Cydnee Dozier:
CLASS OF 1967
Allen Jay High SchoolClass of 1967
High point, NC
Cydnee's Story
2016 UPDATE:
I was optimistic about "Charley's Return". I have finished Part I. I could end the book as it is; but, I realized that I had left the door open for a second book or a second part in the same book. I decided on keeping it together. Now, I just need more writing time. Fireworks hours are strange and days off do not come together. That means I have to do my shopping, cleaning, errands and whatever in broken bits. It wouldn't seem that a part-time job would take up so much time. Another short story ready to be finished, another book prologued and I'm not even finished with this one. Maybe I should have started this sooner. I actually did. My first short story was published in the mid 80's; and, my poem "Soulmates" was published in the mid 90's. I had jotted notes on several books and actually wrote out a rough draft of my first book about the time my first short story was published. I just let everything sit until it felt right. I guess a lot had to do with my husband, Charles. He encourages me, unlike my first two, who thought I was stupid. Nothing like finally finding the right person.
Life
When I was at Allen Jay, I never thought I would live anywhere but High Point. At age sixty-five, I have lived as far north as Delaware and as far south as Florida and most places in between. I married a Construction Superintendent and we followed the jobs. We finally retired, bought a permanent home and then went back to work. We live in Fair Bluff, NC and found jobs at the same place less than a mile from home.. I have two children from my first marriage, three foster children from my second marriage and a step-daughter from my third. It's not as sordid as it sounds. I divorced my first; my second died after 24 and a half years; I am celebrating 20 wonderful years with the Love of My Life. I have 7 grandchildren and 2 great grand children. I am in the process of spoiling my "old ladies' babies" which is the term used to describe small house dogs in this area. I have a pair of mini wire-haired Dachshunds, a long-haired Dachshund that is a rescue and a mini Lhasa Apso that is a rescue. In school I was withdrawn and shy; but, you can't convince any of my friends. I do a lot of public speaking and I am very active in politics, volunteering and I show my dogs in talent shows. Feel free to contact me. It may take a while to get your message; but, I will answer.
Time and politics take a toll. My husband and I worked in video gaming. When the state decided to ban the industry, we lost our jobs. First rule of economics - Spending expands to meet income. Second rule of economics - Spending does not decrease to accommodate reduced income. Charles is 71 (but looks 50) and I am 65. What kind of jobs were out there for us? Acting! The film industry was very prominent in this area. We have been fortunate to land jobs as extras in movies and TV. We made it "Under the Dome" for the season's final two episodes; and, came back to the season two premiere episode. The movie "Tammy" is coming out next year and Charles and I both got to work on that one, as did our car. We had a quick scene in the pilot of "The Grind"; but, actually made it into the credits; I guess because we were the only extras in that scene and we were the two oldest people in the show. I had two scenes in "Eastbound and Down". Charles managed to get a couple of scenes in "Eastbound and Down" as well. Then it was on to "Sleepy Hollow" for a very long day that paid of in screen time, "Sleepy Hollow" has been very good to my husband, Charles. The November 3, 2014 episode gave him a featured extra role. "The Remaining" and "Spongebob Squarepants 2" are two more movies that I made it into. My profile pic is of my hubby and me in a TV scene. You might recognize it, if you watch TV on Monday nights. It was in the season's finale two episodes and might make it into the Season 2 opening episode. A short break, winter is slow in the film industry around here. New seasons, new shows - made into the pilot of "The Red Zone". We are crossing our fingers that it gets picked up. If it does that opens the door for more scenes. The TV series "Secrets and Lies" starts in 2015 and both Charles and I made it into that one. It's a strange world but a lot of fun. The pay is not what you see in the magazine ads; but, they pay you for the whole day, feed you really well, and you may work only a few minutes. This is a job I never dreamed I would have; but, I am really enjoying it. In less than a year, I have done four movies and six TV series - real ones on CBS, Fox, HBO and Showtime. You can't imagine how it felt when I took a trip to Virginia and stopped fo...Expand for more
r supper at Shoney's. A young girl snuggled up close to me at the salad bar and said, "I know who you are!" She told me exactly what I had done when she saw me perform. It was a great feeling. Recently, we have both moved "up the ladder". We have been auditioning. Background extras do not audition. If you fit the description and the director likes your look, you get the job. If there are lines to speak or special skills required, you have to audition. So far the auditions have not resulted in work. One audition wanted Charles; but, I was too much of a contrast (he is 6'2" and I am 4'11"). The next audition was just for Charles. He was too perfect for the part and the star was afraid that it would take away from him! The last audition was mine. There were only 5 candidates for the part, and I was the only one that fit the physical description. I did not get it - my butt was not flabby enough! That's okay. I got paid for the audition and got a real up close with Jim Carey on the set of "Dumb and Dumber To". We are now waiting for a new movie to start casting with one of our favorite casting directors. There may be another TV series rolling out as well. It is a watch and wait business.
Since we were on the season finale of Under The Dome, we are in the first episode of the new season. I actually got to do something! I hope it turns out better than last season when I got to do something. Last season they needed someone to cry. I sat in a Church and cried for six hours! The camera was right in front of me. The episode aired and all you could see, if you looked fast, was the corner of my elbow! That will teach me to get my hopes up. This time it was a little more physical. I paid for that stunt, so I hope it isn't cut. Then on to the new series The Red Zone. Things are getting busy. I will be glad when it warms up and is a little drier. Cold and wet gives me out, when it's 4am and the director is yelling, "That was great! Do it one more time!". It wouldn't be so bad; but, he has said "One more time" so many times people are chiming in with him. Oh, well. It's part of the job. Charles wants a "real" job instead of this. I don't mind most of the time.
Now the politicians have killed the Film Incentives. One of our favorite casting directors has left the state. She has asked that we submit for parts she has in SC. It was very tempting, as the part she has been casting pay a lot better. Then a commercial came up. Charles had taken another Construction job; so, travel was out. So many of the TV series have packed up and moved that I called a friend and asked if he needed any help. I had worked for his daddy 20 years ago and more. Sixty-five years old and back working in fireworks. That's okay. It pays well; and, I am very good at my job. It isn't acting; but, it is a steady paycheck. If you go to Myrtle Beach, I'm at Stateline Fireworks on Highway 17 at the NC/SC border in Little River. We have wholesale prices so we actually sell for much less than the "Buy one get one free" or "50% Off". We do not take coupons or give discounts. We don't need to, our prices are much lower without them. The owner of the store owns the import company that brings the fireworks from China and he owns the distributing company that sells to the other stores. That's why our prices are so low. Our employees are not paid a commission, so there is no pressure. We are all well schooled on the fireworks and we have videos to show you what the items look like before you buy. Stop in and say "Hi!".
I am also a published writer. I have published two short stories and two poems. The first short story was a local publication and I am thinking of adding a few more stories to make a book. The second is available on Amazon.com. The title is "Confessions of a Goat Lady". It is very short and was developed after I posted a list entitled "Things I Have Learned Since Getting Goats". So many people asked for more that I created a story around the list. It has sold better than I expected and has even sold in Europe and Canada. I won't get rich off of it; but, it is still a trill to get royalty checks. My poems can be read online at Poetry.com. One is in an anthology of poems that no one has ever heard of or bought. I have two books in the works. One just needs serious editing and the other is still a work in progress. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback on both. Writing is a slow process; but, I am hoping to have the second ready for editing by the first of the year. Truthfully, the second one will probably be published before the first. Dialog trips me up when I am writing. Be sure to look for "Charley's Return".
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