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  1. Biggest Fans

    February 17, 2012 by Leah Baker

    Putting on a show before a live audience is a thrill for any performer. But, to look out in that sea of faces and find someone familiar gives it an extra punch. It means so much to these young actors and actresses to feel the support of family, friends and mentors. After the first few scenes you might hear an excited proclamation back stage, “I saw my choir teacher in the front row!” It puts an extra zing in the step to be sure.

    We are very appreciative to have had several family members and friends attend the Annie Jr. production at the FMCT. But yesterday was a special day for my daughter Tessa when almost the entire audience was made up of the student body from her elementary school, including the whole 3rd grade and it’s teachers. Annie Jr. was scheduled to perform seven matinees for schools throughout the 14 show run. It was happenstance that Tessa’s school had already signed up to see the show before she had even auditioned. We didn’t know how lucky it was until we learned that all the school matinees were sold out before rehearsals began in December!

    Tessa, Mrs. Parker and some of her 3rd grade classmates after the school attended a matinee performance.

    At this particular matinee she could look in any direction and see someone she knew. I snapped pictures after the show with her teacher and some classmates. Even though there wasn’t a meet and greet with the cast we were in the right place to see her schoolmates as they filed out. She got hugs from teachers and so many nice words from fellow students:

    “Great job Tessa!”

    “You were awesome!”

    “I saw you the whole time!”

    “Tessa you rocked it!”

    It was surprising, humbling and elevating. She commented, “Mom, even 4th graders were saying stuff to me!” Tessa was feeling the love, and was so proud to have them all there. I couldn’t help thinking what a nice bunch of kids. I was proud of her and the school kids too. Her whole class was so supportive during the audition process, really pulling for her. They were curious and complimentary during rehearsal time, and excited to finally see the show.

    She will have missed four days of school in order to make all the matinee performances during the week. We can’t thank her teacher enough for being organized and making sure she had the opportunity to do all her make-up work ahead of time! (Mrs. Parker - thank you! A relief to not have a week’s worth of homework hanging over our heads!)

    Today she brought home some notes friends had written to her before they saw the show and after. They are so darn cute it must be put into print:

    “Good luck on your play!!! You aren’t the star of the show but you’re the most exciting part for me! P.S. If I were the casting director I would so pick you for ANNIE over anyone. You are the best actor I’ve ever seen, under 10th grade of course (actually the best). Also, you will do great!! Be the theatrical Tessa I know! Love, your biggest fan”

    Before: “Good luck Tessa. I hope you remembered your lines. You’ll do great and I will be cheering you on. P.S. Don’t disappoint me! Just kidding! I’m your biggest fan.”

    After: “Great job Tessa! You did great. You should be on a show called ‘How to Act.’ You must have worked really hard and you didn’t disappoint me. I can’t wait to see you in another play. P.S. You are a star!”

    What great friends! As a performer it just feels good to know that there is someone (or many someones) sitting out there in that audience who already think you’re a star. I know she feels the same way about them too!

    Thanks to all our family, friends and community for the support!

    Category Acting, Performance | Tags: , , , , | No Comments

  2. Performances packed! Opening weekend draws full house

    February 14, 2012 by Leah Baker

    "Never fully dressed without a smile!" Orphans Jaylen, Tessa & Brooke

    The opening weekend of Annie Jr. at the FMCT can only be considered a success. The cast of kids sang and danced their hearts out for sold out crowds. We had a big group of family who traveled to take in an evening performance. And they agreed a ticket to this show is well worth it! From Annie’s melodic version of the melancholy ballad, “Maybe,” and the spunky, down-trodden orphan chorus of “Hard-Knock Life,” to the saucy “Easy Street” number performed by Miss Hannigan, Rooster and Lily St. Regis, there is not a single number that disappoints. The entire cast is involved in a musical scene with a catchy song called “NYC,” that’s not included in the 1982 movie version, but I have not been able to get it out of my head since my daughter started rehearsals!

    Tessa was feeling the love with many family members taking in an opening weekend show!

    I witnessed several audience members, young and old, singing along with the upbeat number “Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” and the classic, “Tomorrow.” All of this and I haven’t event mentioned the dancing! The choreography for this production is outstanding and pretty polished too. You forget that most of the cast is under age 12 and there is no one over 18. There is a ton of young talent packed into this musical! It is entertaining and uplifting. There’s only one more weekend available for a chance to see the show and many of those performances are close to selling out!

    The remaining performances are 7: 30 p.m.,  Thurs., Feb. 16 – Sat., Feb. 18 & 2 p.m., Sun. Feb. 19. Tickets available at www.fmct.org.

    Category Acting, Dance, Performance, Singing | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

  3. Dressing Room Adventures: Back of House at Annie Jr.

    February 9, 2012 by Leah Baker

    At the back of the house on the Annie Jr. set it’s: hot rollers, hairspray, braids, pig tails, nylons, shoelaces, hats. Eyeliner, blush, lipstick and microphone tape — these have been my surroundings for the past few nights as I’ve volunteered on the tech crew, back of the house in the dressing room. For anyone not familiar with theater terms, back of the house is any activities that happen backstage, that the audience doesn’t see. Front of the house would be ushers, ticket takers, concessions and the like.

    The adults in the dressing room assist the actors in and out of costumes, perfect hairstyles and apply make up. (I’ve become sort of the eyeliner and lipstick specialist.) And I can say it’s a good thing orphans don’t need any complicated hairstyles. If it looks a little messy, all the better!

    With 31 girls in the dressing room things can get a little tight and a little crazy at the quick changes. Clothes end up in wild piles or places and amazingly somehow, someone is always missing something at the end of the night. It is interesting to see the differences in how the girls operate. They all dress in different gears, beginning in low all the way up to cruise. I’m happy to report my own daughter is a phantom changer. I see her come in and the next time I turn around she is gone, and all her clothes are hanging up. This is not what her room looks like at home, but I’m glad that at the end of the night on the set, she has never been missing her pants! (Yes – it has happened.)

    Tonight is preview night for family. Hair and makeup for an hour or so and then a seat in the audience for me. Can’t wait to see it come to life! (I’m especially going to be checking out all the eyeliner and lipstick!)

    Opening night on Friday, Feb. 10. Very few tickets left for opening weekend! Get yours at www.fmct.org

     

     

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  4. No More Sneak Peeks: Annie Jr.

    February 6, 2012 by Leah Baker

    Annie Jr. at the FMCT opens this weekend! (Get your tickets at www.fmct.org) As of last week rehearsals have been “closed sessions,” which means no one is allowed in the theater except the actors and directors. I have enjoyed coming a bit early to pick up Tessa from practices and watching them work on the musical numbers. It is really something to see things come together. But, the directors would like to have an “HGTV reveal” for parents and not have them know everything that is going on with the production. Director Scott Brusven says it is a “magical moment” to see it for the first time. And I believe this is probably true. We sneak-peekers haven’t seen anything finalized, nor any of the costumes. So, it will be magical to all see the kids transformed into orphans, servants and New Yorkers from the 1920/30′s. And unless they closed the set we would probably still be taking it in a little at a time, lessening the chance for magic. Magical moments are sometimes few and far between in this life. I guess we should appreciate the directors for forcing us to stay away and adding some mystery to the experience.

    Until then we’ll be hearing the strains of “Hard-Knock Life,” and “Tomorrow” from the hallway, maybe catching a glimpse of an actor crossing the stage through the crack in the double doors (I won’t admit to this, but I’ll admit I’m not the only one!) But, mostly we’ll be anticipating the magic!

    Annie Jr. opening night, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10 at the FMCT in Fargo, ND. www.fmct.org

    Category Acting, Performance, Singing | Tags: , , , , , | No Comments

  5. Rehearsal Is No Chore

    January 19, 2012 by Leah Baker

    Orphans, millionaires, hoodlums, and the many other characters of New York in the 1920′s have been hard at work in rehearsals bringing the musical, Annie Jr., to life at the FMCT. The show opens Friday, Feb. 10 and the cast of kids, all 18 and under, are well on their way to pulling things together.

    It started with an “Annie Boot Camp” from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. over one day, during the last week in December. They got a crash course on the show music and did some blocking for scenes that included the entire cast. Since then practices have been scheduled for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. In these beginning days the practices are broken down into specific scenes or musical numbers and cast members need only to attend when it pertains to them. For Tessa and the orphans this has mostly been Sunday and Thursday evenings, which has worked out great for scheduling with her other after-school activities: basketball, dance and music.

    As we lead up to the show it will get a little busier, but Tessa certainly doesn’t mind. I’ll say, “How was rehearsal?” She quips back,  ”It was so much fun I can’t even describe how much fun it was!” I guess pretending to scrub the floors and windows is way better than actually doing it! At pick-up time Aaron and I have gotten a sneak peek at a few of the numbers. It looks like everyone else is having fun too. I can’t wait to see the final product.

    Tickets are on sale now!

    Annie Jr. performances:   Feb. 10-11 & Feb. 16-18 at 7:30 p.m.,  Feb. 12 & 19 at 2 p.m.

    Ticket prices are $14 for adults, $10 for over 65 & students over 13, $6 for 12 & under.

    Click here for more information on the FMCT and to purchase your tickets online: www.fmct.org

    See you at the show!

    Category Acting, Dance, Singing | Tags: , , , , , | No Comments

  6. Christmas Tunes Delight, Annoy

    December 25, 2011 by Leah Baker

    Christmas. This single day of the year is the only holiday to spawn an entire music genre. It is big business. Almost every major recording artist has taken to releasing a Christmas inspired tune, if not their own album (or two or three). I have to admit that I love it! The day after Thanksgiving I am the first one to turn the knob to that “all-Christmas” radio station, looking forward to hearing a whole month’s worth of auditory bliss. I love almost any of the holiday inspired tunes and have no problem listening to them over and over again. I could listen to back to back versions of ”Santa Baby” or “O Holy Night” any day and keep right on singing along.

    There is however, one song unfortunately lumped into this class which continues to beguile me. “Last Christmas,” written by George Michael and released by Wham! in 1984, has been a widely successful “Christmas” song, reaching numbers high on the billboard charts in many different countries and by now recorded and released by almost 100 different artists.

    It is a well known fact around my household of my dislike for this seasonal diddy, and my children love to get my goat, at any time of the year, by merely humming the first few bars.  This year the song has been particulary present, with the original Wham! version, the cast of Glee and Taylor Swift recordings in regular rotation. Much to my dismay, it was even on my new The Blenders Christmas CD. It follows me from the house to the car, into the store, and back out again.

    There are some minor lyrical details that bug me, but my major problem with this song is that it is not about Christmas. It merely mentions that Christmas is the unfortunate time of year that a certain relationship falls apart. Nothing Christmasy about that. So, to me it feels like a regular wistful pop song about love gone wrong. But, old George thought of setting it at Christmastime. This idea just so happens to capitalize on the holiday market a little (or a lot)!

    This might sound a tad “Bah-humbug!” But, the reason I’m writing is to say that I’ve turned a corner. I’ve decided that I shouldn’t be a hater at Christmastime (even if the song that I’m hating isn’t even about Christmas). Since I can’t get away from it, I’ve been trying to hum along and even sing a few words of the chorus. My kids have noticed, “What…? Mom, you’re singing it!”

    I figure maybe it will grow on me,  like fungus, mold or a helpful bacteria. I might not like it, but in the Christmas spirit, I will at least learn to live with it!

    Does anyone care to share their most favorite and least favorite Christmas tunes?

    Category Singing | Tags: , , , , | 6 Comments

  7. Make Room In The Orphanage

    December 17, 2011 by Leah Baker

    It’s a long way from the 1930′s, but we do have an orphan in the house! Hooray! The cast list has been posted and the roles for the FMCT’s 2012 production of Annie Jr. have been decided. On Wednesday night Tessa was privileged to join seven other girls in the callback session for the role of Annie. They ran through a few lines of the ballad, “Maybe,” as a group. Director Scott Brusven gave them a few tips and then they each had to sing it on their own. It was a closed audition, but out in the hallway where parents waited, voices were sometimes audible and you could make out some beautiful voices behind the doors. When Tessa came out she admitted she was in some very good company.

    Tessa and Brooke strike a pose before callback auditions.

    All eight girls were asked to stay for the next round of callbacks, which was for the orphans. They joined 22 other girls in learning a few bars of the rousing, “It’s a Hard-Knock Life.” Tessa was really excited for this session since it included a friend of hers, Brooke, who had also auditioned. They practiced several times and were asked to sing in varying groups. Parents hung out in the hallway while their daughters were singing away in the next room. Some of the parents might even have been more nervous than their daughters. Before he closed the door, Brusven gave a final glance back at the anxiously awaiting moms and dads and said, “Don’t worry. Just relax, they’ll do just fine!” I will admit it is a little nerve-wracking not being able to see and hear what’s going on and just hoping it’s going well. Tessa and Brooke both came out and said they had a great time! We weren’t out the door and she was already wishing for it to be the next day so she could know the results. I assured her that she had fun, did her best and that was all she could do. But, still waiting is agony!

    The cast list was up by Noon the next day. I knew Annie would be a long shot. We were just really proud that she had even made the callbacks. There were 120 kids who auditioned and only 40 were cast. She was one of the lucky ones to be named an orphan! Adding to the excitement, her friend Brooke was listed as an orphan too. I’m sure by the end of the production they’ll have many new orphan friends. Tessa had already begun making making acquaintances during auditions, and said everyone was really nice. It seemed too that she agreed with the director and had already pegged the girl who earned the role of Annie. “I knew she was going to get it! She’ll be great.”

    Tessa was a tad disappointed at first, not to have gotten ”an orphan with a name,” but quickly got over it as she realized what an honor it was to have earned a part out of the many talented children who auditioned. I told her I couldn’t wait to see her up on the stage. She grinned and said, “I can’t wait to be on it!” I know she’ll have a great experience being an orphan. There will be many rounds of “It’s a Hard-Knock Life,” sung around the house as we gear up for the show. Hhmmm, now, if only I could get her to scrub the floors….

    Category Acting, Performance, Singing | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

  8. Why Not Annie?

    December 13, 2011 by Leah Baker

    Director Scott Brusven must be channeling a bit of Miss Hannigan right about now. “Little girls, little girls, everywhere I turn I can see them….” The only difference is, instead of Miss Hannigan trying to get rid of them, he’ll be deciding which ones to keep. The Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre (FMCT) held auditions earlier this week for a February production of Annie Jr.

    Annie Jr. is a cast made up of actors all under the age of 18. On Sunday night alone there were approximately 75 kids who showed up, (mostly girls) and my daughter Tessa was one of them! The buzz was that they were expecting around 200 kids to vy for roles. Tessa had been looking forward to the chance to audition for this musical since we saw it on the schedule last summer. I was looking forward to it too. She’s been in some musicals already, and there will be many more opportunities. But for a little girl, there is really nothing like Annie. The idea of being able to play the spunky, curly, red-headed, rags-to-riches orphan or one of her rough and tumble cohorts is irresistible! The classic tunes and the punchy dialogue are beloved by many.

    I have to admit that around fourth grade I myself once auditioned for a production of Annie. I didn’t end up getting a role (my mom swears it was because of some small-town politics). But, I remember the masses of girls who showed up with the same hopes that I saw the other night. And even though I didn’t end up being cast at that time, it was a great experience and it fueled a little fire in me to go on and participate in many other productions.  So this was the hope that I had for Tessa. I wanted her to be able to audition for a larger production and have a positive experience.

    When I first mentioned last summer the opportunity of auditioning for Annie she asked if I thought she had a chance of getting a part. I replied that I thought she had a good chance for one of the orphans. And she said to me incredulously, “Why not Annie?” Well — why not, I thought? If she has the confidence and courage to shoot for the moon, why should I hold her back. So I said, “Well, I don’t know what age they’re looking for but, sure why not, of course you could have a chance at the part of Annie. You go for any part you want and the directors will decide who is the right fit.”

    With that kind of goal in mind I was a little worried about how it would be if she didn’t get a part or was only offered a small part. So on the way to the auditions I tried to prep her a bit. I asked if she would still want a part, if she got one of the extra roles? With the best attitude I could’ve hoped for she said, “Of course, any part is better than no part!” I was relieved for that response. Especially when I saw all the girls at the audition. I can’t imagine trying to weed through all that talent!

    It was a closed audition. They took in 10 kids at a time and they each performed around 16 bars of music for four people including the director, choreographer, music director and assistant director. So in this way I had no idea how she did, or really anything to compare her to. However, Tessa came out and told me it went great. “I nailed it,” were her words. Unshakable confidence, I tell you. Where does it come from? I don’t know, but that kind of brass is definitely what you would need to live the “hard-knock life.”

    I was constantly checking the website this morning waiting for the callback list to be posted. Promptly before Noon it popped up and lo and behold Tessa’s name was on it! I was so thrilled and couldn’t wait to tell her. There were three callback times and she has the first time with the smallest group of girls. Looks like a good sign, but I am not going to jinx anything here. We are so proud of her for doing her best and making the callbacks. I would love for her to have the experience of an Annie Jr. production. Maybe I’ll be able to live vicariously through her and finally get the experience I was robbed of so many years ago…. ;-) OK, OK, it’s not really about me. It’s all about her and I’m already as proud as I could be!

     

    Category Acting, Performance, Singing | Tags: , , , , , , , , | No Comments

  9. Everyone’s An Actor On Halloween

    November 1, 2011 by Leah Baker

    2011 boy costume: A mini flyweight boxer, with a requested black eye.

    Halloween is a day for all amateur actors, whether they think of themselves in that way or not. Anyone of any age who is inspired to dress in costume is getting in touch with their inner thespian. It is the one day where it is completely acceptable for people to be someone (or something!) they’re not. For one night children and adults can publicly fulfill their fantasies of being a super hero, cartoon character, movie star, monster or political icon. It is amazing to me the number of people who get into the spirit well into adulthood.

    The creativity that surrounds this holiday is especially appreciated by me. I love a good old homemade costume. Not one that is necessarily home-sewn, but one that has been put together with things around the home, with maybe a few outside accessories. The risque costumes available for girls and women in the Halloween aisles have been much talked about lately, not to mention their hefty price tag. So I would just say,  next year stay out of those aisles and go to your own closet or the thrift store. Buy some classic accessories that could be used over and over for different costumes.

    2011 girl costume: Flo from Progressive Insurance informed all of the "safe driver discount."

    But, whether it is a store bought costume or home-made, today’s Halloween speaks to the theatrical spirit. There are no auditions and you get to choose your own part. Just don’t forget to stay in character!

    Category Acting | Tags: , , , , | No Comments

  10. Bait And Switch

    October 20, 2011 by Leah Baker

    A poster advertising a free skateboarding, BMX and hip hop dance event caught my eye a couple weekends ago. There wasn’t much information on the advertisement other than the essentials: time, date, place, a photo of skateboarders and most importantly, free admission! I knew this would be something my wheelie-popping, break-dancing son would like. I do a lot of extra activities with my daughter, and I thought this might be a fun outing for a mom and son.

    My son, Aaron, was really excited to go and he decided to bring a buddy along too.  Not really knowing much about the exhibition, my husband wondered if it would be an appropriate crowd for a 6 year-old. I said, “Well, it’s free. If isn’t appropriate we can always leave.” I was a little comforted as we pulled into the parking lot and I saw families with young children pulling in beside us. When we walked into the arena and I saw the middle-aged ushers all in matching baby blue t-shirts I started to wonder the opposite. Is this really the type of crowd that comes to a skateboarding, BMX show? I glimpsed a few t-shirts with bible quotes on them and what looked like maybe some church groups. That gave me a clue as to who might be sponsoring the event and I started to wonder about the caliber of the show. Not that you can’t be a believer and a good skater too. They just aren’t usually promoted together.  As we found our seat I saw the stage, several ramps and some quarter pipes set up, so compared to our driveway I thought it would be able to give a thrill.

    The lights went down and a hip hop dance number came on. The dancers were good. When they finished, the skateboarders came out and showed off some tricks. It was no X Games, but they were decent enough to impress my crew. The skaters were pulling out some gnarley ”50-50 grinds, 180 pop shoves, kick flips, heel flips and trying hard to land “360 flips.”  (I learned a lot of new skateboarding terminology.) The master of ceremonies (MC) claimed to be an old-school skater from back in the day and he even showed of some his own moves mid-show. He couldn’t quite keep up with the young skaters, but he did “pop an ollie” or two.

    After a couple dance numbers and a skateboarding display and tricks from some local BMXers, the MC also shared his personal testimonial of coming from a broken home and heading down the wrong path until he accepted Jesus into his life…. Ah yes, so that was the catch with the free admission! A little evangelizing thrown in with some secular enterainment. But before anyone could get too uncomfortable they switched it up with another dance number, then some more tricks, then maybe a testimonial from a dancer and then a little video clip and so on.

    It turns out that the organization, GX International has world-wide campaign with five different teams traveling in many countries in a crusade style ministry. Their message of Jesus’ Gospel is meant to come across in “21st Century style relevant ways,” hence promoting the hip hop dancing, skating, etc. And following up with a pitch every so often.

    It was entertaining for the boys though and as the event came to a close, they were even more engaged than I imagined. The MC did a bit of preaching and then asked the anyone in the crowd who was ready to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ to raise their hand. Without hesitation two little hands shot up next to me. “If your hands are in the air, I want you to stand on your feet,” said the MC. Two little bodies jumped right up off their chairs. Then he asked all of those standing to come on down to the front of the stage. Aaron was making his move to head right past me and down the aisle. I had to throw in a block and he got pretty agitated with me. Why couldn’t he go down there? The stoic Catholic in me just didn’t want to join the throngs gathering around the stage. After a little guilt trip laid down on those left in the audience, the MC asked the scattered ones left in the seats to ask the person next to them if they were right with God. The boys did so, we all said yes, and I figured this was our cue to leave. We were all good.

    I later learned that this “bait and switch” promotion is a popular recruitment tactic among evengelicals, who have a mission to convert nonbelievers. It has even been the subject of a show segment on NPR’s This American Life program.

    We definitely took the bait. It wasn’t exactly what I expected, but I wasn’t necessarily disappointed. I think it’s OK to mix Jesus and skateboarding, just don’t ask me to come down and testify. The boys had an “awesome” time and were exposed to a different style of religous gathering. On the way home I was amused to hear them in the back of the car playing their own invented version of an age-old game: “Rock, Paper, Scissors, God.” They each had their own symbol for God and the rules were each person could only use him once, since he beats everything else. In our case, GX International might’ve considered it a successful crusade. A skater might even call it “gnarley.”

     

     

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  11. Now Showing…

    October 2, 2011 by Leah Baker

    The week after shooting the Parents LEAD commercial, I was surprised to get a phone call from my mom who said, “I just saw Tessa on TV!” What a quick turnaround time. I didn’t expect it so soon. So, I turned on the TV for the rest of the day and of course never saw it myself. Tessa caught it once and told me about it afterwards. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I said. “Because, I wanted to hear myself talk!”

    Tessa in the Parents LEAD commercial: www.parentslead.org

    I was happy to finally to get a link from her agent, so I could take a look myself! For anyone else who’s interested, here is the link to the ND DOT’s Parents LEAD website and commercial: www.parentslead.org.  It turned out really well and spreads a great message.

    The United Way video, which includes Tessa’s role as a Girl Scout (and mine as a door-opening homeowner) is also available for viewing at www.uwcc.net, on the lower left hand corner of their home page. This is another really well done piece. It pulls at the heart strings, and shows just how much the United way does for a community. The video is about nine minutes and our piece is about 3/4 of the way through.

    When you don’t always have the luxury of choosing which projects come to you, it’s been great to be able to be a part of two socially conscious campaigns: LIVE UNITED & Parents LEAD (Listen, Educate, Ask, Discuss).

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  12. Bonafide Gig

    September 14, 2011 by Leah Baker

    She’s bonafide! Tessa landed her first paying gig with a commercial shoot for the ND DOT’s Parents Lead campaign. She played the role of a seven year-old talking with her mother. Now that she’s nine, it was quite a stretch! Not really. Child actors are expected to be able to play up or down from their age by about 2-3 years either way. But, it was funny hearing her tell everyone she was playing a seven year-old. As if it would be so different from “acting her own age.”

    For her segment of the commercial she was shown brushing her “mother’s” hair and talking. Tessa’s line was, “Mommy, why is it OK for mom’s and dad’s to drink alcohol?” And the mom shows surprise and sort of hems and haws at a response. The whole point of the campaign is to encourage parents to talk to their kids about the rules and dangers of alcohol early and often. If parents are unsure what to say they can easily reference the ND DOT’s website: www.parentslead.org for information and ideas.

    So guess what this experience prompted me to do? Of course, talk to my kid about alcohol. As she’s practicing her line, Tessa addresses her real mother (me.) “So mom, why is it OK for mom’s and dad’s to drink alcohol?” I said, “Good question,” and not having yet referenced the website did the best I could and talked about responsibility and the maturity to make good decisions. I did check it out www.parentslead.org later and thought I did OK.

    We shot her portion for a a little over an hour and I thought she was a trooper. Tessa’s “mom” in the commercial, Debby, was very nice and a very believable likeness as her mother. They made a nice blond team! Debby was a trooper too, having Tessa brush her hair in the exact same spot for an hour straight. Tessa remarked that she thought Debby’s hair looked longer by the end!

    Results Unlimited was the production team on the job. They were great on the shoot and it was fun to see the little tricks of the trade. They pulled out some clothes pins to rest behind a framed print, changing the angle of the reflection off the glass so as not to interfere with the lighting of the shot. I was equally impressed when the camera man’s trained ears caught the refrigerator start to run two rooms away. The humming noise might have been enough to ruin the shot and I hadn’t even noticed.

    It was a school day and I was a little reluctant to have her miss school for this, but knew she might not get many similar opportunities so close to home. The production team was really great about keeping a tight schedule and getting us out of there in time to get back for the last half of the day. As we left, the representative from Results Unlimited paid Tessa a very nice compliment. He said, “Good job today. You were very professional.” This was really nice to hear since she’s just started in the industry.

    However, once we were out of ear shot on our way to the car she said to me. “So mom, when do I get paid?” I told her she’d have to wait for her paycheck just like everyone else. “What?” she said. “I wasn’t being greedy, just wondering.” I guess if you usually work for free, you don’t know the drill.

    It was a really wonderful experience full of encouraging and professional people involved on camera and behind the scenes. I can already see a difference between the first commercial we were a part of and this one. Tessa is learning and catching on to the little details and nuances.

    Parents Lead can definitely count their first success of this campaign before even hitting the airwaves. Their message works. Because of this commercial I talked to my kid about alcohol and I would bet that others will too.

    Category Acting | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

  13. A Dog Named Dottie

    August 19, 2011 by Leah Baker

    “The fall of dropping water wears away the stone.” – Lucretius, Roman poet & philosopher

    I was a big stone. Or at least I thought I was a big stone. But now I have been worn down to a palm-sized skipping rock settled at the bottom of the swift and unrelenting stream of my daughter’s longing. Longing for a dog!

    What started out as drops of water a few years ago has slowly turned into a waterfall of steady inquiries, begging and even tears. Supported by the scattered showers of my son and husband my resolve has begun to give way. Give way to at least the idea of how a dog might now fit into our lives. Everyone has an opinion. We hear both perspectives, from “Every kid should have a dog,” to “Don’t do it, you’ll be the one taking care of it!”

    I’m not averse to dogs. I have fond memories of the dogs of my youth. But, I grew up on a farm with no house pets. Our dogs didn’t even want to come in the house. If we were gone for the day or wanted to go out of town we would make sure they had access to food, or they caught their own food!  But, my family now lives within city limits where dogs cannot roam free. I don’t want a dog to sit in a kennel all day. My son has allergies to some pets, so that is a consideration. We would not be free to come and go as we please. There would be a lot of doggy doo to pick up! Who would be the primary care giver to this dog? Me. The only person who hasn’t completely on board with getting one. These are all excuses I have been using to combat the question, “Can we get a dog?” I took the angle that I was doing the responsible thing. A dog owner shouldn’t have a dog unless they are fully committed to giving it time and attention, right?

    A speaker I once attended put forth the idea that kids are the best salespeople because they are not discouraged by rejection. In fact, it’s like they are immune to the word no. They just keep asking until they get the result they want. I know it first-hand.

    I have tried to stymie the longing. I bought her clothing with dogs on it, stuffed animal dogs, we read books about dogs and encouraged her to play with friends’ and neighbors’ dogs. I’m afraid it has only fanned the flame. We tried a stint with a Beta fish, “Swimmy.” He lasted a few months, but it wasn’t a deep relationship. Not much interaction with fish — and you still have to clean the tank.

    When I came back from a weekend getaway in early summer, I knew I was in for it. On the table I found a stack of books: How to Choose the Right Pet, Caring For Your Puppy,  & 101 Dog Breeds. Although my husband has wanted to give the kids the experience of having a dog, up until now he’d been supportive of my objections. At that moment it was suddenly clear that he had closed ranks and was supplying inside information, propaganda and strategies to the other team! One particularly ingenious strategy: research and reverse psychology. As I was leaving to return the stack of dog books by their due date Aaron asked me, “So mom did you pick out a dog yet? It says in the book that the person who takes care of the dog the most, should have the most say in what kind of dog we get.”  Whoa, ho! Tricky, tricky. Trying to make me pick out a dog and feel like it’s my choice to get one! In reality the kids just want a dog. Any kind of dog. My husband says no purse dogs. I don’t really want a big dog, if it will be in the house. I’d rather not have a puppy. And of course there is the kid with allergies.

    On a 4th of July trip this summer, a friend had a good suggestion. She said she knew several of her friends who had Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and love them. We looked them up and it seemed like a plausible match, they are known to be a more hypoallergenic breed, medium sized and not as barky as many other terriers. I hadn’t relented, but I did file this information in the back of my mind.

    "Dottie" - Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Back home a few weeks later, I decided just to do a little browsing and looked on the local 4 Luv of Dog Rescue website, www.4luvofdog.org. And there she was – right  at the top of the page, a Wheaten Terrier named Dottie. I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t even heard of the breed until a couple of weeks prior and there happened to be one in need of rescue? I wasn’t quite ready, but I took it as a sign. If we ever got a dog, I always thought it would be great to support an organization like 4 Luv of Dog Rescue, Adopt-A-Pet and the like and give a dog in need a good home. So I secretly called my husband over and showed him all her pictures and description. She was adorable! And I loved the name she already had, “Dottie.” I could feel it rolling off my lips. I felt a connection. My husband wanted to go for it, and was very grateful I was open to giving it a chance. So, I filled out all of the application information in his name. I wasn’t going to be completely responsible yet! The organization asks for (and checks!) references and also does a home visit to make sure the pet is going to a suitable place.

    Now that I was entered in the race I really wanted this dog, but I knew it might not come to be. I figured a lot of other people might have applied for her too. Such was the case. They did do a reference check, but by that time someone else was already further along in the process and was going to adopt. It was disappointing. Now I have become slightly obsessed with Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and the name Dottie.

    We didn’t get the dog, but as my husband pointed out to the kids they had cleared a major hurdle — me. I told Tessa after the fact that we had applied for Dottie, but were unsuccessful. She cried and hugged me and said, “Thanks for trying mom, thanks for trying!” I told her maybe this just means there is a better match for us out there somewhere.

    So, my once stoic nature on the subject of a pet dog has been whittled away and worn down. Over time, water will always win against the stone. I am now open to the possibility of a dog thanks to a steady downpour and a dog named Dottie.

    Category Pets | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

  14. Girl Scout Wanted

    August 12, 2011 by Leah Baker

    A Girl Scout "selling cookies."

    It pays to be well rounded. Last week I received an e-mail from Natalie, Tessa’s agent asking if she was a Girl Scout and if she owned a uniform. I replied that she certainly was a Girl Scout and she had in her possession a Brownie vest with various patches she had earned over the past year. Natalie submitted her name for a commercial shoot and she got the job! This meant I had to quickly fasten to her vest the little pile of patches that I had been avoiding! Thank you to Hobby Lobby. There are actually stick-on adhesive sheets made just for scouting patches and the like. No-sew, no-iron — every scouting mom’s dream. And it works!

    The shoot called for a Girl Scout to be walking up to a home selling Girl Scout cookies. The client was hoping the parent of the Girl Scout could fill in as the homeowner answering the door. I was willing to oblige. Tessa appeared in one other commercial at age four, which called for a dad/daughter combo. The commercial ended up showing more of my husband than my daughter, so I figured this time it was my turn! It was fun to be a part of the experience together and very educational. Now that she is older and more aware, it was the perfect chance to see what it takes to put together a 30 second shot. It took 5-7 takes from four different angles during one hour of repeating the same words and actions.  All for 30 seconds of viewing time.  We heard things like:

    “Let’s do that again, there was a truck in the background.”

    “Oops! You looked down, let’s do another one.”

    “I saw the boom mic. in that shot, try it again.

    “I know I have two or three takes that I like, but let’s err on the side of caution and do one more.”

    The client was making a 5-7 minute video with several different scenarios and from that they will choose  a few 30 seconds spots for TV. So time will tell whether our shoot makes to the small screen.

    The film crew was very nice and professional.  But, it was hot and by the time we were done, we were very sweaty. Tessa said as much. And I pointed out that it was good to learn that it isn’t as easy as it looks and the clients definitely want to work with kids who don’t complain. She replied, “I’m not complaining, because I love it!” Before we left, we gave the crew a box of Girl Scout cookies. I think they loved us too.

    Category Acting | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments

  15. Encore Performance! Wayne Nelson Memorial Hidden Talent Show

    August 1, 2011 by Leah Baker

    Tessa as the magician's assistant.

    I thought Aaron had put the stage behind him. But, it didn’t take long for him to throw his hat back into the ring. The “Bop to the Top” performance at the county fair turned into another opportunity for the stage. A serendipitous opportunity! I ran into a friend of mine after the show and she said Tessa and Aaron would be welcome to perform at a talent show near her lake home. I thought it might be fun if we had the time, but Aaron had said he was done with talent shows so I wasn’t sure if it would work. Then I got a call from one of the coordinators, Carolyn Nelson. She gave us the details on the Wayne Nelson Memorial Hidden Talent Show at the Cormorant Community Center, and urged us to take part. Tessa was all for it, but Aaron said he was “keeping his word and would not do another talent show.” Tessa practiced once by herself and suddenly he had a change of heart. I’m not sure if it was the lure of the stage, or just not wanting to be left in the audience watching his sister. But all of a sudden the week the show was to take place, he was back in the game.

    We showed up not really knowing what to expect. What a treat! It was a packed house for 10 local acts of every variety and age. There were some guitar solos from talented area high school students, a piano solo, some crooners singing the oldies, a harp solo, a puppet show, a magician/comedian, and a vocal group from an area church. The church group included accompaniment by musician Johnny Butten, who happens to hold the Guinness Book of World Records title for fastest banjo player!

    Paige and her puppet partner Cody lift weights to "Theme from Rocky" during their performance at the talent show.

    When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised to find out that our cousins, who have a nearby lake place, were also performing in the show. They had an entertaining puppet number set to music, which had my kids doubled over laughing. Tessa and Aaron had a great time performing at this show, simply because of the audience. There was just an air of fun, excitement and community. Every act was met with an exuberant amount of applause – and they were all deserving of it!

    Besides performing their own number, Tessa and Aaron horned in on the magician’s act too. When they saw it listed in the program they were already speculating on if he would be asking for any volunteers. When he actually did, they were ready for it. He asked for an assistant and their hands shot straight up. Being in the front row they got noticed. Tessa was chosen as his assistant and held up a sign for the audience to chant the magic words. She also “disappeared” at the end of his act. Aaron got to be a volunteer for one of his card tricks. As we were leaving that evening, he opened his bag of tricks and let them pick out anything they wanted to take home. They were thrilled!

    After the completion of the last performance the entire audience sang “God Bless America,” and ice cream was served. The kids had such a great time with the whole experience it prompted Tessa to say, “This has been the best night of the whole summer.”

    Aaron and Tessa with their spoils from the magician's bag of tricks.

    This was the eighth annual Hidden Talent Show held in Wayne’s honor. I learned that he played an instrumental role in getting the community center built. He strongly felt that the area needed some place for people to gather for dances, meetings and events, such as a talent show. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly soon after the facility was built. Coordinator Carolyn Nelson, who was also Wayne’s wife explained that friends and community members were looking for a way to honor Wayne. Music had always been a big part of his life and he thought many people had hidden talents. So, the Wayne Memorial Hidden Talent Show was born!

    This was only my first experience, but it seems to be a popular annual event. A show of hands revealed that many in attendance hadn’t missed a show since it’s inception. Word has spread and there were many newcomers too. I never had the pleasure of meeting Wayne. But, I am a witness to the success of his vision. It definitely was an event to bring the community together, celebrate and support each other. He made it possible to preserve a nice little slice of Americana. Who wouldn’t be proud? “He’s been smiling up there ever since,” says Nelson. And he should be.

    Category Performance, Singing | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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