Mock News Report - Red Rocket

I just got cast as the anchor of a mock news report for Red Rocket Productions. My character is Trisha Bits-a-sushi! More later as we shoot the reports!

The Bugville Critters

I finished recording The Bugville Critters, a collection of short stories for children by Robert Staneck/Reagent Press. Buster Bee is the main character and there are 16 characters voiced by me so far. It’s loads of fun. Check the voiceover page for a sample - it's the audiobook demo.

updated

I just transferred my journal entiries to my blog since I am oficcially now a blogger. If I can only figure out how to upload pictures we will be golden.
Oh!
I think i got it...

journal entry from 6.7.2006 - four four media

I just recorded some commercials for four four media, in a lovely studio in Santa Barbara. They record all sorts of things in this studio, from Oprah and John Cleese to Depeche Mode. It's a privilege to follow in their footsteps! Check out their client list ...

Client List Depeche Mode Joe Cocker Michael McDonald Kenny Loggins David Crosby Jackson Browne Ringo Starr John McEuen Mason Williams Joe Walsh Ottmar Liebert Blues Traveler Jim Messina Willi and Lobo Peter White Shania Twain Toad the Wet Sprocket Dishwalla Yes Music Academy of the West Santa Barbara Symphony Jazz greats include Herbie Hancock Chick Corea Stanley Clark Mark Egan Maynard Ferguson Steve Swallow John Pattatucci Charles Lloyd Grant Geisman Paul McCandless Jimmy Haslip Alex Acuna Flora Purim Airto Moreira Peter Erskine Giovanni Hidalgo Adam Nousbaum

Narrative Clientele Robert Mitchum Dennis Miller John Cleese Michael Douglas Kathy Ireland Monty Roberts Jonathan Winters Jack Canfield Fannie Flagg Bo Derek Cindy Williams Diane Ladd

journal entry from 6.3.2006 - The Cookie Thief

Recently I was cast in The Cookie Thief, a short film (20 mins) by Adam Davis. It's a wonderful script and he has assembled a very talented cast including Academy Award Nominee Eric Roberts in one of the lead roles. Check my film gallery pages for news and pictures from the set. Also keep your eye on www.thecookiethief.com for updates on what's happening with the film.

We shot in a big studio in the San Fernando Valley. It's known as "Air Hollywood". If you see a scene that's set in a plane in a movie or a TV show (24 for example) odds are they shot the scene there. They have sets which represent all the different locations you could imagine in an airport or on a plane. Just like traveling movie shoots involve lots of waiting and delays, so it looks and feels like you are traveling while you are there.

Read on to find out what a day on the set is like.

I played a flight attendant, so it was fun to be in uniform for the shoot. We had a costume fitting at Universal Studios, and the wardrobe mistresses were delighted that I actually fit into the uniforms they had pulled, that I was actually the size I said I was ;-).

When I arrived at "Air Hollywood" at 8.00am, they threw me straight into hair and makeup which took 1 1/2 hours and so no time for breakfast. I have NEVER had so much hairspray in my hair. It was a helmet!!! The hairdo stayed intact for 14 hours!!!

The morning and early afternoon was lots of standing around in the background of a scene between the lead and Eric Roberts - for HOURS! Mr. Roberts is surprisingly charming and goofy and friendly to one and all on the set. It was cool to watch him work in the monitor when he did his monologue, he does the underplay thing to great effect. Star power really creates a dynamic on the set.

As far as my acting goes. I think it's a lot harder to come in with a small part and make it full since you have no flow but the one you can summon up at the time. Add into the mix that I auditioned for the lead and so knew all of her lines and had to stand there in the background thinking "Wow, that could have been me!" which kind of blew my mind. I was sort of in one scene with Eric Roberts - he left and I entered to deliver one line - so not really, in the scene, we just passed each other by a c-stand!

Then for my bigger scene I'd been waiting and standing around for hours by the time they got to it - it was the last thing they shot and we did one take that was kind of nowhere and then they (at this point the producer is directing me as well - trying to hustle things along!) gave me the direction "well have you flown lately? Flight attendants are not nice you know!" So I did it again and got spontaneous applause from the set (we had a lot of extra's and crew seeing as this scene takes place in a airport lounge), which was a big surprise and very cool. I made friends with the stills photographer Robert Earle and this is what he said:

"It was SO NICE to meet you. I don't think anyone got the kind of applause you did when you "nailed" the "Flight Attendant with attitude" thing. FANTASTIC! I will be reviewing all of my pics in the next couple of days, and will send you the best of what I have."

I was wrapped at 10.15pm stuck around to gobble some pizza and then got home at 12.30am! Marathon day.

Still from The Cookie Thief by Rodney Earle. Earle Photography

journal entry from 3.28.2006 - Art & Living Mag Party

I have the priveledge of writing for a fabulous publication Art & Living
They hosted a going awayparty for Miss California, Miss USA. Great event.

journal entry from 2.2.2006 - Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Well, I finally made it to the SBIFF. Highlights for me were Roberts Peters musical feature film. Half Empty starring himself and the lovely German actress Mareike Fell. I hosted Robert and Mareike and they hosted me to the festival ... We had many fun evenings out, including sneaking me in to the George Clooney award show - no small feat. Having weathered the press lines in Hollywood, I have to say SBIFF does a fab job at security, but they are no match for Mr. Robert Peters :-)

journal entry from 1.26.2006 - Sundance

Well! I finally made it to Sundance film festival this year. It is a lotta fun. Park City is beautiful. Sleep who needs it right? Here's the quickie Sundance Roundup from my friend Jeff Gund:

THE FILMS!

Almost all the films I saw this year were in the thumbs up category (the benefits of waiting to hear the buzz before choosing what films to see - you really can't tell a thing from the description in the film guide!)

THUMBS UP ...

KINKY BOOTS Although the film's title may make a few wonder about the subject matter, it's actually quite tame, and is one of the most wonderful, heartwarming films of the festival. In a nutshell, it's the story of how a failing shoe factory that produces boring work shoes makes a big comeback by teaming with a flamboyant transvestite to produce a line of shoes that is anything but boring (and maybe for a different sort of "workplace"). :) When you start out with a great script and combine it with great directing, you can't go too wrong - especially when the cast is made up of truly talented actors. Chiwetal Ejiofor, a British actor who has played a range of roles (from Serenity, to Dirty Pretty Things, to 4 Brothers) has created an endearing, interesting, and multi-layered character in Lola the transvestite, and with the help of wonderful performances from the rest of the cast, has helped to create truly one of the standout films of the festival.

ALPHA DOG Written and directed by Nick Cassavetes, this is also one of the standout films of the festival. Alpha Dog is a gritty story based on the true life account of Jesse James Hollywood, one of the youngest drug dealers to make the FBI's most wanted list. And for those who wondered if Justin Timberlake can act, all I'll say is that I'm sure he'll have no shortage of offers after his performance in this film. Featuring a great cast including names such as Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Harry Dean Stanton, and Dominique Swain, one of the real standout performances in this film came from Ben Foster, who steals every scene he is in. Looking forward to seeing his work in the upcoming X-Men 3. The rest of the rather sizeable cast all deliver great performances as well, including up and comer Anton Yelchin's endearing portrayal of Zack, the younger brother. Cassavetes' extraction of a well told and focused storyline from the huge amount of information and eye witness accounts is a credit to his writing and directing abilities. Definitely a film to catch.

THE DESCENT If you like a good scary thriller, then you should run (don't walk!) to the theater to catch this one the moment it opens. Easily one of the scariest movies I've seen in quite some time. Already released in the UK, and picked up by Lion's Gate in the US, The Descent should place Writer/Director Neil Marshall at the top of the studio list of people to work with. I'm not so much a fan of horror/thriller films that rely on gore alone to keep the audience interested - The Descent, however, employs a good storyline, and true, well delivered suspense to keep you at the edge of your seat. While he uses some of the cliché techniques of the sudden jolt/loud sound effect/etc., it's obvious that Marshall uses these only as the occasional tool to remind us of the genre we're watching, as an addition to - rather than instead of - good storytelling, suspense, and thrills, which he has indeed proven his adeptness at. My only complaint is the how and why one of the characters dies towards the end (I don't want to give too much away, but you'll know exactly what I mean after you see the film). A not-to-be-missed film for anyone who likes to be scared!

GOD GREW TIRED OF US This film won both the Audience Award and the Jury Prize for Best Documentary. A truly inspiring look at three Sudanese refugees - it gives us a peek into another culture, and more importantly, give us a unique look at our own through the eyes of someone else. Some absolutely delightful moments, as well as thought provoking and dramatic issues.

A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS Dito Montiel took home the Dramatic Directing Award for this inspired film, which also won for best performance by an ensemble cast. A great film, and worthy of both awards, which shows off some great performances by Robert Downey Jr., Diane Weist, and particularly Chaz Palminteri. Rosario Dawson had small screen time, but made up for with her usual ability to deliver an inspired performance as well (and, of course, looking stunning in the process...) And last, but certainly not least, the cast of up and comers Shia LaBeouf, Channing Tatum, Adam Scarimbolo, and Peter Tambakis gave top notch performances that had as much to do with the award as any of the big names. Melonie Diaz and Eleonore Hendricks also gave great performances as the girlfriends.

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE An enjoyable feel-good film, and great performances by Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Colette, and the rest of the cast - the most enjoyable moments for me came from the underutilized Grandpa character, wonderfully played by Alan Arkin. The meandering focus brought this otherwise very enjoyable film down one notch, but still a treat due to the many great moments.

THE ILLUSIONIST One of the Premieres (i.e., not in competition), this was a very enjoyable film - a period piece set in 1900 Vienna about a Magician who uses his skills at magic to get his true love and outwit the Crown Prince and Chief Inspector. Some great twists in this intricately written script where all the pieces ultimately come together at the end. Definitely an enjoyable ride, both plotwise, and cinematographically. My only complaint about this film is that the script focuses so much on the intricacies of the plot that the characters don't have much depth or space to evolve - and with such fine actors as Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti (who give great performances within the limits of their characters), it's almost a waste. But you won't mind too much, as Neil Burger's excellent script and direction put all the other pieces most definitely in place.

HOUSE OF SAND The previous winners of the Alfred P. Sloan Award have always been good films in my opinion, and this year's winner House of Sand is no exception. In Brazilian Portuguese with subtitles, it's the story of a woman and her family who by circumstance are stuck in the middle of a desolate Brazilian desert (I never knew Brazil had vast deserts like this!). The film helps bring you into their world by mirroring that desolation and emptiness - i.e., long scenes with sparse dialogue. It moves very slow, so it's not one to see while you're sleepy (what, who's not well rested at Sundance? :) ) However, the stunning cinematography, good storyline, and excellent performances more than make up for the pace, which is necessary to put you in their world.

WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY Now this is one great example of fresh filmmaking. Delightful characters combined with a script that's whacko in just the right way come together for one enjoyable romp of a movie. Ever wonder what happens to those who off themselves? This movie may not give you the answers, but you'll enjoy every minute of it nonetheless - even the black hole on the floor of the car through which items are lost and never found again (I'm sure there's one of these in my car as well, and I think it's also connected to my washing machine...) So, if you're planning on offing yourself, at least wait until you see this movie first...

STEEL CITY Well done are two words that come to mind when describing this heartfelt film. Brian Jun has created characters that you can identify immediately, but that still have depth, believability, and sincerity. It's the story about the relationships between the men in a somewhat dysfunctional family in a rural steel town. Tom Guiry's performance is full of integrity and is the ballast against which the real standout performances from veteran actor Raymond Barry (as Uncle Vic), who dominated every scene he was in, and Clayne Crawford who played the lousy trailer trash brother you love to hate.

journal entry from 3.24.2005 - Caught in the Act

I perform regularly with my improv group Caught in the Act. Checkout

http://sbimprov.com/

for details

journal entry from 1.27.2005 - Caught in the Act

Improv show at Jefferson hall.
Check out the hilarious clip on at http://victoriacharters.com/clips.htm posted as "Live Improv". We are singing the Do-Op song.

journal entry from 10.07.2004 - Caught in the Act

Improv show at Center Stage

journal entry from 10.2004 The Real Thing

I am playing the role of Charlotte in Tom Stoppard's play The Real Thing at the Ensemble Theatre in Santa Barbara. Beautiful production directed by Assad Kelada. Produced by Albert Ihde. The 24 page scene Act I Scene II is killer!

journal entry from 2003 Firespinning at Cirque du Soleil

In a nice act of synchronicity, my last performance of 2003 was a fire dance and as is the first performance of 2004, as we follow the Cirque Du Soleil troupe on their Southern California tour. We perform at the opening night party in Orange County this time, and light up the path from the big tent to the party for the party goers and perform for them on an outdoor stage inside the party. Different performers with different props and tools make this an interesting evening for us all. funfunfun ....

journal entry from 12.4.03 Firespinning at Cirque du Soleil

I get hired to fire spin out side the opening night party for the Cirque du Soleil new show "Varekai". I am one of 14 fire spinners/dancers and we have an absolute ball keeping the flame alive and spinning in turn either poi or staff or fire breathing. I lit up so many times I loose track of how many times I spin. Mucho thanks to Josh Egelston for putting this all together and Mark DeCew for doing fire safety and diligently watching us like a hawk during the event. The next week we go to see “Varekai” which is spectacular and awe inspiring and breathtaking. It’s a great celebration of all the extraordinary things the human body and spirit can do.

journal entry from 11.2.003 Spotlight Humane

This is an event held at the Hollywood Palladium. It’s all about cruelty free fashions and products. The fashion parade - “Compassion in Fashion” - focuses on Couture Cruelty Free Fashion or “workin’ it for the planet” - no leather, no fur, no silk, no pearls. I make the huge faux pas of grabbing my leather jacket on my way out the door to the event. Great! I am told by one of the exhibitors “don’t let anyone see you with that jacket”, and spend the rest of the event freezing and trying to hide the leather jacket that rests on my arm.

journal entry from 11.2.003 interview with Shannon Elizabeth

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0002436/
Victoria: What do you think we’ll be seeing here today?
Shannon Elizabeth: A lot of cruelty free fashions. No leathers, no suede, nothing like that.
Victoria: What do you think the highlight will be?
Shannon Elizabeth: I have no idea, but I wanted to come here and support them because we have an event tonight that is kind of the same thing.
Victoria: What are you working on right now?
Shannon Elizabeth: I’m working on That 70’s Show. And I’m working on a film called Cursed with Wes Craven.
Victoria: Horror?
Shannon Elizabeth: Yes, it is.
Victoria: Are you doing a lot of running or are you the avenger?
Shannon Elizabeth: I’m not gonna say …
Victoria: What character do you play on That 70’s Show?
Shannon Elizabeth: I play Ashton Kuchner’s love interest. My first episode airs November 19th.
Victoria: So it’s a recurring role?
Shannon Elizabeth: Yes.
Victoria: Great!

journal entry from 11.2.003 interview with Amy Smart

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/
Amy Smart: There oughta be a law, that people eat organically and treat animals humanely.
Victoria: Why is that important to you?
Amy Smart: Because we are all living on this planet and I’m for the preservation it, and by living organically and doing things humanely we are preserving the planet as well as nature and animals that don’t have a voice so we have to step in and speak as their voice.
Victoria: Are you presenting today?
Amy Smart: No actually I’m not I’m just here to enjoy the show and I’m on the honorary committee.
Victoria: And what are you working on right now?
Amy Smart: I have the Butterfly Effect coming out in January. January 23rd.
Victoria: What’s that about?
Amy Smart: It’s a sci-fi type of movie with Ashton Kuchner.
Victoria: What kind of character do you play?
Amy Smart: I play, well … my character goes through four different realities, the same girl but in different circumstances.

journal entry from 11.2.003 interview with Dana Daurey

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0004859/
Victoria: Was there something that you wanted to say about the event today?
Dana Daurey: I’m just grateful to be here, this is just … everyone is here for the right reasons.
Victoria: You look gorgeous today, what are you wearing?
Dana Daurey: Oh thank you, I’m wearing Arden B, these are Diesel, Melrose shoes and then I can’t remember where I got this - but I like it! Oh! Planet Funk.
Victoria: What have you been up to? What’s coming up for you?
Dana Daurey: I’ve been working a lot, but not consistent like Providence was, you know, I did a guest star on 7th Heaven a couple of weeks ago, doing radio ads, I’m doing cartoons, On a cartoon, just keeping busy
Victoria: There are so many beautiful exhibitors here today, who is your favorite?
Dana Daurey: The doggie couches.

journal entry from 11.2.003 interview with Jennifer Blanc

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0004760/
Victoria: What have you been doing since Dark Angel?
Jennifer Blanc: I have a movie coming out just after January, that Brian Austin Green directed called Fish Without a Bicycle (Victoria’s note listed on imdb as Girls Will be Girls: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0366517/) It’s Brian Austin Green’s directorial debut.
Victoria: Like the joke - “a woman needs a man, like a fish needs a bicycle”?
Jennifer Blanc: I love that you just said that! I love you! I officially love her! That’s one of my lines in the movie, in the infamous words of Bono -“a woman needs a man, like a fish needs a bicycle” I love that you got it.
Victoria: Great! What kind of character do you play?
Jennifer Blanc: I pay a girl named Vicki, I had short black hair in a bob, I play this total Goth chic who … it’s basically a coming of age movie for people who are a little bit older.
Victoria: Right.
Jennifer Blanc: And I sort of come of age as well in the movie, It’s about a girl named Jules who’s trying to figure out what to do with her life, I’m her best friend, and I end up falling in love with her.
Victoria: Cool … What’s your favorite thing that you’ve seen today?
Jennifer Blanc: Oh my god! I’m in love with the faux fur coats. I used to be a vintage fur person and then I became a vegan and an animal rights person and obviously you can’t mix the two, I’m in love with the faux fur coats, I’m in love with the faux leather bags, I’m in love with the stuff that Kate Spade did that was all woven faux leather material. I bid on it. And one other thing - the beds, those pet beds.

journal entry from October 2003 Good Morning Big Bear

Out of the blue I get a call to come and host the hour-long morning show at Big Bear. Amazingly in just 2 hours you can go from the corner of Hollywood and Highland where they hold the Oscars to atop Big Bear Mountain, where the air is crisp and you have snowfields and the most gorgeous lake and views. The station puts me up at the Stargazers bed and breakfast and observatory. Over the next week, I film 5 shows and we have a great time, with lots of guests on the show. Then as mysteriously as it appeared, this gig goes away.

journal entry from 9.16.03 Silverlake Film Festival

It’s always fun when the indie movies you do get into film festivals which are a complete blast. This year, A Couple on the Side, is selected for the Silverlake Film Festival. I can’t make the screening, so I go to the closing night party and hobnob with all the directors and producers at a gorgeous restaurant/bar in Silverlake.

journal entry from 9.11.03 Jay Sul Band

I get hired as a back up singer in the Jay Sul band, singing international music. Two months of rehearsals and one gig. That’s it so far.

journal entry from 2003 Burningman

Go. Just go. And go to www.burningman.com for details.

journal entry from 4.5.03 Sam & Zooey

When I first meet with director Graham Tallman I am horrified that he wants me to play a character that has an 18-year-old son. O.K. It's biologically possible. But a bit of a shock! Great shoot. Nice people. My big scene gets cut. Pearls before swine. Oh well.

journal entry from 3.27.03 Table and 2 Chairs

A night of One Acts by Gordy Hoffman (yes he's Phillip Seymour Hoffman's brother). Great script. I'm in two one acts. So fun rehearsing with my scene partners Lisa Buda and Skip Moore. My fav is Hill's Shortest - the one with Lisa, a story about two girls who steal other people's mail. Our director has a major family crisis the night of the show and has to travel to New York. We miss her but the show goes on, directorless.

journal entry from 3.3.03 Duplex

Surprised to find myself on the set of a movie that wrapped 8 months ago. They're shooting pickups. I play an undercover cop. LA is full of surprises! Like the location - downtown in the middle of a nasty section of derelict warehouses someone has dropped a mini studio. It's in a warehouse - so the dressing rooms are in one warehouse and then you walk through some barbwire sectioning and through another warehouse that has a loading bay full of bundles of stuff. Then in the next building there is a set of a police station and a court and all sorts of other sets upstairs. We are warned not to touch anything. Weird.

Big Production value here. It's always nice to be on set when it's done right. Craft service won't have me make my own cup of hot chocolate - he does it for me. Ben is directing and looks like he's having a ball. Drew looks exhausted and takes naps on the desk between shots. She is much more petite than I had imagined.

journal entry from 2003 Firespinning

Having been spellbound by the fire spinning I saw at Burningman last year I decide that this year I will learn to spin fire. I make it my goal to light up before Burningman. I learn my moves and many many thanks to my private coach, Deb Wallace, who not only has a heart of gold, but also teaches me everything I know about fire spinning.

Here goes

I just created this blog. So I can blog away...