If you are in LA this Saturday I’m collaborating with a few other doggie couture designers for a killer sample sale. Time to beat the rush and save 40-60% off JCLA bags, doggie clothing, accessories, and beds by some really fabulous designers! We all want to do our part, so a portion of the profits go to animal rescue organizations!

I moved away from my home town to follow him. Everyone told me I was crazy to go after him but I didn’t listen. I admit I’m obsessed with him. I jump at any chance to be with him or near him because nothing can compare to the feeling I get when he chooses me! He makes me feel important and allows me to express myself. He’s dangerous, sexy, and exciting.

Several times a year he chooses me. There’s always the possibility that one day he’ll settle down and marry me. He’s said so himself. I just have to hang in there. It’s a numbers game. I’ve been the lucky girl out of thousands of hot women across the US who’d do ANYTHING to be with him.

Yeah, we have pimps (we like to call them “agents”)
Agent: “Ok honey, this is HUGE. He’s looking for some company next week, could be one day, could be two weeks. You could be his steady girlfriend if you play your cards right. Show up at this address in an hour dressed in a cheongsam and fight for his attention.” I get all dolled up, memorize what I’m supposed to say, and speed over for the opportunity to be with my true love.

Sometimes my networking pays off and I get an inside tip from someone who works for the man of my dreams. He just dumped a girl who couldn’t perform to his liking. He’s looking for a new date for tomorrow! I call my madam and ask her to set up a meeting just for me. My madam sets my appointment but also sends another one of her prostitutes to compete against me. I can’t complain. I just fight for him. Last time I even won. Oh how I won!!

My madam called me and told me the good news. He sent a limo to come get me and flew me first class to an exotic location. I got spending money, a lavish hotel, chauffeurs, servants to dress me and do my hair and makeup for an entire month! Best of all I could call him mine. I could tell the people back home, “See I wasn’t stupid to leave my family and friends. He loves ME. He chose ME!” Just like Meredith on Grey’s Anatomy.

Often, people ooh and ahh, asking me what it was like to date him. If only they knew. Sometimes I get physically hurt when I’m with him but that’s just an occupational hazard. My madam said there was nothing she could do to protect me especially if I was out of the country. I’m ok with that. It’s worth it.

Sometimes he doesn’t pay me for my services. I turn to my madam but she reminds me, “That’s why I only send you out with classy men. This guy is a jerk and you’re the one who wanted date him.”

I knew it was time to stand my ground. I called the bouncers (AKA AFTRA) on him. That’s when I found out that the bouncers will take a complaint but not enforce the rules. I’m into my second year of waiting for that money. Turns out there were many hoes who never got paid, they just aren’t stupid enough to complain. He let my inside connection know that if I hadn’t asked for my money, I could have been his steady girlfriend! I even received a tax stub because he reported to the IRS that he paid me when he didn’t! The worst part is, I didn’t mind working for free because I truly loved being with him. I just wanted him to know I wasn’t some cheap hoe. Friends told me to find a pimp instead, but I was loyal and scared of the unknown.

After all, my madam would tell me that he didn’t choose me more often because I wasn’t pretty enough, young enough, skinny enough, and obviously I wasn’t doing anything different to make myself stand out from all the other hoes. Before every meeting she’d tell me that I needed to try to look beautiful. She would tell me how much money was riding on every call and how rare it was for someone like me to even get an appointment in the first place. She’d remind me that I needed perform for her because every year she would let some hoes go. If I left her, I’d never have the chance to be with him again.

Why have I tortured myself over this man? What is it about him that I just can’t live without? Just like Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain I find myself passionately muttering,” I wish I knew how to quit you.”

I think one day I will. Maybe this year. Oh it makes me cry just to think about giving him up. Maybe he’ll wake up and start to treat me right. I’m tired of waiting by the phone. I’m tired of feeling not enough when I have so much to offer. I’m tired of being at his mercy.

I’ll tell you a secret. I’m not with my madam anymore. Yep. Long overdue. I blocked that bastard out of my mind and tried doing something else for a few months. I felt alive for the first time in my life! But God sent me a sign. My love tracked me down. Even without my madam, and REQUESTED me! I wasn’t even stalking him and HE requested ME! So maybe it is meant to be. I’ll find out after my meeting on Monday.

Wish me luck! xoxox

Hey everyone! Happy 4th of July!  I hope you all have something fun and safe planned. Last year’s was a bit too crazy for me.  I think this year’s party will be perfect! I get to spend it with my friend Mieko who is sitting next to me (on my left) in this photo.

Thank you all for the thoughtful birthday wishes and gestures. I had a wonderful birthday at one of my favorite places in LA, Lake Shrine.

I Heart waterfalls!

A swan named Joy at the lake

Enjoying the garden with my girlfriends

Thank you for the emails about my episodes of Love That Girl. I did three of them.  They have been replaying them a lot.

To those of you inquiring about Code Name Phoenix on DVD. I’m sorry to say we don’t have access to it at this time. I’m flattered that you all remember me as Phoenix.  Your messages always brighten my day. Thanks to all of you who take the time to drop me a line.

Skyping with my sister is such a visual smorgasbord. This time, I was surprised to see the twins potty training on the right side of my computer screen. Pretty cool until one of them stood up while he was mid….stream!  LOL.  I  held  my “oldest” nephew’s artwork (he’s been potty trained for many years now)  up to the camera so that he could see how much I cherish his birthday card.  He held is “yearbook” up to the camera and read aloud.  “My favorite color is neon, my favorite time of the day is noon, my favorite restaurant is the Crab Shack, and my favorite actor is…Jeanne.”  He is just too much. Kids have the most refreshing perspective. This beats winning an Emmy in my book. :p

My JCLA handbag line is doing quite well. We are now available in Canada and all across the nation. Learning about a new industry and doing something that gives back to a worthy cause has been so fulfilling. I feel so alive! Please take a second to Like the JCLA Facebook page: Here are some YouTube videos of the bags:

As always, I’m sending blessings your way. I appreciate you stopping by. And remember, whatever you can do or dream…begin it!

Last November I had 7 auditions in one day. Two of them were callbacks scheduled at the exact same time. With a bit of juggling, sprinting, race car driving, and houdini-esque wardrobe changes, I made them all. I was put on avail for both callbacks and booked the Nissan commercial first. This booking wiped out my other avail and all other callbacks as the shoot dates overlapped. When it rains it pours!

Right after I booked the Nissan spot I went home with my 3 month old chihuahua rescue, Mr. Truffle.

Mr. Truffle

My cat Doodle's reaction to my new puppy

Thankfully They did! The makeup artist worked some airbrush foundation over the scratch and corner of my eye. I shot my Nissan commercial before the holidays. This is a national spot for their new Quest. It will also be played on the internet and they’re looking at producing an Iphone ad version as well.

This was a very physical shoot, requiring me to balance a tower of items, while assuming a kicking position and pressing a button with my toe. There are special effects (CGI/green screen) involved which meant a lot of reacting to things that were not there. I had a great time! Here’s a link to the commercial on Youtube!

I’m on avail for a Bank print ad. Wish me luck!

Please leave a comment telling me how you are, and what you have planned for 2011. I miss you and would love to reconnect!
Smiles,
Jeanne

HBO Feeling “Luck”y with its Newest Series Pick-Up

14 July 2010 11:27 AM, PDT | TVovermind.com

Imagine you were a network executive, and I said I had a show starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, written by David Milch (creator of Deadwood), and directed by Michael Mann (Miami Vice, the TV series and movie). What if I told you the show centered on the exciting, and often dirty, sport of horse racing? What if I told you Hoffman’s character’s name is Ace? Would you be interested? Of course you would be! And so is HBO.

The resurgent network (thanks to True Blood, Treme, and the soon-to-premiere Boardwalk Empire) has just picked up Luck, a drama taking “a provocative look at horse racing – the owners, gamblers, jockeys and diverse gaming industry players.” The series will begin shooting in the fall, in and around Santa Anita Park in southern California. The pilot episode also co-stars Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Kevin Dunn, Richard Kind, Jason Gedrick, Kerry Condon and Jill Hennessy. »

- Michael Salerno

The bad news:
1) They shot everyone else early but shot me from 7am-8am.
2) I had to be in Santa Monica for a commercial callback, which meant driving from Orange County rush hour into LA rush hour.
3) My bloodshot eyes only got one hour of sleep (due to JCLA handbag obligations & the 3:30 am start)

To my rescue:
The makeup artist who…
1)Dropped some “illegal” (FDA unapproved) French blue eyedrops into my eyes, turning them as white as snow.
2) Gave me a fat burner pill that made it impossible for me to fall asleep!
3) Made me look human with her magic!

At 8:15 am. I’m wrapped from the shoot. I manage to stay awake through rush hour traffic.

I salivate over the hour nap I’m about to take in my car, as I park at my Santa Monica audition. Just then I get a call from my agent.
Agent: “Just making sure you know they changed the shoot dates. You must be available from the 27th-29th.”

This is a problem because… for the next 2 weeks a certain telecommunications company has had me on hold as a model.

A “hold” means that they are very interested in booking you, but they reserve the right not to to hire you, yet they want YOU to guarantee you’ll drop everything at a moments notice (while turning down more lucrative job opportunities) to be 100% available for all of tentative shoot dates- though you’re only guaranteed to work ONE of those days.
That’s the standard dictionary term anyways. ;P

My commercial agent tells me I can’t go to the callback if there is a chance I won’t be available for the shoot. What? There is no way I just suffered through 2 hours in traffic, and took a heart palpitating pill… NOT to go to my callback.

I call my modeling agent with the dilemma. She tells me she’ll get back to me. So I wait on pins and needles as the clock ticks closer to my callback time.

I console myself with the thought that even if I lose both job opportunities… I can at least get some sleep! My agent calls my cell phone as I’m lying half conscious in my car.

Modeling agent: “I spoke to the producer. You’ve been released.”

I’ve never been so happy to lose a job in my life!

I change clothes in the bathroom and rush in to my callback. I’m the first one in my category to go in. They ask me to portray the following emotions directly into the camera:

Making Plan. Anticipation. A Challenge. Confidence. Pride. Success.
No problemo!

Then they ask me to hold on my last emotion: Prideful confidence with a big smile. Hold, hold, hold… (for what feels like an eternity) as I start to feel…oh no…my face quivering. My body is not used to the fat burner pill the makeup artist gave me.

Quivering is NOT confident. Jittery- up all night- face is not happy or confident.

Grrrr, I blew it! Much ado about nothing. The session runner dismisses me with a perfunctory, “Thank you.” I exit into a room full of well rested women ready to book this job.

Fine I’m going home. I’m going to melt into bed. At least I made it all the way from OC without crashing…and I tried my best.
Just say no to drugs!

Fast forward: Me in my bed. Full on REM kicking in, when my cell phone blows up with that obnoxious “cha-ching” pinball machine ring which IDs an agent is calling.
Three voicemail messages, though this is the first time I’ve heard my phone ring at all.

Voicemail:
Casting Office: “The client needs you to email the casting director a photo of yourself with your hair pulled back ASAP.”

The next 2 messages were from my commercial agents reiterating the same command. One suggested I take a cell phone photo of myself right now. Uh, you don’t want a photo of me right now….

Yawn, ok I’m probably too late. The rest of the world is awake and working right now. Why would they need photos of me? I sucked.
I email the photos and eventually make it back to sleep. “Cha-ching, Cha-ching!!!” My cell phone rings.

Agent: Ok honey, you’re on avail.

“On avail” is pretty much like a “hold.” It’s the equivalent of that person you haven’t booted out of your life…yet, who makes plans with you but always cancels (via text) at the last minute. You might get lucky but don’t hold your breath.

Lo and behold, they book me the following day?!

I’ll be shooting a bank commercial next week! I’m a real business owner so I’m perfect for this spot, and the best part….my face will NOT be quivering the day of the shoot. No more fat burner pills for me! Ha ha.

Mission accomplished.

This bizarre booking is only to be rivaled by the time my agent called me on Xmas day to tell me I booked a JCPenney commercial that I never even auditioned for!

Expect the unexpected.

Hello world!
What’s new? Everything!
I’m a new woman!

The 4th of July sparked more than just fireworks for me. That day presented me with a life changing experience that made me reevaluate the things I do to please others.

It’s not appropriate to tell the story. So, looong story short, I found myself in a situation where martial arts would not save me. Well, physical martial arts could not save me. But Bruce’s words, “Be like water,” ran through my mind during the ordeal. Having run out of tactics and options, my only saving grace was that I had remained calm and focused. I closed my eyes and prayed to be spared. I vowed that if I could be released from this situation, I would always stand up for my needs, 100% firm.

Miraculously, my prayer was answered -big time! So here I am, Miss 100%. I’ve always thought of myself as a strong person…but I had an overactive empathy gland. Empathy is an invaluable asset to have as an actor and a philanthropist. However, as a human being with needs, too much empathy can allow unsavory situations, and people, to infiltrate.

With my new resolve to be true to myself, I feel so much lighter and energetic. I’ve been able to forgive and release infiltrators in a firm, but loving way. Since I’ve made these changes I’ve booked 2 jobs and been on hold for another in the last week. Equally as thrilling, the progress with my JCLA handbags has been unbelievable!

I am receiving (& giving) an abundance of love and support from friends, family…and even strangers. Life is truly beautiful! I wish I could bottle this feeling I have right now and share it with all of you.

This is me serving you a cocktail of strength, hope, passion, miracles, humor, creativity, power, and embracing your true self (shaken, not stirred!)

Cheers!

Hope everyone had a happy Father’s Day! I ordered my father’s day gift fourteen days in advance this year just to be on the safe side. The company decided to ship the assortment of trees and shrubs to ME instead. I spoke to customer service telling them they had sent the gift to the billing address instead of the shipping address. They confirmed my Dad’s correct address then proceeded to send the second shipment to my house again!?! Sigh.

Thank you everyone for the sweet birthday messages. Two of my Gemini girlfriends and I went to Vegas for a triple birthday celebration. Lots of Beach Bunny bikinis, dancing, limo rides, and all around questionable behavior- not by me of course. I’m a big nerd. My girlfriends are absolutely crazy, and I love them for it!

I returned to LA where my sweet friend Andrea threw a surprise party. Balloons, red velvet cupcakes, tons of laughter, and generous hearts. On the 17th, I started the day seeing some of my favorite people. I enjoyed an early hike and arrived home to find clues leading me to gifts hidden in my favorite spots in the garden. The day was rounded off with a go see (my godfather likes to call it a modeling “look see”) and a nice dinner. My friends & family went above and beyond in the creativity, generosity, and personal touch department. I’m truly blessed.

The day after my birthday I took my good friend (the present hider) to meet Amma for the first time. We received her blessing and had a great time meeting a variety of interesting people.

Today I had a callback for an acting job. We were asked to ad lib throughout the script which made it even more fun. I was given a new scene just before I walked in, but was told to focus on the original scene. When we got in the room, the director decided to concentrate on the new scene. In the past, this would have thrown me. But I trust myself more as an actor these days and don’t waste time worrying about how I’m going to do. In general I’ve realized how much easier it is to be like water (as Bruce Lee would say) and go with the flow.

And now….the deep thought of the day:

Like attracts like. By being courageous, loving, and forgiving you bring love, courage and forgiveness into your own life.

What do you need to attract into your life today? Be it.

Well, people will never be done dying. But I’m definitely done with my “hiatus.” I’ve managed to sort out what death means to me and get on with the business of living. It just took some time, advice from my true friends, and building a koi pond in my yard. I did keep up with occasional tweets which always show up on this page in the right column.

I have been a busy bee. I just finished working on an HBO pilot called Luck. The show is about horse racing and stars Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte. It was such a gift to work with Oscar nominated director Michael Mann. He pays close attention to every detail and guides actors to achieve their best performance. Working on a TV show usually involves a race to get the shot done on time. Working on Luck was about staying true to real life, carving out characters, and not just getting it done…but getting it right.

When Luck gets picked up, as I’m certain it will, I may likely become a recurring guest character. I auditioned for this show when I was on day 8 of my 10 day Master Cleanse. Which just goes to show that fasting does not sap you of energy. It actually makes you more focused and adds that extra sparkle to your presence.

I’ve done several modeling campaigns since the last time I checked in. The last print ad I shot was for Harrah’s casino. I also did a Wells Fargo ad. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you with listing them all.;P

On the manufacturing front, I’m a couple months away from launching Jeanne Chinn, Los Angeles (JCLA) handbags. It has been a learning experience to say the least. The website www.jclaboutique.com is currently under construction. You can sign up for the mailing list right now to find out when we go live. If my blogging is any indication of how many newsletters you’ll be receiving…you should feel safe signing up! I will not clog your email box! The thing that has kept me going has been my goal of raising money for dog and cat rescue. I can’t wait!

“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”-Leo Buscaglia