http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php en-us CuteNews http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1214363442&archive=
Sorry...been a while....i have only just reappeared back into my normal life and haven't really had a chance to catch my breath yet. Aaaaahhhhhhh. There.

Wow. That was a long time away from home. Out of the last 8 weeks i think i was home about 10 days....something like that. My house is a mess, the garden is overgrown and my baby boy has missed me horribly. He is sitting on my feet as we speak. I washed my back porch just now and used bleach and for some reason he is crazy about bleach. It's like catnip for him. Weird, huh? He is having a very serious conversation with my left foot right now.....ouch, need to clip the toenails! His...not mine.

You know when you have so much to do that you don't even know where to start? Well, that is where i am at right now, but basking in the glory of what is mine...MY house, MY bed, MY car, MY cat....you get the idea.

Having said that i still have to take off this weekend. I own a bit of property in a rural area of British Columbia and need to go and check in on it. It is beautiful and quiet there....lakes and mountains everywhere....we just need better weather....good god, it is still cold here!

Rest of the shoot on Impact went well. Lovely people. Sad to see them go. They were very long days but it was a good time and i hung around with two other actors (Michael Kopsa and Ron Lea) and we had a ton of laughs. The acting work looks a little bleak at the moment; SAG is gearing up for the big actors strike in the US so everything has gone on hold until then. David James Elliot seems to thing that the strike is a done deal....just a matter of how long it goes out for. Thought maybe the writers strike would have scared everyone away from a strike, but people have to fight for what they believe in i guess....it just didn't work out so great for the writers in the end, i wonder if this is all for naught???

No official word yet on the convention in Montreal in October, but i'll let you know when i do.

Must run.....catch the store before it closes.

Won't leave it so long next time.

Hope you are well.

xo]]> 1214363442 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:10:42 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1212734432&archive=
In Victoria. Got here today. This is my 5th trip over. Jeepers, this is a lovely town....strong British influence, big British tourism. Went to something called 'the Keg' for dinner. Typical steak house in B.C. and the older British couple next to me put back about 4 beers each in about 20 minutes. I was thrilled. They had the best time and giggled their way through some food. That is my background and i'm darn proud of it! God love em....reminded me of home.......

We have this rather large and respectable hotel called "The Empress" in Victoria which is very British. They do a 'high tea' which is lovely but about $60 Canadian. We were a bit stunned at that but very cool.

The shoot goes well. Everyone is fantastic. Although the 2nd AD is a bit of a b@#ch. I know that is not a nice thing to say, but jeez...she is one of those gals who, if you are not the lead LEAD actors, she treats you a bit like crap. It's okay; the rest of them are wonderful and i have been having a wonderful time. Natasha Henstridge and David James Elliot are great. He is a very funny guy...and i didn't know it, but both of them are Canadian! Go Canada!

Mister "hot British Guy who doesn't have time for me and i'm choked" actually gave me the time of day the other day...i lent him my lighter.....and i don't think he hates me....just he is aloof.....just has ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST in me. I know....i am not nearly as cool as i think i am....:)

Most importantly! I am doing another convention! The whole Dallas thing fell apart....sorry, do you want to hear about that again? I wasn't planning to "dish" on them but i did.....i feel a bit guilty about that but what the @@$#. I did comment on my last blog (i made comments in the comment part) and i don't feel bad about it. The Creation Gang really screwed me around and i won't be back, but upward and onward!

Can't give all the details yet, but it looks like i will i will be doing a convention in Montreal, Quebec, Canada......in October. Small convention. Really small. There is a literary guest and a media guest.....and i think i am the media guest...but it is all towards the Sci Fi genre.....can't tell you more til the deal is sealed but........there is a good chance i will see you there! More as soon as i know...should be in the next week!

ps...you will see messages pop up from time to time from my buddy Sarah...she wants to say hi......she is one of my best buddies in the world....she is a 'an animal saver' and has 5 dogs.....that means everything in t he world to me. You guys will love her.

I'll let you know about the convention as soon as i do.

xo]]> 1212734432 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:40:32 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211775588&archive=
Been a while and a rather crazy time, i might add. Where shall i start? Don't know how much you know so i'll give the abridged version.....you can ask questions if i don't cover it.

Regina shoot was great. The crew were wonderful and i rather like Regina. It is kind of small town Canada and the weather is HARSH for a little spoiled West Coast gal like me. Winter's are minus 40, summer's are plus 40, and it is flat as a pancake. Prairies. One day it was 6 below and the next it was 25 degrees. Threw you system off a bit. They were long days and not always that organized but i had a great time and met some wonderful people. The role was quite a departure for me: I played a gay midwife in love with a pregnant woman who gives birth to a devil child...kind of. Should be interesting.

Then it was off to Asylum. This is my first real opportunity to say thanks to everyone for coming and making it a wonderful experience. Now i can put some of the names on this blog to the faces i met. I seem to remember pretty much everyone i met....the 8 Haley's, all the Jen's, like 4 Charlottes, the girls from France, Germany and Sweden......not to mention the French and of course, the Brits! It all happened very fast and didn't get to spend too much time with anyone but i really do remember most everyone. And i could tell you every man's name because there weren't many of them! Chad and i were talking about it.....we felt bad that we were so tired but we held it together as best we could....hope you all had a good time. We did. And thank you for the lovely presents! We drank the Vodka before we left!....and the chocolate was long gone....and the handmade gifts alway move me that people go to such effort.
Needless to say, that by sunday night we were beyond exhausted and i almost missed my flight the next day because i slept for almost 15 hours without so much as a stir. The organizers took very good care of us. We were spoiled.

Now i am back and forth to Vancouver Island shooting a 4 part miniseries called "Impact"....a lot of you already know this, but for those of you who don't.... It is going really well. The cast are fantastic;David James Elliot from Jag, Natasha Henstridge, James Cromwell...and a british actor who i have a massive crush on but won't give me the time of day! Cheeky bastard. Ben Sadler? I think his name is....not sure....anyway, he's hot....he's my type....and he will have nothing to do with me. Hmph. Maybe doesn't like Canadian women? I am a bit forceful and in your face....perhaps he doesn't like the 'butt kicking, broad' stuff? The director is a lovely man names Mike Rohl. I have worked with him before many years ago on Second Wave. I am very fortunate to have this work...these are one of those shoots you cherish and are sad to leave when they are over.

I am having a wonderful time and can't complain in the least but you know what? I miss my home! I miss my cat! I miss my life! I am living out of a suitcase and have been forever, or so it seems. I love hotels but sometimes you want your own bed. I cannot get anything done because i keep taking off... my friends are close to disowning me....i haven't seen my brother, whom i adore, in two months.....and from all the traveling i have lost my favorite watch (favorite because it was stupidly expensive) 2 pairs of sunglasses, a complete bag of makeup, my running shoe, contact lense cases and a hairclip that i got from a fan who came all the way from Japan to the Chicago convention in November. Eyecon. Who loses that much stuff when you are travelling??!!

Anyway, more than anything i am tired and want a little 'me' time. I want to putter around in my garden with my cat at my heels, a cold beer in my hand, some great music on the go....and maybe a hot guy to help me.....maybe mister 'don't like the Canadian actress and won't give her the time of day' guy?? Perhaps i'll throw that out to him the next time i see him.

Speaking of my cat, Kramer is well. A few of you asked about him and i am happy to say he is alive and well sitting on my lap as we speak. He is not letting my out of his sight right now as i keep taking off. It kills me to leave but what are you going to do? I live for the animals in my life....i am a big supporter of many animal charities and i volunteer at an horse rescue society a couple of hours a week. We had to put down one of my fave horses last week and i cried like a baby. The actual putting down of a horse is very humane but a bit extreme and jarring for me......don't need too many of those.

Okay, i really have rambled here...i could go on but i won't....time for bed soon. Trying to get into this book "god of small things" and i just can't seem to get on board...going to try again...with Kramer under my arm.

Talk soon.

xo

PS.....Sorry, out of time for the dishing on Dallas...it isn't really a 'dish' so much as maybe a misunderstanding but i am very disappointed in Creation. I feel they have not handled things well on a number of occasions with me and i'm sorry to see it. I love to do the conventions but i don't think i will be back at another Creation convention. Shadow, i'm sorry....that sucks....we'll meet at another one. I'll tell guys more about it later.]]> 1211775588 Sun, 25 May 2008 21:19:48 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211534274&archive=
Things have been a bit crazy in my world so hang tight. Will update soon. Thanks for all the wonderful notes about Asylum....was a total blast....feel guilty that we were a bit tired but wouldn't have traded it for anything.

A bit pissed about the Creation convention in Dallas in June, but will dish when i get the chance.

This weekend. I promise, or i owe you all a beer!
xo
]]> 1211534274 Fri, 23 May 2008 02:17:54 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1210742544&archive=
Just got back late last night and haven't had a chance to update yet. Almost missed my plane....i think the jetlag finally caught up with me and i slept for about 15 hours. Eeek.

Can't chat now.....it's late and i have to straighten my hair for the morning. It's an early call and it is day #1 so trying to look my best.

I'll update as soon as i can...tomorrow night if not too late....i can still feel the motion of the plane..which makes sense as i have spent more time in the air than on the ground in the last 4 days.

Asylum was great! We all had a wonderful time and are thrilled to have been a part of it all. More later. Must sleep. Was home for about 12 hours before shuttling over here to Victoria. My poor baby boy......he was all over me last night and i could have cried when i left him today. I think he will pee on my bed tonight....as a rebellion....he had that look on his face.....

xo

xo]]> 1210742544 Tue, 13 May 2008 22:22:24 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1209364374&archive=
Sorry, been shooting in Regina, Saskatchewan and unable to update.

Shoot goes well. First three days were tough....but i think we are rolling now. It has barely made it above freezing but now it seems to be warming up. We are actually shooting in Moose Jaw.....half hour away. Famous for being a small Canadian town....in fact, i think i have a button from a thousand years ago that says, "where is Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan?" Well, here it is....and it's not going to light the world on fire. It is the kind of place where you go into a bar or restaurant and everyone stares at you because they don't know you. I have seen more dead animals on the side of the road than i have seen in 20 years of living in B.C. I have stopped looking at the road. Just can't do it.

Busy couple of weeks ahead! Asylum!

Here for the next week, then home for three days, then back here for a day, then i fly directly to England from here for the Asylum convention. The way it works out, i leave here at 8am my time, land in England and go directly to convention so please be gentle on me if you are there...i will have had no sleep and may need a bevvie or two to get me going again. It's always a bit of a party, right? Sorry Jared isn't going to make it....he feels bad but when work calls, you gotta do what you do. He is shooting the next Friday the 13th in Dallas (his hometown) and it could not be avoided. We'll have fun....don't worry.

The day i get back from England i jet off to Victoria (Vancouver Island..a two hour ferry ride away...our province Capital...beautiful.....i went to university there) to start shooting Impact. That is the miniseries i am working on. Lead actors are Natasha Henstridge....and the guy from that show about naval officers....sorry, Catherine Bell is in it......he has three names.....can't remember the show and too tired to look it up...NCIS? No, that is Mark Harmon......come on...you guys know it......anyway, he is in it.....i am the head of Homeland Security. Kick ass broad. Much like my role on The 4400. They haven't announced who is playing the president yet, but it should be interesting.

Gotta run......we are grabbing a beer at the Irish bar across the street from my hotel.

Much love,

Sam ]]> 1209364374 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:32:54 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1208032082&archive=
Didn't get to spend much time with the cast as we were all really busy, but i got to hang out with Chad and Jim a bit. There was a games room set up for everyone with guitar hero which also included a drum set and a karaoke set up.....and very few people could sing, trust me....some of it was pretty ugly.

The Q&A was pretty short as they put me, Chad, and Alona together. That is usually my favorite part but we really didn't get enough opportunity to answer questions. Poor Jared was wiped out.....he was shooting all around that weekend so he was actually in Florida for about 11 hours then right back to set.

Some of these people can party! Every night was late, and usually involved a few 'libations', shall we say.....including shots done out of a test tube and my new favorite drink; Vodka and blood orange juice. Yummy.

Everyone was wonderful. It was great to see you all there. Lots of fun. We'll do it again. Soon.

Asylum coming up in less than a month. Got to try to hang onto my voice for that one. Especially as i will be working before and after that weekend. Impact will be shooting into May, and i have just booked a big gig on a movie called, Grace. I know very little about it so far. The lead is Jordan Ladd. I don't know her but she is the daughter of Cheryl Ladd. For those of you old enough to know who that is. It shoots in Regina (couple Provinces over from B.C. ) and Impact shoots in Victoria so i won't be home a whole lot. Makes me sad for my little buddy Kramer, but i have a great catsitter.

Must run....i am the MC for my horse society's general meeting and must give a speech to our fearless leader. I haven't written anything yet. Eeek.

Much love,

Sam]]> 1208032082 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:28:02 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1207787350&archive= 1207787350 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:29:10 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1206812364&archive=
Okay, i have officially had it with this winter. I'm done. i"m over it. Not that it was that cold and snowy but this winter seemed to have been longer than last...maybe it's my age? Can't do the dark, dismal, rain anymore....when i get old and grey i am moving to the sun. My friends and i have made a pact that if we are all still around when we are old, we are going to buy a nice big house on a beach in the tropics, hire a fulltime caregiver to make us drinks and take care of us while we play cards, swim naked, get drunk and smoke ourselves silly....at that point, why not?

Eyecon next weekend. I have heard that Florida is hot and VERY humid this time of year which is going to ruin me; you see, i have very VERY curly hair....i straighten it for TV (the curls look a little weird on camera) so you haven't seen it....it can be a handful......and the humidity is going to turn me into a cotton ball with eyes. Don't laugh. It's not pretty. I am going to look like Janis Joplin. No joke. Going to have to get out the summer gear i guess. EEEk. My legs are really white. Busy schedule.....cocktail parties, autograph stuff, pictures, banquet....should be a great time. Lovely to see everyone. Haven't seen them in a while.....CHAD.....Ash was one of my favorite characters of all time. I am going to buy that man a drink.....and of course, i am thrilled to see you guys.

Out of all those stinking auditions i have only managed to snag one so far. Nuts. Movie called Impact....don't know anything much about it yet.....it shoots in Victoria (Vancouver Island...very beautiful)...I am the head of Homeland Security. Right hand man to the President. Tough, professional, 'balls in a skirt" basically. Same role as i had on The 4400. Really wanted the role in a Showtime series that shoots in LA. As Toni Colette's sister. Interesting story. Toni plays a woman with multiple personalities. One of them is as a rebellious 15 year old girl. Looked really neat.

They went another way with the Heather Locklear thing. That also would have been fun. I went very 'character' for the part....they went with someone a little more subdued. Oh well....that is the way it works.

Kramer is great...thanks for asking. He has become a little needy as of late which can be a little trying. He's all over me every second of the day. Didn't used to be. He was a very independant young man. And he talks constantly, which is tough when it's 4am and you are trying to sleep. Not quite sure what he is up to.....thought he might be in pain...vet says no.....think he might be going a bit crazy. But he's alive, loving life mostly, and not throwing up so it's all good.

Rightee oh. I'm off to ICBC (our gov't operated car insurance company). Some jerk ran into my car and took off! Right outside my house! Some nice sumaritan saw it and left a note on my car telling me the license plate and car desciption. The driver was some young woman who thought it was funny. Not anymore. Hit and run is a big offence in these parts. Boy is she going to be shocked. I actually kind of feel bad but then i look at my lovely new car....then not so much.

See some of you next weekend!

xo
]]> 1206812364 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:39:24 -0700 http://samanthaferris.net/blog.php?subaction=showfull&id=1205435620&archive= As you say, 'hugs'.

My best buddy Lisa pointed out to me yesterday that i never actually wrapped up Ellen Harvelle, so at the risk of flogging a dead horse, let's leave the lovely ole gal on a postive note;

I adored the character of Ellen. She is unlike any character i have played and i am proud of her. She was tough love, fiercely loving, and loyal to the death. I don't think that more Ellen's out there would be a bad thing. Someone that i could throw a beer back with. I loved the cast and crew, the producers and writers, and my connection to all of them.

I'm glad i got to play this role and thrilled that she created a spark in so many people...the ultimate compliment. Being an actor can be a tough gig but this was one of the reasons why you do it. Thank you for digging her and understanding her as much as i did.

And hell....she ain't dead yet. Ellen lives on through conventions, including Eyecon in April in Florida, and Asylum in England in May. As for the future....you just never know.

Just did an interview for Winchester World. That is the website. I believe it is case sensative.

Auditions are busy right now.....lots of pilots being shot. Had a callback for a great one. JJ Abhrams (sp?) new show. He is the creator of Lost. It was down to just two of us but it didn't go as well as i thought it would. You know when you killed it (good thing) but somehow i just wasn't getting the vibe from the director. Nuts. Oh well. Brush it off. Move on. If you get hung up on the ones you don't get you would be a complete basket case. They could also go with an American actor. They tend to do that most of the time for the bigger roles and shows that are going to be a big hit. It is a comfort level thing; the show is American with American producers and directors and i think they tend to work with actors that they know. Canadian actors are proving themselves slowly but we've got a ways to go until we are usually considered for the big stuff. Not all the time, but most of the time.

Haven't heard on the drunken-obnoxious-friend of Heather Locklear yet (also may go American) but i did have a callback for it and i know i did a great audition and that is all you can do. I was funny as hell. Jeez, i am damn funny when i want to be ( ;)). I attribute that to English parents. Funniest people in the world. The Brits....not my parents.

Couple other things in the hopper that i won't bore you with but i'll certainly tell you when/if i book them. I'm sure you know this, but the rejection level in this industry is huge. If you book one out of every 14 auditions, you are on fire. Your agent is over the moon. There are just so many people you are up against and there are sooo many different ways that can choose to go. As long as you are prepared (don't party the house down the night before....learn your lines...etc...), do your best, and feel good about what you did....they you have to release it to the universe. If it was meant to be yours, it will be. I know that sounds a little new age, but you have to be a little zen about this gig to survive.

Gotta run.....audition in 20 mins and i am still in sweatpants and curlers. Head of Homeland Secuity. The stuff that i book a lot; tough, polished, suit, professional....and watching the world come to an end. Lots of movies like that these days.

xo]]> 1205435620 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:13:40 -0700