If I could go back in time and talk to my twenty-year-old self, the first thing I would say is: ‘Lose the perm.’ Secondly I would say: ‘Relax. Really. Just Relax. Don’t sweat it.’

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t anxious and fearful that the parade would pass me by. And I was sure there was someone or something outside of myself with all the answers. I had a driving, anxiety-filled ambition. I wanted to be a working actor so badly. I wanted to belong and feel like I was valued and seen. Well, now I am a working actor, and I guarantee you it’s not because I suffered or worried over it.

… Turns out I just had to be ready and willing to take chances, look at what’s right in front of me, and put my heart into everything I do. All that anxiety and fear didn’t help, nor did it fuel anything useful. Finally releasing that worry served to get me out of my own way. So my final piece of advice to twenty-year old me: Be easy on your sweet self….

Thank you, Jane. Twenty-year-old me appreciates the advice. And I am excited to read about the rest of your journey.

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It’s been a few months since I posted my first draft VO demos. I got a ton of great feedback and I made some changes, added some new voices, re-recorded, and remixed it. A few of the voices are still the same, but check it out and tell me what you think!

CHARACTER DEMO (Version 2) [Click to play, or right click to download.]

Next up, commercial demo.

Edit: I am still changing a few things around, but I just posted a slightly updated reel with a few different variations. This seems to be the final edit. At least for a few weeks .

Also, just made a VO site! Still under construction, but check it: www.teresadecher.com/voice

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I’ve never really sent post cards. Except for like 1 week randomly. I always just sort of expected that they got thrown in the trash.

But with Superseeds and Red Scare coming up in the next few months or so, I want to be ready to reach out, both to established connections and people I want to work with.

I started doing some digging, and what did I find? Casting directors (with blogs!) who wrote whole articles on the art of post-carding. Sweet!

And let me say this right up front. Yes, ultimately we toss them. Ultimately we toss your headshots, too. That’s just practical. I can’t store all your headshots in a warehouse forever. You send us your materials. We consider you. Eventually we toss your materials in the trash. Nothing personal… If someone looks interesting and I like their resume I might pull them out and put the post card with my submissions…

– Mark Sikes, “Post Cards“

… success because a relationship went from stage one (she knows me but I don’t know her) to stage two (now I’ve seen her commercial, so I know her work, but I don’t know her name so it’s not terribly helpful yet) to stage three (I’ve gotten her postcard, so now I know her work and her name) to stage four (we’ve met in person and now I know she’s not a “whactor”…

– Bonnie Gillespie, “Cross Pollination“

And not just that, but both Bonnie Gillespie and Mark Sikes have blogs dedicated to helping actors, with tons of secrets and tips:

Bonnie’s blog: The Actors Voice

Mark’s blog: The Casting Corner

I also highly suggest checking out Bonnie’s article “The Delicate Art of Self Promotion”.

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I ran across an article in Filmmaker Magazine entitled “Seven Overlooked Indie Films of 2011″ and instead of just breezing through, I decided to actually look a little more in depth.

I watched trailers for all the films, and then IMDB-ed the filmmakers. Just about half of the writer/directors, are also actors as well. How cool is that? I love seeing other proactive actors! Very motivating.

All right. So some of the trailers on that list looked awful. But not all of them.

I was super excited when I ran across Miranda July (apparently she has been around for a while). I have yet to actually watch one of her films (high on my list), but I was totally hooked after watching the trailer for The Future. You can tell that 1) she is actually a strong, solid actress and 2) she tells stories well using her own unique, quirky vibe. It is always cool to see people cross in to multiple fields, but when they cross over and do it well? Well… that is just kick-ass.

Anyways, watching a bunch of trailers is always a good motivator. This year has been starting off strong with a number of VO auditions, improving my demos, and I’ve even been dabbling in writing.

But we’ve really been itching to start working on our own projects again. So stay tuned. Fun projects are coming down the pipeline.

Guess we better make it quick since it is 2012 and all…

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Happy 2012!

Hey, hey. Check out my sweet feather earing.

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Here is a first draft of my Voice Over demos!

I’m still waiting for feedback from several VO friends and my manager. But, I got excited and wanted to share.

If anyone has any thoughts, criticisms, compliments, or complaints, I would love to hear them.

Enjoy!

COMMERCIAL DEMO:

Click to Download or Play

CHARACTER DEMO:

Click to Download or Play

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I went to go see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol with my family tonight, and as I was sitting there, watching trailers (on a fancy shmanzy IMax screen), I was just thinking: “yeah, I’m meant to be in movies.”

Honestly, I don’t know what else I would do with my life. Even when I’m traveling (my other favorite thing), I always start thinking about acting again.

This is all I want to do.

Side note: Tom Cruise’s acting is a bit cheesy. Regardless, it is an entertaining, worthwhile movie for sure.

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Happy holidays everyone!

I must say, Christmas time is my favorite time of the year. Everything is so happy. The music on the radio is happy (I mean seriously, I’ve never heard a sad song with jingle bells in it). The lights everywhere are happy. The decorated trees are happy. Hanging out with people I care about is happy. I’m happy.

It’s not about the presents, long lines in malls, and the crazy drivers. It’s about the experiences, and sharing it with people you care about. There is seriously no better feeling in the world than sitting around a Christmas tree with hot cocoa.

My family this year opted to not do actual presents (I’ve been doing tons of crafting instead– a.k.a. pop-up cards, see above), and instead we spent a weekend in Hawaii together, which was way more valuable than any gadget or gizmo. Spending money and time on experiences, rather than objects, is totally where it’s at.

Another reason I love to come home is for these long talks I have with my dad. No, not the bad kind of talk. The good kind. The kind that makes me think, question, and analyze the world.

Just this morning, we were talking about the economy and the problems with the current government. And I love talking to my dad, because he is so optimistic. He spends a lot of time reading up on the happenings in the business world, stock market, and political affairs. Yet, even with all the scary headlines and people debating the end of the world, he stays positive.

There will always be hardships. That’s just part of living. But there is also a lot to be happy about!

I know personally, I’ve made a lot of progress in my career this year, made lots of new friends, explored new parts of the world (Belize), rock climbed a bit, and just enjoyed life.

So cheers to the upcoming 2012!

For those of you that are actors, may your pilot season rock. And may everyone find even more abundance, success, joy, and happiness in the coming year!

Enjoy the holidays!

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I’ve seen a lot of the videos before, like Rachel McAdam’s amazing audition for The Notebook, and Emma Stone’s for Easy A.

However there were a few new ones to me, including Sandra Bullock’s audition. Wow. She seriously has improved her hairstyle. Jersey Shore look aside, I love how impulsive she is and not afraid to bring herself to the part. It’s no wonder she won an Oscar.

But these two videos have to be the craziest…

Mini Natalie Portman and Mini Scarlett Johansson?!

Um…

1. How cute is that?

2. Natalie Portman still looks exactly the same.

3. Scarlett Johansson looks completely different.

Allright.

Just wanted to share some audition videos, as I always find them helpful and interesting.

Watch them all: here.

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Anyways. I was in Hawaii, Kaui to be specific, last weekend with the fam. The trip was an awesome (and much needed) little rest break in one of the most beautiful, greenest, nature-y-est places in the Pacific. 30 mosquito bites, lots of beach time (with 50 SPF!), and one long hike later, I was back in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning and had an eventful 3 days.

After much deliberating, I finally decided on a few of my favorite headshots, which you can see here. I shot with the absolutely amazing, super talented Dana Patrick on November 29th. My agents, manager, and myself are all super happy with the shots and I totally recommend her to any one in Los Angeles. Dana is worth every penny, and her MUA/hairstylist, Theresa, is just as kick-ass.

One of my favorite new shots by Dana!

After recording my first VO gig for an X-Box Live game two weeks ago, I recorded the script for a short animated film I booked called “Interrogation” from my cute little home studio on Thursday. I get to play a short stubby red-head boy with a lisp. Pretty fitting, huh?

Concept drawings for my new character!

Yesterday, after an awesome 3 hour class with the one and only Margie Haber, I had 2 auditions. The first was for an upcoming feature film, which would shoot out of the country (um, yes please!). I felt super solid and the casting director worked with me and we tried a few things, which is always super fun and the good feedback is always nice to hear.

Afterwards, I had a callback for a commercial. The director gave me 4 different notes to try. Oh man, how good does it feels to have people give you adjustments in the room? Great. Because you know they want to see more and if you can take direction.

And the auditioning is not done. Tomorrow evening, I’m going out for a 5 part comedic web series. The script was very entertaining, and the part is right up my alley. Should be fun as well.

So, this brings me back to sitting in my car (luckily, not in traffic, since it is Saturday). After this eventful and exciting week, I had a realization (one that stuck with me long enough to now post on here):

I’ve been reading a book called “Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go” by Thich Nhat Hahn, an amazing Buddhist teacher who I had the pleasure of meditating with at Plum Village Monastary located in the beautiful Southeast of France two summers ago.

In the book, there is a quote which reads;

“If we search for something outside ourselves, we will never find it.”

And it just sort of clicked. Even though I may not have the thick list of TV credits I want, I am already doing what I love, and I am loving doing it.

A lot of times as actors, we feel that we must do more or be something else so that we can get there, that magical place where jobs seem so much easier to come by.

But why live wanting to be there when you are here? You are already enough. You have your own unique personality, which makes you special and valuable.

And I like this way of looking at things. Because there is no pressure. And why should there be? I act because I love it and it’s fun. Every audition is just another opportunity for more chances to do what I love and bring my skillz (yes, skills with a ‘z’) to the table. As Margie Haber would say, “It’s another chance to live the life”.

End Teresa’s Hippie Moment.

(Yes, I am a Hippie. I’m from Oregon, I drink Kombucha, and walk barefoot as much as possible– what else do you expect?)

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