Annika's First Role!

Annika M. Salgado is now a bonfide actress!  She has had two professional (paid) Acting jobs this summer and the prospects are likely for more!  Annika's first job was a video shoot for Phillips (tv).She was paid for her recitations in front of a green screen from a script.  That job was in Andover MA (an hour and half drive)...she worked 15 minutes and was paid $200.00.  Yesterday, Annika played her first role in a commercial for Houghton Mifflin Publishing company out of Boston, Austin Tx and Orlando.  Our commercial was shot in the Boston area.  The video they produce will be used on websites to offer a link to an educational initiative known in the Teaching community as Common Core. 

Annika auditioned at Christine Wyse Casting in Boston.  At the time of the audition, Jonathan Stark (the project's director), heard and saw her audition.  The rest of the crew reviewed the videos of the audition but Jonathan apparently took a liking to Annika for the role of Jozie.  The four piece ensemble would be set at a Breakfast table with dad, daughter Jozie and a baby in a high chair....also a narator.  There were phone calls and emails and everything was professional and thorough for us to know where we were going, when to show up and even where to park!  We arrived at 10am on Thursday morning and we greeted warmly by the project producer, Matt Tomasselli.  The video was shot at his new home.  Even I was treated with immense respect for being the bringer of the talented young actress.  By the way, children are adored on set!  As long as they are well-behaved, professional and actually produce the talent that they are expected to, they are truly doted on by the cast and the wardrobe artists and makeup artists.  Even the Props artist was wonderful at personalizing details that really enhanced the individual characters that the kids bring to their roles.

We were ushered in and made comfortable and Annika started her morning in wardrobe with the lovely and skilled Kelly McDermott of Kelly, etc.  She had selected clothing for Annika and put her in a green and white striped hoodie that looked completely capricious on her!  Later that day, they would allow her to bring it home with her...a special surprise from the set!

After her wardrobe was selected, Kasey was waiting eagerly to begin Annika's look.  Kasey skillfuly smoothed and braided Annika's hair into the perfect casual child look!  I wish I could keep Kasey forever because I am awful with Annika's hair!  When Annika finally emerged (after about 45 minutes) from hair and makeup...she looked incredible!  In the interim other Actors had arrived and were also going from wardrobe to makeup.  I passed the time getting to know the Crew who were fabulous.  We took several breaks as needed and lunch were wonderful sandwiches.  Matt had carefully planned out the snacks and they had Dunkin Donuts coffee, Fiber One Bars, Nutrigrain bars, fruit, soda and water.  Annika made friends with the baby who played her brother "Ben"...his real name is Cai and his sister is Brook.  They are from Dynasty Models of Boston.

Cai

                                                                       Brook

SO!  The most exciting and important period of the day was the time when Annika got to sit in the hot seat and shoot her part of the commercial.  I found it really interesting to see how much equipment is used to create this casual breakfast conversation...none of the Actors were actually at the table together while they did their role!  When Jozie is talking to her "Dad" she is actually talking to the Director Jonathon who feeds her the last part of his lines that lead into her lines.  I stood perched at the dining room door to see her perform and I could not believe how well she did!  The first time you really see your child "turn on" for a camera...having heard the direction...having adapted any changes suggested...it is a wonderful moment.  I was full of pride.  I still am. Annika would go through several takes that would be about an hours' worth of repeating her lines.  With each of the Actors, it was about as long...Then their were still shots and perfecting the lighting and sound and movements and props.  All the while, Kasey running in and out doing her best to be invisible but touching up faces and hair.  What I really noticed was THEIR great talents...those of the crew!

Someone who stood out to me was a lovely woman who played the role of the narator.  Her name is Celeste Olivo and she has an intoxicating voice!  She impressed everyone with her professionalism and charisma.  I am glad to see that Annika is going to be working with people of this caliber.  This is what every mother should want for their child...not necessarily to be a working child, but to be a GREAT person!  And if acting is what she wants, and we can help her achieve it...then we will!  I personally enjoy my new role as her Mom and Manager.  I find it easy to learn on the set...and to meet new people and make myself useful but also stay out of the way of things.  I don't smother Annika but I do keep an eagle eye for signs of fatigue or dehydration or any other thing.  For instance, I noticed that in the first few minutes that Annika was sitting in her chair at the table and the bright lights were upon her and the Props were being fixed and their was general commotion around her...and no one else but a Mother would read this...there was fear.  I saw fear in her little face...not an overwhelming fear but just a sudden realization of where she was and how big this could be for her...maybe not this small job but this direction in general.  I whispered to Amy (Jonathon's right hand) and she immediately went to check on her and offer some comfort.  Whatever she said or did, Annika certainly recovered with excellence!

This was Annika' Spot at the Dining Room Table after we were finished and the crew was cleaning up.  The first time Annika saw the Scene Marker and they used it, I knew she was in this for life.  I took this picture of it because she really loved it...the Marker.

This one is a shot where the room was still set...Cai is in his high chair.  The backpack...LOL...they brought several and this was the one they used.  I love Hello Kitty!

Annika on a 5 minute break in the afternoon...it was a long day on set.

Enjoying some time with the Cast and Crew who were so wonderful with the kids!  Every scene where Cai or Annika were being shot, there was always a crowd around them watching and smiling and encouraging! HG Wells said that kids and animals upstage everyone...or can sometimes bring down the set if they don't cooperate...but more important that they really win the hearts of all!

Because this video will be for Common Core, they needed great kids to sell it.  I am so happy that they chose Annika and I hope that we will be called by them again!  Thank you so much to the Cast and Crew:
Jonathan Stark
Nathan Wilson
Matthew Tomasetti
Travis Webb
Sean Gardner
Amy Rindal
Sergio Durante
Chance Navarrette
Tui Stark
Kelly McDermott
Kasey Corbelle
Bill Mootos
Celeste Olivo
Cai and Brook and their Dad Scott

and Also our wonderful Agents at Model Club...especially Andrew who has worked so hard for Annika!  We really appreciate you all. 

~Namaste~

What's NOT to Love about Boston?

Did you ever notice how intimidating it is to visit a busy city?  But then you overcome the fear and you go and you conquer it.  While you are there, a new feeling grows inside of you.  This is how I feel about Boston.  Perhaps I was from Boston in a former life (past life) because I feel very connected to it but afraid at the same time!  I have been to Boston on a few occassions...maybe 20.  I have gone to a few Red Sox games at Fenway Stadium and eaten at some places nearby.  There have been church functions, dances, show and Conferences I have attended throughout the Boston area...even a few I have sung at.  I considered a college in Boston back when it was time to scout out potential schools...Berkeley College of Music.  I made the excuse that it was too expensive to go there, but the truth is I was afraid!  I could not imagine (at that time) going to school in a city like Boston with it's bustling urban energy.  Instead I chose rural University of Rhode Island.

On a recent journey into Boston, I got to discover a bit of the feeling of this historic city.  The Back Bay district is almost like Boston's shadow...so far from the clustering of Major hotspots like The Children's Museum and the Aquarium (2 favorites of mine).  On the day of this visit, I had to produce results in a way I have not had to before...I had an important task:  to deliver a young actress to her potential agent!  After a serious bit of contemplation, we decided that we would use the Amtrak train to commute.  We allowed 2 hours for our round-trip visit which proved to be ample time for the task.  Luckily, the location of our Agency was to be a mere 2 blocks from the station...a short and pleasant walk.  There is a certain quality to the Bostonian.  They possess the aire of regalness mixed with the cool aloofness of a New Englander.  The Bostonite dresses casual but new...they have a fresh, smart appearance and they are cutting edge.

We fit in, if only barely.  Our day was an adventure and eventually we were signed on for representation by Model Club Inc.  On our second trip up to Boston we would have an audition at Christine Wyse Casting a few blocks from the Agency.  Dining at several places along the way on these occassions was another exciting venture.  There are so many great eateries all around.

Maybe some things have a way of feeling magical because they are so far out of the normal range of regular life, that they just take on a whole new life of their own.  Here in this photo, Annika is posing just outside of the Model Club Agency Studio.  She was charming and fun during her audition and got many great compliments from the Agents.  It is such a pleasure to hear from them and know that they see something in her.  They believe she has potential to do great things as an Actor or model in Movie, Tv or commercials...even Print Ads.   There are many directions for her to go in and we get to see which one is ready for her.

Later in the month we would travel (by car) to a suburban area outside of Boston called Stoughton where we met an excellent photographer.  A picture has great transformative properties.  So many important revelations can come from a photograph.  I am eager to see what our Agents will have to say when they see the charisma and nature of her in these photos. She was a combination of Genuine and passionate.  I envy her ability to materialize ideas into emotions.  She knows how to deliver a feeling and a thought with her eyes and her body.  Annika is a vital force of nature.  If she is air, it is wind.  If she is water, she is a tidal wave.  If she is heat, she is an inferno.  There is no smallness in her, only greatness.  I cherish my little fireball!

photo by RDP photography

~April 8, 2011~

My first Audition

I survived my first rejection this week.  I am Annika's Mother, Angel, and I will be writing this blog to document Annika's Story which I think is pretty extraordinary.  Annika herself is an amazing girl.  She has a bubbly personality and inquisitiveness that is tempered with maturity beyond her years.  As a nine-year old, Annika is a normal kid who loves to play outdoors and run and dance and watch television.  Now that Annika has a Talent Agent, Model club Inc of Boston, she will get plenty of auditions for Acting and Modeling.  But this past week was significant for one special reason.  Last Thursday was Annika's first Audition from Model Club and it was for some sort of Commercial.

RDP Photography, Stoughton MA

Annika went up to Boston by train and spent the better part of the afternoon commuting for the sake of a 15 minute audition.  We all laughed at the Pomp and Circumstance of it all and wondered what they were looking for and if Annika would be selected.  We were given very little information apart from the Callback and Shooting dates.  The day after the Audition was a Photo Shoot for her Professional Comp Cards for Modeling.  A Comp Card, or Zed  Card is like the Model's calling card that shows several photos and their Stats.  We were excited to have the afternoon to travel to Stoughton and meet our photographer.  It totaled about an hour plus 2 hours of travel time.   I had to lose a half day of work and Annika left school 3 hours early, but the photo sneak peaks were fabulous and so we felt that the efforts of the week were worth while.

The weekend that followed her first Audition was wrought with strain as I agonized over how I would balance the needs of my Business with the unpredictable schedule of my Child Actor.  We were so eager for Monday to arrive because common sense would tell us that if the callback was Tuesday, we would have received the information by Monday.  On the other hand, the worry over balancing the schedule and getting time off work and the cost of the train were all weighing heavily on my mind.  Then the thought of her first paying job flooded those other thoughts out.  We could see a nice big paycheck and get her a Savings Account!  With this much inner turmoil, how was I to make clear intentions to the Universe and to help the Law of Attraction bring to us all that we desire?

RDP Photography, Stoughton MA

So Monday finally came and that morning felt great.  I was sure she had gotten selected and that we would need to make those arrangements.  But all day the phone was silent.  There were no calls or emails.  I have to say it was very discouraging!  I did feel a bit of relief as it seemed that I would finally get a little reprieve to just focus on my issues and my needs at home and with my job.  Maybe I should feel more disappointed...Annika did.  She was filled with self-doubt.  She did everything I anticipated she would do. She blamed herself for not doing a good enough Audition.  They had asked her if she liked Roller Coasters and she answered honestly that she did not.  Annika had said that as they asked questions, they were recording the answers.  I have to assume there was a reason for the process...but we are inexperienced at these things.

So for now, we wait.  When the next Opportunity comes, we are a bit older and wiser and more experienced.

RDP Photography, Stoughton MA April 8, 2011