An Actor's Rant

I've been training in acting seriously since 2003: SPARC, CFA, ComedySportz, AMDA, LACC, Killian's Commercial Workshop, DFAS, Carnetta's Journey to an Oscar, and Playhouse West (if I forgot anyone I am sorry.) I have over $30,000 in student loans, but I've loved every single minute of it, because if you want to be a great actor, you have to study. So I study.

I've spent countless of dollars on postcards; casting services; headshot printing, uploading, and shoots; business cards; mailings; and a website because those are the tools that will market you to agents and casting directors and they get you the jobs. So I market. 

I was finally brave enough to take a short film script I kept hidden for years and share it with others. I couldn't find a producer to guide me through filmmaking so with a few tidbits from friends and God I stepped up and became my own. I hired a cast and crew of 30 people and together we created a beautiful film, because I've been in LA for 8 years and I came to LA to act. So I made an opportunity to act.

They don't tell you about this stuff on TV. About the time. And the money. And the tears. It's lonely, and terrifying and everyday I wish God would've made me a doctor. Nothing about this business is guaranteed, I've been here for 8 years and still can't even pay my phone bill consistently on acting alone. I could be here another 8 years to no avail... but I've got mama. And I got my heart. And I've got a desire, and when I'm in "it", like really so deep in a character, in a zone... it's God. And I can't, won't stop. And as long as I've got my imagination, God and a keyboard, I'll never be unemployed. I'm an actor, you can keep your "aspiring", I've paid my dues.

Operation Household Name: Quick Testimony

 

Shoniqua Shandai  Actress-Singer-Dancer Sucka4Fashion@aol.com SAG ELIGIBLE
Vocal: Mezzo-Soprano	Height: 5’3
Hair: Brown	Eyes: Brown

Film

Real Love	Lead		Mario Larios
Battle Buddy	Lead		Gerard McMurray
Cellular Diaspora	Lead		Renata Green-Gaber
The Pilferer	Lead		Alamada Karatihy
Kim’s Grocery	Supporting		Jing Shao
The Church Office	Supporting		Nancy Bellany
Chihuahua: The Movie	Supporting		Michael Amundsen – Laguna Productions
Television
Shared Space: Pilot	Regular		Bernard Dixon Jr.
EDM Takeover	Host		Tim Railin
Internet
Hammertime	Dancer		Marc Klasfeld - Promo

Live Event
Student Election Benefit	Singer		Herb Tripp - LACC
Nations Call	Host		Nation Zamar - Concert

Theatre

Ravenswood	Ruth Benson	Steve Helgoth - The Underground Theatre
A Piece Of My Heart	Steele	Janet Hoskins - The Underground Theatre
The Wiz**	Evilene	Nicole Barr - Center for the Arts
Miracle Worker: Showcase	Kate Keller	Todd Ritter - Center for the Arts
Amazing Grace*	Demon 1 & Choir	Jerry Notare - Jabez Ministries
*Originated the Role	**Best Actress Award

Training

Dustin Felder Acting Studio – Los Angeles

Acting

Dustin Felder

Los Angeles City College – Los Angeles (LACC)

Intermediate Acting

Tina Kronis

American Musical and Dramatic Academy - Los Angeles (AMDA)

Acting	Jim Bontempo and Laura Flanagan
On-Camera Acting	Terésa Dowell-Vest and Michael Zelniker
Musical Theatre	Brooks Almy, John Sloman, and Dae Spering
Voice Production and Speech	Anne Burk and Deborah Ross-Sullivan
Dance	Marina Benedict, Simeon Den, and Jon Engstrom,
Individual Voice	Mary Amorosia

Center for the Arts – Richmond, VA

Theatre

Todd Ritter and Adanma Onyedike

ComedySportz – Richmond, VA

Improvisation

Christine Walters

Skills

Casting Associate; Associate Producer; Dance: Tap beg, Jazz beg, Hip Hop med, and Vogue beg; Guitar beg; Trained cashier and waitress; Fashion Guru

The New Colored Girls Postcard

Follow on Twitter @GLPColoredGirls
Facebook Fan Page Gary Levingston's Colored Girls

ITS OUT!!!

I saw The Back-Up Plan twice the day it came out. lol. I have a substantial amount of face time. lol. For those of you that haven't seen it yet here are some pics of me on set... just so you'll know what to look for. lol.

Oooooh and here's the behind the scenes footage of the show I hosted. Sort of a mix of 106 & Park meets TRL but for House music. I edited the video myself. lol If you can't tell... I styled myself by the way. I'm soooo proud. lol
EDM (Electronic Dance Music) Takeover

LIFE IS A BOX OF CHOCOLATE & I'M GRABBING ALL MY FAVORITE PIECES!

It's been a while. I apologize. My computer broke and they had to ship it off to the mother station or some crap like that... I'm sorry.

Anywho... SOOO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!!!
(awkwardly walks to the front of the classroom) uh hrmm (clears throat) During my spring break...

I filmed 2 movies. TWO!!!

And I hosted a tv show. Yupp!!

I went to the music studio. Uh huh I did!

I got rid of some baggage. I let go and let God!

I gained a couple of friends and we've been on some adventures. 

ANNNNNNNND I've had a little excitement in the romance area of my life.

I AM MAKING MOVES!!! LIFE IS A BOX OF CHOCOLATE & I'M GRABBING ALL MY FAVORITE PIECES!

Since it'll be crazy to break down each and every thing thats happened... I'll post videos. :)

Griffith Park Observatory
One of my friends and I went to Griffith park. It was soooooo much fun. Her name is Javalan, she's funny &, I met her while performing at LACC she's an actress too. There are pictures as well.

By the way I didn't cut my hair. Thats what happens when I wash it and don't do anything to it. I like it! What do you think?

For Colored Girls...

Has been going very well. We've had two photoshoots and my first private rehearsal. Our director, Alexia Robinson, is PHENOMENAL!!!!

Promo Video

Photoshoots

Okay I'll put up everything else at a later date. I'm using the school's computer and I've been on for over an hour now & there's a line.... Til then. *Muah

Ooooooh..... one more thing!!!!!

 I forgot to tell you I also got new headshots & they're awesome!!! Posting pics later. =D

Colored Girls

I'm in 2 plays! :)
Here's a picture from the photoshoot for one of them.

Gary Levingston presents Colored Girls coming to a theater near you.
June 19 - Aug. 7 at The Whitefire Theater
Directed by Alexia Robinson

I'm really excited about it. :)

What's In A Name?

It was my first homework assignment from acting class and I thought it would make a great blog. :)


Shoniqua Shandai Williams

    My mother was a flyy girl and my father a street king. They called him Shadu, for some reason or another, and he insisted on having the Sha live on. Unfortunately, he wasn't there when I was born and my mother under the influence of an epidural wrote Shoniqua, S-H-O-N-I-Q-U-A, on my birth certificate instead of the S-H-A my father wanted. Personally I think she did it out of spite because he wasn't there.
    My grandmother, the creative genius in our family, came up with my middle name. Shandai. I think it describes me rather well. Shandai, soft and feminine with a bit of a kick. Misleading and underestimated, it always takes several tries to figure it out. She's so much more than what you gather at first glance. Shandai. She sounds like royalty and I always consider myself to be a queen, but Shoniqua on the other hand.
    Shoniqua. I know it breaks my mother's heart, but I still am not that big a fan of it. I feel it's the cornerstone of the ghetto. You hear Shoniqua and you automatically think hood, and that's so not me, maybe in spite of my name even. I go out of my way to be what I feel is the epitome of ladylike and class. I have to try harder because any mistake I make is thrown back to the stereotype of my name.
    I've been changing my name since the fourth grade, maybe earlier. I've been Latasha, Latoya, and Cheniqua with a C-H-E. Charlie Cool, courtesy of my father. Bobbie, Rockie, Janet, Queen, and Oliver Rose.
    I can sort of gage how people will react prior to introductions. I love when old men or foreign people first hear it. They naturally assume it's exotic and I can see there minds absorbing it. Saying it. Spelling it. Sounding it out. "Shaw-ni-kwah", "Shoooo-neee-kuh." I live for those moments! Then there are the imbeciles, who are few and far between, but they stand out like a sore thumb. The ones who transform into the highest form of idiocy imaginable. Losing all connections with tact and home training, suddenly this Malibu Snow Bunny who's never seen a day west of La Brea morphs into this neck swiveling, eye rolling, professional hood rat and in the best impression of everything "urban" she's ever seen rolled into one gives me the "Awwwww shit!!! Whassup boo?"
    I refuse to let those mediocre interactions determine my self-worth. I've been changing my name since the fourth grade, maybe earlier, but now, recently I am Shoniqua Shandai, no Williams. I've lived in the hood. My mother was a single parent. I will never be a size 2. I wear my hair natural and Honey, catch me on a bad day I just might curse ya ass out. I love black men, watermelon, macaroni & cheese, but most of all, I love me. I'm uniquely and indefinably me and every stereotype in the world won't change that.

Heres to making new and better memories

Heres a picture from my 1st performance in my 1st time starring in a play in Hollywood!!!! Starring not costarring, not even sharing a lead. I AM THE STAR!!! lol

Goodbye to Yesterday


Today I saw some old friends and they were still doing the same thing.
Hanging around the same place.
Traveling in the same maze.
I thank God for awareness.
I see my old patterns.
I thank God for strength.
I see them and I break them.
I thank God for wisdom.
A new path I seek.
I thank God for tomorrow and where ever he leads me.



I've been super busy. I apologize to myself for breaking my promise to me. WRITE. I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY! lol

A Glimpse Of Me

I'm so quick to spill my heart on paper when I'm upset, but rarely when I have good news. When I'm happy I'm too busy living it to share. Well, I booked my first play where I'm completely leading it. Go see it. lol
And heres my first dabble in happy poetry. I call it A Glimpse Of Me

A Glimpse Of Me

I am renewed
Spirits in high gear
Rainbows and Cotton Candy
White Mist and Bright Colors
Leaping and Flying
Happy Tears Rejoicing
I am becoming complete.
Growing and Reconnecting
Floating on clouds
Sea Breeze and Money Trees
Loving me