Hey y’all!
My awesome friend, Miles Allen is a wonderful VO artist, and was nice enough to help me with my VO reel.
Check it out here!
https://soundcloud.com/tbopper/taras-demo
And PLEASE watch my dear friend, Miles in this hilarious Spongebob Video!
This Summer, my family went to Colorado to continue our annual trip of bagging 14ers. Now, for those who don’t know what that means, here is a little light on the subject:
In mountaineering terminology in the United States, a fourteener is a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet (4,270 m) above sea level. The importance of fourteeners is greatest in Colorado, which has the majority of such peaks in North America. Climbing all of Colorado’s fourteeners is a popular pastime among peak baggers. There are 52 14ers in Colorado.
We started the epic journey in Buena Vista by summiting mount Huron, while also acclimating ( which isn’t recommended when you fly in from LA which is at sea level).
For day hikes, you really only need a few liters of water and a few snacks to give you energy. My dad wore his whole pack on each hike (he is amazing) while my boyfriend had a small bag and sinched his water bladder to his belt. It really depends on what your preference is.
Clothing is another matter. Normal hikers start these treks around 3:30-4 AM in order to summit before noon and get safely down the mountain without hitting the rain and hail. Yes, it rains and hails by noon which makes descending the mountain treacherous. You want rain gear just in case as well as a warm layer and a light layer when you peel down. It gets pretty hot once you summit. Lots of layers helps. Or you could be my brother and wear a t-shirt and shorts the whole way. Again, it’s up to your discretion.
Here is a summit picture with the whole gang atop Huron.
We then bagged Belford which is also in Buena Vista that connects to Oxford which can be summited in succession. My brother has unbeatable endurance and ran from the summit of Belford to Oxford and back in about an hour and a half. It takes about an hour and a half to get to Oxford for most hikers. Like I said, he is a haus.
Next stop: Durango! The most precious town I’ve ever seen. We took the infamous train from Durango to Needleton (a stop only hikers headed to Chicago Basin get off at..or rafters) there is nothing around Needleton. Nothing. Only nature and the distant steam escaping the train engine as it leaves you for Silverton.
Getting to Chicago Basin is a 7 mile uphill trek that takes anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.
You set up your tent and usually pass out after dinner. But the views you see once you wake up are remarkable.
My main mountain to conquer was Aeolus. It has a bad rep of being dangerous and unsafe during any condition that’s not ideal. The week before we left for Chicago Basin, this mountain took the life of a hiker. It’s not a mountain first timers should be trying to bag.
This is the catwalk; a narrow path towards the summit that is a straight fall on either side.
After the catwalk, it was straight scrambling/rock climbing until we summited. It was windy, but there wasn’t a hint of rain, so our descent seemed promising.
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This is the geological stone at the summit for Aeolus. This summit was my greatest achievement of the trip.
On our way back to camp we had a run in with a few goats that were threatening our campsite as well as our neighbors. This is common and also one of the main reasons why you don’t leave food on your site. Always hoist a food bag into a tree, and secure your stuff while you are gone…or they will destroy everything.
The last summit was to Windom. We left at 3 AM and were able to summit before 8. It was a perfect day, and the view was breathtaking.
If you have never climbed a 14er, or any mountain for that matter, I highly recommend it. It puts everything into perspective when you are climbing for hours and finally reach the summit. The view will literally take your breath away. You can’t just look at a picture and get the gist either. Go. See what beautiful views and creations you are missing by getting caught up in the day to day. You will not regret it.
I just want to share this gem of a story with y’all.
It happened on the way to a film shoot in Ventucopa, California.
We had stopped at a Flying J which is always an adventure for those who are frequent road-trippers.
In the car with us were the costume designer, PA, Associate producer and the other female actress, Gemma.
After dinner, the gang and I witnessed a most awkward encounter between the manager of Denny’s (which is connected to the Flying J) and a crazy broad who looked like she just had a fight with a semi-truck; she clearly lost.
She disappeared after making a scene with the manager, so we thought nothing of it.
Little did we know we would have our own personal moment with her.
I headed into the ladies room before hitting the road.
I nearly ran into the crazy broad as I walked into the restroom. She gave me the stink eye in the mirror while she picked glass from her face. I calmly walked into a stall, and acted natural (or as natural as one can be when seeing a chick pick her bloodied face full of glass).
She started mumbling at me; when I did not respond she stomped into the stall next to me and slammed it shut.
I thought to myself, “self, just get out ASAP and everything will be OK.”
Then, I hear the bathroom door open, Gemma walks in.
I open my stall door to wash my hands, and silly Gemma has all of her toiletries laid out on the bathroom sink, floss included. She has no idea that some crazy broad is only three feet from her.
We start chatting, her in normal sentences, and me in quick responses whilst giving her non-verbal hints that we gotta get out of dodge; she doesn’t pick up the clues. Then crazy lady starts repeating what we are saying only in a strange, drunken tone. Gemma slowly starts to think something’s up.
She spits out her mouthwash as crazy broad screams out foul words to us; this is the same time I take out my Gerber knife (which I have on me for just these occasions). Gemma is still collecting her items when the stall door slowly opens, we both hear this low voice ask, ” you wanna watch?” We turn to see what has happened. Crazy broad has opened up her stall whilst in the middle of going what we presume is #2. Her toilet paper is wound up in her hand and on her face. She looks crazed. We both slowly turn around, grab Gemma’s stuff and run out the door. We holler at the rest of the gang to stop what they are doing, and we burn rubber out of that joint.
It was the closest I have felt to needing my protective knife and mace, although the whole rest of the trip, Gemma and I couldn’t stop laughing.
I think if you are afraid that you are entering into a place that you could stumble upon a crazy broad, make sure you have something to protect yourself or….just don’t go in UNLESS you want a story like this to tell your friends.
Writing a screenplay is very hard when you don’t have someone to keep you on a tight schedule.
So I have done just that.
After not getting what I wanted finished for the whole month of January,I asked a good friend to keep me accountable on writing the new scenes for this new script.
I have been reading the hilariously written book by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon titled, Writing Movies for Fun and Profit.
It’s not exactly the type of film I aspire to create, but it sure is giving me a lot of helpful tips and ideas in what my script is lacking.
So far, it is halfway done.
Now, I never considered myself a writer, but I take such delight in creating a world that has not been investigated and torn apart by others. As an actor, you share your creative world under the parameters set by the writer, Director, and a slew of other people who continually adjust how far you can allow your character to explore.
In writing, You ARE the artist, architect, and literal creator of what is real, imagined, and discovered in each new page.
It’s encouraging to know that I can go home after a long and busy day, and immerse myself in the world I’ve created and choose to take it down any path I choose.
What freedom!!
I encourage everyone to write; in a diary or journal and explore where your mind takes you. It’s a wonderful tool for healing, and for sparking something inside you that you may not have been aware of before! Now get to it!
This morning I woke up with no hunger pains! I decided to try the very odd juice called, “better than a salad” which consists of all veggies. Here is the link to the recipe as well as a few other fun ones!
http://juicerecipes.com/health-benefits/juicing-for-weight-loss/
This one started out like this:
And turned out like this:
I added kale and green beet leaves for fun…if you can call it that.
It tastes just like a salad would, only liquid form…it’s very strange. I’d recommend trying the fruitier ones before going all veggie or doing the green machine which was made famous by the documentary, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. Watch it. It’s great.
Anyway, so far I don’t have cravings, but I kinda can’t wait to have some eggs and veggies ( in whole form) tomorrow! More to come before that! One more juice to exploit!
The show has been getting wonderful feedback. Most recently, Debra Graff wrote a review in the Valley Scene Magazine! You can pick one up or read it here! http://www.jejprint.com/valleyscene/pubData/iphone/index.html#39 Thank you, Debra!
Here are a few of the other Reviews!
“Written by J.B. Priestley originally set in the 1930s, it plays out here in the 1960s. As the story unfolds, secret deceptions reveal themselves, as shocking truths and unrequited feelings of love are exposed. An affluent group of book publishers and their ladies have gathered at Freda and Robert’s country home for dinner and cocktails. Martin’s brother Robert, and his stunning wife Freda, seem to have the perfect life … but do they? (Pitch perfect performances by Matthew J. Williamson and Libby Baker!) When Maud, one of their published authors brings up Martin’s suicide, shocking truths unravel (a quirky Carol Goans). The other guests include: Gordon and Betty, a “model” couple with hidden issues (played with passion by Jordan Wall and Rachel Amanda Bryant), Charles (a touching Seth Peterson), and Olwen, the firm’s loyal secretary with a hidden burning passion (played by Tara Bopp with heartfelt emotion). Quite an interesting story, as the group’s polished demeanor fades … and true feelings come out of the closet. Life is a pretty complicated game” – The Tolucan Times
” Dangerous Corner has a captivating cast….Bopp is so good with Olwen’s quiet insecurities and longing…Crown City Theatre is to be lauded for their risk taking. This is a great acting company that always rises to new challenges and endeavors with the utmost professionalism.” – Broadwayworld.com
The Crown Theatre production adds to the play’s air of sophistication with a set that features a mish-mash of artifacts from the 1940s to the 1960s, and a team of actors who avoid the affectations that are always a danger when a theater company re-enacts an era of cigarettes, hard liquor, pop tunes, and white dinner jackets.“ nohoartsdistrict.com
Tara Bopp’s Olwen Peele is appropriately heartfelt and tortured…” – Stage and Cinema
Shout out to my ole’ stomping grounds!
If you know Kirkwood, MO you may know my last name. Bopp; it’s strewn about the town, posted on different businesses and even has a road!
The Bopp’s started out in Kirkwood after coming over the pond in the mid 1800s. Here is a quick re-cap on how the Bopp’s came to live in Kirkwood, MO.
Peter Bopp, Sr. Was born Jan 29, 1812 in Groszherzogtum Hesso-Darmstadt, Grebenhain, Germany. On Sept. 28th, 1852 his family left Germany for America arriving in New Orleans on Dec. 20th. The voyage was 72 days. they remained in New Orleans until April 1853 when the threat of cholera caused them to move to St. Louis County. Mr. Bopp farmed for 12 years at Harwood and Gilbert roads (Des Peres) and founded St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Des Peres. On March 15,1865, he moved to Kirkwood, where he and his children were among the founders of the Concordia Lutheran Church. Still later he helped found Friedensgemeinde in Kirkwood. He died April 6, 1901 and is buried in Park Hill Cemetory at Sappington, MO The seven brothers became the volunteer fire department for Kirkwood. The rest is History!
If you are from K-wood or thereabouts, give a shout out to your High school below!
While staying with my sister and her husband in Santa Monica this week, it has come to my attention that I do not know all the great secret places to eat in LA. Despite my five-year stay in the vast city, the places I was introduced to recently were worth mentioning. Here are a few.
FUNNEL MILL-I was introduced to this coffee and tea shop back in January. Lately, the frequent trips to this delightful place reminds me that there are many, “mom and pop” places throughout the city just as cool as this. The drinks are refreshing and baked goods satisfying! Mmmm delish! This coffee spot is at 930 Broadway in Santa Monica! More to follow throughout the day…
Since being in LA, it has been quite difficult explaining to my friends and family what it is that I am doing since they haven’t seen me as a lead in a film or TV show yet. It is hard for some people to understand that there are a million things going on behind the scenes. I thought I would share a bit of what a day can consist of as an actor pursuing their craft.
*Wake at 6 AM -workout ( gym or DVD such as P90x) to keep up with the tiniest people in the world
*8 AM Try to eat something before going to work and/or get to “work” online with:
-Emails to keep in touch with network connections
-Reading up on new projects on Backstage, IMDBPro, Casting About and 15 other sites that find their way into your email
-Submitting to projects in the hopes of auditions from Actors Access, LACasting and Casting Frontier etc.
-Call agent to see how they like your new pictures you spent $350 on for two pictures.
-going to an actual audition, be it from your own submission, your agent or a friend whose doing a short short film and they need your help, and they can’t pay you but you do it anyway.
* 7 PM Go to Evening activities after scarfing your face with a quick healthy flaxseed gluten free vegan, raw supplement to keep you going without the calories.
-Acting class (4 hour class)
-Improv class/ performance nights ( way fun!)
-Showcase ($75) where you get to act for up to one minute with 30 other people and scurry out before being too annoying to the casting director/agent you paid to see.
-seeing/performing in a show…the latter being much more fun. It’s important to see plays and movies coming out, and it’s the closest thing to a social life we actors have next to…
-industry events. This is where we schmooze and walk around pretending to be , “known” in the entertainment world. The, ” fake it ’til you make it mentality” is dripping at these networking shenanigans.
11 PM some people go home and recharge by going on Facebook to tell the world what they have done. Others pass out for the night. personally, I try to read something that has nothing to do with the industry like the Bible. This reminds me that the crazy world I live in is not for nothing. I have a purpose in this industry and the chaos that the day brings is no longer a bother, but I embrace it. I love acting and the crap that I have to crawl through in order to get it is a breeze when put into perspective.
Bring it on!
I am knowledgeable in many topics, however science and engineering are not one of them. Jonathan Bopp, my brother is extremely nerdy in these areas…and here’s a peek into his genius!
I was very excited to see him this past week at a convention I had no clue existed. It was the FIRST robotics competition (FRC) where High schoolers from across the world compete with actual robots they constructed to complete a particular task. This year, robots had to play basketball as well as balance on a see-saw type bridge with other robots.
Now, I would have no idea how to even start a project like this. My brother does this on a regular basis.
On top of the competition, companies were also represented including NASA, Siemens, and the CIA. They are there mainly to scope out future controllers of the world and the next Steve Jobs.
My brothers team, Cyborgs from Westminster Academy in St. Louis, MO. were up against 400 teams with years of experience. This was Jonathan’s first year. They made 57th place in their division. That is AMAZING!
So amazing in fact, that it caught the eye of Siemens, and they decided to interview my little brother. Here it is:
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/2sEMtEx4Ysc” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen>
Look out world for my brother, BOY GENIUS!
Tara Bopp 