Audition/Tape “Two Broke Girls” @ GO Casting. This is an office that I’ve gotten appointments at from the last two times I’ve drop-off there. I can’t prove that the appointments came directly from the drop-offs, but I don’t think the drops hurt. Some seem to think that you have to wait until you know exactly what is being cast before you make a move to drop a photo. I disagree; I think that puts me in a reactionary position. I’d rather take action and let them react by, hopefully, bringing me in to audition…or at least know that I’m still out here pounding the pavement.

Actually, it make things easier for a guy like me who isn’t going to wait for that “perfect moment”…I’m gonna go around “shaking tree’s” and see what opportunities fall out. Yes, it’s a tremendous amount of work, but I’m usually willing to get up early, stay up later and stand longer than the average bear. I have to stay out of that “average” category. In some things average is fine, but not in this business. In this business “average” has always terrified me.

Even as tough as things are for me; my career has been far better than average in many ways: I won’t list those ways, but I must admit that I am listing them in my head and I do feel proud of my accomplishments. BUT, at the same time, I’m going to be serving burgers at 3am in the morning. WHAT! How’s THAT for better than average, LOL! All I can do is continue to try to stack the chips in my favor and trust that I will break through to a higher, better, more career defining level in the future.

The audition went well for this pilot after flubbing a line. Hopefully, I’ll hear something.

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Audition/Tape “CSI: Miami” @ Nan Dutton Casting. Finally! I have been dropping off photos at this casting office since this show began 7-8 years ago. The last time I dropped by was at 5:30 in the morning after getting off of work about 3 weeks ago…the cleaning crew in the office building were wondering who the heck I was.

So, it was a same day call from my agent and I was so, so tired from working last night, but I got myself together and I got it done. Actually, before I even got out of bed I used the Rehearsal 2 application to start learning the lines before I got the material up on it’s feet. I was very happy with how things went in the room and hopefully I’ll hear something or they will bring me in for something else…I’d would think that they’ve hired everyone else in this town of my type by now. My turn!

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What a freakin day! I had BIG PLANS for photos drop-offs after a morning dentist appointment. Oh yeah, Happy Valentine’s Day! I don’t have a Valentine’s…maybe next year. Moving on, back to the dentist chair. I have been trying to get some major dental work done for years, but it is SOOOO expensive. So today I start another run at trying to accomplish this. I could buy a nice car…or I could get a new smile…I want a new car BAD! I want the smile I had after wearing braces for 4 years as a teen worse…MUCH worse. Decision made; a new smile it is.

We started with a consultation to see exactly where I was and what type of work needs to be done. Yes, I was prepared for insane amount of money that I was quoted, but I look at it as an investment in myself both, personally and professionally. I’ve been preparing for this day for a long time.

As I sat there, I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for it. I have the money to pay in full, but I don’t want to mess with my Roth IRA or 401(k), and since I’m on the rebound FICO score-wise, I doubt I would be approved for a loan. No matter, I elected to start the first procedure anyway and put it on my debit card.

The pain, the pain of the novocaine needle – upper left & right, lower left & right. I had a deep cleaning performed to check areas that are more difficult to see and for that they need to numb me.

While the novacaine was doing its work I became very, very emotional; to the point where tears began to flow from my eyes. I couldn’t stop it and when the dental hygienist came back in the room she thought I was in intense pain. I was in a little pain, but that wasn’t the reason for the tears. Of course, I was so numb that I couldn’t explain that to her. I was numb and mumbling; actually it was kind of funny.

The deep emotion that was coming out of me was because I was finally, actually on the road to getting it done AND I have the funds. I’m still not sure exactly how I’m going to do it, but I’m going to do it. Between my savings, residuals, steady work at the restaurant, the upcoming DEGREE commercial, tax refund and, of course future acting jobs I have this covered. I’ve worked hard for it and I’m looking forward to it.

Another reason for the emotion was that I wish my mother could see my new smile. She, and my father, made sure that I had braces as a kid and I appreciate that. The reason why I don’t have that beautiful smile I had back then was because about a years or so after getting my braces off I got into a terrible accident on my BMX bike while riding a skateboard ramp. Yeah…straight down on my face from about 12 feet in the air. Broke the front end off of the bike and broke my face – bad deal, but it could have been a lot worse.

So, in the end, I spent 3-4 hours at the dentist and not a single photo drop-off get done. I went home to sleep in my discomfort and excitement.

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Audition: “Target” @ broad-cast. Finally an appointment! It’s been about a week since my last one. I was so confused in this audition that I have no idea how it went. That said, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if I get a callback…and that would be lovely.

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So here we are…or rather here I am. What is going on? Sometimes I think I know. Other times I’m convinced that I have no earthly idea. It’s a weird existence, but it’s probably something that many of us experience. At the end of the day I think I’m doing the right thing by, at least trying, to participate in my success. That very success fall into several different areas.

One of the most important areas is to be a great brother and uncle…and I wish I could say “son”, but I think that boat has already sailed…my mother passed away 8 years ago and my father and I haven’t spoken in almost as many years. I‘m very close to some of my siblings and not so much to others. That area of family is so important to me, because truthfully, it’s all I’ve got. Something I need to give an ample amount of attention to is to develop better, richer personal relationships here in Los Angeles. Even though I’ve lived in LA for going on 13 years I don’t feel that I’ve really tried to make it my home. I need to change that.

Speaking of my father. I often wonder how I became someone that he “could care less about”…actually “much, much less”. I also wonder why I’m not completely broken over it…or maybe I am and I deny it. I know a lot about denial. I know that having no father figure in my life effects me; I’m just not sure how. There are many things he could have helped to guide me through…or maybe he just didn’t/doesn’t know how to be any different than he is. I guess I can’t blame him if he’s doing the best he can with what he has to work with. Oh well, I can’t force him to care if I exist or not. Many have it worse than I; so I’ll run with what I have…whatever that is.

Another major area in my life is my employment at the restaurant…and, most importantly, how I’m handling it. I’ve been working at the restaurant for 995 days and I have to say I’m very proud of how I’ve handled it. Make no mistake; it’s tough and I DO NOT recommend working a schedule like mine for a lengthy period of time. But I think the very fact that it’s extremely tough is, in some areas, the advantage that will make the difference in my future.

I’ve usually been able to make “lemonade out of the lemons placed before me” and this night job experience is no exception. I’m completely amazed at what I’ve been able to accomplish in less than 1,000 days. I don’t know that I believed I could be debt-free short of being a series regular on TV or having tons of commercials running and film roles…or winning the lottery, LOL! But I did it; I turned the financial ship around and I’ve turned into a saver-saver on a mission. I have no choice because, as an actor, I really have to look out for my financial future and retirement. I’m already a vested SAG member with a pension and I qualify for an early retirement, so the key now is to increase my earnings so that my benefits will increase as well. I’m late to the party and I have a lot of catching up to do.

One of the greatest things about this particular part of the journey is that I’ve been able to encourage other, mostly younger people to take control of their spending and believe they can get out of debt too. I wish someone would have helped me using a language and method of financial literacy I could’ve understood when I was younger, but things happen when they do.

All in all, I’m on a good track and I think great things are ahead for me in my future…in several different areas.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

I had a long, draining night at work last night and an audition scheduled for 10:40 this morning…that I…wasn’t really…looking forward to waking up for. I say that hesitantly because I, even after all of these years, appreciate each and every appointment that I get. I don’t want to not have to get up for these appointments…I just wish this particular one would have been a little later in the day.

My alarm went off @ 9:40 and while still stirring in my ultra-plush bed trying to deny that I needed to shower and get on my way my agency called at 9:49 to inform me that the entire session, and my appointment, had been cancelled. Back in to dreamland I went…zzzzzz….

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Audition: “Lunchables” @ Ross Lacy Casting. This went well; I was in and out in a flash.

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