 If you have Netflix, you might’ve seen their new original show called “The Chair,” out right now. The show is led by the inimitable Sandra Oh, and has an amazing supporting cast. One of whom might be a new face to you (but who certainly isn’t new to the business), Mallory Low. Mallory plays a teaching assistant to Bill Dobson (Jay Duplass’ character), and is recurring throughout the series. When you’ve been in the business for years, you know this career is a journey. And I just love seeing the journey of talented artists like Mallory, working on all these incredible projects. A multi-hyphenate, Mallory is blazing trails in front of and beyond the camera, as well as making her mark in the voiceover world. I have a feeling the universe will soon feel her impact, and I hope her story will inspire you, as it has me, to continue working on your dreams! Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you’re from/grew up and how you got into acting/voice over?  I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I started acting around the age of seven in various commercials. At 16, I booked my first series regular role on a Nickelodeon show called, “Just For Kicks,” which was executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg. My mom was the one who initially got me into acting. She worked alongside my first agent as an assistant and would bring me to the office with her. The agent ended up meeting with me, and I charmed her with my innate singing ability by singing her my ABC’s and the rest is history.  How did you get cast in “The Chair,” and what was the audition process like?  The audition process for the “The Chair,” was a bit different than other auditions I’ve had in the past. Because of Covid, all the auditions were self-tapes; also, I found out about the audition through a good friend of mine. He was connected with Jay Duplass, and he recommended me for the role of Lila. A few days later, I received the initial audition from casting, then ended up getting a callback with new sides to self-tape with. I didn’t hear anything for a few weeks and had already concluded that I didn’t get it. But to my surprise, my manager called me in the beginning of January and said, “Time to pack your bags, you booked the role.” I cried. A lot.  What was it like shooting, working with the cast and crew? I am not going to lie; I did have imposter syndrome at times. However, I tried to not let it consume me. Working with such a talented cast, not to mention the queen, Sandra Oh, filming out of state in Pittsburgh; just the mere thought of all of that was a bit intimidating. But, on my first day on set in the make-up trailer, Sandra came up from behind me, grabbed my shoulders, shook me and said, “You’re here, you’re here, welcome!” After that very moment I knew I was going to be okay. Being welcomed with open arms from Sandra Oh, Amanda Peet, Jay Duplass, director Dan Longino and the rest of the talented cast and crew reconfirmed the fact that I deserved to be there. Their professionalism and warmth set the tone for the entire shoot.  Working on set was an absolute dream for me. I could see that both Sandra and Jay were big on specificity in their choices, but they were openminded to hearing other ideas. Since it was a first season, I think everyone was trying to figure out the “tone” of the show together. So, it was definitely a collaborative environment. I loved everyone’s work ethic and how respectful and kind they were to every single person on set, no matter what their role was. It made everyone feel at ease and comfortable which resulted in everyone delivering their best work, creatively. This whole entire experience was a huge learning experience for me, and I am so incredibly grateful to have been a part of it  Could you tell us a little bit about your VO career, and what’s been your favorite project to work on and why?  I feel that my VO career has just begun. Since I started my career on-camera, I still feel like a complete beginner in this new world of VO. As a kid, I dabbled in some VO, then on-camera sort of took over from there. Then, about 7 years ago, I got back into VO after taking a phenomenal VO class, which I attribute to my bookings. It’s really hard to single out a favorite project, but I loved voicing Livewire/Leslie Willis on Cartoon Network’s, “DC Superhero Girls,” Madam M in the video game, “Final Fantasy Remake,” and most recently, my first series regular as Chizu, in the upcoming new Netflix show, “Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.”  All of these characters have their differences, but what they have in common is that they are all strong, passionate, badass female characters. And I love that about them!
What’s something surprising about you that people don’t know? Usually, I would say that I sing, and my favorite genre to sing is R&B, but I feel like that information is on the internet already. So, here’s something better: I love to watch mukbang videos before I go to sleep, and I dream of one day having my own food vlog channel or mukbang channel. I am a huge foodie. If you could work on your dream project, with no regard to budget, what would it entail/be about, and who would you work with? Well, obviously the project would feature a strong, Asian female lead who overcomes her challenges and comes out on top. I’m currently writing two pilots — a musical dramedy and a sci-fi mystery. Even though I love playing and watching characters that have strength, I also admire characters that show their vulnerable side. Their imperfections. There is something so raw and human when you see the struggle and how it affects them. And I feel that showcasing that vulnerability in challenging times and having the perseverance to overcome it, is a strength in itself. I think I’m describing every single project Sandra Oh has been a part of. I guess that answers who I’d work with. Haha. There are a lot of ups and downs in this industry. Can you tell us one of your worst "down" times, and how you overcame it/are overcoming it? What's the best advice you've heard and how do you apply it to your life?  Ups and downs, in my opinion, come with the industry. Unfortunately, there will be tons of them. I can’t pinpoint a specific “down” time, but I can talk about my struggles and how I try to overcome them. For instance, I’ve always struggled with my self-worth and comparing myself to other people in the industry. I still do, to this day at times. Instead of being envious of other fellow actors, I try to reframe the perspective with the thought of being happy for them and with the belief that my time will come. We actors don’t usually receive a lot of good feedback, reassurance, or any confirmation that we are good at all and that we’re “on the right path.” Because of that, we’re always questioning our worth. Is the work that I’m putting out there, good enough? I’ve learned that we must trust ourselves, and trust the fact that if we don’t book, it has nothing to do with us as people and human beings. It might not even have anything to do with our work. But there is something so powerful in the acceptance of that. With that said, the best advice I’ve heard is: don’t look for the approval of others. We can’t be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay. In the end, all we can do is try our best and if we gave it 100%, that’s all that matters. Where would you like to ideally see yourself in five years?  Hmm. Ideally, I’d love to be a show runner or directing an episode of a show that I’ve written. Also, I see myself getting nominated for an award-winning performance and WINNING! Yes, I’m absolutely putting all that energy out there in the Universe. What tips and suggestions would you give to people aspiring to do what you do? One of my biggest tips and suggestions is to take classes and continue developing your craft. Even though I’ve booked jobs, I still continue to learn and keep an open mind.  Acting, whether it’s on-camera or voice acting, is like a muscle and you’ve got to keep working it or else it gets rusty. I also suggest finding opportunities to gain experience. If you aspire to act, act. Be part of short films or productions where you can do just that. Immerse yourself in your craft as much as possible. How can people find more about you, or reach out to you? You can find me on social media. My handle is: @mallorylow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Honestly, I’m not heavily on social media but I love interacting with people and try to as much as I can. Connect with me! Huge thank you to Mallory for doing this interview!
Check out her projects mentioned above, and let us know in the comments if you have any questions for her, or have enjoyed her work!
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 Nicole Fong Photography This interview has been one I’ve been wanting to do for YEARS. Ever since I discovered the life changing Inside Acting Podcast, and then started my own blog on inspiring people in the industry, I’ve always wanted to interview the phenomenal creator and co-host, Trevor Algatt. Over a span of ten years, Trevor, Aj Meijer (the other fantastic co-host), and their incredible team of people, created 314 episodes dedicated to “demystifying the inner and outer game of success in the entertainment industry.” (It’s currently on pause, but if you haven’t yet checked out IAP, you can still listen to their podcast and see the episodes here.) Beyond starting one of the most invaluable, helpful, and entertaining podcasts around, Trevor is an all around stand up human being. He’s one of those people who are always thirsty for knowledge, growing, and learning new things and ways of helping others become better versions of themselves. One of the reasons I loved listening to the podcast so much was listening to Trevor and AJ’s interactions. They were real people talking through relatable situations, presenting their viewpoints and learning all along the way. It gave me an insight into people’s careers higher up the rung from mine, and made me feel not so alone in this tremendously challenging career of acting. I felt like I was a friend listening in on their conversations, without even having met them. When I finally did meet Trevor in person, from the beginning, it felt like meeting an old friend. He is as down to earth as he seems on the podcast, and someone you can chat with for hours without even knowing it. I had the honor of acting with him in a short film he wrote and created, and he is truly one of the most talented actors I’ve ever worked with. Though he’s now stepped away from IAP, I know that wherever his career takes him, Trevor has, and will continue to have an everlasting impact on everyone he meets. It’s a privilege to be able to call him a friend, and I’m so grateful I got to finally interview the interviewer! Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up and how you got into acting/voice over?  Nicole Fong Photography I grew up just outside of Philly. I loved movies and video games growing up, but I blame the movie Ghostbusters for the acting thing. I was 3 years old when it came out, and my parents took me to see it in the theater. At a diner afterward — as the story goes — I crawled under the table, declared myself a gargoyle, froze in position, and wouldn’t move for the entire meal. How and why did you start the Inside Acting Podcast, and what has its impact had on you?  Nicole Fong Photography I had been in LA for a few years and podcasts were just starting to become a thing. I was listening to a show called Everything Acting, hosted and produced by two women in New York. They had a few years on me and were in a totally different market and demographic, so while I loved the energy and content, I had a tough time relating to their experience and vantage point. I was also terrible at managing my money, and despised being at the mercy of so many pay-to-play career resources and opportunities. I was working at Apple at the time, and meeting successful and well-known industry people every day… but felt I had no place to ask them to tell me about themselves and their journey. Then it clicked: I work at Apple, I know how to do this stuff. A podcast would give me a great reason to reach out to people, and might give them a reason to talk to me. I could position myself as a sort of expert-in-the-trenches, and serve the larger community of actors in the same position as me. Basically: I could copy what the Everything Acting women were doing in NYC. I asked AJ to co-host and produce it with me. If he’d said no, I don’t know that I would’ve gone through with it. This was over 10 years ago, so podcasts were still kind of novel. Most people didn’t know what they were. Now, everybody and their mother has their own show, and so many are producing amazing content brilliantly. I eventually decided to end my involvement with it, which was very bittersweet. But we had a great run, and I’m proud of what we made and eternally grateful for the people—listeners and guests—I now get to call friends. I don’t know where I’d be without those years of producing IAP. What were some of your favorite/memorable episodes and why?  Nicole Fong Photography So many—too many to list here. I loved chatting with Craig Ballantyne about productivity and structure. Tony Horton is a guy whose work has changed my life for the better in every way. And being invited to Jenna Fischer’s place and into J.K. Simmons’ trailer for interviews were wonderful experiences. What’s something surprising about you that people don’t know?  Nicole Fong Photography I’m a congenital anosmic—fancy-speak for being born without a sense of smell. It affects a tiny sliver of the population, but it’s common enough that I’ve met a handful of people over the years with the same condition. I’m even part of a support group on Facebook. We’re an interesting crew. Most people tell me 60% of smells are bad, so maybe I’m not missing much. If you could work on your dream project, with no regard to budget, what would it entail/be about, and who would you work with?  Nicole Fong Photography Oh, man. The greatest challenge of my life has been choosing and sticking to a single pursuit. I’m never the same person for more than 3 days or so at a time. Fresh obsessions are a constant. The Internet is a terrible thing for curious minds. I suppose a dream project would be some sort of interactive multi-media narrative: a book-music-live performance-game hybrid. Something messy and immersive and hilarious and weird and physical and tragic and fun. A meditation on the perfect mess of the human condition. Can you tell us how you got into health and fitness and tell us about your daily routines/beliefs you follow in regards to that?  Nicole Fong Photography  Nicole Fong Photography I more or less just kind of put up with sports as a kid. Little league baseball, soccer, wrestling, tennis, swimming—and for whatever reason, swimming stuck. I ended up being a pretty decent swimmer. All sports are demanding, but swimming requires a specific flavor of intellectual commitment. Most swimmers I know are fitness junkies well after their competition years. My theory is that it’s a combination of the constant post-workout endorphin high, and the meditation-strength-dance philosophy that the sport requires. It becomes part of your identity. After school, I struggled to keep a consistent workout routine. Then I saw a commercial for—yes—P90X, and a friend turned me on to a productivity program called Wake Up Productive. Both of these together were exactly the methodology and approach I needed to rebuild and maintain a fitness groove. I think everyone should love living in their body every day. It’s not free to get there, but with the right tools it’s not as hard or scary as most people think. There are a lot of ups and downs in this industry. Can you tell us one of your worst "down" times, and how you overcame it/are overcoming it?  Nicole Fong Photography When I first moved to LA, I began studying with an acting teacher who slowly and methodically manipulated me into some terrible situations. I blinded myself to what was actually happening because, a) he knew what to say to stoke a young actor’s enthusiasm, and b) I wanted to be the most authentic artist I could be—I was willing to be uncomfortable, to do weird shit to get better. He exploited that. I eventually woke up and got myself out. It’s been almost 15 years, and I’m just now beginning to process everything with the help of a therapist. I’d be lying if I said that that experience hasn’t been a factor in my choice to back away from acting for a while. There’s a lot of shame, embarrassment, anger, sadness, and regret I’m working through.  Nicole Fong Photography Where would you like to ideally see yourself in five years?  Nicole Fong Photography I always find questions like this so intimidating—mostly because I’m so many different people from day to day, week to week, month to month. I’m great at being in the moment, not so great at declaring and creating specific long-term outcomes. Right now, my strategy is this: follow joy, follow fascination, follow curiosity. Trust that I’m being led to a space where my blind spots and opportunities and interests all overlap. Right now, joy is coming from things that I pushed to the background for so long—stuff like mindfulness study and music-making and playing video games. I’d previously written these things off because somewhere along the way, I made up a story that they were too juvenile or had no income potential or weren’t *assertive* enough. In this moment, if I had to declare a 5-year vision: I’d enjoy making and playing music (solo, with a band, and for hire—scoring, maybe composing, licensing, etc.), and also traveling, and practicing living simply. I’ve never been one to be motivated by money or material things; authenticity, connection, creativity, and kindness are my driving values. Learning how to express those is an ever-evolving journey. In other words, it’ll be fun to look back at this interview in 5 years and see if I was either incredibly naive, or incredibly prescient. What's the best advice you've heard and how do you apply it to your life?  Nicole Fong Photography Again, so many! Two that come to mind: Darren Pettie, one of our early podcast guests, told us: “Wear life like a loose garment.” And Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez, another podcast guest, said, “If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong.” And Amir Talai (yet another podcast guest) told us his philosophy is to “be professionally invested, but emotionally unattached.” On my good days, these are my touchstones. Stay flexible. Life should be fun. Do what you can, and let the Universe handle the rest.  Nicole Fong Photography What advice would you give to people aspiring to do what you do? Cultivate curiosity. Follow the joy. Make the work only you can make. Be teachable. Always be learning. Work tirelessly to expand your circle of compassion. We only grow when we’re surprised.  Nicole Fong Photography How can people find more about you, or reach out to you? I’m not active online much these days, but: —Twitter: @trevoralgatt —Instagram: @trevoralgatt —Website: trevoralgatt.net Thank you SO much to Trevor for doing this interview and shoot! If he has influenced you or your life in any way, please leave a comment!
 Nicole Fong Photography Meet Jacob Anton – actor, model, and fitness extraordinaire (I added that last one, don’t worry – he’s too humble to say that about himself). Jacob is signed with one of the top modeling agencies in the world, and I wanted to know HOW IN THE WORLD DOES ONE DO THAT?! Amongst other things, of course. Modeling and acting didn’t just fall into his lap. Jacob has an incredibly fascinating story and background, and worked extremely hard to get to where he is today. After a little cajoling (what did I say about him being humble), I was able to get (force) him to open up for our interview and share his story and views on life with us. You’re welcome! 😉  Nicole Fong Photography Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up, and how you got into modeling and acting? I was born and raised in South Hill, Michigan. When I was 13 or 14, I finally convinced my mom that I wanted to pursue the arts, and she was going to drive my brother and I to an acting and modeling showcase for people under 18. But about halfway there, she changed her mind and we didn’t get to go. I went to an all Catholics boys high school and was playing three sports, and it didn’t offer much in the way of arts. The whole idea of modeling/acting didn’t come back to me until well after college when I was living in China when I was around 26 years old, and playing football semi professionally and coaching in Chongqing. It was there, in a city with 20 million people, where basically if you were a foreigner and had a look, you could get hired as a model. So I did a couple of jobs at Chinese boutiques that were selling French clothing and was able to work as a model at the store. I was modeling and trying fun abstract art pieces. It was a way to sort of work one day and pay the rent for the whole month. So I built a small portfolio, and after moving to LA, I used those images as a portfolio and started my modeling career here.  Nicole Fong Photography How did you know when you were 13 or 14 that you wanted to model and act? I didn’t really know. There were things throughout my life that I can reflect back on now and say that whenever things scared me, I shied away from it. As I’ve gotten older, and from reading many books, I’ve realized that those butterflies that you get when you’re about to do something that you don’t normally do, is a way to make you feel alive. And that’s how I began to look at those kinds of feelings. When I was in 6th grade, I was one of the only boys in a dance class because it was one of the only electives left, and I didn’t want to take it, but got stuck in it. And some of the other boys and I did a football dance sketch, and the teacher loved it. She asked us to come back in the 7th and 8th grade. We didn’t really want to, because we thought it wasn’t masculine enough. I grew up in a house of boys, and there was no one there to reinforce the idea that if you want to take a dance class, that that was okay. So I always took what I thought were “manly” things, like sports. I had done so many things from the ages of 17-27 years, like businesses that I owned and managed, and other jobs, and basically, by the process of elimination, fell back into this. I believe that when you’re young and you have an idea to do something, if you don’t act on it, it will stay with you forever. With performing arts, it fell out of my hands based on my own circumstances, rather than my own decision-making. And I didn’t really start making my own decisions until I was 26. Coming from a psychology background, and studying the mind at the University at Michigan, reading books, and developing my own curriculum, I decided that you can make your own decisions when you’re twelve years old. When you’re 11-13, it’s when you start saying, "Hey, I wanna do that." And if someone supports you and your gifts, then you can develop into the person you’re meant to be at a younger age. I believe that at some point, you will revert back to an idea you had when you were younger, or something that’s been simmering in your unconscious mind. And that’s what acting and modeling were for me. What's something surprising about you that people don't know?  Nicole Fong Photography I think something that would surprise people is that I’m a very shy person on the inside. Any version of myself that you meet that isn’t shy, is not a façade, but work that I’ve done on myself to be able to break down those barriers of even doing this interview. It took a lot of work to open my heart, and tap into the unfiltered version of myself. If you grow up shy, and you reinforce that idea of shyness, you build more barriers on that wall, and you make it more difficult to break down, by making it a more dense wall. For me, anything that is unfiltered now, is because I’ve challenged myself in hundreds of different ways to break them down, and to allow myself to speak through my heart, without worrying so much about what other people say.  Nicole Fong Photography When I was in 4th-6th grade, I was right around the same weight that I am now, as a 32 year old. I was a chunky monkey. And that goes along with my shyness, as I was very shy. My parents divorced when I was young, and my brothers and I raised ourselves, while my mom was at work, and my dad was taking care of his other family. Between 6th and 7th grade, I grew five inches and lost forty lbs; it was an insane change. It was partially because of summer training for football, and also I stopped eating McDonalds and Burger King. We used to have both of them walking distance from my house, and I stopped going there. I just decided that I was going to stop spending my money there. It wasn’t even that I wanted to lose weight. It just happened naturally, within like a 30-40 day time frame where I stopped eating junk food, grew five inches, and my metabolism picked up. So when I went back to school in 7th grade, I was a completely different person. People either didn’t recognize me, or thought, “Wow, Jacob’s hot!” All these girls were suddenly giving me attention that I’d never gotten before. I had no idea how to handle it. Because in my mind, I was still a fat kid, and now they viewed me in a different way, and it was so new. It was something I never stepped into, until maybe my early to mid twenties, because after 8th grade, I went to an all boys catholic high school. We didn’t have a computer at my house. So I didn't really have contact with women until my junior year of high school, when I got a car. So I was super shy until my early mid twenties. I know actors’ daily lives are very inconsistent, but what might a typical day for you look like? Do you have any routines you always like to follow every day?  Nicole Fong Photography I have a pretty good routine that I’ve built for myself. As soon as I wake up, I go straight outside and get on my knees and pray for anywhere from 2-15 mins, depending on what type of prayer I want to do. I also have a gratitude practice, which is an all encompassing process, like an open thought process, like a prayer and thankfulness to each individual human being that I’m thankful for in my life. After that, I drink 3-4 glasses of water, and if I’m hungry, I eat. Then I go to the gym and get my body moving. I’m one of those people that in order for me to have a good day, I have to get my blood flowing, and I have to pray. If I don’t get my blood flowing, then the whole day is off. So I try to work out, or do something that gets my blood flowing within the first few hours. I like to activate with coffee, or some sort of caffeination, which is a hack, but it’s definitely something I enjoy indulging in, as I’m pretty disciplined outside of any other substances besides caffeine.  Nicole Fong Photography I try to read out loud for 20-30 mins a day. It’s good to work on my voice and forces me to read, regardless of how I feel. It gives me a sense of clarity, focus, and productivity afterwards, especially if it’s something useful and pertaining to my life at the moment. It’s also good for an actor. I read from Uta Hagen that reading aloud is necessary, especially for theater actors. If you’re not working, not auditioning, you have to do that. I’m really not a morning person, and I feel like I’ve done more of my thinking and working at night. But recently I’ve been training a professional fighter, where I do mobility and flexibility work, and myotherapy on him. So I’ve been waking up during the week at 6a, which is great, because by noon I feel extremely productive, like I’ve already annihilated the day. And, what else, go on Instagram? Haha. There are a lot of ups and downs in this industry especially. Can you tell us one of your worst "down" times, and how you overcame it?  Nicole Fong Photography Good question. I would say one of the biggest adversities I’ve faced in my life was when I was 25 or 26, and one of my best friends died in a car accident. He was my first cousin, my workout partner, and someone I thought I would have a future with, with respect to entrepreneurship. He grew up in Iraq, and came to visit my family every summer in Michigan. I’d experienced death before, but it was just older family members. Having someone die, whom I was so close to in age and personally, took me into a downward spiral of existentialism and not caring about my body and people in my life. And I kind of used it as an excuse to go into a dark time in my life. I suffered a lot of things from it. My health took a toll, because of it. I began smoking cigarettes, drinking more, and getting into some other drugs. I lost a business of mine, and got heavily sued for certain things that went on, because of neglect both in my life and business. I still have some debt from it, which keeps it kind of a reminder of it all. But at the same time, I was able to come out of it all, and at some time, maybe over a year and a half later, acknowledge my wrong doings, and value life a little more than what I was valuing it before that. That potentially had something to do with my decisions in pursuing my passions, versus just doing what was available based on my skill set in Michigan.  Nicole Fong Photography I look back at it now, and my behavior afterwards about not caring about anything. No one could convince me that life mattered at that point because I was so confused about it at that time. You come out of it, you get so burned, you realize your behaviors, you’re in debt now, you got issues, and you lost a business. I paid a lot with the neglect that came with that. I learned about myself, and about the truth - that I actually value life, health, and living a quality life. I think everyone has their own experience in their own way. That was just its own learning experience at the end of the day. Everyone has their shit storms they go through, and I think it’s more advantageous if it happens to you young, because then you’re like, "What else bad can happen to you?" There is more bad that can happen, but at the same time, I think each tragedy expands your heart a little bit. Kahlil Gibran says that as much as you can feel sadness, is as much as you can feel happiness. Your experience with being devastated will also create a larger spectrum for you to experience happiness. Your depth as a human being has a lot to do with that spectrum right there. And the most interesting people you meet in life are the people that have a very extreme range. What's the best advice you've heard and how do you apply it to your life?  Nicole Fong Photography There's a few that come to mind. One is, "shut up and listen," which means, "become a really good listener." Because not only in the acting world, but in real life, people love people that are good listeners. The most talented, coolest, and even funniest people I know in the industry, are the best listeners. They listen not just with their ears and eyes, but with their hearts. They create a level of connection that you can only get from a really good listener. Another piece of advice would be that if I could go back to my 12 year old self and say something to him, I'd say, "Try and define who that inner voice is inside of you and really trust that voice." Along with listening, begin to be that good of a listener to that voice inside your heart, mind, and conscience. That way, you can live the life you're supposed to live faster, rather than figuring out years later that you should've been listening to that voice all along. That voice is so mystical, and comes from a different energy. It's like your subconscious mind, the truth, and your heart is speaking to you. What advice would you give to people aspiring to do what you do?  Nicole Fong Photography First I would advise reading tens books on the subject. And before you make any moves to do anything within the performing arts (because it is a hard industry), build another skill set that you could make money on the side, that you could see yourself enjoying 10-20 years from now. The human mind is an exceptional piece of machinery, and with the power of concentration, you can master multiple things in your lifetime. For me, it's going deeper into the body and fitness, and myotherapy. It's not necessarily a backup plan; it's an expertise in something other than the performing arts, other than acting and modeling for me. Don't come to an industry that is considered the most difficult industry in the world without having something else to offer. Be an expert in something other than acting and modeling. That's the standard that you have to create for yourself in an industry that's so competitive, and that has so many aspects to it. How can people find more about your, or reach out to you?  Nicole Fong Photography My instagram is: @jacobbasheer. I answer all my dms on IG, even the ones that don't go through fully. Like once a month I go through them all, and if they're not perverted, I answer them.  Nicole Fong Photography Thank you so much Jacob for doing this photo shoot and sharing your story with us!
 Nicole Fong Photography I met Vivian on one of the first shoots I’d worked on when I moved to LA several years ago. She immediately stood out to me as strikingly beautiful, and as I found out as I got to know her throughout the shoot, an amazingly talented actress and model. I always love cheering on my friends in the business, because I know that we have to support one another in this incredibly tough industry. I was thrilled to see her as one of the brides in the highly viewed music video, “Sugar,” by Maroon 5, and it’s been wonderful to learn she’s only moving up and working on things that empower herself, and fellow women.  Nicole Fong Photography Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up, and how you got into acting? My beginning starts with my roots: my father was a refugee from Vietnam, who was able to escape with his older sister when he was 14. After two grueling months, he made it to Seattle, WA, where he stays to this day. My mother was born in Maine, but grew up with her father and siblings in Vietnam, until she came to Seattle to be with her mom in her early 20s. Both sides had many siblings, and the majority of both families were able to come to the U.S., so while I was born and raised in Washington State, I was mostly raised by my grandma, grandpa, and aunt. They didn’t speak a word of English, and were very traditional and proud of our heritage and culture, so I experienced an unconventional childhood and adolescence; instead of cartoons and PBS shows, I was introduced to the world of Asian dramas and period series, and Vietnamese musical programs. These became my world, and the probable cause of my overactive imagination from childhood on. When schooling brought English into my life, I suddenly discovered Disney movies, which further fueled my passion for stories and films. I remember watching Glenn Close’s performance in “101 Dalmatians” and feeling right then and there that I wanted to act for the rest of my life; it just made complete sense in my little head at the time. My mom’s favorite movies were also “Gone With the Wind” (she named me after Vivian Leigh played Scarlett O’Hara, and Vivian Vance from “I Love Lucy”), and “The English Patient”…so maybe she knew something from early on. I received a book of Shakespeare’s Sonnets not too long after, and was completely fixed on my goal of acting ever since.  Nicole Fong Photography What’s something surprising about you that people don’t know? What are some things you like to do outside of acting? I have lots of interests that come from many different cultures around the world, so that touches and influences a lot of what I do – from the music I listen to, to the food I cook and eat, to the stories that move me, etc. I don’t think people expect this from just looking at me or even having a short conversation with me, but I weep watching anything from the Indian dance form Odissi, to Taiko drumming, to celebrating the cultures that are in my ethnicity (Scottish and Cherokee on my mom’s side). But probably the thing that shocks people the most is that I’m an avid Tarot reader. I do it anonymously as a way to give back, and it’s spread by word of mouth. I really enjoy having a spiritual outlet that gives me a sense of connectivity and bonding with others that I never would have been able to otherwise. There’s a degree of real intimacy during each reading, and I’m blessed to have gained the trust of many people. (Note: Vivian gave me one of her readings, and being a virgin tarot card read-ee (?), I was highly impressed. I’m not one to necessarily do things like that, but it was super fun, and very insightful. If you’re interested in getting a reading, contact her at [email protected] for details!)  Nicole Fong Photography An actor’s life sometimes resembles a roller coaster. Can you take us back to one of your worst “down” times, and how you overcame it and what you took from it? Well, Mercury is always retrograding it seems…kidding! During the first few years being in Los Angeles, I experienced quite a few moments that made me ask myself what I was willing to sacrifice to pursue my dreams. While they were terrifying and heartbreaking, I realized that I truly had no other option in my heart. Even if I don’t do anything “meaningful” until I’m 95, I’m finally happy and proud because I’m still here. I’m still trying and, mostly, still positive…and determined and STARVING for it. The hardest moments are always when you have $2.18 to your name and you get to deal with your biggest challenge – “patiently” waiting. I would try to keep myself inspired with successful stories, and watch my favorite movies to remind myself that the heart rules all, and that’s the type of person I want to be. Now I continually do that, and I count my blessings with my strong support system. I also find other forms of creative expression other than acting. It really helps to have something on the side that you can visibly see progress in, and have tangibly in front of you. Acting is rough, because you might constantly improve and evolve, but outside of yourself, you rely on others to validate this; and that can be rough to depend on. So find a way to work on and better yourself in every way, with every opportunity to be thrown outside of your comfort zone, so you can know your actual strength outside of you. If you could work on your dream project, with no regard to budget, what would it be about, who would you work with, and where would you shoot it?  Nicole Fong Photography I am a huge fan of epic movies – big historical pieces that grip your core with stunning characters. I’m in the process of putting together several scripts about important female warriors from all over the globe. Some are real, some are fictional, but they’re based on actual groups of women who fought. Ideally, I would work with both known and unknown talent that are from underrepresented minority groups – women who need opportunities to have their talents seen and heard. The more traveling is involved, the better, because that’s the dream – to work and play all over, isn’t it?! You said I had endless funds….so let’s bring the world to these characters! I’m also pretty into a good sci-fi or space movie so that might be a fun project somewhere down the line… Where do you hope to be in five years, and what steps are you taking to get there?  Nicole Fong Photography You’re making me do math? I’m an actress…okay, in five years I expect to be well on my path to a heavier resume. I expect to have been in a phenomenal series, living the life of an amazing character, amongst an unbelievable array of other characters, and with at least 2 features under my belt. I expect more of my scripts/stories to be written, pitched, and produced. I recently signed with a new agency across the board so I’m anticipating the work relationship to be prosperous, and afford me ample opportunity to show my growth. I started training at Groundlings which is developing my character work, and I’m keeping disciplined with my writing goals. My boyfriend and I are beginning our vlogging adventures, so hopefully we will get seen far and wide, and more opportunities will appear for us that way as well. If there isn’t enough content, and I’m finding myself “patiently waiting,” then I will continue to create content myself, to keep fresh and motivated. You were one of the featured couples “getting married” in the Maroon 5 music video, “Sugar,” which currently has 2.5 BILLION views. Tell us how you got that gig, and what it was like shooting it. After the video came out, how did it affect your life and are you ever recognized from it in your daily life? I self-submitted on LA Casting. For the audition, I did my hair and makeup as bride-like as possible, and wore a $1 wedding dress I bought from my friend (who bought it from Jet Rag). There were no details about the project; all they told us was that it was for a huge artist and the audition consisted of us partying at our wedding, then being surprised as the “surprise guest” came into the room. I received a callback shortly after with the same guy I auditioned with, and it was the same deal. I thought it was going to be for Prince, honestly. This was probably because they were playing his music during the auditions. I didn’t find out until the day before we shot that it was for Maroon 5! I was very excited, because, well…Maroon 5. The day of the shoot, I met my “husband” and we bonded while waiting for hair and make-up. There was only one other couple there that was also shooting on the same day as us at the hotel. My experience with makeup and hair was a bit lackluster; the other bride was paid attention to, but the make up artist kind of just quickly threw me together, and was done with it. I found her attitude a little mocking. I only bring this up, because, personally, I experience this frequently on set. I really wish it wasn’t a race thing, but the Asian face, just like the African American face, is not taught as much in schools as it should be. It seems we are workshops that usually are extra credit or extracurricular in some way. It seems progress is inching along, but the more plain and foreign looking we are kept, the safer Hollywood feels. Let us be glam! However, I’ve been lucky enough to experience a lot of makeup artists who are wonderful people and very talented at what they do, so hopefully this experience with minorities becomes more a thing of the past on sets. Besides this, everyone on set was a blast! The crew were all so kind and good-natured, the “host” in the video was hilarious, and all the background artists made the atmosphere so great. The guys from Maroon 5 are such lovely and genuinely warm people. They gave their full effort and performed every take. It was really inspiring, and it doesn’t surprise me as to why they have the huge following and success they do. There were a bunch of funny scenes that didn’t make it to the video unfortunately, but one of my favorites was where the band, my “husband” and I were standing before our “family’s” table, and of course, as is customary in many Asian cultures, guests MUST EAT. So we spent a good amount of time filming them being dragged down and fed. I got to feed cake to Adam Levine for several takes, much to my loving “husband’s” joking disdain. It was the best cake I’ve ever tasted. Supposedly, the wedding cakes were the most expensive thing on the props list, but they were worth every penny. It wasn’t a long day, just a beautiful and wonderful memory that I was glad to be a part of. I’m sorry to whichever couple lost out on this experience, but since marriage isn’t a MUST for me, maybe the universe gave me one to have and to hold. I definitely do NOT get recognized at all from the video. I’m usually more made up and not wearing a white veil, so that must be what keeps me incognito. My family and friends are still flaunting it around to whomever they can though, so it’s also one of the things that keep me really motivated to keep hustling, though I’d like to give them more to be proud of besides this music video. It really is surreal to me though, and gives me butterflies to think of how many views there are with that video…it keeps my heart warm, and hope alive for me. I’ll forever have the utmost gratitude to Maroon 5.  Nicole Fong Photography I know you’ve been recently working on a web series that’s about to come out. Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s about and your role in it? Aha! I booked this role last winter, which resonated in me right away. It follows a group of Asian American women who go through life with the support of one another. I have the honor of playing one of the women, I love her because she is complex and so relatable as a character, I believe in showing her story and exploring her life. I usually don’t like talking about upcoming projects unless I have to, because in this industry, things change so fast and get held up so much, so on and so forth, and I don’t like disappointing people with the waiting aspect, or the occasional news of the project getting canned, but for now the project already got pushed from January to Feb-March, for good reason! More funding is coming into play and we’re now under the care of a wonderful casting director. I’m allowing myself happy anticipation for this project, and am excited about the content being produced, as it’s been long overdue. I’m very much looking forward to this next venture.  Nicole Fong Photography What is the best advice you’ve heard and how do you apply it to your life? Probably the age-old “know thyself,” “simplicity is key,” or “always look up.” They’re all related to each other, and I think are solid for life in general. Know who you are, because you will mirror the world, and the world will mirror you, so if you want to live truthfully, you have to be truthful with who you are, and be okay with that. Simplicity helps you to be present. We’re so good at piling on details, and loads of justifications and reasons for everything; analyzing and labeling, and just doing too much all the time, being overstimulated and plain old being extra. Simplifying everything helps you to be truly present, and being present helps you to be real and in touch with gratitude, which is healthy.  Nicole Fong Photography “Always look up.” This one always hits me all the time, and I feel like such a dork every time it proves itself true to me. Sometimes it’s figurative, and sometimes it’s literal. We are so absorbed with what’s in front of us, and what we put in front of ourselves that we become so tuned out and unaware of what’s happening around and above us. We think we know what the skies or ceilings look like. But in times of lowness or doubt, there’s been many instances where I just look up randomly, and am stunned by a painted mural above, or a beautifully crafted light fixture, or a certain cloud, or beautiful branch filled with flowers or birds that I was completely unaware of before. It’s hard to get out of our inner worlds that keep us strangely lost sometimes. However, if you know you do this, try to simplify as much as possible. Look up and outwards, and you’ll see that there’s not actually that much wrong with you deep inside. What are some tips you would give to those who aspire to do what you’re doing?  Nicole Fong Photography Really be sure this is what you want. It has to be your artistic expression that gives you life, because if you can imagine yourself happier or even just as happy doing something else, then go for that instead. A true and respectable career in acting is a commitment that requires all that you are, and all that you will be. You have to light your own fire every second of every day. People might not support you, so make sure you’re ready to find your highs and lows by yourself. I’m a firm believer in if you stick with it, while actively pursuing it, you will get it – so if you are able to fully choose this lifestyle, then HANG IN THERE. Celebrate your peers’ accomplishments and progress; you know exactly how it feels to pursue this every day, so you should let their work fuel your faith that you too will work, and that there are more than enough stories and characters to be lived.  Nicole Fong Photography From my experience, karma really lives and breathes in this industry. Do all the good that you can, think of others, and remember the community spirit. There are lots of people out there making beautiful projects happen, and they’re full of the kindest, most passionate cast and crew waiting for you to join them. Don’t let the bad experiences knock you down, because they really do just lead you to the perfect “YES.” Stay true to your worth and values. I’ve had enough experience with “lost opportunities” that turned out to be a great big relief when those jobs didn’t work out. Just find what you’re passionate about, and if there’s not enough of it going around, then do what you can to make it happen yourself. I’ve also had the joy of being on the other side of the camera, doing casting, styling, etc., and been able to help people get seen, or be given second chances because I’ve seen their work, or know how they are in their outside lives, without them ever knowing. It really does happen. People do remember you, so make sure you’re always living with integrity and being the best version of you that you want to be. And worry less. Life is meant to be lived in joy and love, and if you’re able to pursue what you love, then you are living, and that is a privilege.  Nicole Fong Photography How can others find more about you, or reach out to you? I’m @darlingvivling on all social media outlets. https://www.instagram.com/darlingvivling/ https://www.facebook.com/darlingvivling/ My vlog and twitch will be up shortly under the “NoBangsProductions” channel.  Nicole Fong Photography A HUGE thanks to Vivian for doing this interview and incredible photo shoot!
 Nicole Fong Photography There’s something about a girl who can make weird, silly faces and still look gorgeous. Shelby Wulfert, who plays Maddie 2 on the hit Disney show, “Liv and Maddie,” is all that and more. It’s not hard to see why she was chosen to play as one of the girls to help create the intricate process of making Dove Cameron’s twins for the show. Sporting a contagious smile, Wulfert looks sweet and girly, but she’s just as capable of shooting an arrow into a target, as she is climbing trees submerged in a pond (see photos for proof!), and crooning on her ukele to ducks swimming in said pond. She was gracious enough to spend some time doing the interview and photo shoot with me. I even got to shadow her for a day on set, where she introduced me to the whole “Liv and Maddie” cast and crew. You can tell it’s one big family there, and Wulfert is undoubtedly an integral part. With her incredible talents, infectious personality, and down for anything attitude, this is a girl you will be seeing more of in the future!  Nicole Fong Photography Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you’re from, and how you got into acting/singing. Was there a specific moment or experience that happened to you that made you know you wanted to be an actor? I was born in the San Francisco Bay Area and raised in the small Northern California town of Placerville. I was lucky enough to grow up climbing trees and raising chickens and goats - I absolutely love being in nature. I began singing when I was 10 years old. At the county fair one summer, my mom and I came across a booth advertising vocal lessons. I remember looking up at this beautiful woman, Jolinda Crocker, who was smiling at me and asking if I wanted to learn to sing. I said, “Yes, because I want to do musical theater,” which surprised both me and my mom, because I was insufferably shy! I started doing musicals a few months later and my life in the arts has snowballed from there! Before that point I wanted to be a dolphin rider; I’m sure the 4 year old me might be kind of upset to find out that hasn’t come true. How did you get the job of being Maddie 2 for “Liv and Maddie,” and what was the audition process like? The audition for "Liv and Maddie" came through my representation. The breakdown was very specific about height, hair color, etc., but I wasn’t sure going into it what it really was. The casting director explained they were looking to match the main actress Dove Cameron, who had already been cast to play the twins. At the callback I had a chemistry read with Dove to see how alike we looked. Casting told us to stand nose to nose and toes to toes, which is slightly awkward when you’re meeting someone for the first time! I just kept making silly faces to try to lighten the mood. After that I actually had to do a basketball assessment, which was the most terrifying part! I practiced for hours the day before. And then a few days later they called to say I had booked it, which felt amazing!  Who's who?! Dove Cameron (L) and Shelby Wulfert (R)  Wulfert getting her makeup done by makeup artist Laura Schaffer before shooting. (Nicole Fong Photography) Explain to us what the whole process of filming an episode of “Liv and Maddie” is like. How does the filming of you and Emmy Buckner (Liv 2) work with Dove Cameron? Day 1 – We have a table read of the episode in front of the writers and producers. We do the scenes with both twins twice, having Dove switch parts. Day 2/3 – We come in and the script has been changed, so we rehearse and block, and then do a run through for the writers and producers. We do the twin scenes twice for them on these days too. Day 4/5 – These are shoot days. We wear wigs so that the hair matches, and that’s the most time consuming part of getting ready. When we film a twin scene, we have to pay a lot of attention to detail, for continuity. You only see Emmy and me in over the shoulder shots, and the rest is edited together on a split screen. They erase the half with Emmy/me in it and replace it with Dove’s other half. It sounds really complex, but the three of us have it down, and there are a lot of genius people helping us out. Click HERE out to see more of how the process works.  The three hilariously talented and beautiful amigas: Shelby Wulfert, Emmy Buckner, and Dove Cameron. What’s your favorite part of being on the show, and do you have any funny/crazy stories that’ve happened while filming that you can share with us? My favorite part of being on the show is the opportunity that I have to learn about all the jobs that go into making a show. I learned how to operate a camera one day, and watch our set designers create new sets really quickly. My favorite part is talking to our Associate Director, Kevin Sullivan. There are so many people working there who have amazing knowledge about their craft, and I want to learn about all of it! One of my favorite moments on set was definitely the day that Joey Bragg (who plays Joey Rooney) and Tenzing Norgay Trainor (who plays Parker Rooney) brought Nerf guns to work. Naturally, we had a Nerf battle on our lunch break.  Wulfert thinking twice about deciding to climb that tree, though she totally conquered it. (Nicole Fong Photography) What’s something surprising about you that people don’t know? What are some things you like to do outside of acting? I am totally down for any adventure ever! I love doing things that scare me, and I’m constantly pushing my limits. I love traveling to other countries, and in the past few years I’ve been to Thailand, Russia, Japan, and Jamaica. My favorite thing to do while traveling is meet locals and go on some adventure with them, like late night karaoke. I love climbing trees because I’m afraid of heights. I’m learning archery. I just got scuba certified, even though the ocean terrifies me. I think it’s awesome to be able to say, “This really scares me, but I won’t let that stop me.” An actor’s life sometimes resembles a roller coaster. Can you take us back to one of your worst “down” times, and how you overcame it and what you took from it? One of my worst down times was about two years ago. I started getting really down on myself about the way I looked. I constantly compared myself to women around me and thought every job I didn’t book was because I wasn’t pretty enough/thin enough/ etc. I’m sure a lot of people have felt like this. It’s really hard to be in this business (or in this society in general) and not worry about how you look. What helped change my perspective was changing my role models. I started looking up to people who were massively successful and happy. Some of my favorites right now are Amy Schumer, Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Amy Poehler, Tom Hanks, Julianne Moore, and Sarah Silverman. I love people who don’t give a f*** what other people think of them. I’ve since applied that to my life and I’m infinitely happier. Living life without inhibitions is so much more liberating.  Nicole Fong Photography  Wulfert could totally play Amy Poehler's daughter. Let's make it happen, people! (Nicole Fong Photography) If you could work on your dream project, with no regard to budget, what would it be about, who would you work with, and where would you shoot it? I would love to work on a project that I can write and act in, like TRAINWRECK. I’ve always really wanted to work with Amy Schumer or Amy Poehler. If I got to work with them I would be happy to shoot any kind of project. Especially a Bollywood film; Amy Poehler hasn’t done enough of those. Where do you hope to be in five years, and what steps are you taking to get there? In five years I hope to be a series regular on a show, consistently working in films, and continuing with my writing. I always take classes and improve my craft, even when I’m working. There’s no end goal for the next five years. If I’m a better actor in five years and I don’t have a show, I’ll still be happy. What is the best advice you’ve heard and how do you apply it to your life? The best advice I ever received was from my dad. Growing up, if I was ever unprepared for something, he would tell me to “remember my 5 P’s” which he had learned in pilot school. The 5 P’s are: “Piss Poor Planning = Poor Performance.” It might sound negative but it really helped me realize that I was responsible for being under prepared. I think being held accountable gave me a drive to practice and work harder than I would have. If I ever leave an audition and feel badly about my performance, I try not to get upset and I remember my 5 P’s and practice more for the next one.  Nicole Fong Photography What are some tips you would give to those who aspire to do what you’re doing? Do it. Right now. You can’t wait for someone to tell you that you’re ready – you have to decide you are and then take that leap. It’s terrifying, but the fact is, those who try are the ones who succeed. Be curious. Take classes and read books and watch every film/show ever made. I meet many actors who don’t read or don’t take class and they are missing out on so much amazing and helpful information. I think if you don’t do those things, you’re holding yourself back. Don’t give yourself a time limit. If you really love this, you’ll be at it the rest of your life.  Nicole Fong Photography How can others find more about you, or reach out to you? You can find me on Instagram/Twitter: @shelbywulfert or my Facebook page : www.facebook.com/Shelby.Wulfert.Actress  Rocking that bow and arrow! (Nicole Fong Photography) A HUGE thanks to Shelby for doing this interview and to the whole cast and crew of "Liv and Maddie" for letting me into your world for a day!
Let us know how Wulfert's story and advice may have inspired you! Do you remember what it was like to read a newspaper? Think back to the days when you held a hard copy in your hands. You’d dig into it, and if you were anything like me, you'd reach for the comics first. If they were good, you’d show whomever was nearby, excited to see their reaction. One such clever comic that consistently makes people think and laugh is Rubes, created by the brilliant Leigh Rubin. Rubes doesn’t produce courtesy laughs, but the lingering kind where your mouth stays open momentarily to take in the awesomeness of it all. Rubin was kind enough to answer some questions on how he got into being a cartoonist, and avoiding crazy stalkers (for the record, I am not. Just clearing that up).   Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you’re from, and how you got into being a cartoonist. I am the first and last of a short line of cartoonists. That is to say I am the only one in my family even remotely interested in pursuing this line of work. My parents always told me not to tip my chair at the table, but did I listen? Nope. So what happened? I tilted my chair and back I fell. All I remember is a loud "thunk," a flash of light, a big lump on the back of my head, and the desire, from that point on, to become a cartoonist. What’s your favorite part of being a cartoonist, and what’s the most challenging part? There is nothing as gratifying as meeting a deadline. Say what you will about the creative process. "It's so fulfilling...It's deeply satisfying...blah, blah, blah." The truth is, there is nothing more satisfying than meeting or beating yet another deadline. That is definitely the most satisfying part...and the most challenging.  What percentage of time do you dedicate to creating artistic content and dealing with the business side? Do you do it all yourself, or do you outsource anything to help you to run your business? I would say 100% percent of the time is dedicated to the creative process and the other 100% percent is dedicated to the business aspects. The other 37% of my time is spent studying math. If by outsourcing you mean "Do I pay pitifully small sums of money, pennies per hour, to people in developing countries to create my cartoons?” Well, that is pure nonsense. How dare you accuse me of such exploitative behavior! (Note to self: first thing in the morning do a Google search of third world cartoonists looking for work.) There are always bizarre and hilarious scenarios happening in your cartoons. Have any of your drawings been inspired by real events? Bizarre and hilarious scenarios are a regular part of all of our lives and most of us just take them for granted. I once did a survey by asking friends and acquaintances what they considered "normal." Not one of the people I asked had the same answer, and in fact, most of them couldn't nail down exactly what "normal" meant. Let's face it – we live on a planet with some really weird looking creatures that behave in very strange and often unpredictable ways...and those are just the people. One of my favorite "cartoon inspired by real life scenarios" happened a few weeks before Christmas in 2007. I was walking my dog when it started raining walnuts, or walnut, as the case turned out to be. I looked up and saw a crow dropping a walnut and using the asphalt street as a nutcracker. "Smart bird!" I said to myself. (Talking to oneself is one of the mandatory requirements to being a cartoonist.) So here you have a crow cracking nuts on the street just a few weeks before Christmas. Combine the crow, the nutcracker, and the time of year together and there you go – cartoon magic without the pencil.  I know you have a deadline every day to get a cartoon out. What’s your process for creating your work? I thought you'd never ask. I know that everyone thinks that I have a magic pencil and all I have to do is shake it hard enough and a cartoon will fall out. Let me assure you that this is not the case. If I were to describe the actual creative process your eyelids would become droopy and you would undoubtedly doze off before I finished the senten...HEY, YOU, WAKE UP! I AM TALKING TO YOU! See, I told you. Sometimes an idea will just strike so fast that I think to myself, "Man, this is the easiest most funnest job in the whole world!" But then there are those days when no matter how hard I shake and shake and shake that #@$&% (pardon my cartoon French) magic pencil, an idea just won't fall out. That's when I think to myself, "Man, this is the hardest, mostest horrible-ist job in whole world!"  What are some things you do to help you if you’re struggling to come up with ideas or create new content? Are there any specific resources/tools/things you do that you find useful for inspiration? Let's just say I break a lot of magic pencils, and those things are not cheap! I also buy erasers in bulk as I tend to erase more than I draw. Oh, I also read anything I can get me hands on: newspapers (see above for description), magazines, trade publications, cereal boxes – you name it, and I'll read it. Oh, I take frequent naps so my brain doesn't overheat. You know what they say, "If napping was a meal, it would be the most important meal of the day." What’s something surprising about you that people don’t know? This space left intentionally blank. (I'd like to remain a man of mystery!) What are some things you like to do outside of cartooning? Did I mention that I take frequent naps?   Why would he think I'm a crazy, nutso stalker?! I look totally sane. Do you have any funny/crazy stories that you’ve experienced with meeting your fans? I met a couple of lovely young women at the California State fair. One of them, an actress, asked me if she could interview me for her blog. After making sure she was not some kind of crazy, nutso stalker, I agreed. What’s a typical day look like for you? Do you have any routines you always like to follow every day? Wake up, fall out of bed and drag a comb across my head. Gosh, how come it sounds so cool when Paul McCartney says it but when I say it it sounds like plagiarism? Typically my glamorous day begins when I come nose to nose with our dog demanding her morning constitutional. How any living thing can have that much energy in the morning without coffee is beyond me. So after the walk, there's the usual breakfast, coffee, and the morning newspaper. For the younger readers out there, a newspaper is a small folded bundle of paper (aka "hard copy"), or "newsprint" made from trees in which ink is applied in story and picture form. It is typically delivered via a newspaper delivery person and is generally retrieved from beneath your automobile, in your bushes or in the puddle left by the runoff from the sprinklers in your front yard. Then it's time to answer email, make any necessary phone calls, etc. I am guessing your next question will address the creative process so I will wait to answer that until after you ask the question.  You travel a lot for speaking engagements. What’s your favorite place to travel to, and is there any place you haven’t been that you’d like to go? Any excuse to travel is good enough for me. Some people mind flying, but not me. Flying affords me more time for napping. While I don't have one favorite place to go I did really enjoy the speaking engagement in Hawaii. Hey, anyone on the islands need a speaker? Just put me on the next plane, and I'll be there! If you could work on your dream project, with no regard to budget, what would it be about, who would you work with, and where would it be? I am actually working on this right now except for the part about "with no regard to budget." But I don't want to spoil the surprise. So if anyone out there would like to contact me that is willing to pony up a bit of dough you know where to find me...no really, seriously!  Can you take us back to one of your worst “down” times, and how you overcame it and what you took from it? You mean like the time I slipped a disc while mountain biking near Mt. Hood Oregon and was in agonizing, excruciating pain and they gave me morphine, but I couldn't take it because in addition to making me feel all warm and fuzzy it seriously impeded my creativity? I had to prop myself at my drawing table, and in between the tears streaming down my face, I created some pretty funny stuff if I do say so myself. You know, being a cartoonist isn't all rainbow pooping unicorns. If you aren't tough don't even try to get into this business. Cartooning is no place for wimps. Oh, and don't do drugs either. That will seriously upset me and believe you me, you do not want to see this cartoonist upset.  How can others find more about you, or reach out to you? I've heard there's this new thing called social media. Apparently it's gaining some traction. So, there's: Rubes Cartoons on Facebook Rubes Cartoons on Twitter and of course there's always the Rubes Cartoons website. And last but not least, there's last century's technology, email: [email protected].  What is the best advice you’ve heard and how do you apply it to your life? Never take rejection personally, unless you are on a date. Sometimes "No!" really does mean "No!" What are some tips you would give to those who aspire to do what you’re doing? Did I mention to never take rejection personally? Well, that can't be overstated. Also, be really, really, really persistent. That, too, cannot be overstated. Be creative in your approach to the business side of things, not just the creative side of things. The world is lousy with fantastic artists but you absolutely must be willing to assume responsibility for the business side of things, or there is a very good chance you will be taken for a ride.  At the California State Fair being silly Thanks so much to Rubin for being so awesome and doing this interview!
Check out his cartoons here, and let us know if you have a favorite RUBES cartoon! So you’re just another actor living in Los Angeles. Every other person here seems to be just like you: from another place, moved to LA in hopes of making it big in TV or film, or hell, even a web series (and actually, a web series seems like the right way to go these days…if only you could get started.). You follow what everyone says to do: get into class, go to workshops, build relationships, try to get an agent. You hear so many different and sometimes conflicting opinions on what you should and shouldn’t do, you don’t know what’s right or wrong. Money’s so tight, Chipotle is “sponsoring” your napkin supply at home. You have no idea how people are surviving financially, and able to keep an open, flexible schedule for auditions (not to mention also having to shell out all the money for the things it seems to take to make any progress in your career). Admit it. You’ve been there. You’ve felt like quitting, like crying after not getting a role, just because you can. And want to. Because, it should’ve been YOU. Okay, you’ve earned that much. Now stop, and just do one more thing for your career. Read an acting book (Self-Management for Actors is fabulous), listen to an acting podcast (Inside Acting. 'Nuff said), or just watch an episode of your favorite TV show (just by that last habit, I’m working on my career a lot). Or you could enter this Digital Talent Competition that ABC is putting on. It’s free. All you need is a reader and something to record yourself with. Use your phone, if you have nothing else. Or if you want it to look more professional, go somewhere that can tape it for you, like UnderCurrent Studios (they're offering 20% off on tapings for those entering the contest this week). You may have never entered something like this before. You may think it’s impossible; there’s going to be thousands of MORE talented actors than you entering this. How could you possibly stand out in the mass sea of people? Why even bother? Well, I can’t answer that for you, but you can win $25,000. And in starving artist talk, that’s a lot of money. But I know you didn’t go into acting for the money (and if you are, maybe you should google some actor salary statistics. Or just talk to an actor). If you win this contest, it brings with it intangible prizes, arguably the most important one being able to build invaluable relationships. I was so lucky to be able to interview one of the winners of last year’s contest, Khalilah Joi. She’s an amazing actress, who was kind enough to dedicate some of her busy schedule to answer some questions about what her journey as an actor has been so far, and what the process of winning the contest was like for her. How did you find out about the contest, and what was your process in entering? I found out about the ABC competition from my friend, Bechir Sylvain, who had won the competition in the previous year. He called to tell me that they were taking submissions and told me that I needed to do it. I kind of put it off for a while thinking, ‘what are the chances?’ But I had promised Bechir I would, so eventually, I registered online, picked my scene, had it filmed and uploaded it. The process was really that easy. ABC makes it simple for anyone, no matter where you live, to participate. (Watch her winning audition here) Why do you think you won, and how do you feel it has changed you and your life? That’s an impossible question. LOL. I have no idea why I won. I was proud of the work I did and really gave it my all, but I think most actors do that with every audition. I can’t say for sure what it was that the casting executives saw that made them choose me. But I sure am grateful they did. The competition has really given me an incredible amount of exposure and huge opportunities. Having a powerhouse like ABC Entertainment Group supporting me is invaluable. I’m able to get into casting rooms that I wasn’t able to get in before. Having casting directors know you and know your work is a big deal because they keep you in mind when the right roles come along. Also, having a mentor at ABC is such a gift. Being able to learn from someone who is so experienced in the industry is really fantastic. Winning the competition has given me that extra boost in my career to help me continue growing and propel me to the next level. Could you walk us through how you found out you won the contest, to the process that followed? There were two rounds of the competition. After the first scene submission, I was notified that I was a semi-finalist and needed to submit a second scene. Once that was done, I found out a few weeks later that I was a finalist and that the executives would be making their decision soon. And I just waited. Honestly, I did NOT think I had won because I knew the announcement was coming soon and I hadn’t heard anything. And then, I got a phone call that changed my whole world. When they told me I won, I was kind of a babbling idiot for the first few seconds and eventually got myself together enough to say “thank you.” It was truly one of the coolest moments of my life. After winning, I started auditioning for pilots immediately, which was amazing! I went in to the corporate offices to meet with a bunch of the casting executives in person. I was also assigned a mentor at ABC, whom I could call or meet with, to discuss really anything! It’s been awesome getting to learn more about how the television industry works from someone so experienced and just getting to pick her brain. (My mentor is Emily DesHotel, and she’s wonderful!) I signed a one-year holding deal with ABC and won $25,000! Talk about happy! LOL. Later that year, I was also able to participate in the ABC Talent Showcase, which is something ABC has done for years in an effort to introduce new and diverse talent to the industry. We got to perform scenes in a theater filled with industry executives (directors, producers, casting directors, etc.), and then had the chance to meet with a lot of them after. Such a great opportunity!  Photography: Charles Maceo Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up, and how you got into the world of acting I was born in Thomasville, GA and raised in Hampton, VA! Definitely a Southern girl at heart. I did some school plays when I was younger, but I didn’t actually get into acting until after college. I attended the University of Virginia and graduated with an English degree. I planned to go into broadcast journalism. After graduation, I got a job working at a local news station in Norfolk, VA. It was then that I realized journalism might not be the right career path for me. I wasn’t happy. I started doing local theater as a sort of outlet, (a hobby I guess,) and absolutely loved it. Then I signed up for some Drama courses at the Community College. Soon after, I moved to Washington, D.C., started auditioning professionally and taking classes at the Studio Theater Conservatory. My hobby had turned into something much bigger, and I knew that acting was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. After a couple years in D.C., I packed up the car and headed to LA. And I’m still here.  Could you tell us about any funny or crazy stories you remember during your competition/showcase experience? One of the moments that stands out for me was during the showcase scene selection process. Once showcase participants are chosen, we all get together and run a bunch of scenes in front of the executives so that they can choose which scenes will be performed in the actual showcase. We’re paired with various scene partners throughout the process. I remember getting a particular scene and being paired with an actor named Vinny Chhibber. When we went in to perform it, it was just one of those ‘magical’ moments. Vinny and I could barely make it through the scene because we were cracking each other up. The whole room was laughing, and it was awesome! I was pretty sure that would be the scene they chose and that Vinny would be my partner. And that’s exactly what happened.   Photography: Charles Maceo If you could work on your dream project, with no limitations to a budget, what would it look like, who would it involve, and what would it be about? My dream is to star in an action film. I actually started taking martial arts, so I could have that in my “bag of tricks” when the time comes. I have already written a prologue to the story, but I don’t want to give too much a way. I’m not sure who else I would cast in the film, but in terms of the look, it would be a mix between “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Sin City.” Badass! Where do you hope to go from here, after the contest/with your career? Are you working on any projects that you’re excited about now? I hope to just continue advancing in my career—booking more film and television roles, writing my own projects. I’ve even thought more about directing lately. I would love to be a series regular on a hit television show and do films during the hiatus. That would be a dream come true. This year has been awesome so far. I starred in a web series called “Sexless” this year and am now appearing in a spin-off of that show called “Chef Julian.” (These can be seen on BlackandSexy.tv with a subscription – it’s like Netflix.) I also just shot an episode of the hit show “Being Mary Jane,” which will air in Season 3 on BET. An actor’s life sometimes resembles a roller coaster (especially emotionally). Can you take us back to one of your worst “down” times, and how you overcame it and what you took from it? The hardest year of my life was 2010. We found out that my mom had advanced ovarian cancer. And after a very hard battle including chemo, radiation, you name it, my mom transitioned on October 29, 2010. She was my best friend and my soul mate. Still is. I wasn’t sure that I’d ever recover from that loss. And for a while I didn’t care about the business or anything else for that matter. I was too caught up in my own grief. But eventually, as I began to heal and learn how to navigate this world without her here (physically anyway), something became very clear to me—that I didn’t have time to second guess myself and waste energy on nonsense. My mom was my biggest supporter, encourager, and fan. She believed in me from the very beginning, and I was not about to let her down by wallowing in self-pity. As devastating as it was, that experience ignited a flame in me that I refuse to let die out. There is no plan B. I am determined to live out my dreams, and I know that’s what my mom would want for me. Giving up is not an option. And with my angel by my side, I know I’ll make it! I know actors’ daily lives are very inconsistent, but what might a typical day for you look like? What are some things you do to stay productive? It changes from day-to-day. But I always like to work out. I didn’t used to like it, but it’s become a big part of my lifestyle now, and it really does make me feel good. I also try to meditate and stay spiritually grounded. If I’m not shooting a project or auditioning, I like to write (for pleasure, for my blog, or personal projects), and check the breakdowns and trades for information, so I know what’s casting. I stay pretty active on social media, which a great marketing tool. Occasionally, I just get together with other actors to run scenes, which is fun and a good way to stay sharp, especially if you’re not in a class. I also just like to have fun and hang out with my friends sometimes. I think it’s important to have that balance.  Photography: Charles Maceo What advice would you give others looking to enter the contest? First and foremost – do it! You have nothing to lose and so much to potentially gain. Just give it a shot. Secondly, I would say pick a scene that plays to your strengths and really resonates with you—makes you feel something, whether comedic or dramatic. And lastly, don’t sweat it too much. Do your work, prepare, give it your best and then let it go. Easier said than done, I know, but I think stressing yourself out about it won’t help. How can people find out more about you, or reach out to you? Twitter: @KhalilahJoi Instagram: @KhalilahJoi Blog: FormerFatgirlNeuroses.wordpress.com (This is my personal blog about growing up overweight and my ongoing fitness journey against the backdrop of Hollywood.) I want to thank Khalilah for sharing her touching story with us. Hopefully she’s shown you that it IS possible to win. I can vouch that she’s a real human being. She’s beyond talented, and super nice, but she’s had her struggles, just like you. You do have a chance! Forward this article to a friend, and work together with them to enter the contest. You can be each other’s readers, and work the camera for one another. You only have a couple more days to get it done (entries are due Sunday, June 14, 2015), so hurry up and start! Click here to enter: ABC Discovers Digital Talent Competition  Photography: Ron T. Young Adaeze Uyanwah and I met during college. I was 21 and had just transferred to the beautiful University of California, Santa Barbara. She wasn’t even 18 and was graduating that year (WHAT). We hung out with our newfound British friends, occasionally trying to pass ourselves off as being one of them, complete with accents and all. Fun times. Skip to the end of the school year, and she was graduating and moving to England to go to law school (double WHAT). Fast forward a few more years, and she’s gotten her MFA in screenwriting, won a contest to be London’s Guest of Honour, and met one of the most influential, prominent people on the planet (ie. Stephen Hawking) via the trip. I didn’t even know such a contest existed (please, Italy, get on this), and was so happy to hear that she’d won and had such an amazing, life changing experience. Adaeze is beautiful inside and out, and an extremely humble person, having accomplished such extraordinary goals at her young age. She was wonderful enough to give us a little insight into how she won the contest, and how it’s changed not only her life, but her mindset about her possibilities in the future. Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and how your fascination with Great Britain began. I’m a California native from Palmdale. I’ve been obsessed with Great Britain since I was a child. I used to look forward to watching BBC America when I got back from school. It’s not an entirely random obsession. I have roots in England. My mother (who is Nigerian) went to boarding school in London and I have very distinct memories of my time there as a child. I think what solidified my love for the UK was when I began reading Harry Potter. I wanted nothing more than to abandon all my loved ones for Hogwarts, quidditch, and Oliver Wood. I’m usually more drawn to the British countryside, but London has always been a favorite of mine. There’s so much history and fiction that center around London. It always seems like something’s going on there: plays, street performances, festivals, etc… How did you find out about the “London’s Guest of Honour” (GOH) program, and can you tell us about your process of applying? The funny thing is that I was planning on going to London anyway. I was going to meet up with a friend who now lives there. I followed a couple of travel blogs on Twitter, and one of them retweeted the info for the contest so I entered. All they needed was a 60 second video describing my perfect day in London, along with a 70 word description of that day. It took me about three tries. The first and second tries were very scripted – I wasn’t really that impressed with them. In the end I just sat in front of my camera and talked. It went on for about seven minutes, and then I cut that down to 60 seconds.   I knew that they were contacting people to tell them that they’d made the top 15. After I got to work I saw that I had two missed calls from a blocked number. Something told me it was London & Partners (the contest organizers). I tweeted them and asked that they call again, which they did, but I missed that call too. I was so sad. I literally started planning how I would tell my grandchildren about the time I carelessly missed the opportunity of a lifetime. Finally, I got another call. As soon as I heard a British accent on the other line, I knew it was them. The next day I had a Skype interview that I was certain I bombed. I thought that I talked too much, which is something I do a lot of. A few days later I got a call saying that I was in the top few contestants and that I would need to do an additional interview, this time with my mom, who I’d decided to bring with me if I won. That is when we were both told that we would be going to London and that I was London’s Official Guest of Honour. I’m pretty sure I cried.
 How did it make you feel when you found out you were chosen out of 11,000 applicants to be the next GOH, and why do you think you were chosen? How did you get ready and prepare for the trip? I never thought of myself as very special, having been chosen from so many other applicants. I felt like they needed someone and for some reason, out of a room of, I don’t know how many people, liked me enough to pick me. It wasn’t until after the competition that I allowed myself to feel very important. I was so afraid of it getting to my head. I kept telling myself that I didn’t earn this, which was self deprecating and unnecessarily negative. I think I would have saved myself a lot of worry if I didn’t think like that. I didn’t do much to prepare for the trip. Most of the activities were kept secret. All I did was pack for two weeks for London. What was your favorite part of the trip? It’s really hard to pick a favorite part. I don’t think I could compare meeting Stephen Hawking to visiting Leavesden Studios, but they were both very important moments to me for different reasons. Clubbing in Shoreditch was also pretty memorable because it made me feel less like a tourist. I got a chance to see what nightlife in London is like for people from London. Which was nice. Also, meeting Gurinder Chadha and Sir Ronald Harwood were pretty epic moments. Gurinder was so kind and gave me really great advice on screenwriting. She told me that she was attracted to film because of racism. She wanted to help clear up certain stereotypes through the means of entertainment, which I think is just genius. Sir Ronald was very sweet. He showed me his BAFTA and Academy award. I know you’re an aspiring screenwriter. Do you think you will incorporate this trip/experiences into any of your writings one day? Yes! I’ve been wanting to write a project with a British setting, but having not been to the UK for a while, I felt a lack of inspiration! Being in London helped a lot. I met a lot of great characters in London, and there are some of the most beautiful settings in both London and Wales. I can’t wait to start filming there.  Uyanwah was awarded an $8000 shopping spree! What would you say is the most important thing you took away from this experience, and how are you using it in your life today? Before the trip, I thought about my future on a much smaller scale. I thought about what could be financially possible. I thought that it would be a great idea to move to the UK someday, but I didn’t know if that would be possible for me. I’d just finished my MFA and I needed to make money immediately. Since the trip, my goals have increased significantly in scale. I feel like more is possible. I never thought that I could meet Stephen Hawking, but I did. And even though it was through a contest that might seem like was just handed to me – I won that contest. Winning the title of London’s Guest of Honour was an achievement of mine that created opportunities I thought were impossible. If this could happen to me, I’m sure more incredible things can. What advice would you have for someone looking to be London’s next GOH? Any tips for them to help their application stand out? All I would be able to advise is for them to be themselves. That’s all I did in my video. I just talked at my camera and had to edit that down to 60 seconds. While I was there, they told me that part of the reason I was chosen is because they were able to get a sense of who I was – which was nice to hear.   Uyanwah with Stephen Hawking  Uyanwah and Jim Carter, from DOWNTON ABBEY If you could travel anywhere in the world, and be another city’s GOH, where would that be, and why? What sights and people would you like to see and meet there? I would probably go back to the UK. I found out a few years ago that my great great grandfather is from Scotland, so I’d love to go to Edinburgh or Glasgow. Also, I’ve always wanted to see more of Paris, so Paris would definitely be on the list. I’m working on my French…  Where can people find out more about you, and learn more about this program if they’re interested in entering it? If anyone would like to learn more about me, they can find me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/uhdezuh. If they’d like to learn more about the contest they can go to http://www.visitlondon.com/guest. I’m not sure when or if there will be another GOH contest, but I would 100% recommend entering. London is such a lively city with so much to offer.  Thanks to Adaeze so much for giving us a little insight into her special trip!
You can read more about some of her excursions during the trip here: https://www.yahoo.com/travel/visiting-london-changed-my-life-115218910502.html Now, it's your turn - if you had a chance to be London's Guest of Honour (or any city's Guest of Honor), where would it be, and what would YOUR perfect day there look like?  EDITED 5/26/22 - As of now, they're currently taking submissions for 2022-2023 contestants - information linked below! I decided to write up my experience of being a LET’S MAKE A DEAL (LMAD) contestant to answer people’s questions of my time there, provide tips if you want to get on the show, and if you just want to read about my experience and my feelings of that day. MY EXPERIENCE: I found out I was going to attend the show the night before the taping. I knew I needed a costume for the show, because I’d gone to other shows at the studio where LMAD tapes, and had always seen everyone waiting outside to get into the show, dressed in costumes like it was Halloween. My boyfriend and I quickly come up with the idea to be a tourist, since I had this awesome giant blow up camera, an “I love NY” t-shirt, and an old fanny pack. I have a friend who’s been on various game shows (including PRICE IS RIGHT and LET’S MAKE A DEAL) and won so much stuff, she’s actually had to turn things down. I call her up, and she lets me know how the process of the taping will go, and gives me some great tips on what to do to boost my chances of getting picked as a contestant. The next day, I get to the studio, fill out the paperwork, get a name tag, and go through security. Then this guy waves me and this other girl next to me up into this small area. This is their brief “interview” process, where they see what you’re all about, and try and get a feel for what you’ll be like if you get called down as a contestant. He asks us what our names are, and what we do. I don’t really remember if he asks us anything else (it’s very quick), but I say everything with tons of energy, and I’m practically bouncing around with giddiness. I’m hoping my blow up camera is original enough for me to really stand out. Especially because I printed out Wayne’s picture and put it alongside a picture of myself on the back of the camera. So I make sure and show him this, and excitedly joke that we have a picture already together. After that, I go into their waiting room. I sign in, and then a photographer takes a picture of me against a green screen. They sell these pictures if you want a picture of yourself “on” the LMAD stage that they insert in after. You can go outside to pay for the picture if you want (it’s like $20 a pic, and I’s poor, so I turn it down). Then comes the waiting. There’s a bunch of chairs, and TVs playing LET’S MAKE A DEAL. My friend told me they’re watching you in this room, and she was dancing in this room, and being very interactive with the people around her, playing cards or something. I look around, and don’t really see anyone watching me. But I figure they must be watching us somehow. I glance around for some secret cameras, or think maybe they’ve even got workers in costumes planted there to watch others (haha…paranoid, much?). I don’t have anything, and I am not about to just randomly stand up and dance. But I’m friendly and social with people around me, and compliment people on their amazing costumes. People blow my mind with their creativity. I start feeling underdressed, and like I’m not going to get picked. There’s people here with way cooler costumes. After a while, the same guy who interviewed me, comes up to the front of the room, and begins giving his speech to everyone. Turns out he is one of the audience crowd workers, the people who pick who’s going on the show. None of the attendees know if they’re getting chosen until Wayne Brady literally calls out the name during the live taping, so everyone’s very excited. The workers giving the speech have an abundance of energy. Makes me feel like a grandma (though it doesn’t take much for me to feel like that). They tell us how to act in there, to have fun, and if you feel like it, to dance during the commercials. They say that they usually know who they’re going to pick as contestants before the show starts, but that sometimes they’ll change their minds during the taping. For example, if they decided they liked you before the show, but during the taping/commercial breaks, you look extremely bored, they will switch you out for someone who’s dancing, laughing, and having a blast. During their speech, a worker comes up to me, to give me an LMAD sticker to cover up my “NY” part of my t-shirt, and also the name on my camera. Later, they come back and take the sticker off my camera, realizing that “CANKON” is not a real brand (thank you, cheap Asian knock offs). After the speech, they line everyone in the room up, and start bringing the audience into the game show room, placing each person in a designated seat. I feel pretty good about my seat (though they say there are no bad seats, and that every seat in the room has been chosen at one time or another). They place me next to the girl who interviewed with me. She’s nice, and dances during the commercials, which, thankfully gives me more courage to dance along with her. They start taping the show. Every time they bring someone up, everyone’s holding their breath (well, I am, at least), hoping to hear their name called out. It’s a fun show, and Wayne Brady is an entertaining, funny, and just all around amazing host! The workers said that he’s also really nice, so if you get called, and want a hug, just ask him for one. Dang STRAIGHT, I was gonna ask for a hug, if I got up there. Each segment goes by pretty quickly. Wayne usually leaves the stage during the commercial breaks. I hear that’s because he’s getting his pockets refilled with more deals, etc., but also because he, along with other people, are watching the audience VERY carefully to see who they want to bring up. I start feeling a little discouraged as we’re nearing the end of the show, because I think they’re done picking people to come up to play. The girl next to me tells me there is one more section left, and I don’t believe her. Wayne comes back out, after a commercial break. “Who wants to make a deal?!” ME! ME! ME! PICK ME! PICK ME! PICK ME! PICK ME! Inside, I’m screaming my brains out, trying to use my ESP to get him to notice me. Outside, I am cheering my lungs out, and my voice is getting really hoarse. He just HAS to pick me. And then I hear it. He says something about a camera, and looks in my direction. I can’t believe it. Is he actually talking about me?! I have a camera, right?! I have THE camera! No one else around me better have another camera! I look around just to make sure, and people are looking at me!  I scream, and jump up and down, and run down the aisle to him.  I get my Wayne Brady hug. YES.  My heart is pounding out of my chest! I can’t believe this is happening. He asks me what I’d like to take a picture of, and I show him our pictures together on the back of my camera. He says it’s kind of cool, but oddly creepy. In any other circumstance, Mr. Brady, totally understandable.  Then they pull back a curtain, and reveal that I’ll be playing for a CAR. NO WAYYYYYY.  He says to win it, I have to play car pong. Car WHAT?! They bring out the game, and it looks to me like one of those carnival games where you spend tons of money aiming balls in little fish bowls (which never make it in). These cups are smaller than the fish bowls.  Not only do I have to get a ping pong ball into one of the slots, but I have to get the one right in the middle, that’s labeled “CAR” – and – within FIVE seconds! My heart drops. This is impossible. Well, at least I got chosen to come on stage.  Then they say I can earn more time, if I can name three out of the four celebrities that have been elected to political office (on this board that seems to have come out of nowhere). Watching back on the video, this seemed like the easiest task. But most of this was a blur. My heart is pounding, my mind is racing, and I’m trying to listen intently to him, but it’s not easy comprehending anything at this point. Everything seems to be moving so fast. I think he tells me I only need to figure out one celebrity that’s been elected, so I confidently say, “Arnold Schwarzenneger!” I’m so happy and sure of myself, like I won all the extra time. Nope. So he’s standing there, and I’m just saying, “Yes! Yes!” That’s my final answer, dude! I don’t understand I have to pick two others. Finally, I catch on, and win an extra 15 seconds!  Wayne starts explaining the car pong game, saying the ball has to bounce once, and go into and stay in the middle CAR cup. He then offers me $500 to not play the game. I figure what’s the point in that, when I’ve come this far? It was all or nothing, baby!  The time begins, and I start nervously bouncing the balls towards the slots, in what I feel is a hopeless cause. I don’t even play beer pong, who am I kidding?!   Suddenly I think a ball bounces in the CAR slot!  I jump up and down, but Wayne just tells me to keep going! I have no idea why, and so I start thinking maybe he said I actually need to get FOUR balls in the CAR slot. Well! If it was impossible before, it’s even more so now. Who do you expect to get FOUR BLOODY balls in there?! I am so distraught, and just haphazardly keep throwing the balls toward the CAR slot. I get another ball in, in the $250 slot, and the time ends. He exclaims I won a car and $250. I’m baffled! I thought I had to get 4 balls in the hole! As it turned out, I was unaware that I could still get more balls in the other slots, which have money prizes attached to them, like $250, $500, and $1000 (dang, if I had known that, I would’ve aimed for the $1000 cups. My B).    I run over to the car, freaking out. Can’t. Control. Limbs.   I get in the car. Wayne comes over, and I ask him and his beautiful assistant, Tiffany, “Is this real? Did I really just win a car?!” I feel like at any moment they’re going to say, “Just kidding - SUCKA!”  Who GIVES AWAY CARS?! Well, as it turns out, LMAD does. And lots of them.  Afterwards, we go to commercial break, and I have to go back to my seat. I feel like I’m floating, and I can’t feel my legs. People in the audience are cheering me on and congratulating me, and suddenly, I’m very self-conscious and almost embarrassed at what’s happened. I just won a CAR by throwing a tiny ball into a tiny cup. How did this happen?! It’s crazy talk! After the show, I go with all the other winners into their office. It’s a misconception that people go home that day with their prize. We have to do the paperwork, and no one gets anything that day. Not even the people that win like $20 cash. They take those dolla dolla bills right out your hand once the commercial break comes. Overall, twas one of the most fun (and nerve-wracking) experiences of my life. I totally recommend if you want to be a contestant on the show, just DO it. It’s possible. Even if you think you’re unlucky, and never win anything. You gotta play the game to win. And it’s a REALLY fun game. I have to thank the entire team at LMAD for this wonderful experience. They work so hard, and are like Santa Clauses, giving away so many prizes every day. Awesomeness all around.  AFTER THE SHOW: - The taping happened in September 2014, and the episode aired at the end of January 2015. I received my car at the end of March 2015. - I decided to keep the car, but I did upgrade it. I had to pay the taxes on the car, and license/registration, and will have to pay the additional taxes the car prize winnings adds to my income. So it’s not a free car, by any measure, but I’m essentially paying the price of a used car for a new car. TIPS & INFORMATION ON HOW TO BE A CONTESTANT ON LET'S MAKE A DEAL: If you’re a super energetic, happy, smiley person and are in (or can get to) Los Angeles, I say, GO FOR IT! This is all just based on my experience. Hopefully this helps, but don’t take it as a step by step guarantee to get on the show. EDIT* I attended this show in 2014. The processes in going there may have changed a bit (especially with COVID - there are less contestants chosen, and some are even virtual), but the general tips are still useful - You can get FREE tickets on their official site: on-camera-audiences.com/shows/lets_make_a_deal - As of May 2022, they're currently looking for their 2022-2023 contestants; apply here: fremantle.formstack.com/forms/fremantle_gameshow_2022 - Follow @letsmakeadeal on Twitter, and check it the day before you go. They’ll sometimes mention things for you to bring, and you could win prizes if you have it and they pick you. - Come up with an original, creative costume. Nothing too scary though. Don’t wear any brand names or have any logos on any part of your outfit, or they’ll get covered up. - When you get to the studio/have the virtual interview, you are ON. This means people are watching you. Well, supposedly anyways, but I still wouldn’t be a punk to anyone around you. - They have a small “interview” process that everyone goes through, for them to see who they want to bring up as contestants. They bring you into an area with a bunch of people, and will go around the circle, usually asking you your name, where you're from, what you do. THIS is the interview, and your time to shine! You have possibly 15 seconds or less to impress them. Smile, laugh, yell out excitedly, and be super energetic. Just don’t get too crazy. Think of something unique about yourself, or have something interesting/funny to tell them. They’re watching to see how you’ll act if Wayne Brady brings you on stage. - If you’re an actor, play it safe, and don’t mention that. Give them some other job you do that also might pay the bills. Also, be generic with the titles. They don’t want to know where exactly you work, like at Target. Just say “cashier.” - Regarding costumes, and being in the waiting room, try not to overthink anything. You never know what they’re looking for. I’ve seen some people with generic looking costumes get up there because they have an awesome personality or story. It’s probably like 30% costume, 70% person (it also may be the complete opposite, because I just made up those statistics). Be friendly and smiley while waiting, even if you're sitting in there for awhile. - They say they generally have the people they want in mind before you get seated, however they can change their minds while shooting. Don't worry about where you get seated. There have been contestants chosen from every seat. What's MOST IMPORTANT is that during the entire time, especially during the commercial breaks you are up on your feet, dancing, and having a BLAST. They (and Wayne Brady) have the cameras on you, and are watching the audience intently to see who to call to the stage. If they thought they knew who they were going to call before shooting, but during the breaks that person is passed out, or not energetic, they're going to search out for someone that's having a ton more fun, and showing it! I'm not kidding. Don't just have conversations with whomever you came with, don't sit in your chair, don't act like you're just waiting for them to call you. You have to be SO FRIGGIN ON IT, every second!! This is your chance to really impress them! - If you get called down to the stage as a contestant, be excited! Jump up and down, wave your hands, etc. This is a game show. They want people who aren't shy about showing their emotions. If you win something, be excited! Don’t ask for a better prize. You will get taken off the show. If you lose...well, be gracious about it. - If you win a prize, you won’t actually take anything home that day with you. First off, the show hasn’t aired, and won’t air for a few months after the taping. Secondly, if, for some reason it doesn’t air, you won’t get the prize. Third, you must keep this a secret from everyone, because if it gets out that you’ve told anyone (or worse, post it on social media), your prize will be revoked. - In addition, any prize you win, you must pay taxes on, and it’s counted towards your income (which means paying more taxes on that as well). So make sure that if you decide to keep it, you will be able to pay for the taxes and any other monetary responsibilities that come along with it. Here are some useful links to read more about this:
- You have 10 days after the taping to decide if you’re going to accept or decline the prize. After the episode airs, they have 90 days to get the prize to you. - If you win a car, you have to go to a specific car dealership that they exclusively work with the car prizes. And FYI, if you decide to upgrade the car, you'll most likely be paying the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), and won't get a deal on it. These people already receive your prize money for the car before you come in, and they know you have to buy a car, and buy it there. Good luck! Let me know if you’ve ever been on LMAD and how it was! I’d love to hear other people’s time on the show!  Straight cheeeeesin with Wayne Brady  Nicole Fong Photography Darrell Lake has an incredible life. At least that’s what his newest web series, “The Incredible Life of Darrell Lake” seems to presume. In reality, the web series touches on some comically awkward situations of a young man and his life in a small town. It’s produced by the real Darrell Lake, a not-so-awkward, and incredibly talented creative, living in Los Angeles, CA. He’s a multi-hyphenate - acting, directing, writing, and even helping out generously on our photo shoot, where you’ll see he shines both behind and in front of the camera. You can see him next on the hit show, Hawaii-Five 0, airing tomorrow, Friday, 2/13/15, so check it out. A huge thanks to Darrell for doing this interview and photo shoot with us, we had a blast! What were the obstacles you had to overcome to come to the U.S. and what were the steps you took to make moving here a reality? I visited the U.S with my family about 15 years ago, on holiday. We moved back to Sierra Leone from Eritrea, about a year later, and I was about to finish high school. By then, I’d fallen in love with film making, since seeing Terminator 2. For some reason I identified with the John Connor kid. We were around the same age. It opened up this whole world to me, that you can create and live in a world so different from mine. You can materialize the words on the page, and there’s no limit to what you can do. I wanted to make movies desperately. So, I had just finished high school, and was a about to start a new phase of my life. I would either go to college there, or move to the U.S. But there isn't much of an industry in Sierra Leone, and my parents have always been incredibly supportive of me and my aspirations, so they decided we should move. And I’ve been in Los Angeles now for 10 years!  Nicole Fong Photography It seems like you had a more challenging childhood than most. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, where you were born, and the situation you were in as a young kid? I was born in London, England and moved to Sierra Leone (where my parents are from) when I was about three years old. Most of my childhood was in Africa. It was tumultuous growing up, due to the conflict in Sierra Leone at that time. As a kid it was unnerving, but you have to be very adaptable, because this is the environment you are growing up in. We left Sierra Leone for a period of time and moved around to Guinea, Gambia, Ghana and Eritrea. Though it was tough at the time, looking back at it now, I’m grateful for the experience, because I got to come across all these distinct languages and places, and really appreciate how people of other cultures and customs expressed themselves differently. I encountered alternate ways of living that were very different from what I was accustomed to, and subsequently formed very lasting friendships and a greater view of the world. Darrell Lake has an incredible life. At least that’s what his newest web series, “The Incredible Life of Darrell Lake” seems to presume. In reality, the web series touches on some comically awkward situations of a young man and his life in a small town. It’s produced by the real Darrell Lake, a not-so-awkward, and extremely talented creative, living in Los Angeles, CA. He’s a multi-hyphenate - acting, directing, writing, and even helping out generously on our photo shoot, where you’ll see he shines both behind, and in front of the camera. You can see him next on the hit show, Hawaii Five-0, airing tomorrow, Friday, 2/13/15, on CBS - so check it out! A huge thanks to Darrell for doing this interview and photo shoot with us, we had a blast! Photography: Nicole Fong & Grant Van Duker You’re not only an actor, but a writer and director. How did you get into acting, writing, and directing, and which field do you feel is your main focus? Is there one medium you enjoy more than the others, and is there something else you’d like to get into that you haven’t yet? Writing was the first thing I started doing. My mom is a voracious reader, and always took me to the library when I was a kid. That was one consistent thing I had, when moving from one place to another. She’d always find the closest place to get books. So I read a lot, and later started writing. For me, it was about telling a story. Just as I had spent all my time growing up reading other stories, I just started writing mine. I wrote my first movie when I was 15. It was more like a novel, with a lot of dialogue. I had never seen a movie script before. I was just communicating ideas, with paper and pen. I wanted desperately to be in these worlds I was creating. Then one day I saw Terminator 2, which, like I said above, opened up my mind to the possibilities that I can actually have these worlds materialized. So I love all the mediums. They all support each other and allow me to fully express myself. Something I would be interested in getting involved in would probably be music. I love music. I’ve always had fantasies of performing in a big arena. I love the medium, and how you can express yourself so articulately. I would love to be great at it, and I have a lot of stories to tell!  Nicole Fong Photography
Shooting Hawaii 5-0 was like one amazing vacation. The process of getting on the show was very fast. I got an audition around 7pm, for 10am the next day. The day after the audition, I received a phone call from my manager, saying “Aloha!” The cast and crew were all very welcoming. It was a blast! (The episode airs this Friday, 2/13/15, at 9:00pm on CBS. It’s definitely a must watch. Oscar Nominee Barkhad Abdi also guest stars in it.)  Nicole Fong Photography You also recently came out with your new web series, “The Incredible Life of Darrell.” Tell us how you came up with the idea for that, and take us through your journey of creating it and putting it on YouTube! Throughout the last year, I had been studying comedy with Shari Shaw (she’s amazing), and I quickly fell in love with it. I’ve always done drama, and never saw myself doing comedy. So it was truly a revelation when I realized that I, in fact, could do it, and how much fun it is! Right after doing Hawaii Five-0, I came back to LA, and went straight in to shooting “The incredible life of Darrell.” I had written the material a month earlier, and loved the idea of this character finding himself in these very intimate and awkward situations, against the backdrop of a small town. It was such a beautiful experience. I got to collaborate with my close friends and although it was a lot of fun, the tricky part of shooting a comedy is keeping a straight face! Everyone was cracking up on set.  Nicole Fong Photography If you could create your dream project, without regard to budget, what would it be about, who would be in it, and where would you shoot? It would be this Sci-Fi action feature I’m currently writing, and aim to make someday, hopefully soon! It’s set in an alternate reality, where we share the planet with a different species, and it’s about the conflicts that ensue. I can’t reveal many details, but I plan on starring in it, and it’s set in America, mostly in the East coast. What are some things you enjoy doing outside of the entertainment business? Outside of the entertainment business, I like design. I’m fascinated by other types of creative works. I’m also a big fan of the outdoors and nature. So I’m always hiking and exploring my environment. What’s the hardest thing you’ve had to experience within or outside of this industry, and how did/do you defeat it and learn from it? The hardest experience is adapting to the unpredictability of the entertainment industry. Now I find the beauty in it. Because, one minute, it can seem nothing is happening, and the next week you are in Hawaii shooting!  Nicole Fong Photography If you could give any advice to people aspiring to do what you do, what would you tell them? Do! That’s the best advice I can give. Do whatever it is you are interested in. You need to explore it. You gain confidence by doing. You might not even like the thing. The best way to truly find out if what’s nagging at you is viable is by putting it to the test. If it doesn’t work out, you’ve learned from the experience and you can move forward.  Nicole Fong Photography Alright, you heard the man - get out there, and DO! :)
Thanks again Darrell, we look forward to seeing you on the TEL-AY (bad British accent). If you'd like to find out more about Darrell, and follow him or his work, check out the links below: Note from Darrell: My production company’s YouTube channel is where I’m posting all my new work. Please subscribe! YouTube: www.youtube.com/darrelllakefilms Website: www.darrelllake.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedarrelllake Instagram: http://instagram.com/thedarrelllake Twitter: https://twitter.com/darrelllake Tumblr: http://darrelllakefilms.tumblr.com |
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