Audition/Booked: Faithful Paradox @ USC

I haven't really been looking to do any student films in a long time, but I stumbled upon an interesting one. It's a well-written scene and a good role for me, so I went to the audition and got the role. It'll shoot one day in October.

Witness

On September 11 of last week, I was rolling in the car, finishing up a lesson with a student when I witnessed a terrible motorcycle accident. A guy on a "crotch rocket" zoomed past us heading to a point where the road gently curves left. Just as he began to pass, he hit the accelerator just a bit more and, unable to match the curve, began to slide toward the curb on the right side of the road. His bike grazed the curb creating sparks and causing him to completely lose it. The motorcycle crashed into the curb, the rider was thrown and one or both of them hit a light pole there. We stopped the car and I jumped out to get on the phone with 911. The guy was seriously messed up. Other passers-by came to assist, and I relayed the instructions from the operator giving as much detail as I could. It wasn't pretty. The guy lost at least the lower half of one of his legs and who knows what kind of internal injuries he had. I've never seen anything so horrible in person. It's bad when the operator asks if you can put the guy's leg in a clean plastic bag. I don't even watch that kind of stuff on the movies. It's a real reminder of how fragile life is and how a stupid decision can change your life in a moment. I don't think I'll ever get on a motorcycle after seeing that. For those of you riding them, be smart about it. For those of us driving any sort of vehicle, stay focused and vigilant.

Audition: SoCal Honda @ Alyson Horn

Well, again, I had another good read in the room. The session was running behind with some actors showing up 2 hours before their actual appointment times. When I'm sitting there waiting and waiting, I try not to beat the material to death. It can be difficult to keep your mind clear and not let the situation affect you. You think about feeding the meter or having to move your car to avoid a parking ticket. You think about the traffic worsening. Or, you just kick back, relax and try to avoid inhaling the dog hair flying around with the arrival of someone's pooch.

Audition: Wendy's @ Ross Lacy

I get called in to Ross' quite a bit, but haven't seemed to break through just yet. This was for one of the "red wig" series they're running now. To be honest, I don't have a good sense of how this one went. And so...as always, we wait and see.

Audition: Southwest Airlines @ Melissa Martin

I had another good audition today. It has been a little while since I've been in for Melissa. This one specifically mentioned improv as a requirement. There were still sides, but in the second take we improvised. I'm back in class at UCB and feeling good about stretching my improv muscles again. It had been a little too long. I felt great about the audition and the work I'm doing in the rooms.

Audition & Callback: "Life's Chronicles" @ Josh Einsohn and Melanie Burgess

Friday, I got an audition notice from one of the online casting resources I use scheduled for Sunday (today). I haven't had many from this particular site, so I'm not quite as familiar with the functions and layout as I am with the other sites. Somehow, in reading the parking instructions and reviewing my submission history, I got it in my head that I was auditioning for "Life" which is a new show that Josh is working on. The role I submitted for was only 2 lines. It was funny and weird, and I didn't want to overcook it. We did rent the NBC Fall Preview DVD to watch the pilot episode. This morning, I worked until 12, got home to go over the other characters' sides to get a feel for the show. The character description for my role was in one of the other character's sides. "Bald with a big beard..." Uh-oh. I quickly double-checked the audition notice and my submissions and discovered that there was in fact a short film I submitted for called "Life's Chronicles". I subsequently retrieved the sides for that...6 pages...with only 30 minutes before I had to leave to get there. Yikes. I got to work and got comfortable quickly, went to the audition, got the callback for the same afternoon. The callbacks went well too. I feel good about delivering another good showing with a new casting director. Melanie, the associate on this project, is also an associate on ER.

Right after the callbacks, we had some people over for a cookout to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. I got ice cream cake! Haven't had one of those in a while. He's out here for a week, and we're seeing some sights like The Getty Museum, doing some hikes, etc.

Surprise: Stainmaster Carpets

I got a surprise check in the mail today. The Stainmaster Carpets commercial I shot in Atlanta a bit before we moved was renewed. The residuals are nice even though it was a non-union job. Things have been kinda slow and very hot around here. I have an audition today for a UCLA student project and the second class of my latest improv level at UCB.

We were in Boston a couple of weeks ago for a cousin's wedding. Boston seems like a nice city, but we weren't able to explore much. I did have my first ever lobster. Tasty. This week, my brother-in-law is visiting, so we'll be roaming around here quite a bit. My Georgia Bulldogs kicked off their season last weekend with a whooping of Oklahoma State. I love having the game-watching festivities here with fellow alumni. Fall is great.