Dani Laindear

Sharing this unfiltered, unedited, raw-vocal clip as an untrained singer because I’m at a place where it feels important to do things I love, loudly and imperfectly ✨

Since I started acting again after such a long retirement, I’ve been tapping back into my love of singing as well. I’m extremely unpracticed, and my connection to my voice is very rusty, but I just reached out to a vocal coach and may be starting my first-ever voice lessons soon. Here’s to starting new things in your late thirties (and at any time, for that matter) - it’s never too late!

I also realized that if all I share online is a polished, finished product or “end result,” I’m not being real about the process. So here’s to the process - failures, successes, and everything in between!

I’ve loved Les Miserables since I was little, as so many others have. Musical theater kid at heart, forever ❤️

This was an interesting one - getting pitched an executive producer role on an AI series, as a very pro-human filmmaker 🎬

It was my first time having to evaluate whether or not I’d be willing to be paid to take on an AI project, and for now, that’s a no for me

Until there are industry-wide regulations, and a way for the environmental impact of AI to be drastically reduced (if that’s even possible), it’s not something I integrate in my personal life or in the filmmaking process

I didn’t expect to be joining this conversation so soon after Seth Rogen’s recent interview with stating that “if your instinct is to use AI… you shouldn’t be a writer.” He goes on to talk about the creative process being innately, inherently human, to which I wholeheartedly concur 💛

Filmmakers and actors, what are your thoughts? As a SAG actor and very analog writer and producer, I’m all about keeping humanity at the core of this industry, and beyond ✨

Sometimes self-taping gets… colorful 👹😂

I only ever record 2-3 full takes for an audition (unless requested otherwise), but the tech / lighting shenanigans, the side flubs, and sound interference sure do make for an interesting time, every time 🎬

Who else has some unsavory self-take bloopers? Excuse the potty mouth 😂

Here we go again… again!

Yesterday, at almost 37, I wrapped my biggest modeling job since retiring at 25. Less than 2 weeks ago I shot my first SAG film since retiring fully from acting in 2015. And just this Monday, I started pre-production on the first short film I’ll have produced since leaving behind my production company in LA 11 years ago!!

I’ll share more about this film project soon, but I had to announce the news! I’m SO excited to be back in film production - consider me officially un-retired 🎬

I know I keep saying that “this is just the beginning” every time I come out of another retirement after exiting the entertainment industry in 2015… but it really feels that way!

All in the past 3 weeks, this influx of work and opportunity has coalesced to bring me into what feels like the start of yet another new chapter as a divorced single mom who’s done almost nothing for the last decade but start new chapters….

But this time, it’s where all three of these careers that I love - and left behind when I left LA to get married - are coming back together in this harmonious (if wildly busy) flow. I truly never could have imagined how quickly these jobs would come in, but I’m pinching myself with gratitude 🙏🏼

I’ll share more as I go along, but for now I’m going to soak it all in - enjoy my first upcoming weekend off in 5 weeks, snuggle my daughter and my dog, and then get back to work. Because… this is just the beginning 😉

Here’s a little behind the scenes of taking a self-tape for a feature audition in the road!

This particular audition had some blocking and intricacies that would have been incredibly restricted if I was filming where I usually self-tape - in my bedroom at home 🙈

I know people have lots of feelings about self-taping, and being “in the room” is something so many of us miss - actors, casting directors, all of us. Getting to tape outside my house with an IRL actor as my reader in a studio was so much fun! It’s got me thinking about having a community space like this for self-tapes… could be cool!

So grateful to for letting set up all of my equipment at the studio, and to one of my acting classmates for being my reader!

Have self-tape or audition questions? Send them my way! Very lucky that other than on-set work, it’s basically my full-time job at this point 😂

Spoiling this right at the top, but remember how I had my first in-person callback in 11 years a few weeks ago, after over a decade-long retirement from acting?

Well, I BOOKED IT!! And also, not for the role I auditioned for - wildly, it came down to me and one other phenomenal actress, and they gave the role to her. But instead of that being the end of it, they decided to write me in an entirely new role just because they loved me and wanted me in the film… How COOL is that!?

So not only did I book my first SAG film in over a decade, but this story also goes to show how opportunity can come from anywhere, even when those doors (or roles) didn’t previously exist. Incredibly grateful for this opportunity - what a way to re-enter the industry! Humbled, honored, all the things 🙏🏼

Can’t wait to share more, stay tuned! 💛

Actors - we are our own business, and events like the Actor’s Day event - with expert workshops, casting director and agent panels, and even headshots - that I had the privilege of attending today are such a gift of a resource we need to be using!

I could go on and on, but as a self-producing actor who is just getting back into the industry after a decade a way, meeting people face-to-face is where I know I need to start. If you’re waiting on “things to happen,” you might be waiting for a long time.

Whatever market you’re in, go to all the workshops, hosted events, film festivals, theater productions, etc. that you can. Get to know your local community (even virtually) because THOSE are the people who you can collaborate and create with, read auditions with, film reels with, the list goes on. We need each other - get out there and find your people!

This event was even for “pre-union actors” who aren’t SAG, and what an incredible opportunity to learn and make invaluable connections!

So grateful to the organizers of this event, all of the workshop teachers and panelists - so much knowledge and wisdom to integrate in adapting with this ever-changing industry 🙏🏼

Let me know if you have any questions! I’m off to the next thing - more soon 💛