Current mood:

contemplative

"Because tonight is the night the world begins again" ~ "Better Days," Goo Goo Dolls
This is pretty long, so it back, relax and enjoy~!

I can't even remember the last time I updated anything!  My apologies folks, but I'd also like to take this time to reflect on my year. 

I'll start with the personal aspect of this past year. 

Last year during the holidays, I spent it in San Diego with my college and family friends.  And I was still working at Baxter on the weekends.  I clearly remember driving up to LA again to work on New Year's day... and getting hit by another car on the 405. :P  This year I was invited to a party (well, a few actually) where I'll be ringing in the New Year with the first person I met in LA and still continue to know.... and also take part in a poker tournament ^-^  (It's a recent addiction.  really.)

In this first year in LA, I think the most important thing I discovered that I need my support system.  I went through dips of desolation, isolation, and desperation, but seemed to always be able to bob back up to the surface with the help of my friends back on the East coast and my new found friends here.  I think at one point, I wanted to get to know just as many people as I did in Boston, but in LA and I feel like I've accomplished that.  I feel like I've created a nice safety net for myself.  I hope in 2007 I will expand on that and venture out into the not-so-safety net areas too (whatever that may be). 

A lot of this came about in the last half of the year especially after I was fired at Baxter at the end of June (which I know the reason for now... but I won't divulge here :P; its not a big deal anymore).  I think that was really a blessing in disguise, much like my car accident in 2005 played a big part in my future decisions.  After I got fired, I threw myself into classes at East West Players where I became close to a great group of people.  We continue to support each other's endeavors.  This was also the time I was looking for a job or freelancing like crazy: I was teaching 3 students, I was handing out flyers on the street for clinical trials, I was the PR rep to Japan for Johnny Hi-Fi, and started doing simultaneous interpreting for the Little Tokyo Community Council.  I dipped into my back-up money which were stocks from my old company I use to work at.  But despite those two months being SO busy, I had a great time doing it all.  Taking classes at East West Players also helped to introduce me to the Tuesday Night Cafe crowd.  This was really a fundamental thing that I was looking for... a place where a community came together and were trying to make a difference at the grass roots level.  And it also reminded me a lot of Boston back in 2002 when I first go to know Boston's indie music scene.

After a busy summer I arrived at a pretty calm fall and birthday... sort of.  My birthday was absolutely insane with a lot of karaoke involved, but it was SO fun.  Thanks for my best friend "L" for coming out from Boston for my b-day!  Shortly after my birthday (and recovery), I started working at an internet marketing company.  The kicker is that everyone (6 of us) is an actor.  What happened was that I reconnected with someone I met earlier in the year in regards to insurance (he's an insurance agent on the side) when he told me about workplace.  A few days later, I found myself interviewing, going through a training period, and getting hired.  Our boss is also an actor and wanted to create an environment where actors can be actors (ie go to auditions, rehearsals, etc) and learn new things at the same time.  We all try to make 35 to 40 hours a week, so it's very much work hard, play hard, but it's just right for me.


Career wise, I think I've taken decent leaps, but no bounds yet.

During the first half of the year, I started taking scene study class with Art Wolf which has been a gold mine of actor-knowledge and opened *lots* of doors for me as an actor.  I was also diligently going to the Actor's Network and sucking up every morsel of information as possible.  I was doing drop-offs and searching for an agent too.  Hell, I even got a callback for audition all by myself in March, so I was feeling pretty good.  I was temporarily with an agency until they told me I can still do a non-union job; they're cutting the check so "it doesn't matter".. obviously a pile of bullshit AND a red flag.  I got out of there pretty quickly.  Commercially speaking, I was going out at a decent frequency for a newbie without representation.  Oh yes... I even go to dress up as a Japanese Little-bo-peep for the finishing shots for "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift."  And then came June when within a week I signed with Sanger Talent Agency for theatrical representation and with Daniel Hoff for commercial representation.  Come to think of it for the latter half of the year, I had more theater auditions more than commercials.  *shrug*  I also started getting involved with Lodestone Theatre Company when I house managed "One Nation Under God" and then just recently "Telemongol."  I got to know SO many people and had an awesome time, but it looks like I'll be stepping away from that come the new year to get myself up on stage. 

I was also very excited to be cast in "Snark-a-snoops" which just ended in December.  It was wonderful entertaining children; my first time doing a kids' show.  And doing it at the Stella Adler was nice too :).  The people I was cast with were very talented and it was wonderful being able to perform with them.  If there is an opportunity to do "Snark-a-snoops" with them again, I'd do it in a heat beat!  In addition, I also performed in "Akira's Hip-hop shop" which featured James Kyson Lee (from "Heroes".. I LOVE the show).

Now, I had been taking class with Art for nine months and after a summer of classes at East West Players plus scene study and then a commercial class, I was starting to get burnt out both as an artist and monetarily.  In mid September, I made the call to Art to tell him I was taking some time off. 

So, coming into 2007, I have representation, a short film and a theatrical show under my belt, so not too bad eh?  My one solid goal of the year: book a co-star role on a show.  Sounds easier when said; trust me.  Well, its either that or my other options are: getting Equity, booking a commercial, or booking a featured part in a feature film.  oh ya... I've already been cast in "The Agency," a webisode starting to shoot around February.  I'll be playing the love interest.. yeay!  Quite different from the b*tch I was playing in "Akira's Hip-hop shop."

I'm going full speed ahead into 2007 with my eyes on the prize!

Have a happy new year!

Junko :)

Junko Goda
Actress
info@junkogoda.com
http://www.junkogoda.com