Unscripted - A Blog for Actors - Backstage

Guess Who's Back, Baby

After a full recovery from the bout of rot gut and hospital scare, I attended an EPA, my first jump back into the game since getting sick. It really revitalized me. Recovery had removed me from my routine and I didn't realize how quickly I let things begin to slide. I was behind on submissions, wasn't taking care of my career.
There's something about waking up at the crack of dawn, warming up, and preparing to be seen by a company you admire. For some reason, it got my blood flowing and snapped me back to attention, where I belong. But it also got me thinking.

An Oklahoma Hello!

My dad and I drove over 800 miles today.  We made it from Memphis, Tennesse though Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, all the way to Tucumcari, New Mexico.  Of all the new states that I'll be seeing on this journey across the country to L.A., I have been by far the most excited to travel through Oklahoma.

Strength of a Woman

After months of being told by various people that I MUST go see MTC's Ruined, and after months of trying to get tickets but to no avail, a friend surprised me with tickets to go see the show. And like everything else that's made much of for a long time, I walked in expecting to be blown away. I was, but not by the production itself. I'm not sure if it was just an off night for the performers or if it was the play itself but it just didn't seem to be all that - I am very aware that a lot of you will disagree with me.

I had a vague idea of what it was about, and had deliberately not read any reviews. I wanted to go in with a blank slate. The more I think of it, the more I feel it was the writing that put me off in parts. Don't get me wrong, I was very much engaged through the play and cried a lot, but there were parts that just took me away from it because of the words used.

But more importantly, it was the stories of those women that completely broke my heart. Their undying spirit, their will to survive with a smile, to find humanness in their existence and be grateful for it. It was painful, inspiring, horrific and shook me to my bones. My personal experiences taught me at a very young age that a woman's capacity to endure can be compared to a bottomless pit. Since then, the women who have come into my life and the women whose stories I have had the opportunity to know have only affirmed that statement.

And yet, it is so enraging to see how easily a human being is stripped of dignity, basic human rights and completely taken for granted. Here's the big question - What am I going to do about it?

-- Farah Bala

Playing host...

I have been so lucky with the people around me I call my friends, especially the ones from India, where I grew up. We don't keep in touch regularly, we don't call or email very often, but when it comes time to meet, its like the time in between just stops and we catch up from where we left off.

One of my dearest friends from Bombay is in NY at the moment, and I have been looking forward to this weekend from the longest time. We were reminiscing yesterday about how one of the first things we discovered about each other at the tender age of 15 was that we were both hard core fans of the-then-fresh-face-of-Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan! Now, over 10 years later, she can't stand the sight of him, and I can still tolerate him! And that's not the only thing that's changed about us. I moved from Bombay almost 8 years ago to pursue my acting career, and she is happily married, living in Bombay, with her own label in fashion. When I visit India every other year, we meet up, but never really get enough time, so this weekend is all about old friends catching up in the best city in the world!

I love playing host for everyone who comes to New York. I feel like I get to show off the best city in the world. I plan where we'll go, what we'll eat - the works. But all she really wants to do is shop! No cute restaurants, no walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. She got to experience the NY nightlife last night, and now, as soon as we are fully awake, we will be off to find the best bargains in town! Can't wait...

-- Farah Bala

A Reading

So I've been busy. And slacking on my blogging responsibilities. So here I am, trying to catch up. Between my acting class which meets twice a week and expects a lot of outside rehearsal time, I've been working, auditioning a bit, and trying to keep my head above water with the various projects that have been coming up.
    Most recently I have been cast as Martin in a reading of 'Fool For Love' at the Barrow Group this Monday night, June 1st at 8pm. It will be splendid, you should all come by. I mean ALL of you.
    Secondly I was offered a role in a developmental workshop which required me to heavily juggle the next two weeks of my life. But it's very nice to be OFFERED a role. Auditioning is for suckers, as are back up plans, which I've mentioned before.

A What-ing Who-uit?

Just got a call for a very well-paying commercial audition on Tuesday... requiring me to *gulp* wear a bathing suit.  Unless you are a model or a dancer - or a dancer/model - I don't think there is any woman out there who is a-ok with being on camera in a bathing suit.  Please.  First off, the glare alone will probably break your camera, so consider yourself warned.  And second... I am not a model or a dancer.  So... ohmigod, what the hell am I going to do?

Phone Tag Is Not A Professional Sport.

There is a new agent at one of the offices are rarely work with.  Actually, I booked my first commercial through them years ago, and the agent actually said in the message, "We should send you out more often!!!"  And then - no joke - I didn't hear from then again for a year and a half.  (And, yes, I kept in touch.)  Anyway, there is a new agent in that office who seems to have discovered my file and has called a couple times. 

How To Get An International Tour: The Spontaneous Method

It has been quite the emotional two months.

Since my first (and last) post on Unscripted, I was broke, I lost my job, my grandmother passed away, I was cast in 's production of The Lark five days before opening night, I ran another successful One Act Festival, and I took the next big step in my career.

Over two months ago now, I auditioned for a role in the Disney Live! production of Winnie the Pooh, scheduled to tour in China, Russia, and Japan for a year. The part: A role as one of a trio of comedic relief acrobats and jugglers. The problem: I don't know how to do any of that!

The Start Of Something New

My mom had her palm read today and the palm-reader told her that I was going to be famous.  I've never put much faith in anything like that, but for some reason I find myself wanting to believe this prediction more than ones that say, 'you will love and lose'.

Time To Talk About It...

I've been waiting to share a lot of things with you, Dear Readers.  At first, I thought that I might have crazy/amazing, career altering sort of news to share with you.  Well, I was never sure of it, but it was looking more and more likely as events moved forward and I allowed myself to dream the "what if's."  I imagined you thinking, "Thank God somebody put this girl out of her misery and gave her something to dance about!"  

Well, never fear!  I'm still dancing, but I don't have anything earth-shattering to share with you and I'm sorry about that.  Am I disappointed?  Yes.  Was I depressed?  Only for a day or so.  Is it the End of the World?  Definitely not.  I'm still me.  I'm still going.