Formidable Employment Found

Hi, my name is Julie McCoy and I'll be your cruise director...

After quite a fair number of years paying my dues I've managed to land the job of my dreams in one of the most beautiful stretches of land in all of Austin. I'm presently the Program/Marketing Event Coordinator for a Wellness Spa and Conference Center in Northwest Austin. And while it is not on the sun deck of the Pacific Princess it might as well be.

I get all that I have every really wanted, out of my current career, in my new job and role. I get to manage all of the minutiae and logistics of most programs on property and work with promoting the programs when I can. I get to interact with most every facet of the organization and am being appreciated and respected by my peers and supervisors. Yes, that's right. People acknowledge and am happy with the work I do. I work sometimes outrageous hours catering to people from all walks of life wearing down the heals in my shoes as I race around madly pulling together the finer details of specialized programs. I'm in hog heaven.

With this in mind I have of course had to put my acting desires on the back burner. But I am starting to finally learn that of all things in life to limit oneself from achieving goals, age is not one of those limiting factors. I am preparing to embark on my 29th year and I am ready to hit the ground running. Watch out world... the girl is coming through!

Have Play, Will Audition...

Today I auditioned for "We Have Separation" Spencer Driggers's "hip-hop infused tale of amnesia, adultery and space travel". Sounds like something right up my alley.

The premise, as far as I have been made aware, is the story of a guy Roy who wakes up in a hotel room with amnesia and complete loss of his faculties. His only links to the world and who he is are through telephone conversations with his wife, his mistress and his sister. I read for the part of Judy, the wife. The audition was quick and I think I did well. I will know more early next week if I get a call back.

Should not be too much of a stretch for the girl as I play a wife in real life. More news to follow.

Yeah Folks, I'm Gonna be on a Show about Football

Well it took a while but I finally got myself in as an extra on Texas's very own Friday Night Lights!!! The call time came early this morning at 6:30am in San Marcos and you would think the entire population of Texas State had turned out for the affair. But hey how can you beat free breakfast, lunch and paid extras work? You really can't, don't bother trying.

Filming was for scenes from the upcoming season 1 finale, supposedly taking place during cold weather meaning we had to show dressed in winter clothing. The scenes took a fair amount of acting due to the fact that we shot outside all day in lovely 70 degree weather wearing sweaters and overcoats. The season finale revolves around the state football championship for the Dillon, Texas Panthers so there was a lot of pom pom waiving and lots (and lots, and lots, and lots...) of yelling and cheering. My throat is going to take a few days to recover.

Along with getting the opportunity to be on an episode of a television series I also got to meet some groovy people. Shout out to Collin in Cedar Park and his Dad. "You guys were awesome and it was nice talking to you. Keep acting and perhaps we will see each other at another shoot."

So what is next in the acting future of The Girl? So glad you asked. As I am currently unemployed I will continue to pick up extras work until a more formidable form of employment comes along. And in the mean time I will be auditioning this Saturday for the Get Along Gang Performance Group's production of Spencer Driggers's We Have Separation.

Jackalope Crossing

It was no extras roll or guest star spot on Stargate Atlantis but it was getting my face out there and meeting new people.

Wednesday night I strutted my stuff at the Jackalope bar on 6th Street as Ms. Santahh. The cause was to support "She Rocks" an Austin organization supporting Female Musicians. I showed up in my Christmas finery (a black corset, leather pants and gloves trimmed with white faux fur) and offered up my lap to any willing victim wanting a photo with Santahh and her (as they liked to call themselves) Ho Ho Hoes!

The pay was non existent with the exception of a free drink token, never one to pass those up, and a few hours of holiday mischief. It had been a few years since I had played the role of an elf and getting to play santa was kind of like getting a promotion. Not to mention it really helped to start getting into the holiday spirit. So, Girl does Santahh, perhaps more promotional work is to come. I'd be happy with that.

For those interested...

3 slices of Pizza and Five Hours Later...

Gary 1 Girl 0

My attempt to be in movies back fired today but I still learned a lot. After waiting for five hours I was let go, along with the rest of the extras. Today was just not our day, we were not needed. However, one person managed to get a back of the head shot in frame. Go Cameron! Despite not getting on film I did learn a great deal and meet some very friendly and informational people. I learned to always bring beverages and reading material with you, lucky I did, as there was much sitting around.

It was great being on a set though. You get a real fly on the wall view of a film's ongoings. Everyone has a role to play and there are a lot of everyones. Today/tonights scene's were on the tennis court primarily with Brando Eaton, character Mike Jensen and a few shots here and there with Sean William Scott (aka Stifler from the American Pie movies) star of the movie. I was fortunate enough to be seated in a few key areas to get a view of the monitors, what translates to the image on the big screen.

I was offered an opportunity to stay on through the week and had I known the rest of the week would have been more than compensation in the form of pizza I would have. Unfortunately having been in a dire need for money lately and no luck on the employment front I took a job this week with a plant company setting up wreaths and trees in businesses. Not the high life of hollywood but it will help to pay one or two of the bills.

So with one failed theatre audition and one failed extras part it is on to the next prospect for thie Girl. Third time's the charm... Right?

Lights, Camera, Action...

I got my first gig as an extra. I am so, so, so excited. I have no idea what to expect but I have been given the necessary information and am rearing to go. The movie is “Gary the Tennis Coach” starring Seann William Scott. I’ll be in attendance along with a gaggle of other extras for the tennis match scenes in the movie as spectators.

So, a second notch will soon be carved into the actor’s chair of my life as the Girl goes from nothing to movie extra.

I’ll follow up after the shoot and let you know how it went.

On Having Left the Ledge...

One often reaches a point in ones’ life when one stands on the edge of a precipice looking down to a deep chasm and across to a sea of other ledges. Such a point was reached a little over 9 months ago when my husband and I picked up everything and moved half way across the country. We quit our jobs, sold off all of our furniture (save one computer chair), packed up the cat and left. My husband viewed it as the next logical progression in our lives as a couple and as people in general. We had been priced out of the bay area and needed to live somewhere better within our means. In my eyes I had just jumped off a cliff knowing I would land somewhere but had no idea where that was or how long the fall would last.

I landed two weeks ago.

For as long as I can remember I had fought who I am. I have done as was expected and what was expected of me and thusly have suffered. My whole life feels as though it has been governed by others. Now I am taking ownership.

So when one has no where to go but up, when one has nothing to lose and so much to gain, what does one do? One takes up acting. I have always loved acting and performing on stage. I thought I was too old to begin; having wasted so much of my young acting years on other endeavors. But that is just the voices of doubt in my head.

So what did I do? What was I to do? I went on an audition. It was nothing fancy or big but it was a start. I auditioned for the role of Clytemnestra in a local theatre’s rendition of Elektra. There were two auditions, one dance and one acting and I went to both. I was partly out of my mind but I went in with the intention that if I got even a minuscule two second part it would be grand and if I did not then at least I got the ball rolling. I tweaked my back out in the dance portion of the audition (partly because I had not danced like that in far too many years to count) but not for lack of warming up. The following day I returned for the reading of the role of Clytemnestra. I was nervous and while I think I did well I know I can do much better. I did not get a call back, I got much more. I have a new found confidence and took the first step. What’s next? Well this Girl has to go find a job and get the cash flow coming in again and once that is complete then on to head shots.

I have a goal that by the end of the year I will be ready to move forward and take on the acting and modeling scene of Austin and then some. Why the end of the year? Because everyone makes new years resolutions? Yes and No. It will be the end of the year but I will also be one year older and there is no better time than now.

Or at least 38 days from now.