Let Me Make You Smile

My headshot from 2001, my LA days.

Have I mentioned that I love the entertainment industry? I really do. Even all of the crap that comes with the people that think they're the hottest poop out of God's rear end-- I just love it. (And, yes, I wrote poop. I have 5 year old twins, remember?) Granted, I make fun of those self-important celebrity wannabes... I still love it. Those types of people give me plenty of writing material.

My maiden name is Cook. When I did my stint in Los Angeles back in 2001 - 2004, I went by my maiden name. Now I'm Candice Cain-- Yes, Candy Cain. It's my married name. I didn't choose it. My husband chose me, and I am old-fashioned so I took his last name. (Hey, it could have been worse. In college, I was friends with a guy named Cody Landis. If that led somewhere, I could have been Candice Landis.) So, when people try to do research on Candy Cain, they usually find all sorts of drag queens and porn stars-- So they think I'm full of crap. They treat me like garbage. Essentially, they have no idea who they are dealing with.

Then, when I tell them that I worked as an actress and used the name Candice Cook, and they do that research... Well, their tune changes. It's kind of comical really. I love watching people treat me like crap, knowing full well that they are going to eat crow once it dawns on them that they are looking up the wrong name. Sometimes I hand them the ketchup.

I'm nice to people that I like. I really am. I bend over backwards to help people. People I don't like? Well... That is an entirely different story. I might look sweet and people might tell you that I'm really nice, but I'm not. I'm sweet and nice to the people that I like. Otherwise, I'm incredibly condescending and sarcastic. I'm working on it, though. I really am.

In short, I've got an over-the-top personality. Everyone that knows me knows this. Other people, however, are somehow shocked. I don't know why. I'm larger-than-life to begin with. I'm 5'9" tall (plus half an inch-- but who is counting?) and I'm a plus-sized woman. (I'm working on that, too, though.) However, in the entertainment industry, this works to my advantage.

Big Hair? Check. Big Hips? Check.

A couple of weeks ago, I was going through the breakdowns for my talent roster. I saw a casting call for a woman with "big hair, big hips and a big personality." Honey, you can't get much bigger than me. That is exactly the way I started out my letter to the casting director, none other than the fabulous Desiree Kennedy. I was called that afternoon to come in for an audition the next day. I wore an orange shirt, black capris and my sandals-- And I did my hair rather big. (Take a look at the photo to the right.) I headed on into NYC and met Desiree. She's a doll-- We hit it off right away, talking about our names. (I went through a time when I was younger where I wouldn't answer to any name but Desiree, which was my great-grandma's name.)  

My go-see consisted of me pretending to bowl in front of a cool photographer. I didn't get his name, and was in and out pretty quickly. I was the biggest, baddest broad there-- All of the other women were skinny minnies. I felt like a fish out of water, and figured I wasn't going to get the part. Heck, I didn't even know what it was for-- Only that it was a paying gig for a nutritional company that could turn into a national print campaign. It was easy. It was fun. And, yes, I'd totally do it again.

You can imagine my surprise when my phone rang late the next day, and it was Desiree calling me to tell me that they wanted me for the shoot. I was going to be a "avid bowler" for a... get this... Metamucil print ad!!! 

Metamucil??? ME??? I'm 36!

Yeah, that was my thought process. However, I am certainly aware that fiber is for everyone. The majority of Americans do not have enough fiber in their diet. As a matter of fact, I actually do drink a fiber drink each day. It's good for your heart, circulatory system, digestive tract, etc.

But, I digress. 

I landed the gig and headed into NYC for the shoot on Monday. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! The photographer that took the test shots of me was the photographer-- a hysterical guy named Steve Lesnick. Not only is he a really cool dude, he's a fantastic photographer. I got into my outfit, hair and makeup, picked up my bowling ball and had an absolute blast shooting with him. I've never, ever, ever worked with such a fantastic photographer before.

As a matter of fact, the whole crew was fantastic: Marissa, Lana, Cecily, Steve and, of course Desiree. The time just flew by. We had a lot of laughs, and now need to wait and see if the pics are used by Metamucil for their national print campaign.

Me in First Magazine - March 2012

This was my first big step back in front of the camera. I mean, I did a makeover shoot in the beginning of 2012 for First For Women Magazine, but that was just using average people and unpaid. Anyone could have submitted for that and gotten chosen.  

This job was different. I was chosen from other talent that had submitted to be a part of the shoot. I worked with a casting director, producer, photographer and crew. I was paid for what I did. It was a professional job.

And I loved every minute of it.

Landing this gig gave me confidence. It reminded me of what I used to do before I had kids, and even before I got married. I'm really good in front of the camera. I also happen to be good behind the scenes. Now I'm working where I'm actually able to do both. Life is good.