It's Saturday night and it feels like yesterday happened a week ago. I got an email from Tessa's manager Friday morning asking me to sign up for another casting director work session on Saturday morning. I had already scheduled a meeting in the park Saturday morning with a friend of ours Mariko. She was the person that connected Tessa up with her manager Penelope when Tessa was 5 years old. I did not want to cancel. Luckily I was able to coordinate the times. I registered knowing there would be another script for Tessa to learn. She was currently working on a monologue for the acting coach we were seeing Friday afternoon. Tessa was unaware but this coach only takes on certain clients and he wanted to see what Tessa could do. I told Tessa to focus on the monologue.
It was 1:00 pm when we headed to Hollywood for the coaching session and I had still not gotten a script sent to me. We had to park 3 blocks away to find a parking spot. I was glad we had left early. We found the building and made it on time. As with most places out here, I have found, coaching and agents can be tucked into the smallest places due to the costs. We were greeted by the assistant and asked to sit down. It was a tiny space the size of a walk-in closet. There were a lot of pictures of the coach with various actors. I was surprised to see him with Dom Delouise. A blast from the past. Tessa and I sat quietly and waited. Suddenly a door opened out of a wall (we had not seen the door because it was hidden as part of the wall) and out walks a young man. Tessa's mouth pops wide open. I look at him thinking "I know this kid" he seemed about 17 years old. Very serious looking. He looked at Tessa and I, smiled and said "Hi, have a good session! " and walks out. My daughter oh jaded 12 year old that she is almost SQUEALED! She said that is Jake Short from Might Med and Ant Farm (two Disney shows).
It was 1:00 pm when we headed to Hollywood for the coaching session and I had still not gotten a script sent to me. We had to park 3 blocks away to find a parking spot. I was glad we had left early. We found the building and made it on time. As with most places out here, I have found, coaching and agents can be tucked into the smallest places due to the costs. We were greeted by the assistant and asked to sit down. It was a tiny space the size of a walk-in closet. There were a lot of pictures of the coach with various actors. I was surprised to see him with Dom Delouise. A blast from the past. Tessa and I sat quietly and waited. Suddenly a door opened out of a wall (we had not seen the door because it was hidden as part of the wall) and out walks a young man. Tessa's mouth pops wide open. I look at him thinking "I know this kid" he seemed about 17 years old. Very serious looking. He looked at Tessa and I, smiled and said "Hi, have a good session! " and walks out. My daughter oh jaded 12 year old that she is almost SQUEALED! She said that is Jake Short from Might Med and Ant Farm (two Disney shows).
I looked at Tessa smiling. "I told you this coach was good." Tessa's whole attitude changed. She has had some negative coaching experiences before and was not very excited by this one, until now. John (Kirby) came out and invited me and Tessa into his studio. We walked through the hidden door and then walked through a fake door (for rehearsing purposes). He asked about us as a family, where we were from and what Tessa's experience and goals were. I then excused myself and left them to work. At the end He cam out into the waiting room and Tessa and sat down to talk to us. I found out later he rarely did this. John wanted to continue coaching Tessa. He said she was unique, talented, a humanitarian, had big heart and was one of those kids you just wanted to know more about. I am not sure what she shared with him but that must have been one amazing coaching session. John said we had done a good job raising her. That she had taste in acting and is definitely an actor. We discussed Skype sessions for the coming year. I was so thrilled. While paying, his assistant Nathan whispered to me that John rarely said things like he did about Tessa. Congratulations he said.
As we were walking back to the car I was thinking "Wow!Tessa has this amazing acting coach." Then I heard a squeal. It was Tessa! "I just met Jake Short!" Go figure. Later it sank in to Tessa what had happened. I think she was very pleased. After dinner around 7:30 pm the script came in for the morning workshop. I decided to print it out and read through it. I was reading it in disbelief. Tessa won't read this script! There were topics and words in it that so inappropriate. I knew that this workshop had adults in it so I emailed the coordinator and said that Tessa was 12 and I didn't feel comfortable with her reading this script. She called me back and said that was fine. Tessa could bring one of her own scripts. "Phew!" Disaster averted.
This morning we had a wonderful time at the park with Mariko with her two dogs. She and Tessa talked while we followed the dogs around.
As we were walking back to the car I was thinking "Wow!Tessa has this amazing acting coach." Then I heard a squeal. It was Tessa! "I just met Jake Short!" Go figure. Later it sank in to Tessa what had happened. I think she was very pleased. After dinner around 7:30 pm the script came in for the morning workshop. I decided to print it out and read through it. I was reading it in disbelief. Tessa won't read this script! There were topics and words in it that so inappropriate. I knew that this workshop had adults in it so I emailed the coordinator and said that Tessa was 12 and I didn't feel comfortable with her reading this script. She called me back and said that was fine. Tessa could bring one of her own scripts. "Phew!" Disaster averted.
This morning we had a wonderful time at the park with Mariko with her two dogs. She and Tessa talked while we followed the dogs around.
Tessa did well at her workshop. I got to meet the casting director and we discussed Tessa's goals. She took the time to talk to us personally which was nice. There was a pet store down under the workshop was a pet shop that had rescue dogs. We stopped in to play with them for awhile and headed back home for a break. I worked on Tessa's resume and some emails. It never seems to end. We were looking forward to dinner with Lisa (the aunt of one of Tessa's friend Julia). We had met one already and knew she was a lot of fun. Tummy's full and lot's of laughter made for a wonderful dinner date. Going to the beach for break tomorrow before beginning the packing process. Tessa is making a vocal reel Monday. And then we head home Wednesday night.