What I'm doing, Dramatically - Late May 2012

Inspired to blog some more by the blog of a new friend (here).

So, yeah.

I shot that commercial you heard about in the last post. Amazing feeling, feeling like a professional. The set was wonderful, and being a principal actor in a shoot where the DP had been the 2nd unit DP on LOTR in a barn used by True Blood just felt geektastic.

Was asked by a friend to be in his film - Way Down in Chinatown. Nice little cameo for me there.

Had to miss an audition for really fun sounding (and paying) project - with a WMM friend who had especially requested me - because I was on set for a second day of shooting the commercial - so that was a bummer, but it's nice to feel wanted.

Was asked by another friend to cameo in his Web Series. (I like saying cameo more than co-star. It makes me feel already famous. Don't judge.)

My acting studio, Lifebook, is hosting 2 showcases coming soon. Lifebook showcases are always free to be in (which is apparently a pretty big deal). I auditioned for spots in both and got them, so soon many casting directors will see me doing my thing.

CGETC is taking off. If you don't know what that is, keep your eyes on cgetc.org. CGETC is my passion project (and the passion project of all the other company members). I'm thrilled with how it's turning out. Making movies!

Randy and I have been sharing Shared Kitchen with our Lifebook classmates, and it's been getting good feedback. We have another script in the Gerard and Esteban series ready, and we're looking for a time to shoot it.

I'm getting along well with my agents. It's been a couple weeks since I've auditioned, but I was out of town for a bit and then shooting the commercial, so it's understandable. I called them today to touch base, so hopefully things will start revving up again to pre-NOLA trip regularity.

Feeling groovy.

What I'm Doing, Dramatically - Spring 2012, or Who has two thumbs and booked a national commercial? This guy!

So, yeah. I haven't arrived, exactly, but I feel pretty on track. Considering how successful I feel, I think I can look back at the past year and a half and talk about what's worked for me, and what I think truly works best.

Friends. It's what people call networking out here, and I think that's a terrible name for it, because you can't do it if that's what you're calling it. Nobody cares, nor should they, about supporting and helping their acquaintances who they met while "networking". Hyperbole, but sufficiently true. But friends? Friends help each other. Friends share in each others' success. Friends offer each other things that aren't necessarily career advancement.

What am I saying?

I'm saying, be yourself. Hopefully, yourself is friendly. If you're mean and not a fan of other human beings, this probably isn't the career for you.

Why is making friends important? Well, for me, I can point to a week a couple months ago when I was looking back and thinking "Terrible. I have done nothing for my career this week. I haven't been to any auditions. I haven't shot anything or written anything or anything anything."

That was the week I met C. G. F.

And CGF is the fellow who recommended me to his agent.

And that agent got me the booking on the national commercial.

So, really, that was a very productive week.

What I'm doing, dramatically, Late Winter 2012

Forget You screened very successfully at the Downtown Independent! Now it's being submitted to festivals.

Am continuing work on Zombie Jesus with Stina as my Co-Writer.

Will shoot an episode of a web series next week written by Melissa Ciesla of We Make Movies.

Taking classes at Lifebook, writing and rehearsing many scenes. Just met Andy Dick. He said I was funny.

Turned down an agency.

Booked a role in the feature: Hunt the Maguffin

Heard Descending Harmony is getting a new cut.

Still going to every We Make Movies Event.

Reinvigorating CGETC(.org) with Writing meetings and Improv days.

Now living with Cassi Jerkins, a friend from my Groundlings class last year. Maybe will get involved with making movies together. Also talking with Randy about restarting TWW.

What I'm doing, dramatically, Early Fall 2011

Call and Response's real title became Descending Harmony. It's been submitted. We are waiting.

Am trying to get some fundraising going for BHF.

Still attending classes at Lifebook.

Still going to Daniel Hoff in hopes of getting him to be a commercial agent for me.

Started Groundlings classes with Jordan Black. I recognize him from TV. *geek snort*

Did an industrial: conversations in English for people learning English as a second language to listen to.

Updated website, trying to organize CGETC.

Hm. I don't think I'm doing enough.

Oh! I'll be shooting a short film, Forget You, in December.

Still working on scripts, etc. I want to be doing less of that and more acting. Where are the auditions?

What I'm doing, dramatically, Summer 2011

Let's see, when last we spoke, I was preparing for the 48 hour film festival.

That happened. Our film can be seen if you look around the website at www.deadnorthfilm.com.

Since then, that group has made another film, the working title of which is Call and Response. We will be submitting it for consideration to Sundance.

I continue to produce the web series Bureau of Home Furnishings.

Several writers from WMM have approached me to ask about my being in their movies, but no dates have been set.

My acting class at Lifebook is going well. I'm preparing to audition for the showcase.

I've submitted myself to an agency where I have a reference, and gone to an open call for another.

I plan to take Groundlings classes as soon as I can.

This making movies thing is really pretty cool. Next step, get paid for it.

What I'm doing, dramatically

And I'll try to keep you all up to date when new things arrive:

Joined the We Make Movies 48 Hour Film Festival Team as an Actor/Writer/Production Manager

Writing (and now editing) 3 scripts for the We Make Movies short film contest (winner gets $2000 to make their film): Zombie Jesus, Part 1; Who Are You?; and Hitchhiking for Kids

Stage Managing and attending classes taught by Allen Levin at Lifebook.

Writing and producing Bureau of Home Furnishings with Struggling Actors Productions.

Performing Monday nights at 7 with Opera del Espacio at sites around L.A.

Things to be thankful for

It's easy to feel overwhelmed. I'm fighting off a wave of it right now. I don't have a job, I'm about to begin a ten-day medical study for which I will be paid $1,980, I interviewed at Barnes and Noble for a position that pays $8.50 an hour and starts at 20 hours a week, and I've got a 6-month window to start a job as a telemarketer. And I just keep thinking things, unhelpful things, negative things, and I don't want to go there.

Instead I want to find the things I'm thankful for, and find the humor in all of this.

Being a lab rat might just be an awesome experience. I'll have loads of time to read and write, and at the end of it we'll have replenished our savings a little.

It may not be an exciting job, but darn it, there is a job waiting for me.

I can say no to a part-time job that pays crap.

I have an amazing husband who makes delicious meals for me, and he's a great actor.

We own so many awesome games.

I have no shortage of clothes because I keep finding them for free!

I am almost finished with the first edit of my book--I will finish during this ten-day study.

We live close to beaches. Real beaches.

We won tickets not only to the aquarium, but also to the Tim Burton exhibit at LACMA.

We have the most adorable dog in the world.


And those are just a few things.