This is how it started...

When my mama was 8 months pregnant, her sisters threw a baby shower to celebrate my arrival. One of the baby shower cards that stood out to her was one that had a header, "A Star Is Born". She still has it on a pin board hanging in my room. She said to me that the card stood out to her because I was exactly what she thought she would be having -- a STAR!! This begins my journey to stardom ...

My 1st Audition

Didn't Know What to Expect

October 2020

On October 10, 2020, during COVID, we were no longer required to stay in place. When auditions opened up for a kids show, I asked my mama to take me. The auditions were being held at the Fairmont Hotel in Berkeley, where I received a short script to read and act. I wasn't sure what to expect, but my mama helped me through the registration process so I could receive my script. I sat and memorized my lines with my mama's help; she played the other actor to make it easier for me to interact.

I was pretty nervous and reading through the lines when we heard, "Ahnnika Velasquez". I was up. We walked into a room and sat down on the chairs lined along the back of the small room. The producer asked my mama to tell him about me so she started. Afterwards, I was up. "Is it ok if she pulls her mask down during the audition?," he asked. "Sure." "And... action!"

I think I did pretty well. We ran through the script twice and then, "Thank you for coming today." I didn't know what that meant. We walked out of the room and my mama explained that I was not going to get a callback, but that she was super proud of me cause she thought I was awesome.

I was pretty sad, but mama said that it was ok, that my time would come, and that I just have to keep working on it and return at the next audition.

My 2nd Audition

Crossing My Fingers

April 2021

April 17, 2021, as if this day wasn't busy enough for me. My day started with a virtual cheer competition at my cheerleading gym pretty early in the morning, then my Ballet/Jazz dance class at 2:00 PM, followed by a birthday dinner for my Auntie Emy at St. Michael's Alley in Palo Alto, and finally, my 2nd audition ever at 8:00 PM at the Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto.

I was so tired by the time my audition was up and I really didn't want my grandparents or my auntie in the audition room with me, so they stayed in the lobby.

My mama checked us in and I received my script. It was the same script I had received the first time and that I had already memorized.

The process was the same where I was called up, I acted out my part with the Producer twice, and he paused and commented, "That was great!" I guess it wasn't GREAT enough because he thanked us for coming and off we were. What a disappointment! Oh well, my time will come I thought.

My 3rd Audition

Maybe the Third Time's a Charm?

August 2021

It was Saturday, July 31st, 2021. We're back in Palo Alto, but this time at the Nobu Hotel.

I'm back at it again, my third try at auditioning. My mama gave me some great pointers this time and said that I needed to react to the other actor's tone, gestures, and to make it look real; that I need to understand the scene and to not just read the script in one monotonous tone. It's all about expressions and emotions and making the audience feel it too. So she and I acted out the script with different tones, gestures, and, well... it worked! I acted my part based on the tones of the other actor and went through the scene twice with him. Guess what? I got invited me to come back the next day for Round 2 of auditions!! I was so excited and my mama was grinning ear-to-ear. She says to me, "I knew you could do it, baby girl. I'm so proud of you."

Sunday, August 1, 2021. With my mama, grandma, grandpa, and my aunties, we had already planned on spending the day in Half Moon Bay walking around and to have lunch, but we had to change our plans for the day get-away. My mama explained to my grandparents and aunties that I was invited back for Round 2 of auditions and that we had to be in Palo Alto by 2:00 PM. So they were fine with the change in plans and were very excited for me. My mama scheduled for us to visit and walk around the Elizabeth Gamble Botanical Gardens in Palo Alto, which was really beautiful and fun, and then to have lunch nearby at Osterio just a block from where we had to be at 2:00 PM. Once lunch was over, we headed to the Nobu Hotel just a block away.

Same routine... my mama checked us in while my grandparents and aunties waited in the lobby. This time, the script was completely different and it was less crowded with only those who were invited back for Round 2.

My mama and I practiced the script several times with different acts, meaning, different tones and gestures. Ten minutes later, we were called into the room. I didn't want my grandparents and aunties in the room cause I thought they'd make me nervous, but they snuck in anyway and I couldn't do anything about it. Neither could my mama. My mama gave an introduction of me and I was up. Oh yeah, this time my mama also gave me tips on improvising -- I didn't know what that meant before, but now I do -- so I did. I looked at the other actor's moves and tone of voice when he said his part and I acted out my part. I also improvised and changed some of the words around. We ran through the script twice; it was intense. But, I did it!! The Producer loved the way I acted and improvised and said I was very mature for a 9-year old. He also said I'd be great in a lead role and encouraged me to take that on but that it was up to me and my family to decide. After my mama discussed it with my grandparents and aunties, she set me up in a lead role for Season 7 of the kids' series. We're going to Orlando, Florida in December!! I was so excited!

August 1, 2021 I made it through Round 2 of auditions and mama signed me up for a lead role! Congratulations to me!