Happy Thursday!

Last nite I met up with a friend who happens to be the House Manager for a very prestigious theater here in NYC. I got a tour of the theatre and saw the set being built for their next production. It was so exciting! He showed me all around and he told me all about the play, which is a show that has been on in London for a while and is now going to premiere here in NYC. The play is about a group of men who work as coal miners, but who discover a hidden passion and talent for painting! The men and their paintings end up becoming very famous! I cant wait to see the show when it opens. It felt so great to be in the Broadway area and be reminded of what I do and what my goals are.

We later went out for drinks and got into a very heated discussion about the pros and cons of Facebook. Now, I'll be honest, I am NOT a Facebook fan. I think it serves a purpose and has its place in my life, but I definitely dont give it the importance that other people seem to. I think that there needs to be an organization called "Facebook Anonymous" and I know a lot of people who should join it! Seriously, its like an addiction for some people!
I have a lot of friends and family that live far away from me, and when it comes to them, yes, Facebook comes in very handy. Its great to be able to keep in touch with them and see pictures of them etc when I cant be with them.

But the vast majority of my friends are here in the city, and to me it just seems like the lazy way to keep in touch with me. It doesnt speak to a genuine interest in being a part of my life. Yes, I know, we are ALL very busy, but really, you cant just pick up the phone and CALL me? You cant take 20 minutes out of your schedule to have coffee with me? Really? If I were Spike Lee, would you fnd that 20 minutes? I think you would....

I dont want to sound preachy...really I dont...its just that one of the most important things Ive realized over the past few years is the importance of nurturing our relationships- all of them....that means taking the time to really be a part of peoples lives...whether its coffee, or a phone call, whatever...I'm talking about real human face-to face interaction! I think its particualrly true for artists in NYC. We are all so busy pursuing our goals that we barely make time for our friends and family. And thats actually counter- productive.

I dont want to read ridiculous status updates every five minutes telling me what flavor your coffee is...I dont want to see pics of you getting drunk at some party. I dont want to be one of 500 other people getting the same email inviting me to some event.

You know what Checkov, the famous Russian playwright said? He said, 'If you want to work on your art, work on your life". I agree.

What friend or family member can you call tonite? :)

new video

http://www.youtube.com/user/CarmonaJennica

new pics

See the rest of my new pictures in my website. Don't forget to tell me what you think of my new pics responding to this post.

http://www.jennicacarmona.com/photos1.html

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mothers birthday. On this day, I am taking the time to give thanks and appreciation to this strong, amazing woman who brought me into this world.

I am so grateful for my mothers love and support thruout the years. She has played a big part in shaping the woman I have grown up to be. She has always been a hardworker, a kind and loving person, and a very loving and devoted mother. She was always a lady, well dressed and elegant. She taught me the value of education, hard work, to be proud of who I am, and to always stand up for myself.

My mother drove me to my dance classes, was at every recital and awards ceremony, helped me with my homework, and was always there for me. I often think about people who did not grow up with a mother who loved and cared for them, and I count my blessings.

So much has happened in my family in the past two years. My parents divorce has taken a tremendous toll on the entire family. And although the dust is finally beginning to settle, there is a very long road ahead of us. One day at a time...

In the meantime, I am grateful for every day that she is alive.

Here is a picture of my mother and me on Mothers Day this year! Happy Birthday Mom!!

New Pics Coming Soon!

I dont want to clean another house for at least a year!!! Not even my own!! :)

Just kidding! I did some barter work for a friend this weekend in exchange for new pics. There were still a few "looks" that my agent said I was missing, so I had what feels like the ten millionth photo shoot.

My friends are a married couple that run their own photography/reel business. I am so blessed to have them in my life. They are both such wonderful people and so supportive. They really know what they are doing and what I need to do to book the job.

In addition to shooting some great new pics, we also did what they call "speed reels". It was SO fun!! It was almost like shooting a mini-movie. It will be up on my website shortly, as well as my new pics. I cant wait to hear what you guys think!
jenn

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

I hope that everyone has today off from work and is enjoying the day. We all work so hard during the year, its important to take at least one day to relax and just do nothing.
Doing nothing is actually a challenge for me. My friends always tease me about being such a "workaholic". Its hard for me to just sit around and not be working on something, not planning my next big project.
But when we take time off from work and relax our minds and bodies, we ARE actually "doing something". We are re-charging or batteries, we are refilling the well. Relaxing now is what is going to give me the strength and energy to keep going for the long-haul.
So, Im sitting here in my sisters beautiful new place (nope, not jealous, not at all)and its VERY quiet. As I sip on my tea and listen to the birds chirping outside, I am filled with a renewed spirit of calm and peace. Tomorrow will come soon enough. For now, I am just going to sit back and enjoy the moment. I hope you will too. :)

jenn

Ode to Dunstan

So, during my very crazy and intense time working at LDE,I had one very good friend who kept me grounded and anchored. He was one of the interns, and I think that if it wasn't for him, my job would have been much,much harder. His cheerful disposition, his friendliness, his warmth, were always a calming source for me during my time there. We would often have long conversations about the business, about our dreams and goals, about life in general. I felt supported and appreciated by him.

One of the biggest parts of my job was script coverage, which means reading ALOT of screenplays and "covering" them. Covering them means giving a review of the script. You basically fill out a "report", saying what the script is about and what you thought about it. Then, the "higher ups" can have an idea about the script and whether or not to consider producing it without having to actually read it.

Dunstan and I read SO MANY scripts. I was often thrown three or fours scripts to read in ONE night, and though I had a few other interns, Dunstan was ALWAYS the one I could count on to help me get them all done. He always had my back. He was always very dedicated and professional.

Neither of us are at LDE anymore, but we continue to work together. Dunstan is now helping me complete the editing for my trailer. I am so grateful for his constant support and encouragement. He believes in me, and he believes in my project. Nite after nite, even after a long day of work, we get together and work on my trailer. He sits patiently by my side and listens to me, and frame by frame, he brings my story to life. He doesnt roll his eyes at me when I ask him a million questions, he doesnt get mad when I change my mind for the millionth time, he gives me his honest opinion when I ask for advice. His passion and dedication are a constant source of motivation and inspiration for me.

He understands that being a girl means I have mood swings, and he doesnt take it personally. He indulges me when I want to take a break and have conversations about men, love, family, etc, but he always maks sure we get back to work. He's not one of those people who are "all talk". Like me, he is serious about his craft and willing to do the work that it takes to be successful artists.

I am so very grateful for Dunstans friendship and help. We are only two sessions away from being done with the trailer. It is looking really good and I feel proud of our work.

My coach often talks to us about artists with the "lone ranger" mentality- Artists that have so many dreams and goals, but who want to do it "all by themselves". Tonite I am reminded not only of Dunstan, but of all the others who have helped me on my journey. When we surround ourselves with the right people, people who believe in us and support us, its easier for us to be creative and be the artists we want to be. We can then, in turn, be supportive to them when they are working on their projects. Its all about support and collaboration. :)

Jenn