I just got released from the "Apple" industrial that is shooting in San Francisco. Oh well, it felt good to get that close for something that I didn't have an appointment for. WARNING TO ALL APPOINTMENTS: If you don't come to me, there is a good chance I will come looking for you!! BEWARE!! LOL!!

YES!!! My commercial agent calls this morning to inform me that I am on avail for the "Apple" industrial. It is a 3-day shoot that would travel to San Francisco. This would be really nice right before I go back East for summer vacation.

Today I had my meeting with the writer from the AngelCiti Film Festival back in November 2000. We met at Swinger's, a local eatery in town. As soon as I saw him I remembered talking to him and that he was from Florida. We got to know each other a bit and discussed the script. If and when it does come together it could be up to a year away. He seems to be really interested in having myself in the lead role. I would really like to be a part of this project. I really liked the script and it would be a great vehicle for me. So we'll see what happens.

In my continued hustle to get more commercial opportunities, I drop off my H/R to the many commercials facilities around town and see what is going on. Occasionally, I am able to actually get seen for whatever is being cast. The way I figure it, I'm not going to get an appointment for everything that I am right for and it's nobody's fault. I can try though and try I do. The beauty of it all, for me, is that most people are going to hesitate in pursuing their career. Since I know they are casting projects everyday that I am right for, it is up to me to try my best to get seen. Today I was able to get seen for an "Apple computers" industrial. It went well; I think I am really right for it so hopefully I'll get a callback.

The other day I received an e-mail from a writer whose screenplay I read at The AngelCiti Screenplay Festival 18 months ago. We played phone-tag for a couple of days and finally got to speak. First, he tells how hard it was to find me. I'm thinking that I am very easy to find. The kicker was that he didn't know my name. He had seen an "Icehouse" beer commercial that I did a while back and recognized me. He mistakenly though it was a "Dominos" spot and still didn't know my name. He has a friend that works in commercial casting and mention this to her. He was able to tell her what my dialogue was in the spot and she vaguely remembered it. By coincidence, the office that she works for cast the spot!! So he starts watching all these tapes and finds it and then me.

When we finally talk, he tells me that he's written a new script that is in pre-production. Based on reading his short 18 months ago at the AngelCiti Screenplay Festival there is a part for me in his new feature. So he is sending it to me to read and then meet this week. You never know how these things will show up your life.

Okay, I got to shoot it. Of course I missed another audition while I was there, but my wonderful agents at KSA got me rescheduled for the following day.

The shoot was great; it's a really funny spot. Me as a 'hardcore rapper' is hilarious in itself. Hopefully it will actually run. Yeah Mr. Pytka is a bit abrasive, but I didn't have any problems with him. I think he is so good at what he does that he just gets impatient. I mean, I would like to think that I would never treat anyone that way no matter how successful I become, but that's just me. I even got to shoot hoops which I haven't done in a while. Joe has a portable basketball court at every shoot he is on, that is something that seems to really make him happy. So a great experience all the way around and on to the next thing whatever that will be.

Since pilot season has finished I have been concentrating on commercials like a mad man. While working on a couple of things last month I missed several commercial auditions, one was an avail. Ouch! I have never taken my commercial appointments for granted, but I understand that I'm gonna miss things from time to time.Yesterday morning my agent calls with an appointment for that afternoon for a spot that was to shoot this week. When I got to the casting office they said it was to be booked that night and work today (Wednesday). It called for a 'hardcore rapper' for IBM to be directed by the legendary Joe Pytka. I have been targeting this office/director for some time with drop-offs, postcards, etc.

I didn't get the call last night so I figured they moved on without me. This afternoon I was dropping off a new photo to my agent and joking with them about all these callbacks and avails with few bookings. This evening I get the call that I've been booked on the spot. Me as 'hardcore rapper'? Thankfully I didn't have to rap!! Anyway, it's IBM Worldwide, national & internet. I think I've heard all of the Pytka stories. My agent even cautioned me of his abrasive style. I can't wait!! He was my #1 target of commercial directors to work with. Now let's hope they don't change their mind in the next 12 hours. LOL!!

Well, its official "Good Morning Miami" & "Life With Bonnie" are on the Fall Schedule. Unfortunately, "So Downtown" didn't get picked up by the WB. If it all works out, I'll be appearing on both shows this fall. We'll see.

Okay, well it looks like McDonald's moved on without me. That's okay; I'll get 'em next time. Today is the day that NBC announces their fall schedule. I know that "Good Morning Miami" will be on it, but what I am not sure about is "The Bonnie Hunt Show". I saw the pilot and I think it has a really good chance. Plus ABC has a lot of space for new programming. Rumors has it that it will be on the schedule, we'll know officially tomorrow.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY*Today, May 10, is my 7 year anniversary of arriving in New York from Virginia Beach, VA. I remember it like yesterday. My buddy, William Gregory Lee, and I were leaving on the red-eye Greyhound bus to Port Authority 42nd Street. I had a grand total of bucks, no job, but a temporary place to stay. What the heck was I thinking?

I went from living a relatively normal life one day to sharing a bed with Greg in the "Hell's Kitchen" section of New York for 4 months. That section of NYC is much, much nicer these days than it was in '95. My acting teacher in Virginia Beach was telling us that we needed a minimum of ,000 a piece before we could make the move. Maybe that was why we didn't tell her that we were leaving.

I used to walk through Manhattan with the challenge of somehow making sense of it all before I left. I mean with the big buildings, mass transit, filthy streets, the snow, etc. I grew up in the suburbs; this was like moving to Mars. I didn't want to feel like I ran away from the metropolis. In the end, I was very happy with the circumstances of my departure.

Greg and I almost came to LA first. I shudder to think of not having my NY experiences under my belt. Not only as an actor, but as a person. It is/was priceless for me. Make no mistake; I am glad I am in LA. I'm just glad I went there first; it was instrumental in my relatively smooth transition to LA.

My buddy and I often talk about the day we met, September 22 '93, and the fact that we are still here doing what we actually said we would do. We have both been fortunate to travel and work with some really special people.

Last night, after talking about it over the years, we actually sat down and starting writing our first screenplay. Ya know, just putting down ideas and seeing where it leads us. Neither of us have any experience in this, but we are just going to go for it. I feel so fortunate to get to do this for a living that, at times, I can hardly believe it. I am trying to "taste" every moment of it along the way. So if you catch me taking pictures in my dressing room on a set somewhere don't laugh!! I save all kinds of mementos from my experiences. I am not waiting to "arrive" to start enjoying the journey, everyday is a great day. Has it been rough at times? You better believe it!!

Has it been a "struggle"? Mmmmmm, I don't like that word, I think 'struggle' is largely a state of mind. I have had many 'challenges' that have shown me what I am made of. I will say that I am glad that I have a lot of these experiences behind me and hopefully I can keep moving forward.

I feel fortunate to have so many to share with and to share with me in return. We are all in this together, I say let's keep going!!

Also, this evening my commercial agent calls to let me know that the McDonald's spot is still being cast. Cool, there is still a chance then. We'll see.

One step closer. They call to check my availability because the dates have changed from Thursday/Friday to Saturday/Sunday. This would be even better since weekend commercial shoots pay more.

YES!! I get a callback for "McDonald's" and it goes really, really well.

The "McDonald's" audition is a blast!! My callback ratio has increased greatly over the last year or so, hopefully I'll get one here.

MAY 1st '02*I guess the slow-down has started. While I was working on those recent gigs I missed a couple of commercial auditions. One of them was an avail for Red Lobster national!! That is kinda hard to take, but that is how it goes sometimes. Today I dropped my car to the shop for some work; it is across from Chelsea Studios. I always stop in to see what's going on; maybe I can squeeze my way into something. I was in no hurry since I was catching the city bus to get home, so I stake out the place for an hour trying to make it happen. I had my eye on this McDonald's spot, but it didn't look like it was gonna happen. I was not totally sure of the types and the session runner was a little crazed. Oh well, at least I tried. Three hours later my wonderful agents @ KSA call with an appointment for it!! Just goes to show we never really know what our agents are doing behind the scenes.