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Making the World a Better Place
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Catheryn's Tiny Guide to L.A.
Commercial Class
Stuart K. Robinson
If you are curious about doing commercials, I recommend you go see Mr. Stuart K. Robinson at 8950 Ellis Avenue, Suite B, (310) 558-4961. His introductory class is five weeks and usually has 12–15 people in it. What I like about Stuart is that he treats this crazy business – like a business. I used to check in new students for him and I would always stay for a couple of hours to watch the "cynical" everybody wore in slowly melt into "comprehension"… then "enthusiasm." It didn’t matter if it was the older woman wanting to tell him about every extra job she ever had. Or the “I can’t help that I look like an angel dropped from heaven” preteen who was just a little too cool to be there. And the worst – the “I don’t really want to do commercials but everyone says I should” student. Didn’t matter, Stuart could get ‘em.After the initial five weeks you can do a “semi-private” ongoing class which is like a weekly work out. I recommend that also because as your peers begin to work it becomes more of a community and the process is demystified. Plus sometimes I just like to bitch about my week. Stuart usually listens – then depending what I can only guess is a signal from the heavens, either encourages me or says something like, “It’s an ocean, you knew it was going to be an ocean – why are you expecting it to feel like a lake? You gotta learn to surf.” And no – he’s not a surfer dude. Sign up for the class -- you’ll see.Sam teaches something he calls “the image design process.” It is like an instruction book for you. This is invaluable if you are an actor. Some people have a handle on what kind of impression they make when they walk into a room. I was definitely not one of them. It’s a long story – which I would love to tell – because it is about ME, but this is not the appropriate place. So – check out his website and if you can afford the crazy prices he is charging these days then DO IT – it really can change your life. Plus Sam and his partner Ken are wonderful guys. Casting Workshops
One On One oneononeproductions.com
There is a necessary evil out here in Los Angeles that we call the Casting Director “Workshop.” This is a place you go and spend money to audition No – seriously. If you are good you stand out. The best ones (in my experience) are ITA if you are on the West side and One on One if you are in the Valley.Occasionally you will come across CDs who like to also teach. This is how I found the brilliant Nick Anderson – a man who thinks he can distill comedy into a mathematical equation. And then does. Damn him. I love to argue with this man. Take his class at Actor’s Creative Workshops (actorscreativeworkshop.com) and you too can argue with him. Tell him I sent you.Writing Teacher
Terrie Silverman creativerites.com
A few years ago I decided that I needed to write a one-person show about my brain surgery called “Like A Hole in the Head.” Enter Terrie Silverman and her Creating a One Person Show / Life Stories Workshops. I can’t say enough about how much writing in an authentic voice and speaking your words out loud will change your life. It happened to me. And look, I wrote a book. Really – it’s a lot more fun and interesting than therapy.Excursions
Los Angeles still doesn’t feel quite like home to me so I try to distract myself. Here a few of my favorite finds.The Hollywood Bowl hollywoodbowl.com
This place is so old Hollywood and fun. If you don’t have a really cool friend with box seats (thank you, Rachel, you are a goddess – a goddess!), then just get the cheap seats and bring a picnic and some wine. Be sure to go on a fireworks night – I’m telling you, you will feel like you are in an old Hollywood movie.Walt Disney Concert Hall musiccenter.org
You don’t have to get tickets to a show here but definitely check out the building. Huntington Library huntington.org
The Huntington is actually in Pasadena, so sue me. The Japanese Garden is so beautiful it is almost surreal. The art collection is supposed to be unparalled – Renior’s Blue Boy etc., but last I checked the gallery was closed until fall of 2000 and never. The big thing to do there is to go for tea. So I did and I have to say it was a little weird. Lots of tiny cream cheesy and buttery sandwiches with rubbery salmon that people heaped on their plates because it was all you can eat. Charming huh? Get a scone, sit outside. The Getty getty.edu
This place has a fantastic pastrami bagel in the morning, but you should go because it is just gorgeous – all white and gleaming and sitting a top the world. I once heard it described as “what God would have built if he had the money.” And oh yeah – there is amazing art. Haven’t you always wanted to see Van Gogh’s Irises for real – not the college dorm room poster reprint?Hiking lamountains.com
Definitely try to go up to Solstice Canyon in the mountains north of Malibu. A little way into the hike there are ruins of the Roberts' house. Built in 1952 and featured in Architectural Digest because of the way its terraces were built into the waterfalls – it burned over 20 years ago in a wildfire. It's really creepy – I always feel like I’m going to round a corner and have to a CSI moment. Apparently the canyon used to have its own zoo with giraffes, camels, deer and exotic birds. If that’s not enough for you then I’ll tell on this hike there is a hidden statue of the Virgin Mary and a rock that looks like a giant phallus. Is it bad that I mentioned those in the same sentence?There are a lot of other great hikes on the website that I am trying to get to. If you have any tips about hiking in LA – email me I’d love to know.If none of this stuff spins your beanie then go downtown to the fountains in front of the Ahmanson Theatre. Amazing. But if you haven’t figured it out by now – I’m easily amused.Food
Tuk Tuk tuktukla.com
8875 W. Pico Blvd.
LA, CA 90035
My favorite place for Thai food. Chic looking without being snooty. A tuk tuk (pronounced took took) is one of those three-wheeled motor scooter things – just in case you were wondering why there is one attached to the sign on the front of the building – come on, a scooter attatched to the front of the building – who couldn’t want to eat there? Of course you can always go to Chan Dara if you want a little waitress dressed like a prostitute with your pad see yew.The Pink Pepper pinkpepperrestaurant.com
1638 North La Brea Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
“The Pepper” as my friend Sue calls it has the best chicken curry in the Northern Hemisphere. Located just past all the Hollywood Boulevard hullabaloo, it is a great place to rest after checking out Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. It used to be a hole in the wall but they renovated a couple of years ago – now it is practically hip. Bummer.Trader Joe’s traderjoes.com
I was really suspicious of this Trader Joe’s place my LA friends kept hyping up. Just another creepy new age health food store I thought. But I was wrong, so wrong. Not only are the “crew members” (that is what they call people who work there – and they all wear tropical shirts) nice, they have great stuff that you can’t find anywhere else. The Alsace pizza with caramelized onions and ham, the yogurt, the chocolate and wine – lots of great wine. If you are new to the city be sure to make this one of your first places to stock up – and the added bonus is they usually have samples and coffee.California Chicken Café californiachickencafe.com
6805 Melrose Avenue
LA, CA 90038
California Chicken Café makes the world a better place one perfectly roasted rotisserie chicken at a time. No matter what is wrong in my world, a quarter chicken white meat with a salad – bleu cheese on the side is usually good enough to at least suck the poison out. This place is so good – writing about it now makes me want to get in the car and go over there. Word of warning – it can take forever to get your food. I highly recommend calling ahead, then strolling in past the line to pickup your own personal bag of happiness sitting on the wire rack.Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles roscoeschickenandwaffles.com
1514 North Gower
LA, CA 90028
Just have to mention this place because it is bizarre and fun and the waffles are amazing. The service staff is exactly what you expect. I went in with some friends once only expecting to order coffee (what – I had already eaten) and ended up getting, “Child – you need yourself a waffle, and some white meat. And grits.” Good luck parking if you go to the one on Vine.Lulu’s Beehive
13203 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 986-2233
The sweetest little coffee shop in the valley. Great organic food. I have no idea what they put in the tuna fish salad there but I can’t stop eating it. I don’t even like tuna fish. Random
Ricardo’s Electric
7172 Melrose Avenue
(323) 653-6058
For a girl away from home there is nothing more important than a good mechanic. Your gynecologist, acting teacher, best friend, stylist – all replaceable. Ricardo, my Ricardo is not – he is a treasure. He always comes around the counter to give me a big hug and I smell like old man Italian cologne all day – lucky me! I’ve almost forgiven him for posting one of my headshots on his car calendar where the car is supposed to go. I guess that is what I get for leaving it in the back seat. I used to think Ricardo cared about my spiritual life because every time I got my car back from an oil change my radio would be tuned to a Christian station. Then one day my battery died and I realized it was just the default station. Which doesn’t mean he doesn’t care.Belladonna
230 S Robertson Blvd
LA, CA 90211
(310) 360-6300
Eyebrows need waxing/shaping/tweezing? Forget Anastasia – I recently heard she burnt Gisele’s eyebrows off before a runway show anyway… Mihaela at Belladonna is the best. She is a tiny Romanian woman with all the energy of a firecracker – (which is good because she is usually running 20 minutes late). She always makes me stand up to check her work. And I didn’t know this, but if you live in LA you have to get your eyebrows done professionally or they will kick you out. Seriously.Surfas surfasonline.com
8824 National Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
This self proclaimed “chef’s paradise” is a really nifty restaurant supply store in Culver City. Though seriously overpriced (well not compared to Sur la Table – but they claim to be a warehouse) it is still a fun place to go. Buy a chef’s coat and some of those horrible chef’s pants and wear them next time you have a dinner party.© 2005-08 Catheryn J. Brockett. All rights reserved.
