Audition/Producers/Tape: “24” @ Pagano/Manwiller Casting. I’ve been trying to get into this office for years. It’s is 27.9 miles from my apartment so I haven’t made regular drops there over the years, but I’ve recently tried to dig deeper into places where I haven’t been before as far as casting offices go. So lately I’ve been making the long, gas guzzling trek out the 101 North to the casting office to try to get my name in this office. I guess it worked or maybe my efforts had nothing at all to do with it – who knows.

The audition – I haven’t had this happen in a long time. I completely blanked out. Yup! I had my first moment, said my first line and then just came up empty. I don’t know what happened, but I recovered admirably. I didn’t ask to start over or apologize; I just backed up to my starting mark, paused 2 seconds and began again – and nailed it if I may say so myself. I felt bad for stumbling, but I felt better for how I handled it. Of course they may have already tuned out from my performance. Oh well there always…”next time”. Geez, I’m tired of saying that.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Not so great news. I was released from the “Chili’s” avail. Oh well, I‘ll get ‘em next time. The great thing is that Top LA commercial casting director Ross Lacy continues to call me in more than anyone in this town. No, I'm not always great, but more often than not I leave good stuff in the room. I’ve booked 3 commercials for him so he knows I’m professional, talented and can do the work. Thanks Ross!

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: "Cox Cable" @ Joe Blake Casting. Yes! This audition went really well even though I was preparing the wrong character the entire time I was preparing in the lobby. I knew the copy backwards and forwards so I was able to switch it up right away. I expect to get a callback on this one.

It seemed like the SAG-AMPTP negotiations might have been moving forward, but now it seems like “no so much”. To be frank - this sucks. It makes me sick to my stomach that these huge entities - the studios - are so greedy. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the near or distant future concerning the entertainment business, but things are changing and I hope I can continue to make a living in this business…

…on to better news. I received my official notice from the Screen Actors Guild today informing me that I’m now a vested member of the guild. I’ve earned my 10 pension credits and I qualify for an early retirement. This is really exciting news for me because if I decide to retire from acting and do something else I’ll have something tangible to show for my time spent in the field – a pension for the rest of my life.

Speaking of retirement or better yet being tired I am contemplating going back East for a while – I’d like to go back for the rest of the year and come back in January to be honest. As it stands right now, I have no idea what I’m going to do, but I’d love to be away from Los Angeles and the entertainment business for a spell.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Callback: “Chili’s” @ Ross Lacy Casting. YES!!! This is the first commercial callback I’ve had in a while and I’m super- excited. The director seemed to be completely exhausted, but my group did well I felt. It would be nice to hear something like ''Stephon! You booked the ...spot!" Yeah, I like the sound of that.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

I’m not wearing shoes.
I’m not wearing socks.
Pants? ...Nope, no pants.
Shirt? Missing in action.
Underwear? Nowhere in sight.

I am naked, sitting on a cold, padded vinyl table covered with a thin layer of sanitary paper. Well, naked except for the assless medical smock I'm wearing and it’s not even tied up in the back.

I know what you're thinking - sexy.

Not so much.

What the heck is going on you might ask…or you might not.

I’m at the Bob Hope Health Center for my annual Comprehensive Physical Examination (CPE). Yup, gotta take advantage of the wonderful SAG medical benefits that I've worked so hard to earn and keep.

Okay, back to being naked...and cold...and a little weirded out that the nurse is going to return to the room to take my vitals. I'm NAKED! Well, except for the untied, assless smock loosely draped over my body. I'm sure it's all in a days work for her, but for me...I'm a little nervous. I mean what if she has X-ray vision? What if she's "checkin' me out?" Actually, if she's checking me out I'll be aight...I wear size 11 Skechers and a Large glove...and you know what they say...

So the young nurse does her thing and after a while the doctor that is going to perform the examination enters the room. We make a little small talk and he starts asking the usual questions while poking, tapping and peeking into different parts of my body. One thing I really wanted to ask about was the constant ringing in my ears.

The whole time I was going though this process my mind was clouded by the fact that I knew the doctor was going to utter a series of words.

The first in the series of words was:

"Okay, roll over on your left side".

That sounds harmless enough, but don't forget about the assless and untied smock I'm sorta wearing.

The second series of words were:

"Pull your knees up to your chest."

As I'm getting myself into the fetal position I'm face-to-face with a stainless-steel table and at that very moment a box of tissues lands on it. I knew what was to happen next and tried to just relax and get it over with.

Behind me the latex-gloved doctor was lubricating his index finger...(I guess that's the offending finger he used). There should be a warrant out for the arrest of that finger. If nothing else to protect ALL men who have to get their...thing checked.

Oh sh*t. "Why? Why? Why?" I asked myself.

You can probably guess what happened next...I was informed that my prostate still works and is good shape. Can't wait until next year to do it again...not so much.

Audition: “Kellogg’s” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Simply- they need to bring my ass to callbacks…at least. Skip all that - justbookabrotha!

One of my consulting clients, the one that signed with my theatrical agency finally got a commercial agent as well and today was her first appointment through them. Ironically, it was at the same place and around the same time as my audition so I waited for her to arrive. We are in touch quite a bit concerning her career and I wanted to wish her good luck in person. I believe she is going to work a lot both commercially and theatrically.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: “So Cal Honda” @ Alyson Horn Casting. This was fun and since they needed me to read twice I portrayed “The Husband” for two different women. It was fascinating at how different each women’s’ approach was after receiving the same group explanation. I think both of their approaches worked and, of course, I was on point too. Callbacks are tomorrow and I plan to be there.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: “Chili’s” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Nice! Another one that goes really well and hopefully they’ll bring me back for the next round. It would be nice to book something…and soon.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

The business. Sometimes, I think I’m too cerebral about the realities of the entertainment business. I’ve never felt that it was a “cutthroat business” as so many people say - at least at the day-to-day level. Sure, it’s extremely difficult to forge a career as a performer, but I haven’t dealt with many that I would call cutthroat. Not any agents, not any casting directors and not any actors.

Having a job as an actor is a great way to make a living – if you can get enough work. If not, it can be challenging to say the least. In many situations these days even if you can get the work the question is how much can you make on a given job. Our industry is going through a tremendous change and the opposition is doing their best to make sure we actors, writers and directors get as little a piece of the financial pie as possible. Truthfully, it’s quite depressing for me.

The studio level is where it’s ruthless and it affects us all – every last one of us. Sure, it’s fun to get an appointment from your agent, get callbacks and shoot projects, but at the end of the day it’s a job. If there is a time that it’s crystal clear we are workers it’s now - today, yesterday, tomorrow and beyond.

Tomorrow SAG starts negotiating with the AMPTP for our new theatrical contract and there is much strife in the air you can cut with a knife.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition “ESPN Promo” @ Lien/Cowan Casting. This went well too…they should bring me back for callbacks…yup, they should.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: “Crank 2” @ Kelly Wagner Casting. This one was pretty fun; I had to do an English accent for it. If nothing else; a major victory was that I was able to do the accent without being in my head about it. It was fun and freeing to just deliver and not worry about sounding silly. So much of what we do as actors is not being afraid to make a fool of ourselves. I was fearless today in Marina Del Rey! …hey that rhymed…

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: “GMC” @ skirts Casting. This was for a 4-sport spot campaign. It went great! I was very happy with how it went and my ability to get the dialogue and feel of the different spots. A commercial campaign would be nice before the possible work stoppage – really nice.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition/Producers/Tape: “Ghost Whisperer” @ Donna Rosenstein Casting. I had good moments in this one – I say “moments” because I didn’t get a strong opening beat. What happened was that I was ready to start reading and in the mental space I wanted to be in. I was waiting for the red light to light up on the camera, but it never did so I waited. Finally, I looked up at the associate and I kinda got the look of “anytime now”. So I started, but not with the strength that I wanted to – no worries though I recovered and caught some nice moments.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: “Verizon Fios” @ Ross Lacy Casting. I wish this one went better. It wasn’t bad, but not great. My mind wasn’t clear and I had trouble concentrating.

Actually, truth be told, I know exactly what was going on; I’d had a troubling night last night. Simply put, I miss my mom. I don’t think the void of having her in my life will ever go away and since my father and I aren’t in touch it makes me feel a bit like an orphan at times. Sure, it has gotten easier to handle, but when it hits me it takes me down for the count. I also think the fact that I didn’t go home for the Christmas holiday is weighing on me as well. I usually get a serious recharge by going home and getting out of LA, but I missed it this time.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w