Showing posts with label The Hobbit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hobbit. Show all posts

2.11.12

A long 'winded' post from Wellington...












Hello!

And here I am, packed up once more and moved with my two (yes now two) large suitcases of accumulative junk. Except for its not junk, its dearly loved clothing items, so dearly loved that I would rather break my back each time I move rather then part with any of them. My mass amount of clothes also meant that an internal flight would not take me so I ended up on the overnight bus from Auckland down to Wellington.

And this overnight bus happened to be after an overnight plane the night before from Melbourne back to Auckland. And this overnight plane happened to be after an all-nighter in Melbourne. And the all-nighter in Melbourne happened to be after a week of drinking with friends there. So all in all a rather tired and disheveled shell of my former self disembarked off the bus in Wellington. But in true style within 2 days I had found myself a place to live and a job. The flat is with two lovely girls, and stumbling distance from the citys bars and clubs, so all in all perfect! And the job, well... the jobs not permanent. At least thats what I keep reminding myself. Its an office job with the government, and as each day goes by I want to shoot yet another politician for changing some effin law that gives me more paperwork. But moneys money, and having it means I can still chase the real reason I came to Wellington...THE HOBBIT.

Now this ones a hard one to crack. And so far the shells not breaking. Every hairy man I see on the street I get a tiny bit excited thinking it could be Peter Jackson. And every short man I see I have to refrain from asking if they played a dwarf (and believe me there's no shortage of small men in this city!) So after an afternoon spent trying to flyer CV's to buildings in Peter Jackson's post-production empire and being told I was 'one in a thousand' by the woman behind the till in the gift shop I found myself on the bus home rather dejected with life. When the thought occurred to me...I can't get a job behind the camera, what about infront of it?

So I sent off a few emails and pictures to agents, stating I'd never done any acting before but was interested to get into it, and lo and behold one got back to me. She said she thought I could get work and advised 'when in Rome'...aka learn the Kiwi accent. Hate to say it but never going to happen. The Kiwi accent is a weird hybrid of Australian, Irish, English with 'bru' and 'ay' thrown in there a lot. I can barely distinguish it from any other accent, let alone speak it. A week down the track she emails me and has got me an audition. The casting director had seen my picture and wanted to audition me for the role of 'queen' in a Universal pictures remake of Jack and the Beanstalk. Directed by Bryan Singer (x-men, usual suspects) *gasp gasp breathe*.

That's all well and good but my acting career finished when I was about 14 at my local Arts Centre when the bald wig I had on to play a 'witch' in Roald Dahl's the witches flew off into the crowd. And I have never auditioned before, let alone learnt a script for an audition. Needless to say I'm 100% sure I have NOT scored the role...if not for the fact that I was so nervous I could not even smile for the camera without my top-lip quivering, the fact that the actress before and after me were both dressed like Princess Fiona from Shrek and there I was there on my lunch break in my office clothes. But it was an experience, and certainly rather flattering to even get considered. Now back to the day job....

Wellington is a beautiful city, so much character to it, and set around the harbor when its a lovely day you have gorgeous views. Notice I say 'when'. For Wellington is horrifically windy... and I mean horrifically...I'm actually debating buying an anti-aging face cream as this wind is getting beyond a joke. Saturday night for Halloween I decided to be a bat and strap two umbrellas to my back. What was going through my mind I do not know. I practically flew from bar to bar (and not in a good way).

But all in all a move made right I believe. I'm happy here, and really enjoying meeting new people and scratching the surface of what Wellingtons all about. I don't know why I once was ever scared to move somewhere on my own as it really is the most rewarding experience, and a way to grow as a person. Wellington, you've won my heart.

Emily x

22.9.12

gentlemen prefer blondes. and im leaving.

Going a little bit bleached on the tips of my hair is I feel a very good life decision. After 25 years of living as a brunette it was time for a change (albeit a small change) and I just LOVE it.


And talking of life changes I've made a slightly more important decision than dying the tips of my hair. After a fulfilling 7 weeks living in Auckland I have decided to uproot once more and head off to Wellington in search of greener (hobbitish) pastures.


Auckland has been such a great introduction into New Zealand life, and New Zealand people, and I really could not have asked for a more exciting, friendly, fun time then I have had here. But my dream here was to find some production work on films, and unfortunately Auckland is not the hub for that. 'Wellywood' is.


So in two weeks I will be packing my very large bags and travelling with my 80kg of clothes down to the southern tip of the North Island. An artistic hub, I am very excited to explore all that Wellington has to offer. To all of the lovely Aucklanders who have made this time here so special for me I thank you dearly, and look forward to partying my final weeks away with you all!

Emily x

Me looking all sad and shit because im leaving.

31.7.12

Hobbit shaped footprints...

Hello from Auckland! 

I arrived on a rainy Sunday with a suitcase weighing the same amount as me and a list of gumtree rooms to view. After numerous viewing failures I landed upon a small goldmine within Mount Eden...a lovely flat-share with an even lovelier couple.

Landing in a country which I have never visited, knew not one soul who lived there, yet waving a years working visa in my hand certainly meant I had my work cut out for me...not only to make good friends, but to also find work within the industry I want.

Right now I feel like the 'Yes Man' (you've read that book right?!) ... I'm currently saying yes to everything, going everywhere and meeting everyone I can. And boy what a positive experience it has been so far! From birthday invitations to finding freelance work, after only a week I'm on my way to making friends, and getting a job. To coin a phrase 'jammy' is how I would describe whats happening at the moment. Thanks life. Now if you could bring the sunshine out that would just be the cherry on the cake!

I've even had a new hairdo as I figured new city, new hair. And for the first time in 25 years I actually left the hairdressers smiling. Finally I've caught up with the trends and joined the ombre brigades. And if the wines I had this afternoon are anything to go by, blondes definitely do have more fun!

Emily x