Are You Smarter NOW?

MID-FEBRUARY QUIZ

Okay, I have been wondering if anyone has been paying attention in class, so I've decided to administer a quiz. That, and the government has enforced standardized testing upon us. So, here goes:

Which of the following is true about the last month of Joanna's life:

A) She signed with Triniti Management

B) She commenced filming on The Junior League of Superheroes web-series

C) She officially changed her name to Foster Wilson

D) She released a new version of her acting site, now seen at www.fosterwilson.com

E) She is being "taft-hartley"-ed AKA becoming SAG-eligible

F) All of the above

(insert theme music from Jeopardy here)

Fashion Smashion: Tomboy No More

I'll be the first to admit it. I love jeans. Comfy jeans, ballet flats, and cozy sweatshirts. But let's be real, folks - this is LA. Although Venice is full of girls who wear shorts and winter boots at the same time, or heavy coats and flip-flops (this city is obviously weather-challenged), it is a place where one needs to look one's best at all time. As they say, you never know who you're going to meet.

So when I changed my hair, I felt it was time for a wardrobe overhaul too. Balls to the wall, or whatever, right? So I found this brilliant girl named Hardy who just started her own style consulting business. She was looking to drum up new business and I was the perfect client - eager to learn, but slightly fashion-challenged. So she came to my house and helped me find all the amazing outfits in my wardrobe that I didn't know I had! Some of my "best" pieces were found at the $1 JetRag Sunday Morning Sale (why aren't I there now???). Hardy was a delight, though she did tell me I needed to wear heels all the time and flaunt my height (much to my and Brian's chagrin).

THEN my amazing man-friend (as my girl-friends T & G call them) bought me a delicious Christmas present -- a 2 hour shopping spree with Hardy! She was going to take me shopping and tell me what looked good! I basically had my own personal Stacey & Clinton rolled into one petite female. And that's exactly what she was.


Hardy was amazing, picking out exactly what I needed, giving me that boost of confidence (pencil skirt? hot!) and being perfectly blunt when needed (you look like you went through a car wash. take it off.) But the best part of the day was the Planet Blue 75% off sale, where all these designer clothes (uhh...what? is Old Navy a designer??) were actually affordable.

And then there was -- THE JACKET. It was gorg. The last one. My size. Perfect. I mean, girls in the store were actually telling me it looked horrible so that I would put it back and they could steal it. It was THAT good. Hardy convinced me that this $695 jacket was really worth the $175 I was going to pay for it. "Joanna. It's Smythe." I know, right? Can you believe it? I continue to say to everyone, "It's Smythe," still not really knowing who or what that is. But I went for it. I went up to the register to pay for the I've-never-paid-this-much-for-anything-before jacket and the cashier said, "That'll be $47". Cricket, cricket. $47??? Okay, Jo. Don't say anything. If you say anything, she'll realize her enormous error and take it back. Give her the credit card. Slowly. Nonchalauntly. Why are you moving in slow motion?!? Act normal. Smile. That's it. You knew it was $47. That the gorgeous DESIGNER jacket with the price tag that says $695 is actually $47. It's cool. "Here's your receipt. Have a great day." Holy crap. We did it! Hardy and I could not contain our excitement. We ran out of the store, sceaming, "We stole this jacket!! Oh my god!!" We got a few strange looks, but no arrests. We were in Venice. They'd seen worse.

When we were both safely a few blocks away, sipping lattes at a Starbucks, we realized that we were both convinced. This was definitely an act of God. You all know God's a woman, right?

Reds Just A Wanna Have Fuh-un

So let it be known, redheads DO have more fun.

The transition has been made, and I'm really enjoying it. It's amazing how a little something like hair color can really transform...well, a lot of things. We'll see how it affects my booking ratio :)

In the meantime, we are taking LA into our own hands and creating our own work (isn't that what all the smart people told us a few years ago? Yeah...we're just a little slow on the uptake). Brian and I and some of our friends, are creating a webseries (writing, producing, editing, costuming, you name it) and it's coming along very well. We have three episodes written so far, and plan to shoot them at the end of Feb. Look for a flashy new awesome website and three rockin' installments of THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SUPERHEROES roundabouts my birthday at the end of March. I would tell you more about it...but then I'd have to kill you! Muah-hah-haaaaaa....

Xtremely Offensive

Okay, the link is up! Disclaimer: This is NOT for the young, the old, or anyone that may be offended by -- well, anything. View at your own risk:

Xtreme Biography: Santa

Me: Psych!

I find myself currently sitting in the back of a giant conference room in San Diego, listening to a therapist talking about the psychology of weight loss. I’m quietly typing away on my laptop, peripherally listening to ideas I’ve mostly heard before. This half-vacation/half-working week has been my opportunity to have “daddy-daughter time”, an annual ritual for the two of us big-footed Wilsons. We spent the first half of the week touring San Diego (Coronado, La Jolla, the Gas Light District, etc), and now he’s lecturing while I do random other work-related things. I’m staying through Sunday, when I will be a guest judge at a San Diego beauty pageant (keep your jokes to yourself...it's too easy).

While it’s nice to have some time away from LA, it’s definitely strange to be the lone “actress” among all the intellectuals. I’m the odd one out – for once! Luckily, some great news came this week, so I have an “impressive” catch phrase to throw out there at the Brief Therapy dance party (Side note: Did you know most therapists really think they can dance but can’t? It’s ridiculously entertaining). Now I get to share that catch phrase with you: The webisode that you’ve heard about, X-Treme Biography: Santa, is going to be shown on ComedyCentral.com and Atom TV this Tuesday! Grandparents beware: this is not your typical Santa – proceed at your own risk! Please watch and tell your friends to watch. If the show gets a lot of views, there’s a chance Comedy Central may pick it up for future episodes!

I also spent a few days on the set of A Single Man, starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore, and directed by Gucci fashion designer Tom Ford. This film takes place in 1964, so everyone spent 4 hours a day in hair, make-up and wardrobe to look perfect for the designer himself. Mr. Ford, meticulously dressed in a tailored (Gucci) suit, lined us up and singularly approved or disapproved us. Usually every fifth person was sent back to hair, make-up or wardrobe for even more perfection. You gotta love that! It was a fun set, and I think I may be featured a bit, so I’ll keep you all posted.

When I return to LA on Sunday, I’ll get back full-force into the creating of another webseries with Brian and four of our good friends. We’ve had a great initial meeting and plan to shoot our first episode at the end of January. Sorry I can’t divulge more on the content, but our idea hasn’t been patented yet!

I'll leave you with an image that I can't take my eyes off -- we went to a gallery of rock and roll photographs, amazing shots of The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley and so many more "greats" in their prime. This is one of my musical love, James Taylor, in 1969. Sigh.

LIVEworks is a smashing success!

With a quick three-day run, the lasting effects of LIVEworks are still being felt. But whhhhhhat IS this LIVEworks, you speak of, my pet? Well, we shall start at the beginning (a very good place to start)...

Acorn Pictures is a production company formed out of the 2007 Atlantic LA program, taught by David Mamet. The company consists of 13 of my near and dear friends, most of whom I trained with at NYU/Atlantic. This blossoming company is such a delight -- hard-working, talented, professional and go-getters. And I'm not just saying that. I'm lucky to be associated with them. They have been producing projects throughout the year, and Brian and I have always been eager to help them wherever they needed. So when it came to their second annual LIVEworks show -- the only LIVE production they do each year as a fundraiser -- they generously asked us to be a part of it. Of course, we jumped at the chance!

In doing so, we each got to work on amazing short plays that became part of an eclectic evening of work. The show was such a hit, and the audiences were incredible. And we got to work with this company yet again, so it was triple-y fantastic.

Have I gushed enough?

Okay, so coming off of that weekend high (literally...we huffed hairspray in the show -- well, we TRIED not to...) I threw myself into Waiting for Lefty for two straight days. Now I'm just trying to recover and find a way to pay for the $600 fuel pump our car needs. Oy...

But all is well in La La land -- fall crispness has finally hit a North Carolina girl who was craving it, so the bliss is all mine :)

Donaura Wedding Bliss

Brian and I just flew back from good ole Westminster, MD where we watched and captured our good friends, Laura and Donald (hence Donaura), tie the knot. It was a gorgeous fall day -- Halloween, to be exact. The wedding was not at all spooky, but rather Victorian, elegant, spiritual and fun!

Laura looked amazing in her Vera Wang mermaid dress and pink pumps, hair swept to the side, carrying a bouquet of white roses, feathers and lace. Donnie was sharply dressed in a dove gray tux with matching Converse sneakers. Of course, no Halloween wedding is complete without 13 bridesmaids, 7 groomsmen, 3 flower girls and the Thriller dance. It was quite a night! We were so honored that they asked us to photograph the day and share in their love and excitement.

This week is full of rehearsals, shows and filming. Brian and I are both in Acorn Pictures' LIVEworks show this week at the Odyssey Theater. It's an evening onf 7 one-acts and Brian & I are each performing in one. Brian also wrote one of the plays called Sketch (being produced for the second time).

Next Sunday, I'm filming part of the play Waiting for Lefty (by Clifford Odets), which is one of my all-time favorite plays (I did it once in college with Brian!). So I'm stoked to delve into the role again (is that cheesy? oh well.)

I'm also been working on a web-series, both acting and producing, called X-Treme Biography: Santa. It's a mockumentary of how Santa's life goes horribly wrong - I play a bitter feminist elf in his workshop, another one of my dream roles. And I have to say, the ears are the best part. It's written and directed by my friend, commercial director Aaron Priest, so it's definitely going to be a hilarious and extremely offensive piece.

And if anyone hasn't seen our latest photo shoots, check out www.joannawilsonphoto.com and click on RECENT SHOOTS. Lots of fun new stuff!

More soon,
J+B+S