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Jenna's Diary appears biweekly
February 15
Wow. Tabetha's jealousy is way out
of hand. The worst of their flu was over and we were all sprawled
in the living room in our pajamas (I was wearing Rod's robe
-swoon!) drinking coffee and reading the newspapers. I was
really enjoying it because other than the presence of his
two roommates it was so cozy and intimate.
Everything was wonderful until she
saw the curtains I bought for the kitchen - not curtains exactly,
more of a cheery valance or window scarf- she took one look
and said "Where the hell did this come from?" She
knew very well that I'd bought it but she made a big show
of taking it down. I was hoping Rod would intervene but he
remained intent on his crossword.
She is really jealous of me and
I think it galls her to see me make myself at home in her
house.
After she took down the valance
she said "don't you have somewhere else to be?"
I'm pretty sure she meant me because she was looking right
at me and I was the only one who didn't live there, so I
said over my shoulder that I planned to pop by my apartment
to pick up some of my stuff but other than that I was content.
Rod said "Jenna, why don't
you go home?, We're just going to take it easy today. You
know, rest, recuperate that sort of thing - you've done enough!"
I think if someone holds your head
when you vomit that person is entitled to stay as long as
they want. I said very frostily "I guess I will leave
if my services are no longer required." No one said anything,
so I repeated it. Rod finally said "Oh, Jenna I'm sorry
- you don't have to rush off."
I settled back down on the couch
while Tabetha glared at me.
Around three Tabetha came across
an article in one of the "trade" (blech) magazines
about a new Fringe festival being held up north. She showed
it to Rod and said "Roddy, you know how we always talked
about 'Subway' ? This would be perfect for us to try it out!"
He got really enthusiastic and before
you know it they were all fired up it. Their play is something
dreary and stupid about a guy riding the subway who meets
his inner self.
Huh?
February 22
Rod and Tabetha are really going
overboard on this project. They spend every spare minute on
it. Rod doesn't even go out with the cast after the show anymore!
Because I'm sure that this is a last ditch effort on her behalf
to win him back I've been keeping a very high profile. She
gives me the stink-eye when I arrive but Rod always gives
me a nice warm greeting. I sit and read the newspaper while
they work on the play. Occasionally I try to look interested
but the it is soooooo boring. I've tried to make suggestions
to improve it, for example I thought if it took place in an
18th century ballroom it would be more interesting, or I thought
if the main guy was murdered it might be more suspenseful,
but it's like my opinion means nothing to them.
It's like I don't even exist! It's
not fair after all I'm almost a published writer. They should
be thrilled by my input but they're not. No, they're ACTORS
and I'm just a lowly semiprofessional writer.
Tabetha's main claim to fame (and
primary source of income!) is a chicken commercial she shot
a year ago. She takes a bite of food, her eyes boing out and
she says "It's chickalicious!"
??????
As far as I can see the only skills
you need for commercials are walking, talking and the ability
to look either surprised, frustrated or blissful and they're
acting like she's some artiste. God, any idiot could do what
she does!
Hey!
Hmmmmmm.
February 24
Wow, this has been staring me in
the face all this time!!! - I was born for the stage! Well
I'd prefer not to do the stage I think I'd prefer feature
films, but it is so obvious. I have everything you need! I'm
good looking, charismatic, animated, intelligent. My old boyfriend
Simon always encouraged me to go on the stage but at that
time my focus was on writing. Also I was rather scared that
Simon wanted me to do clown junk with him.
It's not like I'm a stranger to
the profession, I have acted before and everyone said
I was fantastic! After the performance my nursery school teacher
said I was a "one smart cookie."
There is the added bonus too, other
than the fame and fortune, that this could be the glue that
binds Rod and me together. You have to have common interests
and it only makes sense for both of us to be in the "biz."
I am a little scared of making it
bigger than him because the male ego is so fragile but I figure
if that happens I'll have it written into my contract that
my husband must have a role.
I AM SO EXCITED!
February 25
I announced to Rod my decision and
he seemed happy he said "Oh, Jenna you're such a nut!!!"
I asked him how I go about getting commercials and he suggested
I take acting classes.
I told him that I didn't think that
I needed to waste my time on classes to say things like "It's
chickalicious!" but he said it wasn't a simple as that,
that you need an agent and an agent will not take anyone without
experience or training.
That is so stupid. He suggested
a course but it was a TWO YEAR course! Two years? I could
be dead in two years!
There's got to be a better way.
March 5
Whooo hooo! I'm going to be an actor!
I finally found an acting school that is perfect for me called
The Performer's Choice." I saw an ad in the paper:
"Think you've got what it
takes to become a star? Free evaluation. No appointment necessary."
I went in and met with a guy (Kirk)
who said he could tell just by talking to me that I've got
amazing potential. He asked me if I was also interested in
becoming a model!!!! I told him that I might try modelling
if the acting thing doesn't pay well and he congratulated
me on my good sense.
They have a course that is 6 weeks
long that teaches everything you need to know about acting
for film and television. I was surprised and mentioned the
the two year course that Rod had suggested and Kirk explained
the difference to me. He said the two year courses were geared
to people who wanted to hang around old dingy theatres doing
Shakespeare. He asked what I thought the average age of today's
screen actors would be if the movie greats like Julia Roberts
and Ben Affleck had wasted time auditioning for "As You
Like It" and I had to agree that he had a point.
Not only does this course teach
you all the skills you need to become an actor, they also
guarantee placement! Once you complete the course you are
a assigned an agent from the "Director's Centre."
Whoo hoo!
The price of the course ($725.00)
was very sobering at first. I was starting to think it was
some sort of scam but then Kirk put me totally at ease because
he told me to not to sign right away. He said "Jenna
before you commit yourself I want you to think this over and
ask yourself this very important question: Will I be able
to handle stardom?"
He told me how money and fame can
really change things for a person. He asked me how I would
feel about not being able to go to the store without the paparazzi
following me, how I would feel about having my face plastered
everywhere, how I would deal with the relatives crawling out
of the woodwork begging me for money.
He told me to take all the time
in the world to think about it, led me to a small anteroom
and told me to knock when I had fully thought it through.
I agonized for several seconds before
I made my decision.
I'm going to be an actor!
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