I got a call one day early July, from Chase at Skyline Media.  He said he was casting for a commercial and had a role that he hoped I'd be interested in. Okay, actually he said, "I've got something for you!" 

Now that I'm freelance and no longer a signed model, I have to be more mindful of my established relationships in the industry and staying in contact with them to get paying jobs.  Chase, I've had the pleasure of working with a couple of times previously. I met him first at the casting call for Express Personnel, was hired for that shoot and we stayed in touch- I auditioned with him for a role a few months ago that was also for a tv commercial.  That one didn't pan out, although he did say I nailed the audition and the client liked me a lot- I was second choice. It's like I always say, second isn't first.  I was disappointed, but it really helped me dust off the old acting skills from high school. Plus, hearing that I did really well was a giant confidence booster and opened me up to more opportunities in an internal way. Mentally I'd been walling myself off as a model and hadn't thought much about acting. Modeling is not acting, no doubt, but it does help because I'm comfortable on camera. 

So, I think Chase was pretty excited to finally have something for me again that he knew I was perfect for. He wasn't hiding it either. His energy was contagious and I quickly became really excited, too. He gave me the broad strokes of the spot. I'd be in a yoga studio asking questions about used cars. They'd be going back and forth between me and the guy at the dealership. He asked if I would be willing to help secure the location and I immediately said yes. I had two thoughts here, mainly I like having control, I can't help it- it's just a thing I have. So, yes, if I help find the location, then I know it won't be somewhere super inconvenient for me at a super inconvenient time.  I reached out to a couple friends that I knew owned studios or taught yoga. Kary was one of the first. I have known Kary for as long as I've lived in Oklahoma City. She used to be an instructor at Chesapeake and I loved her "power pump" classes and "cardio kick" especially.  She has so much energy and a really fun personality. The other two options weren't very receptive so it quickly became clear that Trinity Exercise Studio was "the one".

We filmed that Friday. It all happened pretty fast- as It usually does. You're hired and then you clear your schedule, ask for time off at work, and scramble for a babysitter on the short notice that you were given.  I'm lucky that the people who love me are so so supportive of my modeling and now acting, that they will bend over backwards (more in the figurative sense) for me when I need them. 

Danielle is always accommodating with my schedule- allowing me to leave early or in the middle of my shift, as was the case this day.  She and Laura get excited when I have new opportunities and love helping me prepare.

We had fun filming. I was well aware that I don't actually do yoga nearly as often as I should, but since I used to do a lot of yoga- I just expected to be able to hold poses upon request. It occurred to me that I was putting myself in a position for a possible injury. I will always give it my 100% and that day was no different. Delivering lines upside down or balancing unevenly on cold muscles was just part of the job that day. I had to do the handstand and deliver the line countless times. Chase said, "just give me 10 in a row, delivering the lines different ways". How many times can I say "where are you located" while in crow pose?

The next day I was beyond sore. Knots formed in my glutes and shoulders crippling me. And all this was two days before a race. Sunday I was racing in the Draper Duathlon (run, bike, run) and I had trained and hoped to win my age group so, yes, all day Saturday I was mentally preparing myself for the disappointment that was sure to come.  Surprisingly, race day was virtually unaffected. Even as I stood at the start line, pouting shamelessly, I expected my run and bike to be slow and clumsy. I ran a personal best and my bike time was right on goal- I couldn't have been happier! Okay, that's a lie. I totally could have. I ended up with 2nd in my age group, and it's like I always say- 2nd isn't 1st. 

I enjoy working with Chase. I think he is a creative genius, (I know that sounds super cheesy) who could be so very much more - I hope someday he gets the opportunity to move on to bigger things. I like that he comes up with ideas, writes and directs the spots. Creative people are fun to work with, but he's still very real and actually, my first impression of him was "cool".  His personality is accepting and open, his feedback is encouraging and helpful, but his inspiration and creative goals are clear and he's not going to move along until he has his shot. That makes it really easy to work with him and I don't have to question myself because I can see clearly that he's getting what he wants. He gently nudges but also adds in a little extra roasting just to keep the atmosphere light. I'm all for a little criticism, of the constructive sort, but sometimes I felt a little picked on and had to show that with a little dropped jaw and maybe a tiny bit of glaring. 

A couple of times Chase reminded me of my high school drama teacher with is corrections in my pronunciation of certain words (like, lengthEN not lengthin - eye rolling goes right here. You know what I mean. But his sense of humor was comforting and made the shoot really fun and enjoyable and less "clinical" than some shoots can often be.  Kary and I had a great time, I think she enjoyed watching me work and being a part of it. Her teenage daughters got to be extras - and they didn't know it until we showed up and asked if there was anyone we could borrow to fill in the background! They played it really cool, meaning they did NOT act like I would have had I been in that situation when I was a teenager. I still have a hard time being cool... :/  I'm too readable. 

Well, the Fowler spot was a success, in that- it was originally created to feature 3 different customers to alternate questions with Chad, at the dealership. The guys over at Skyline and Fowler liked the footage they got so much, they edited one of the three of us alternating but then also gave me my own spot :) and the result was a fun, lighthearted commercial with my own pretty little spotlight.  I've been getting text for a month from friends who've caught it on tv!

See below!