The Remedy

I think I have found the solution to getting a job. Well, not there yet but at least to getting job interviews.

It is…are you ready for it? Ready? Ya sure? Okay, here goes…

It is making to-do lists.

And that’s not all!

…You have to cross them off.

I know you feel gypped.  Like, “dude, Janice, you haven’t updated in ages and when you finally do, it’s with this crappy advice that I do in my sleep?!”

posted by Janice | Comments: 3 | Job

Actually, There’s Only 5 of us in this Picture…

…but thanks LAist! Putting this shot up as one of the 7 Reasons to Love L.A. only makes me love L.A. a little more. (Don’t tell New York that.) Oh, and the enchanting one has a hilarious tale to tell about her journey as a Chinatown parade audience members.

{photo taken by Keith Skelton}

posted by Janice | Comments: 2 | Chinatown, Los Angeles, Love, Pageant, Public Appearances

Miss LA Chinatown 2010 Recap

Life as a post-pageant contestant has been bliss.  I eat whatever I want (sometimes a little too much. For instance, I really could have gone without licking the bones off my Versaille roasted garlic chicken today and that second Haagen Daz ice cream bar). I got to catch up on episodes of my favorite TV shows (oh, Phil Dunphy, how I have missed you). I was able to answer my neglected friends’ calls again.

I really have to give pageant girls props. The ones who take it seriously, like, really seriously put a whole lot of work into it! Not including the months of prep, (which I’ve already prepped you on) the actual day of the pageant is 24 hours of pure mental and physical exhaustion.

posted by Janice | Comments: 12 | God, Pageant

Mankind has ruined Valentine’s Day

They have transformed this lovely holiday, one celebrating love and appreciation, cute crushes and tender care into a Hallmark nightmare, filled with grand, romantic gestures that disappear after the day is gone, expensive meals and even more expensive gifts and societal pressures. Bah to you, mankind! Bah to you!

posted by Janice | Comments: 3 | Love

Little-No, GIGANTIC-Star

It’s hard out there for an Asian American actress.  They-we- are often looked over as casting directors steer towards the blondies or very very oriental-looking gals.  Nothing wrong with them but it’s just hard out there.

That’s why I was so proud watching this reel of my sister, Jessica Jann.  Accumulated in a little over a year, these are some of the major works she’s been in. From television shows like Leverage, Zoey 101, iCarly to movies (not shown) like Jonas Brothers 3:D and the still unreleased Easy A, my sister is actually a working actress in Hollywood!

Jessica, you’re going to go so far in life.  Just look at your body of work at a mere 20 years old!  You can do it, sister. You can make it anywhere you go. I have complete faith in you. Love you!

posted by Janice | Comments: 5 | Films, Inspirations, Love, Personal, Travel, TV

The Weight’s Over

A couple of days ago, I went to the gym and weighed myself on the scale and my jaw dropped to the ground. I had lost twenty pounds in the past six months. Physically, it’s not that big of a difference, is it?

Before

different size, same pose

posted by Janice | Comments: 4 | Food, Los Angeles

AND THE WINNER IS…

Ladies and gentlemen, The Media Maid is proud to announce the 2010 Miss LA Chinatown court!

posted by Janice | Comments: 6 | Chinatown, Los Angeles, Pageant

With All Due Respect…

Sometimes, I just want to shake God firmly on his shoulders and yell in a very loud and overly dramatic voice, “Dude, big guy, what is wrong with you? Why are you so freakin’ GOOD TO ME? Can you not see that I am not worthy? I am not deserving of all this goodness and grace? Did you forget that I am selfish? I am self-centered? I am shallow? Do you not remember when I talk behind people’s backs? When I make snide remarks to my mom just to piss her off? When I get too lazy to bring reusable bags to the grocery store? When I have a helluva hard time fighting off that little devilish voice in my head that wanders if you really exist?

And yet, you are still so good to me. Your love for me looks past all my pettiness and faults and shines through in moments I need it most – and even in moments I don’t think I do.

I am crying right now. Literally sobbing, with tears streaming down my eyeballs, onto the fingers tapping at the keyboard (at a nice consistent pace of 65 words per minute, thank you very much.) The last time I cried on my birthday, it was for very different reasons. Last time, I feeling oh-so-sorry for myself.

posted by Janice | Comments: 3 | Friendlies, God, Personal

Words Behind Pictures

A couple of months ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to act in a commercial for the 2010 US Census.  It was a ton of fun and got me thinking I should dabble in commercial and print jobs again.  You know, earn a couple (hundred or thousands or millions) of bucks until I get a steady job. So, I got an agent. Well, rather, an “agent” contacted me through this online actors site called LA Casting.  I went in for an audition and they said they were interested in signing me but that I needed new headshots.

That was fine because my most recent ones were two years old already. Since then, I had already gone through braces and various shades of hair colors and cuts. It was time for new pictures.

The “agent” recommended me to this one dude’s place.  I checked out the website and though the photographer’s portfolio did not really please my eyes, my mom said I should take it with them anyway because through my sister’s experiences, she’s learned that it’s best to go to the places your agency recommends.

So off I go, using most of the money I had earned from my commercial to comp for the pictures.  We had a really rushed photo shoot where, for three hours, I was squeezed in with another aspiring actress, to take pictures for this so-called professional photographer.

It was one of the most uncomfortable photo shoot experiences of my life. The photographer came off very sleezeball-ish, which led me to tense up throughout the whole shoot.  My makeup was awful and they refused any changes I suggested.  I felt rushed and even though I wasn’t satisfied with the shots, they sent me away, taking my hard-earned check.

I should have spoken up but in between this and applying to jobs and my pageant and my family and writing and etc etc, I kind of just let it slip by the wayside, thinking I should give my “agent” a chance. Who knows, maybe casting directors will see potential in the pictures?

It’s been about four months now and in those four months, I have only been sent on two auditions by my “agent” while I myself has gone to 10-15 auditions for jobs I found myself. I still have not received my 100 headshots nor have I gotten a new headshot posted on the LA Casting website like my “agent” had promised me. I keep calling him but he just curtly cuts me off, saying he’ll have those things for me soon. It’s always this excuse or that excuse that got in the way of him actually working to find me a job.

So yea, I just got suckered out of a ton of money and time. But on the bright side, some old high school acquaintances, Ronnie and John, contacted me one day out of the blue, asking if I wanted to take some pictures for them.  For free! Did I mention how much I like free  stuff?  (just ask all the Costco employees) so off I went to a local park one sunny afternoon.

The pictures came out awesome! (More after the jump–er, swing)

posted by Janice | Comments: 3 | Friendlies, Love