WHY I'M IN TORONTO...

Forgive me... I've been vague, and I am so not good at being Vague, but I tried, I did. But I've had to be... until now, here we go...

Some of you little detectives have been on my trail, ya caught on to me, ya might know whats going on. From the sounds of my twitter-tweets you may have gathered that I am here in Toronto... and I have been in Toronto for nearly four weeks. Which is abnormal and kinda wonderful, I haven't stayed put anywhere for longer then two days at a time for months. I even unpacked my suitcase, I live out of drawers, and hang my coat in the closet... yeah, I have a coat and I have to wear it, cause it's cold, and I'm not yet acclimated. Pretty much I am doing something I've never really done, nor did I really expect to be doing, if you would have asked me just a little over a month ago. But life is about change and taking chances and adapting to new stuff. And sometimes, stuff falls from the sky... heavy, crazy, funny stuff and I can't say it so much fell into my lap, but it crash landed right onto my head... cause, I wasn't looking. No worries... I'm finally recovering.

I am acting. I'm kinda being an actress... actually not kinda, actually I am completely being an actress. Yep, it's bizarre and yet quite exciting, and I find it weird as I am typing out the word "actress". I landed a role in a film for TV/Pilot... and it's a rather involved role. It's a long story how it came to be, but it's one of those serendipitous stories, right place, right time, right people... stars aligned kind of deal. Basically I was attending a conference for Family Entertainment with Summer B., my fellow Girl with Glasses. It was there that I met loads of random creative people including the producer for this movie, not knowing he was the producer for this movie till weeks later when he called me in for an audition. There are other coincidental (or not) details that I won't elaborate on cause it'll take a million years to explain it... and I have already taken about half a million years to get this far into the blog post. This doesn't surprise you nor I.

Anywho, where was I... oh yes, so I am acting for the first time. Well if you were to include my High School Musical "Meet Me in St. Louis" from when I was 15... then this would be my second time. But ya know what I mean, like the whole being in a movie thing. This is a whole 'nother animal. I have been asked more then a few times if "I had any plans to act" which generally I would reply with, "no... not really, but if the right thing came along... maybe, i dunno", and there were things that came along, but they weren't right, or weren't right for Brooke. I have been completely focused on music since American Idol, and worked to establish an indie record, that was honest to who I was and supported my credibility as an artist, and thus I had created and released with all of my love, High Hopes and Heartbreak. And so of course, it's been a year since it's release, the next thing to do was t get back to work on another record, and get writing, which I have been doing and enjoying... And then with the shift of the Business, I started thinking a little more out of the box, which led me to our quirky little project that I adore, The Girls with Glasses Show, which then led me to this... change of plans. Truth be told I was shocked when I got the call that I had gotten the role, a whole two days before I could pack my bags and catch the next plane to T.O... I didn't even have time to be scared, which is perfect. God is smart.

Ignorance is bliss... so they say, and I think in this given situation, it's true. I came onto set with few expectations, no acting classes and no real idea of what was about to happen. Generally this would freak me out, cause I might have some control issues... a lil' bit, especially when it comes to creative endeavors. BUT, then I met our incredible director, John, who I had a real heart to heart talk with on the first day when it really hit me. I spewed out all my fears and insecurities. Like a therapist, he sat there and listened patiently with compassionate eyes, and reassured me that it was all going to be okay. And for some reason, I believed him, and so I made a decision to trust... and I do, trust trumps fear. It has really become this simple. He directs, I follow directions...

As I mentioned before, it's been four weeks, which is almost unfathomable, it is that whole "the days are like weeks and the weeks are like days"... it's flying by, but not... and I am glad. Now I've always considered myself morning person, and I thought waking up at 7 am made me an early riser... oh how I have been humbled. These days My alarm is set for roughly 4:45 am, just in time to talk myself into crawling out from under the covers, say my prayers, hop in the shower, gather my stuff and head down the elevator to greet the chilly dark morning, and the sarcastic and yet lovable Steve, the guy who transports me from A to B day after day. We have good talks, and sometimes it's quiet time, and sometimes he lets me turn up my music really loud so I can sing out at the top of my lungs. Generally by the time the day is done, which generally is about a fifteen or sixteen hours later, it is dark yet again... The drive to and fro is important time.

Then there is the "SET", which is really my home away from home these days. Everyday is different, and yet the same. I am greeted by miss Jillian who then informs me I have five minutes to get into wardrobe and get into hair and make-up. Paul and Linda make some major improvements to my face and hair situation, I scarf down some oatmeal and run over my lines, and hoping that I can remember everything, all while listening to Opera and classical music (which I have come to appreciate and enjoy). Then it's time to head to set, where Bonnie makes adjustments with her double stick tape... and there is a bustle of energy all the time, big fancy cameras, clunky lights and then there is the crew, the crew are always there... you know I just love people... and truthfully I love all of these people... they are so delightful and kind and funny. It is such a pleasure to be surrounded with them, especially in those moments where I have not a clue what I am doing and I am feeling daunted by a scene, they are a safety net. And when this is all over I will be devastated to say goodbye.

And then there's my TV family... or the family I have on TV. I have a TV husband, in real life his name is Joe Flanigan, he was a sci-fi star on Stargate Atlantis... he has his own action figure. He is quite the character, and has given me some of the best acting advice... "just listen". Good advice for real life too. And without giving too much away I have some other amazing and adorable co-stars, these kids are super cuties and talented... oh and they are teaching me. And then there is Jayme Lynn Evans, who has become by BFF on set, she is also a Vegan and it perplexes me, I don't know how she does it but she is dedicated so i've got to give her props. She is gonna be a big time actress y'all, watch out. I don't want to say too much about the story at this point, but I will say that it is all about the fam, and that's cool, cause I love the fam. I also play a singer-songwriter, which is such a stretch:) I was able to write three songs that will be in the movie, one of them co-written with my pal and tour mate Michael Johns. Can you believe that was a year ago?!

Well... What more is there to say other than, I totally love this actually... I don't know if I'm a real good actress, and what will happen next, and i am not sure if I will be able to watch it back when all said and done, but I am surprised how much I love it. I miss Dave and I miss California, and am so unbelievably exhausted that I fall asleep sitting up, which is a first. But truly, I am invigorated by the newness and the challenge of trying something different, and it is fantastic, I am grateful and fortunate. Now I am going on a little field trip on my day off...

Action...

PS- oh so the "Sad Songs" playlist that I tweeted about yesterday is to help me get into character, I have a sad scene tomorrow... :(