I've got so many ideas running through my mind all day. Lately, I've been writing down a lot of them, and tomorrow I have a meeting to get some of these projects started. I have such a huge urge to film a whole bunch of stuff. Some scenes, monologues, and mostly a series I would like to create. I am spending a lot of times these days at the library and Barnes and Noble, researching things to write about, studying things that seem irrelevant to my life but that I figure would be good to know... I need to write about what I know, what I'm close to, and since what I want to write about is not really my life, I am researching and in a sort of a Method maneuver am becoming the person I would like to write about. If anyone is reading this and wants to direct their film friends to me, I'd love to make some new friends. It'd be great to find more people for this passion project. ... As an aside to this, I am actively going out (mostly because work has been slow and I work only a few times a week) and I'm enjoying it. Of course, I need to find a way to finance this life a bit more, but I will manage it better upon my return from my trip at the end of summer. I will be out of LA, and in fact the country for the month of September. I can hardly wait! I'll be in NYC in just a little over a month from today. I have been thinking of all the people that I want to see and hope that they want to see me just as much. I want to see some shows and go to my favorite New York restaurants and locations! So stoked!! Following a week in NYC, I will be visiting family in Israel. This, too, is going to be so incredibly joyous! In fact, JOY is where it's at. My dear friend, Jennifer (shout out!), made me a bracelet with the word engraved onto a circle, and well, I've been thinking about it a lot. What Joy means to me, what joy I already have, what joy I would like, etc. And it reminds me of a journal entry I was assigned to write in a college musical theater class. The topic was Joy vs. Fear- to define them in my life and find similarities between them. I'll have to read the entry when I visit my parents' house next week and see exactly what I wrote. But in thinking of it now, I am realizing that many things that give me joy came out of conquering a fear or giving up on fear. And, going back to this bracelet, Joy is attainable, and exists all the time. You just have to be aware of it and welcome it into your life. Forget about the things you fear and the things that make you unhappy. Remind yourself of something small that brings you joy and it will brighten up your day. Joy. "If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses I have been lucky enough to have had. Not the sadness... but the joy of everything else. It will have been enough." -Audrey Hepburn

Happy June! I can't believe it's already summer and that I've been in LA for 3 months now... I feel like there's still soo much to see and do and people to meet, friends to make, etc... I work quite a lot- at least in the evenings which is making it difficult to be very social, but I'm trying to stay in touch with the few good friends I have out here. I desperately miss my friends out on the East Coast, but I am fighting to make it work for me out here in LA. I started a new acting class, which I'm glad to be in, and I think it will get the ball rolling. In fact, I am amidst scene-searching right now. Just thought I'd put "pen to paper" or, in this case, fingers to keyboard for a brief moment... To anyone reading, have a pleasant week

$690 million lotto

Y'know, if everyone put as much money as they did on a lotto ticket toward a charity we could've all done something really amazing today.
Seriously... think about. It sort of breaks my heart that we've become a pretty selfish culture.
...
It's been an interesting week or two in lottery land in California. The mega millions are at a super high, and tonight's lotto was for $690 million... seriously? what?! That's wild! How did all that money get to one place?! It's just absurd. I mean, if that money got there, why doesn't even half of that, hell a quarter of that go towards other things? um... the homeless, the hungry, education, health problems, abuse, animals, etc...

First off, these charities need to find a way to be more effective in getting people to line up and give them money instead of people lining up at every gas station in hysteria to buy a lottery ticket.

In absolute seriousness, I was one of those people who figured "Hell, this only comes once in a lifetime. I'll try for the jackpot." And, thus, last week I got 5 tickets and again this week.
And, I'll say it again, could've done better things with my money. My roommate was telling me that a person's got a better chance injuring themselves with a right-handed utensil if they're left-handed than winning the lottery... now that's silly, and probably true, but I still went ahead and figured that You Never Know. That's true, as well... Maybe I could've won it. And then I'd probably vomit and not know what to do with myself.
I prefer that a few hundred people win the jackpot and it's split among many people. I think that would be best :) I mean, what could a person possibly do with so much money? Unless they have a very clear financial plan to help the world, which is what I would like to do if I was loaded.
All I'd want to win in a lottery is a nice million or two... I plan to make my millions, but if I was lucky enough to win the lotto, I don't see why I'd need more.

But really, the point of my writing at 2 am is that I can imagine what good we could have done in the world today if we all just put that money and effort into a charity or important cause. If I had spent $5 buying a homeless person a lunch today, or donating it to the ASPCA one less person (or puppy) would be in pain for a moment... and isn't that what we should all be striving for? To help others. To make a difference.

I think it's important to think what you would do if you had this massive jackpot, because it'll tell you a lot about yourself. Or ask your friends... do it!... are they still your friends? ;)
I know that I'd likely throw up, as I mentioned above, and then buy a house in LA, one in NYC, one in Italy, travel some, and donate an absurd load of it to causes that I am inspired by. I would definitely help to fund the National Women's Museum that Meryl Streep is helping to start up :)

So next week when you're off to buy your lottery ticket for what will now be over one BILLION dollars, I ask that you just think about it, and maybe get $5 worth of lotto tickets and then donate $5 to a cause you care about.

Good night, and in the words of Ellen DeGeneres, BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER :)

~Tal

WeHo

So, I've moved into LA. West Hollywood~ Beverly Grove to be precise.
I moved in almost a month ago! And I'm living with a friend from high school, Sarah. Things are going great. I got a job within my first few days here, and then got offered a better one and took that... so I'm waitressing at a cool place downtown where there are awesome shows in our back speakeasy cabaret room. And some celebs come hang out for dinner or do shows there... I also perform on Thursday nights at the Open Mic.

Other than that, I'm organizing my reel. I need another 2 actors to make it complete, and then I'm filming it in the coming weeks.
I'm looking for a second part-time job to make a bit extra money, as well.

I don't have anything funny to really write about right now, so I'm just gonna let this post be. :)

2012- The Apocalypse Is Coming...

It's a new year and it's been a while...

I'm currently working temp jobs at a private school in Orange County, making some money to move on into LA. I am officially moving into West Hollywood on March 1st and I cannot wait! I'm overly excited and can't wait to be a committed vegan and avid Los Angelino. It's super hard to be a vegan whilst living in my parents house... have you seen the pictures I keep posting on facebook? My mother is an UNREAL cook and the pastries and cakes that she makes just blow my mind. I always faulter on them. Never meat, obviously. It's been 8 years since I've had any non-vegetarian food. I love it! Thank you, Upton Sinclair (author of The Jungle)!

Life has been tres dull in SoCal, thus far, but I feel like I'm just in an hourglass waiting it out. I'm kind of suffocating by being at home, but I've found ways to keep busy. Singing a lot, making some new friends...

I still am heartbroken that I'm not in NYC right now, but I know that I can always go back. I think it's just necessary that I be here in California for the time being. I also miss Israel! I was there last summer and I am planning a trip this Passover for 2/3 weeks, as well as a stop in NYC. Broadway, beware, I'm coming and I intend to see a whole lot of ya!

What else? You would imagine a lot has happened or changed, but not really. I'm still actively trying to change where I'm at in life. I still hate driving in traffic, particularly. I still have AWFUL back pain, that is only getting worse by sitting in an office chair all day (oh- I'm getting an epidural in a week and a half). I'm uber nervous about the epidural but am reminded of how safe and easy of a procedure it is. I'll be "going under" anesthesia in order to get it done... I am already planning for someone to videotape me on the drive home with a series of funny questions in hopes that a video sensation can be born. I don't know how that works, but we'll see.

I'm starting a pop/rock repertoire class tonight in LA after work. I just hope I won't be overly exhausted all week because of how long my day goes. I'm already yawning. And I am still hungry, although I ate a very plentiful and initially filling lunch. I think I'm gonna have to find some sort of dinner en route to class tonight...

So long for today!

Oh, one thing I'm obsessed with lately:


http://youtu.be/t5jw3T3Jy70
http://youtu.be/t5jw3T3Jy70

Boy oh boy, it's been too long.

I'm living in Orange County... soon to be LA. And, I'm working as an assistant teacher as a school for the time-being. I've been substituting, but basically replaced a teacher who's been out on an injury since the beginning of the school year and continuing through the end of the holidays.
It's been great- amazing people, amazing kids, making a tad bit of money, and leading me to think that I should get a teaching credential. I'm getting lots of sweet compliments that I'm great with kids and all of that stuff, which I won't bore you about reading, but I figure I could get an official document that would allow me to work anywhere in California doing this... in case.

However, come January, I intend to be in LA auditioning, meeting people, enjoying my 20's which the earlier part is soon coming to an end(!!!!)

I'll be turning 24 in just a couple of weeks... I'm stressed over it.
I've even fainted! Completely unrelated and random- Saturday night. Weird situation... But, come on! I mean, it's happening so quickly! I wish I could go back to the age of 6 or 7 where I was singing and dancing around the house, took piano and dance lessons, watched Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid on repeat, and played Peter Pan with my brother and our friends.

I guess there are perks to growing up and advantages to be independent, but it's depressing to think about too long...

I'm optimistic, however, that things will fall where they should.

Also, I read a friend's facebook status today that I found very whimsical and lovely:
"You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
and show the world all the love in your heart ♥"

I noticed later that it's a Carole King song, Beautiful. And, indeed it is.


Peace, love, smiles,
Tal

I did a reading of a new play, "Peter," by a fantastic writer, Kelly Feustel, a few weeks ago. Following the reading we did a Q&A and I gotta tell you, the feeling that you get when among artistic and creative people is like none other. It was great that over a minimally-staged reading people can discuss and interpret things in so many way. It's truly the magic of theater and the arts.
I think the question that I'm raising today is What Can I Do To Help?
(For one, http://www.indiegogo.com/Dreamcatcher-Theatreworks-presents-FaceSpace is a site where you can donate to help Kelly's theater company Dreamcatch Theatreworks get up and running some more!)
But, aside from that- I was thinking. How can I donate my time, my efforts, to getting theater and the arts widely accepted and available? I still don't really know the answer- if you do, let me know. But, I think that just like the discussion we had after the reading, it's all about talking about it. Talk about it with your theater friends, with your colleagues, with strangers at the bookstore. I think getting it out there is what makes theater go-round.

I was talking to my roommate last night about how the people that go to see theater are the people who work in the theater! We are basically financially supporting one another more so than anyone else! Isn't that silly? A carpenter doesn't have other carpenters buying from him, 'cause they can each make their own... Not that I think we shouldn't be active in this world because that'd be no fun, but we need others to come and participate just as much.

Well, that's just a thought that probed into my mind today.

...................


Yesterday I had a bit of a heartbreak. I never let myself expect something out of an audition, but yesterday's was different. I can't specify details, but I was what appeared to everyone and myself a sure thing for a prestigious show that is coming to the Broad-way in the Fall. The audition was fab, the connections beyond fab... everything going my way, right? And then, what could go wrong? Well... to put it bluntly- look. type. whatever you want to call it.
Something about how I looked didn't fit into the mold of what was going to end up comprising the show.
This is the reason we always do or don't get work. It just really struck a painful chord with me that I did everything in my power and the show creator's powers that I should be doing, but I'm not the right type. There's no one to blame, no hard feelings, nothing I can do... the end.

I haven't felt as stingy of a heartbreak for quite a while, I must say. I think I set myself up thinking I was going to get something that wasn't a guarantee, really, so the downfall is worst. I often say that I am a pessimist when it comes to auditioning so that when I book something it's the highest of highs and when I don't, I accept it and move on. In life I'm not like that, though I used to be. I expect great things to happen in life and am very optimistic in that regard. I think that by setting myself up for success and not achieving it, when it comes to auditions, is much more painful than saying to myself "I know I can book this. I know I can do really well, and if not it's okay. Whatever." By thinking the latter, I set myself up to give my best audition, but I let it go once I walk out of the room. This time, it was tougher to take.
Note to self: Keep thinking the latter.


Well, needless to say I feel disappointed today, but I'm also optimistic that I'm meant to be doing something else right now. I am planning to go traveling as soon as possible. Looks like I'll be going to California by the end of this month, and then I'm definitely going to Europe and Israel. I have a few more auditions in the next week and a half, and I'm going to continue to plow through and do my best at each and everyone, because it's what I desperately want to be doing. But, I know that theater isn't my life. It's a huge part of my life, but I can't sit around when I feel an urge to go abroad, or go back to school, or do a different job, or whatever it may be. I'm feeling the urge to go roam the world and get re-inspired. And it's what I'm planning on doing. I'll be auditioning until the day I'm traveling and I'll be back at it when I return, because that part of my life is the one that brings me the most passion and joy at this point of my life.

I liken my life to my hand. Theater is my big ol' thumb. It's the one that helps make my life live-able. It is the passion behind all that I do (at this point in my life), and it's the biggest part of my life. That being said, there are four other fingers, knuckles, joints, and nails to think about and to discover. I told my friend, Dana, this metaphor today and I think she cringed quite a bit... but it's true, don't ya think?

I'm off to discover what other parts of my life are while I continue to do what I love, which is perform. I am not "giving up" and I am not even "taking a break." Performing is part of my life, not my life, and I just happen to be participating in other activities more than that one right now.

So, the plan is thus:
Out of NYC by the end of March (unless I book something that brings me joy).
"Babysit" slash hang out with my younger brother in California when my parents go on a vacation.
Vegas with my mommy-leh to see Celine Dion <3
Europaa (too many specifics to list)
Israel
LA

More info at a later date. I'm over it right now.

*And this post was more so for myself than anyone else. Because come to think of it, I just needed to place my thoughts down. I legit don't think anyone reads this. Maybe my mom every blue moon or if I tell her to. If you have any thoughts to share, though, they'd be much appreciated.