If you only want to be an actor because you want to be famous, try YouTube.

“I just, like, really want to be famous and stuff.” 

- Every wannabe actor ever.

Okay I might have dramatized that a bit, but I really do hear versions of this. A LOT. When I meet people and they first learn what I do for a living (especially when they don’t live in L.A. and have never acted in their life), they simply must tell me that I should cast them in something because they just have to be famous! Honestly, as they talk about their dreams of fame and fortune, I just really want to punch them in the face. Acting is not as easy as they think it is. And there are REAL actors out there who take it seriously!

Recently, I had a conversation with a guy who knew about entertainment and still said, emphatically, I might add (though in all fairness that might have been the alcohol talking), that he could do what any of these A-list actors could do any day of the week. And better than them as well. It took everything in me not to haul off and thrust an elbow into his sternum, but, alas, I resisted.

I don’t like to talk about it, but before I got into casting, I attended an acting conservatory. All I learned from it was that A) I absolutely did not have thick enough skin to be an actor (I was really more of a musical theater dancer/actor anyway). And B) most people move to LA to be actors because they just want to be famous.

If you really just want to be famous, try going on The Bachelor or film yourself doing something stupid and post it on YouTube. Seriously. Leave the acting to the experts. And by experts I mean Taylor Swift. * le sigh* (what can I say? I just can’t get over it!)

Golden Globes 2012

After watching a less than entertaining, more predictable than usual Golden Globes last night, I only have one thing to say...

In which I rant about Les Miserables (and die a little inside)

Every so often a film casts someone so unbearably wrong for a role that it literally keeps me up at night. And guess what? It’s (possibly) happened again. I’m still holding my breath for someone to admit that this is just some bad internet rumor and NOT TRUE, but in this day and age of Hollywood, I’m pretty sure it’s really happening. AND IT KILLS ME!!!

WARNING: This is going to get rant-y and there will most likely be strong language involved.

So, you guys! I admit it. I’m a total musical theater nerd! Like, for reals. Like, I can sing Into the Woods word for word. Every part. (See also: Sweeny Todd, Westside Story, Sunset Boulevard, The Fantasticks, Pippin, JC Superstar, Miss Saigon, and many, many, many more.) So when they announced that there would be a movie version of Les Miserables, I jumped up and down and screamed and immediately started making mental notes of who would be my dream cast.

I’d like to take this time to break down my feelings for the real casting. Role by role. (See? This is how passionate I am about these things!)

Jean ValJean: Hugh Jackman – I approve wholeheartedly.

Javert: Russel Crow – ehhh, I’m a little concerned about his singing voice in this role, but acting wise, he’s spot on. (Please don’t let him do to this role what Helena Bonham Carter did to Sweeny Todd!)

Fantine: Anne Hathaway – She can sing it. She can act it. However, she’s a little contemporary for me for this. But ultimately, I approve.

The Thenardiers: Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen – LOVE IT! Even though HBC can’t sing, this role does not require the singing talent that Sweeney Todd did. (I read somewhere a while back that Mr. Thenardiers was going to be Geoffrey Rush and as much as I love Sasha Baron Cohen, I like Geoffrey Rush for this even more. Oh well. SBC will be great.)

Marius: Eddie Redmayne – oooh. I’m intrigued. He’s perfect, now here’s hoping he can sing it. And THANK GOD it isn’t that freaking Jonas brother who fucked up the awesome 25^th anniversary PBS thing! Whew!

Cosette: Amanda Seyfried – I called that day one. She’ll be good. I do kind of wish they would’ve gone with a somewhat unknown Broadway gal for this though.

Eponine: TAYLOR SWIFT!?! – Are you guys on CRACK? Did you SEE Valentine’s day?

Look, I actually like Taylor Swift. I think she’s gorgeous, and funny, and an AMAZING songwriter, and a good country singer (when properly produced, not live. Remember the Grammys when she sang with Stevie Nicks? Oy.) But just because someone can sing, it doesn’t mean they can sing everything. Taylor Swift is not a Broadway belter. She’s a whispery country girl. UGH! I can’t even…

And then there’s the acting thing. Apart from the fact that the girl is one of the worst actors I’ve ever seen in my life – she’s so bad Taylor Lautner looked like Robert De Niro next to her in Valentine’s Day – she couldn’t be more wrong for the part. 

Say what you will about Lea Michele, but at least she would have sung the shit out of that role.

click here for proof!!!

Anyway, I will probably go see this movie because, well, it’s LES MIS! But I am not happy about TAYLOR FUCKING SWIFT. If I were Nina Gold, I’d ask that my credit read: Casting by Nina Gold (except for Taylor Swift. That was Tom Hooper and Universal trying to get young people to come see the film. I completely understand that she is wrong for the part and cannot act her way out of a paper bag.)

Where’s Kanye when you really need him?

Sorry for the rant but I’m very passionate about my musicals. Thanks for bearing with me and I hope everyone had happy and safe holidays.