Fourth Wallpapers

Thanksgiving

2011-11-16T19:46:00.001-08:00

This has been a tough year in so many ways, but it has also been amazing. My son and a niece were born. We had a good trip for a family wedding in North Carolina. I've learned a lot. I have too much to be thankful for to dwell on the stuff that hasn't been as great. Even stuff that seems rough at the moment is destined to work together for good. I'm facing cutbacks at the old day job, but the benefit is less stress about conflicts, less crazy last-minute scheduling, and more incentive to focus my energy on my purpose. I'm running consistently for the first time in my life and actually enjoying it.

As far as the running goes, we're hitting the 2.5 mile mark without any real regard for time. It's more about the consistency of doing it, and the psychology of enjoying it. Even though I talk with my running partner about issues of all sorts, it's kind of my quiet time. It's time I've spent glancing through the past, taking stock of the present, and being thankful for the future.

Today, I had a minor epiphany while taking out the trash. The trash wasn't quite full, but it stunk. We could've gone another day, cramming trash down into the bag. But we didn't. It needed to go. So I was loaded down with regular trash and recycling, walking back to the dumpster. I guess it's nice if you can use your trash as a life coach.

So it's time to take out the trash and just let it go to the dump. I have yet to get solid theatrical representation here. Gone. I've had a slow down in commercial auditions and the ol' day job. See ya. Who wants to sit around looking at the trash?

Time to emphasize the success I've had booking my own theatrical stuff. Time to emphasize the success I've had commercially, my wonderful commercial agents, the reputation I've built commercially, and the lessons I've learned. Time to emphasize that the success I've had has enabled me to whittle away "other" work to a minimum, while providing for my family doing things I really enjoy. Now, if I can just find the wonderful life lessons in doing laundry and cleaning the bathtub.
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My kid went to school and all I got was a stupid cold

2011-10-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

My oldest started a few half-days at school last month. Within a couple of weeks, we both got rocked by a cold. It threw me off for about a week. Of course, on day two of the funk, I got an audition for The Office. I know, right? Could the timing be any better? I've wanted to get into Allison Jones' (casting office) for a while, and the first time I get the call, I'm loaded with cold meds. Still, I think it went fine. It was a one line, just get it out there, kind of deal...with the added challenge of trying not to breathe too much. Good move, all you CDs out there, not trying to shake our hands all the time. I would've declined anyway.

Another example of the perfect timing of auditions happened this past Friday. On Friday morning around 11am, I offered to cover a shift for a sick someone at my "other" job. Within an hour, I got called for a last-minute audition in Santa Monica, the opposite end of the 405 from where I would be working. In the end, it all worked out, but it was a very tightly scheduled afternoon. The constant unpredictability is the most predictable part of this pursuit.

The cold set us back on the running by about a week, but we're back now. I always feel better on the run days. The program track we're on should have us at 3 miles sometime in November. We're planning to run a 5k in late November or early December.

Our holiday plans are set. There really weren't any deals happening this year, and believe me, I've been on the hunt for months already. The holiday falls on the weekend, making the peak travel days almost unavoidable. We've also decided that it's worth paying more to fly out of Burbank just to avoid the hassle of getting to LAX, the traffic, the peripheral chaos, and the ridiculous lines.

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The plan

2011-09-14T00:04:00.000-07:00

So far, the jogging plan has been just fine. Surprisingly, I look forward to it. We do a buddy run two days a week, but one solo run for the third day. I did my solo Saturday night, and it went by really quickly. The high school me wonders what's happening to the modern me. The weather has been a little cooler the last couple of days, which helps, as does the easy-does-it beginning of the program. In fact, there are repeated warnings not to push it beyond the limits, even when you may feel good enough to do so. I'm relaxing into the boundaries. We're looking at a 5K sometime in early/mid November.

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Running in more ways than one

2011-09-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

My wife and I tend to have an annual "state of the situation" meeting. These discussions typically review how things have been going in LA, what we like, what we don't, whether we're happy with the progress and situation we have, alternatives to living in LA, work stuff, etc. We've added to the family this year, which makes the discussion even more interesting. Unfortunately, my work is never predictable, but the downturn in audition numbers has led to a predictable downturn in jobs. Anyone who pursues a career in acting knows that downtime is primetime for the questions to start bubbling to the surface. Every year, the requirements for qualifying for SAG insurance get higher, and the budget gets tighter. Still, every year we've been here has been better than the year before, and 2010 took off for me in the Fall. Here's to more of that.

Since the beginning of August, things have started to pick up again. I'm cruising at about a 70% callback rate, which is good, but doesn't pay the bills. I've also punched up some self-marketing to get things moving along. I did turn down an audition for a low budget movie. The budget wasn't the problem. I may not seem to be in a position to turn down possible work, but I am always in a position to turn down work that I couldn't possibly be proud of.

As the jobs do pick up, we're ready. We went through an excellent financial strategy program that forced us to face up to our lack of control. Since then, we've set monthly budgets, put the plastic in a drawer, and generally gone about the business of sealing up the cracks in our financial house so the money doesn't fall through them. It makes a difference. My apologies to Target, Trader Joes, and the farmers market. But now, the math problem demonstrates the need for increasing income to multiply our efforts.

After the second child, it has been a little more difficult to get out and stay active. Fatigue is a factor. We've got #1 in preschool now, which helps all of us a lot. Ever since I played high school sports, I would vow to start a jogging regimen to condition myself a bit. But just plain old running has always been a mental battle for me. Within a game, or even at practice, it wasn't as tough as it was to go out there by myself and pound the pavement. Well, yesterday, I started a new running program with a buddy of mine. It's a slow build and a specific blueprint. There are two things that are already making a difference, a plan and a partner. If there's a third thing, it's the new shoes. You never know how far gone the old shoes were until you lace up the new ones. As we ramp it up, I'll try to keep track of it more here. We'll see if I can transform myself into a runner.

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2011 so far

2011-08-05T07:47:00.001-07:00

Auditions have been a bit slow since the start of summer, but seem to be picking up a bit. The callbacks have been nice, but it's all about booking as we all know. I did tape a role on the new Nickelodeon show Bucket and Skinner's Epic Adventures, which was a fun foray into the multi-camera world. Unfortunately, I have no idea when the episode airs.

My improv partner closed the doors on JaCKPie in Atlanta. We had a good run and accomplished a lot before I left town. Then, he accomplished a lot more after I left. JaCKPie was a real force in bringing long-form improvisation to Atlanta in both performance and training. I'm proud of the work my pal did, putting his heart and soul into it for a number of years when I wasn't there to do the heavy lifting. I'm also reminded of the many, many friends, shows, and good times that are associated with JaCKPie. Thanks to all of you who supported us over the years. I hope you'll continue to check out the shows that are around Atlanta, many of which have their roots somewhere in JaCKPie's history.

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A little more catch-up please

2011-03-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

So, instead of backdating a bunch of stuff, here's a quick rundown of highlights.

September 2010 -
1. shot commercial for Breve International Delight Coffee Creamer. Had a blast. We got to improvise some extra stuff that they ended up wanting to use for online purposes. I still haven't seen any of it! If you find it somewhere, let me know.

2. On the hottest day in the LA universe, I worked on "Men of a Certain Age" in Burbank. Holy smokes it was a firestorm. It was at least 113 and brutal. While there, I was talking to a friend about my meeting back in May with Bob Lambert at All My Children. Five minutes after I told her I needed to send him a note to say "Hello", guess who called my cell? Yes! So cool when that stuff happens. He had a cop for me shooting in about 2 weeks. Great, albeit sweaty, day. The next day, I booked an HBO commercial.

October 2010
1. Shot the episode of AMC. Was a quick hitter, all pro, book 'em and leave 'em kind of thing. My scene partner was a nice fellow. Hope to get some work on the show again. I like playing the cop. Would love to book "Southland," an excellent show that found a good home on TNT.

2. Shot a commercial for HBO's Entourage DVD series. This was a holiday themed bit. And my "wife" in the spot had all the really hard work. She did a phenomenal job. Another laid back set, very smooth shoot and the spot turned out great. Yahoo named the slate of spots one of the 10 best commercial campaigns of 2010.

3. Had a meeting with the good people over at the Jimmy Kimmel Show. Something will come of that, though it hasn't quite worked out just yet.

November and December 2010 were full of auditions and callbacks. It was a busy run up to the holiday break there. My buddy and I also brewed our first batch of beer, an IPA. It was a good time. It's so much about sanitizing the equipment. Otherwise, you see two dudes boiling water and throwing something in every now and again. The beer took a total of about 5 weeks to finish up, but the "PFSSST!" we got from popping the top off the first bottle was very satisfying!

December was also the joy of visiting family and friends back in the South. We were busy with lots of running around, last minute shopping, a Jackpie show, etc.

January 2011 was surprisingly slow for me. I set up an appointment for new headshots, which I am not always excited about. However, I try to pick photographers whose work catches my critical eye. It's a good investment and I'm due for it. The shoot happens this week (March). In February, I had a couple of avails (my favorite!) that didn't end up as jobs. What can you do? The last couple of weeks have been jam packed with auditions and callbacks. I'm expecting to book something soon. I'm also expecting my son to be born at any time now. Didn't I mention that? A lot happens in 9 months.

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June Highlights

2010-06-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

Audition/Callback/Booked! - Regions Bank @ POPCasting

Things started with a bang on June 1 with this Regions audition. The rest of the month slowed a bit, but that audition turned into a booking with another funny story. I had to confirm that I could definitely ride a bike, a requirement that would be tested at a potential callback. Though I hadn't actually ridden a bike in I don't know how long, the cliche is that you can't possibly forget it right? So, of course I can! And at the callback, they wheeled up this monstrous tandem bike, which I have never in my life attempted to ride. My scene partner and I helmeted up and I won't lie...I was nervous about it. We got a practice run in while waiting for the CD to get the camera ready. It was shaky. Tough to coordinate and take off with one of those. Our first "take" was a little touch and go on the take off, and we were rudely interrupted by a car trying to use the alley we were in. When we got back, the CD realized the camera wasn't taping that round. So, lucky for all of us, I got a second chance and nailed it. The key, we discovered, is the force of that first push and the second person matching the pedal rhythm. When my "wife", me and our "child" walked into the room for the director, we got the kind of feedback you want to hear. The avail we got was short-lived and we were booked together.

The shoot went great. Very smooth. It took two days, and we did the day with the actual bike riding first, which I was happy to get out of the way. The second day was easy interior stuff. All around - casting, production, agency, client, everyone was great and I had a good time on this one.

At the end of the second day, as I was waiting to be released, my dad called with the news about Granny. Having visited her again so recently and sifted through photos and movies, I'm sure that some of the facial expressions that get me work and laughs derive from her. I made it through my improv show that night and was quite drained by the time I got home around midnight.

A week later, I took a red-eye flight to the memorial service, was on the ground there for about 10 hours and flew back to LA. Got to see some relatives from a side of the family that I don't know as much about, and was entertained by some very funny folks.

There were other auditions and such, but that's the meat of June.

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More auditions, MORE Murphy's Actor's Law, and a Booking

2010-06-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

A few quick May highlights...

Audition/Callback/AVAIL - Arby's @ ASG

Audition/Callback - Fed Ex @ Ross Lacy

Audition - Jury Duty @ Burbank Courthouse (you paying attention?)

Audition - Regions Bank @ POP

We got all the Atlanta stuff squared away in the end, and I got to do an extra JaCKPie show. I had plans to do a workshop too, but that didn't pan out, which ended up working just fine for me with all the other stuff going on.

Ultimately, the news on my Granny was not good. She was given just "weeks", in medical expiration parlance. So, as soon as we returned to LA, we began planning a trip to visit her. We made it a fairly short trip, just two week days and one weekend day (Thursday-Saturday). Naturally, guess what happened. Out of the blue, I got a call the week before our flight from Bob Lambert at All My Children. He liked my reel and wanted me to come in for a role that would be shooting...wait for it...the Friday we would be visiting Granny in Texas. Of course! I was happy to get the call, but bummed to inform him that there would be no way I could change these plans given the circumstances. He was very understanding and asked me to come in and audition anyway. So, Audition: All My Children. I got the sides the night before and enjoyed preparing them. It was a good scene, and I felt like I had a good instinctual reaction to the material and a clear choice for my character.

The audition went well, I think. The beats that I had felt seemed to match up with what he was looking for, and I felt comfortable with the character choices. He was gracious in spite of my unavailability and I hope to get back in there when their needs match up with my product.

The visit in Texas was good. I'm so thankful we got to do that, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. My family got to visit with Granny one last time, which was a real gift. It's difficult in many ways to know in advance that death is coming and to await it. However, it's good that everyone got plenty of notice to visit with her and say their "goodbyes" in their own way. Granny was in great spirits, and my daughter showed her plenty of love too. Granny passed away a few weeks later on June 14, 2010.

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A TUESDAY

2010-06-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

In many acting-related areas, the last couple of months has been a little slower. In other life areas, I've been extremely busy.

We planned a trip to Atlanta from April 19-27. The previous several weeks had been devoid of much commercial activity. However, as you should know by now, if I buy a plane ticket...

Thursday, before we were to depart on Monday, I got a last minute audition for Arby's @ ASG Casting. The callback came the very next day, and that night I was on avail. I had booked out well in advance for our travels, but I always stress that I will make adjustments for a job. This, however, was still just an avail. When the assistant asked what I was going to do, I just told her I wasn't going to change anything, but would be prepared to fly back as soon as I was booked. Wardrobe was scheduled for Wednesday. So, we flew out at 7am Monday morning not knowing if I'd have to board a plane and come right back Monday night. I spent the first two days there riding around with a "go-pack" in the car in case I had to go to the airport. Late Tuesday evening, I was released.

Tuesday

The purpose of the trip was to attack my parents' storage rooms and get them sorted, thinned out, and moved to a cheaper place. On the first day of this odyssey, Tuesday, the world went berserk. First, it rained even though it wasn't in the forecast. My mom's car wouldn't start and neither would that of a guy I hired to help me out. Fortunately, he got his going in time to help a lot with the moving along with another kind fellow. I got them both by putting the word out through JaCKPie. I'd rather pay someone in the JaCKPie family than pick people off the corner. What actor/production-type couldn't use a little extra cash? Anyway, we got it going.

Then, my wife calls. Her grandmother was put in the hospital. Then, she calls back. Her parents' neighborhood is on lock-down because some crackpot shot his family up and may be loose in the woods. So, they can't get to the hospital to visit...and they've been terrified by the police warnings.

THEN, I get a text that MY granny is in the hospital. Meanwhile, I'm also waiting to find out if I'm going to fly back to LA. We finally got all the moving done and took the truck back to the rental place. I hop out, borrow a broom from inside. The guy comes out and reads the mileage. Me and one of my friends are sweeping out the truck when something doesn't seem right. "Is the truck moving," I ask. Then, I jump out the back, run around to jump in the cab and stop the truck before it rolls into a busy highway.

Oh, and it was my brother's birthday dinner that night. Yeah, I had a beer or two.

By the time I headed back to the house, the lockdown was lifted. Turns out the guy had shot himself in the bathroom of his house and had been inside the whole time the cops were running around in the woods. There's some crack police work huh? Might want to search the house before you turn your back on the place.

And that, my friends, was a Tuesday.

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Renting in Los Angeles (and probably elsewhere too)

2010-04-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

So, again with a bunch of auditions in the last weeks (well, not the last two weeks). No bookings in the last bit, but still getting the callbacks on a regular basis and getting closer again. I'm due for a hit before Spring leaves us with Summer.

We did have some drama with our ex-landlord, and since I had to do a bunch of research on the topic of security deposits and landlord/tenant law in California, I'll share a couple of links. The short of it is that he didn't mail us our refund within the required 21 days. Then he claimed he did and resent it. We finally received a refund from which he withheld a ludicrous amount for various nonsense. Paint-$425, Cleaning-$100, Carpet Cleaning-$100, Cleaning Fan-$25. Seriously, cleaning the fan? What was more offensive was that we left that place better than we found it. They can't charge you to paint the place if you've lived there for a couple of years as that's considered normal wear and tear, and we were given a clean exit inspection by the manager - verbally. However, sensing the owner might be the type to pull shenanigans, we did a detailed video of the place before we left.

Anyway, this nonsense had gone on since we moved on January 31. I figured we were heading to court, and I haven't had to sue anyone before. I am the type of person who researches a LOT and makes sure I'm prepared. I sent him a final demand letter outlining how he had violated California Civil Code 1950.5. He mailed us the balance of the deposit a few days later.

So, Los Angeles renters, beware! When you move in, fill out an inspection form and have the manager sign it. List all the defects and damage present. When you move out, insist on the process outlined by the law, and get your move out inspections in writing. In fact, every communication you have with your apartment management should be in writing. Also, LA people, you are most likely entitled to interest on your security deposit (Los Angeles Municipal Code is 151.06.02)!

Here are a couple of links that I found very helpful.
California Law and Security Deposits
CalTenantLaw.com
Los Angeles Rent Adjustment Commission scroll down to Payment of Interest on Security Deposits. This will point you to a pdf of the interest rates for each year. Their web addresses seem to change too often. So, you can also Google "rent adjustment commission payment of interest on security deposits".

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This blog has moved

2010-04-07T09:59:00.001-07:00

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The breaks

2010-02-21T22:27:00.000-08:00

Well, some good news and some below average news. January was a mad blitz of activity. We returned from holiday travels to find a notice of rental increase on our door. While rent control limits the damage, I still felt it was ridiculous and started shopping around. I found that rents in our area were BELOW what they were when we first moved into our place in 2008. The first place I looked at, purely out of curiosity, was a nice place, similar in size but in a better school district. With that info in hand, I wrote a counter-offer to our landlord offering to return to the amount of our original lease - a rollback/restart. Otherwise, we already had another option and were prepared to use it.

The landlord delayed getting back to us and then wanted to "work something out". What they didn't understand is that I was not negotiating. I made my position clear from the beginning. I also pointed out that a one month vacancy would cost him more than an entire year of what I proposed. They didn't respond, so we immediately submitted a vacate notice and signed a lease at the other place. Three weeks later, our old apartment is still for rent, and they're offering it at LESS than what I offered to pay with a free month's rent thrown in. That's business acumen I suppose.

In short (too late), part of the good news is we like our new place better and it's cheaper.

Good news part 2 is that my cars.com spot aired as expected in the first half of the Super Bowl. It was great to be able to tell people exactly when they could catch one of my commercials.

Now, the below average news. As far as I know, it only aired once. I've seen a 30-second version running since then, but my scene has been cut out. That hurts the bottom line significantly. So, "Hooray!" for major commercial and "Boo!" for lack of running. But "Come on!" for another 30-second version with my scene included.

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Shoot: Cars.com

2009-12-10T22:04:00.000-08:00

Interestingly, there's no non-disclosure agreement on this, but I think I'm good at keeping a secret despite not signing some contract to keep my mouth shut. So, I won't really give away anything other than what's common knowledge on the internet. Cars.com has purchased a Super Bowl commercial for the last couple of years, and has decided to do so again. Our director is Craig Gillespie, who directed their spot last year. You decide what that means.

The shoot was great. My scene has a distinct feel and time period that was fun. The talent and crew were all a pleasure to work with. What a wonderful thing to book just before the holidays too.

We didn't get our tv, because the store with the deal was sold out. But we will. Oh yes, we will.

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Avail, Booked: Cars.com

2009-12-08T21:46:00.000-08:00

Got put on avail again last night. Found out tonight that I booked cars.com! I KNEW I needed to make that callback. It seems the crazier the circumstances or the more in doubt the outcome, the better things work out. My buddy Will had talked to me yesterday about a deal at one of the major electronics stores for an flat panel tv. I joked that if I booked this job, I was going to go get it. My wife and I promised ourselves a few years ago that after I got a big job or two, we'd upgrade our old hand-me-down tv, but we still haven't done it.

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Callback: Cars.com @ Cathi Carlton

2009-12-07T21:24:00.000-08:00

So, here's a story. Friday, I found out I got a callback for cars.com Monday morning at 11am. Last night, while getting my daughter out of the car, I felt a little twinge in my back. Not a major pull or anything, just a tweak. I was "aware" of it before going to bed, but no pain or stiffness really. This morning, when I awoke, I could not move without pain. I could not roll over. I could not get out of bed. I originally hurt my back playing basketball in high school. When I got home after practice, I made the mistake of lying on the floor for a few minutes and the same thing happened. Couldn't get off the floor. My mom was the only one home at the time and she couldn't help me either. It was terrible, and this morning was the remix.

At some point, I just had to bite the bullet and get up. The pain was unbelievable. I tried to walk a little and must've looked like I was 110 years old. It was ridiculous. I downed some ibuprofen and started icing a little. The pain was so sudden and stabbing that it took my breath away. There was no masking it. Then, it was decision time. How could I possibly drive down to Santa Monica and get through a callback that might involved playing with a kid?

I was close to bailing out, but I had this idea in my head that I was really right for the role and that this is exactly the kind of situation that would surround a booking. So, I went. I sat on an ice pack all the way to Santa Monica. The ride itself wasn't so bad, but it took me a couple of minutes to get out of the car. I had to park about two blocks away, but I thought that would give me time to get moving again. I also got there early to allow a bit of time to just keep moving. Despite being the first one there, I didn't sign in. I just paced around a bit.

When I felt the back was as good as it was going to get, I signed in and got the scoop. They had cut one of the bits that involved leaning over, thank goodness! All I had to do was kneel down and stay there until the scene was done...no real range of motion required. Someone was looking out for me. I went in, did the slate, got on my knee, and did the scene twice from that position. When I was done, I turned my face away from everyone and got up. Whew.

So now, lots of ice packs and ibuprofen. I have to sit out my improv show tonight too, which stinks, but I don't want to make it worse.
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Audition: Cars.com @ Cathi Carlton

2009-12-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

This was a smooth one...good old dad type stuff. My audition partner and I worked well together. We had one bit and I had another by myself.

We're getting ready for a trip home for the holidays. My daughter is having a good time talking about seeing our family and riding on the plane. As she gets bigger, she's definitely more prone to roam, so I'm hoping we can keep her entertained on the plane ourselves.

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Shoot: Honda

2009-09-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

The Honda shoot went very well. One word of advice to actors everywhere - know what your rate is and read the contract. If there's a question, get on the phone with your agent. There was a little mix-up on mine and my agent was grateful that I didn't sign until we got it worked out.

I got to set before there was a location move. After the move, we had some hanging around to do before getting down to business. The director knew what he was after and we knocked it out efficiently. The bits I saw in the replay monitor looked very cinematic. I hope I get a copy so I can see the final product. Or maybe a friend in Miami can hook me up.

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Callback: Honda @ Sheila Manning

2009-09-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

Proof again that you just never know. I had a message on my phone last night as I left Cherry rehearsal, it was a little noisy at the theater, which may or may not be the reason I listened to the voice mail twice.

The callback was fun. We had a little bit of a wait in the lobby because they were taking their time with each set of actors in the room. I like it that way. I saw a few people I remembered from the audition and was paired up with another actor I had talked to that day. She remembered me being the guy in the suit. Speaking of which...when I got the callback, I tried to figure out whether to wear the suit again since it worked, or to wear the more casual style appropriate for the spot I ended up reading. In the end, I split the difference and wore a sport coat and tie look that could easily be made to look more casual. I really liked the director, who, I believe, is from Spain. He didn't mind my lack of Spanish skills (sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. Lawrence) and gave us a thorough explanation of what he wanted. We did it a few times with some adjustments, and then I stayed to do another spot solo. I was very comfortable and felt like it went very well.

That night, my agent called while we were having dinner to tell me that I was on Strong Avail and to ask if I was available for the shoot day. I'm always available for the work. She also said she expected them to finalize the deal tonight and she would let me know. By the time I recounted the details to my wife, my agent had already called back and confirmed that I booked the job.

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Audition: Michigan Lottery @ Vicki Goggin

2009-09-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

It is ridiculously hot here and a light dusting of ash is falling from the sky. So, into this blizzard, I ventured with winter gear - jacket, gloves, winter hat and scarf - to audition. I wanted to melt just holding the stuff in my hand as I walked to the building. It was easy to spot other people on the street who were headed to the same place. We had a good laugh about it in the elevator. The audition was silly fun.

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Audition: Honda @ Sheila Manning

2009-08-31T13:50:00.000-07:00

This blog is 7 years old. Crazy.

I gotta work on jotting down things other than just the wacky world of the business. If you haven't heard, large swaths of brush and forest have been burning in the LA area. We don't live on the edges where that stuff typically pops up, but, due to the nature of the topography, we do suffer the effects of the crazy smoke that clogged the air. It's brutal. I was in Malibu late this afternoon, and could see the smoke from there (quite a distance). We've mostly stayed cooped up with the doors and windows closed all the time.

Ok...so the audition was with a casting director for whom I hadn't auditioned previously. However, I did a drop-off at her office on my first or second ever round of drop-offs shortly after we moved here. I thought I gleaned the info I needed for this, but when I got there, I was the only one wearing a suit. Everyone else also seemed to be of Latin descent, but I look like I'm from a long line of Ohio-ans. Then, I thought I maybe misunderstood something or was there at the wrong time. But, just a few minutes later, I was in the room. The audition material wasn't what I had prepared for, so I was a little overdressed, but otherwise able to adjust. My scene partner had a line to give to me in Spanish, but I knew what the reaction was supposed to be and I didn't have to say anything back. There were a couple of bumps in the way the scene came off, but it was fine. Afterward, I called my agency to make sure I had the time right, and they assured me I did. You really never know what you're going to do when you get to an audition.

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Callback: Casino Arizona @ Craig Colvin; Improv - Cherry

2009-08-28T23:50:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to see some more "usual suspects" as we follow each other around to auditions and callbacks. It was fun bantering a little outside the room. Inside the room, we did the spot several times in a couple of different ways.

Had a Cherry performance tonight that went ok. We're starting to tape the performances so our coach can see them for notes, and so we'll have submission material for festivals. I've been itching to do another festival.

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Audition: IHOP @ Kari Peyton

2009-08-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

My favorite word in casting breakdowns recently is "like-able". In the world of commercials, that's a fairly universally desired quality in the talent. I guess you sometimes see a particular role that is meant to be antagonistic or stand-offish somehow, but not very often.

I hadn't been into Kari Peyton's office in some time, so it was nice to be back. They're working out of a really nice facility now. The place was jumping too, because there were a couple of spots and TON of kids.

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Audition: Casino Arizona @ Craig Colvin

2009-08-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Funny - I was just thinking about how it had been a bit since I had stopped in at Craig Colvin's office. I was paired up with another actor and off we went. Things are usually very smooth here.

While I was there, Craig mentioned to me that someone called him, mentioned my blog and asked if he knew me. He thought it was pretty cool. So do I. Someone else essentially put me in the mind of a casting director. And, I was reminded that people I don't know sometimes read this stuff. While this blog isn't really a tutorial by any means, I hope if you've happened upon me and taken an interest, maybe you will benefit from it. I'll also take this opportunity to invite you to email me as well and tell me a little about you and your journey. The "contact me" link is at the top.

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Audition: Pillsbury @ ASG; Improv - Jack & Johnny

2009-08-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Four in the room for this one, and I had a fun group. It's great when you find a quick comedic rapport with strangers at an audition. I felt like we had a strong take on the material and were funny to boot.

I completely forgot to mention the Jack & Johnny show from last Thursday. Will and I played at Crashbar Improv, a fun, small room. Our show was kickin'. While I've been entirely enjoying the group Harold work with Cherry at IO, I feel the two-person format is like going home for me from the years of JaCKPie. Cherry is also doing great. We're getting lots of shows and working with a fantastic coach. Next Friday, Cherry is playing with Craig Cackowski, one of my favorite teacher/performers at IO West.

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Audition: Sprint @ Karen Maseng

2009-08-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

I swore on all that I hold dear (and signed a document to that effect) that I would say nothing about this. So, the mystery must remain mysterious.

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Audition: LA-Z Boy @ Dan Cowan

2009-08-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

First voiceover audition in quite a while. I don't really market myself for voiceovers yet. It's an area I need to explore, but have yet to assemble the tools necessary to do so (voice reel, etc.). Soon! I do enjoy playing with voices, so this was fun for me. I also look forward to the day when I come home with a LA-Z Boy recliner, so it's perfect for me!

Now, here's a weird thing. I got a callback for Walmart. Then, I got an uncallback for Walmart, something about how they cut down the callback list. I think this is just the second time that's happened to me. Executive decision - it still counts.

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Callback: Samsung @ Jeff Hardwick

2009-08-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

I expected a callback for this one and got it. In fact, during a time when things are traditionally slow, I feel that I've been very fortunate to continue to get out and land these. As always, it's great, but booking is better. There were more of us in the room for the callback and quite a range of people. It was more difficult to cultivate the camaraderie, but I felt alright - not rock solid - but alright.

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Audition: Walmart @ Alyson Horn

2009-08-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

There were LOADS of kids in the casting facility, which always makes things a little interesting. I was on a tight schedule and hoping to get in and out fairly quickly, and I was! Good job session runner.

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Audition: Samsung @ Jeff Hardwick; Callback: Sprint @ Martin Casting

2009-08-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

Sweet! I'm on the go again. Today, was a new CD for me - Jeff Hardwick. Somehow, I've made it this far without getting in there. There were some recognizable faces from other ongoing commercial series showing up for this audition. I felt good about being in their company, and about getting in based on the requirements listed in the breakdown. The Samsung audition went great. I felt it was really strong, and I even had an extra moment on the slate, which got laughs in the room with the camera still rolling.

The callback was good too. I had to sign a confidentiality agreement beforehand so I guess I won't say anything else about that.

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Audition: Sprint @ Martin Casting

2009-07-31T23:01:00.000-07:00

I've been very fortunate to have a fairly busy month at a time when most actors lament a summer slowdown. Now, I just need something to break and result in paychecks.

This Sprint audition was painless. It was late on a Friday, which spells disaster in terms of traffic, but I'm not complaining. I'd rather be in traffic after an audition than sitting home without one.

My trip to the dentist was also sorta painless, unless you count the pain my wallet felt. I have only ever had two fillings, and they are in wisdom teeth. Aside from cleanings, that's the only work I've had done. Unfortunately, one of the fillings had worn down and was in danger of breaking apart. So, I have to get it crowned. I hate dental work. There's a funny story of me locking myself in the bathroom at the dentist's office as a child. Ask me about it sometime. This was ok though. I was numbed up good, and though it took a little while, my tooth is now prepped for the crown I get in a couple weeks. I walked out of the office at 4pm still unable to feel the left side of my mouth with only 2 hours before my audition time. The dentist said it should wear off by then. It had not fully worn off by the time I walked into the room (a little early), but I didn't have to say anything really and I think I faked a smile that looked better than Stallone's.

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Audition: Toyota @ Joe Blake

2009-07-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

This was to be a very realistic feeling series of spots with three pals in a Toyota vehicle. The writing was a little more toward the announcery sounding end of the range, but my group made it work for us. They've been seeing people for a few days for what will be about 16 spots. Wouldn't that be nice?

In other news, my improv team "CHERRY" won another student Cagematch (#8) and then we won the Mainstage Cagematch right afterward. I've been enjoying our rehearsals a lot as we've been working with excellent coaches. I feel my improv muscle getting more into form with every week, especially since we've been performing so much.

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Callback: Southwest @ Cathi Carlton

2009-07-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

This went swimmingly. I was matched up with two other actors for a three-person scene and we had a "friends" feel going.

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Callback: Sprint/NFL @ Martin Casting

2009-07-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

Something was off in this one. I was working with the same actor with whom I did the original audition, but I didn't feel so great about the results. There was also a new additional piece of business that wasn't really connected to the first bit. I may have missed something in the translation from the session runner...I don't know. I just felt like I was playing a different tune than everyone expected. While it was going on, I felt like I was in one of those anxiety dreams you may have...you know the ones? You can't remember your locker combination or you suddenly can't speak or communicate with the outside world. An odd feeling.

My improv team at IO West is called "Cherry". We've won 6 student Cagematches in a row. So, we keep playing. Will and I are performing Jack & Johnny in the mainstage Cagematch next Thursday against a team that has won something like 48 weeks in a row. They've got some crazy-dedicated friends.

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Audition: Southwest Airlines @ Cathi Carlton Casting

2009-07-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

This one went ok I think. It was kind of improvising, but mostly staying with the lines. It was an incredibly busy day, lots of traffic, and I picked up a friend at LAX, dropped him off at his place, grabbed a sandwich and a change of clothes, then ran out the door again to the callback for Sprint/NFL.

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Audition: Toyota @ Francene Selkirk-Ackerman

2009-07-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

This was for an industrial rather than a commercial. I had a good time with the copy, playing a clueless salesman. We did it a few different ways. It is so hot in LA right now.

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Catching Up

2009-07-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

Since it's been a while, I'll just do a brief synopsis of what transpired the last couple of months. Bunch of auditions, callbacks and various CD's. Plenty I felt I nailed, a couple that were definitely not a fit. The Sears spot aired the week before Memorial Day and ran a good bit. The checks were decent, and I hold out hope they'll recut it and use more.

Geico - Joe Blake
Dick's Sporting Goods - Ross Lacy
Comedy Central - Martin Casting
Sears (again-funny) - Hayley Marcus
Verizon - Eskinazi
Castrol - Joe Blake
Priceline - Joe Blake
Sprint/NASCAR - Martin Casting
VW - Ross Lacy
Roundtable Pizza - Ross Lacy
VW Callback - Ross Lacy
Sleep Inn - Deborah Kurtz
Bud Light - Ross Lacy
TW Cable - Ross Lacy
TW Cable callback - Ross Lacy
Bush's Beans - Leslie Rhoades
Anti-Smoking PSA - Gabrielle Schary
Sprint/NFL - Martin Casting

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Shoot: Sears

2009-04-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

The Sears shoot was fun. It was a little strange in that my scene partner and I really didn't know what was happening until after the first shot was in the can, but fun anyway. We shot in a little neighborhood in Van Nuys, which was not at all far for me. The day was long as there were many shots to get and a lot of it with a small army of children. There were definitely some showbiz kids in the bunch. There was a lot of jockeying for time bouncing on the mattresses in the yard. The spot is scheduled to run for Memorial Day, but there wasn't anything overtly Memorial Day in the spot (flags, etc.). Hope it runs more!

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Booked: Sears

2009-04-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

Usually when one of my primary agents calls directly, it's a good sign (well, except for that callback recall a couple of weeks ago). However, this conversation started with, "I've got some good news..." Boom! Avail to booked. Sweet. Wardrobe tomorrow and shoot next Thursday. This is big news for a few of reasons.

1. It's my first SAG national commercial with cable and new media. I've had non-union stuff that was widespread. I've had regionals and cable and smaller market stuff. 'Bout time I got over this hump.

2. It's my first booking through Ross Lacy casting. God bless this man for bringing me in so often and my agent for getting me in there. I'm happy to validate their faith in me.

3. It's my first booking of 2009. I hope that gets the ball rolling. Well, the ball was already rolling based on the number of auditions and callbacks over the last couple of weeks.

Now, having said all that, I want to get this thing in the can and get it on the air. That'll be the real victory.

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Two scoops of Audition, with a Callback on top

2009-04-08T15:29:00.000-07:00

Home Depot @ [skirts] - I've had a couple of Home Depot auditions here. Maybe they've cornered the market. Interview-style. I'm getting good at these.

DirecTV @ Jeff Gerrard - Here's an office I have not managed to crack that often. I believe I put in a good showing though, with facial reactions and a good bit of physical business.

Callback: Wendy's @ Hayley Marcus - For the callbacks, we got to go solo. I had the joy of doing all four parts myself. I was a dancing sampler plate. Felt good, out of breath, but good.

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Avail: Sears

2009-04-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

Monday morning - the anticipated, sometimes dreaded, "Avail". So this means...who knows?

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Callback: SEARS

2009-04-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

I got the call Friday afternoon for this rare Sunday callback. That led to some scheduling wizardry at the ol' day job, but they pulled it off with aplomb. The callback was in Santa Monica. This afforded me a great opportunity to take my niece's school project, a version of Flat Stanley, with me to snap a couple of shots at the SM Pier and the Pacific Ocean. The appointment was early, and there were quite a few kids in on it. I didn't see many other actors in my category, but you never know how long their session is going to be. My "wife" and I were treated to some tall tales by our "kids" while we waited on deck. In the room, we were just improvising the scene and miming the objects. As much as kids pretend, it's kind of funny to see them get thrown by this. I believe one commented, "It's kind of hard to pretend there's a counter when there isn't one. You guys should at least have a table or something." Priceless! I felt like I spent most of my time trying to wrangle one of the kids into a position where he could be seen instead of him hiding behind his "sister". All in all, it was a fun, relaxed Sunday morning!

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Audition: Wendy's @ Hayley Marcus

2009-04-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

Ok...so this was fun. I believe this was just my second or third time in to this office. They're down in Hollywood near IO West. I could launch now into a diatribe on Los Angeles parking meters and no parking zones, but I'll spare you. I didn't get a ticket or anything, so that's good. I was matched up with three other guys to go in. We had time for a quick choreography jam session, as there was some necessary coordination of physical activity. How much detail is it ok for me to give in these? Does the term "spoiler" apply in the case of commercials? I don't know. Anyway, I had a good group, and I think we brought the house down. We did not have time (or material) to set up the pyrotechnic scheme I imagined.

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Audition: Sears and McDonald's @ Ross Lacy

2009-04-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

A double-header at Ross Lacy casting for today. The Sears audition was interview-style and relaxed. The McDonald's was a little more involved with props and "acting". Both went well I think. It's nice to have 2, and even better to have them at the same location and virtually the same time!

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Audition: WORST EVER

2009-03-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

In the interests of discretion, I have chosen not to post the client or CD for this particular audition. In short, it was a nightmare. I can't really fault the CD's office for any of it. The copy itself, was horrible. Sometimes you read a spot and say, "This probably won't make it to the airwaves." Occasionally, you read one and say, "Who could possibly have approved this and how could it've gotten this far?" This spot fell into the latter category. It was an ill-fated concept based on a couple of choice, double-entendre laden words. Of course they say, "Don't betray a hint of awareness about the double-entendre." But you didn't see the words. On top of that, the gimmick was related to finding a name for this new product of theirs. However, in introducing the idea of finding a name, they clearly labeled it already as BLANK's new BLANKETY BLANK BLANK. It's hard to do this without using the real words, but hopefully you get the picture.

I was paired up and revved my naivete to give it the ol' varsity try. Incidentally, I'm pretty good at seeming completely innocent and matter-of-fact. I'll just say my scene partner and I did not gel at all. I think it may have been this person's first audition since they didn't seem to understand that we needed to be in front of the camera. On top of that, it was an improv-welcomed audition. I don't think my scene partner had ever improvised either...well, anyway... I don't foresee a callback on this one. But on the bright side, I probably won't have to see it on TV and wonder "What if?".

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Callback: LG @ Ross Lacy

2009-03-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

This was straight to callbacks for LG. The spot had a bit of dialogue, but not too difficult. They were recycling the female in the spot, so she had already done it a number of times. I felt good about what I brought to the room.

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Callback: Johnsonville @ Ross Lacy, Audition: GM @ASG

2009-03-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

Got the callback for Johnsonville, and it went like the first round (interview style). I was asked about my Halloween costume from last year. I haven't gone out for Halloween in years, but I blamed the most recent absence on the baby and told the tale of my best costume ever - The Joker- classic not Dark Knight era.

The audition for GM was another interview. This one was kind of funny. I'm a huge Georgia football fan. If you know me, you know this. However, my wife's cousin loves to get me some sort of Ohio State gear every Christmas. This year, she got me a hat. I'm no Ohio State fan, but I have to admit that it's a super comfortable hat. So, for the audition, I was supposed to bring a hat to turn inside out. I have three Georgia hats, but none of them would perform this critical function. I had to take the OSU hat. My question was something about the South vs. The West Coast and I brought up college football, the SEC, etc. The guy before me had also talked about being from South Carolina. Then, when it's time to don the hat, I realized how it wouldn't fit with my going on about Georgia football. It was one of those moments...

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Audition: Johnsonville @ Ross Lacy

2009-03-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

Another one in this office. It's great to get in here, I just really want to book something already! This was another personal interview style audition. I feel really comfortable with these, talking off the cuff about what's up. It's probably easier because I have a baby...so there's plenty to talk about!

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Audition: Bayer @ Cathi Carlton

2009-03-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

This audition was entirely physical improv set in a car. There should be a whole class on auditioning with a prop steering wheel. Anyway, I felt great about my performance. There is a fine line between playing a headache and just seeming tired and frustrated.

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Callback?: Brawny @ SKIRTS

2009-02-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

So, yesterday, I got a call from the agency with a callback for Brawny (personal interview from two days ago). The callback fell on Saturday, which is unusual, but it was later in the afternoon and did not conflict with my other work. Around 9pm last night, my agent called. Normally, when the agents themselves call it's good news, but not this time. She told me the callback list was cut down and that I was cut. What can you do? If I had moved stuff around to make the callback possible, we would've had a problem, but I didn't so... I guess it's better to not waste my time if they already knew I wasn't what they wanted, but this was the first time for me that a callback has been called back.

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Audition: Breyer's @ Joe Blake

2009-02-20T20:33:00.000-08:00

Another call into this office for the week is good. This spot was also a typical husband-wife dynamic, heavily dependent on the facial expressions of the husband. I got laughs in the room from the runner. No matter what happens afterward, you have to just enjoy that performance in the moment for what it is. As always, letting go of the results after that is sometimes difficult.

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Audition: ORTHO @ Ross Lacy; Brawny @ SKIRTS

2009-02-19T20:27:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful to be brought back to Ross' office so frequently. He stays busy and he has some of the best session runners in the business. They say not much has changed about the old mousetrap, but this spot highlights a new version. It was a husband and wife dynamic...you know the one. I had a good partner and it felt like it went well.

This was back to back auditions on back to back days. Spring is when things pick up out here commercially. Spots that might sometimes shoot on the East Coast shoot out here since the weather is far better.

The Brawny audition was a "personal interview" style. In these, you just stand up there and the session runner asks you a question or two about yourself. No acting. I was asked what gets me going in the morning. I thought of the way my daughter bounces up and down in her crib when we walk in the room to get her up. I should get a callback for this.

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Audition: Pepcid @ Joe Blake; Dave & Busters @ Ross Lacy

2009-02-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

Pepcid was straight forward and a return to an office I haven't seen as much lately.

D&B was a little more complicated. We were playing two versions of ourselves. It was fun to differentiate the two though.

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Auditions: Lowe's @ Craig Colvin; Boston Market @ Hayley Marcus

2009-02-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

Schedules with our sitter-swap didn't work out, so my baby girl got to tag along on the first of my auditions. Craig's office is the best setup for taking her though. I know the CD's that work out of there fairly well and the atmosphere is relaxed. I was asked if she had booked any commercials already. An actress who's expecting twins was going in after my group, so she and another actor watched the girl for the two minutes I was in the room. Baby girl was great, the audition was solid and we were on our way to pass her off to my wife so I could change clothes and head back to Hollywood for -

Boston Market- This was a new office for me. It's in the basement of a building that feels very '60s to me with the tile floors and fluorescent lights. The basement area itself combined with the myriad of us white guys in suits definitely reminded me of a scene in Mad Men, which is a fantastic show. My timing felt a little off in the audition. Not sure why that was, but it just wasn't clicking. Luckily though, I didn't have to say "Crispy Country Chicken". It looks great on paper, but it's a mouthful when you try to say it.

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Audition: Sears @ Joe Blake

2009-02-11T23:59:00.000-08:00

Back in this office for the third time in a couple weeks. That's nice. It's my string of home improvement type auditions. One of them, surely...

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Callback: Miller Lite @ Joe Blake

2009-02-06T23:48:00.000-08:00

I suspected this went well enough to be in line for a callback. As is so common, the callback setup was quite a bit different than the original audition and there were more of us in the room at the same time. Still, maybe I'm getting closer to booking that major beer spot.

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Audition: Grapenuts @ Kari Peyton

2009-02-05T23:38:00.000-08:00

This was interesting. I'm getting in more and more on improv specific castings, which is good. I definitely feel like it's a strong suit for me. More on my improv class later... Grapenuts in my head has a different image than the one in this series of webisodes, but I guess that's why they advertise. I thought it went well.

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Audition: Home Depot @ [skirts]

2009-02-03T23:30:00.000-08:00

It's kind of amazing to me that I have not yet broken through on a major beer or home improvement spot. Back in Atlanta, I did Home Depot industrials from time to time. Even when I shop at stores like this where employees wear clear, easily identifiable uniforms, I still get asked for help. Once, at the grocery store, a lady got a bit indignant when she asked me if I worked there and I said, "Nope, sorry". She responded in a huffy, suspicious tone, "You DON'T work here?" Why would I lie about that? And take a clue from my worn out jeans and lack of logos.

Anyway, the audition was fine. It was a "personal interview" type thing. In this setup, you figure you won't have any dialogue in the spot. So, rather than just looking at photos, the directors or whoever get to see you just be you for a second. I was asked if I consider myself a "handy man". I told the story about installing and uninstalling a horizontal window a/c in our vertical sliding windows. Story aside, I'm clearly the helpful guy you're looking for in Home Depot. However, as my wife points out, commercials aren't always about real life. They're frequently about some idealized, feel better about the world kind of life.

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Audition: Miller Lite @ Joe Blake Casting

2009-01-30T23:28:00.000-08:00

This audition went well. It had been a while since I had been in for this particular CD. Just a little "lite" improv with a couple scene partners. They were good and laid back which helps a lot.

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Auditions: December

2008-12-31T17:50:00.000-08:00

December was a busy month with several auditions, other work, and our trip to Atlanta for two weeks around the holidays. Here's a brief list of the auditions with a few comments as appropriate.

12/1 - Verizon @ Ross Lacy - to be one of the "network" army you see behind the main guy. There was no information really other than that. The session runner made up some stuff for us to do so they'd have something other than our slate on camera.

12/2 - Rosetta Stone @ Gabrielle Schary - I've had a couple of close ones at this office with the avail for the national Tabasco thing, but, strangely, I don't go there very often. I was dog-tired at this one, but the character was supposed to be sleepy anyway. Hooray for Providence!

12/8 - Culvers @ Liz Paulson - New CD for Culvers. I guess they're replacing our spots from before.

12/10 - DirecTV @ Cathi Carlton - This was fun! Felt good. I wore a bad tie though. It didn't look right on camera.

12/17 - Callback DirecTV @ Cathi Carlton

12/18 - Aflac @ Ross Lacy - This spot was kind of confusing, and didn't have a good flow or shape...if I could think of more obscure descriptives, I'd use them too. Oh - it wasn't sharp. No one seemed to know what to do with it.

12/18 - Coors Light @ Lisa Fields - Baseball umpire. I was perfect for it, with the experience and everything. I got to do some random calls, so I did the basic "Ball" "Strike" "Foul Ball" and then I threw in some fancy stuff like my strike three call, foul tip, check swing called strike. Afterward, I realized I should've done a little vocal warmup in the car.

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Industrial: US Food Service

2008-11-25T12:33:00.000-08:00

I haven't done an industrial since I left Atlanta. Now that I'm unionized, they pay a good deal better. My fantastic agent called today to let me know I had been booked off my photo and online reel. That's a nice way to book a job and another first for me out here. The shoot is next Tuesday.

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ADR: Honda

2008-11-17T12:27:00.000-08:00

My agent informed me that the Honda folks needed me in the sound booth for some voiceover work. When we shot the spot originally, we did two versions, each with a different Honda vehicle. In the end, I guess they wanted the third one. So, I spent a short time in the booth this morning. Because the replacement piece was in the middle of a chunk of dialogue, we had to work hard to match my original tone, pace and energy. That was tough. The mixer would play back the original for me and then I'd give it a few takes. Then, we'd listen to see if it was matching up seamlessly. It took a few minutes to get it, but we did. I got to see the spot in the mixing room as well. Good stuff.

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Audition: Microsoft @ POPCasting

2008-11-13T22:05:00.000-08:00

Scheduling issues with all of our baby-watchers and my wife led to the baby accompanying me for the second time to an audition. POP casts out of Craig Colvin's studios, which I'm very familiar with, and I was sure we'd be fine. My girl had a good morning, fed, napped, etc. so our timing was working out perfectly. This was the only spot casting there this morning, and there were only a couple of other actors there. The baby was very relaxed and laid-back...super quiet. Nancy, the CD in the room, came out to give me the scoop on what to do and, of course, became immediately enchanted by the baby who was happily obliging her with smiles and cuteness. Nancy also mentioned that I should just bring her in the room with me. When my time came, that's what we did and she was perfect. We set her up so she could see me perform, and she just chilled out in the stroller. Between takes she started chatting a little, giving me direction I suppose, but she got quiet again just as we were ready for the second take. Afterward, we were toured around to the other people in the office so everyone could witness the cuteness, pinch her calves and practice their funny faces and falsetto voices. I was/am a very proud Dad.

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Audition: PG&E @ Ross Lacy

2008-11-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

Busy week...
This was a fairly simple reaction type spot, with one twist. We did it three times, but the third time was in Spanish. It was just a few of the most basic Spanish words (si, bueno, ahora), but another first for me in an audition setting.

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Audition: Hillshire Farms @ Kathy Knowles

2008-11-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

It was nice to get called in again so quickly. This audition took a group of 4 at a time into the room. It was a funny little cheer that comprises the client's tag line. I saw an actress with a baby in tow who looked to be about my girl's size. The actress wheeled her right into the room. Sometimes, an actor with a baby in the waiting area will just ask someone else to keep an eye on the kid for a couple of minutes. We're usually not in the room long. I've watched a baby for someone else a few times. Basically, you just stand there, make goofy faces and hope the kid doesn't start choking or something.

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Callback: H&R Block @ Kathy Knowles

2008-11-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

So, my feeling turned out to be right on this one. The callback adjusted my take on the scene a bit, and I'm not sure how it played. I didn't feel as strongly as I did about the original audition. Never know. However, I did get another audition for this same CD tomorrow. I sent postcards out a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps that has generated a nice run of activity. A friend and I are communicating about our business tasks and goals for each day or week. It helps to stay on top of that.

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Callback: 7-11 @ Colvin; Audition: H&R Block @ Kathy Knowles

2008-11-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

I had a little juggling to do today since both of these were scheduled within minutes of each other, but in very different geographical areas. Luckily, the audition in Santa Monica had a time range and I got in on the early side. I think it went well. No lines, just physicality and an intense reaction to something. Felt convincing to me.

The callback was good too. So, we'll see. No avail call tonight, but I figure everyone is watching results anyway.

Speaking of...I'm not one to get into political discussions outside my own home. Most people believe what they want and aren't really looking for someone to change their minds, and friendly discussions turn into prickly squabbles too quickly. Since this blog isn't really a conversation per se, I'll pay homage to the day with a brief quote from Ben Franklin and you can make of it what you will. "When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." I truly hope that's not the trend.

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Audition: 7-11 @ Craig Colvin

2008-10-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

Last second audition for today. It was a quick hitter...get in, get out deal.

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On-Set: SoCal Honda

2008-10-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

Had a great time and got to work with a cool director today. I also worked with a live turkey named "Jerry". I've done some weird, fun stuff in this business.

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Booked: SoCal Honda

2008-10-27T23:31:00.000-07:00

Booked this one. Another avail turns into an actual job. Is it a trend? Wardrobe Wednesday and shoots Thursday.

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Callback: SoCal Honda @ Alyson Horn; AVAIL: SoCal Honda; Audition: TurboTax @ Ross Lacy

2008-10-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

This callback for SoCal Honda was one I absolutely did not expect. I didn't feel great walking out of the original audition, but I'll take the callback and run. The callback went great. The director and I seemed to be on the same page. I got laughs in the room. Good stuff.

Ross Lacy continues to call me in more than any other CD in town. I want to book something in this office so badly. The TurboTax spot will be a lot of fun with some cool makeup.

UPDATE: Got an avail call for the SoCal Honda spot. Not a booking yet, but an avail is better than umm...not an avail.

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Auditions: Catch up

2008-10-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

I think since my last post, I've had about 5 auditions. Most of them have been at Ross Lacy casting and one with Alyson Horn. No callbacks in this round so far as I know, which a little surprising, but as you read here so often, "You never know."

Yesterday's audition wasn't so grand. The session runner was giving a lot of feedback in the many rehearsals we did, but it wasn't translating into something directly workable for me. Another case of being at war with my instincts for the scene.

Will, Matt and I did a three-man improv show on the 9th that went over very well. It was our first performance as a trio, though we've been working together on writing a show that we plan to put up in January. I wrapped up Level 4 class at IO. I'm taking a break for the holidays but will probably jump back in for Level 5 after the first of the year.

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Audition: Kmart @ Ross Lacy; Cub Foods @ Craig Colvin

2008-09-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Kmart audition didn't feel great to me. I wasn't completely satisfied with the way I related to my scene partner. I didn't have time to rehash it in the car since I had an appointment immediately after, luckily just a couple of minutes from there. A sign at the audition did say to keep cellphones handy as the callbacks would be tomorrow. I had "booked out" with my agency for tomorrow afternoon, but I should be able to make it work if I get the callback.

The Cub Foods audition involved kids. Craig's stuidos were packed as there were two separate family spots being cast. It's interesting to watch the kids and their parents beforehand. I was matched up with a couple of kids, and the audition was just me talking to them about school and their day.

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Audition: Life @ Mia Levinson/Josh Einsohn; Home Depot @ Cathi Carlton

2008-09-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

A two-audition day that worked out perfectly. The auditions were solid. No unexpected surprises. For "Life", a series that I enjoy, I gave an initial read that was more understated or channeled the anger of the character differently. Josh redirected me to more of a clear expression of that anger and I felt satisfied with my adjustment.

The Home Depot was a silent, physical audition...a guy just doing stuff.

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Auditions: NBC Promo @ [CD left blank]

2008-09-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

This was weird. I was greeted at the door to the building by people wanting me to sign a release form because they were shooting a documentary segment on this casting director for a certain entertainment channel. As I sat to read the thing, distracted from the audition mindset, a number of other actors just walked up, said "Ok" and signed without even reading anything. I don't want to tell someone how to run their business, but this release was one of those complete, wholesale, you have no rights whatsoever, give us free reign over your life kind of releases.

So, I asked, "The cameras will just be outside the room or inside too?"
Them - "Inside too."
Me - "No thanks."

Who wants their audition to end up as fodder on some entertainment show? These things can be weird enough as it is. I received a green sticker to wear, which was supposed to alert the camera people not to film me. I was the only person wearing one for the entire time I was there. It also didn't stop the camera guys from coming into the room and trying to get me to answer questions. I just politely ignored them. The whole thing was awkward, and I think unfair to surprise actors with release forms and roving cameras on their way into an audition. The agents should've been forewarned so they could pass the knowledge to their clients.

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Audition: Ebay @ Kathy Knowles

2008-09-02T22:13:00.000-07:00

Ahh...Santa Monica in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, there's just no good alternative to the 405 for me. Getting there was fine, but coming back in rush hour was not fun. The audition, however, was fun. There was copy that was very short, and it's a good spot in the Ebay vein of funny spots. We did some improv in the room to insert a couple of lines. I felt like I improvised more like I would in a scene than maybe I have at auditions in the past. It's tricky because although it's "improvised", you do have a minute or two to consider once you've been told the scenario. Anyway, I expect a callback here.

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Life: Baby, Showbiz: SAG Card

2008-08-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Those of you who check in regularly may have found it pointless as my updates have been sporadic recently. I've back dated a few items to catch up. Life is full with the baby. We've had lots of family visiting, which has been entertaining. Every time someone comes to town, we try to do/see something we haven't already done/seen. One of the highlights has been the Autry Museum here. I was very impressed with the collection and the lunch.

In other news, I received the coveted SAG card in the mail the other day. An expensive, but necessary, tool for acting work here. It comes at a time of uncertainty in the business overall. SAG and the production execs have still not reached an agreement on a new Primetime contract. AFTRA signed a deal last month. I'm an AFTRA member too. I must say it seems odd that the union with fewer overall shows in this jurisdiction would cut in front of the union with the most on the line. The whole thing has seemed a debacle and makes me wonder further why there are still two separate performer unions working against each other.

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Audition: Toyota @ Melissa Martin

2008-08-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

For the audition, we were just asked a question and taped for the response. These types of auditions are used when there's no dialogue, but the CD is giving the decision-makers a chance to see who the actor is. Four of us were in the room at the same time. It's interesting to see how quickly some become uncomfortable talking off-the-cuff about their life.

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Audition: Circuit City @ Ross Lacy

2008-08-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

I hadn't been in for this CD in a while. His office is one of the busiest in the city when things are rolling. It was another straight-forward, no dialogue bit. Good to be hitting the commercial streets again.

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Audition: My Wife is a... @ Kendra Shay Clark

2008-08-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

This one came through my agent in Atlanta. It's a web series pilot. The interesting thing here is that the role description in the breakdown and the dialogue in the sides didn't really jibe in my mind. I think some lines in the sides had been reassigned to give this particular character more to do. However, some of these reassigned lines ascribed too much "hip life wisdom" to a character that seemed a little more lost. I was given a choice of scenes and went with the one that had a quick comic rhtyhm. Kendra read with me and gave my cue lines the pace they needed, which was great. It's so awkward reading comedic scenes when the reader isn't right on it. It was a pleasure reading for her.

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Audition: Zales @ Gabrielle Schary

2008-07-30T21:36:00.000-07:00

Things have been slow for some time commercially, which is not atypical of the summer here. This audition seemed perfect for me. The spot called for a young dad coming home to his wife and infant...hmmm.... No real dialogue or anything, so it's all on the look again.

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Show: Jack & Johnny July 17

2008-07-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

Our sophomore show didn't slump. The house was packed, the show was fast-paced...perhaps slightly more scattered than previously...and we got positive feedback from the audience and our critics (wives). We are definitely planning to get the show up more frequently, producing our own evenings or whatever it takes to get a few shows each month.

The audition front has been deserted. Class at IO is still great. At home, we've had lots of visitors and family time. We took the baby for a "hike" in Malibu Canyon last week at the hottest time of a hot day. "Poor planning" you say? Pushing the compact stroller uphill, through loose, sandy gravel and a bumpy trail made for a little adventure. We had to portage her over some larger gravelly areas. In the end, we had to turn back within a quarter mile of the MASH location because the trail was impassable with the stroller. The baby slept through the whole thing. Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa perspired through the whole thing.

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Show: Jack & Johnny debut 7/3/08

2008-07-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

It's a belated update, but the Jack & Johnny debut was a rousing success.

We hung out earlier in the day, and let Will's wife experiment on us with her repetition exercise. Then, we rehearsed a little bit. I must admit that I find it difficult to rehearse in apartments, parks or other non-theatrical type spaces. However, classrooms and possibly yoga rooms seem to be exceptions, perhaps because they're still largely blank spaces. Anyway, the rehearsal was ok, but we were both a little tired and hot. We wrapped it up in time for me to spend some time at home with the little family and eat a bite.

Around 7pm, we met for a little coffee, or a lot, at a Starbucks just a few doors down from the theatre. I needed the jolt to get the blood flowing. The Pale Irish Bastards, our hosts, got the place open and we talked for a bit about movies and such. Will and I did an "idea at a time" story exercise to warm-up, which worked very well indeed. I came up with it as a result of something I learned in our first class at IOWest with Craig Cackowski, which, by the way, is a phenomenal class that I should blog about later. The exercise got us riffing and jazzed. The house wasn't huge, but we were ready to go. After a somewhat overdramatic lighting situation for our entrance, we got our suggestion "Born to be wild" and took off.

We had a fast, compact show, with all the specifics, multiple character work, high-energy play you could want. It was a very satisfying experience and quite a bit different than our rehearsals. Of course, I expected that based on what I told you above about my rehearsal quirks. Even when I was doing plays in high school, my teacher/director noticed that I seemed to hold something in reserve during rehearsals that was loosed in performance. Not a good habit I think, but it's a little like not tipping your hand or leaking the magic. What I should be able to do is have the magic in rehearsal and even more magic in the show. I'm looking forward to our second performance on the 17th! If you're on Facebook, search for and join our group "Jack & Johnny".

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Show: Jack & Johnny

2008-06-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Will and I have finally had the opportunity to stop talking about doing a show and just do it. It's exciting to have shows coming up on July 3 and 17, and we're also taking the same class at IOWest. I'm ready to get back on the stage after a little hiatus. The show is called "Jack & Johnny" as a result of our affiliations with Johnny Lunchpail (Will) and JaCKPie (me). Here's hoping for a rousing success.

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AVAIL: ESPN

2008-06-20T11:25:00.001-07:00

Well, it's good, but "You're hired!" is better. Wait and see.

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Callback: ESPN @ Cathi Carlton

2008-06-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

Chuckles in the room are usually a good sign, but you just never know. I had a discussion with another actor who was in a class I took a year or two ago. He was telling me about another commercial actor who did a spot with him who was in the midst of booking 13 spots for serious dough. That's what we need here. A streak.

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Audition: ESPN @ Cathi Carlton

2008-06-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

It has been several weeks since my last audition. I was beginning to wonder if commercials had left LA for a bit.

This one went very well I think. The wardrobe called for boxers, t-shirt, shirt, tie, slacks, jacket. I was thinking it would be another "take your clothes off" type thing, but it turned out that for the audition, it was just about being in the pants and t. The wardrobe that's involved in the final product may be different from what they need at the audition, but you never know until you get there. Sometimes, it's way off. You may get an audition notice in writing that says "suit and tie", but you may be the only one in your suit while everyone else is in safari gear. Then you wonder, how could we have possibly gotten the same notice for the same role and be this different.

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Life: Baby with the Bathwater

2008-05-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting much lately since the auditions have been sparse and I've been extremely busy with work and the little family. In an attempt to combat a nasty diaper rash, we've been giving the girl some soak time in a little tub. We have to get her wrapped up quickly afterward to keep her from getting cold.

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Audition: House M.D. @ Amy Lippens Casting

2008-05-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

My first time into this office came, I think, as a result of casting workshops I did with the associates last year. The role is short and sweet, and so was the read. I discovered that I may have a bit of a bad habit of not instinctively looking at my reader. I made plenty of eye contact before and after, just not on my line. It's probably the result of all the commercial auditioning, which is played more to the camera. I don't think it should matter that much in this particular audition because it was so quick, but I have to remember to coach myself a little more just before going in next time. Auditions are perhaps like seeing one's brand new beau/belle off for an extended trip. For now, I must kiss her goodbye and go about my business. If she comes back to me, we'll have a grand time together.

I had to come back and add a couple more thoughts, because I'm reminded of an audition I had while living in Atlanta. I hounded my then agent (not Houghton) to submit for a movie that I found out was shooting in North Carolina. After a couple of weeks, my agent called with the audition. After rehearsal for a show I was doing, I drove the 6.5 hours up to Wilmington, N.C arriving at 3am. I booked a hotel room to catch some sleep before my 9am audition. At the casting office, I grabbed the sides for my role. I walked in, did it and was back on my way to Atlanta within about 3 minutes. The next week, I got a callback. Nice. This time I drove up and back in the same day. Yikes. In the casting office, I found out that I was called back for a different role. This one had 5 words. I was in and out within 60 seconds. Another 6.5 hours back to Atlanta. Later, I was told the production cast native Brits who were living in the Southeast. This is one of the reasons I moved to LA. I couldn't see doing that Wilmington trek again and again like that. The sides may have been short, but so was the drive.

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Carded

2008-05-07T11:04:00.001-07:00

The day arrived. I sent off the paperwork (and the significant fees) to become an official member of SAG. My real name is apparently already taken by someone who, although he doesn't appear to be working, gets to keep his unique hold on our name. Not a huge deal. My professional name will just include an initial in the middle.

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Life: Baby Debut

2008-05-06T16:02:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, after a sprint labor, nervous car ride and miracle moments, my wife gave birth to our first child, a baby girl. This experience has been truly mind-blowing. I was blessed to see my wife's superhuman strength and courage. We were further blessed by a perfect little bundle of life. It is hard for me not to stare at her all the time. My wife is more beautiful now than even before. We're nervously excited about parenting, its challenges and opportunities, happy to have such wonderful family and unrivaled friends, and looking forward to all the good times ahead.

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Audition: Verizon @ Ross Lacy Casting

2008-05-05T15:59:00.000-07:00

Had an audition this morning for Ross Lacy...a nice Verizon series of 2-4 spots that would be sweet. I think the audition went great. The material was good and I felt comfortable with the comedy and awkward pauses. It was my first audition since...ta-da...my daughter was born last week.

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Shoot: First Energy

2008-04-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

This spot was challenging physically, and we had a little hiccup with the contract. In the end, it was all ironed out by my fantastic agent, who helped me out on the phones and gave me great counsel. It was cool to work with several of the key crew who also shot Culver's in Houston. The Culver's spot is up and running in their markets, and available for your internet viewing HERE.

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Callback: FirstEnergy @ Craig Colvin, Booked: FirstEnergy @ Craig Colvin

2008-04-14T23:36:00.000-07:00

This was same-day craziness. The callback had just a couple hours notice, but it worked perfectly with my schedule. I went into the room with my scene partner to meet the director, producer, agency people. Guess who? The same director and production company as Culver's from January. We did the spot a few times, then the director wanted to switch the roles. We did it a bunch of different ways with redirection, got some good laughs, and I went off to my day job. Craig called me personally tonight to tell me about the booking. That's 3 now in his office. I also learned that this particular director was Budweiser's main man for quite a few years, and that he likes to use people again. Bring it! We have to recover from the crippling blow delivered by the evil IRS.

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More reasons to backup your computer

2008-04-10T11:45:00.001-07:00

I keep finding more and more things that I need but cannot recover/remember since the terrible hard drive crash of 2007. My postcard templates, records of submissions, who I sent what, who responded when...details I need are lost to the electronic ether. It's a slow road to recovery. I should have written more of it down in my calendar.

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Audition: FirstEnergy @ Craig Colvin

2008-04-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

This was a political/psa type spot. I can't remember auditioning for one of these before. It went well.

All is moving along with our upcoming arrival. The past several months have flown by. We found out yesterday that our building, which we just moved into a few weeks ago, is being sold by the owner. We hope that doesn't mean we have to find another place to live any time soon.

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Callback: Verizon @ ASG

2008-03-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

I just had a feeling about the original audition and expected the callback. I suppose I should do that every time. The callback seemed to go just fine. It's hard to tell. The only redirection my "wife" and I got was that the expression should be more awe and less fear. We "wow"ed a few times and got out of there. I'm going to the chiropractor today for a much needed adjustment, and we've got a hospital tour tonight. This is our chance to ask for directions.

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Audition: Verizon 2 @ ASG

2008-03-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

This is the 2nd time in the last couple of weeks I've been to this particular office, which is conveniently located near our apartment. Sometimes, when sides are posted online, the notice I receive will mention it, and sometimes the notice does not. I always check to see if sides have been posted. There were very recent Verizon sides from this office, so I prepared with them. However, upon signing in, I saw that that the sides I worked on were not connected to the spot I was actually auditioning for. No problem though, because the new sides consisted of "Wow." In the room, we did the "wow" several different ways. I played with the delivery a little in my tail slate too, which seemed funny to everyone else. It's weird. Sometimes little stuff like that gets you the callback, or it could just tick people off. I think I have a pretty good ability to read the situation and know the difference.

For LIFE - We've been accomplishing more tasks to prepare baby space. We painted a couple of small sets of drawers and received a Bulldogs stroller my mom got for us. Last night, we attended a meet-and-greet of local Georgia alumni. It was nice to chat with people outside the frequently intense setting of game-watching.

Slow and Fast

2008-03-19T22:28:00.000-07:00

Some things have been a little slow lately. Other things are moving along quickly. We're only 6 weeks away from having a baby girl in the house. We haven't settled on a name for her. Or we have, but we've misplaced it for the moment. We've been building cribs, moving furniture, obtaining furniture (a real table!), going to childbirth classes, yoga classes and reading "The Little Prince". We've been reading baby product guides and poring through the baby universe of the internet. My shower door has a stripped screw. The painters fixed our walls. We almost had a melt down of exhaustion at Lowe's and/or Outback. We had dinner at our very own table tonight with real chairs like big boys and girls. I'm working more at my day job at the moment, while getting things rolling with my reel and trying to redesign all the promo materials I lost in the hard drive crash of 2007. My reel can be found HERE. We got our taxes out to the accountants, and now we pray that the evil regular tax and the superevil Alternative Minimum Tax don't kick us in the face. It's a short spring training before the regular season, which will last us the next 20-30 years. We're excited, awed and unprepared in the best possible way for it all.

Audition & Callback: Numb3rs @ Mark Saks

2008-03-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

I got a call out of the blue yesterday to go in for Numb3rs today. This was my first time back in the office this season, and with today's results, I'm 3 for 3 with callbacks. I was reading for two FBI agent roles, one of which I suspected would end up being a different type. That was confirmed in the room. I read for the other role a couple of times, and got the callback appointment for later in the afternoon. The producers' session was smaller than previous times I've been there. My bit was short and sweet. Mark said after the reading, "Wasn't that worth the drive." I just said, "Absolutely, anytime."

Audition: Ad Council @ ASG

2008-02-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

There were 4 actors in the room on this scene and it was supposed to be an intense scenario. I'm torn about how this went...not sure I got to where I wanted to be within the scene. Who knows? These are sometimes the best.