Hello! Whether you found me from my blog or my YouTube channel, WELCOME!
I am Laila Flores, an actress, singer, and writer. My goals for this blog are to go behind the scenes on my videos and career. I want to create a space that inspires others who have an interest in the industry. I also want to go behind the scenes in creating/making the concepts, filming, and all that. In this blog I am going to tag on to what I say in my videos because sometimes I feel like I only scratch the surface of some of these topics.
THERE’S JUST SO MANY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT!
So come along with me as I explore the world of acting, YouTube, writing, singing, and all the future endeavors I decide to pursue. Hopefully it will inspire you to do what you love and create a community where we can foster talents and expand into paths never thought of previously.
All in all, this is a blog for creatives and I thank you for joining.
Being an actor is hard enough. Here I take out the guess work of what makes a good audition based on my own work and previous auditions. I even include what I use to film, and edit auditions. Join me as I watch my own audition tapes and give you tips on what to and what not to do. Check out my video available on the bottom of this post that speaks of the same topic in video form.
Outfits
Like headshots, interviews, and general meetings, what we wear is super important. In my audition, I wore a dark top. With my black hair, low light, and dark hair, I look like I have a floating head. The only good thing is that I do not have a black backdrop. If I did, I would really be a floating head. Instead, try lighter shirts. Find a color that matches your skin color for optimal results. It’s usually good to have a few go-to shirts so that when you do go to audition, you don’t have to worry too much about what you wear. At times, casting directors will also ask for a certain look. Try to keep your closet stocked with things that would fit in the parameters of what they are looking for. When you do you headshots, you will have these outfits so those could work as your go-to’s.
2. Where to look
When auditioning, you ALWAYS want to look off to the side of the camera. Make sure to look just slightly off the camera. That could mean looking next to the lens or just next to the entire camera. Do a few takes to figure out what looks best. You still want to face the camera. You do not want a side view. People need to see your whole face in order to see your reactions and thinking. Avoid having your hair in front of your face as well. It may take some getting used to but it makes such a difference in professionalism.
3. Nervous Ticks
I have a really bad habit of moving my leg. I started in elementary school when I started having panic attacks. As the panic attacks went away, this habit did not. I find it funny that I am now able to stop this movement when I start playing the character but I still need to work on it in daily interactions. The last thing you want to do is give up your power to someone else when you’re having a meeting. The best way to know what bad habit you have is by recording yourself. This is how I learned I bounced too much. When I recorded myself and learned, I was able to undo the habit. This will save you from completely ruining your shots on the day when you have to film and submit the audition quickly.
4. Research Brand Names
As an actor, you will probably do a lot of commercial auditions. This is where most of the money is raised until you can get a network or streaming service show/movie. This is why it’s super important to research names! No one wants to hire someone that doesn’t take the time to research the company. They definitely do not want that person to represent their company.
5. Readers
How do you get someone to read the other character’s lines? You make a phone call, ask a roommate or friend, OR do it yourself. I personally would rather call someone. An actor friend, a parent, your child…just find someone. There are also apps where you can record yourself saying the opposite line and play it while you act. I find these difficult, however, because then you have to time your reactions and it makes the process feel rushed and inorganic. You could also say only your lines out loud, then process the opposite lines in your head and react. In post production, you then MUST record yourself saying the opposite lines.
6. Character Work
Character work is the process of getting into your characters mind. Thinking about why they said that line, why do they believe what they believe, and so much more. I’m not going to go into what character work entails. That topic deserves a different post altogether. This is where getting training in acting is SO important. Before you can act, you must understand. You will not have a good audition unless you understand.
7. Tips for listening
Listening in auditions is as important as having a reader. It informs the way you’ll say your next lines. It ties in with knowing why you’re saying what you’re saying. Even if you have rehearsed the lines, the issue is getting yourself to hear them like they’re new. A great tip for this is to find something different each time the person says it. No one will ever say their lines the same. We’re not recordings, it’s not possible. What you have to do is discover something about what they’re saying. Once you have that thing, keep thinking it every time you hear that line. This will help you be active with your partner and REALLY listen to what they are ACTUALLY saying. (see also subtext).
8. Excessive Sighs
I absolutely cannot stand when actors make a big sigh. It’s so performative. It’s not natural. When trying to create natural reactions, avoid taking all of that energy out in that way. Instead, ground yourself and listen. When you do a “show boat” sigh, you’re not actually listening. You’re anticipating.
9. Post Production
Casting directors sometimes want you to turn in self-tapes quickly. Because of this it’s so important to find a process that will SAVE you so much time. You want to spend most of your time on the audition and preparations. Not on trying to get it in. I use apple’s ecosystem to transfer my files from my phone to my computer. I then use iMovie to edit and export my auditions. I could use Adobe Premiere Pro but it’s too clunky for my computer and takes longer. If you have a set up where Adobe Premiere Pro is better, by all means use it. You don’t, however, need fancy systems to create a great audition tape. Get your technology and system set up before you have an audition so that you are ready to go. Casting director’s are asking so many audition tapes from so many people. Getting it in sooner will ensure they actually see your tape.
***I want to put a quick disclaimer that my opinions are mostly reflective of what someone with feminine tastes MAY like. Gender, however, is not a factor in these gift ideas and anyone can enjoy them regardless of identity.
Hey guys!
When I think of Valentine’s day gifts I think of roses, chocolate, and teddy bears. I’m sure you do too. The thing is…those are not the best gift ideas for your significant other. Here’s a list of 8 things that your girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other/friend would ACTUALLY like on Valentine’s day.♥️
I also created a video version of this list, if you’d prefer to watch than read:
Check out my product recommendations list at Amazon and Etsy.
Socks
Off to a bad start now, aren’t we?
Socks are actually a really great gift! Why? They are customizable, practical, and fun! You can get your significant other socks with their favorite animals, cartoon characters, people, and other interests. Then, your significant other will be able to wear them and actually use them. They’ll think of you everytime they do because you gave it to them. I talk about some bunny socks I have in my video (above) and I still remember where I was, who I was with, and so forth. It’s filled with love, great memories, and are very useful during the cold winter days.
2. Onesies
Onesies are another great, practical, and fun gift. Just like socks, you can get onesies with different characters, colors, sizes, etc. They are very comfortable to sleep with. I have a Grinch and Rudolph onesie that my boyfriend gave me and I use it all the time throughout the year. You can get matching onesies for you and your significant other and then have sleepovers! I DEFINITELY recommend this.
3. Plant Kit (Specifically Succulents)
I FREAKING LOVE PLANTS!!! I am such a plant mom (even though I only have two plants at the moment).
This idea came to me because of the standard idea of giving roses as gifts. Yes, roses are beautiful. Yes, you should still gift that if that’s your brand BUT roses die after a few days. No matter what you do, it’s not going to live. You can, however, replant a rose stem and have that grow into another flower. OR you could just get them a plant kit and set them up for success with different plants. I personally love and recommend succulents. They are so easy to take care of and they are SO beautiful. I mention you could also add a card and sign it with a cheesy note saying, “This plant is a symbol of the love we have grown together” or something like that.
Now I know not everyone likes plants. That’s fine! You could always buy your significant other fake plants as they are no commitment and really brighten up a room.
4. Gifts For Their (Fur) Babies
“The way to a mom’s heart, is through her children.”
Laila flores
I totally quoted myself. Is that weird?
When you are dating someone who has kids (human or not), they really would appreciate you thinking about them and treating them right. Valentine’s day isn’t just a day to express love for your significant other. It’s a time to express love to everyone! Showing kindness to one of the most important things to your partner is a way of expressing and celebrating the different types of love that exist beyond romantic love. I’m not a mom, but if I was, I know I’d be SO THRILLED if my partner were kind and thinking about my babies…because we are a package deal.
5. Chocolate
Yeah, I know I bagged on it in the beginning of the article but HEAR ME OUT! I’m not talking about the generic heart shaped box of chocolates. In fact, I have some beef with them. I mean what a stereotype, first of all! First, not all people (girls in particular) like chocolate. Second, whenever you see a girl crying over someone, you think she’s in sweatpants eating ice cream, CHOCOLATE, or drinking! While that may be true in some cases, it’s not true in all. Some of us don’t even eat because we’re too sad. (All mourning process’ are valid.) If you look closely in films that portray this kind of behavior, you will see the girl taking bites of different ones because they are not always good.
In fact, the pieces of chocolate that are good, are probably 1-3 chocolates out of that 24 piece box and now you’re left with the rest that doesn’t taste good. This is ultimately a waste of money and chocolate.
BUT if you MUST give chocolate, there is a solution:
A. Just buy their favorite chocolate! It doesn’t have to be in a fancy heart-shaped box! (I recommend Merci chocolate because it’s good and inexpensive.)
Although, you could always buy a(n empty heart-shaped) box and replace the chocolate with their favorite kind!
B. You could plan a cute evening to hang out and bake something sweet or savory or whatever you guys are into.
6. Lingerie
This one’s not for the kids!
Yes, you can get sexy this Valentine’s day. No shame.
I would like to reiterate a point I made in the video (above). Get your S.O lingerie that will be comfortable beyond your sexy time. Why?
It says, you are important to me and I want you to look good, feel HOT, and be comfortable BEYOND our time together. It’s so nice to be considered for more than your physical body and so I strongly recommend getting lingerie that is comfortable. If you don’t know what is comfortable, look into the material, the fit, size, color, and design. I recommend going to a brand that sales lingerie such as Savage x Fenti, Victoria’s Secret and looking at their best sellers tab (then you can go into Shein or another cheap site and look for lingerie that is cheap but in a similar style with similar materials. It’s a lot of work but worth it. Disclaimer: some partner’s hate that you cheap out but if it looks expensive…they won’t know!).
7. Jewelry
Jewelry is a great way to accessorize your person and show you care. It doesn’t have to be expensive, however, but it can be if you’d like. I made a list on Etsy.com with adjustable jewelry that is hand made and supports small business. Adjustable is the keyword because I’m not going to make you measure your person. That’s a dead give away. Then, when you have their size locked in on their ring or wrist or whatever, you can get them the size that fits them next time by measuring the jewelry or bringing it into the jewelers…just a quick hack!
8. Stationary/Letters
Lastly, just write them a letter. Be pen pals! This is a fun way to keep in contact during these pandemic times and even beyond. This is cute if you are in a long-distance relationship or not. Maybe you can slip in some naughty photos (you didn’t hear that from me), have meaningless conversations, send drawings, etc. The possibilities are endless. You can purchase cute stationary or make them your self. This is something you can also add to another gift and use the stationary for a card to write that cheesy letter about growth and flowers.
That is it for my list! You can find my list of product recommendations below to give you specific ideas about what to give your person.
Happy searching and have a wonderful Valentine’s day.
Like I address in my video (below), the advice I give is not meant to replace advice from a professional. I am just someone who has experienced burnout and has found something to help me. Hopefully, this will help you. If it doesn’t, I have links in the description of my video to help direct you to a solution that may be better suited for you.
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Burnout feels so common these days. Especially, during a pandemic. So many people have abandoned their previous life of going into work and were stuck at home with little to nothing to do. COVID-19 became a financial burden for many, and a very real battle for others. On top of this, so many of us became burned out…or in my case, realized how burned out we already were. By doing inner work, however, I learned how to combat my burnout and feel better than I have in years! Read on to find out what I did.
My story with burnout:
I was raised in a society that constantly tells you that you should work hard. By the time I got out of college, I knew I had to work EXTREMELY hard to get half of what other people got. This started me on the road to burnout. Throughout high school, college, and the real world, I would work without taking a lot of breaks. In college I worked, went to school, took classes during the summer…etc. And through all this, I was dealing with panic attacks and depression which made it hard to function on a daily basis. I turned to art, religion, and unhealthy coping mechanisms to combat it, but nothing helped. When I finally graduated college, I moved out of my parents’ house and I started working two-three jobs at a time. There were some days where I would go from one job to the next and not be home for some days because I was working. On my days off, my physical and mental health weren’t good. I would be too physically exhausted to do anything else that I would just sleep most of the time but wake up feeling unrested. Mainly because I felt like I wasn’t doing things to further my career. Then the pandemic hit. At the beginning of 2020, I was constantly working and not giving myself breaks. I felt that I needed to do so much work in order to be successful. When COVID hit I felt like I had this great opportunity to focus on my actual career goals. By the end of the year, I realized I had a lot of issues I wasn’t dealing with and was not taking advantage of the opportunities I could have. I was not really living, just existing.
Getting rid of burnout:
So at the beginning of 2021, I had two weeks off and I decided I would stop working in those two weeks. I can only do things that I like…things that are fun to me. So if you’re looking to implement this in your life, this is what you should take away:
Take time out of your day to do an activity you enjoy.
-Even if it’s just 15 minutes, do what you want in that moment. Doing this repeatedly, multiple times a week can help tremendously.
Take a longer break and take days to do the activity you enjoy.
-This is what I started off doing with the two weeks I had off. It’s the same thing as the first option but longer.
Being present by journaling
-I saw this in a video about meditation. There was an activity where you take a journal and write down what you are thankful for in that current moment. It forces you to be present which is good because it’s hard to be present when you’re burned out.
Meditation
-Meditation can help you destress after each day and help you to realign yourself.
Physical Exercise
-Doing yoga or other physical activities can help a lot with reducing stress.
Where I’m at now
The following week I went back to work and I noticed a difference in my typical behavior. I woke up, got ready, worked on things in my job and my career. Currently, I feel like I am in a positive mental space. I’m not as depressed. Now, I know how my depression works. What works for some time eventually stops working. It hasn’t been a month but I’m thankful for a few weeks of positive mental health than having nothing. Which is why I want to share this with others.
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For a summarized version of this article, feel free to watch my video on Burnout, attached below.
Whenever I am talking to someone and they ask the dreaded question…”So what have you been up to?” [Cue anxiety.] I never know how to answer that and I end up sounding lame because I don’t know how to talk about the adventures I’ve had! Children do this with ease whenever they talk about their day. They probably didn’t do much but they can describe it in a fun and long way. So, why can’t I?
Part of the issue for me is that I don’t like talking about myself and I feel self-conscious about it. The reason why is:
1.) Society
In society, we are taught to be humble. We are taught that bragging is a negative thing. But really, it’s not! It’s a skill you need in the job market. You need to brag about yourself in job interviews. (Thankfully, this is something I am good at! :D) You need to talk about your skills and experiences when doing a job interview so the person gets a sense of what you’ve done and whether they want to hire you.
2.) Self-esteem
Unfortunately, there are situations in my life that have caused me to believe that what I say or do doesn’t matter/isn’t special. What a con! There are people who want to hear your thoughts. You shouldn’t limit yourself because you’ve been told you don’t matter. You do matter and there are people who want well for you so you should talk about yourself. I love hearing all the fun things my friends/family have done.
3.) Fear
Fear of people not liking you when you talk about positive things in your life. This is a big one. I’ve learned that this is a fear response. Muting yourself to fit another person’s box is so toxic. Why are you making yourself small so people would like you? You’re going to be miserable living that way. It’s far more freeing, blissful, and healthy to be yourself without thinking of other’s opinions of you. If they don’t like you…who cares! Someone will. You won’t have everyone’s approval and you don’t need it. You only need your own.
Now I want to address that it does get annoying when someone talks about themselves too much. There is a line between sharing and being plain self absorbed. As long as you don’t over do it, you’ll be okay. “Too much of one thing is never a good thing”.
In conclusion, you need to brag and advertise yourself in the job market. It’s not a negative thing. Your friends and family also want to hear about the things you’ve done. Don’t let negative things prevent you from sharing.█
I posted a vlog/sketch video about my insecurities with talking about things I’ve done and why you should do it. I realized a lot making this video. (That’s why I kind of ramble at the end.) It’s a message for myself but I made the video in hopes that it will help someone else. Check it out!
Laila Flores talks about the difficulties she has talking about herself to others through different characters in a video sketch.
Laila Flores 