Just another Paycheck or Kidnapping... You decide

Here's the gig... Friday thru Monday in Mexico for a Music Video with a crew I hadn't worked with before.

Call time Friday 5:30 at the Redondo Metro Parking lot.

My thoughts are, I'll get there early and introduce myself to the crew. I ask my boyfriend to drop me off because I was not comfortable leaving my car parked down at the Metro Park all weekend. Doesn't sound like a good idea especially in that neck of the woods.

I arrive a half hour early and wait till 5:30.

Strange. Nobody has arrived.

6:00 I call the director and tell her I'm in the parking lot with my boyfriend and no one is here. The director, "Good, I'm glad your not "alone" and you have someone to wait with you." Odd, I think, but she reassures me that SHE is on here way and stuck in traffic just over the hill. (I'm in Redondo Beach and over the hill is quite far on a Friday, especially on Memorial day weekend.) Great! She's forty five to an hour out and still there is no one here.

So, my boyfriend and our puppy drive to Manhattan Beach to grab a beer to calm our nerves. Not to mention my boyfriend is annoyed we were a half hour early and the Los Angeles Dodgers are about to start and every bar south of the Airport only airs Angels games.

I call the director again to find out here E.T.A (earliest time of arrival) She assures me that everything is "all right not to worry" there should be two male crew members there now at the Metro parking lot and I should keep a look out for them. I let her know we went to Manahatten Beach to grab a bite and that I'm heading back.

It's 7:15. at the Metro Parking lot... Several people walk in and out of the parking lot. We sit and wait and see. Is that... No, not that guy. Could that be? Nope, not him either. Still no crew.

Now, granted I did book this job off the internet and I didn't meet with the director due to her hectic schedule. But this is looking shady.

I wait a few minutes and call the director.

Straight to voice mail. Do I leave a message? BEEP. "It's been two hours and there's not a soul in site and I'm not feeling comfortable going to Mexico with a group of people I'v never meet. Seems a bit shady. You're gonna have to find another Make-up Artist." CLICK.

10 minutes later I get a phone call from two guys. Hey were on our way to get you in the car. Get me, I'm thinking. I tell them sorry guys I'm heading home the director has to find another Make-Up Artist.

My phone rings. It's the director. I'm sorry there must of been a miscommunication. We are now just leaving the studio were the whole crew works and I'm have a car being sent over to you.

"Betty, I'm sure you've heard the message. I'm on my way home."

Legit? Maybe. Shady? Totally!

Working... Then, straight to the bank.

Worked 4 days last week. Made over half my money on one of those days. I have checks to deposit and cover my overdraft. I'm working, that's what matters most.

Today, I'm just trying to recover from Saturdays night shoot. Really, throws your body out of whack especially when you're not used to it.

I head to Mexico this weekend for a Music Video. It will be a lot of fun!

Just May left...

An angel saved my ass and lent me money for rent.

Now, just the month of May left and with 21 days I know I will find the rest of the rent.

A "friends" getting his headshots done today and paying someone else to doing his makeup. Apparently, the photographer also does make-up and he doesn't want to ruffle any feathers. He hopes that doesn't offend me and if I understand the sensitivity of the situation.

I'm not upset and I DO understand.

The only thing I can say is... Your loss not mine. When you have a friend that's a make-up artist, she probably knows who takes good headshots and who doesn't. And when a photographer throws you attitude about the make-up... Well you get what you pay for. Or in this case you just get what you paid for

An angel saved my ass and lent me money for rent.

Now, just the month of May left and with 21 days I know I will find the rest of the rent.

Booked

I booked two music videos in the last two days and a short 16mm film. Things are looking up.

Now, if I could only get paid what I'm worth.

Past due...

My landlord just called... I owe two months. Last month was a great month as far as connections. I met a Hollywood Make-up artist who's launching her new cosmetic line and asked me to assist her for a weekend with her Academy award winning hairstylist. I got booked for a catalog shoot that weekend and a called to fly to Georgia for a horror movie.

Flying high with all these options. I turn down the catalog shoot and horror movie, having a mentor was everything I had asked for.

"Text Message" Trip pushed to June.

Not a dollar to my name, I push on.

i Confess

i Confess... I didn't think this was going to me my career growing up. I was under the illusion that I had to be a doctor or a lawyer. Could have been a lawyer, went to school for it for two years and realized it just wasn't the environment I wanted to spend my day. I'm a creative person, I need to be creative. I moved to Los Angeles permanently or should I say the second time in August 2001. Wrote a screenplay and have revised and revised.

I dabbled in post and pre-production. I'm probably the only intern I know that gets fired. I knew I wanted to be involved in the movie making process. After several attempt at post production, I went to sell cosmetics at a department store. Fast forward a year and half later when I realize I'm taking Make-up to the next level and I walk out.

I'm a Make-up Artist forging my way in this business. Which is a huge learning experience everyday, mostly about me and how resilient I can be.