A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 81)

Well, I have to start off by saying that I am finally running ragged for a good reason.  Usually, I am just exhausted because I got 3.5 hours of sleep and caffeine is just another drug that doesn't work anymore.  Now, I am exhausted because I get 3.5 hours of sleep, caffeine is just another drug that doesn't work anymore AND I feel like a 'working' actor.

I have some time-line filling in since it has been a while since my last blog.  Quickly, as to not bore you...:

1. I was cast in the upcoming film "J. Edgar", directed by Clint Eastwood.  My scene is opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.  THAT is a whole 'nother blog.  I might actually write about that since it is a great story and I don't want to forget what happened.
2. I did a table read for an upcoming western feature film.
3. I acted in Season 1 and Season 2 of "Game Room"
4. I wrote and directed Season 1 of "Far from the Tree" (and Robin, my wife, produced and stars), and we are currently writing Season 2 to shoot soon.
5. I am currently in rehearsals for an upcoming Independent film called "Democracy at Work"
6. I have written more scripts for acting class
7. I am in talks with fellow acting classmates about future productions

And...what else?...nope...I think that catches you up.

So, what happened this week?  Well, a fellow writer in my acting class came up with a great idea to keep our writing skills honed.  We have decided to ask a class mate for a topic and we would write a scene for our class.  The current topic:  Asteroids.

Script has been written, submitted and, hopefully, it will be funny.  It is amazing how different it is to see your words performed than to just read them from the page.  I totally respect writers out there.  My hats off to you.

If there are any readers of my blog who have any topics they would like to suggest, please feel free.  I will post the scene up here, too.

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 80)

To Blog or Not To Blog

Well, I have been out of the (blogging) public eye for over a year now and I have not heard any rumblings at all...which hurts.

No, "Where did you go?", "What have you been doing?", "I miss you!", "I think this baby is yours!!!"

Well, I plan to continue blogging, if not for all of my adoring fans in hiding, at least so when I get older and still know how to use a computer, I will have put those memories out there.  And, those of you who are following my career can rest your weary heads, too.  Things have been good...really good...and I can't wait to share them with you all.

So, be warned...I am back!!!

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 79)

Flying High

To say the actor was cold would be an understatement.

No, the actor was not cold in temperature, he was downright Siberian. He had never felt a cold like this; a cold that benumbed his inner core to the point where any forward movement was solely based on whether the twitching of his muscles moved him in that particular direction.

Sure, it was expected. When he left the tropical conditions of the Pacific Ocean, he had relied on the Weather Channel's app on his iPhone. It brought back data of freezing temperatures in the Mid-West. He was used to the lows in the upper 40's in California and remembered that he had once lived out in the figid towns where cows are tipped daily. He would be able to handle the temperature a meer 10 degrees cooler.

Sitting at terminal 34B in CMH Airport reflecting on his trip to this snowy region, he was happy to be heading home. Although he would miss his Grandma who had just turned 92 years old (this was a trip to celebrate her birthday), his parents and siblings (as well as their boys), he would not miss the cutting breeze of 10 degree air hitting his bare hands as he brush inches of snow off his rented Kia Optima. He would not miss the slushy roads that did not want to grab the tread of his tires. He would not miss Mother Nature releasing a wintery storm that this area had not been seen in years.

He sat in the terminal close to the entrance of the causeway as his plane taxied up to the opening at the end. The door leading into the terminal was opened and, with a gust of air that took his breath away, he knew he was ready to head home.

On his flight from CMH to Chi-Town, he could not get warm. Yes, he was wearing his heavy jacket (heavy by California standards), but it felt as if their was a waft of air coming from the window where he sat and watched the snow covered trees below. His brain told him this was an impossiblity since they would be sucked out into the nipping clouds to a certain death. No, this was his soul hoping for some of that chicken soup he had read about.

Landing in the windy city (and glad he was not outside to see if it was true), he found his new gate, H9, called his wife to tell her he missed her (especially her body heat under the covers while they spooned), then boarded AA Flight 889 to Los Angeles. Only four and a half hours until the smoggy California air.

As he walked down the aisle, he noticed someone sitting in his row; aisle seat 24C. He was window seat 24A. He was flip-flopping about whether he wanted an overweight passenger in 24B for the warmth but realized quickly that it would become too personal a flight.

As the actor sat down, he introduced himself to the gentleman in 24C, something he rarely does on any airline. Why did he do it this time, he did not know. There was something about this man that seemed to intrique the actor, maybe that was the reason. To this day, it is unknown.

The men exchanged plesantries and began to talk, in a the small fashion. The actor asked the man in 24C what he was doing in Los Angeles and the man responded that he was heading back to shoot a film.

Hindsight is a funny thing. Not funny "ha ha" but funny in some other way. The actor now knew why he felt he needed to talk to this man, but he didn't know why he knew. Strange is the human condition.

Through the conversation, the actor told of his acting and the director told of his directing. 24C asked 24A if he had a business card, and one was produced. The actor had filled his wallet with business cards but had yet to ever be asked for one. He did keep them on him for an occation just like this one. How fortunate he had not cleaned out his wallet before he left Sunny Cal.

After the flight took off, the man in 24C closed his eyes and took a four hour nap. In the course of their conversation, the actor had found out the director had been traveling from Oman and had been traveling most of the last two days. He thought it best to let the man rest and not bother him with idle chit-chat.

The plane landed, quite smoothly, and the two men stood up to clear out their bags from the overhead department. While waiting for all the passengers from rows 1 through 23 to get their lives off the plane, the director turned to the actor, extended his hand out and said "We will work together soon". And, like that, he was off the plane and not to be found.

As the actor debarked, he thought to himself, "Thanks for having a birthday, Grandma."

He dialed his wife's cell phone on his way down the escalator, past the baggage claim and into the warm California air. Yes, the warm air...this is where he had to be.

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 78)

You Never Know Who You're Talking To

The actor was excited. He was finally enjoying the chaotic life of being in the "Industry". After coming off the final days of a film shoot, he had to get home and look over his lines for an audition the next day. He could not remember the last time he had been this busy and he hoped it would only continue.

Arriving at the audition location the following day, lines 90% memorized (although they didn't have to be, it was just something the actor did to feel more comfortable with the scene), he walked up to the front door only to see it was locked. He had been here before, but it was always later in the day. He looked at the time on his phone; 12:40 PM. He was 20 minutes early. Was he the first one? He heard a voice from behind ask "Are you here to audition?"

"Yes", the actor responded with a smile. "I am here to audition for..." The actor blanked. What was he auditioning for? The only word he could think of was Betsy, but was that the CD's name? Was that the name of the character in the scene? Was that the name in the title? Who knows, so he went for it. "...Betsy", he heard come out of his mouth as he thought to himself "please be right please be right please be right..."

"Yeah, I'm here for that, too." YES!!! The actor felt a cool breeze come across the perspiration on the nape of his neck. "I guess they don't open until one" the stranger said.

"No worries, I'm a little early anyway." As the actor walked over, the stranger asked him what character he was auditioning for. He told the man he was here for the part of "Lenny" and asked the man if he was auditioning for the same role.

"Oh, no. I am the casting director."

The breeze stopped and the coolness on his neck seemed to have vanished. "Well, nice to meet you..." The actor stopped, hoping to get a name. "Michael", the man said with a smile.

The actor proceeded to have a pleasant conversation with Michael, the casting director, while they both waited for someone to unlock the doors. They were the only ones there, so the actor took advantage of the situation. He asked how the auditions were going. Michael, the casting director, told him he was an actor, too, and that he was learning so much being on the other side of the table. Michael, the casting director, told the actor how amazed he was by the attitudes of the actresses reading for "Bitsy" the other day.

"BITSY!!! That's the name!!! I was 'this' close", thought the actor.

At that time, the doors opened to the audition space and two men walked to the door, finishing their conversation. Michael (did I mention he was the casting director) walked over to the door where the auditions for his particular production was being held, but there were other doors with other productions that would fill this building with actors via for the role...any role.

Michael apologized that the producer and director were not there yet. If there is one that the actor has learned from years and years and years of auditioning is never give attitude and role with the punches. "There's nothing to apologize for, just let me know when you guys are ready," he said. This seemed to have thrown Michael off as he replied "Wow, you are so much nicer than some of the people who auditioned yesterday."

As the actor waited in the lobby while Michael entered the audition room, he thought of how fellow actors sabotage their own careers and was thankful that they do. If the competition is willing to not take this Industry as serious as he has been, let the cards fall where they may.

He realized he was the first one to audition for the day and, when they called him he went in with confidence and self-assurance. He did what he wanted to do with the character, took the direction that was given, thanked everyone in the room for this opportunity and exited the room. Would he get a callback, only time would tell. He was just hoping more saboteurs were waiting in the lobby making Michael's job much easier.

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 77)

Another Film in the Canister

So, this weekend was very hectic for me. I had to finish the final two days of shooting "Time and Time Again", and these were going to be the fun shots. Day one consisted of shooting in a laboratory, in a bathroom and at a valet station. All in 8 hours. And...go.

The laboratory was to be a scene where 'an intern' was to give me a hard time when my time-travel experiment of an apple doesn't go quite as planned and turns into applesauce in the container as well as all over me. I love doing the physical humor shots, they are the most unpredictable and, therefore, garner the most spontaneous reactions.

After arriving the laboratory, I found out the 'the intern' called at midnight (12 hours prior to being on the set) and backed out of the shoot. Talking to the director, I guess it is hard to find extras who will do a free shoot and want to get paid. My argument is:

1. It is not an extra gig if you are saying lines, and
2. I'm not getting paid and working for four days so why would an extra expect to get paid?

I find it unbelievable how many actors sabotage their own acting careers. Get film on yourself, meet the next generation of filmmakers and stop crying like babies about getting paid. An actor acts, period. Do the work and more work will come. But, I digress...

I got bummed when we didn't have the time to get the applesauce exploding on my face, but I know what we shot will be great. Onto the bathroom scene, where I would have to act opposite my future self.

As we got to the location, the producer was putting signs on the bathroom door in the new Lucas Building at USC. As he finished, a student walked into the bathroom. That was at 5 PM, when we were supposed to be setting up for the first shot. It was then 5:05, then 5:10, then 5:15...what the hell was this guy doing in there?

At 5:20 PM, our producer walked into the bathroom and told the student in the stall that we really had to shoot and if he could finish it up. I don't think I have ever experienced that in all of my days of shooting. Funny stuff, this film making.

During the 20 minutes of waiting for the bathroom, the director informed me that he was a big fan of Ghostbusters and I brought it up that my wife was 'Slimer' in the second movie. He had seen the footage online and was in awe. We finished the bathroom shoot early and headed over to the valet location. It was three shots (handing the valet a ticket, close up of valet, close up of my character) and we were finished for the night. One more day and this shoot would be behind me.

On the last day of shooting, I thought it would be a nice thing to bring my wife and introduce her to the director. It was nice to do that for him. I think it still freaks my wife out to meet people who are in awe of her past on Ghostbusters, but she is a part of Americana.

We only had some quick shots of arriving home, writing down a message, trying on shirts, brushing my teeth, gargling with Scope, eating gum...easy stuff that took only 3 hours. Then, that was it...it was over...one more project done. After the shoot, I always get this feeling of "what's next?", but things have been happening this year and I am just hoping the momentum stays. This is my year, I just know it.

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 76)

"Don't Forget A Mug"

The actor sat in his 4x4 cubicle typing away on his 1x2 typewriter wishing he had a 2x4 to knock himself out. He had been thinking about the conversation he had with his wife and realized it was time to check in again with his agent...the one who had yet to call him for any audition at all.

As he got out of his chair and walked towards the lavatory, he did not hear his phone buzzing on his desk. Even if he would have, the thought of answering his phone made him cringe. For someone who hated the phone, he had wondered why he had one in the first place. No one called him except that Newspaper harassing company from Missouri who he had continually avoided. Wasn't he on the "Do Not Call" list?

He returned to his desk and started the mundane work that was his job, forgetting about the phone call he had missed. Just then, his wife popped her head into his cubicle while on the phone. She told the person on the phone, "Here he is" and hands it over. Thinking that those newspaper people finally tracked him down through his wife, he took her phone and said hello.

The actor could not believe his ears. It had been a while since a Q-Tip had seen the inside of his ear canal. His agent was on the other other side of this call with an audition...an audition in just 4 HOURS!!!

He took down the information and, as his wife kissed him and told him how happy she was, he looked down at the information he had jotted down: ESPN Promo, Improv, Brackets, Co-Worker, Casual, Mug, Sunset, 5 PM...

Wait...Mug? Did he write it down wrong? Was it in regards to his face? No, he distinctly remembered his agent saying "Don't forget a mug". Looking around his cubicle, and being the avid coffee drinker he was, he could not find a mug anywhere nearby. He was on a mission: find a mug that says "I deserve to be in an ESPN National Commercial".

It is funny how many coffee mugs are made for women. Not that many for men, unless you want to show how much you like women's breasts or Monster Truck rallies. And finding one without your company logo is almost impossible. After searching for 15 minutes, the actor had found one: brown, masculine, no logo...we had a winner.

Arriving at the audition a half hour early, he signed in and asked the monitor if there were any sides or a storyboard of the promo. No storyboard, just a quick synopsis: "Brackets" is talking about his March Madness bracket game and your character is trying to understand it but doesn't 'get it' and gives a look like "this guy is crazy" and "what is he talking about?". Simple enough. Now, what was the mug for?!?!?!

The actor's name was called and in he went. The room was small. No, very small. No, very tiny. He felt like he was back in his cubicle. The casting director reiterated the scene and told the actor he had a scripted line of "I don't get it". Yay, no improv. Life was looking up. "Action" was said, confusing looks were given, line was delivered, a sip from the mug (Oh, I get it now), "cut" was called, thanks were exchanged and the process was over.

As he walked to the car, he analyzed his performance and felt pretty good about it. He remembers hearing chuckles during the audition and they were where he thought they should be. As he assessed his performance, he noticed that he had been without nerves for the last couple of auditions. Maybe his confidence we getting better. Maybe, just maybe, things were turning around for him.

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 75)

On The Set of "Time and Time Again"

YAY!!! I haven't written since my two auditions, but as you can see, one turned out really well. I was cast in the lead of the USC film and was truly excited. My first accomplishment on my 2010 mission statement is complete...only 14 left.

It was going to be a 4-day shoot and I got to play opposite myself (time travel is involved in the script...can you say "AWESOME"?). What a challenge, and I was up for it.

I got to the set on Saturday Night, 8 PM. Traffic was a bitch that night because USC campus is right by the Shrine auditorium and that night was the SAG Awards show. After finally getting to Gate 5 and talking to the security guard (he told me I looked like Tom Cruise - he needs glasses), I parked the car and walked over to the Cafe where I could hear the voices of techies setting up.

After all the introductions to the crew, the cast began to show up. First were two of the extras; a white guy who went by "Honkie" and his African American friend named "Po". No, I am not making this up. Great guys, though. There was one other extra but I didn't get his name. These three were going to make up the back ground of a crowded cafe. Honkie was also going to be the waiter. I love film.

My love interest in the film, Ivory, showed up and I was surprised. You see, I had googled her earlier and found a site with a photo thinking it was her, just so I would know what she looked like. It was not her. Sometimes the Internet is not as good as you would think.

Ivory and I sat and talked, ran through our lines and began to realize that it was pretty cold out. In all fairness, the director did let us know that it was going to be cold and to dress accordingly, but we are actors...we know more than directors, right?

Luckily the crew had blankets and heaters that we could all hover around and the first day of shooting went without a hitch. It did go until 2 AM, but that was expected. I wrapped at 1:40 AM but didn't get home until after 2 AM. It's funny how tired you get when you crank the heat up in your car for a half hour.

Day two was to be a shorter day; get there by 8 PM and have the 'Martini Shot' by midnight. After I arrived, I noticed that it was not as cold as the previous day...nice. Ivory showed up, we started right at 8 PM and she was wrapped at 9:40 PM. Since we didn't have Honkie, Po and Extra #3, the crew became 'patrons' in the cafe. Did I mention I love film?

The cold stayed off for awhile, then...BAM. Suddenly, I could not stop shaking.

The space heater and someone's NY Giants blanket had become my best friends. I actually did one of my takes with the blanket just off my shoulders out of frame, it was that cold. I did start to warm up when my character had to be under the cafe table. The tablecloth was blocking the wind as well as holding in my body heat. After that, there were some physical 'stunts' that were needed from me which kept my blood pumping. It also helped that the crew was there with blankets once 'cut' was called.

Thank goodness we finished shooting by 12:05 AM. I think I lost 5 pounds just from the arobic workout my twitching muscles were doing.

I don't know that I am a fan of night shoots, but this film seems like it is going to be great and everyone involved made it a 'warm' set to be on. Two more days of shooting so more fun times to write about.

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 74)

It Only Rains When Urinetown

Project - Musical Theater "Urinetown"
Location - Morgan Wixson Theater
Role - Lockstock
Aquired - Facebook

Yesterday was the day that my wife had been waiting for...the auditions for "Urinetown - The Musical". She has been wanting to play Little Sally, and knowing the show, she would be great for it.

I have seen the show and am a fan. After my wife's audition yesterday, I decided that the character of Lockstock was something that might be fun. I came home, found two contrasting songs (one comedic and one sentimental) and felt good enough about how they sounded (or how I sounded singing them) that we would return today. Let's see if I could book my second musical theater show.

After leaving the we traveled west on I-10 through the rain-soaked freeway to Morgan Wixson Theater. Unfortunately, it was only 2:30 PM and we were about 2 hours early so we drove into Santa Monica and past the Third Street Promenade. As we passed the pedestrians who were without umbrellas, it crossed my mind that these people will have the H1N1 virus in no time.

We turned the car around and got back to the theater by 4:00 PM. There was only one more hour before the auditions, so we sat in the car and played Yahtzee on her iPhone. She lost. I thought to myself, "Maybe we should head in now".

Entering the theater, we were the first one's to arrive. I signed in (#41, which means 40 auditioners yesterday...good turn out) and paced back and forth as more people showed up and signed in.

5 PM turned into 5:05, then 5:10, then 5:15. We were told the pianist was late and he was stuck on the 405. Finally, at 5:20 I heard my name and walked through the curtain. There, in the audience, were four ladies sitting behind the table...the director, the musical director, the choreographer and someone else, no less important though. I greeted them all, walked on-stage and handed my music to the pianist.

After explaining that my first song changed tempo halfway through , giving him the new tempo and acknowledging his acknowledgement, I walked back to center stage and started to sing. It started out smoothly, then we got to the tempo change...

Where was it? Didn't I tell him to go a little faster? Maybe he was and I had an inner ear infection that caused everything to go in slow motion. As I dragged myself through the rest of the song to a beat that would put anyone to sleep, I did my best to do everything I had practiced the night before...look at my watch, twitch my eye, laugh a little here...why was it taking so long?
When the end of my song had crawled it's way to finality, I heard a little chuckle from the table. A little chuckle is good, I thought. At least someone stayed awake.

YAY, my comedic song was over, now for the ballad. I walked back to the pianist with a smile on my face and gave him the tempo for the second song, thanking the Gods above that there was no change in the speed of the song.

Back to center stage and away I went...as well as my focus. My eyes were jetting back and forth, left and right on the back wall. In the song, I am singing to my wife who, I can only assume to the women at the table, looked like she was running to and fro in the back row looking for a way out of the theater and my audition.

I collected my music, thanked the lovely ladies and exited through the curtain back into the lobby. There were not that many additions of auditioners from when I went in, but the rain was coming down pretty steady now, so I assume the serious actors were already here. I was not told about callbacks (when they were or if I even had one), but I know they are tomorrow. It is now 12:13 AM tomorrow as I type this line and there is not a message in my inbox or one on my phone as of yet. I would not be surprised if nothing has changed when I awake in the morning.

What did I learn:

• I need to decide to either start taking singing lessons or stop auditioning for musicals.
• I need to really plan my time better and not arrive to auditions TOO early.
• Find ways to cope with the unpredictability in auditions better.
• Carry an umbrella if the forecast is for rain.

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 73)

Another USC Audition - And Counting

In the wake of the worst rain storm California has seen since El Nino in the '90's, I was lucky enough to have a couple of auditions:

Project - USC Film "Time and Time Again"
Location - Carson Building (USC)
Role - Norman
Aquired - Actor's Access

I have been submitting on Actor's Access for a while with no hits. I average about 4 submissions a day, but the system is set up for the actor to be pretty passive once they have submitted. So, to my surprise, I was called last night around 9:58 PM for an audition today.

I looked over the submission before I called the director back to see when I submitted and it was from earlier that day (with a submission deadline of 10 PM). The character was right up my alley; nerdy Theoretical Physicist who can not have a good date to save his life. Since this was me up until my early 20's, I knew this character.

I called the director and found out that he was having issues with his computer but assured me I would have the sides in just a few moments. He also told me auditions were from Noon to 4 PM and he could see me at 2:45. I asked for an earlier time and he told me he could squeeze me in at 1:50 and I took it. It was good to hear that there were a lot of actors being considered.

Cut to this morning and no email from the director; no sides, no directions, no nothing. Not a good sign. I called him back to make sure that he had not sent them and he was still experiencing computer problems. YAY!! He promised me it was on its way and it arrived shortly after.

Printing the sides and taking them to Express Lube while my car got an oil change, I realized that it was a really cute scene and character, I decided to go. Rain be damned, I was going to go. I did come out here to act, didn't I?

I got to the Carson building and walked up the stairs to the small waiting room with one chair outside a closed door. Here is the good thing about arriving early at a USC audition - their doors are very thin.

After listening to the director give the actor inside the room some direction, I realized that the choices I had made were pretty much on the button. The actor inside the room finished, gave the director his conflicts (many conflicts), and exited.

I was called into the small room, and there was only the director and the reader. There was no camera, which I was happy about since I still don't know if I play to the director in the middle of the room, the reader off to one side or the camera that is so far to the other side of the room that there is no way it can see me. No worry about that today, though.

The reader, surprisingly, was very good. I did what I planned (taking into consideration the direction I had just heard through the door) and was happy. Through my peripheral vision, I could see the director placing his hands over his mouth, and when I finished laughed a belly laugh. It felt really good.

After giving me direction (he admitted that he just wanted to try something different, I knew it was just to see if I could take direction), he shook my hand and I left. There was no one outside when I left so I have no idea how many actors took the time to come to a USC Film in the rain with one day notice and 4 hours with the sides. This is when I am thankful of the actors who are not serious out here.

What did I learn:

• Don't be a passive actor. If you are told you will get additional information and don't, don't assume anything.


• Don't think you need days with a script to think you will do a good job. Take the time you are given and use it to your advantage.


• There are so many 'actors' out here that do not want to act...don't be one of them!

And this was not the only audition I had today...read the next blog...

A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 72)

Motivation Is A Funny Thing

If there is one thing I have learned about myself over the years it is this: I have a hard time keeping a diary, let alone an 'online' one. Since this is about my acting career, I find it hard to write every day about something I have done with regards to acting (and that seems like a bad thing, right?).

Sure, I update my official website when good things happen; the web series I am in is up for many different awards, I just started figuring out our new camera so I can start shooting shorts for YouTube. But why is it so hard to write a small, little, insignificant blog about it? I keep coming up with the same answer - I don't know.

Am I truly 'driven'? Was my last blog complete compost? Well, I plan to prove that it was not.

Today, there was an article in the Actor's Ink Emag for Actors from Now Casting from Conrad Angel Corral titled "From the Trenches" where he wrote about his experience at a recent audition. I loved the idea and I think I am going to steal it for this blog here (sorry, Conrad, but at least I gave you props).

He included factual data (project, location, role, was he called back, did he book, shoot date), as well as how he felt in general from when he walked in the door until he was in his car heading home, and what he had learned from this particular audition. But why only do it for auditions?

Why not when you meet with your agent, or a CD at a workshop, or a fellow actor at a function? This is what I am planning, to document any and all industry functions, no matter how big and grandiose or small and mundane. Please stay in touch...this should be interesting, to say the least.