An Update Since this Afternoon

Today has certainly been an exciting day. (They really need a sarcasm font here...)

 

After I wrote my previous blog entry, I got a message from the admin that never replied to me last month, asking. "Why the rude blog post?" And then she gave me her phone number to call.

 

Why the rude blog post? Are you kidding me? How about because you and your two friends are calling me and my company illegal? You're coming after me and my livelihood. You're hurting my company. You're preventing me from doing business. You're hurting my family. That means you're hurting my kids... and NO ONE gets away with hurting my kids.

 

Fortunately, I was out to lunch with Shannon, who is my assistant turned dear friend. I took advantage of this and called the woman on speaker phone so that Shannon could listen as well as participate.

 

Apparently, this woman read my blog. She apologized profusely to me, saying that she was told by the other two women that I ran an illegal operation. Furthermore, she said that she just copied and pasted what Lisa (the "group attorney") sent her to post. Shannon pointed out that she should have done her research on Cain Casting and what she was posting about it. I explained to her how I was advised that I could sue her, Lisa, Rosemary and the rest of the admins for slander to the tune of $500,000, but I hadn't planned on doing that until now. I asked her if she had $500,000 that she would be able to fork over when I won the lawsuit.

 

The woman apologized over and over, and asked me what she could do in order to get me to take my blog post down. I told her three things: 1) Remove Rosemary from the group; 2) Remove Lisa from the group; 3) Post a retraction about calling Cain Casting an "illegal operation" and admit that she didn't do the research on it.

 

The woman agreed to it. She wanted me to write something that she could copy and paste, but I told her that she needed to write it in her own words. I wasn't going to be caught in a situation where I was accused of bullying her. She wanted me to take down my blog post, so I told her what I needed to do in order for that to happen. She said she would do it as soon as she got home from work, around 3pm. I told her that the blog post would stay up until then.

 

At 2:45 or so, she told me that she was home. I was in the car with my kids, driving them home from school. She texted me and told me that she couldn't even get her boys extra work. I had JUST gotten an email from a casting director asking me if I had 15 kids that would want to do extra work on a TV show. I called her and asked her if she would like to get them on the show-- I wouldn't take any money from her; I just wanted to prove to her that I own a legitimate company. (To those of you reading this from the NE Kids Group, were you aware that I offered her two sons to appear on a television show on Friday?) She said that she wouldn't be able to do it, and she thanked me profusely. She told me how disappointed she was in the other two women, and how they brought a lot of drama to the group. I observed that these two women are close, and she was probably on the outside.

 

She told me that she removed them from the group, and that her phone was "blowing up." She also read me the retraction that she wrote:

 

 

For some reason, I really thought that this was going to be the end of the drama. Unfortunately, it just set Rosemary off even more. Rosemary seemingly took the position of the victim and I took the position of the bully.

 

Mind you, I had been trying to reason with these women for over a month. (Please see the screen shots from my last blog entry.) So, Rosemary decided to post this:

 

 

FYI - It's Candy Cain, not Candi. If you're going to write lies about me, at least spell my name right.

 

I didn't bully the other woman-- I gave her a choice. She made her decision and apologized to me-- She also apologized to me profusely on the telephone. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and figured she was a victim of circumstance-- Especially with Rosemary calling her "spineless."

 

This is all that I have the energy to post right now, and I'm sure all you have the energy to read. I will write more tomorrow, and show more proof. I was bullied all throughout my school years. I'm not taking this crap from anyone-- ESPECIALLY someone who hasn't taken the time to learn about me and my business before making sweeping generalizations and accusations. Get your facts straight, or you will be guilty of libel. With the post above, let's add defamation of character to that.

 

I'm not afraid of you.

 

It's a shame that there are people like this in the world. What is even more sad is the sheep that follow them. I'm not a sheep. I've never been a sheep. Frankly, I eat my lamb with mint jelly.

 

 

And If You're Real Good...

Okay, so I suck at keeping New Year's Resolutions. I said my resolution was to keep up my blogs. Well, that sort of didn't happen. But, I've got a really good reason for it... Lots of reasons, actually. I can just sum it all up by saying that I've been really busy. Not your normal, everyday mom type of busy.. I've been busier than Obama. At least he gets to play gold every now and again. (Not that I even like golf, but you catch my drift.) With working from home, running three companies, keeping up with my kids and getting in front of the camera every now and again, I have barely had time to breathe. I even started an eBay venture, trying to declutter my home and make some money for a Disney vacation. (So far, we bought the plane tickets...) Yeah, I've been inhumanly busy. The only person that I can think of that might be as busy as I am is my best friend Mechelle, but she doesn't have kids. She knows what it's like to be a business owner, though.

Okay, so I digress... This blog is supposed to be about me and the entertainment industry.  Today, I once again worked as the double for Camryn Manheim. I love Camryn Manheim. I think she's a great actress. I hope that I get to meet her some time. I need to get my 76 SAG days (or $18,000 for the year) so that I get my vested credit, which is why I'm doing some on camera stuff.

But, I've got a secret...

I like casting better.

There, I said it. 

I LIKE CASTING BETTER!!!!!!!!!

No, I actually LOVE casting. And I'm actually really, really good at it. For example, I cast eleven kids and one adult to work on Monday. I've got nine of those kids on a movie with Sarah Silverman, and the other three people are on a network TV show. They're thrilled. And seeing them thrilled makes me ridiculously happy.

To me, casting is like a puzzle. I'm given a list of different parts that I have to fill. I go through my roster to see who can fill what, then submit it to the casting director. The casting director sees if they agree with me, then they pass it on to the director. The director selects who the final cast is. I got 11 people cast to work paid jobs on Monday.

Excuse me while I pat myself on the back...

But, that's not just it. I've gotten a LOT of people a LOT of work. I'm teaching people about the industry that I love. I am helping kids build their college funds. I'm having a really good time doing it all, too. Whether it's for TV or film or even print work, I'm having a blast getting people work, giving kids experiences, and watching it all unfold in the final projects. For example, I cast a TON of people on Investigation Discovery's Deadly Sins. It is so cool to watch my talent on screen. And I know how exciting it is for them, too. That just makes it even better for me.

Someone sent me an email tonight saying, "I'm impressed with how much work you are getting your talent." Isn't that what a talent manager is supposed to do? I don't know why people are so surprised when others get cast. It's my JOB to get my talent cast. That's what they pay me for. Why would I take their money and run? That's what a lot of scam companies do, but certainly not me.

So, that's it. My bragging blog post. You can take a look at Cain Casting & Talent Management, if you'd like. And, if you want to work in the entertainment industry, you can also register and give it a shot.

I'm Very Versatile

Me. Fabulous me.

I am sitting in my car on the set of a movie as I write this blog entry. I have been working on the Warner Brothers production Run All Night for the past few days. It is a lot of fun being back on a movie set-- I haven't been on a big budget movie set since for more than one day since I filmed Not Another Teen Movie in 2001. After that, I did TV shows and low budget flicks.

Everyone has been asking me how I booked this job. To be completely honest with you, I am really focused on getting the talent registered with Cain Casting work. In order to do that, I need to register with a variety of websites so that I can access breakdowns and submit people for consideration. Before I fully register my talent, I see if the site is legit and effective by creating a profile for myself and submitting myself for a variety of projects.

One of these websites is Casting Networks, which is owned by Central Casting. I used to do extra work with them in LA, which gave me my start in TV. I did not register with Central Casting before registering on Casting Networks. This website has principal roles as well as background work listed, and everything in between. There are print jobs, commercials, film, etc for pay and no pay. It depends on what you are submitted for.

So, I created a Casting Networks account. I saw a lot of featured extra work, so I submitted myself for a few things. Shockingly, I was snatched up immediately by Kee Casting for a movie called Life Itself for a featured role. Well, I got there and, just like Staten Island Summer, the part was cut. I ended up playing one of the pedestrians walking by Morgan Freeman & Diane Keaton on the street. I don't do anything special-- just walk by. That was last Friday.

I went into NYC for a big audition for an industrial video that shoots for 3 days in San Francisco. I had time, so I went over to Central Casting and registered. (Personally, I think extra work is fun. I like to meet people. Plus, I'm pretty good at networking.) Make no mistake-- I do not want to do a lot of extra work. However, I will certainly do it if the opportunity arises, especially since I found out that any money I earn from extra work counts toward my pension with the Screen Actors Guild AND for health insurance. (I currently have my health insurance through my husband's job, but Obamacare is going to force us into the government system in a few years.) So, yeah, it would be stupid of me to turn my nose up again ANY work if if means security for me and my family in the future.

But, I digress.

Me and my kids.

When I got home, I received a text message asking me if I got the email to work night. I didn't. The text message told me to report to set and bring my blue Mazda to be a picture car. I said okay. Later on, an email arrived in my inbox, telling me where to go and to bring winter clothes. I confirmed everything and headed to the location. Incidentally, this is also the day that my daughter lost her first tooth, so it was a happy day.

I parked my car and went to holding, where I saw Anthony, the adorable PA from Staten Island Summer! We chatted for a few hours, and then I was sent home. They never got to the scene, as it sometimes happens. I was instructed to come back the next night with the Mazda.

I arrived the next night with the Mazda, which is parked next to the main character's house. It has been established on camera, so it MUST be in every shot outside the house. EVERY. SCENE.

Without me, by the way.

I was used briefly in a shot with the second unit, but I personally was not really established on camera. But my

car is. I was wrapped at 6:30am, got home in time to kiss my kids and send them off to school, and went to bed at . I woke up at, took a shower, saw my kids for a little, and headed back to set for a 6:00pm call time.

I got to set, grabbed some dinner, and put my car in its place. I've been sitting in my car for the past 3 hours. They are shooting behind me and can't see me in the car. That's fine-- it is freaking freezing outside.

Me in a cop uniform. Why? Stay tuned.

My hope is that they see what a great sport I've been and keep bringing me back. They are shooting some interiors tonight, so I am pretty sure they won't use me for that. Fortunately, I was given a call sheet for today and can cross off what they have finished. I truly have no idea as to how long I will be here, but I am so okay with that.

I really want to lead by example for the talent I manage. There was a guy on set last night that just complained and moaned... It sucked. I mean, be thankful for the work. Have a good attitude on set-- these crew guys (especially the PAs) have enough stress and don't need to listen to an extra --excuse me, background artist-- gripe. There are 17,000 other people ghost would give their left arm to be in your position. Be grateful. Do what you're told. Have a positive attitude.

That's all you need to get ahead. Oh, and some talent, of course.

Some Old and then Some New Tricks

Back in 1983

When I got involved in the entertainment industry, I was just a kid. I'd be lying to you if I told you that I remembered everything about it-- I really don't. My earliest memory is watching my father playing Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, then jumping up and yelling, "Don't you hurt my daddy!" when someone held a sword to his throat. I was really upset, because the lights went out - the intermission, unbeknownst to a five year old - and then my dad and all of the other people on stage were gone when the lights came back on. 

A man dressed in black with a headset on came up to me, my mom and my sister and said that he would take me to see my dad. We went backstage, and my dad was talking to the guy that had just held a sword to his throat. To this day, I remember everything about that man's face-- Brown hair, brown beard, brown eyes, wearing a blue tunic, thin, tall... You get the idea. He was a scary dude-- At least, he was to five year old me. Anyway, my dad told me how they were really friends and how they were pretending to fight on stage so that they could tell a story.

I was fascinated.

Photo by Molly Garcia

I really think that is the moment in time when I was bitten by the acting bug. I wanted to pretend, too. I believe the way that I believed. I wanted to tell people stories. I wanted people to make people clap, laugh, cry and, most of all, believe that I was the character that I was portraying.

Soon after that, I watched the original Freaky Friday with Jodie Foster. I would only use the name Annabel, and I couldn't understand why people didn't want to play make believe with me. My dad explained to me what actors are.

To be totally honest with you, I never really wanted to be a professional actor. Sure, it looked like fun, but it wasn't my dream. I wanted to have more control than that. I decided that I wanted to be the person that wrote the stories that people were acting out. I wrote my very first play - A Journey to Chocolateland - when I was in third grade. I majored in Dramatic Literature in college, at The George Washington University. Several of my plays were performed, and I even started a production company that was in action until 20011. (Technically, it's still around-- I just haven't done any productions recently.) 

Click the link to purchase my play

Right before I got married in 2005, I was published by Baker's Plays in Boston. I actually received the galleys (author's copies) the day before I got married, which was really cool since I dedicated the play to my soon-to-be husband. Last year, Samuel French bought the rights to my plays, which is wicked cool. All in all, I have four different plays published with Samuel French: The Lovesick Cat, The Woodsmen & The Fairy, The Lion & The Mouse and The Tortoise & The Hare. They are performed all around the world, and I get a nice check once a year. It's really cool.

But I've been blocked lately, and haven't written any plays. I need to get back on it, because I do have some good ideas. I'd really love to write a musical, but I don't know the first thing about writing music.

Anyway, I digress.

When I lived in Los Angeles (Jan 2001 - Jan 2004), I had an agent. My agent was awful. She kept telling me that I needed to lose weight-- Like 30lbs. Thirty pounds is a helluva lot of weight to lose! Why would you sign someone that might not lose that weight? If only I knew now what I knew then... 

Today was a good day.

This agent did NOTHING for me. I think I got one audition from her in 3 years. Well, as a talent manager, I see a lot of breakdowns-- And there are TONS of roles for people my size!!! It's nuts. Tomorrow, I'm shooting a movie called Life Itself in Manhattan. On Monday, I've got an audition for an industrial that films in San Francisco and pays over $2000 plus travel.  And this morning, I was signed by MSF Talent - Print Division to be one of their plus size models. 

So, yeah, today was a good day in the life of Candice.

I've gotta say, I was a little nervous about signing an exclusive agreement with MSF. I've been submitting myself and landing gigs. But, they only wanted me for print work, which I really don't do all that much of. (Yes, working with Steve and Desiree was a print job, which is what I started this entire blog on... But I get more acting parts for myself than not.) So, I signed the agreement and sent it in. I will give it 6 months. If I feel that I can do a better job than they can, I will end my agreement. But, I have never had an agent in NY-- Let alone one that wanted me exclusively. They take 20% of my gross, which is 10% more than what I get from the people I manage. So, we shall see where this takes us over the next 6 months... 

Let Me Entertain You...

Hi there! I'm Candice. Thanks for reading my blog.

A little about me... My name is Candice Cain and I'm a professional actress. At least, I was until I stopped acting to start a family. (It's a lonnnng story for another time about why I couldn't perform while pregnant.) I had twins, Charles and Catherine, 7 weeks early and always said that I would get back into the entertainment industry once they turned five.

Well, they're 5 now, and here I am again.

I own a travel company, called Candy Cain Travel. I also work from home with a marketing company. But when I was watching an episode of Malcolm in the Middle that I was in, my son said to me, "Mommy, I want to be on TV, too."  So, I submitted him for a commercial... And he got the part. Then I submitted him for a photoshoot... And he got that part, too. 

A friend of mine asked me if I could get her daughter started, so I gave it a try... And I got her cast, too. I seemed to be pretty good at it, so I started Cain Casting, a casting service and talent management company. As I was submitting talent for roles, I started seeing parts that fit me... And so I started submitting myself.

And I started getting cast.

This is my blog that will follow my return to the entertainment industry. Have fun reading it!