It’s been a crazy week here at Mission CTRL Headquarters; ramping up for the opening of PanderFest 2011 tonight at Stage Werx 446, selling Groupons on craigslist, etc., etc.  And while we admit things haven’t always been smooth as butter around here, nothing could have prepared us for the devastating news that the Bay Area Comedy Hall of Fame (BACHOF) pulled “Top Pick” status from PanderFest 2011 and handed it over to Killing My Lobster Conquers the Galaxy.  Sure they’ve been around longer than us, have a much larger fan base and a stable of generous donors but we earned our “Top Pick” status by selling our souls to the audience fair and square.  It was hard to see that honor swept out from underneath us but we’re never ones to be petty or vindictive.  So rather than draft some brutally damning press release about the true origins of BACHOF, we opted to maintain the integrity of their institution and instead wage an all-out Sketch War against Killing My Lobster for passively accepting our “Top Pick” status.  You know, something constructive.  Here’s what went down.

We may no longer be BACHOF “Top Pick,” but at least we don’t have a theater full of humorless crickets.  Here’s to a stellar opening night of PanderFest!  Your move, Lobsters…

- Jed

Brought back from time by Mission CTRL, a la Bill & Ted, Brozart wants YOU to come get satisfied at PanderFest 2011.  After all, it opens TOMORROW, October 7th, and TODAY is your last day to get the cheapest tickets possible.  Just $12.50 at PanderExpress.com, no code necessary.  See you at Stage Werx 446!

- Jed

PianoFighter Nina Harada chronicles her journey of pursuing a career as an actor in Los Angeles. Follow her journey on her blog The Scene Partner.

The other day I made a horrible realization. Well, horrible at the time. As I was being all down-and-out about the acting thing, it occurred to me that it’s been over a year since a total stranger cast me in something (and I know that most gigs don’t come this way… that’s why you have to exhaust every avenue). I mean, I’ve obviously been doing stuff throughout this past year, but it all came from my theater company or someone who saw me in a show, or a friend of a friend, etc. However, none came from a total random audition off LA Casting or Actors Access that I attended. This scared the shit out of me. All those usual insecure-actor questions started bubbling up… Am I not good enough? Pretty enough? Talented enough? Blah Blah Blah! Granted, this is hard for me to admit but I’m sharing it because I’m sure I’m not the only one with this experience. Afterall, going after your dreams is scary! So much relies on faith. Believing your hard work, drive, and patience will pay off. Believing in yourself.

Fortunately, my minor freak out only lasted the evening and by the next day I was back to my usual resilient, determined, persistent actor self. If I don’t believe in me than who is, right? So I shook that all off, was back to the routine and am happy to say that one of the auditions I attended last week eventually led to… me booking the part! It was off LA Casting. I went in like any other audition. I was called back. I went in again. And then I landed the role! Finally.

More details to come, but I will be in a new play opening next month and I’m super stoked. I’ve met the cast and producers and creative team and they all seem like such lovely people. It got me even more excited. I have that same feeling about this project that I had about that one fateful audition in San Francisco four years ago. Or maybe this will be nothing more than a cool play with cool people I may never see again, and that aint so bad. But, I dunno, call it a hunch, I got a good vibe about this. Most importantly, for whatever reason, I believe in it and it feel so good to be a part of something I believe in while believing in myself.

-Nina