Published August 2nd, 2008 in Personal Advice and Self Help For Actors. By Kirsten Tretbar
What is The Dark Night of the Soul? It’s a feeling most of us have at three in the morning (or even, for weeks and months at a time) when we feel totally alone. When we feel unbearably lost. When we ask, or pray, and do not hear any reply. It can be a period where just getting out of bed to do our daily tasks seems like the hardest thing to do. Brushing our teeth hurts. Taking a shower is painful. Sending out one more headshot or calling one more agent, or having one more conversation about “who we want to be” and “what we really want to do with our lives” feels like someone sticking a hot poker up our backs! It’s those periods in life when all we’d rather do is pull the covers back over …
Published March 16th, 2008 in Personal Advice and Self Help For Actors. By Kirsten Tretbar
Because LA is so much more expensive than most people think, I’ve tried to make up a rough monthly estimate of what you will need, money wise, to live comfortably in Los Angeles. Keep in mind, I’ve estimated low in most cases. And of course, I’m not talking luxury living here, this is actually the bare basics. You could delete a few of these items, of course, and survive, but let’s face it: no one likes a smelly sick actor with a broken down old car and headshots from 1998! You WILL need money to have a competitive advantage, or even just a sane, normal life.
Estimated Monthly Costs Of Living In LA
Rent: $1000 ($2,000 without roommate, doesn’t include $1,500 deposit)
Car Gas: $300 (this is low if you drive an SUV)
Car Insurance: $150 (this is low basic for LA, you’ll need …
Published March 10th, 2008 in Personal Advice. By Kirsten Tretbar
I hope posting the email excerpts between myself and Bethany and Dee, in Part 1, can help a few other Christian actors and actresses realize that they are not alone. I know there are many Christian film and acting groups in LA. One, I believe, meets at the Hollywood Presbyterian Church. And another meets through the Beverly Hills Episcopalian Church, I think. You can also find out more about Christian filmmakers by going to Ted Baer’s Movieguide Website, or also, The Media Wise Family Website; and you can even volunteer to go and work at the Movieguide Awards every year (considered The Christian Oscars) where you will meet many other like minded people like you!
You will find that if you run into any Christian filmmakers or producers or actors, you really are …
Published March 7th, 2008 in Personal Advice. By Kirsten Tretbar
One of the things I am known for is my film ZENITH. It is a spiritual documentary about a group of Presbyterian Christian Farmers in Kansas, who stage an outdoor passion play. I won the Christian Oscar at the 2003 Movieguide Awards for my film, and the event was televised on PAX! My film was up against Spellbound so that was pretty incredible!
As a result, I’ve become fairly well known in the Christian Film Industry. I also have a very strong Christian faith myself, and like to hold my classes in churches, like my last LA class, which was held at the Hollywood United Methodist Church.
This also means I’ve spent lots of time working with young Christian actors and filmmakers, and with famed Christian Film authority, Ted Baer, of The Christian Film and Television Commission, as well …
