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2010-04-04T08:24:00.001-07:00

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Revitalization

2010-03-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

Last week, I returned from a 10-day family trip to Maui, Hawaii. I know - be jealous :) I absolutely fell in love with the island, it's people, the pace of life, the colors, and especially...the FOOD. Note to self: for future reference, all "revitalization trips" shall take place in Hawaii.

Though the vacation definitely succeeded at meeting my very cheesy "Three R" goals (Relaxation, Recreation, Rejuvenation), it also taught me an important lesson about the acting industry: timing.

Becoming the actor I want to be will take a lot of hard work and patience, a little bit of luck, and a boatload of being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, it's hard for me to accept that so much of my success as an actor is out of my control (yes, I'll fess up to my Type-A tendencies). But I suppose it just means that I need to TAKE control of the things I can, whenever I am able.

Like this vacation, for example. My family planned the dates to fall during university spring break, not only so all could join us, but also because of the weather, fares, etc. If you've ever planned a getaway, you know what I'm talking about.

How was I to know that two days before we left, I'd get an audition for a guest star role on "The Good Wife?" Due to the episode's shooting dates (mostly while I'd be away) I didn't go to the audition. In the minutes after making that decision, I was halved:

Part of me was severely disappointed in myself. If I want to make it in this industry, shouldn't I be willing to do anything and everything to kick open that giant wooden door standing in my way right now? The other part of me - let's call it the logical side - kept repeating that this wasn't my LAST opportunity; there will be others. In the end, I wasn't willing to sacrifice my family vacation (and a good thing I didn't!) because I have to believe that more opportunities are out there, on the way, just around the corner. They are opportunities I will meet head on; this one just wasn't meant to be.

Oh, one more thing they don't teach you in school:

The acting year is broken up very specifically. Januaryish-Aprilish = Pilot Season, aka STAY in New York (or Los Angeles, if that's how you roll) for those new shows, and for maintenance on shows that aired in fall and didn't get canceled. Aprilish-Juneish = Pilot maintenance, aka STAY where you are again (or switch coasts) to be at the forefront of the changing pilots that got picked up. Juneish-early Augustish = this is a good time to go on vacation. Augustish-early Decemberish = a few more pilots start up now, and maintenance on extant shows is rampant. Decemberish-Januaryish = another good time for vaycay, just in time for the holidays.

It's just another formula I need to remember, one I intend to commit to memory so I don't ever feel like I shot myself in the foot again.

Let the Wild Pilot Season Start!

2010-01-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

It seems like just yesterday - the giant purple gown, the super noisy...noisemakers, the never-ending crowd at (old) Yankees Stadium...

But I did graduate. And - I'm embarrassed to say - I did have the "OK world, I'm ready: cast me!" moment. Okay maybe I had a LOT of those moments. And when my call went unanswered, I panicked. I froze. The terror seeped in - I went to acting school WHY?! - and I dug myself deep into a rut I thought I'd never escape.

But, in the words of Stephen Sondheim, "I know things now, many valuable things that I hadn't known before." There are some things you just can't learn in the safety of acting school.

Sure, we learned about the practical things - like "there will always be someone who hates your headshot" and "learn how to properly apply makeup so you actually do look like your headshot, not a clown" - but there's so much more to being an actor than how to audition and effectively analyze a script.

One of the reasons I love this industry so much is because it's physically impossible to know everything. And if these past few years are an example, I have SO much yet to learn. The most important thing I've recently discovered is that, for me, the journey through the unknown isn't scary anymore. It's exciting! I know. Crazy, right? I have no clue where I'll be next week/month/year or who will be paying my next (acting) paycheck. And that's okay.

It's also okay - by me, at least - that I've given up trying to please the intimidating people (aka "The Big Cheese") on the other side of the casting table. Because honestly? There's no way I can know what they're looking for. All I know is if I'm in that room, I'm meant to be there. All I can do is be prepared and be consistent and give the best audition I can. My personal best. (I know I'm starting to sound cliche and sappy - forgive me. I'm getting to the point.)

Words cannot describe how valuable this lesson has been for me. How lessening my control (just a bit) and relaxing (a lot) have brought me leaps and bounds further than where I was even two months ago. Case in point:

This past Friday I went to my first pilot audition of the season. My first pilot audition...well...ever. It was a FOX TV Studios drama for ABC; I auditioned for a cop named Leigh. My wonderful agent called me the day before, sent me the sides and - when I requested it later that night - the full pilot script, and I got to work.

The beauty of pilots is the characters are raw material; I had a unique opportunity to create a person based solely on the words on the page. I had so much fun becoming Leigh, and I think it showed in the audition room.

I went on-camera for Marci Phillips and John Ort (both of whom I'd had the pleasure of working with in workshops this winter). Neither of them wanted to give me adjustments because they enjoyed my choices so much! As I left the room, Marci even said how pleased she was to see me bring myself to the character :)

Needless to say, I felt (feel!) pretty darn proud of myself. Getting rid of those demons - you know, the ones that make you dwell so much on the "what ifs" and the "that wasn't rights" that you're never actually IN the moment, enjoying yourself? - is the single most satisfying thing I've done for myself since graduation.

But I ain't done yet. My first pilot audition is now in the producers' hands...but the season is far from over. Let the wild pilot season start!

2009 In Review

2009-12-22T07:54:00.000-08:00

As this decade (wow) draws to a close, I'd like to take a minute to tie up all my loose ends - including one apology and one resolution.

The Apology:
I have been extremely lax in regards to updating my news feed. I apologize profusely to my family, friends, and friends who have become family - I do receive your emails and well wishes! Not to sound like a diva (*shudder*) but I do read every one; I'm just really terrible when it comes to the responding part. I truly appreciate all your support as I work my way through these first few "post-school, real world" years...I'm already at the door, and I can feel it starting to give - I just know that with a few more good hits, it'll be kicked wide open! Or at least cracked. Which brings us to...

The Resolution:
I really like the idea of starting each year with a clean slate and fresh goals to attain. Y'all know me: I'm the over-achiever who actually sticks to these resolutions and works her lil' tushie off to reach those goals! So let it be said that I - Lipica Shah - officially resolve to improve my correspondence skills, increase my networking ability, and keep everyone in the loop this year. This promise includes a commitment to update this news feed AT LEAST once a month, and respond to all emails, phone calls, carrier pigeons, etc. in a timely fashion.

And finally...my 2009 in Review. I'm OK with the fact that I use a lot of exclamation marks. I hope you are too :)

The Top 10 Things I am Most Proud of Accomplishing This Year (Acting-related):

10) Getting in shape! Now, this might seem like a stock answer (or a stock resolution), but I have struggled with body image for years. At an audition a few months ago, I looked around the room - at people I was essentially competing with - and realized I needed to kick my ass into gear if I wanted to be a) taken seriously in this (oft superficial) industry and b) competitive in this industry at all. So I did. I've never felt better in my own skin! The hard part will be maintaining this program (NOT diet...diet is a four letter word with bad connotations) through the holiday season and beyond. But hey, if I made it through Thanksgiving - all 4 of them - I feel like I can do anything.

9) In 2009, I auditioned at least once for every show that shoots in New York City - I even got callbacks for a few! Booking one of those roles is the goal for 2010. And now that those casting directors have seen me, all I have to do is maintain the relationship, stay on their radar (see "The Resolution," above), and continue doing good work.

8) I'm in a textbook! At the very end of 2008, I auditioned to be a new character in the I-Zone English Learning Textbook Series, popular in Asia and the Middle East. Todd Rucynski, the director, cast me (a wise decision, if I do say so myself haha) and Maya was created. I had a blast working with everyone to create the DVD segments and the preliminary trailers and specs look great!

7) Yet another CollegeHumor video...this time a parody of the Twilight Saga, Twilight: Three Wolf Moon. What I love about working with CH (aside from the constant hilarity on set!) is they like working with the same people over and over. So the first time I worked with them (the ER parody) I was in the background, the second time (Slumdog Price is Right) I had some nice screen time, and this time I've got a line. Can't wait to work with them again! In the meantime, check out Twilight: Three Wolf Moon below.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

6)Dov and Ali! I've already written about my time in Chester, Massachusetts this past summer - it really was wonderful to be on stage again. Thanks to the cast and crew for a great (and interesting - Uncle Larry's? The Dreamaway? Sinking the canoe?) time!

5) I'm on IMDb! A few films I've worked on have completed, are in, or will be entering the festival circuit - thus, I've got some IMDb cred :) Just go to www.imdb.com and type in my name, or click HERE to see my page.

4) I am so thankful and proud to be signed with Bloc NYC Agency. Jim, Fatima, and Tony (and Liz - miss you!) you guys are wonderful. Thank you for your patience and hard work - I've learned SO much just this year...the sky's the limit for next year!

3) For anyone who doesn't know yet, I'm currently in pre-pre-production (haha) for Bornila Chatterjee's upcoming feature, Oh Sophia. It will be my first feature, and I play the lead, Diya, an introvert who comes out of her shell in this pseudo-fractured love story. What's wonderful is us actor-types have the opportunity to create our characters - and, in turn, influence the story's creation - because we're doing all this work now, even though we won't shoot til summer. I can't wait to work with y'all at Peresempio again :)

2) Thanks to my five-week stint at the Chester Theatre Company performing as Sameh in Dov and Ali (see #6), I am now a proud, card-carrying member of the Actors Equity Association! Being in the AEA has opened many doors for me, as far as auditions go, and - as I take more advantage of its benefits - will open many more.

1) The past few months have been kind of quiet on the audition front, and (I think) I've been using my time wisely. Instead of sitting around and whining (which...OK I'm sure I did for at least a few days), I've been busybusybusy taking classes and workshops with Casting Directors all over NYC. My goal was to meet someone from every major network before pilot season begins in January. And I did it. I've met and been seen by CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, the WB, and Law and Order, and received very positive feedback. I'm not gonna lie, a lot of their comments made me feel...I don't know...validated? As an unknown actor right now, it made me feel damn - dang - no, damn - good to receive their praise. Some highlights:

"I know you say you're all about 'drama' and 'CSI' and stuff...but I LOVE the sitcom genre for you. You were able to maintain [character's] neurosis even through the serious moments." ~Michal Zecher (CBS Primetime), after my audition in her workshop.

"Wow...Smart, fun, interesting, engaging, unique...Everything I look for and want in an actor...sit down." ~Marci Phillips (ABC Primetime), after my audition in her workshop.

"Wow...I'd give you adjustments if I thought you needed it." ~Clint Alexander (FOX Primetime), after my audition in his workshop.

I'm SO ready for pilot season...Bring it on.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year - see you in 2010!

Post-Chester Daze

2009-07-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

An excerpt of a review of Dov and Ali in "The Pittsfield Gazette," a Berkshires newspaper:

"The women are the most interesting characters here, both impacted by their male counterparts’ struggle to decide whether to be true to their faiths or to be what Ali describes as 'a halfway person.' As Sameh, Lipica Shah is an enticing narrator. She also emerges as the most human person, overcoming the sometimes stiff dialogue."

(To read the whole review click HERE)

When I first came back from Chester, I walked out of Grand Central and into the heat, noise, and life that is New York. I'll admit it - after more than four years living in this city, it was jarring to suddenly "come back." Where Chester has birds singing in trees and the smell of fresh air and the sense of community that comes with living in a small town, New York has pigeons swooping dangerously close to one's face, the smell of garbage lining the streets, and the sense of being just one of oh-so-many. Jarring is an understatement.

But at the same time, living and working in this city is a privilege. One's senses are constantly stimulated - creation is on every street corner, in every subway stop, atop every tall building. As an actor, it's impossible not to feel inspired by the ever-changing environment. As an actor, I sometimes feel useless when I'm not using the city's gifts.

Dov and Ali was such an amazing opportunity, and I find myself itching now to move on to the next project - to be able to, as an acting teacher once told me, put my environment to use.

Support Our Veterans

2009-06-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

I recently shot a Public Service Announcement on behalf of a campaign sponsored by MTVU and the Half of Us program. The PSA aims to raise awareness about Iraq War Veterans trying to make the transition back to everyday life. Check it out by clicking HERE

Chester, Massachusetts - Here I Come!

2009-05-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

*drum roll please*

I am so proud to announce that I have been cast in the New England Premiere of Anna Ziegler's play, "Dov and Ali," going up this July at the Chester Theatre!

Okay okay, I know what you're thinking: "WHAT?! Lipica's doing theater?!" Well I'll have you Negative Nancys know that this whole shebang started with theater. Remember "Into the Woods?" And that ugly prosthetic nose? Well, there's no more nose, but "Dov and Ali" is truly an amazing work; the first time I read it I knew I needed to be a part of the production. Lucky me :) Here's a description of the play, from the Chester Theatre Company's website:

"Dov is a Jewish high school English teacher. Ali is a Pakistani Muslim in Dov's class. When Ali comes for extra help on THE LORD OF THE FLIES a complex relationship is born. Dov's culture has taught him to question everything, Ali's culture -- to accept everything his father espouses. But, it's the women in their lives who will pay the price of Dov and Ali's failure to cross the cultural divide. A fearless play that tackles powerful world issues for an intimate, human perspective."

I will be portraying Sameh, Ali's younger sister, and the narrator of their story. She is a deeply religious girl, but with her own beliefs about what that means. Patient and loving, she has a quiet strength that makes her seem old beyond her years.

It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to work on such a meaty character (not fat meaty...meaty like juicy. Okay I'm just gonna stop.) and I'm excited to dig in (seriously, I need to end this metaphor).

I hope some of you will be able to come see the production! All the details can be found on the Chester Theatre Company's website, www.chestertheatre.org.

And for my last trick, here is a College Humor parody I worked on a few weeks ago. It's called "Slumdog Price is Right." I'll be you can guess where this is headed...

Watch The Slumdog Price is Right and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

sings I wanna be a Producer...

2009-03-03T17:46:00.001-08:00

...oh wait...I am a Producer! More specifically, I am the co-Executive Producer (and co-Creator) of Obelisk Road, a new supernatural web series on the Beneflix.com channel! Maybe you already knew that...I'll bet you didn't know that Beneflix went live this past Sunday. AND not only is the first episode of Obelisk Road waiting for you to watch it, it's also the featured video on the site!

Here's what could happen next:

You: go to http://www.beneflix.com/ and sign up to be a user on the site. Watch Episode 1 of Obelisk Road. Fall madly in love/become so obsessed with the story, you just HAVE to be a part of it too. Discover that you can be! How? By purchasing cNotes (at the top of your home page) and using them to vote for what you want the characters to do next. As if that isn't enough incentive, you'll also be giving back to the community, because all proceeds from votes benefit Obelisk Road's charity of choice, the Seeds of Peace Organization.

Me: I love you :)

In all seriousness, I have never learned so much so fast. This project has been a labor of love - conception to delivery - and I cannot believe the role I'm going to be playing in its creation every month. (Okay I think I've officially retired this metaphor!)

All my life, I've had a strong belief in two things: the power of collaboration and the importance of learning things from different perspectives. I've made it a point to read both sides of a story, to travel as a tourist and a local, to always put myself in the other person's shoes, because these things are important to me. I truly believe that experiencing a singular event from all angles helps me to be a better, more well-rounded person. Yes, producing is a very new thing for me - and new things are scary - but I've fried bigger fish (*ahem* climbing really, REALLY tall mountains with no previous mountaineering experience) before, armed only with my trusty post-it notes and pretty pen (*ahem* 30-page term paper the professor changed the topic for at the last minute). I feel proud to know that I am able to operate successfully on both sides of the camera - for a while there was a small part of me that didn't think I could, and I'm happy to silence that doubt.

I owe SO much to the cast and crew of Obelisk Road for their patience with me and their enthusiasm for this project. I am incredibly lucky to be working with such talent - so I really don't mind the stress and travails that come with the "Producer" title! I've also learned something really valuable about myself: of course I get worried - of course, when things go wrong, I have a moment of *PANIC* - but in the end, I'm surprisingly calm. When stuff piles up or my "to-do" list keeps getting longer, it's okay, because I know that everything will get done. Breathing is good; it clears my mind. But then my mind turns into a tunnel - everything else is blocked out - and I tackle one thing at a time, just me and my multi-colored post-it notes.

Now I can tell my parents I was a doctor...

2009-02-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

...in a College Humor web parody, that is! A few weeks ago I did some background work for CollegeHumor.com. They were shooting a parody of an "ER" promo, so I spent my day dressed in blood-soaked scrubs, running up and down the hall of an abandoned wing in a hospital (creepy! cool!), trying to figure out if a stethoscope can really be used to hear through walls...you get the idea. It was a BLAST! And now the parody is online for everyone to enjoy :)

To view, click HERE to go to the College Humor website, . Enjoy!

Check me out in "4074" Magazine!

2009-02-11T08:54:00.001-08:00

In case you missed it before...that's me! I'm featured in this month's "Passions" section of the prominent New Jersey magazine, 4074. A HUGE thank you to Joe Sapia, who believed in me enough to contact me and write this wonderful article. Thank you also to Peter Ackerman (what a great photo!) and Megan Macijauskas for meeting with me in the city and lugging their photo equipment all over Central Park until we found the PERFECT spot.

The article is in circulation in the Jan/Feb issue of 4074, and you can also read it online by clicking HERE.

I've also got some amazing shots from our 4074 photo session that I'll upload very soon - stay tuned!

Wow, it's been a while...

2009-02-03T06:44:00.000-08:00

...and it's entirely my fault! I've found lately that my intentions are good - I intend to stay in touch with friends and family and actively maintain my news feed - but I'm a little lacking in the follow-through department. I'm working on it :)

In the meantime...2009 is only one month in, and I've already got big news to share! Thus far I have dabbled in comedy, had my first taste of "fame," and ventured into the very scary and very exciting world of producing. Read on to find out how...

Many of you know of the company College Humor (If not, check out their website HERE!). They are known for consistently working with the same people; it is rare that they hold auditions. But - lo and behold - they were in need of an Indian actress for a shoot (can you tell where this is going?), I auditioned, and I booked the job! Last week I shot a parody of the television show "ER" with them - I will let you know when it is uploaded to their site!

As for my first taste of fame...a while back I was contacted by Joe Sapia, a journalist with the New Jersey newspaper "The Asbury Park Press." I had worked with him before, and now he was interested in profiling me in an article for APP's Jersey magazine "4074." Of course I said yes! "4074" contains a section entitled "Passions," and each issue highlights an individual - with ties to New Jersey - and their pursuit of their passion. Interviewing with Joe was such a pleasure (I even surprised myself with some of the things we talked about!) and the subsequent photography session was a blast! My article came out in the Jan/Feb issue of "4074." Joe is in the process of sending me some hard copies, but you can read it online, just click HERE.

And finally, my very exciting - very challenging - producing adventure: a few weeks ago, my good friend Elizabeth Kerin was contacted by a brand new arts-charity project called Beneflix.com. She was invited to be one of the first five film directors - nationwide! - to participate in the launch of the Beneflix web site. Here's the deal: these five directors each create a web series (a short TV show for the Internet) and upload one episode each month to Beneflix. Viewers then watch each episode and vote on what they want to happen next to the characters (kind of like those "Choose your Own Adventure" stories when we were kids). Every time someone votes, they are also donating a small amount to a charity of the series' choice.

The second she got the offer, Liz called me, and she and I created "Obelisk Road," a world where the supernatural is natural - and its power is not easy to resist. As the creators of this series, she and I are also sharing the title (and responsibilities) of Executive Producer. We are producing the series under the label of the independent film company Liz started a few years ago, Passage Pictures, and are shooting our very first episode this weekend! We could not ask for a better cast and crew, and we're excited to see how the story of "Obelisk Road" unfolds.

Beneflix has already had a ton of great press and has garnered an impressive reputation in Los Angeles. We are SO proud and honored to represent New York at the company's launch in March! There's just one thing: no one at Passage Pictures or Obelisk Road is making any profit from the series. Beneflix.com is a charity project, and any proceeds we make from viewers voting or otherwise will go directly to the organization we are sponsoring (we're currently in talks to decide which organization it will be). Productions are expensive undertakings, and we are looking to you, our families, friends, fans, and community, for support. Every little bit helps, and anything you can contribute (food, supplies, monetary donations, etc.) will be much appreciated and put to good use. We will also, of course, put your name in the credits. Remember that Beneflix.com is a charity project, and as such it relies heavily on the help and support of the community.

For more information or to make a contribution to "Obelisk Road" please e-mail ObeliskRoad@gmail.com. I truly appreciate everyone's support over the years - I know I wouldn't be anywhere without all of you! I'll be sure to let you know when Beneflix.com launches, so you can watch, vote, and become part of the "Obelisk Road" story.

Take care everyone - and stay tuned!

So what if I am an Indian girl who burns rice?

2008-11-25T09:35:00.000-08:00

This morning I read the script for a feature a good friend of mine wants to shoot in the (near!) future. One scene in particular gave me pause: the protagonist - who happens to be Indian - is ogled by an Indian delivery boy. To add insult to injury the delivery boy then chastises her for speaking to him in English instead of Hindi, claiming it is a betrayal to her "people." The scene is very well written in my opinion, simply because it made me react strongly - with outrage.

I am an American of Indian descent, and I am proud of my heritage. I am proud of India's history, its culture, and its people, and I am not ashamed to correct people when they incorrectly identify me as anything other than what I am. And so, like the protagonist in the script, I cannot help feeling angry when someone has the audacity to accuse me of "betraying my people" so to speak. To me it implies that I owe something, that I have an obligation to Indians everywhere to do...something.

What is that something? I have no idea. Am I supposed to wear a sign that announces my lineage? Am I supposed to protest the fact that there is often no "Indian Subcontinent" option on ethnicity surveys? Am I supposed to bat my eyelashes and swoon every time a "Hindu brother" stares at me like a wolf in a meadow of baby sheep? And more importantly - does NOT doing any of these things somehow make me less of an Indian? I think not. What follows are my reactions (in no particular order) to many complete strangers' accusations - I wish that I would have replied like this in person, but allow me to set the record straight now, if only for myself to appreciate.

-I do not believe I need to go to temple every week - or at all - to call myself an Indian.
-I do not think being an Indian means I should always dress with chastity and reservation and subsequently always act chaste and reserved.
-I do not feel like less of an Indian because I can't eat spicy foods.
-I do not feel like a failure because I consistently burn rice.
-I do not think it is appropriate for anyone - specifically men - to approach me when I'm holding my boyfriend's hand and leeringly state that I will "come to my senses soon"; aside from it being a blatantly racist remark (my boyfriend happens to be white), who are you to tell me who I should and should not choose to spend my time with?
-Honking your horn at me as I cross the street is not a great way to get my attention. Neither is making a crude comment as I walk by. (This reply is directed at but not limited to Indian men)
-I love beef. It tastes delicious.
-Just because I am brown and you are brown does not mean I am your "daughter," and I would really appreciate it if you would refrain from a) calling me your daughter and b) touching my cheek as you do so. There are two people who are allowed to do both of those things: my mom and dad. Because they made me. And I have no clue who you are.
-Did you know that there are over 500 dialects in India? Did you also know that each one may as well be its own language? Again, just because I'm brown and Indian, please do not automatically assume that I speak whatever language you speak...and then don't get huffy when I reply in English.

I write this now because as an actress I am constantly shapeshifting: I force my being through sieves, and whatever pieces of myself remain become the foundation for a new being soon to be created. But it only works if I know who I am entirely; if I know me, then I also know which parts of me live in this new being as well. Sometimes it's hard to keep me entirely in focus - like during encounters with these strangers - because after "knowing" me for a few seconds, they feel entitled to question the me I have lived with my whole life.

I am - you are - we are all individuals. What I am is in my blood, my bones, my heart. And that is something that cannot and will not change.

Vampyre Confidential: Everything You Know About Vampyres is Wrong...

2008-10-21T05:01:00.000-07:00

Along with producing my good friend Elizabeth Kerin's latest project A Boy and His Bike, I have been busy preparing for my upcoming role in Kaliya Warren's short Waiting. I play Miley, a troubled teen stuck between her tendency to try to make her life more exciting and her desire for a real adventure - to become someone of substance. In this slice-of-life-esque film we meet Miley as she sits in a waiting room, waiting for...what? Shooting starts in two weeks!

Now on to the main attraction: what is Vampyre Confidential? It is the deliciously dangerous world created by photographer, director, and screenwriter Joe Ritter. In this world Vampyres are real, and they are seeking revenge on the humans who tried to destroy evidence of their kind from history books. To be a Vampyre is to worship a matriarchial society. To be a female Vampyre is to be powerful, sexual, and above all - ruthless. What does this have to do with me?

Joe Ritter is writing, producing, and directing a live multi-media reading of his latest screenplay Vampyre Confidential/Rogue Coven (the latest installment of the series) at the Galapagos Art Space in early 2009. I am one of the actresses involved with the performance, as well as an assistant to Joe during this pre-production period. That means I not only get to help with the technical logistics of the show, but with the artistic development as well! This is something I've never done before, but - as with most things in this business - I'm expecting to learn a lot as the project progresses :)

Check out the Vampyre Confidential backstory: www.VampyreConfidential.com
Check out some of Joe's work: www.jhrphotography.blogspot.com

More info on the reading coming soon!

The 47th Floor

2008-09-24T05:58:00.000-07:00

What is The 47th Floor? On the surface it is an internet dramatic series (webisode) created by Gary O. Bennett and produced by Alyssa Rallo Bennett and Stonestreet Studios, the acting conservatory I attended while studying at NYU-Tisch. But at its core it is a mystery: except for Gary (I hope!) no one knows what The 47th Floor actually is. It's a regular conundrum; a mystery within a mystery.

It is a project I have been working on for almost a year. My character, Petra Jin, gets more enigmatic and resolute each time she appears on screen; every time I receive a new script I find more layers and more questions to answer. I'm not sure if I can ever be tired of "being Petra!" I suppose that's a good thing, because Petra's time on the show (unlike many others) is not over yet - in fact it's just begun.

We have shot over 80 episodes thus far and over 40 of them are online for your viewing pleasure. Click here or use the link on the right side of the page to navigate to the site. This week's episode, 47.43, is when Petra first appears. Keep watching the show though...Petra's not going to stop until she finds what she's looking for.

I'm going to be on Pokemon!

2008-09-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

That's right folks! Mark your calendars now, because on November 22, 2008 you can finally admit your secret love affair with one of the most successful cartoons of all time: Pokemon. I'm so thrilled to have the chance to be a part of this show!

Listen carefully during throughout the show; I'm the voice of the (human) character Cocoa.

Recording at DuArt Studios was such a wonderful experience. I learned so much in such a short time! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the animated character come to life with my voice, and I really hope to have the chance to do so again. Keep your fingers crossed for me :)

Here are the details of the episode I worked on:

Pokemon Episode 1134

"Arriving in Style"

Air Date: November 22, 2008

Air Time: 9:30AM

Channel: Cartoon Network
Produced by: DuArt/Pokemon USA

Thank you all for your support!

At long last...

2008-09-16T09:03:00.001-07:00

...my bio is complete! Check out the juicy (ok maybe not that juicy) details of how Lipica Shah came to be on the "bio" page :) Enjoy!

Telluride Recap

2008-09-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

I must say: my experience at the 35th annual Telluride Film Festival was WAY different from my experience at Cannes a few months ago. Not bad different, just different.

For starters, no one dressed up at Telluride - and thank god for that because a) many of its attendees, like me, spent their nights in tents at nearby campgrounds (evening gowns are not conducive to fire-building), b) it gets way too cold in the mountains to worry about looking pretty when you can easily throw on some jeans and a sweater (or five sweaters, in my case), and c) who wants to be confined to the streets in nice outfits when jeans and t-shirts mean you can go hiking in the middle of the day?? Needless to say, I look pretty awful in most of the pictures, but I don't care one bit - I'll pick comfort over style any day!

Second, I actually got to see a ton of movies this time around :) At Cannes, it was possible to arrive hours before the movie started, wait on line, then get to the front only to be told there were no more seats for movie-lovers because they needed to save them for Buyers, Producers, Marketers, etc. AKA: If you don't have money to give to the production, you're outta luck. Now, this policy is fair, since for many of these independent films, the festivals are their main source of income, but I still don't have to like it, right? On the contrary, my Cinephile pass for Telluride meant I could only see certain movies at certain times, BUT when I got to the line an hour before the film started, I was given a "Q," which held my place in line. So if my "Q" was #14, I could go away, get breakfast, come back 15 minutes before the film started, and STILL be the 14th person to get inside the theater. Pretty neat huh? It was doubly cool if the film was being shown at the Chuck Jones Cinema, cuz then the "Q" is called a "W2," which stands for "Wabbit Weservation," in honor of the late animator's most beloved Looney Toons creation, Bugs Bunny. It goes without saying that that was my favorite of all the venues. Then again, most of the films we saw happened to screen there...so maybe I'm biased? Check out all the films shown at Telluride

Thirdly, Cannes is beautiful, but at no time during my stay there did I get to have a moment alone to bask in its beauty or just to reflect on the fact that I - me! - was actually in FRANCE. Telluride is a tiny town (population 2,500) situated in a box canyon, which means the only way in is also the only way out, because it's surrounded by mountains on three sides. The festival attracts tons of people to this remote location, but the landscape was so vast I always found unexpected time alone. Check out the pictures below to see what I mean.

Lastly, I spent so much time trying to beat the lines to get into venues to see movies at Cannes that I didn't do much else. If I get to go back to France a second time, I vow to explore more of the region! I and my traveling companions (my boyfriend Eric and his parents, Karl and Susan) arrived in Colorado a few days before the festival, and we used it to explore the ancient Indian ruins in Mesa Verde National Park. It was the perfect way to acclimatize (get our sea-level lungs used to the higher altitude) and introduce ourselves back to nature before our total immersion in all things beautiful, cinematically and environmentally. Take a look!

A view of Cliff Palace, the largest Anasazi Ruin in Mesa Verde National Park, just before we went on a hike to tour it: Me, hiding amidst the creepy branches of a big tree that was lost in the wildfires of 2002:
Eric and I on line at the Chuck Jones Cinema:
Yes it really does get this cold at night in the mountains! Me all bundled up in my sleeping bag:...and then Eric trapped me in a really awesome old-school telephone booth:The tail end of a beautiful sunset:

Oh how the time flies

2008-08-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

Well! It's been a while since I've written anything. Let's chalk it up to a busy schedule, the gorgeous summer we've been having here (who wants to be inside on the computer when it's beautiful out there??) and - okay fine, I can't lie - the fact that I completely forgot I had the ability to update this myself! *le sigh* On to the update :)

Post-college life is turning out to be eerily similar to college life...minus the exams and 25-page papers and lectures delivered by professors who have to be speaking a foreign language. I'm still waking up early, racing from one side of Manhattan to another, from one job to another, and one event to another, then going to bed at roughly the same time I woke up. But no complaints! Seriously, I couldn't love it more. Despite a jam-packed schedule, I actually have time for myself now. I've taken up running again, and kayaking, and I'm trying to learn how to cook (read: trying). All that and I'm still auditioning up a storm! Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Next week I'll be able to take a break though: I'm going to Telluride Film Festival in Colorado! Thanks to a wonderful graduation gift (thank you!) I get to spend 5 days exploring Mesa Verde, camping in Telluride, and basking in the glow of new cinema. Needless to say, I'm psyched!! Pictures and recap of the festival to come...

Exciting News!

2008-06-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week in the wild world of Lipica...

I'll be shooting an industrial next week with OmUsha Communications for NAMI New Jersey (the National Alliance on Mental Illness). It's a half documentary, half dramatization to raise awareness among police officers about how to better handle situations involving mentally ill people, rather than labeling them "crazy" and treating them like criminals. My role is really intriguing and definitely a challenge for me, but I'm really excited to work with such a talented group of people!

I recently began searching for a new apartment, and this week the hunt began in earnest *dun dun dun!!* So far...I'm a little worried about the prospects. I mean, which would you choose: the apartment with the shower in the kitchen and the bathroom outside in the shared hallway or the one advertised as a "200-square-foot studio" for the low, low price of a kidney? hmmmmm

And finally, the biggest news of all: I'm so excited to tell everyone that I am now a proud member of the bloc NYC agency family :) I signed with bloc this afternoon and I absolutely cannot wait to work with them! We may be small, but as I always say, big things come in small packages. I'm really looking forward to growing, developing, and doing what I love to do with bloc's guidance and support. Stay tuned...

Cannes Update

2008-06-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I returned from France, but what can I say? I'm a busy gal! Seriously though, the work didn't stop while I was in Cannes; it certainly didn't slow down when I got back...doesn't the world know to stop when I go on vacation? ;-p Just kidding.

Anyway, attending the festival was an incredible experience, and Nice/Cannes are absolutely BEAUTIFUL cities - check out the pictures if you don't believe me.

I think we (Josh Luria, Ye-Jee Kim, Elizabeth Kerin, and I) did a great job promoting our respective films in the Short Films Corner, and we still had time left over to catch a few screenings...by sheer coincidence, I managed to see the much-talked-about "Che," Steven Soderbergh's biopic (or should I say biEPIC?) of Ernesto Guevara.

Not surprisingly, I felt the film was a *little* long (read: really long) because it was repetitive at times; a lot of the second half seemed similar to the first half. However the cinematography, sound, and design were breathtaking (as was the location!) and Benicio Del Toro's portrayal of the humble revolutionary reminded me why I love acting - I empathized with Che, I hated Che, I yelled at Che, I cried for Che, I thought Che was foolish, I thought Che was a genius, and just when I thought there couldn't be more to Che...there was. The emotional roller coaster lasted the entire 4 1/2 hours.

Overall, I wouldn't change my first film festival experience one bit. Will I do things differently next time? Well, I was given a Cinephile pass to Telluride Film Festival this August as a graduation present (thank you!!!), so I suppose only time will tell...

It's Official:

2008-05-07T13:12:00.001-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, Lipica is going to Cannes Film Festival!

On May 19th, two days after the Tisch graduation ceremony, I'm going to cross the big bad Atlantic and land in sunny, beautiful south France to spend seven glorious days bathing in the wonder that is Cannes Film Festival. Ok maybe that's a little melodramatic...just go with it please, I've never been to France before :)

Why? I played a supporting role in "American Epilogue," directed by Elizabeth Kerin, which will screen in the Short Films Corner. Red carpet here I come! Well...I mean...kind of...

Check back soon for pictures and updates. I'll be back in New York on May 27th!

The Tompkins Square Romp (Space to Play)

2008-04-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

I hope to see you at the park tomorrow!

Why? Well, a few months ago, some friends and I decided to start a non-profit organization, The Glass Company, as a way to raise social consciousness through art. Our focus is on Gentrification, specifically the changing face of the Lower East Side, NY. Tomorrow we're holding a free festival as a forum for discussion on this very topic.

The Details: Saturday, April 26, from 12pm-4pm, at Tompkins Square Park (between Avenues A and B, 7th Street and 10th Street). Along with free food, the festival will include dance, live music, spoken word, puppetry and all sorts of theatrical work. There will be space for dialogue, letter writing, information, and a great environment to meet people from the local community.

So stop by for a minute, sit for a while, or come play all day! See you then :)

Welcome to LipicaShah.com!

2008-04-15T13:40:00.001-07:00

Welcome everyone!

The site's undergoing development right now, but thank you for stopping by!

Please check back soon for updates.