Actor? Where to start?

So, you decided to move to Hollywood to pursue acting. There are a lot of scamming managers and agents who will be promising you roles in exchange for fees. They will tell you that you need to take pictures with their photographer, take classes with them...

When I came to Los Angeles (with BA in acting from one of the biggest acting universities in the world) I believed everyone. After getting burnt several times and after thousands of $$$ I opened my own management company and helped several actors to launch their career. It also helped me to become SAG by getting a voice over job. But the most important thing that I have learnt was how this business runs.

My suggestion would be that you choose a photographer that is not photographer for models, but for actors. Get photos in few different costumes (i.e. casual, business, soccer mom, hip...). Before the shoot write down life stories for each character that you feel you could play. Be honest to yourself. These back stories will reflect in your eyes. And eyes are the most important thing when casting director browses through pictures.

When you have headshots done you need to create a resume. Don't put extra work on your resume!!! If you haven't done anything yet, you might want to buy BackStage West and send out submissions for student movies. Or even easier, you might want to subscribe to http://www.nowcasting.com/ where you can submit yourself to various union and non-union projects.

A great website to find yourself a commercial agent is http://www.lacasting.com/

When you sign with an agent or a manager (you can find always updated list on http://www.nowcasting.com/) you will need to sign up to http://www.actorsaccess.com/

And don't waste your life by coming to Los Angeles thinking that you are going to work full time as an actor from a day one. You need to find yourself a "real" job before you even pursue acting. If you are starved, desperate, occupied with an idea to earn big bucks... that will reflect when you are auditioning. And nobody in the industry has time to deal with your frustrations, desperations and insufficient experiences.

I'd love to hear from people about their first steps in Hollywood, about running out of money, being scammed, about getting a job...

Break a leg everyone!

More and more foreclosures

Lately I am reading a lot about foreclosures. I mean, pretty much everywhere in US they are up 51% (compared to about a year ago). What does that mean? It means an erosion of equity and therefore greater opportunities for investors. For owners facing foreclosure it means that since their equity is very small (if any), it is harder to get out of trouble. What owners don't know, that there is a lot of steps that they can take before they loose the possesion of their home.

If you got a Notice of Default it will definitely be helpful if you know some laws about foreclosures in California. I am a strong believer of "what goes around, comes around" and therefore I want to share some of my search results with you. For more laws you might want to contact

Attorney General's Office
1515 K Street, Suite 511
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
Ph: (916) 445-9555
Fax: (916) 324-5205
Civil law division: (916) 324-5431


Summary:
Judicial Foreclosure - Sometimes
Non-Judicial Foreclosure - Yes, most common
Security Instruments - Deed of Trust, Mortgage
Right of Redemption - Yes, judicial foreclosure only
Deficiency Judgments - Yes, judicial foreclosure only
Time Frame - 111 days or more

Judicial foreclosure in California is rarely used, and only in the absence of a power of sale clause in the loan document or when the lender is seeking a court order for a deficiency judgment. The lender must sue the borrower to obtain a decree of foreclosure and order of sale. The court may also order that the borrower has up to one year to redeem the property.

Non-judicial foreclosure is the most common form of foreclosure in California. This process is used when there is a power of sale clause authorizing the lender, in the event of default, to sell the property to satisfy the loan balance. If the power of sale clause includes the time, place and terms of sale, then that procedure must be followed. If not, the process is as follows:

A Notice of Default is recorded with the county in which the property is located when a borrower fails to make a loan payment. A copy of this Notice is sent by certified mail to the borrower within 10 business days of recording. The borrower has 90 days from the date of recordation to cure the default.

If the borrower fails to cure the default, a Notice of Sale is recorded. This Notice states that the lender or trustee will sell the property at auction in 21 days. This Notice is also sent certified mail to the borrower. It is also published weekly in a newspaper of general circulation in the county for three consecutive weeks prior to the sale date. The notice is also posted on the property, as well as in a public place, usually at the county courthouse.

The Trustee Sale Auction is held as a public auction at the time and place designated in the Notice of Sale, and conducted by the lender's representative. The successful bidder must pay immediately with cash or cashier's checks in the full amount of the bid. The successful bidder receives a trustee's deed on completion of the sale. The lender usually bids in the amount of the balance due plus costs. If no one else bids, the property reverts to the lender.

The borrower has no right of redemption, and deficiency judgments are not allowed in non-judicial foreclosure.

Links:

• Civil Code Section 890 et seq. - Rent Skimming
  
• Civil Code Section 1695 et seq. - Home Equity Purchasing
  
• Code Section 2924 - Trustee's Sale Procedure
  
• Civil Code Section 2945 et seq. - Foreclosure Consultant
  
• California Code of Civil Procedures