A Little Q & A with Denisse....

So, I was pleasantly surprised that people came through and asked some really great questions! I had to contemplate on each for a bit to figure out what would be the best way to respond to each. You asked....so now here are the questions that made the cut this week:

1. Janine in Miami asked: "Why LA over Chicago/NYC? I ask because at grad school auditions, you talked about moving to Chicago."
-That is a VERY good question - and though I immediately knew the answer, it took me a bit to think of how to approach the answer, how to put it into words.... I'm giving it my best shot.... So, there was this guy.... hahaha. No, but really, there was this guy I was dating while I was in Tampa which was after my grad school auditions. Granted I FELL IN LOVE with Chicago and DREAMED of moving there to study at the infamous Second City, but alas, we make plans and life likes to throw a wrench at them. I'll get back to the guy, but let me start with my love for Chicago/NYC.... I had spent a summer in NYC and studied in Chelsea, lived in the upper west side (I know, cha-ching), and had the whole auditioning thing DOWN! I was a regular at the Equity house, knew my way all around Ripley-Grier and Chelsea Studios. I became a pro at squeezing in auditions between my workshops, and somehow managed to see a ton of shows and enjoy the city. I promised myself I'd go back, and I did that same September with my great friend Corinne. I was a sucker for NY. Now moving on to Chicago... I went twice for grad school auditions - first year with my amazing friend Morgan, and second year with some of the best people I know (which includes YOU Janine <3). It was a mix of all the art, the friendly people, the NY-like atmosphere but at a slower pace, Second City, Art Institute, I could go on and on and on.... There are so many reasons I fell in love with Chicago and I named it my future home. So when did that change? Back to the boy and Tampa, hahaha. Once I graduated college, I left that summer and moved in with my mom to save money for Chicago. NYC was enticing, but was I prepared to be a musical theatre actress, living out of a suitcase, or singing in hole in the wall cabaret clubs to make a dime? Sadly enough, no. If I didn't have to worry about having stability then I would have in a heartbeat. If I was in my early 20's, I would have in a heartbeat, but I feel that train had passed and I needed to look towards where I wanted my career to go rather than where it was. So I moved, got a "real" job and started having a life. No theatre, no rehearsals, no auditions, just life. I had a stable job, my own apartment, tons of extra cash to spend/save/splurge and eventually came the boy. It was kinda nice. And I admit, my dreams of acting went dormant for a bit. Just a bit. They came back louder and stronger than ever, and being that I was dating someone I saw myself with for the long haul, I asked his opinion of where he would possibly move to (suuuuper hypothetically). NYC was a no. Chicago, an even bigger no. So where else was there for me??? Los Angeles??? And I remember his exact words to this day, "I could do Los Angeles." Everything that came after that was a blur. But it wasn't just him, or his words. It seemed that my life had suddenly taken a huge shift in a direction I had NEVER seen it going. Yes, I had aspiration to be on sitcom tv and eventually do film, but I was supposed to go to Chicago first and study at Second City, get some experience under my belt, then MAYBE move to LA if I felt ready. It was at that time that my friend Aaron had posted an article written by Jenna Fischer on her big break and being a working actor. There were two things she mentioned in that article that stuck out to me (and I will add the link here for your viewing pleasure) 1) If you're serious about your career and you want to be on tv//film, move to Los Angeles. 2) Buy the book "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
So at this point I'm thinking, why am I going to Chicago when I really want to be in LA? Something deeeeeeeep inside me, my internal compass if you will, suddenly pointed out west. Way waaaaay out west, and I knew that I was going to end up in LA before I even came to terms with it. So that was that, finally on NYE Jan of 2011 I said out loud, and that makes ALL the difference when people hear you proclaim such a thing, I said I was going to move to LA by that summer. So I hustled and bustled and pinched and saved, and by nothing short of a MIRACLE had hit my monetary goal. And that was that. And here I am. I know this was a looooong, slightly drawn out answer to your question - but I felt that all details were necessary, because one thing led to another which led to my much impromptu decision for LA. And the best thing about my decision is that since I've been here, I've experienced everything from extreme excitement, joy, sadness, homesickness, aggrivation, impatience, and bliss - but not once, not even for a second - regret. And so if it was the boy that set this decision in motion or a greater power, I don't know, I'm just sure glad it happened.
The link to Jenna's article/blog: http://www.myspace.com/pambeesley/blog/141657788

2. Andrea in Miami asked: "Biggest regret?"
-I'm not one who really believes in regret per say because I see everything as a life lesson once experienced, but there are undeniably times in my life where in the moment or a bit after I would say, "Why did I/didn't I do that?" There are more than I care to name of those moments, hahaha, but I still wouldn't classify them as regrets. If I had to put a such a label on any of my life experiences, hands down, my only "regret" would be not enjoying enough quality time with my grandparents. I think about it quite often. They only visited a few times from Chile, and still I would always run off with friends, or go see that boy I liked, or have them take me to the mall to just say, "I'll meet you in the food court before we leave." I really wish I could have spent ALL my time I had with them, walking through the mall, holding my grandfather's hand, or getting ice cream with my grandmother. I miss them. They played such a huge role in molding me and shaping me into the person I have become, and I only hope they know just how much I love and appreciate all they have done for me.

3. Shavon in Tampa asked: "I've always been curious about this... Have you had problems getting a part due to tattoos?"
-This has to be one of the most prevalent questions I had from friends and family before making my venture out to LA. I will say that sometimes I feel as if I don't have enough tattoos for some roles! Hahaha. They have wonderful people called Make-Up artists that take care of that for people like me :) So far, all the things I've filmed (commercials as well as tv/film) out in LA, I haven't had to cover them up. For my theatre show either. Some directors/casting directors have even commented on how much they like my "ink". Not to say that it may not jeopardize some jobs, for example, certain print jobs that focus on the hands (hand models and such), but those don't really interest me. As a matter of fact, Directors, Producers, and most definitely Casting Directors out here want you to be YOU! And if that means you have a mohawk or tatts then that's exactly what they want you to be and be proud of it. My tattoos give me an edginess that opens up a whole new category/type that I now fall into. And it works because it's all a reflection of me. Thanks for asking this, Shavon, because I have been DYING to stomp out all the rumors and misconceptions about actors with tattoos - not to mention most actors in LA have them!

4. Jessica from Davie asked: "If you could go back to any period of your life, when would it be?"
-Suuuuuuuuuuper tough question. Like, super. Wow. I have had SO many great, no AMAZING times in my life. To choose just one? There are way too many to name, and I feel so blessed for just saying that. I'm going with the very first one that popped in my head. My summer in NYC. I had never been to NY, and with the cojones I have, I booked a flight, rented a flat for a few months, and just went. If I could relive that summer again and again and again, I would, at least another 3 or 4 times. Words could never do justice to all I experienced - and I will always remember that summer as being a HUGE turning point in my life. I made some friends for life, as well as it being the very first time ever that I realized, "I can do this. I can be an actress." Well, a working actress that is. Up until then I had only done community theatre or school shows, but that summer I was getting callbacks for regional tours, independent films, and local theatre - all paying gigs. So, I guess it's special because I truly found myself in NY, and nothing thereafter was ever the same. Plus, I met Kevin Spacey. Just saying :)

So that's my blog for this week, my lovelies. I hope you have all enjoyed my answers to your questions. They were honest, they were real, they were completely unfiltered, just like me. Till next time....

Love & Light!