Hello there!
Yes, it's true. I've grown tired of telling people "check out my blog" because I'm too embarrassed to admit I don't have a website. So I'm rolling my sleeves up, and taking matters into my own hands. I made a website when I was 13, dagnabbit, I can make one now! (Granted, it was on angelfire and was basically just jokes my friends told me and pics of my 14th bday party but it was SOMETHING)So follow along in my most likely hilariously bad attempts at making my own website. It should be up sometime before I die. Be on the lookout.
Also, on Monday I get to shoot this Columbia MFA film I've been working on for a few weeks now. We got really awesome feedback from John Rubin, the instructor, and I was able to shuttle off some headshots in the never-ending search for new jobs. I just pray the cold I'm nursing is staved off by then. :\
But the most exciting thing I did this week was audition for a series regular role on an HBO pilot! I thought I prepared the crap out of it and feel good about the audition. Heck, I felt good when I got asked to come in!!! I'm easily excited by such things. Anyway.....more updates to come, I'm having trouble concentrating when my head is all a sniffly!
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
An update for the ages.
HELLO THERE!
I keep being a fart about updating my blog. I'm sure all my faithful blog readers keep checking for updates, only to have their hearts dashed and their weeks ruined. Well, here you go, Chiara Atik.
As my trusty dog Baxter sleeps by my side, I will recap all that has befallen me in this past month. I am SO sad Dear Brutus is over now, because it was a great time, a great part, and great people I worked with. We had a lot of people come see it in the mere week it ran, so that was really awesome. Nothing like playing to a full house!....mainly of elderly ladies, but isn't that what theater is all about? And now I will show you a couple pictures from the show, courtesy of our director Kymm:
There's me bein all sad about my husband kissing another lady, played beautifully by Jeff and Karen.
And then in the magical wood, the tables are turned! Now I am beloved.
Me realizing I'm still Jack's wife as Joanna (Karen) realizes she isn't. Hah.
There ya go!
So once it was over, I really wanted to keep working with Zephyer Rep and the Wings folks, so I auditioned and got cast in their next show, a rockin 80s all-chick Midsummer Night's Dream! Hooraw! I've only been to one rehearsal but it was very promising, it's cool to see chicks acting male roles better than I've seen actual guys do them. I'll be playing Snug the Joiner, the slightly off Mechanical who ends up playing the Lion in the meta play. I'm having a great time perfecting my vacant stare and general confusion at everything happening around me. It's really great to be a dim character in Shakespeare, because everyone around you is saying freakin Shakespeare and then there's you, picking your nose. Note: I would never pick my nose on stage, let alone in Shakespeare.
Also, last week I made my guitar singing and playing debut, also at Wings, in their first cabaret with the lovely Angel Drake. I even got a clap going! That was cool. Although I messed up a chord, right after I sang the word "fuck". I guess I got too excited about saying it.
And yesterday, I did my first job on the set of the new HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire"!!! It was an incredibly fun day, we got to be on their main boardwalk set which was so intricate and authentic I really felt like I was at the beach, even though there was a huge blue screen where the ocean should be. Movie magic people!!! The crew was great, which is so important when you're on set for 10 hours straight. And I loved being dressed like the littlest sailor girl. Oh, you want a picture?....Ok.
Anything else? I've reviewed two shows for Broadway After Dark and have 3 more lined up in the next couple weeks, which all came from this silly blog, so I'm VERY happy about this. I'm seeing lots of good theater for free!
And how is the rest of my life??? Hahahaha, I laugh in your face, the rest of my life doesn't exist. I'm trying my best to use my sparse free time correctly: seeing my friends, drinking with my friends, going on dates (with the same guy I've been going on dates with for 5+ years), and catching up on my favorite shows. Those being American Idol, Ghost Hunters, and LOST. Do not judge me, but if I miss any of those shows you better believe I'll be cranky. I guess that's not really a good threat, but it's the best I can do, I'm still reeling from the Boardwalk 5:15am call time.
Anyone watching LOST by the way? Isn't the last season amazing? Every Tuesday is another piece in the puzzle fitting together. Tonight is Ben's Sideways fate--can't wait! I actually saw Michael Emerson at Hill Country once and got too nervous to say hi. He was having fun out with his pals, and didn't need some fangirl drooling over him. To this day, I kick myself in the shins thinking of the things I would have said to him, like, "I wish you would get trapped on MY island", or, "Hey, you're the guy from the show where you keep getting punched in the face! Cool dude."
It's probably better I didn't speak to him at all.
Until next time, friends.
I keep being a fart about updating my blog. I'm sure all my faithful blog readers keep checking for updates, only to have their hearts dashed and their weeks ruined. Well, here you go, Chiara Atik.
As my trusty dog Baxter sleeps by my side, I will recap all that has befallen me in this past month. I am SO sad Dear Brutus is over now, because it was a great time, a great part, and great people I worked with. We had a lot of people come see it in the mere week it ran, so that was really awesome. Nothing like playing to a full house!....mainly of elderly ladies, but isn't that what theater is all about? And now I will show you a couple pictures from the show, courtesy of our director Kymm:
There's me bein all sad about my husband kissing another lady, played beautifully by Jeff and Karen.
And then in the magical wood, the tables are turned! Now I am beloved.
Me realizing I'm still Jack's wife as Joanna (Karen) realizes she isn't. Hah.
There ya go!
So once it was over, I really wanted to keep working with Zephyer Rep and the Wings folks, so I auditioned and got cast in their next show, a rockin 80s all-chick Midsummer Night's Dream! Hooraw! I've only been to one rehearsal but it was very promising, it's cool to see chicks acting male roles better than I've seen actual guys do them. I'll be playing Snug the Joiner, the slightly off Mechanical who ends up playing the Lion in the meta play. I'm having a great time perfecting my vacant stare and general confusion at everything happening around me. It's really great to be a dim character in Shakespeare, because everyone around you is saying freakin Shakespeare and then there's you, picking your nose. Note: I would never pick my nose on stage, let alone in Shakespeare.
Also, last week I made my guitar singing and playing debut, also at Wings, in their first cabaret with the lovely Angel Drake. I even got a clap going! That was cool. Although I messed up a chord, right after I sang the word "fuck". I guess I got too excited about saying it.
And yesterday, I did my first job on the set of the new HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire"!!! It was an incredibly fun day, we got to be on their main boardwalk set which was so intricate and authentic I really felt like I was at the beach, even though there was a huge blue screen where the ocean should be. Movie magic people!!! The crew was great, which is so important when you're on set for 10 hours straight. And I loved being dressed like the littlest sailor girl. Oh, you want a picture?....Ok.
Anything else? I've reviewed two shows for Broadway After Dark and have 3 more lined up in the next couple weeks, which all came from this silly blog, so I'm VERY happy about this. I'm seeing lots of good theater for free!
And how is the rest of my life??? Hahahaha, I laugh in your face, the rest of my life doesn't exist. I'm trying my best to use my sparse free time correctly: seeing my friends, drinking with my friends, going on dates (with the same guy I've been going on dates with for 5+ years), and catching up on my favorite shows. Those being American Idol, Ghost Hunters, and LOST. Do not judge me, but if I miss any of those shows you better believe I'll be cranky. I guess that's not really a good threat, but it's the best I can do, I'm still reeling from the Boardwalk 5:15am call time.
Anyone watching LOST by the way? Isn't the last season amazing? Every Tuesday is another piece in the puzzle fitting together. Tonight is Ben's Sideways fate--can't wait! I actually saw Michael Emerson at Hill Country once and got too nervous to say hi. He was having fun out with his pals, and didn't need some fangirl drooling over him. To this day, I kick myself in the shins thinking of the things I would have said to him, like, "I wish you would get trapped on MY island", or, "Hey, you're the guy from the show where you keep getting punched in the face! Cool dude."
It's probably better I didn't speak to him at all.
Until next time, friends.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
T.A.B. at the Manhattan Rep!
Where have I gone, you say? I have been balls deep in rehearsals for T.A.B. and it opens tonight! So I have resurfaced to give some details to those on the Internets who would like to come.
Presented by the Manhattan Rep, T.A.B. is a surreal examination of a true story. In 2000, an MIT student named Elizabeth Shin was found burning alive in her dorm room and suicide by self-immolation was discussed as the cause. Like so many Korean-Americans and people of all ethnicities with immigrant parents, Elizabeth suffered from an inability to reconcile her parent's heritage with the American society that consumed her life. After having mono in high school, she missed a Physics test that contributed to her only being Salutorian, not Valedictorian--something her parents also attributed to racism and Elizabeth's laziness. One day after her family visited her at MIT with groceries and stories of home, Elizabeth lit some candles, wrote in her journal a macabre entry about how yoga is the only way she was able to feel relaxed, and the next minute she went up in flames. Like a Buddhist monk she became an offering, a sacrifice.
Playwright Susan Pak read a NY Times article about Elizabeth and it prompted her to write: about Elizabeth, about Koreans, about Americans, and the imagery and words flow on the page like a stream-of-consciousness from someone on the verge of a great discovery.
It's fun. It's insightful. It's heartbreaking. But most of all, it's something that I don't think has been done in theatre before. If you want to argue that point with me, why don't you come see for yourself? (see what I did there?)
Also, you might be wondering why myself, as a Whitey McWhiterton, is anywhere near this play. As well as Erin the producer, I've been with this project since its first New York premiere playing this part of the semi-retarded and totally clueless roommate. Growing up with 60% of my friends Asian really informed how I worked on this character...I was indeed the white friend, but I can only hope I treated my friends better than Kathy treats Victoria. And the worst part is that Kathy's insensitivity is never intentional.
So go to manhattanrep.com to find out more and to listen to a podcast our director Tracy recorded with the Artistic Dir of Manhattan Rep. For tickets you can call (646) 329-6588. We go up tonight at 8pm, and tomorrow and Friday at 6:30pm. Seating is VERY limited, it is black to the box. And if you're industry and wanna come, first of all, hey! And second of all, just call the number and mention you're industry and you should be able to get comps. One caveat: apparently they check business cards when you show up to get a comp ticket. Sketchy much?
In other news, I shot a short little piece for a Columbia grad student a few days ago about...dun dun DUN....abortions! That was a lot of fun, actually. I got the call to do it last minute so I went from eatin nachos on my couch to crying on a stranger's bathroom floor in about an hour. Ah, the actor's life.
Finally, I was an extra in a movie with a star type person last week, and it was my first experience with a name actor being a total douchebag to everyone. She was such a bitch. And we weren't paid, and kept there hours longer than we were promised we would be out by, and they ran out of food. Serves me right for working on a non-union, unpaid job. I learned my lesson though. But luckily I was able to make friends!
The End?
Presented by the Manhattan Rep, T.A.B. is a surreal examination of a true story. In 2000, an MIT student named Elizabeth Shin was found burning alive in her dorm room and suicide by self-immolation was discussed as the cause. Like so many Korean-Americans and people of all ethnicities with immigrant parents, Elizabeth suffered from an inability to reconcile her parent's heritage with the American society that consumed her life. After having mono in high school, she missed a Physics test that contributed to her only being Salutorian, not Valedictorian--something her parents also attributed to racism and Elizabeth's laziness. One day after her family visited her at MIT with groceries and stories of home, Elizabeth lit some candles, wrote in her journal a macabre entry about how yoga is the only way she was able to feel relaxed, and the next minute she went up in flames. Like a Buddhist monk she became an offering, a sacrifice.
Playwright Susan Pak read a NY Times article about Elizabeth and it prompted her to write: about Elizabeth, about Koreans, about Americans, and the imagery and words flow on the page like a stream-of-consciousness from someone on the verge of a great discovery.
It's fun. It's insightful. It's heartbreaking. But most of all, it's something that I don't think has been done in theatre before. If you want to argue that point with me, why don't you come see for yourself? (see what I did there?)
Also, you might be wondering why myself, as a Whitey McWhiterton, is anywhere near this play. As well as Erin the producer, I've been with this project since its first New York premiere playing this part of the semi-retarded and totally clueless roommate. Growing up with 60% of my friends Asian really informed how I worked on this character...I was indeed the white friend, but I can only hope I treated my friends better than Kathy treats Victoria. And the worst part is that Kathy's insensitivity is never intentional.
So go to manhattanrep.com to find out more and to listen to a podcast our director Tracy recorded with the Artistic Dir of Manhattan Rep. For tickets you can call (646) 329-6588. We go up tonight at 8pm, and tomorrow and Friday at 6:30pm. Seating is VERY limited, it is black to the box. And if you're industry and wanna come, first of all, hey! And second of all, just call the number and mention you're industry and you should be able to get comps. One caveat: apparently they check business cards when you show up to get a comp ticket. Sketchy much?
In other news, I shot a short little piece for a Columbia grad student a few days ago about...dun dun DUN....abortions! That was a lot of fun, actually. I got the call to do it last minute so I went from eatin nachos on my couch to crying on a stranger's bathroom floor in about an hour. Ah, the actor's life.
Finally, I was an extra in a movie with a star type person last week, and it was my first experience with a name actor being a total douchebag to everyone. She was such a bitch. And we weren't paid, and kept there hours longer than we were promised we would be out by, and they ran out of food. Serves me right for working on a non-union, unpaid job. I learned my lesson though. But luckily I was able to make friends!
The End?
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Does Having A Giant Picture of My Face on Here Make Me A Megalomaniac?
So while admitting defeat is not my strong suit, *sigh*, I'm leaving New York. It's too much right now.
Okay I'm only leaving for two weeks but still, for me, that's a while.
It's not that I'm not working. Work comes in waves, is unpredictable, and most definitely has a lot of downtime in between. And it's not constant rejection because let's be honest, at this point, when I've been acting competitively for 15 years, I'm used to being judged on the spot and rejected on the spot. It's the close calls that are killing me right now. I just can't seal the deal. I had a terrible audition yesterday and the people had nothing to do with it, they were so pleasant and encouraging and nice...I just wasn't doing it right. And I could feel myself sucking and couldn't stop. No do-overs. The least I could do was smile and hope they saw something of my craft in the proverbial dump I took and call me back for another chance. And, of course, today came and went with nary a call.
I AM GETTING SO CLOSE! What's wrong with me?
I would be a lot less sad if I hadn't received a hefty commercial check in the mail today. Seriously how would I have survived this last year without that job? God bless you House Production & Casting! One day of work literally paid my rent for a year. Well, two auditions, a whole lotta luck, and a 12 hour shooting day starting at 2:30am but who's complaining? Seriously House, I love you. Call me sometimes? I owe you dinner. Yes, the whole office.
Speaking of phone calls, where is my freelance agent lady friend? Has she gone away? Or have I done something egregious?
Here's a thought: stop waiting for something to happen to you and do it your freaking self, you drama queen. I said to myself.
I would be at the Gay Pride March tomorrow in some horrendousfierceinappropriate getup Sunday but alas, I have a JOB in a MOVIE! A real live movie! An unpaid, extra job in a movie but still, this is gonna be my first time on a big movie set and I'm gonna take it all in/get bored and read Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (thanks Jason!). More details after the shoot, in case, you know, they see me when I show up and determine I am in no shape to be in a real movie.
And how about that storm today? Hoo baby! And there's a giant hole in the ceiling where water poured out! That's hilarious and fun to deal with! Especially when water is pouring out of it at a comically fast rate! I'm being sarcastic! It was Terrible! I couldn't cook cause I used all my pots and pans for the leaks :(
Not that I would cook anyway, ha.
Okay I'm only leaving for two weeks but still, for me, that's a while.
It's not that I'm not working. Work comes in waves, is unpredictable, and most definitely has a lot of downtime in between. And it's not constant rejection because let's be honest, at this point, when I've been acting competitively for 15 years, I'm used to being judged on the spot and rejected on the spot. It's the close calls that are killing me right now. I just can't seal the deal. I had a terrible audition yesterday and the people had nothing to do with it, they were so pleasant and encouraging and nice...I just wasn't doing it right. And I could feel myself sucking and couldn't stop. No do-overs. The least I could do was smile and hope they saw something of my craft in the proverbial dump I took and call me back for another chance. And, of course, today came and went with nary a call.
I AM GETTING SO CLOSE! What's wrong with me?
I would be a lot less sad if I hadn't received a hefty commercial check in the mail today. Seriously how would I have survived this last year without that job? God bless you House Production & Casting! One day of work literally paid my rent for a year. Well, two auditions, a whole lotta luck, and a 12 hour shooting day starting at 2:30am but who's complaining? Seriously House, I love you. Call me sometimes? I owe you dinner. Yes, the whole office.
Speaking of phone calls, where is my freelance agent lady friend? Has she gone away? Or have I done something egregious?
Here's a thought: stop waiting for something to happen to you and do it your freaking self, you drama queen. I said to myself.
I would be at the Gay Pride March tomorrow in some horrendousfierceinappropriate getup Sunday but alas, I have a JOB in a MOVIE! A real live movie! An unpaid, extra job in a movie but still, this is gonna be my first time on a big movie set and I'm gonna take it all in/get bored and read Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (thanks Jason!). More details after the shoot, in case, you know, they see me when I show up and determine I am in no shape to be in a real movie.
And how about that storm today? Hoo baby! And there's a giant hole in the ceiling where water poured out! That's hilarious and fun to deal with! Especially when water is pouring out of it at a comically fast rate! I'm being sarcastic! It was Terrible! I couldn't cook cause I used all my pots and pans for the leaks :(
Not that I would cook anyway, ha.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Stress/Going Crazy
As my profession requires, I have many vocations going on at once. On any given day, I may be at my temp job, which I've grown strangely attatched to. Or maybe I'm babysitting, shuttling nearly always delightful Manhattan children around and baking cardboard frozen pizzas. Or maybe I'm doing an odd job, either from the temp agency or through some lovely contacts I've made recently who are actually paying me to goof around in the name of Cirque du Soleil. Or maybe, just maybe, you can find me in midtown acting my giant butt off for whomever cares to listen. Sometimes I'm even gifted with a rehearsal process and a performance! Whoda thunk? Kinda the whole point of me being here.
Now don't take this in any way as a complaint. Being busy with ANYTHING is very beneficial to my well-being, as I go a little insane when I have nothing to do. In fact, I look back on weeks such as the one I've just had with a sense of pride and accomplishment, with just a tinge of fatigue. Since last Friday, I worked 4 full days temping, worked on 2 shoots as an extra (1 paid), attended 3 auditions (2 film, 1 theatre), mailed a very very big agent, participated in a reading as Doll Tearsheet in Henry IV Part II (fingers crossed I get cast as that role is dy-no-mite!), AND found some time in there to eat, meet my friends for some much-needed drinkies, make weekend plans, schedule my coming weeks, and cuddle with my boyfriend and my pup on the couch.
It is hard to keep it all straight sometimes. I've double booked myself and had the special mortification of canceling an audition (this happened once and I've been actively trying not to do it ever ever again). But like I said, this is what's required of someone in my position. I learned quickly to not expect anyone to help you in this business--help and career partnerships are earned and cultivated, they don't materialize because they're so desperately needed. If there is a day, even a Saturday or Sunday, where I'm not doing anything about my career and try to relax, I kind of get a twisty worried feeling inside that maybe I don't deserve a day off yet. So that's why tomorrow, a day set aside for a trip upstate to tour my friend's hometown and go to a freaking carnival of all things, I still slipped in an audition in the morning. Sure, I could say, "sorry I'm planning a trip that day and can't make it", but the what ifs would eat me alive, and I wouldn't enjoy the time off anyway. Will this ever change? Will I ever be able to watch a bunch of TV in mah pj's with a big ol tub of ice cream without a care in the world?
I hope so.
I also hope I'll be in 1000 movies and plays that keep me on my feet 24/7 till I die at a comfortably old age.
This post was written, I think, to clear my head before I go home, walk Baxter, grill some burgers, and then watch "The Others" with all the lights off and the rain pounding a determined rhythm on my walls and windows. Sleeping in tomorrow will be a treat. Till next time, consider me de-stressed!
Now don't take this in any way as a complaint. Being busy with ANYTHING is very beneficial to my well-being, as I go a little insane when I have nothing to do. In fact, I look back on weeks such as the one I've just had with a sense of pride and accomplishment, with just a tinge of fatigue. Since last Friday, I worked 4 full days temping, worked on 2 shoots as an extra (1 paid), attended 3 auditions (2 film, 1 theatre), mailed a very very big agent, participated in a reading as Doll Tearsheet in Henry IV Part II (fingers crossed I get cast as that role is dy-no-mite!), AND found some time in there to eat, meet my friends for some much-needed drinkies, make weekend plans, schedule my coming weeks, and cuddle with my boyfriend and my pup on the couch.
It is hard to keep it all straight sometimes. I've double booked myself and had the special mortification of canceling an audition (this happened once and I've been actively trying not to do it ever ever again). But like I said, this is what's required of someone in my position. I learned quickly to not expect anyone to help you in this business--help and career partnerships are earned and cultivated, they don't materialize because they're so desperately needed. If there is a day, even a Saturday or Sunday, where I'm not doing anything about my career and try to relax, I kind of get a twisty worried feeling inside that maybe I don't deserve a day off yet. So that's why tomorrow, a day set aside for a trip upstate to tour my friend's hometown and go to a freaking carnival of all things, I still slipped in an audition in the morning. Sure, I could say, "sorry I'm planning a trip that day and can't make it", but the what ifs would eat me alive, and I wouldn't enjoy the time off anyway. Will this ever change? Will I ever be able to watch a bunch of TV in mah pj's with a big ol tub of ice cream without a care in the world?
I hope so.
I also hope I'll be in 1000 movies and plays that keep me on my feet 24/7 till I die at a comfortably old age.
This post was written, I think, to clear my head before I go home, walk Baxter, grill some burgers, and then watch "The Others" with all the lights off and the rain pounding a determined rhythm on my walls and windows. Sleeping in tomorrow will be a treat. Till next time, consider me de-stressed!
Monday, March 9, 2009
So much fun yesterday!!!
Yesterday I filmed a music video for an MTV artist (who was so darn adorable) called "You Suck". I had a blast--everyone was awesome and the song was good enough that I didn't get tired of hearing it constantly for hours and hours. I got to do a lot of fun stuff and I was dressed in a ridiculous geek getup that involved a belt and a vest. And I got partnered at the end (in a rather steamy sequence) with a very nice (but 18 years old!) boy. Honestly, that part was the most fun because everyone went from being so nervous to just letting loose and going with it--I think my pants came off at one point--awkward. But yeah, fun experience and can't wait to see it premiere on MTV! And best of luck to Kait, she really was a sweetheart.
In other news, I've been cast in a film called "Last Chance", in a small role but I love my scene and am looking forward to our reading next week.
So basically my life is boring and nothing ever happens to me :)
In other news, I've been cast in a film called "Last Chance", in a small role but I love my scene and am looking forward to our reading next week.
So basically my life is boring and nothing ever happens to me :)
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