Guest Blog: Mélie B. Rondeau on Keeping Acting Career on Track During COVID-19
As a professional actor, I am used to moving around, being creative, meeting with like-minded individuals. A few weeks ago, most of my usual routine was taken away from me when, like most people on the planet, I was asked to self-isolate.
I consider myself extremely lucky: working from home was already inherent to one of my part-time jobs, which meant that I could still earn a living. Because, other than that, all filmed productions have since been shut down and my work as a teacher’s assistant within the Toronto Film School faculty is currently on hold until classes resume.
I’m grateful for this job as it forces me to maintain a routine and, in my humble opinion, maintaining a routine is one of the key components of success. From the beginning, it was important for me to see the current situation as an opportunity to slow down, find balance and take care of myself, but also an opportunity to stay on track and grow as a professional actor.
I recently experienced pure and utter joy when I was signed by SoHo Management. I had been reaching out to various agencies since the day I graduated, exactly two years ago, and having this kind of support as an actor is life changing. It is reassuring to know that someone has my back professionally, as we’re learning to navigate this particular period in human history. Upon their recommendation, I’ve been uploading my new demo reel, updating my resume and various profiles (Casting Workbook, Actors Access, IMDb Pro). Even if you are a self-represented actor, those are just a few of the little actions you can take every single day to make sure that you are up and running when the quarantine situation is lifted.
As of April 2, I was supposed to start working on a hilarious six-episode series called Dream Job. I had worked on the pilot two summers ago and we were all so excited to start filming in the next few weeks. As you can imagine, the production has been postponed, and it is really hard to know exactly when we’ll be able to get back to it. So many elements will have to be reconsidered: schedules, locations, casting choices, etc. Despite the uncertainty of it all, I chose to keep on developing my character, finding clues and answers in the script, analyzing my relationship to the other characters, creating my character’s background, etc. I’ve even created a playlist for my character on Spotify! The more work I’ll put into it, the more solid the performance.
I’ve also been approached by Matthew Toffolo, the founder of WILDsound Festival, who recently had to cancel upcoming short film festivals in Toronto, Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago. Now, I get to watch some of the short films that were supposed to be screened during those festivals from the comfort of my home. Then, all I have to do is film myself and provide the creators with some feedback. As an actor and aspiring filmmaker myself, I think it’s excessively important to watch short films on the festival circuit. I also see this as a wonderful opportunity for me to refine my aptitude for criticism. He also asked me if I was interested in recording my voice as I read for some of the scripts they’re still receiving every week! (And this one is a paid opportunity!)
For the last year or so, I have frequently been submitting my name on Casting Workbook to participate as a volunteer performer in the monthly WILDsound table reads. At this point, I’ve been invited three times and this is how I met Matthew. I thought it would be relevant to share this last bit as some current and/or future Acting students might be reading this article. Never underestimate an opportunity! You have no idea where it’ll lead you! Obviously, take some time to think about everything that is brought your way because not all opportunities will help you progress in your career, but make sure to stay open. Your thirst for knowledge and improvement should always lead the way!
A few days ago, I joined a live session with some of Toronto’s most prominent casting directors. The conversation was hosted by eBoss Canada and it was free! Since I have been auditioning for some of these people and I know for a fact that I’ll keep doing so, I figured it would be useful to hear what they had to say. A lot of them opened up about how they felt regarding our current circumstances and it was really nice to witness a glimpse of the real human behind the casting director. For an actor, casting directors can be intimidating and it was a great opportunity for me to get to know them a little better. (In this industry, it’s always good to know who you’re talking to!) Because his own job is currently put on hold, one of them even said that this whole situation made him develop a new layer of respect for actors since we constantly live in a state of uncertainty all the while dealing with frequent rejection. I would totally recommend participating in live sessions like this one, watching webinars or that Helen Mirren Masterclass you always promised yourself you would get to! Also, if you’re a young non-union actor living in Toronto, you might want to consider joining these groups on Facebook: eBoss Canada, Mann Casting and Entertainment Industry Canada.
I also have this side passion project that proved to be quite inspiring to me in these troubled times. Jamie Fenn, a professional photographer and fellow Acting Alumnus, recently approached me with an idea she had been cultivating for years. We’re both currently working on developing this creative venture where photography and video meet to allow our participants to share their views on body positivity and what it means to them. To make sure we keep the ball rolling, Jamie and I have been organizing phone calls and Skype interviews with our participants to get to know each other a little better and to discuss our main topic. These conversations are breaking our prolonged isolation and they always make me feel excessively positive.
Some of my friends have also reached out to me to request my assistance with various things. A friend of mine recently finalized the picture lock on his first feature film and shared the link with me so I could give him some feedback. Another director asked my opinion about pictures and videos he would like to put on his website. A fellow Toronto Film School graduate called and asked me if I could provide him with my headshot, my biography and an expression of interest for a big project of his! In this time of isolation and fear, don’t hesitate to reach out to your fellow artists. The people you value and trust! Make yourself available for them as well! Supporting each other despite the distance: this is how we’ll win! I’ve also been reading Bryan Cranston book titled A Life in Parts and I’m really enjoying it! If you’re looking for an inspiring, easy to read book about being an actor, I would strongly recommend Jenna Fischer’s The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide. It’s actually a great read in a time like this!
On a final note, I’d like to share that the trailer for Godforsaken, my first feature film has been released recently and it gave me a lot of hope! Eventually, productions will resume and we will all start working again. We will all be overwhelmed by the work and I’m sure that we’ll all wish we had more time for ourselves. For now, let’s just all sit down, breathe and focus our attention on the present. It really is the perfect moment to ask yourself…What can I do today?
– Born in Granby, Québec, Mélie B. Rondeau moved to Toronto in 2016 to pursue her passion for acting shortly after landing her first non-speaking role in Les Affamés, winner of the Best Canadian Film award at TIFF 2017. As valedictorian of her graduating class, Mélie also received Toronto Film School’s Best Actor, Best Female Performance and President’s Awards. She’s since starred in her first professional play, Toronto the Good, at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and appeared in a national commercial. Instagram: @melie_br
