Orange is the New Black Season 2.

As I impatiently awaited the highly anticipated release of OITNB Season 2, I couldn't help but to wonder how my appearance would fare along side the season regulars. Then it happened! My fellow thespian and friend,  Kisha Peart sent me this article:

Faye Yvette McQueen/Vee’s Doppelganger

Without spoiling any of the events this season for readers who may not have finished,   Faye Yvette McQueen's character is mistaken for Vee and suffers some of the consequences of Vee’s actions. She’s also been in two episodes of SVU, once in Season 15, Episode 17 (“Criminal Stories”) as a criminal defense attorney (just like Vee!), and once in Season 11, Episode 13 (“PC”) as “Lesbian Rights Activist.” Well, hello Faye Yvette McQueen. She’s got two regular Law and Orders under her belt and is also an extremely gifted professional dancer.

The only thing that was omitted from this article was the fact that I was in L&O CI also as a  Somalian dancer. The scene was cut! I added the photos from all the L&O's.

Thank you for the shoutout! Thank you for your hard work, dedication and research. I truly appreciate it! 

Link to complete article:
http://www.autostraddle.com/and-now-every-character-from-orange-is-the-new-black-as-they-appear-on-law-and-order-241774/

Jen Euston SAG Foundation Workshop

I decided to travel to Washington, D.C. this weekend to attend an acting "question and answer" workshop sponsored by The SAG Foundation. The guest was Jen Euston, the Casting Director from "Orange is The New Black". Now, being the smart Goucher College graduate that I am proud to be, I knew that I had to attend this workshop at any cost in order to thank her in person for hiring me o...n ONB. Jen Euston's two assistants conducted my audition so I never met her.

I got the Bolt Bus. The bus ride was 5 hours. Nice relaxing ride with no one sitting next to me the entire ride. I arrived at 6:30. I took a cab to the venue. Changed in the bathroom and applied my makeup. A few women came into the bathroom. Both recognized me. One was another person that worked on Orange and the other was a woman who was my FB friend whom I hadn't yet met in person until then.

During the workshop I raised my hand to ask Jen Euston a question. She didn't recognize me. I told her that she hired me and she immediately said, "Hi, How are you?" She wasn't wearing her glasses. She apologized for what happened to me during my scene and told me not to tell anyone of the nature of my scene. I promised not to. This was a great moment for me as it is important to create relationships with CD's and others that can hire you for work in the film industry. They trust you. They become familiar with your work and in turn, they hire you again and again! I believe that I made a great choice to attend this event. Faye always makes a way!
#fayemakeaway #fayesflow

MY EXPERIENCE WITH "ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK"

Hi There. Great news! I have been invited back on the Netflix series "Orange Is The New Black" as a core Correctional Officer for the second season.

First season I was called to read for the character,  "Yoga Jones". It was a Great opportunity. 

I  filmed episode 2, "Sesson 2" as a correction officer. I cannot disclose the contents of the episode until it airs.

I worked on the 2 hour season opener episode of Law and Order SVU as a special ability Martial Artist. While on set,  I met the Stunt Coordinator,  Jennifer Lamb Hewitt who is also the stunt coordinator for ONB. I immediately seized the opportunity to introduce myself as a stunt woman. She took my information and in a week she called me and hired me for my very first stunt job on ONB.
You can watch for me on ONB "Season 2", episode 10 as a stunt double for a new character named Vee.

I am also a regular stand in for Vee. I find this experience quite valuable.  I get to run the lines in front of the director, assistant director and video village. I get to watch the making of each episode and gain a better understating of the entire process.

In November,  I received a call directly from the Casting Director of ONB to come and audition for a role in which I had to achieve a specific look. In order to improve my chances of getting this role, I decided to make a wig. I made it late the night before. I went in wearing the wig and giving the best audition I knew how and I got the role! I was super excited!  Watch for me in" Season 2", episode 10, as "Vee Doppelganger".

More to come! As Blair Underwood told me,  "It's a number's game! My number will soon come up. This can only happen if I am persistent!

The Road To My New Brand

As this year comes to a close,  I still hadn't figured out where I was going with my career. This was in spite of the fact that I had been working steadily since July. I was super excited to have been given the opportunity to do my first television stunt work on Orange is The New Black. Thanks to Stunt Coordinator,  Jennifer Lamb - Hewitt for giving me that opportunity.
I knew that I had to get in front of Casting Directors, Agents and Managers by taking class and participating in workshops. My choice place is The Actor's Green Room headed by Jen Rudolph,  a brilliant woman who is responsible for catapulting many budding actor's careers in New York City. I put myself in front of,  Rebecca Dealy of Chrystie Street Casting, Seth White of Cody Beke Casting, Phil Cassese of Stewart Talent New York, Ray Volant of The Bella Agency, Lindsay Glickstein, David Doan and Lakey Wolff of CESD, Joe Thompson and Samantha Stoller of Abrams Artists, Danielle Quinta at KMR Associates, Nicole Winchinsky of DGRW Talent Inc, Michael Kirsren of Harden Curtis and Associates,  Danielle Ippolito of Talentworks, Jeremy Leiner of Nicolosi & Co., Liz Rosier of Hilepo Hartig Agency Ltd., Jed Abrahams of The Talent House, Justin Busch of Clear Talent, Allison Quartin and so many more.
You would think that after meeting so many powerful industry people that I would have been further along in my career. The problem was that no one knew what to do with me. No wonder,  I was confusing then with student hairdos,  headshots and attitudes. I have figured out what my BRAND was yet.  If I didn't know, how was anyone else supposed to know?
That's when Kevin Urban and Doug Shapiro stepped in. I attended a few seminar that they gave and I was convinced, I had to handle my career like a business. I took their weekend long Savvy Actor Weekend MBA Crash Course
(thesavvyactor.com)

My problem was that I hadn't figured out what my brand was.  What was my type? How did the industry people see me when I walked in their door? After getting the same responses from people in the industry and my fellow classmates in the MBA Weekend Crash Course, I finally figured it out! With that information I hit the ground running! I met with my Web designer Brenda J Lloyd of Mireku Studios (Mireku Studios LLC, mirekustudios.com) and Hair Artist Nedjetti Harvey (Nedjetti.com).
We sat and collaborated on my color scheme,  brand,  type, image,  website,  photos,  headshot options,  etc.
I hired Neil Blake of NB Event Productions Photography and Videography www.NBEventproductions.com do my headshots and Anelly Varela  MAC Makeup artist at Macy's Queens Center Mall to do my initial make up Amy Jo Philips to do my touch ups on set. It was a magical combination from start to finish.
I am well on my way to jump start my acting career in the direction that I chose for it to go!