Tuesday, August 20, 2019

LA Reel Camp

I'm the first to admit that I have NO idea what I'm doing in this whole acting world.  I can't tell you how many hours I've spent reading/researching/talking to professionals on this.  I'm doing the best I know how and hope to help my son realize his dream.

I would honestly chose anything else for my boy--and if I find that it is IMpossible to raise a normal/healthy/happy kid in Hollywood, then I will quickly walk away from it all.  But this kid HAS talent.  It's undeniable and I've been told it over and over again so I gotta chase this dream with him.

We've been in contact with a Casting Director--Bill H.--in New York since his IMTA event in January.  We came home from that event thinking all our hard work was done.  Nope. It was just beginning.  We learned that Max needed more "real" screen time--more TV acting and less music theatre since TV acting is his ultimate goal.  So we needed a better Demo Reel to send to agents.  Coming to this camp in LA would give him "real" on-screen time AND a professionally made Demo Reel--which is impossible to do with our music theatre tapes.  So off we went.

Chris and I decided to split up this week between the two of us so that I could see Ethan and Tatum off to their first day of school and then neither of us would miss an entire week of work.  We also decided that if Max had to miss an entire week of school, the very first week is the best one.  So Chris and Max headed out Saturday night to check into the camp Sunday afternoon.  I was then going to fly out to LA Wednesday night while Chris flew back home to Phoenix.  I drove to the airport, took plenty of clear pictures of where I parked my car, and then jumped on the plane.  I found Max at the Burbank Airport no problem.  He was then "supposed" to take me to where Chris had parked the truck.  So when I found him, I asked, "Where's the truck?"  He looked at me shocked and asked, "Didn't Dad send you pics???  I can't remember!" I was seriously ready to loose it--"Seriously Max!!!  YOU HAD ONE JOB!!!"  Well, joke was on me.  Chris decided to stay the whole week with us--and boy was I SOOO glad he did.  I probably would have killed us driving in LA!!!

Chris and Max hiked to the Hollywood sign:





Here's our boy hard at work:  (Oh!  And we got to be "extras" in the restaurant scenes which was a BLAST!)

Workshop with Paul Weber

Max & Paul Weber






The parents had fun too:) . This is my new BFF from Kentucky--Debbie W.  She had the heaviest southern accent and was just so darn fun to be around:) . The studio we filmed at had several different room set up--we had fun in the jail part.




There was a "classroom" scene set up and LOOK who's name was on the board for detention!!!  (We honestly didn't write it!  It was already there:)

LONGEST DAY:  14 hours of shooting:




Last Day:  We had a free morning so we headed over to Santa Monica Pier and even rented those cool Lime Scooters.




We also had a couple meetings with LA Agents--both extremely interested in Max.  We met with one of the agents--Robin Nasiff AT HER HOUSE!!!  It was a HUGE mansion up in the hills.  We assumed that we were headed for a business building and were quite shocked when we pulled up to this seriously fancy neighborhood.  Robin really liked him--we still have one more audition to go with the Abrams Agency before we make any final decisions--BOTH agencies CRAZY good so we are REALLY excited to move forward with either of them.  We should know in the next couple of months.  Right now, I'm doing all the "mom-ager" stuff of getting child work permits in California, New York, and Massachusetts, and setting up his Coogan account--the not fun stuff but very necessary to move forward.  My to do list right now:
1-Work Permits
2-Coogan Account
3-Getting him prepared with a local acting coach here in Phoenix for his audition for a pilot this fall in Boston, MA.

So, moving forward with this acting stuff.  Still taking it day by day and seeing where it leads us.  Max is crazy talented and we have received confirmation after confirmation on this so forward we go!  Let's do this:)

Last Day Luncheon
Max & Kaz:  Look out for these 2 this fall--fingers crossed the Pilot gets picked up by a network!



He'll play piano for all his actor friends
but NOT his mom:)
































Saturday, August 17, 2019

First Day of School 2019

BIG year of BIG changes for Meekers!  Carlie is off on her mission to Vancouver, Canada.  Ethan started his Senior year.  Max started high school, and Tatum started jr. high!!!  We were ALL doing HARD things this week!

Max was in LA for acting stuff--next post--so just these two started school on time this year.  Ethan learned how to drive stick-shift this summer (after his blue car bit the dust).  So this is Ethan with his "new-to-him" 2006 Kia Optima car--with a fresh new paint job!  Looking good E!

The car was gold--everything in great shape
except the paint...



Ethan chose "Firebolt Red"








See Ya Mom!  We got this!


Carlie has LEFT the Nest!

So I've known this day was coming since February but....are you ever REALLY ready for a child to leave home???  I think having her at BYU this past year really helped me into this new phase of life.  I can't believe I have a missionary out in the field!  I swear I just picked her up from BYU to come home for the summer (okay, so that was like April).

She got to come home and was blessed to find a full-time job so she did work a lot this summer but
we sure packed in a lot of life and love her last couple of weeks here.  I can't even begin to express how incredibly PROUD I am of her.  

Her farewell talk was AMAZING.  She writes so darn well--she did ACE the English portion of the ACT (scored a perfect 36).  I laughed at her when she asked ME to proof-read her talk.  Please girl!  I was overwhelmed with the amount of people that came out to the Santan Branch meeting that morning.  How blessed we have been to be in our current home for 15 years.  In this one location, we have been in 9 wards, 3 stakes, and 2 zip codes which is a TON of change for sure but we have come to know a lot of great people because of it.  

On her farewell day, an Elder from our Branch was returning home the same week after completing his 2 year mission--so it was a "farewell" for BOTH.  This Elder had served on the Reservation for a year and was well-loved by all the members.  When he finished his testimony, he received a Native "war-cry" from a member which is a great honor amongst the Natives--but FREAKED OUT all the white folk.  Here is a video of my Great Niece, Lennon, mimicking the sound:



The Wilsons!

The Biggs

BFFs--Kayleah & Tayte

BEST MISSIONARIES EVER!
From right to left:
Elder Wright, Elder Bennett, & Elder Mickelson

The Knoop Troop

The Open House that night was STANDING ROOM ONLY!  I was blown away of all the people who came.  Seriously did NOT expect the turn-out we had.  Such an INCREDIBLE place we live.

Tayte, Kayleah, Carlie, Lois,
Kalissa, & Rhett

My boys LOVE these Elders!
One last pic with Elder Wright before he left!

Last family dinner was at Si Senor of course.  This is a funny pic of all 4 of our kids in the back of dad's truck.  They wanted to be sure they all fit before we took her to the airport:)


President Hansen came over on Tuesday night to set her apart.  We were having MAJOR issues getting our boys dressed PROPERLY for the occasion!  Seriously boys...




We were up bright and EARLY for her 6:05 am flight on Wednesday.  We got up at 3:45 to leave by 4.  At 3:47 am we got an email saying her flight was delayed 2 hours.  No biggie.  We were already awake and not going back to sleep, just gave us time to grab breakfast.  While at Dennys, another email came through saying her flight had been delayed another 2 hours.  Ugh...so we got her to the airport in plenty of time.  Casually got her bags checked in and hung out for a short time.  I was doing really well holding it together until I saw a good friend of mine, Susan S., dropping her son off and balling her eyes out.  That was IT for me.  Ugly crying, didn't even care who was looking.  We said our goodbyes and then off we went leaving our baby girl at the airport. 




She made it to the MTC--4 hours later than planned--but she made it.  Some kind soul in the SLC airport sent this pic to me.  I'm ALWAYS gonna do this from now on--when I see missionaries coming/going in any airport, I'm gonna take their pic and send it to their families.  TOTALLY MADE MY DAY!

So there you go Canada...you're getting some of my best work so treat her good okay?













Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Foster Pups!

Got some more pups from the Rez!  I only got to have them for 5 days but soooo worth it!  When we took them off the property, they were FILTHY--caked in wet mud (trying to stay cool in the AZ summer heat).  But in perfect health!






Seriously one of the coolest/chill litters I've ever had.  There were 7 total--3 were adopted over their first weekend and I can't imagine that the other will last much longer in the shelter.  We went with soda/drink names with this litter:

Shasta--Female

Joker--Male

Root Beer--Male

Sprite--Female

Dr. Pepper--Male

Mr. Pibb--Male

Pepsi--Male