Folks We Love With Monika Casey | founder, Fresh of the Boat Bootcamp
Where are you from?
San Francisco, CA
Who is in your family, and how old are your kiddos?
My daughter Dylan is 51/2 and we have two Pugs, Dottie and The Dude
Occupation?
Actress/Comic/Producer
What is Fresh Off the Boat?
The course is clever tips on marketing yourself to finding reps, audition and self tape tricks, quick ways to learn your lines, working through nerves. And setting goals to ways to find small wins to stay the course that is the marathon of the Acting game in LA. There is also a really fun Q&A at the end of my course with 4 of my actor friends who book a lot and it covers their journey, tips for peeping for auditions and just general advice😉
Who is this course for, can they do it from anywhere, and how can they find it?
So the course is for people with little to zero credits or seasoned actors who might want a fresh approach to finding new reps and clever ways to rethink or motivate themselves with a new mindset. The course can be found on my website. They can do it from a laptop or phone.
How did Fresh Off the Boat Bootcamp come to be?
Fresh Off The Boat came out of many discussions or “complaining” sessions with other actor friends in LA. When you move to LA, it’s amazing how little anyone knows about the business of acting, unless you were born into a family of TV/Movie people. The people who do know, are very secretive about how they got there or found their way. I have found that you have to approach acting like you are the CEO of a company or your brand. As a theater major, I obviously was taught zero about the business. I found that even many people who went to big schools in LA graduated with no business knowledge or plan and sort of floated around for quite some time before figuring things out.
You do an amazing job coparenting with your daugther, Dylan’s, dad. Can you talk about how this has looked for you guys during Coronavirus? What has worked and what hasn’t?
I know my ex husband really well, and I kind of know what to expect. We have don’t really have a set schedule. That is really hard for me at times because I like schedules and planning. During the quarantine, it has really been day to day. In the beginning we all hung out together as a family a few days a week. We do split time with the dogs, usually one week on one week off. Two little dogs is almost like having another kid. You definitely have to pick and choose your battles. Like, there is gonna just be more screen time and sweets during the quarantine and one parent is gonna have more hands on time. None of us have ever been through anything like this and everyone deals with it differently. The first few weeks seemed easier communication wise. If I needed some time alone, I could ask him to take her and he was very enthusiastic and helpful. The last three weeks, we see him as a family once or twice and then my daughter stays with her dad for one overnight and that’s about it for my alone time. I get almost 24 hours, almost. I have asked for help a few times and he is going through his own experience and seems better to do shorter visits as a family. Luckily, I have a really easy kid and the tough and frustrating times are far and few between.
What tips do you have for staying healthy during this pandemic?
Personally, I have just been taking it easy and being gentle with myself. I have three main things that I ‘try’ and do for myself everyday and that’s meditate, move (workout or bike ride) and do the dishes!
How are you balancing work with home schooling and all the other realities in this new normal we find ourselves in?
I try and slip work in whenever I can. Sometimes I have to sneak off to a bathroom or a closet to get an email or a video done. I try and do the majority of it when she is sleeping. But that sucks because that is usually my free time when I want to binge watch and drink tea, ALONE. I teach a class on Zoom and her dad has watched her in the other room. As you know, kids always seem to need you as soon as you hop on a call or facetime. I am not a teacher, and I can tell that Dylan does not like when I try and teach her school stuff. So, we mostly do outdoor activities, logos or play pretend. I try and give her a heads up that I need privacy or some alone time to meditate and usually she does well for about ten minutes and ends up laying right down with me and cuddles while I do that. When I need exercise, she comes out in the backyard with me in some outrageous workout fashions and we play music. She will ride her bike, scooter or try and do some version of my workout. It always takes longer than planned and not sure how much of a workout I’m getting. Lately, two days a week I am training in the backyard at my ex’s house with him while she does zoom schooling. I think it’s good for her to see us working together.
What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
My favorite thing to do as a family is swim. When we are all in the pool and playing outside with no screens or interruptions.
What are you reading?
I am jumping around with my reading. I feel like I can only get away with reading 10 pages at a time before she needs or wants something. My current rotation is, Becoming –Michelle Obama, Reinventing The Body, Resurrecting The Soul-Deepak Chopra and The Wealthy Spirit-Chellie Campbell
What are you watching right now?
I am watching Dave Fx/Hulu, #BlackAF Netflix, Housewives of NYC/BH Obvioulsy, HAHAHAH. I blazed though, OZARK, Schitt’s Creek, McMillions documentary, Tiger King, and the film The Hunt with Betty Gilpin.
Comedy seems ever important right now and I cannot get enough of what you have been putting out. Where are you getting your own comic relief these days?
Laughter IS the best medicine. These days, I am just cracking up at things celebs are posting on their Instagram pages. Madonna and Sharon Stone have inspired me to make parodies of their posts. I am also just finding the humor in all the bizarre day to day of our new life situation, like doing endless dishes or running of my favorite seasoning (Everything but the Bagel at Trader Joe’s)
Where do you feel most inspired?
I feel most inspired when I am doing chores and then an idea just pops into my head, and I have drop what I’m doing and shoot it or write it down immediately or it’s gone forever.
How do you manage stress?
A good 20 min mediation is my best stress reliever. I listen to many on Deepak Chopra’s website, or my favorite channel on Spotify is Sound Bath. I drink lots of calming lavender/chamomile Love Tea by Pukka, workouts and laying in the sun when I can.
How is self care playing out for you right now?
Self-care for me, is ordering myself Sugarfish for dinner, completing my 3 part to-do list of mediate, move and dishes, or simply just taking a shower and putting on makeup and some jewelry. Also, being in the moment with my daughter and just going on bike rides with her or cuddling with her and watching a movie. Even though we are home together so much, she still wants or needs cuddles and I love that. Sleeping eight hours a night is a must!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I ever received was to take care of yourself first and then it’s easier to care for those around you. Like if the oxygen mask drops down on a flight, secure yours first and then help others. I can’t be a very good mom if I am not well fed and rested.
What are 4 things you can't live without?
During this quarantine, I can’t live without yummy lattes, sweat pants, all streaming platforms, making people laugh, Dylan and Doggie snuggles! Sorry had to be 6!