KoalaStar Rising:

I think some people might be confused as to what exactly I am doing as a body double on ER. When I was first brought in as a body double a month or two ago for a specific episode, I was there for the “simulated nude scenes” if needed (there wasn’t actually any nudity, just a bare back etc.). Now, however, I am Neela’s (the Indian doctor’s) double whenever she is in the background of a scene and not the focus. So, whenever you can’t see her face/only see the back of her that is me. Make sense? This is why I can have a thirteen hour day on set and work four to five days in a row because they need all of the doubles to be around for featured background work (like a visitor or a nurse) and to be readily available to jump into the background of a scene as the actual body double (if you will) of the main character.

I hope this clears up any confusion. I have tomorrow off so I’ll probably rushing around most of the day trying to get as many errands as I can completed since I haven’t had time to do any of them yet. I hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Just a quick message to let you all know that I updated my IMDb page with some new photos. So, go check them out!

CLICKY

I love, love, love working on ER! I know a lot of people would wonder why I would want to take a job that works such long hours when all you would ever really see of me is the back of my head/body in a couple of shots on TV, but I couldn’t be happier. Everyone on set is extremely professional and so nice. I like being in that type of environment because I learn so much (especially a ton about this industry and how everything works) from my fellow actors/crew members.

Because there is a lot of downtime on set, I get to catch up on my reading, relax and get to know the ropes when I’m not needed. I worked nearly fifty hours for four days last week and it was totally worth it. I’m starting to get used to waking up at 4am every morning and going to bed around 10pm every evening. One thing that rocks is that I finally feel like I’m using my whole day and not wasting any of it. Of course, this weekend was mainly filled with relaxation and rest, but I think that’s okay (we all need a little down time, right?). I got asked back to work again on Monday, so I’m hoping that this means I might have a semi-permanent job. This definitely beats working in the restaurant industry (no offense).

As for my audition on Friday, I think I nailed it. The only (possibly bad) thing I noticed was that I was the youngest-looking person there. Don’t know whether that will help or hinder me, but everyone keep your fingers crossed. I would die to work on “Night Shift” and the part I auditioned for is oh so neat!

So, how is everyone? Tell me something exciting happening in your life!

I’m dead tired because I’ve basically been working non-stop since I got back from San Francisco on Monday morning (at 3am!). I was asked back to ER to do some more body double work for Neela (the Indian doctor on the show). I worked fourteen hours on Monday, twelve and-a-half hours today and I work tomorrow (and probably Thursday and Friday as well). I’ve been having a blast on set, but I will go into more detail about that when I’m not about to pass out. I have to be up at about 4am every day, so I try to go to bed no later than 9pm every night (I feel like I’m ten again, heh).

Anyways, the reason for this quick update is because I wanted to show you all some recent photos from a couple of shoots I did a few weeks ago. Let me know which one(s) you like the best/what you think of them!

Note: As you will see, these were all taken before I got my fabulous cut/color.

How is everyone doing? What’s new?

So, I finally have some time to show you guys pics of my new ‘do (thanks to the lovely hair and makeup dept. on ER).

I had so much fun working on set! I showed up around 7:30 am and they first took me to wardrobe where I was given teeny tiny booty shorts and a very small strapless bra (picture two pasties sewn together, heh). Thankfully they gave me a really comfy robe so I didn’t have to walk around set half-naked all day (and mind you, it is freezing in Burbank that early in the morning). Then, I went and changed and headed over to the hair and makeup trailer.

I had my makeup done first. Since Ms. Nagra is a couple of shades darker than me, they literally had to paint me to match her skin tone. It was so cool. The makeup dried instantly and I was told it was waterproof too (which was a must since the scene that I was body doubling for was going to be shot in the rain–with a rain machine of course. I don’t think anyone would want makeup dripping off of me while that happened). I felt like I got an instant tan, and I loved the way the makeup made my skin look. I can’t, for the life of me, remember what the makeup was called, but it began with a V. The makeup artist also had to cover up all my tattoos and I had to take out all my piercings. It was so weird to look at my stomach without my navel ring in it because I have never taken it out before and I’ve had it for nearly 10 years! They also had to take off my pretty new pedicure since I had really dark polish on my toes and Ms. Nagra had a silver-blue color on hers. They sent someone out to go and buy the same exact color which was then applied to my toes about an hour later (pretty color, just not my style).

After my makeup was done, I had my hair done. I was told to come in with it damp and up in a bun so that’s what I did. My hair dresser proceeded to curl my hair to look just like Ms. Nagra’s (and to look the way it would after getting wet in the rain). I loved the outcome so much that I want to go buy a curling iron now!

It took until about 9/9:30 to finish everything and then I was taken in a van over to the set where I got to meet a ton of the regulars on ER and a bunch of the regular background characters as well. I don’t want to give anything away about the plot of the episode, so you’ll just have to wait and see it when it comes out supposedly in April. It’s the next new ER episode to air, I think. Let’s just say I had a blast and I can’t wait to work on set again!

So, without further to do, here are two badly shot camera pics of my hair.

The first one was taken right after my hair was cut so it looks a little flat (sorry I look like such a mess, but I was completely sans-makeup and soooo tired).

The second one was taken after being on set all day, so again, I apologize for looking like a mess. I love how my hair looks curly though

So, there you have it. I think a friend of mine at Islands who is currently going through cosmetology school is going to dye my hair a lighter brown in the next couple of weeks (FOR FREE ) so I will be sure to post pics when I have them.

I hope everyone is doing well! I have lots to do today so I’ll catch ya’ll later.

Last week I got a call from someone at Central Casting asking if I was free to go in for an interview at Warner Bros. Studios to play Parminder Nagra’s body double on an episode of ER (she plays Dr. Neela Rasgotra, and I first had the pleasure of seeing her in Bend It Like Beckham, which was awesome). I was pretty excited about receiving the call, but after not hearing anything for a couple of days, I kind of forgot about it. Then, on Tuesday, I got a call again from Central Casting asking if I was available on Thursday and Monday to shoot. Of course I said yes! The lady said she would talk to the casting director and get right back to me. Again, I heard nothing so I assumed they found someone else.

This morning I got another call asking if I could come into Warner Bros. ASAP for an interview so everyone could see whether I would be a good match for Ms. Nagra. Before I knew it I was being whisked away to the hair and makeup trailer to have my hair cut to look just like Ms. Nagra’s, and soon after that I was picked to be her body double (my hair looks so cute now, btw)!!! I start shooting tomorrow at 7:30am and then there is a good possibility that I shoot Monday as well. I’m hoping if Ms. Nagra ever needs a body double in the future, I will be asked again.

And you want to know the best part about all of this? I’M GETTING SAG! Sooooo, no more of the “possibly SAG eligible” B.S. I will be SAG come the end of Monday

I’ve never been to the Warner Bros. Studios before, so I was shocked to see how massive they are (hell, the closest I’ve come to seeing the studios is on the show Animaniacs ). Warner Bros. is located in Burbank, so I just hopped on the 405 N to the 101 to the 134. It took no time at all. Once I got to the WB, everyone was so helpful with showing me around and showing me what I needed to do. Now, I’m back home, still recovering from all the excitement. I don’t think any of you realize how freaking stoked I am for this!

I will be sure to do a recap of my days on set after I’m finished shooting.

P.S. John Stamos is still smokin’ hot

A friend of mine has been working on this site, Quarterlife for the past couple of months, and I was just informed that people can join it now. It is such a neat site and I think everyone should check it out!

The creators have this to say about it:

Welcome to Quarterlife, A new community for artists, thinkers, and doers –- and a new Internet series from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, the creative minds behind “My So-Called Life” and “Blood Diamond.”

Come in, check out the site, set-up a profile, and invite your friends to be a part of this new creative community. And be sure to come back on November 12th to see the premiere of the quarterlife series.

Basically, this is a site geared towards creative-minded people where they can upload their portfolio, videos, music etc. As an aspiring actress, I think this is an excellent way for me to network and meet more people like me. I know there are so many different online communities to belong to nowadays, but if you are a creative person and you want a place to showcase your work and meet like-minded individuals than this is definetly the place for you!

Oh, and feel free to add me HERE if you do end up joining!

Friday was a pretty hectic day for me on set. I had four interior (indoor) scenes to shoot and three exterior (outdoor) scenes to shoot. I arrived promptly at 9:45am and was immediately whisked into wardrobe and then to hair and makeup. I started out in my goth attire (because we were shooting one of the earlier scenes in the movie where my character is very goth). By the end of the day and I had done six wardrobe/makeup and hair changes! Crazy, no?

Here I am getting my makeup done by the incredible Chrystal Star (she sure knows her stuff!)

Here is Dick Anthony Williams (who plays one of the other leads, Asa Jamir) waiting to get his makeup done.

And here I am waiting to do my first scene of the day. This is the scene where my character, September Washington, meets Asa Jamir for the first time.

I didn’t get nearly as many pictures on Friday as I did the previous day because I was constantly doing stuff (either I was filming, blocking a scene, rehearsing lines, in wardrobe, or getting my hair and makeup done). I barely had time for lunch! But, it was all so much fun. I love being back on set. It puts me in such a good mood.

Now I have a week off before I start filming again. I have a number of auditions to go to this week so it’s not going to be as relaxing as I originally thought, but that’s okay. More auditions lead to more work which makes me one very happy Koala!

After nearly ten months, I am back on the set of The Stolen Moments of September to do reshoots and shoot some new scenes that have just been added to the script. I’m shooting at this neat little studio downtown called United Pacific Studios. It’s been so much fun seeing everyone again and I am so excited to get this project finished once and for all! We have distribution now, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled. I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed

I brought my camera to set today so I could take pictures to share with all of my loyal blog readers. So, here ya go!

Here is our amazing DP (cinematographer) Steve Howell, mapping out a shot for scene 32: “Inside the Dressing Room at Goldie’s”.

Here I am with two of my co-stars, Monique Parent (who plays my best friend Blu) and Alyssa LeBlanc (who plays Diamond, one of the other dancers at Goldie’s).

(Note my crazy gothic makeup ).

The big man himself, our director, T.A. Williams.

Here I am with our lovely (and oh so talented) script supervisor, Ann M. Doria.

Inside the dressing room at Goldie’s with Orzai Rizzo (who plays Carmen, another dancer at Goldie’s) and our fabulous gaffer.

Yes, we are having a ball!

Here is Patrice Fisher (who plays one of the other leads, Detective Corina Hire), gettin’ her hair did

And last, but definitely not least, here I am once again with the beautiful Monique Parent.

Damn, we’re hot!

I am hoping to have an update after each day on set, so you all can get a better sense of what it’s like.

When I logged onto MySpace the other day, I noticed that a bulletin had been posted of an anonymous review from a test screening of my movie “The Stolen Moments of September”. Here it is:

I caught a test screening of STOLEN MOMENTS OF SEPTEMBER during the film fest submissions. As a work in progress, I have to admit that I was happy to see C. Thomas Howell (Pony Boy) back with a vengence. He is an excellent bad guy, and gave me the impression of Gary Olman in The Professional. The guy you love to hate!

Initially, I was anticipating a typical girl in trouble film, but pleasantly surprised by the unique twists and performances. Of note, newcomer Esther Mira is a gem. Not only is she not hard on the eyes, she lends a unique balance of innocence and street wise, which helps to make the storyline.

Her love scene, (to which I understand is her first) was torridly hot. A great committment on behalf of the director and cast to not be afraid to light up the screen. Kudos.

Not too shabby for a first review (even if it was just a test screening), eh? I can’t wait for this film to be released, YAY!