handle. That goes for letters, teddy bears, backpacks, medical items, and many other objects.  On Army Wives we had doubles for all the character's cell phones, on Hunger Games we had multiples of Katniss's bow and arrow.

Then just a few days later, the shooting crew comes in, along with the cast, and the cameras begin to roll. Everything now on the set, is what you see on TV when it airs. That is the magic of TV, the hard gritty, glamour of it all, and now you know what happens before, once upon a time.

Stand By and Stay tuned, there's more to come.

Army Wives - Behind the Scenes

While I've gone into detail before about Hunger Games and a couple other features, TV shows are a little bit different. I really loved working on Army Wives for a whole season, I was very lucky and blessed to be welcomed into such a fantastic cast and crew.

Army Wives was a different environment because essentially they are a family. Most of the cast and crew have been together on that show for six years now so it is a wonderful group of people.

You still have the same departments on set, the production crew, Electrics, Grips, Camera, Props, Set Dec, Greens, Paint, Hair, and Make-up. That never changes. You'll have those same on set departments on any feature, or TV show, with maybe a couple more thrown in like Specials Effects, or Visual Effects, or Construction depending on the nature of the production.

The cool thing about a TV show though is everything is mostly in one place. Near the home stage will be the rest of the departments, Accounting, the Production Office, Casting Office, Transpo Office, and each office of the on set departments. On Army Wives though, with the show and characters always growing and expanding, we have another stage that we film at pretty often too but unfortunately it's across town from the home stage.

Most of the locations for Army Wives are on sound stages. Of course we go on location once a week or so like any production, but the best days are when we are at the stages.  You learn pretty quickly the fastest way to get through the giant building quiet as a mouse. If the cameras are rolling, you learn how to have conversations without really speaking. You learn where to find each of the departments at any given time, and you learn the best spots for playing on bikes, skateboards, scooters, etc. (Not that I ever did that...too many times)

Aside from the playing around, I truly did love working on this show for many reasons. Because it's a TV show, it's constant and fairly steady. The schedule doesn't really alter too much, there's almost never any night shoots, and there were never many surprises. I made some wonderful friends that I really miss. I wish I could have done another season there but life is funny sometimes. I made tons of memories though, that I'll never forget! So with that said, enjoy the pictures  :)

On the set of Army Wives...

Michael came to visit one day.

The view from my office, pretty amazing right?

Fun with the "SWAT team" on set

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Stand By and Stay tuned, there's more to come.

Film Noir

About this time last year some friends and I submitted an application for a mini grant of $10,000 from the South Carolina Film Commission. Amazingly, I am very proud to say that we were one of the lucky winners! Now a year later, the film is being accepted into numerous film festivals.

This film (Scattered City) was such a joy to work on and to film. After just finishing Hunger Games, I was thrilled to jump onto something that allowed me to be so creative with complete designer control. I truly love that side of film making, I fell in love with it years ago.  Sometimes I still can't believe that I get to design multiple sets and make them look like they've always been there. Then there's also the decision of what tone I want the environment to evoke, and what that character might have in their surroundings. I don't even mind all the researching that goes into it either, because when you find each piece that will complete the set as a whole it's the most fantastic feeling.

My other favorite part of art department is the aging of props and set pieces. Of course everything you buy for a film is going to be brand new, so you have to make the pieces and props look older and more weathered depending on the scene. From spray paint, to sand paper, to baby power, and many other products and tricks; those are just a few of things things I try first when I'm aging and distressing any props.

I particularly loved aging this bucket. I pretty much had free reign with it and since it appears in an alley way in the film I could make it really dingy and old looking.  This is the rest of the alley below, what it ended up looking like.

Fun in the Alley.

Another thing we always have to consider when making a film is labels and brand names. So for a bar scene we did, I had to find something we could use. Luckily my Hunger Games bosses are pretty awesome and they gave me some fake bourbon labels they used in "The Social Network" Here's how it turned out.

I could sit here and talk about this movie all day, and probably many more. I love what I do, and I think I'll always love working in the art department. There's so much that happens even before the movie begins to film, so much preparation, and dedication but it all matters, and it all makes a difference. 

Hope you guys enjoyed my overview of Scattered City.  I'm so incredibly excited about this movie. It's about to come out on DVD so let me know if anyone wants a copy! It was made with a fantastic group of people, and a whole lot of love. It was a truly amazing experience. Here's the newest poster, enjoy!

Stand By and Stay Tuned, There's more to come.