MUSIC: "Monster" by Lady GaGa
TIME: 6:34 PM
I DID IT! I've re-designed my website! I am sooooo glad I re-designed my site, because the purple explosion was kind of driving me nuts after a while. Okay, so th new design DOES have purple in it - I mean, come on now, it's my favorite color since I was a kid! I will NEVER part ways with purple! But the last layout, as much as I loved it, I don't think I can ever forgive myself for making my headshots look like the early stages of Violet Beauregard before she turned into a human blueberry from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". Just kidding!
LOVE that movie - speaking of things I will never part away from that were apart of my childhood! *giggle*
It was a good idea at the time, too, but with this layout, I didn't go crazy on color manipulation. I kept it more toned, but I kept the city theme in it. I was trying to achieve a more "classier" look and not worry so much with the graphics. It's 2011, so I've been doing graphic design and website stuff (not professionally mind you) for about twelve years now (*YAY!!!*), and as time gone by and from lots and lots of fiddling with various graphic programs, I've really come to embrace the big fancy graphics. But for my acting website and from the different layouts I've made for it, I began to feel that I have to draw a line as far as graphics go. I have to admitt, for a visual artist who is all about 100% creative freedom and loves to be different, it's hard to discipline myself with this. But it's for my career, and I don't think a purple Cristina Cho would work for anyone who visits my site.
Another thing I did on the web was I've created TWO separate Facebook profiles. My personal one for my personal friends and cousins with my REAL name on it, and of course, my professional one for my colleagues in New York with the name as you all know me as. I am SO, SO, SOOOOOOO happy I did this on so many levels. I originally thought of this ages ago, but knowing how much time and effort it was going to be, I shied away from the idea until I began to see other actors brainstorming the idea.
One of the reasons I did finally decide to do it is so I can separate myself from my work. See, I don't know about you, but I am one of those actors who doesn't like the idea of mixing personal company with professional business. Like I, personally, don't think it's a good idea for any actor to hire a family member or close friend as an assistant or manager or anything along the lines of that. I understand that sometimes couples or friends can wind up doing the same play or take the same classes or even hook-up as a result from working with each other, but that's different. What I am driving at is keep your longtime friends and your family what they are, and if you want to make friends in this industry, go and make new friends. Sometimes, the assistant or manager or mentor or whoever does become a friend in a matter of time. I consider my colleagues my friends, including my two coaches/mentors, but the relationships I have with them aren't the same as the ones I have with the friends in my personal life. It's not like I call one of my actor friends and start chatting with them about how stressful my day job can be. And it's not like I call one of my personal friends and talk to them about marketing myself in the city or anything related to my career.
I'm sure both parties appreciate that very much so, too.
When I put up the personal profile, I was also glad to see that I am one of the very people on Facebook who can have two statuses up at the same time. I'm a status junkie! It's crazy, but I am really a status junkie! When I had the one profile, I was so torn between posting a status on my profile about something totally random or my career. I still post statuses on my personal profile about my career and I still talk about my website and blog, but I'm not militant about it as I am on my professional one, of course.
Like right now, my personal profile status is outrageous, silly, and random, I'd actually feel ashamed for having it on my professional profile or even mentioning it on my blog, while my professional profile status simply states:
February 7th: I officially have TWO networking events that day - Savvy Actor Event with Ellen Ginsburg and NYC Actors' TweetUp with Erin Cronican and Marissa Mutascio. Daytime and evening networking - groovy! =)
Another thing that started to bug me were the requests for Farmville, Mafia Wars, Frontierville, CityVille, Cafe World, or whateverville. I mean, I have Farmville (and I'm happy to see I'm not the only actor who does), but after a while, I didn't appreciate some of my friends posting on my professional profile that their pig found a truffle on my farm or they left me a mystery gift box or anything. Personal profile, I don't care - post your cares away, leave me somehting saying you fertalized my watermelons or fed the chickens in the virtual coup. Professional - NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Also the last thing I want is any of my colleagues in New York to think is that I spend a good percentage of my life playing mindless games on Facebook instead of my monologues or anything having to do with my career. Which, by the way, I think they know I don't do.
What's also great about having the separate profiles is that I don't have to censor anything on the personal one. My Jersey friends are LOADS of fun, so we always have a great laugh on Facebook if we can. I have to keep it clean on my professional one, where on my personal one, we can talk about the most random things in the world. But the truth is, when it comes to the Facebook application on my phone, I'm always logged into my professional one. The personal one, I just access from the internet on my phone.
At first, despite the fact I did consider it ages ago, I wasn't all for it, because I think back then, I was trying to prove something to others. To prove to family members that barely see me that I'm not living an ordinary life and that I'm actually doing something with myself, and to prove to my colleagues that even though I do work hard, I do have a personal life and I still know how to have fun! But what's there to really prove?
To tell you the truth, I come from a real NON-artistic family where they aren't interested in theatre, visual art, or anything in that category. To them, it's just something that's nice to look at whereas to me, it's a lifestyle! Their idea of "theatre" is a Broadway musical, where there is really a wide, colorful variety of theatre that's more profound and so special, that it makes Broadway seem like mere eye-candy. Art, to my family, is just something that exists in this world where to me it's something I've been truly passionate about since I was a kid. I really don't talk to any of my family members about my career, because I don't think they really understand my love for it or why I'm so driven, but that's okay with me. To them, as long as I'm happy and I enjoy what I'm doing, that's all that matters! =)
In Jersey, I do have a lot of friends, but I would say only 5% of them are still on my professional profile and are interested in my career. I mean, all of my friends know what I do, but they don't know the greater details of what I do. Some of my friends have seen my monologues, they know I work hard on them, and they support me. Others have no idea what a monologue even is. Having friends outside of the acting world keeps me grounded and it helps me remember where I come from, but I'm really lucky that I have that small 5% of personal friends who help me stay confident in my profession and my work. 'Cause I don't need to be Cristina Cho, the actor, with my personal friends. I can be successful in my profession someday, and they'd still see me as "Nacho" (yes, that's my nickname). Or at least I hope they do! =)
Some actors can't live withouth the big praise, especially from their family and friends, but the truth is (and I've witnessed this from going to plays where my colleagues were performing) friends and family are always going to give you feedback that is pleasing to the ear if you involve them too much in your career or if you rely all too much on their thoughts on your performances (another reason why I don't mix the personal with the professional). I don't know about you, but I can't learn from being praised all the time. Actually, I'm weird, because the thought of a family member or personal friend or even my colleagues telling me, "Oh you were wonderful! You are so good! Really good! You're gonna be a huge star someday!" makes me not only very uncomfortable, but also, in a way, makes me very sad. Unfortunately, I've gotten that, and believe me, I'm NOT flattered one bit by any of it. I mean, it's nice to hear people believe in you, but it's not the point to my existence to why I am in this business.
Most aspiring actors would LOVE to hear that, and that's okay. Honestly, I don't. Reason being is because anybody who knows me really well - personally or professionally - knows that I'm not in this for any hopes of money or stardom. They know that I am in this, because I am genuinely passionate about my work and I love to learn new things about life. Yes, my heart is in it like every actor in New York or LA or wherever, but I don't have any big goals for fame and fortune. To me, whatever I am doing now, I know deep down inside, it will lead to something, but I don't worry all too much about or really care what that "something" is. I'm in the greatest city in the world, I have amazing people helping me in my career, and I am doing what I love. That's all I need to make me smile. =)
For me, I want to know what I can do that's going to make me a better performer. What needs to be improved? What is working for me just fine? I am one of those artists who needs and feel more comfortable when I am given tough, constructive criticsm. Don't get me wrong: I do get bummed if I don't do a great job, but I don't get discouraged easily. I just try to work harder and then, if I am given a second chance, I try to do better! One of my supportive non-actor friends told me that if I kept on doing great, I wouldn't be having so much fun or enjoy myself, so no need to be bummed just because I don't do great really! =) This, I hope, answers any questions to why I don't work with pushovers, too! =)
So, that's the story of me and Facebook. Also, actually, I am beginning to do Twitter again! Twitter is great, because people can choose to follow you, but you don't have to follow them, especially if they have that creepy factor to them. Facebook, people have to be on your friends list to see what you're up to unless you make a fan page. Truth is, I'm not even ready nor should I worry about making a Facebook fan page!
And yes, it is true, I do have two networking events coming up in February that I am looking forward to! Another NY ACTOR'S TweetUP and something my friend and fellow-actor, Ellen Ginsburg, invited me to to go with her! This is gonna be great! =)
Will talk about it more next time, but right now, I've got emails to answer and other work to do! I also need to do a few more tweaks here and there on my website, but I'll get to those next time I have the time to do them.
That's enough candy for now!
Cristina
http://www.cristinacho.net/
TIME: 6:34 PM
I DID IT! I've re-designed my website! I am sooooo glad I re-designed my site, because the purple explosion was kind of driving me nuts after a while. Okay, so th new design DOES have purple in it - I mean, come on now, it's my favorite color since I was a kid! I will NEVER part ways with purple! But the last layout, as much as I loved it, I don't think I can ever forgive myself for making my headshots look like the early stages of Violet Beauregard before she turned into a human blueberry from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". Just kidding!
LOVE that movie - speaking of things I will never part away from that were apart of my childhood! *giggle*
It was a good idea at the time, too, but with this layout, I didn't go crazy on color manipulation. I kept it more toned, but I kept the city theme in it. I was trying to achieve a more "classier" look and not worry so much with the graphics. It's 2011, so I've been doing graphic design and website stuff (not professionally mind you) for about twelve years now (*YAY!!!*), and as time gone by and from lots and lots of fiddling with various graphic programs, I've really come to embrace the big fancy graphics. But for my acting website and from the different layouts I've made for it, I began to feel that I have to draw a line as far as graphics go. I have to admitt, for a visual artist who is all about 100% creative freedom and loves to be different, it's hard to discipline myself with this. But it's for my career, and I don't think a purple Cristina Cho would work for anyone who visits my site.
Another thing I did on the web was I've created TWO separate Facebook profiles. My personal one for my personal friends and cousins with my REAL name on it, and of course, my professional one for my colleagues in New York with the name as you all know me as. I am SO, SO, SOOOOOOO happy I did this on so many levels. I originally thought of this ages ago, but knowing how much time and effort it was going to be, I shied away from the idea until I began to see other actors brainstorming the idea.
One of the reasons I did finally decide to do it is so I can separate myself from my work. See, I don't know about you, but I am one of those actors who doesn't like the idea of mixing personal company with professional business. Like I, personally, don't think it's a good idea for any actor to hire a family member or close friend as an assistant or manager or anything along the lines of that. I understand that sometimes couples or friends can wind up doing the same play or take the same classes or even hook-up as a result from working with each other, but that's different. What I am driving at is keep your longtime friends and your family what they are, and if you want to make friends in this industry, go and make new friends. Sometimes, the assistant or manager or mentor or whoever does become a friend in a matter of time. I consider my colleagues my friends, including my two coaches/mentors, but the relationships I have with them aren't the same as the ones I have with the friends in my personal life. It's not like I call one of my actor friends and start chatting with them about how stressful my day job can be. And it's not like I call one of my personal friends and talk to them about marketing myself in the city or anything related to my career.
I'm sure both parties appreciate that very much so, too.
When I put up the personal profile, I was also glad to see that I am one of the very people on Facebook who can have two statuses up at the same time. I'm a status junkie! It's crazy, but I am really a status junkie! When I had the one profile, I was so torn between posting a status on my profile about something totally random or my career. I still post statuses on my personal profile about my career and I still talk about my website and blog, but I'm not militant about it as I am on my professional one, of course.
Like right now, my personal profile status is outrageous, silly, and random, I'd actually feel ashamed for having it on my professional profile or even mentioning it on my blog, while my professional profile status simply states:
February 7th: I officially have TWO networking events that day - Savvy Actor Event with Ellen Ginsburg and NYC Actors' TweetUp with Erin Cronican and Marissa Mutascio. Daytime and evening networking - groovy! =)
Another thing that started to bug me were the requests for Farmville, Mafia Wars, Frontierville, CityVille, Cafe World, or whateverville. I mean, I have Farmville (and I'm happy to see I'm not the only actor who does), but after a while, I didn't appreciate some of my friends posting on my professional profile that their pig found a truffle on my farm or they left me a mystery gift box or anything. Personal profile, I don't care - post your cares away, leave me somehting saying you fertalized my watermelons or fed the chickens in the virtual coup. Professional - NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Also the last thing I want is any of my colleagues in New York to think is that I spend a good percentage of my life playing mindless games on Facebook instead of my monologues or anything having to do with my career. Which, by the way, I think they know I don't do.
What's also great about having the separate profiles is that I don't have to censor anything on the personal one. My Jersey friends are LOADS of fun, so we always have a great laugh on Facebook if we can. I have to keep it clean on my professional one, where on my personal one, we can talk about the most random things in the world. But the truth is, when it comes to the Facebook application on my phone, I'm always logged into my professional one. The personal one, I just access from the internet on my phone.
At first, despite the fact I did consider it ages ago, I wasn't all for it, because I think back then, I was trying to prove something to others. To prove to family members that barely see me that I'm not living an ordinary life and that I'm actually doing something with myself, and to prove to my colleagues that even though I do work hard, I do have a personal life and I still know how to have fun! But what's there to really prove?
To tell you the truth, I come from a real NON-artistic family where they aren't interested in theatre, visual art, or anything in that category. To them, it's just something that's nice to look at whereas to me, it's a lifestyle! Their idea of "theatre" is a Broadway musical, where there is really a wide, colorful variety of theatre that's more profound and so special, that it makes Broadway seem like mere eye-candy. Art, to my family, is just something that exists in this world where to me it's something I've been truly passionate about since I was a kid. I really don't talk to any of my family members about my career, because I don't think they really understand my love for it or why I'm so driven, but that's okay with me. To them, as long as I'm happy and I enjoy what I'm doing, that's all that matters! =)
In Jersey, I do have a lot of friends, but I would say only 5% of them are still on my professional profile and are interested in my career. I mean, all of my friends know what I do, but they don't know the greater details of what I do. Some of my friends have seen my monologues, they know I work hard on them, and they support me. Others have no idea what a monologue even is. Having friends outside of the acting world keeps me grounded and it helps me remember where I come from, but I'm really lucky that I have that small 5% of personal friends who help me stay confident in my profession and my work. 'Cause I don't need to be Cristina Cho, the actor, with my personal friends. I can be successful in my profession someday, and they'd still see me as "Nacho" (yes, that's my nickname). Or at least I hope they do! =)
Some actors can't live withouth the big praise, especially from their family and friends, but the truth is (and I've witnessed this from going to plays where my colleagues were performing) friends and family are always going to give you feedback that is pleasing to the ear if you involve them too much in your career or if you rely all too much on their thoughts on your performances (another reason why I don't mix the personal with the professional). I don't know about you, but I can't learn from being praised all the time. Actually, I'm weird, because the thought of a family member or personal friend or even my colleagues telling me, "Oh you were wonderful! You are so good! Really good! You're gonna be a huge star someday!" makes me not only very uncomfortable, but also, in a way, makes me very sad. Unfortunately, I've gotten that, and believe me, I'm NOT flattered one bit by any of it. I mean, it's nice to hear people believe in you, but it's not the point to my existence to why I am in this business.
Most aspiring actors would LOVE to hear that, and that's okay. Honestly, I don't. Reason being is because anybody who knows me really well - personally or professionally - knows that I'm not in this for any hopes of money or stardom. They know that I am in this, because I am genuinely passionate about my work and I love to learn new things about life. Yes, my heart is in it like every actor in New York or LA or wherever, but I don't have any big goals for fame and fortune. To me, whatever I am doing now, I know deep down inside, it will lead to something, but I don't worry all too much about or really care what that "something" is. I'm in the greatest city in the world, I have amazing people helping me in my career, and I am doing what I love. That's all I need to make me smile. =)
For me, I want to know what I can do that's going to make me a better performer. What needs to be improved? What is working for me just fine? I am one of those artists who needs and feel more comfortable when I am given tough, constructive criticsm. Don't get me wrong: I do get bummed if I don't do a great job, but I don't get discouraged easily. I just try to work harder and then, if I am given a second chance, I try to do better! One of my supportive non-actor friends told me that if I kept on doing great, I wouldn't be having so much fun or enjoy myself, so no need to be bummed just because I don't do great really! =) This, I hope, answers any questions to why I don't work with pushovers, too! =)
So, that's the story of me and Facebook. Also, actually, I am beginning to do Twitter again! Twitter is great, because people can choose to follow you, but you don't have to follow them, especially if they have that creepy factor to them. Facebook, people have to be on your friends list to see what you're up to unless you make a fan page. Truth is, I'm not even ready nor should I worry about making a Facebook fan page!
And yes, it is true, I do have two networking events coming up in February that I am looking forward to! Another NY ACTOR'S TweetUP and something my friend and fellow-actor, Ellen Ginsburg, invited me to to go with her! This is gonna be great! =)
Will talk about it more next time, but right now, I've got emails to answer and other work to do! I also need to do a few more tweaks here and there on my website, but I'll get to those next time I have the time to do them.
That's enough candy for now!
Cristina
http://www.cristinacho.net/
