My Freak, C’est Chic. At least My Agent Thinks I’m Brilliant?

Christmas is just around the corner and the seasonal commercial auditions are already here! What’s Santa going to bring little Jimmy? Honey, did you pick up that gift for Sammy’s teacher? Where are we going to get our turkey for this years Christmas dinner? What should I wear to the office Christmas party? All of these questions with answers to be followed with the many seasonal commercials brought to you soon.

Thank goodness this year casting decided to bring in an interesting actress that makes such interesting choices for these spots. Yes! I am talking about me. Not that the other hundred gals they brought in for the same role weren’t. As usual I received my sides the night before. I was surprised that I was being brought in for a Christmas spot because I am not your regular Merry Mary. So, I thought there must be some sort of quirky twist to this bad boy if they are bringing me in. I wonder what it could be? I opened the file and read through the sides.

When I receive breakdowns for commercials a lot of the time they say things like, ‘ Looking for someone with good comedic skills and timing. Like Tina Fey or Kristen Wig.’ Reading the sides I had just read, I assumed that this was what they were going for even though it was not stated in the breakdown. I ran through the lines a few times and whenever I got to the last three lines, I would laugh. Visualizing myself in the room the next day doing something very embarrassing, but hey…it’d be funny!

The next day was a beautiful day. The sun was shining; I was feeling peppy! I arrived at the audition, exchanged hellos, signed in, and sat down. FYI – The commercial spot was between a husband and a wife having breakfast. They were having a conversation regarding how many Christmas gifts were left to buy. The superhero wife had accomplished all of the gift shopping. She had even bought cookies for St. Nick. The husband says, ‘Wow, you are amazing.’ The superhero wife thinks he is referring to her amazing holiday organization, but really he is enchanted with the cookies. She replies back with, ‘Amazing! Who’s amazing? Can you say that again?’

I along with my momentary husband got called in to the room. We slated and after exchanging a few pleasantries, the director said lets give it a try. I sat down, picked up the mug and began to drink my fake coffee. I’m so method.

All of a sudden I had a thought that I should abort the choice I had made, but by then it was too late, and I had to deliver my last three lines of dialogue. I jumped out of my chair and began shimmy shaking towards my momentary husband like I was a fly girl, shaking my arms and singing, ‘Amazing! Who’s amazing? Can you say that again?’ The singing was out of tune, I became humiliated at my awkwardness, and my face was a brighter shade of purple. However, I couldn’t stop dancing and then my face started dancing. We all know when the face dancing begins; you have honestly reached a point of no return.

The producers, ad people, director, the camera guy along with my momentary husband were all choking/gasping with laughter. I was still trying to get my uncontrollable twitching under control and mask my purple shadiness. When I finally did look up, heads were shaking, and hands were covering mouths as they were all trying to gain some control. The director took a deep breath and kindly but calmly said, ‘We want this to be more of an internal thing. Think more to self.’ In that moment it was confirmed that I had made a choice that no other actress had made. My freaky was not so chic, but on a positive note I did liven up the room. I kept visualizing casting sitting in the office watching me on the monitor shaking their heads thinking, ‘Oh god Jess, not again.’

When I left, it took my face about twenty minutes to return back to my normal shade of pale pink. I also broke into hysterical laughter whilst on the verge of tears reliving my weird freaky geekness. My momentary husband did ask me how I had interpreted it to be as I did. I had to be honest and say because that is probably something I would do. Just to really rub it in to my hubby that I was a Rockstar for getting all of the holiday shopping done! Momentary Husband just shook his head followed by silent giggles.

What is the lesson learnt here? I’m not sure that there is one. I have been hired because I have made bold choices that no one else did. I promise I am not making this up. The choice I made in this particular audition wasn’t what they were looking for, but they will remember me, and my agent thinks it was a brilliant choice, which means that at least I was able sleep that night.

 Written By,

Jessica Hinkson

 

 

Happy 100!

Today marks From Yoga To High Heels 100th post! Jessica Hinkson and Robert Clarke take you on a mini voyage of a simple improvisation exercise. Storytelling. It’s wrong. It’s weird, but it’s the right kind of freaky. If you are wondering if we were under the influence of anything other than our wacky selves, the answer is no my friends. This is us as we are. Have fun! xo Jess

 

I Don’t Know Where I Stand

Funny day, looking for laughter and finding it there
Sunny day, braiding wild flowers and leaves in my hair
Picked up a pencil and wrote “I love you” in my finest hand
Wanted to send it, but I don’t know where I stand

Telephone, even the sound of your voice is still new
All alone in California and talking to you
And feeling too foolish and strange to say the words that I had planned
I guess it’s too early, ’cause I don’t know where I stand

Crickets call, courting their ladies in star-dappled green
Thickets tall, until the morning comes up like a dream
All muted and misty, so drowsy now I’ll take what sleep I can
I know that I miss you, but I don’t know where I stand
I know that I miss you, but I don’t know where I stand

~ Joni Mitchell, Clouds

Artist, Zhang Huan

Zhang Huan is a Chinese artist based in Shanghai and New York. He is primarily a performance artist but also makes photographs and sculpture. Zhang Huan is represented by The Pace Gallery in New York. The images you see here are just a few from his collection of Ash Paintings that he created from simply using incense ash.

Enjoy.

Jessica

Keep It Simple

 

Just Make Stuff

As you all know, I wrote and shot my first film A Voice To The Writer with Ardent Pictures this past Summer. We are in the middle of editing it as we speak. It’s coming soon my friends; girl scout honor. My friend Samantha Swan who is one of the founder’s of Ardent Pictures wrote a great article that everyone should read. Whatever your medium of art is, it is applicable to you. Here is, Just Make Stuff.

Have an amazing day.

Jessica Hinkson

Fear Is Like A Wilderland

Daylight falls upon the path, the forest falls behind
Today I am not prey to dark uncertainty
The shadow trembles in its wrath, I’ve robbed its blackness blind
And tasted sunlight as my fear came clear to me

I think I understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones or sinking sand

Now the way leads to the hills, above the steeple’s chime
Below me sleepy rooftops round the harbor
It’s there I’ll take my thirsty fill of friendship over wine
Forgetting fear but never disregarding her

Oh, I think I understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones and sinking sand

Sometimes voices in the night will call me back again
Back along the pathway of a troubled mind
When forests rise to block the light that keeps a traveler sane
I’ll challenge them with flashes from a brighter time

Oh, I think I understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones or sinking sand

~ Joni Mitchell

Trust Joni to get right to the heart of your soul. Her beautiful poetic songs have been filling the rooms in my house once again. I seem to go through phases when I listen to Joni a lot. Each lyric I choke back with a breath wondering where I am going next, what else does my path hold for me? To say that these last few months has been lovely would be a untruth. There have been moments of great uncertainty, and of waking up with fear deep in my belly. Life doesn’t work out the way we plan, I have learned this repeatedly. Sometimes I laugh at the mystery of the world and in other times I find it hard to find my breath. I find it hard to find the ground, to feel my feet in the earth. People get taken away from us to early; unexpectedly. There are friends of whom we hold so near only to be faced with the possibility of them not being here nor there. There is heartbreak among the tragedy. There is hope that is lost. Through the dark of the nights, of whom is it that we can call upon, when we can’t find sleep or peace in our dreams. Once again, we are reminded to go to ourselves. To go deeper inside, to keep searching, to regain hope. For as far as we each may fall at times, the rise is that much greater. So, as Joni so wonderfully says, ” I think I understand. Fear is like a wilderland. Stepping Stones or sinking sand.” Need I say more?

Be safe. Be beautiful. Be bold. Breathe.

xxoo Jess

For Today

May you receive this as a warm hug. A token of comfort to you. Wherever you are, I hope that you have an amazing day.

XO Jess

Your Wish Is My Command

I had a lot of fun writing my latest guest piece Your Wish Is My Command for Ardent Pictures. I hope you have as much fun reading it!

XO Jess

Come Meet Guest Blogger, Andrew Ritchie

If someone asked me to describe Andrew, I’m not sure where I would begin. I met Andrew a few years a go when I worked at the wonderful retail store Anthropologie. We became friends instantly. We laughed so much so often that my belly would hurt the next day. Not only is Andrew so much fun to work with, he’s also a wonderfully talented artist; not to mention his crafting skills. He is always ready to help someone out, he’s a great listener, he’s a caring man. A good friend. We be-bopped to our favorite nineties tunes . We threw out a few jazz hands not to mention our hips! We dreamed together of textiles, fabrics, and our Hollywood husbands. We had a blast! Check out Andrew’s guest piece, Harvest, and be sure to stop by and check out his beautifully structured blogs.

XO Jess