A LESSON BEFORE DYING.......

...is an Phenomenal play currently running at the Actors Group Theater!!!! I had the pleasure of seeing the show Friday night and I highly recommend you guys check it out....it brought tears to my eyes and I can't tell you the last time that's happened!! My friend and former cast mate Eddie Goines and the wonderful Malik El-Amin star is this wonderfully POWERFUL play!!!! It is definitely worth your $15 dollars AND your Time....GO SEE IT!!!!!



A LESSON BEFORE DYING In rural Louisiana in 1948, Jefferson (a superb Malik B. El-Amin), a semi-literate young black man, accidentally witnesses a shootout that kills a white man. Too confused and scared even to deny his guilt, Jefferson is charged with murder and sentenced to death. The local black community, and one sympathetic white deputy (Shannon McClung), knows he is innocent, but there's no hope of a retrial in the racist legal system. Jefferson's friends can only strive to help the young man to face death with dignity, courage and a sense of his own worth. His stern, loving, matriarchal godmother (Baddja-Lyne) enlists the aid of her preacher (Gregor Manns), and two of Jefferson's former teachers, Grant (Eddie Goines) and Vivian (Syr Law), who also happen to be lovers. Ultimately, it's Grant's doubt rather than the preacher's faith that provides a dollop of salvation and a muted, tragic triumph. The play, skillfully adapted by Romulus Linney from a novel by Ernest J. Gaines, faithfully re-creates the time and place, and director/designer Penny L. Moore brings it to vivid life, assisted by a terrific cast. There is a touch of clumsiness in the staging, due to space limitations, but in every way that counts, it's a wonderful production. Doxie 4 Productions at Actors Group Theatre, 4378 Lankershim Blvd., Universal City; Fri.-Sun., 8 p.m.; thru Feb. 18. (818) 585-8880. (Neal Weaver)

GOOOOOOO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!

The Chicago Bears are in the Superbowl!!!! Unbelieveable. I cannot even fathom how exited my husband would be if he could have seen this. First the Sox in '05 and now the Bears...wow! He loved that team Sooooo much. He used to always tell me about how his dad would take him to the games and about the first time he saw Walter Payton...it was so special to him. Alright Chi-Town, win this one for my Baby...I know he's watching!!!! Miss you baby, wish you were here....

And how awesome is it that my commercial will be playing while the Bears are winning the Superbowl....let me tell ya it Pretty darn awesome :)

Judith Freeman on CSI: Miami.....

Ah yes, the Bank Teller gets a name. I am now Judith Freeman on CSI:Miami, no relation to Morgan, LOL.

Ah where to begin this story. We'll start with yesterday. So I called my agent in the afternoon and told him that I had yet to receive my script. At around 5pm someone from production calls me and tells me that the script had been delivered and signed for on Dec. 21. What?!? I don't even have to think long to figure out what happened. I live in a building that is run by complete and utter incompetent morons. I know it sounds harsh and trust me if it weren't true, I wouldn't say it. I didn't even bother to call the office, I went downstairs and asked for my package. Sure enough it was right there. I was sooooo annoyed. I asked the girl why my package had been sitting in their mail room for 3 weeks and I had not been notified once. I told her that when someone gets a piece of express mail that it generally means it's important and I included that since UPS, Fedex and all the others refuse to bring our packages to our door that it is the Offices responsibility to get us our packages in a timely fashion especially when they are signing from them!! I then took a moment just to hear what ridiculous, inane excuse this "person" had for their complete lack of professionalism...she said, "I know, right? That is so strange!" Huh. Ok.

So I went back upstairs called production, told him I had the script and he told me which scene I was in. It was kinda short, only a page, which was kinda good considering I had to memorize it in one night. After I read the scene I flipped to the front of the script to see the list of characters. It said Judith Freeman - Bank Manager. I was like, What?! They have some other girls name in the script!! I was soooo Mad, LOL! I actually asked production about it (I think my mind was still cloudy from the fiasco of finding the script). The guy was like, "Yeah, um, I think that's like...the name of your character." Oops, LOL. Needless to say I was kinda confused, lol. I can really be crazy sometimes.

I got to set today, got the script revisions and saw that most of my scene had been cut. It was originally supposed to be me and David again, but now the cut it into a quick phone conversation. Ahh...those are the breaks! I was kinda disappointed but still really grateful. One, that I was still in it AT ALL, lol...and two that I could focus on the small part and really have the words down pat. I got to set around 245pm and I ended up filming around 600pm. About 15 min before I was about to shoot one of the production guys, Toby, asks me if I have the most current version of the script. I told him yes and I showed him the revisions I had. He was like, "Oh, no...that's old". Huh?? Yeah, I kid you not, lol. It turns out that they'd decided to put the whole scene back in. Ricka Fricka(this is me cursing in cartoon)!! He apologized and said he thought someone else had given it to me and asked me if I would still be ready to do the scene in like 10 min. He was kinda funny b/c I thnk he thought I was gonna totally flip out, which I WAS kinda doing...but ONLY on the inside...after all, I'm a professional dammit, lol! I told him that it would be fine but I would need to go to my actual set and practice, which I did...prayed and practiced actually. Everything moves SO fast on this show, you do NOT want to be the weakest link! I must confess I was starting to feel a bit of pressure.

Ten minutes later a crew of people swarm in and started lighting and changing everything around. My stand in went in for me while I was whisked away to the director (Karen Gaviola)and writer (Ildy Modrovich)so they could hear me rehearse (it was just me since it's a phone scene). I did it once for them, they corrected my pronunciation of one of the characters name and we were done. I went over my lines a few more times with the AD (the adorable Franklin) as he would be the one reading David's lines the a few minutes after that we're shooting. Shot 3 takes and it was a wrap!! TV moves so fast...its CRAZY!!! All in all I'd say I spent no more than 8 minutes actually FILMING my scene. Amazing.

Mine was the last shot of the day so I think everyone was very relieved that it went smoothly. I spoke to Karen, she was very nice and said I did a good job. She told me the episode would air on Feb. 12th during sweeps (which means my first episode will probably air on Feb. 5th)!! I also spoke with Ildy who is one of the sweetest people ever! It was really refreshing to work with such great people. If only for 8 minutes, LOL. Now let's see how much of it actually ends up IN the episode!!!!

All in all, I think I did ok, maybe even pretty good...but performing under intense pressure is Definitley a skill to cultivate in '07!


Bank Teller gets a Name!!!!


I really like this Hair :)

I had THE BEST time tonight. I seriously cannot remember when I've had more fun or better company. Me and the "Chevy" crew went out for drinks which ended up turning into a full fledged dinner at a cool little restaurant in Santa Monica (The Wilshire). I don't know if it was the amazing wine or the amazing company but I have not laughed as hard and as long in ages, LOL! I just wish I could remember more of it...cursed wine!

I gotta say being the director or producer of commercials really seems like a heck of a career! I've never really thought alot about it, but they had a million "Remember when we were in Rio/Italy/Mexico/Bahamas...etc" stories. Hmmmm....maybe I'm in the wrong line or work, LOL! Meeeeeeeee-Nooooooooooooo, LOL.... You had to be there :)

Had a Callback for that Legacy audition at Kathy Knowles. My friend Kat was there again and this time Bri and Me were there along w/ the clients. It was good seeing them again, though I must admit I didn't expect to be auditioning for them again so soon! It's very cool though. They're here thru next week and we talked about perhaps getting together for drinks. They're sooo much fun, I wish networking were always this easy, lol.

Spoke with Elliot over at Colorado Mgmt and we've decided to work together. We're starting out with a 60 day trial (cause I got commitment issues, lol) then go from there. Soooo....I guess we'll see how it goes :) Fingers Crossed!!

Met with the guys over at Colorado Management today. I actually liked them alot. I met with the owner Kathy and the guy running the LA office Elliot and they both seemed to have a really good spirit. I told them that I wasn't looking for just any representation and that my top priority was feeling like my rep and I are a good fit. They agreed totally which I thought was cool...it's nice to be on the same page as the people you're working with....or potentially working with, lol.

We agreed to touch base tomorrow. I think I'm feelin' pretty good about it :)

First Audition of the Year!!

Had my first audition for 2007 and I have to admit I am quite pleased. Not necessarily b/c it went so well (but it did go pretty good :), but more so because it was for the same director from the Chevy ad and he requested me personally from my agent :) Now, THAT's what I'm talking about, lol! So many people in this business talk about how great you are and how they really want to work with you again....but it's just talk. I have a feelin' these guys mean it and that is truly appreciated! I had the pleasure of seeing my co-star from the commercial there, too! We totally shared the same sentiment...To Bri & Me thanks for lookin' out!!!

Another interesting development. I was contacted today by a management company wanting to set up a meeting. They said they were expanding their adult division and really wanted to meet me. Could be interesting....

So 3 days into the new year I've had my first audition, already have my first job lined up and a meeting with a perspective manager.....

It's gonna be a good year :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

Words cannot describe how wonderful I feel about this year!! As I look back over my life and think things over I can truly say that the Lord has been SOOO Good to me! And I know that the same God who brought me through every single obstacle in 2006 is the SAME God that will carry me through 2007...and with that knowledge I know there's nothing I cannot accomplish! My heart is full...it's full of loving memories of my loved ones that have passed on, it's full of love for my beautiful, supportive family & my beautiful and dynamic children, full of respect and thankfulness for my past and full of joy and purpose as I look at the future!

Here's to BIG things in 2007 :)