Engaging THE 4 HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 13 / BODY - Week 6

ALL WEEK:
Massively working on my new Dr. Seuss web page (I design and write text, then my web-mistress does the cool stuff). Also created content for the next Newsletter, my website home page (the latest news), and the News section (more extensive than the Home Page content).
Meanwhile, The Giving Tree and Horton Hatches the Egg are in editing with my director, Déous, who owns Area 51 Productions, LLC. I watch and give notes as they are ready.
Plus, have to get images to an artist who creates the photo “banner” at the top of each newsletter (usually different each time). I’ve pre-paid the amazing Trish Ellis for her wonderful work. She’s worth it - particularly as new stories are finished for viewing.


MONDAY
Returned the shy female to the pet adoption place. Got to go in with her, hold her, and attempted to relax her with a feather toy. She took a few steps towards it, and was clearly interested, but not enough to actually engage in play. Still, no hissing, and she’s clearly more relaxed now. (I checked in a few days later, and she continued to show appreciation via kneading the air with all four feet, and fully exposing her belly as she stretched backward.)


TUESDAY:
Bunch of errands.
Wrote my FAQs for my new Dr. Seuss Storytelling website and sent them off to friends/family who have or work with kids (and parents) for feedback.


WEDNESDAY:
Reread in 4HB how drinking more than 16 oz. of diet soft-drinks can make you gain fat. I drank a gob of the stuff over the last week, and probably ate more than usual. I can tell I’m not shrinking this week. I’ll weigh myself tomorrow to find out for sure, but clothes are a little tighter, and it looks like I should be losing at least 2 lbs of fat a week on this diet. Crud.
I bought a new 32 oz. water container. I’ll drink water (maybe with a little lemon juice in it), as well as my usual 32 oz. water when I eat. See if that helps.


THURSDAY:
Yup. Gained a pound and a half. Crud. I’d happily weigh 1000 pounds if I looked as lean as I wanted. Come on muscles! Show yourselves!
Lemon juice in ice water goes down pretty good and I’m able to keep hydrated as well as by drinking diet soda and plain water. And I can drink 16 oz. of diet pop without harm, so I’ll use it as a “treat”.

Finally used 4HWW info. and attempted to figure out the best key search words to put on my Dr. Seuss page. Way harder than Tim makes it sound. I never actually found a place where I could hunt for the hottest words (and how many hits) when people are looking for a Dr. Seuss storyteller. Some sites cost money, or required another program, like Firefox (no comments from loyal users, I’ll get there).
Wound up doing a Google search on “Dr. Seuss storyteller”. I’m listed at the top, which is cool, but I still paged through the lists of sites and their descriptions, copying down a bunch of terms to throw onto my new web page.
Now, aside from approving the final filmed demo of Horton, and my newsletter banner, I’m done with stuff on my end.


FRIDAY
Definitely getting stronger in my weight lifting. Tim suggests getting measured on Cheat Day, before eating forbidden foods. I haven’t measured myself since my initial measurements, so I should probably do this. It’s hard to see a difference in muscle definition, but I can tell I’m a little smaller than 6 weeks ago. Really hoping the “no diet-soda” change will make the fat loss happen faster. I lost weight like crazy when in Germany, eating cheese, pastries, ice cream, and whatever else I wanted, often starving an hour after eating, (but I was also walking about 6 miles each day). I also didn’t drink anything but water.
Some people in Tim’s book, who lose lots of weight, work out more than the minimal amount. I want to add things that will improve my body, using minimal time, before adding back the hour of glide machine I used to do on days I didn’t lift weights. I can use the extra time, outside the gym.

THIS WEEKEND:
My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by 9/11, and the natural disasters that have been hitting our country.

Engaging THE 4 HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 12 / BODY - Week 5

Last blog was 1 ½ weeks ago, and between travel and deadlines, I had to skip a week. Oh well.

Last weekend I was at a family reunion with my mom. It was so weird to be staying at a hotel 5 minutes from where my grandparents lived. So close! I wanted so badly to go the rest of the way! But they are gone, and so is their dear little farm house, once my haven, where I could relax from school and life, has been replaced by a housing development. I’ve only been to the area 3 times since we moved my grandparents from their house - and that only happened after they died.
Outside of the actual reunion and a brunch the next day with the cousins I’m closest to, I met some new relatives that Mom loves and we heard lots of new stories about my fabulous family. The family traits continue to be passed down over the centuries. We are inventors, builders, musicians, storytellers, have a great sense of humor, and we care about people and animals.
Grandma had 32 first cousins, so the family is sort of huge. Some didn’t use the names they were born with (spellings, nicknames, and marriage changed some), but Mom has spent years on our family tree, and we learned of other relatives that have worked from their end.
I spent the weekend laughing and crying (I so miss my wonderful grandparents), but mostly it was positive.

When I got home, aside from unpacking, I had two main goals this week:
1 - Write down stories and family history I learned over the weekend (frequently calling Mom for help because she knows the family better and has the genealogy). Quick, while it’s fresh.
2 - Pushing to get my next newsletter and website text ready.
My web mistress goes back to college on the 6th, and even though she says it’s quick and easy to drop text and photos in, I’d prefer to give her nothing but friendship (and a sympathetic ear) while she’s studying. I’m also completely redesigning my Dr. Seuss website - which is more complicated. Love the new look - simple, but more informative.
The filmed demo of THE GIVING TREE and HORTON HATCHES THE EGG should also be done editing soon, so had to check with Déous, my director/editor, on that. I’ll likely have to hunt for “forest sounds” while opening and closing credits roll on GIVING TREE, but he’s doing all the rest.

I think I should wait a few weeks to send the Newsletter (best sent out on Fri.) because this next week is all about 9/11. Aside from the focus and additional electronic flow around the topic, I think it’s just inappropriate, during this time of grieving and remembering.

I’ve lost at least another pound of fat. Haven’t weighed myself since Wed., at which point, I’d lost 5 pounds total, so far (and I even cheated lightly a second day on the weekend!) I’m sure if I had more body fat, I’d lose faster. The leaner you are, the slower you tend to lose body fat. I started at about 20% and I’m trying to get down to 10%. Just low enough so my muscles are nicely, but not extremely, defined.
I haven’t eaten breakfast within 30 minutes of getting up. (I usually eat 40-45 min. after getting up - not lazy, just takes me a while to feed kitties, put away dishes, and mix food together.) I’ll try fixing breakfast the night before, so I can grab grub faster. Tim says it makes a huge difference.
Tuesday as I examined my posture to ensure I was doing the kettleball swings correctly, I noticed that my butt looked rounder. This is actually one of the primary benefits of the exercise, but I’ve spent my life focused on improving my waist and hips, so I never really paid any attention to my ass. But it definitely looks smaller, rounder, and sort of cute now.
Friday I got a few more of the suggested supplements, which should help with fat loss and muscle gain.
I’ve only done each set of weights 3 times (and the first couple I was figuring out how much to lift so I’d hit failure by or before the 7th rep), but I can still tell I’m lifting more, which means I’m also gaining muscle weight.

Hubby and I returned the super-social kitten we were fostering Wed. and kept his shy sister for another few days. When we got her a week and a half ago, she hissed at people. Now she purrs and kneads and nuzzles in ecstasy when you pet her. She still backs off when you approach her, unless she’s been sleeping). The silly thing really enjoys attention and being touch. She just doesn’t realize a hand approaching her is a good thing. Poor baby. This weekend, I’m going to see if feeding her tuna by hand will change her mind. We’ll see if it works. She is so emotionally broken, but tuna is like crack to kitties.

Engaging THE 4 HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 9 / BODY - Week 2

This week I continued to focus on the 4 HOUR BODY book, reading more info., making adjustments, saving various body-work for later, and learning a bunch.
Pretty sure I gained a little fat last week, but I was eating way too many calories at once (and probably total), so this week I tried to eat 200 calories every 2 hours and I’m noticing a slight looseness in some clothes! The “6-pack abs” exercises are getting easier each time I do them, and I’ve finished the first round of 3 different days of weight lifting. Tomorrow, I start again with the 3-4 “pushing” exercises.
To make sure my form is correct for the various misc. exercises (new to me), I’m taking my time - checking the book, looking at the mirror, adjusting my posture, and even asking staff to help eyeball and comment on my form. I figure it’ll take a few weeks before I learn how to do everything properly.
I’ve been on a quest for plastic “toe spreaders” (mentioned in the book) to undo my bunions. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard they are reversible without surgery. They are small, but I don’t want any, and I figure the best way to avoid ever needing surgery is to get rid of them completely. So each night, I’m slowly spending a few more minutes with my toes spread, using foam spreaders. Today I finally found rubber spreaders, which hold the toes apart better than mere foam. I figure this winter I can sleep in them and by next summer - bye-bye bunions.
The book talks quite a bit about reversing internal scar tissue, making sure both right and left muscles are equally strong, and various other things that should undo a lifetime build-up of injury (topped off by that stupid car accident 2 years ago). I’ll work on stuff, bit by bit. Injury corrected is also injury prevented.
Yesterday I read how to train for one hour plus bike rides via 15 intense minutes total ride time, spread over two weeks. I’ll add that to my weekly workouts once I get the current exercises down. I was more upset by the four minute wait time between 30 second sets, but then I realized I can get back to speed reading my Hollywood Reporter magazines during the wait. Excellent! I must have a strong body that can go forever to make all the action films I’ve been cast in.
Spend three days mostly preparing for winter weather. For the past two years, in September I stock up on vitamins, food, toiletries, and any other supplies I might need before April. If all goes well, I don’t have to shop much in the Spring. If disaster hits, we’re comfortably stocked. Since I was running out of stuff now and September is just a few weeks away, decided to save time and just get it over with now.
I also spent my second week of fostering the two rapidly growing 12 week old kittens. I highly recommend regular Kitten Breaks to heal a grieving heart. Thursday night I returned the kitties and they were so much more relaxed around people. Hooray!! Our cat was finally allowed into the room where they stayed and there was some very intense sniffing for a while. This was immediately followed by some hissing and stomping, but now that I’ve cleaned up the room, Twinks has relaxed. We are hoping, at some point, our cat, and we, will bond with a little kitten, and keep it.
Edited another script. Another writer is considering me to edit her factual book.
Introduced a director I know to my live entertainer (Dr. Seuss Stories) agent so he can film her actors doing sample performances, as well as clients’ parties and events.
My email is back at ZERO. Bliss!

Engaging THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 8 / BODY - Week 1

This week I lost myself in “The Four Hour Body”. As an actress, looks matter, and I’m always trying to lower body fat while gaining muscle. I read anything I get my hands on. I’ve tried stuff for decades, and I look fine (with the right clothes), but never get to that lean “runner’s body” I crave. So I’m playing with what the book presents. Shouldn’t hurt, and any help is great.
As with The Four Hour Work Week, I was happy to see I’ve been on the right track in some areas, or close. I eat fairly low carb/fat/sugar already, drink a ton, keep lifting one set of muscles to failure (though I usually go heavy to light weight), then move on. My body stays about the same. Sometimes a few pounds less or more, but I’m about my average body fat and muscle composition. Can’t really see my muscles, just general outlines, because of the stupid fat that lays over them.
So during short breaks this week, I’ve been reading the book, revising my eating and workout as I encounter new info. in it, saving some for later.
Decided to do the muscle building exercises, but try to eat for lowering fat. If I don’t build muscle as fast as I could because I’m under eating, I should still lose fat as fast as possible, and I can always eat more later and build muscle over a longer period of time. I’ll grow some muscle. I just don’t want to put on more fat. So I’ll stay with the slow carb diet, and not add the extra carbs for his fast muscle growth diet. At least to start. I’ll try to eat smaller meals more often, though it ‘s hard, trying to eat 20-30 g of protein per meal, and balance that with enough slow carbs, which makes it a huge meal, so then I risk eating too much at once and slowing fat loss.
Because I want all my muscles to grow, I’m opting for Neal’s weight lifting, broken into 3 days of different workouts, plus I’m doing the “minimal workout for women” that won’t interfere with the weight lifting, and consists of 3 main exercises, plus another 2 that help shape waist and hips. And before I eat, I’m doing 120 sec. of the anti-carb exercises Tim does before and after meals on his high carb days (which also don’t interfere with the muscle building workouts).
I’m also adding 5-30 min. of glide machine on non-lift days, to keep my darn constipation at bay.
Will wait before adding additional supplements to boost the body, since I should gain muscle and lose fat with the eating and workout. I can always add them, and I’m juggling enough keeping track of food and exercise right now.
There are 5-7 different workouts in his book, and I’m doing 3 now. The others look less fun (though bigger results), and I figure I can play with them in a few months. I’m so long, I’m totally unafraid of “hulking out”. What a lovely problem to have. I can always cut back, and figure I will, once I have the body I want. Save time, keep the body.
After breakfast, tried my first 4HB weight lifting! Took me a while to figure out what machines to use and where to adjust the seats so my posture was correct. Trying to make sure my shoulders are down and back properly so I don’t injure myself. I did “push” weights - chest, shoulder, triceps. Only managed 5-7 of the hard ab exercise (too weak and sore), but it’s easier using the half-ball to lean on, rather than Gma.’s blue quilt. Examined my posture in the mirror to make sure it was correct for the cat vomit (abs), plank (can’t hold for 30 sec. yet, but I’ll get there), and Kettleball swing. So it took me longer than 30 minutes. I’m learning. Once I have it down, I should do this workout in half the time. I spent 5 minutes on the glide machine and left - sweating!
Meanwhile, I took care of the 2 foster kittens (and our cat), edited another short script, got my Inbox back down to an average of 2-3 after less than an hour a day,
I don’t mind setting aside “The Four Hour Work Week” for “The Four Hour Body” because once I figure out the body stuff, it’ll be a daily routine and auto-reshape my physique while I’m working on my Work Week stuff. I should also have more time to work on my Work Week, once I’m spending less time at the gym.
I’ve decided Sundays will be my “Pig-Out” day - per “Four Hour Body”, to keep my metabolism in line. Aside from carbs, I’ll have to work at figuring out evil stuff to eat to make sure it helps throw my body off. I have some frozen chocolate in the freezer…..but mostly I’m thinking of fruit, pumpkin filling pudding, maybe some low-fat ice cream…..

Engaging THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 7

This week I spent hardly any time on the PC. When I could get on it, I was working on setting myself up on casting websites my GA agent wants all her actors on.
The first part of the week, I took care of a friend from LA, helping him prep for and get to film meetings. He called me a “Mama Bear” because I tend to get highly defensive when my friends are in danger. He’d never seen that side of me before. I didn’t think I was particularly growly, just focused on getting done whatever he needed, as fast as possible. Oh sure, I shared some colorful thoughts about those who have been less than nice to him, but really, I could have gone on for much longer, and in more graphic detail than I did. Really, nothing wrong with admitting you want to rip someone’s face off - slowly.
Once my friend (who is now very determined to hire me on his productions as often as possible) was safely flying home, I did some scrambling on websites for my agent.
Then I finally got to foster some kittens. 10 weeks old black brother and calico sister who were “shy” and needed some extra attention, away from their littermates. So I quickly finished preparing their room, bought food, small litterbox, and some fuzzy mice, then picked them up.
Ok, initially, the female hid under stuff, but I could usually get her to purr, and less then 24 hours later, it’s apparent I’m fostering a two-headed purr-ball. The black male is actually aggressively friendly.
Both purr when I pet them, and continue to do so when I hold them while standing and walking around. I named the black male “Mr. Friendly” and the female “Hope”.
Because they are in their own room, my cat Twinks seems, so far, oblivious to the additional house guests, though there's been some highly piqued sniffing of my fingers.
Last week I got not much of anything done. This week, I’ve been taking care of others. Because of the website stuff, I’ve not had much time for my Inbox, so it’s creeped up into the 20’s. Should smack it back down as soon as I’m done making sure I have my stuff online per my agent’s desires. My GA agaent, Jana VanDyke, communicates with me, and works her tail off. I’m happy to set up whatever tools she needs to find me gigs.
I did try contacting a stranger. In THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK, Tim explains the best way to do so. I was offering ideas for something the famous lawyer was thinking of having a contest for. Figure I could practice Tim’s technique and help the guy. Didn’t get past the receptionist, and because I was offering help, rather than asking for it, I couldn’t follow Tim’s script very well, but I LM and then sent an email. My head is still attached to my body. My career hasn’t been blown to smithereens. It’s all good.
Oh yeah! I was also offered a role in THE FILMMAKER. Deous is turning it into a SAG New Media production so I can “play” for pay. He’s also finally able to continue editing my Dr. Seuss stories, so I’ll have two more ready to show by the time schools starts (and my Virtual Assistant calls and books me gigs in schools and libraries). Sweet!

Engaging THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 6

Not my most productive week, but it at least included a performance! The whole point of less email and following the book is to do more performing, and make more money in less time.

Monday started with my annual eye exam. Since my eyes were dilated, and I couldn’t get anything else done, I scheduled other check-ups. Then I ended my day with a script read (the performance I mentioned). The read was a half-hour sitcom. After two run-throughs to rehearse, I was still smiling because between the writing and skillful acting, it was better than most airing “comedies”.
I didn’t know until 5 minutes before we went one that John Jacobson, my acting coach was there. He emailed that I “did good” - awesome words from the teacher who finally fixed my frustrating acting problems several years ago.
I got to play four characters, and was asked to join the read over the weekend. Came up with four different voices (and cheated using accents for half of them, but what I came up with delightfully enhanced my characters).

Tuesday, I rested. My fault. Not enough time to eat enough between appointments the day before.

Wed. I caught up with correspondence - emailing the writer, director, actors, and dealing with my email.

Thur. I did a bunch of misc. stuff (including filling out a form for another place that needs people to foster kittens). Kittens are more than cute. Because there were always puppies, and then kittens on my grandparents’ farm, now that they are gone, it’s a craving that has intensified. Playing with puppies and kittens makes my heart hurt a little less, particularly in the summer. I’m hoping that fostering kittens will be good therapy, as well as helping the babies.
I also talked first to the techs, and then billing at Frontier. I love them. They screw up constantly, but are wonderful about compensating customers. We’ve yet to pay the full amount of everything we get. Now we’re getting 3 months of free HBO and Cinemax. Prior to that, as a current customer, I got the Showtime package for $1 a month. (But they screwed something up after that, so the compensation makes it less than that.) SWEET!

Friday my mom called while taking care of her only grandchild. She put the phone on Speaker, so I was able to join in the fun. My 3 ½ year old nephew was playing with trains. Mom repeated what he said, so I could understand everything, and also gave visual commentary. My nephew just accepted that Aunt Di’s voice was a part of his playing. I made train sounds. He joined in. My heart is warm and full!
So I still haven’t incorporated more of THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK into my life, but life happens, and I still got to perform.
I also didn’t get some jobs - and I’m really glad. I’m delighted I won’t get to be a part of a feature that is crumbling into a disaster.
Things look good for an audition next Sat. The director called to ask me some SAG questions. I did my best, but mostly said, “You’ll have to ask my wonderful SAG rep., Dena Beatty.”

Engaging THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 5

Kidnapped my film friend so he could get away from the stress of living and working on the set. We still worked on the movie though. I helped him find crew, run errands, and pretended I was a GPS after he left to help him reach his hardware store destination. Aside from a real bed, hot meals, and a washer-dryer, we saw a film, just for fun. (Actually, the film wasn’t that great, so less fun than we hoped for.)
He returned to the set a happier, more relaxed, less frazzled Art Director. Before he left our house, he told me I’m definitely hired for his own movies. Sweet!

The rest of the week was primarily doctor appointments. Good news! My gallbladder is just fine! Ran a few other errands and wasn’t feeling too well, so it seemed like I was either running around, or in bed.

I also met with a wonderful producer/director/writer friend of mine, Chris Elston. He’s “doomed” to become an A-lister. He’s that good. He’s in development for 5 films, and, since we worked so nicely together on a prior film of his, we are both eager to repeat the experience. In the meantime, I help him the best I can, and stay in touch. I’m also handing him the Hollywood Reporter magazines I’ve been getting (free, since I’m in SAG). This saves him a bundle, which is part of my job as an actress - helping the filmmaker stay cost-effective on the shoot. I’ve been able to whiz through reading the stack that piled up, thanks to the book’s speed reading technique.

SPECIAL BONUS: I auditioned for GI JOE 2! While my COVERT OPS filmmaker, Déous, brilliantly filmed the audition at my house, I suggested we figure out my wardrobe for my character in his COVER OPS pilot. Saved us both some time later on.

Despite spending so little time on the computer, I still averaged 0-2 emails in my Inbox at the end of an hour. Usually, after a week like this, I have at least 200 piled up. It’s a miracle!
Less email, but more film work! Love it!

Meanwhile, still rereading THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK book, highlighting sections, pondering. Not as much time spent on it this week.

Engaging THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 4

After the last few weeks of processing, my brain finally spit out the procedure for my Virtual Reunion. Jotted notes on paper over the weekend, and took the rest of it off.
Figured I’d type it out and set up everything on the PC this week, but I didn’t count on a few snags.
Spent most of Wednesday in pain, which, thankfully, finally went away in the evening. Bad news is that, apparently, I have “classic symptoms” for gallstones. I got squat done on Wednesday. (Well, nearly squat, I still managed to clear my Inbox.)

Still helping my friend on the film. We both think it’s hilarious that I, notorious for being directionally dysfunctional, was able to get him directions better than Mapquest and any other local. (It’s because I do get lost that I err on the side of paranoia and ask more specific and detailed questions.)
Also tracking down a few more crew.

My Inbox is hitting 0 emails more often, with less time. Planning on using some of my extra time to foster kittens this summer.

Oh yeah - I also, thanks to my Georgia agent (I collect reps), get to audition for “G.I. JOE 2”.

Engaging THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 3

This week, my Inbox was a bit fuller, and I still haven’t tested a VA (Virtual Assistant), but for splendid reasons.
Thanks to eliminating most of my Inbox bulk, I have time for creating a Virtual Reunion website for my alumni - something I wondered if I’d have time for because I was continually behind in email, and this would generate more.
Since I plan to employ a VA to assist me on finding missing classmates and snagging info. about them off the internet, it’s important that I figure out how to streamline my Virtual Reunion - for me and my VAs.
My ultimate plan is to test VAs on some personal errands, and finding classmates.
Then I’ll move on to using proven VAs to contact schools and libraries so I can book loads Dr. Seuss Stories performances, and once that process is smoothly functioning, use them, and the book’s automation process to sell some of my inventions online. Growing as I learn, and as I eliminate wrinkles.

Since the overall goal is to save time, I am trying to, as much as possible, figure out how to organize everything in my head while also I figuring out steps and rules. I think I can then set up the system for everything in a few hours, rather than spending 2-3 days revising.
But it’s got several components, so it’s taken me some time. I also am relying on a few other people (webmistress, Dr. Seuss Stories editor) before I can put everything in full swing.
This week, I finally got a handle on how to organize the Virtual Reunion process, so as I find new people, I just copy and paste information. I also figured out how to keep track of where in the process various classmates are (find, contact, acquire info. and photos, checking their info. once it’s on the web, updates, etc.).
I’m delighted that by the end of the summer (max), the Virtual Reunion will be up and nearly all the classmates found. Before reading the book and reorganizing my life, I was wondering if this was going to happen this year or next year.

I’m reading the tabbed pages for the second time, and this week I realized that I’m not treating my Dr. Seuss Stories enough like a business. I not only need to figure out the optimal search engine words to use, but I really ought to come up with a slogan, just like I will when I sell my inventions.
The book talks about adapting a phrase from companies that have advertised in magazines for years use.
EXAMPLE: Timothy Ferriss used the Rosetta Stone slogan “The Fastest Way to Learn a Language Guaranteed“ to advertise his BodyQuick product “The Fastest Way to Increase Power and Speed Guaranteed“.
Hm……
I could either pour through magazines for a few hours, or I could save time and turn the slogan search into a contest and let the 7000 people who get my newsletter email me their ideas. The winner gets to pick one of the stories I do and I’ll perform it over the phone. Some adult is going to really make a child’s day. Everyone wins!

Meanwhile, the person selling my Grandma’s jewelry is making us money while I spend no time on it, and I also sold some gold and silver scraps, which took me all of 10 minutes.
In the Film World, I spent a few minutes, making calls to help a friend who is art director for a film. He told me he’ll give me a “thanks” credit and try to snag me the only speaking role that isn’t going to an A-list actor.
In other words, in less time than it takes to drive to an audition, I might have gotten myself two film credits (and the acting gig, being SAG, comes with a nice paycheck as well as an IMDB credit).
Awesome!

Engaging THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK - Week 2

Monday, with great trepidation, I downloaded my email for the first time since Friday. In less than 2 hours (which included some PC errands), my Inbox was back down to 7 emails.
The rest of the week, it took less than an hour each night to deal with my Inbox. Total average of emails still in my Inbox at end of each day - 3. Sweet!
I’m habitually still waiting for the explosion of email, because I’m so used to living in my Inbox, or ignoring it and dealing with the build up later. This is bliss.

Didn’t have time to investigate VAs (Virtual Assistants) as planned, because I was working on a few movies instead. As this is my goal anyway, I didn’t mind. Actually, it’s a good thing, because as I’m rereading select pages from THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK, I see it’s worth taking time to set up rules before test-driving some VAs, which prevents wasted time and money.
But I’ve been thinking about my rules and tests. Thinking is free, easy to reorganize, and usually results in a quick, defined, easy to implement plan, so I’m content to wait until next week.

This week, I edited a few scripts, fundraising business plan for KickStarter, and helped a friend finish finding crew for MINE GAMES, resulting in a bunch of great guys I know working together. Always a pleasure helping talented friends make money and get to enjoy each other’s company.

I also, after two years, took the remaining jewelry I inherited, but won’t wear, from my grandma, and took it to a professional antique jewelry seller. I’ve sold some things on my own, made $800, and it’s worth losing a bit of money to gain a LOT of time, while still making money from the sales. (This decision was reached while reading the book.)

MAKING A GREEN SCREEN

The material was really wrinkled, so Mom asked me to move the ironing board from the guest room closet to her room. I ironed while she put thread in the bobbin on her sewing machine and then (after it was ironed), started sewing the bottom piece of 4 sections together. We talked while we worked. Mom had me pin the various pieces of material together. Said I did a really good job. Pinning I can do. Sewing with a machine, not so much. Oddly, I don’t mind mending with a needle and thread, but Mom doesn’t care for mending at all.
Mom sewed material together with one seam, then sewed another seam by that one (double-seam so it could be pulled) and then she sewed a zigzag over the ends of the seam, so the material wouldn’t unravel. There were basically 4 panels that were sewed together.
The pieces weren’t identical, so to make sure the green screen would hang properly, I had to even them out. We did this as we sewed everything together. A few times, I had to pull a thread and then cut along where the thread was to make sure it was a true line. To pull a thread, you make a tiny cut in the fabric, then find one of the threads, and start pulling it. As you pull, the material along the thread pulls up too, and you have to push it back down. The thread often breaks, so you have to find the end of the thread, or pull on a thread near it. The area where the thread was feels different, and is a little lighter. Eventually, you can’t pull more thread, and have to cut as far down as you can, until you get to where the little line stops. Then find another thread, and start pulling again. Mom said pulling a thread is hard.
Grandma made a tablecloth where she pulled a thread a few inches in from each side, but she didn’t cut the cloth, and had to keep finding and pulling the same thread. The table cloth was white. Where she’d removed the thread, she wove a red piece of thread in and out of the line. Looks amazing, but you couldn’t pay me enough to do something that hard and tedious. Blech! Grandma was amazing.
At one point, to make sure sections were even, we folded, pulled and flattened out all the wrinkles, then pinned one over the top of another, and used the top one for the “pattern” so they would all be the same side (one end was cut unevenly by the manufacturer - pain in the ass to fix, but it had to be done).
On one end of the green screen , we created a loop-pocket, so you can put a pipe or something in it, and hang the screen. Mom showed me how to use a ruler to make sure the length was correct, and pin it, but I couldn’t keep it straight, so she took over and measured differently while I pulled a thread on the other side.
For some reason (probably the shorter length) I could measure and pin an inch, to create a rolled hem that Mom sewed.
As the pieces were sewed together, and the screen got bigger, I helped wrangle the mass of material, so Mom was free to concentrate on sewing. Sped things up quite a bit.
Still took us 7 hours of working steadily together to get it done.

World Premiere of MARROW, in Betty Dravis’s interview, future Dr. Seuss shows & More!

http://www.dianematson.com/newstylenewsletter/feb2011/feb2011newsletter.html

My 25 Sec. Scary Scream - Diane Matson’s October Newsletter

The Scream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UkzJbva0-k

I nearly deafened the sound man’s assistant in the feature “Ray of Darkness.” (I did warn him to start with his sound off.)

I used my scream to audition for the Crazy Lady in the comedic Seattle International Film Festival promo. The director told me when he played it in his office, heads popped up like gophers. Promo: http://www.dianematson.com/reel.html

You can also hear my scream in The Suffering game.


In May and June I toured Germany - Berlin, Munich, Dresden, Rothenburg, Fussen, Baden-Baden, a dip into Austria and enjoyed the “once every decade,” six hour Passion Play that’s been performed in Oberammergau since 1633. We averaged 4-6 castles, churches, museums and sights each day.
The major sight-seeing started on Day 4. BLOG: http://dianematsonactress.blogspot.com/2010/06/germany-trip-blog-day-4-5-26-10_28.html
Each blog entry took me over 4 hours to complete and includes a few photos.

There are actually two versions of my scream. Which do you prefer?
Version 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gF5_KDx7B8
Version 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UkzJbva0-k

Thanks for Reading!
DIANE MATSON
Reels, letters of rec., headshots, resume, news, bio: www.DianeMatson.com

Rehearse + Use A Dialect + Create Chills = Get The Gig

A director asked me to read a famous speech on camera for a project. I’d be one of about 20 actors and then he’d edit us all together, based on who performed which line the best. Sounded fun to me. It wasn’t union, and I’m in SAG, so that bothered me.
The next week I was cast in a feature that used the SAG New Media Agreement. I brought the director and my local SAG rep together. They hit it off (knew they would). A few weeks later the agreement was signed.
At this point, I figured I’d probably get caught if I did the speech project non-union, so I finally asked the director to sign a SAG agreement.
Well, he’d have to think about that. I wasn’t surprised. SAG paperwork is monstrously complicated.
Meanwhile, I kept rehearsing the speech and another week or so slid by.
This morning, I called the director, who told me he decided not to “go SAG” since he’d filmed enough people.
I asked if I could at least perform the speech over the phone, since I’d spent 5 weeks working on it.
He let me do my thing, then asked me to read it again, this time with a Virginia dialect.
I told him I couldn’t nail Virginia, but I’d performed with a Tennessee accent, just one state over.
He said that was fine.
So I quickly rummaged in my head, plucked the sounds, planted my feet firmly, and started reading the speech.
I got chills. I figured I was just enjoying the new voice.
20 seconds into the speech, the director stopped me and said, “I’ve got chills. I’ll go talk to SAG.”

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Hired As A Part Time Script Writer!

I was cast in a leading role for a feature. It’s not unusual for me to help tighten and edit scripts for films I’m in, but this time, 50% of the story was still in the director’s head. Long talks with the director and rehearsals allowed me to see what is and isn’t written. We also made new, creative discoveries about the plot, scenes, and characters each time we talked or met.
We’d agreed weeks ago to meet so I could do my usual script edit-tutor session, but I’d already contributed so many ideas, it soon became apparent that I’d gone beyond editing and into “writer mode”.
I’m pretty sure I’ll also wind up rewriting much of the dialogue (easier to do now that I know who the characters are and their complicated relationships with each other). Once you know the characters, and the plot is set, the dialogue pretty much writes itself.
So yesterday the director asked if he could officially add me as one of the writers, which was fine with me.
I’m amused. I vowed I’d NEVER write a script. They are way too long. But I’m not starting from scratch, just filling in holes. This, I don’t mind doing. (We’ll see how fun it is when I actually make a pass at the dialogue…..)