AVAIL: Tabasco

Well, this is the first time in a while that I've basically felt like I've nailed every step of the process and I still don't have the job yet. However, I did get through to the next phase landing the "avail". It's my third one so far this year. Maybe the ad guys are finally returning to the normal fellas instead of the skinny nerdy techy types. Tabasco is right on the money for me. It's almost time for the beer spots to get cranked up for football.

Callback: Tabasco @ Gabrielle Schary Casting

Got the callback - Feeling confirmed, not in a Catholic way. The callback went just fine again. I was paired up with another chap from KSA. We were both playing the same role at the original audition. For the callback, we were reading both roles anyway. I felt great about everything, and on the way out, was stopped by the session runner to return and read again. The director said he felt like maybe I was stepped on a bit and wanted to give me another go. I suppose that was a good sign that they liked what I did in the first go 'round. I'm not sure the second time was quite as funny, but I do like to improvise.

Last night, my mom and I went to see a taping of a new sitcom called "The Bill Engvall Show". It was fun from an entertainment standpoint and very interesting to watch the mechanics of the production itself. The show debuts in July on TBS.

Audition: Tabasco @ Gabrielle Schary Casting

My mom is in town this week. Today, we drove down to Long Beach to meet an acquaintance of hers for lunch. We had tasty ribs at a bbq joint there and I located another Chick-fil-A. Afterwards, we drove to Santa Monica for my Tabasco audition. The breakdown mentioned a red t-shirt, though red is usually one of those colors you're never supposed to wear on camera. The audition had sides, but the session runner said they wanted us to play with the lines and improvise in our own style of humor. Sometimes that is more difficult once they've given you a specific script. However, with the lingering aftertaste of bbq baby back ribs on my palate, I felt like I nailed it.

Audition: Skittles @ Francene Selkirk-Ackerman

This one was just plain goofy. They seemed to be looking for the slacker type, which usually isn't me. However, just reading the spot, it seemed more appropriate as an office-y type. Guess we'll see what happens...as always!

Audition: Time Warner @ Kathy Knowles Casting

Back to Santa Monica, this time for morning rush hour. The audition went very well. I was supposed to be matched up with a female as a couple, but the audition holding area was just a bunch of guys. The session runner mentioned that it always seems to happen that way...the guys show up on time or early while the ladies run late.

Audition: TW RoadRunner Cable @ Joe Blake Casting

This morning, my wife and I went for a chilly hike in Burbank's Wildwood Canyon. Just before we left, I received an email notice about the audition. The character description suits me perfectly. The drive to and from Santa Monica on the 405 late on a weekday afternoon suits me a little less perfectly. However, the audition was speedy and great. Tonight, I'm attending the second of two workshop sessions with Traci Moscowitz of Valko/Miller Casting (Boston Legal).

Day 15: Passions - episode 2011 "The Final Chapter"

In a saga with so many "last" days, it seems odd to have finally made it to the actual last day. I had a few short scenes in which I get to continue making light of Luis' impending doom - "Torment with a smile." When it was all over, I thanked the cast and crew for making it such a fun experience. I stopped by the casting office to say, "Thanks" and "See you again." Then, I began the march of the unemployed actor back to my car and went home to mail more agent submissions.

Of course, nothing is ever final in Soapland. Perhaps I'll reappear on a desert island to terrorize Fancy and Luis after their luxury yacht sinks in the South Pacific. Maybe Miguel will get framed on some drug smuggling charges in South America and land in the third world prison where I will just happen to be part of a mentor exchange program. Maybe I am Alistair Crane! I gotta run. I'm meeting the 1/2 Man-1/2 Woman for drinks. Or am I? Muahhahhhahhhahaaaa!

Office work

I've been very busy the last two days. There haven't been any auditions, shoots or even shifts at my day job. I just tackled the office work that's part of my acting career. There were agent submissions, manager submissions, notices of Passions airdates sent to film/television casting directors and even commercial casting directors. There were trips to the office supply store, the printers and the post office, hours spent researching client rosters on the internet, hunting down addresses and trying to determine which casting offices are still open (pilot season is basically done). I coached a couple of my friends on audition scenes. I met with my scene partner from the In Demand Showcase to hash out ideas about shooting our scene and getting it performance ready again for potential meetings. I packed a lot into the unexpected days off from my job. Already, I've received one response from an agent. Tomorrow, I'm getting a haircut. Next week, I'll need to begin planning for my reel, deciding which scenes from my most recent job will make the cut with the other material I've collected. Then, we've got to clean this apartment. But I guess this isn't a blog about housekeeping.