My complexion stands out and my voice does as well, cause in-case you haven't noticed...I'm black as hell... GENIUS. See Patina Miller perform this piece so fiercely!
R.Marie
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
NEW HEADSHOTS NEED HELP!
Okay, I posted these to facebook and narrowed them down to 30, then 15, and now 4...please help me choose...they have not been retouched yet but I've had these pics for a month and a half...and I still can't choose!
#1
#2
#3
#3
#4
R.Marie
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Choice vs. Purpose
I've recently realized that whether I decide to or not...I'm an actor. I go through ups and downs throughout the week about my career. Why I'm doing this, why it's hard, why I love it, why I don't. I probably need to stop asking questions. I just need to accept the truth. No matter what happens, this is what I'm doing, this is who I am. I'm an actor. God keeps blessing me with opportunity despite how much my mind fights the truth. I need to stop asking questions and just be patient and thankful. Yep, that's what I'll do.
Rhonda Marie
Rhonda Marie
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Rhonda Marie Part 1: Rejection/Reflection
Hey everyone...
So I'm really back this time. Before I bear my soul, here's a little housekeeping to clarify:
I have two blogs: rhondamariebynum.blogspot.com and this one Sole Diamond. The rhondamariebynum blog is more like a website for me until I can get together the real one (gotta make that $$ folks.) It will cover basic updates on my career, booked gigs, classes, and in a nutshell "the professional side." This one (Sole Diamond) will cover reflections on my artistic life, venting, and just plain 'ol me (no filter.) PLEASE FOLLOW BOTH if you can. I recently discovered that people are reading these blogs and I don't even know it :(. I love to hear that people are following me on my journey. Thanks to all that have been reading Sole Diamond since last May.
-------------------
Now to the nitty gritty.
I was gone for a while because from December 2009 until now I have truly plunged into the life of being a working actor and to my surprise...it is WAAAAAY harder than I thought. I have done everything from no-pay indie films, to my first non-union commercials, to big deal auditions and callbacks at Chicago's best equity theatres, and starring in a hit play . In the past year I have auditioned more than I ever have in my entire life. I've also dealt with the dreariest but most common part of an actor's career: REJECTION! REJECTION SUCKS! I'll say it one more time: REJECTION SUUUUUCKS! But, after a long theatre audition season and auditioning for over 20 commercials (I'm estimating)...I had to learn that this was a part of the damn job. Bottom line. Gotta learn how to deal with it. Much easier said than done, I know. However, I must say through this experience I learned so much more about myself as an artist and myself as a person. Through rejection I've learned:
1) Every audition is an audition for possibilities, not necessarily an audition for one job. I may not get this show but boy oh boy, have I've been called in for many shows and booked commercial/industrial work from one audition. As my girl D.S. would say "don't sleep!"
2) Just because I don't get the part doesn't mean I suck! I often felt so distraught when I wasn't cast for something that it ruined my whole week. Sometimes it has NOTHING to do with me. Sometimes it's political, sometimes it's "I'm not tall enough," or too "urban" or typically "not urban enough" or "too young." Those are things I have no control over. Can't beat myself up about it. I must realize that what is meant for ME is meant for me.
3) What is most important to focus on is having a GOOD audition because (see #1.) I had (what I thought) a horrible audition at this one theatre and I cried the whole day and the day after because I was SO sure that I was SO prepared. Two weeks later, the casting director called me in to be a reader and to audition for his next project as well as another project a few months later.
4) I have to keep auditioning no matter what. If I in fact do get rejected, I must know that the next audition is right around the corner so I can't let my Debbie Downer dismay (I'm studying Shakespeare folks, gotta throw that alliteration in, lol) get in the way of my next opportunity. As the great Alexandra Billings says "that moment happened, that moment's gone." Gotta keep it moving.
5) Most importantly, I must reflect on these experiences and then leave them alone. After every audition, I have to think...hmmm...what was great about it? What could have been better? Then I must remember the words of Ms. Billings and keep it...(you know the rest).
After all of that reflection...(after all that rejection), I have come to so many conclusions about my life as an artist. I have quite a bit of plans brewing so stay tuned. The biggest conclusion is: I am an artist. I am working, living, and breathing in my art. Never before have I felt more connected to the real me...and it feels SO GOOD!
Rhonda Marie
Sunday, July 11, 2010
BUSY BUT I'm BACK
Hey, all! I haven't blogged in a while. I've been super busy and feeling very personal and private about my ups and downs. (And protective). But I'm back!
So much has happened in the last 7 months. Please see my other blog http://www.rhondamariebynum.blogspot.com/ for a general overview of what's been happening. More posts to come soon. Check out my latest play "Dental Society Midwinter Meeting" at Chicago Dramatists starting this Saturday. Read more info at http://www.thedentistsarecoming.com/.
So much has happened in the last 7 months. Please see my other blog http://www.rhondamariebynum.blogspot.com/ for a general overview of what's been happening. More posts to come soon. Check out my latest play "Dental Society Midwinter Meeting" at Chicago Dramatists starting this Saturday. Read more info at http://www.thedentistsarecoming.com/.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
How Far I've Come
- Me, 2006, 20 lbs heavier (another story for another day:)
Wow! I can't believe that 2009 is over. Honestly, folks, most years go by fast, but this year was on crack! The last four months have been kinda tough for me. Coming off that artistic high from School at Steppenwolf, getting cast in a commercial and signing with an agent made me feel like I was on top of the world. What came after, however, was lots of auditioning without lots of casting. I started to get anxious, depressed, and discouraged. I began the dangerous route of comparing myself to my peers and downing myself. Well, in 2010, that way of thinking and life will CHANGE! I have begun a fabulous program called "The Artist's Way" that allows a person to recconnect with thier inner artist, a spritual path to higher creativity. I have only been doing it for a few days but I reccomend it to anyone. I'll share more about that in another blog.
What motivated me to write at 6:30 in the morning was that I caught myself falling into some of the same patterns this morning. When I was discouraged about not being cast, I would google all the female actors my age and imdb them and look at what they have done to succeed. I would also facebook my more direct peers to see what shows they are working on and projects they are doing just to feel bad that I wasn't doing what they are doing. How unhealthy! This morning I caught myself doing the same thing. I know BETTER. Everyone's journey is different, I can't compare where I am in my artistic journey to another person's. It's not fair to me, or my inner artist. I need to do the things that will nurture my inner artist instead. The first of these steps today is to look at how far I've come.
In 2002, I realized I missed the artist in me, and I decided to audition for plays. I auditioned quite a bit, but was not cast for much. Three-and-a-half years ago, I moved back to Chicago after pursuing my Master's degree. In January of that year I decided I would begin going back to my passion after a two-year hiatus during grad school. With minimal training (two college level acting courses) , I began getting cast in small community theater projects.
Wow! I can't believe that 2009 is over. Honestly, folks, most years go by fast, but this year was on crack! The last four months have been kinda tough for me. Coming off that artistic high from School at Steppenwolf, getting cast in a commercial and signing with an agent made me feel like I was on top of the world. What came after, however, was lots of auditioning without lots of casting. I started to get anxious, depressed, and discouraged. I began the dangerous route of comparing myself to my peers and downing myself. Well, in 2010, that way of thinking and life will CHANGE! I have begun a fabulous program called "The Artist's Way" that allows a person to recconnect with thier inner artist, a spritual path to higher creativity. I have only been doing it for a few days but I reccomend it to anyone. I'll share more about that in another blog.
What motivated me to write at 6:30 in the morning was that I caught myself falling into some of the same patterns this morning. When I was discouraged about not being cast, I would google all the female actors my age and imdb them and look at what they have done to succeed. I would also facebook my more direct peers to see what shows they are working on and projects they are doing just to feel bad that I wasn't doing what they are doing. How unhealthy! This morning I caught myself doing the same thing. I know BETTER. Everyone's journey is different, I can't compare where I am in my artistic journey to another person's. It's not fair to me, or my inner artist. I need to do the things that will nurture my inner artist instead. The first of these steps today is to look at how far I've come.
In 2002, I realized I missed the artist in me, and I decided to audition for plays. I auditioned quite a bit, but was not cast for much. Three-and-a-half years ago, I moved back to Chicago after pursuing my Master's degree. In January of that year I decided I would begin going back to my passion after a two-year hiatus during grad school. With minimal training (two college level acting courses) , I began getting cast in small community theater projects.
When I moved back I began to get cast in shows, scoring my first professional show at 
ETA, then another, then auditioning for some of the biggest theatres in Chicago, then understudying at an Equity Theater, then another ETA show, then a play festival, then School at Steppenwolf, a commercial...(if you've been following you know the resume:) Through writing this, I realized...HEY! This is quite a nice list of accomplishments for that shy "only child" full of imagination but too afraid to share it. I have come so far! Ten years ago, when I was in Dreamgirls in high chool, I never would have imagined that I would be able to do all of the work that I am doing now. That I would do Shakespeare and Chekhov. That the casting directors of the top theatres in Chicago would know my NAME. That I will soon be seen on 
national television! This summer was very humbling in that it allowed me to realize where I am in my process, and I still have a long way to go. But knowing that should not take away from how far I've come. It reminds me of what I am capable of, and although some would say I'm just beginning, I've already made an amazing start.
R. Marie
ETA, then another, then auditioning for some of the biggest theatres in Chicago, then understudying at an Equity Theater, then another ETA show, then a play festival, then School at Steppenwolf, a commercial...(if you've been following you know the resume:) Through writing this, I realized...HEY! This is quite a nice list of accomplishments for that shy "only child" full of imagination but too afraid to share it. I have come so far! Ten years ago, when I was in Dreamgirls in high chool, I never would have imagined that I would be able to do all of the work that I am doing now. That I would do Shakespeare and Chekhov. That the casting directors of the top theatres in Chicago would know my NAME. That I will soon be seen on 
national television! This summer was very humbling in that it allowed me to realize where I am in my process, and I still have a long way to go. But knowing that should not take away from how far I've come. It reminds me of what I am capable of, and although some would say I'm just beginning, I've already made an amazing start.R. Marie
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