Thursday, April 29, 2004

Audition: "Holiday Inn Express" @ Ross Lacy Casting. I had to take my shirt off. WHAT!!! I'm no Calvin Klein model and my body is far from that, but I went for it. Maybe they are looking for a thin black guy. Anyway, it goes well. One of these days I am going to book for Ross again, it's been like 4 years.

Monday, April 26, 2004

Audition: "Monk" @ CFB Casting. This is my second time to producers for the show. It went really well again, hopefully eventually I'll go the distance and book. Afterwards I had to catch up on my drop-offs and it was hot, hot hot!!! I am so glad that I got another car to tackle this part of my job, it makes such a difference. A/C is good!! For the car and the apartment!!!

Thursday, April 22, 2004

Call time-6am. Shooting "Tufts Medical Institute" @ LA Center Studios. The shoot goes well, I did a full day of sitting around before I actually got to work. That's the way it goes sometimes, it was just great to be on set again. The spot starts running in the Boston area on May 10th.

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Audition: "Safeway" @ Beth Holmes Casting. Just yesterday I was talking to my friend Marvin about how I rarely get appointments at that casting office. The last time I talked to Marv about a specific something I hadn't gotten in on I booked it and it was "Friends", maybe this is a good sign. Anyway, the audition went really well.

Monday, April 19, 2004

I had my fitting today for the "Tufts Medical Institute" commercial. That was a great thing since I didn't have any auditions scheduled, at least I got paid to be fitted. At the callback I saw Franklin Cover, he played "Tom" on "The Jefferson's" years ago. I got a chance to talk him a little, he's a really nice man. I also will be working with Marianne Muellerleile. I worked with her on the pilot of "Life With Bonnie". She is a series regular on the show and plays "Gloria" the housekeeper. This woman works constantly and is still so greatful to still be working. She is a really good spirit.

I have always considered myself to be a self-described nerd, geek or what have you, today it was confirmed. While being fitted I was wearing a dress shirt that had a size 14 1/2 neck. After I got my tie on Matt, the stylist, said I needed to go down to a size 14!! I guess that makes me a "pencil necked geek". Oh well.

Saturday, April 17, 2004

This morning my brother sent me this photo of my niece & nephew with Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes/N.E.R.D. fame. He was visiting our family deli to get a bite to eat. For some reason that I can't really explain there are a lot of really successful musicians from my hometown. In addition to Pharrell there is Missy Elliott & Timbaland and others. It's funny to go home and work at the deli and make a sandwich for him. What's REALLY funny is that he always congratulates me on what I'm doing. He'll go like "yo man, you really doing your thing. keep it up!!" That's cool and all, but this cat is setting it on fire. And he's a great guy too.

Friday, April 16, 2004

Callback: "Tufts Medical Institute" @ Sheila Manning Casting. The director is George Hickenlooper and he does films. So I did some research on him and found that he's directing an upcoming Jennifer Aniston film. I searched for a photo of him so I would know exactly what he looked like when I walked in the room. When I walked in he was the first person I saw. The audition went well I thought. It was me and a young lady auditioning together. There were no lines so he just had us improv a scenerio he gave us. He cut us off abruptly during both improvs. Either he hated us or loved us we thought. I guess we'll find out.........or not.

Audition: "IDT" @ Ross Lacy Casting. This one goes really well and I think I am really right for it.

DING DING DING!!! Two hours after the callback I get the word that I am booked for the "Tufts Medical Institute" commercial. It's a Boston regional spot, so it won't run here. I'm just glad to be working.

Thursday, April 15, 2004

Audition: "AT&T" @ ASG Casting. This audition goes really well. I usually leave my cell phone in my car when I go into audition just to keep the distractions to a minimum. Of course in this audition I needed a cellphone. My partner that I was auditioning with didn't have his either. Note to self: If it's a cellphone commercial audition bring your cell phone.

After the audition I stopped by to see my commercial agents to say hello. I was wearing a suit and I like for them to see me in different looks. I told them I was wearing a suit as a "diversionary tactic" so that they would forget that I haven't booked anything in a while and callbacks have been few. Ironically, they laughed and said "you do have a callback tomorrow we just hadn't called you yet". Cool!! It's for Sheila Manning too for the "Tufts Medical Institute" in went in on last week.

While at the office I ran into a guy named Biff who I used to wait tables with in New York at The Harley-Davidson Cafe. It was great to see him and good to see us still in the game making it happen.

Afterwards I went to see my theatrical agents with the same scheme. Kelley quickly reminded me that I had just booked "Ocean's Twelve" and I said "Yes!!, but there is a lot more to come". She assured me that things are well and I was one my way. I feel so fortunate to be with the agents I am with. It's been almost six years.

Tonight while watching "The Apprentice" I saw a promo for "The Terminal". I even saw myself, well the back of me. Actually, I didn't recognize myself at first because I forgot that i had dreadlocks when I shot. I hope my scene with the incredible Mr. Hanks makes the final cut.

Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Audition: "Verizon" @ Ross Lacy Casting. This one shoots in New York. Do you have any idea how much I would love to go to NY right now!! First things first. The audition went really, really well. Maybe a callback is in order for me. They've been kinda scarce lately.

More drop-offs today. Beverly Hills has got to be the worst place to do drop-offs, there is never any where to park. It's like I need a partner so one of us could just stay in the car while the other ran inside to do the drop. I know that wouldn't work for me, I am much to weird in my approach and I would drive someone crazy. Or be driven crazy.

Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Not a whole lot going these 'cept for mny drop-off routine. I'm just going through my database scouring for any opportunity that might be out there for me. Since I got another car it could prevent me from going home for my usual month this Summer. I may need to stay in LA and keep trying to make things happen. That is not a pleasant thought, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Thursday, April 08, 2004

Audition: "Tufts Medical Institute" @ Sheila Manning Casting. Quick-fast and it was over in a flash.

Wednesday, April 07, 2004

Audition: "New York Stock Exchange" @ Terry Berland Casting. Goes well.

Audition: "Hood Dairy" @ Kathy Knowles Casting. My last commercial booking, the "Michelob Ultra" (which NEEDS to start running) was through this office. Anyway, the audition goes well. Maybe lightning will strike again.I did a bunch of drop-offs today. Anything to keep busy, ya know. I'm telling ya, what I do with all of these drop-offs everyday is SOoooo "not" normal. I mean it's crazy. I find myself talking to myself trying to find parking going "WHYYYYYY". I know why, but sometimes it catches me off guard and I react like a normal person.

When I walked in Chelsea Studios for drop offs this morning I saw a gentleman putting 3 of each of his headshots in each box. I REALLY wanted to say something to him. I refrained, thinking there had to be something going on that I didn't understand. I didn't want to come off as a "know-it-all" so I stayed silent. Plus he was much bigger than me!! It bugged me all day though. I figured many people don't understand how and/or why I do what I do the way I do it. Maybe he had the same mojo going on.

This was a bright spot for me. Also while at Chelsea Studios I witnessed one of the employees for Craig Colvin Casting actually check the box while I stood there. WHAT!!! "They DO check those boxes?!! Yup! I saw it!" I mean there was only like 5 photos in it so he must check on a regular basis. Then I saw him glance at it again before he went back behind the counter. That gave me a lot of energy to keep on keepin' on. I really needed it today, because I ran into several parking problems, address problems and a PO Box place that wouldn't take a drop-off for Jeff Hardwick Casting. I'm sure tomorrow will be better.

Tuesday, April 06, 2004

Audition "SBC Global @ Cathi Carlton Casting. This one goes really well. I had four kids to work with in the audition. With kids, I find, you have to kinda go full force and break the ice with them. Otherwise they can be tenative, sorta surprised that an adult is even talking to them. I had a great time with these kids.

I went to see commercial CD Jeff Rosenman speak at the SAG Conservatory tonight and he was great. He relayed lots of insight into the casting process and the use of LA Casting Network.

Monday, April 05, 2004

On Friday my friend Jonathan gave me a tip on a commercial audition for "Buick" @ Lien/Cowan Casting. I dropped a photo at 8am this morning on my way to the gym and was prepared to wait and see. Then Jon called again after his audition to tell me that I really should be seen for it. For some reason I wasn't feeling the notion to go to the casting office and "stake out the joint". So I elected to call my agents at KSA and asked them about it, 10 minutes later I had an appointment. I went in and the audition went great. A callback would be nice.

Thursday, April 01, 2004

Commercial audition: "Rite-Aid" @ Divisek Casting. This one goes really well, CALL ME BACK, I'm available!!!

Pilot audition: "Entourage" @ Walken/Jaffe Casting. It's a 1/2 hour episodic for HBO. This one goes pretty good, although I felt a little stiff for no good reason.

Callback for "The Rev" @ Henderson/Zuckerman Casting. It's a pilot presentation shooting in Vancouver. For this callback they added another scene, but we didn't read the initial scene from the first call. I liked the inital scene better. It would be nice to get on board for this one.