Alright, technically, 2012 has been here for a month, but January is really the only time the industry in NY quiets down a bit. Which is why, every January, I try to take advantage of the ebb in the tide – I travel, visit family, eat whatever I want (lies – I do that year-round), and just generally regroup to physically, mentally, and emotionally prep for the new year.

In a way, February is the start of my 2012, and I’d like to ring it in by first taking a peek at some of the highlights of its predecessor. But if you’d like to skip the nostalgia, just scroll down a bit for a look at what 2012 has in store so far

2011 Highlights

• White Collar- In April, I shot my first co-star role on primetime television: Season 3, Episode 3 of USA Network’s White Collar. I portrayed an assistant to a journalist (played by the wonderful Jayne Atkinson) who gets herself fired for caring too much about her boss’s safety. In a second scene, I also had the pleasure of working with Tim DeKay and Sharif Atkins (Agents Burke and Jones, for fans of the show). I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with such incredibly talented people, even if it was just for a day! The episode aired on June 21, 2011, and it’s available now on Amazon. Hopefully the season will be on Netflix very soon, for those of us with small wallets and no television!
• Arbitrage- In May, I booked and shot my first principal role in a mainstream film (or what we hoped at the time would become a mainstream film!) Nicholas Jarecki wrote and directed Arbitrage, a Wall Street thriller about a hedge fund magnate (played by Richard Gere) who becomes increasingly desperate as his empire crumbles. The film also stars Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling and Tim Roth; I have approximately three lines somewhere in the middle, but I worked with Brit Marling in the scene, and had a fantastic time on set. The film just had its premiere at Sundance, where it was purchased by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions – so look for it sometime soon at a movie theater near you!
• Bakwas Bumbug- In June, I made a return to the stage in the world premiere (okay…workshop production) of Desipina & Company’s Bakwas Bumbug, a rock opera reinvention of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol told through the lens of “NYC Immigrants and Hyphenated America.” Under the direction of the ultra-talented Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri, I developed the character Sunita, a bright-eyed girl with a mind of her own who’s just trying to figure out who she is. It felt so good to be back on stage again, and even more wonderful to sing on stage again, especially surrounded by such a passionate and brilliant cast. I still have my fingers crossed that we’ll be able to mount a full production of the show in the near future!
• Occupy Main Street- In October, I had the opportunity to work with CollegeHumor  again, this time under the direction of the HILarious Josh Ruben, in a sketch  called We Are The 1%. It’s a parody of “Occupy Wall Street,” and the video pretty much speaks for itself, so if you haven’t seen it yet, make it a priority STAT!
• Rising Circle Theater Collective- In the beginning of 2011, a friend of mine told me about the Rising Circle Theater Collective and their mission to broaden the scope of storytelling and diversity on the stage. I immediately submitted my information to their Actor Database, and very soon thereafter found myself meeting with the Collective’s Artistic Director, Deepa Purohit, about participating in a workshop reading of her beautiful play Flight. During the reading, Rising Circle’s PlayRise Festival, I portrayed Birdie, a girl who has lost her wings and her voice. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to work with Deepa and the Collective!

I know it seems silly to look back at years past, but I find it incredibly cathartic, even inspiring. Which now makes me seem really egotistical but hear me out! Every time I look back at the previous year, I’m reminded of how being in this industry is a process, a process that takes time, hard work, patience, perseverance, and determination to complete. Every year I’m more excited to be on this journey and see where it takes me.

2012 is off to a pretty great start: re-signing my contract with my fabulous agency (go Bloc!), pilot season in NYC (I’m not quite mentally ready to tackle pilot season in LA yet), and Arbitrage hopefully coming soon to the big screen in wide release (fingers crossed). Plus:

• Last year I recorded two more episodes of Pokémon, which will be airing on Cartoon Network sometime next month – stay tuned!
• I know it’s been a while since I’ve had any Oh, Sophia news, but trust me, big things are a-brewing! Our fearless director has been hard at work on the edit, and I’m so jazzed about the clips I’ve seen so far. (Do people still say “jazzed?”) Maybe if we’re all lucky there will be a new trailer soon (No pressure, B!)
• The name of the game so far is “Networking.” And if Networking has a subtitle, it would be “Collaboration.” Thus far this year, I’ve been expanding my network – thanks in large part to recommendations and introductions from friends, fellow actors, and industryfolk. I’m so grateful for the relationships I’ve developed over the years, and I love that in our little circle (our ever-growing circle!), we always support and encourage each other, collectively rising to ever greater heights. I’m so excited for what the next few weeks may bring!

Last week, I had the privilege of shooting again with CollegeHumor. I think the sketch speaks for itself – though I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed pretending I had bajillions of dollars (in a Swedish bank and on the island nation of Grenada, of course) to throw around. If only…Enjoy!

Many of you folks out there in Internet-land are aware that I am a Health and Safety Instructor for the American Red Cross Metro New York. I teach a variety of classes, from CPR/AED and First Aid to preparedness training for natural disasters, and I am so proud to be a part of this amazing organization.

This morning, I was given the opportunity to represent the American Red Cross as a guest on Martha Stewart’s Sirius satellite radio show Morning Living. In honor of Preparedness Month, the hosts of the show, Betsy Karetnick and Brian Kelsey, wanted to do a segment on CPR factoids and training. That’s where I came in.

If you weren’t able to listen in live this morning (I know it aired REALLY early for you non-morning people ), please give it a listen now – and then contact your local American Red Cross Chapter and sign up for a CPR class. You might never use these skills (I sure hope you never need them!) but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Enjoy!

Click here to listen to the interview!

Have you heard of NAMI? They are the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a wonderful organization that strives to educate America and promote awareness about mental illness, offering resources to those in need and insisting that mental illness become a high national priority.

A few years ago, I acted in an educational industrial for NAMI New Jersey called The Community I Serve, which depicts how the New Jersey State Police has embraced a new program to train their officers in how to effectively and appropriately respond to situations involving people with mental illness. This program is the first of many vital efforts to reduce the population of mentally ill people in prisons (where they are not able to receive the treatment or medication they need) and the number of mentally ill people injured or killed during police response.

The industrial has won several awards and has screened all over the world. I am so honored to have been a part of this vital message. Please enjoy the trailer below!

I love the camera. I love being on stage, too, but there is nothing quite like being in front of a lens to make my spine tingle with excitement. I long for that day in the future, when I can experience that sensation every single day.

Enough of the mushy stuff. TONIGHT! (That would be Tuesday, June 21st, 2011) at 9pm (EST) I take one step closer to my dream in a co-star role on the hit USA Network drama, White Collar!

Oh, I remember the audition – I initially went in for a character with one line  and was in the room with Casting, the Director of the episode, and one of the Executive Producers. I always find myself more nervous when auditioning for these smaller roles – maybe I put extra pressure on myself to create a complete character with so little script to work with? Who knows! But I had a TON of fun in the room, and a few days later my fabulous agent called with the good news: White Collar episode 303 = booked!

I’d like to turn back time just a bit and take you through what it was like to be on the White Collar set. *cue time travel music*

Wednesday, June 6, 2011

4am: *cue alarm clock* e(%*igSDw@#!#23qLBsd@#v! I’m up, I’m awake, I swear!! Stumble, stumble, crash, OW!, ahhhhhh shower, CAFFEINE. Ready, set, go!

520am: Just before my call time. I arrive at the campers like the call sheet instructed and immediately run into a slight problem…uhm…which one of these many campers am I supposed to go to?? OOF, I’m glad I arrived early! I wander up and down the block a bit until I notice a sign of life – a PA (Production Assistant) wearing a walkie exiting one of the campers. “Hi! I’m Lipica…uhm…I’m an actor, and I’m playing the role of Melinda today…” He graciously ignores my awkward 5am stammering, gathers the paperwork I must fill out, and escorts me to *ahem* my trailer.

545am: I shake off the last of The Sleepiness and start making my way through the packet of paperwork. It’s the usual stuff – contract, actor release, NDA (a confidentiality agreement – hence, why y’all have had to wait so long to hear these juicy details!), payroll forms – but everything had to be completed in triplicate. The monotony of the paperwork is starting to revive ol’ Sleepy! Thankfully, I am saved by a knock at the door…

630am: Another PA brings me to the hair and makeup camper. The hair and makeup team is lovely – and they’re surprisingly awake and raring to go! In no time at all, the stylist has whipped my unruly mane into shape (so, dear hair of mine, you’ll behave for others, is that the game?) and I move over to the makeup chair. As we chitchat, my face is transformed from semi-tired and plain to fresh-faced and fierce. Seriously, I’m like “Is that me?!” And then two of the show’s series regulars walk in and another round of introductions occurs. I admit to being starstruck at first, but I was honestly surprised at how quickly I got over that speed bump! They are the nicest guys and put me right at ease. I am thrilled to get to do a scene with these two today – what a treat it will be to work with and learn from them!

730am: I’m back in my trusty trailer (and admiring myself in the mirror haha) when there’s another knock at the door – hello, Wardrobe Assistant! This is a moment I’ve been eagerly awaiting. Yesterday, I journeyed over yonder East River to Long Island City, Queens for my wardrobe fitting, so now is the moment when I find out how Wardrobe and the Director have decided to dress me – Slacks? Jeans? Skirt? Blouse? Jacket? Super high heels? As it turns out…super high heels? Yup. Also some very comfy wide-bottomed jeans, a beautiful blouse, and fitted cardigan. Plus a kick-ass belt that makes me feel (and look) WAY more fashionable than I am in real life. Throw in some jewelry – bracelet, earrings – and I’m all dressed up…with nowhere to go quite yet. Production is still filming the scene before mine, a walk-and-talk between two of the main characters that takes place outside, so they want to get it out of the way before the streets get too busy.

750am: I can’t help it. I take a nap.

830am: I’m called to set! Another PA escorts me to the correct floor and brings me onto the set, an office space converted into the headquarters of a powerful (fictional) magazine. I meet my director for the first time, as well as the four other actors in the scene (two of whom I am meeting for the second time today). They are television veterans, and let me tell you – it took all of me to stay calm, cool, and collected. We read through the scene a few times to get a feel for pacing and character, then we’re up on our feet blocking it out. We walk through the scene a few times for the crew to get a feel for what they’ll be shooting. Once blocking is set, they call in the second team – “Does that make me part of first team?” I wonder. The answer is yes. We get a break, while our stand-ins…well…stand in for us so the crew can fine-tune the camera moves, lighting, and sound set ups.

915am: The five of us head to a holding area adjacent to set, and I have the opportunity to talk with the other actors about their careers, their history, and some fun stuff – one of the stars says he asks every co-star to name their favorite place to eat in New York City. As a self-proclaimed foodie, this was a tough one! We share our favorite restaurants and move on to talking about – what else? – movies currently in theaters. I just saw Rango and highly recommend it, as it is not just an animated film for kids (it really is great!) Part of me is surprised to find them all to be so…normal. I mean, I don’t know what I expected, but it is so refreshing and inspiring to see how gracious and open and down-to-earth everyone is. It really drives home the point that, in order to work in this business, one must be pleasant to work with; talent is fine and dandy (and necessary), but consideration and respect are much more important when it comes to creating and maintaining a positive work environment.

1030am: First team is called back in – we’re all miked with wireless lav microphones, and it’s time to shoot! The scene has been broken down into four parts: the Agents walking with the magazine Editor into the cubicle area, the interior of the Journalist’s office (including close ups on each actor in there), a reverse of the office (to see where I’m sitting; I portrayed the Journalist’s Assistant), and the Agents leaving the office and meeting the Assistant (me!) in the hallway. There are also two gigantic camera teams, capturing each shot from different angles. So much going on!! I am exceedingly thankful that I’ve had practice in this kind of situation before – not on a professional set, but in school. When I studied screen acting at Stonestreet Studios, huge emphasis was placed on knowing and understanding on-set vocabulary and movement – one of my classes was specifically geared towards a multi-camera setup. As we walk through the scene again, with both camera setups, I recall those lessons from Stonestreet: how to position myself so I am open to both cameras at once (potentially increasing my screen time), how to pace my walking so the camera can easily follow, where to look when the camera is on me so I maintain continuity and sight-lines, etc. Afterwards, the director compliments me on my professionalism, and one of the camera operators comments that my actions helped smooth the process! (I’m aware I’m tooting my own horn right now…just let me have this one, por favor?)

The hardest part for me by far is finding a natural rhythm for my character – in the first 3/4 of the scene, all of my actions and interactions are nonverbal. Initially, I struggle to find the balance between grounded response and overt reaction. It is a very fine line, and the Director is tremendously helpful in finding the correct amount of both. By the time the camera is on me, I am able to deliver nuanced performances, slightly different each time, and I’m really proud of my work. The other actors and I joke about the expression on my face – “If looks could kill!” I won’t spoil the scene’s events, but I am very interested in seeing what the final, edited cut looks like! I guess I’ll find out tonight

Throughout the many takes – and shot setups and last-minute changes – I try my best to remain a positive, energetic, and respectful presence. I make it a point to learn as many crew members’ names as I can – and to refer to them by name, when possible – because I truly do respect and appreciate what each of them brings to the set. Each of them is integral to the minute-by-minute operations of the set, and they all help make the shoot day run like a well-oiled machine. I despise this idea that “talent” and “crew” are separate entities – we work together in the same environment, towards the same goal, do we not? I have so much fun joking around with the crew in between takes, and hearing some of their stories. We are all a little sad when the scene is wrapped!

1245pm: I’m wrapped! It’s a bittersweet moment; I’m exhausted and ready to go home, but I’m having so much fun with everyone on set. I thank each crew member I see on my way out – my first co-star experience would not have been the same without them! As I walk with the other actors back to the campers, a random New Yorker recognizes one of the show’s stars and shouts out how much he enjoys the show. I can’t help but think to myself…someday, it’s going to be me.