An open post to @JusticeMitchell re: #FocusRally
*waves* Hi Justice. I'm @JenFriel ... just read your post regarding the Focus Rally, and can honestly feel your pain. I however am approaching this with a slightly different mindset.
I am very very very active in the social space, was even part of the Fiesta Movement, and yada yada - read the About Us over here. That pretty much sums up me. Cool, ya back? Man, you read fast! Either way ... I know my shit, but what I also know is Hollywood. I've been around this block for 10, now almost 11 years as a professional actor ... and honestly it sucks. Like really sucks. Like sucks so bad it hurts.
The thing with any audition is, is that you have to go in - do a bang up job, and then walk out completely forgetting about it. You can't let things with the Focus Rally stress you out, you just need to own your own awesomeness and rock out with your sock out. I commend you for claiming the twitter handle, and monitoring the Facebook like page as well. Super shocking that they didn't claim it - but awesome that you stepped up to the plate.
Yes, we are in this time in social media where it is very hippie and free loving - totally works! We all need to work together, and collectively we've managed to take down the mainstream media. Dude, so awesome ... either way, Hollywood hasn't changed. They take FORREEVVVEERRRRRRR to cast. Like FORRRREEVVVERRR FORREEVVERRRR!! I myself even just called the casting office this week to ask what was up, because I literally am trying to figure out where I am going to live next. I live ENTIRELY off of social media. So, if I am going to be traveling for the first quarter, that is something I need to plan for in some capacity since as of right now I don't even have a car in operation. So, dude, I get it ... but this stuff takes time. It's a numbers game, and a series of profiling each candidate to see who people can relate to based upon the target demographic, and all that snazzy jazzy stuff.
I've held castings myself, they're exhausting - and you very literally never know what you are going to find until you hold one. That being said, the majority of people suck. Literally ... I have to go through SOOO many people to find even just a handful that I mildly like.
Either way dude, totally get it ... and just wanted to say that I am feeling your pain, however, this stuff goes on all the time. It's not Ford's fault, it's the machine behind Hollywood pulling these strings. Welcome to the jungle. One thing I am doing differently though is continually working the hustle on multiple gigs. It takes 10 of them to be in the works to have 1 pop ... so just keep hustling man. It'll work out - this space is so alive right now, it's not even funny. Just keep being awesome, and coming up with cool shit that people will notice. Build your own brand ... make it an UNDENIABLE option for Ford to NOT pick you.
Best of luck to you new friend. I'm totally following you now on twitter btw. So if I'm ever in your area and see a FourSquare checkin from you ... don't be surprised if I say hi. K ... that is all.