I’ve been involved with the ethics and human potential company NXIVM for the past five and a half years, learning and growing within the organization, both as a participant and a coach. Now I’ve finally put all the skills I’ve built into practice as I bring their amazing patent-pending methodology to my Vancouver. I’ve been working closely with the president, Nancy Salzman, and have learned so much about leadership and how to build an organization whose highest value is the people in it. I’m so excited about the growing community we have here in Vancouver. It’s such an honor to be sharing this life changing education with my friends, family and colleagues, and experience the growth of everyone around me.

I’m also in the process of redesigning my whole site and plan to be a lot more active on my blog this year. I’m looking forward to sharing my journey—both in acting and film and personal growth. I hope you’re all having an amazing start to the New Year!!!

Love,

Sar

Sadly, I didn’t get to work with Maggie again, but I did have a scene with the lovely Devon Weigal.  Here is a pic of us on set.

One of the things I love the most about my career is that I am constantly meeting new and wonderful people from around the world. These relationships have let to some wonderful adventures and travel.  In fact, it all came full circle when Maggie invited me to see James in a fabulous play called “Extinction” in LA last month, directed by my new NYC friend, Wayne Kasserman.

I loved this play. Written by Gabe McKinley, the script explored a number of contemporary topics in such an honest, and real way, that I think that most of the audience were left in this perfect, if not uncomfortable state to question their own views on fidelity, objectification, love, friendship and personal ethics. I was so inspired and remembered how much I do love theatre. Time to put on a play again perhaps?

The last role of the year was a tiny role in an episode of Fox’s new hit show “Fringe”.

Sadly, I die in the teaser when an earthquake causes two realities to merge. (Yes, this is sci-fi people). The coolest part of this experience was having my very first life casting. They needed to make an exact replica of my face so that they could make a body dummy to morph with another character, post earthquake. What a way to die!

Here are a few pics of the process.  It was actually kind of a relaxing experience! I meditated throughout the 15 minutes that I was under the plaster. Claustrophobes beware!

Preparing for life casting for "Fringe"

new years has always been a time for deep self reflection…thinking about the year ending…all that i am grateful for, and all that i have experienced, felt, built and achieved. i also always take the time to think about what i want to create in the year to come…but first… a re-cap of 2010. acting wise, this was the most exciting and fruitful year to date.

starting with: two awesome supporting roles in Lifetime’s “KILLER HAIR”, and “HOSTILE MAKEOVER”. i got to play a really fun character, Brooke Barton, a conservative lawyer obsessed with conspiracy theories.  the best part of the whole experience (other than the fantastic wardrobe of course!) was the wonderful friends i made on that set. Maggie Lawson is not only a fantastic actress but also one of the kindest, most loveliest people i have ever met. the whole experience was a dream come true.

On set of "Hostile Makeover"

after those two films, i had the very lucky opportunity to play the anti-thesis of Brooke, in a film called “A GUN TO THE HEAD”. i played Karen, a psychopathic, very dark young woman. here’s the official lowdown: Trevor (Tygh Runyan), reformed criminal, is facing a miserable evening as his wife, Grace, plays host to her obnoxious boss Dwayne and his intolerable spouse, Audrey.  When the phone rings, Trevor finds his excuse to step out for a quick pint with his long-lost hustler cousin and former partner in crime, Darren (Paul Anthony). Ostensibly stepping out for ‘more wine’, Trevor instead steps into a wild night that goes from bad to worse as he is dragged back into the sleezy criminal underworld of drugs, women, guns and gangsters, that he thought he’d left behind. Part buddy movie, part sex comedy, A Gun To The Head is a tale of compulsive poor-decision making that starts when Trevor steals the keys to a fancy SUV and is fueled by cousin Darren’s impulsive scheming, scamming and propensity for screwing-up. A Gun to the Head is Vancouverite Blaine Thurier’s (of The New Pornographers)  latest offering, building on his previous work (Low Self-Esteem Girl, Male Fantasy) and showcasing Thurier’s gift for deadpan comedy in angst-filled awkwardness.

"A Gun to the Head"

anyway! will post pics and links soon…my goal is to write a little something every day…updates, ideas etc…starting with more recap from 2009 about the tv and voice world!

enjoy and namaste!

and one of the most profound experiences i had recently encompassed all of those things…watching Dark Knight. I was so unbelievably uncomfortable, and at the same time…so moved. there were so many layers of commentary on everything from what’s going in the world, to the internal struggles that we face as we learn to develop our own morality and sense of ethics. my friend that i watched the film with had such a catharsis watching the film that i was also reminded of why i am an actor and the importance of story telling. i remember being a little girl and learning so much about the world and myself through both film and theatre…i remember deciding that i wanted to be able to be a part of projects that offered that type of emotional release or discovery for others. that is what i strive to do. what inspires you about film? have you ever watched a film that changed your life?

why do i mention this now, you ask? good question! she is in town shooting a Lifetime MOW called “Custody”. it’s really interesting, controversial story inspired by real events, and Jenn plays the lead . its about a young starstruck woman who gets involved with a high profile basketball player and when she gets pregnant the fallout is a lengthy, precedent-setting custody battle that eventually goes all the way to the Supreme Court…

i play a reporter, and it is directed by one my favorite directors in town, Gary Harvey. it was a blast to act again with Jenn and it’s a total treat to have her in town! more to come…

the most exciting is that i started a new cartoon called “Geronimo Stilton”. check out their site. I play the character of Thea Stilton:

Thea is Geronimo’s youngest sister, a rodent with a professionally successful career, and unrepentant heart-breaker in her private life. A skilled photographer continuously in search of her latest scoop, Thea is ready to leave to exciting adventure at the mere drop of a word, and punctually returns with sensational articles and photos. She rides a motorcycle, flies a plane, loves racing cars, is a certified parachute jumper, holds a black belt in karate, and teaches survival courses. Thea can also be frivolous and teasingly spiteful, and loves the latest fashion.

I also got new head shots done! whadya think?

I also had the opportunity to work with a fantastic group of people on a demo for a new series that’s in development called “Promoter”. I play the character of Claire….the shoot was a blast and finger’s crossed that it gets made!

PROMOTER is a provocative character driven comedy series about a former plumber, JEFF’s, transition into the adrenaline-fueled high stakes world of stock promoting. But with his excess-driven best friend CHAZ as a mentor he’s having trouble balancing the break neck speed of his new career and it’s party lifestyle with the demands of his soon-to-be wife CLAIRE (who he shouldn’t be marrying) and their soon-to-be child (who was a BIG mistake).

Check out the other stills here. They were taken by Dean Buscher.

that’s it for now! more to come soon…

xo sar