Check this out.  I was at work last night and I ran into Irish writer/director Terry George.  Several hours earlier Mr. George had won an Academy Award for Best Live-Action Short Film – THE SHORE.  I had seen in the trades that he was nominated, but I didn’t know that he had won until someone said that they had seen someone with an Oscar in the lobby.  I figured it was probably Terry.

CUT TO: 20 minutes later.

I see Terry in the lobby, Oscar in hand.  I congratulate him on the win and say, “we’ve worked together before”.  He responds, “Yes, we have!  On THE DISTRICT”.  I was completely shocked.  I could not believe he remembered me from 11 years ago.  He then told his friends that, “We were in the trenches together!”  I’m thinking to myself, “How did I become “We” to this gentleman who just won an Academy Award? 

I think sometimes I forget that I have accomplished a few things in the entertainment business.  I have worked with some of the enormously talented people…and I guess they remember.  

I met Terry on Fourth of July 2000 through another Irish writer/director, Jim Sheridan.  I met Jim through a friend.  Terry was already an accomplished film writer/director and this, as far as I know, was his first foray into American television.  He was creating a new show, THE DISTRICT for CBS.  Jim invited my friend and I to the beach house he was staying at in Malibu.  After hanging out with him for much of the day he invited us to the house Terry and his family were staying at in Malibu Colony to watch the fireworks.  Before we left, Terry’s wife Margaret asked if I was an actor. “Yes, I am”, I replied.  She requested a photo.

Six months later I got a call from my agent for an appointment.  They commented that they weren’t sure where my photo came from, but they wanted me to come in for the role of a reporter.  When I got to the audition I saw that Terry was directing the episode.  A week later my agent called with the booking.    

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Me and writer/director Terry George and his Academy Award for Best Live-Action Short film. February 26th 2012

This afternoon I returned from Atlanta.  I was there for one day with my younger/bigger brother Jeff attending a motorcycle race.  We had a great time!  Just not enough time.  I hope jet lag doesn’t hit me tonight at work.  It’s Oscar Night and it might be busy.

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Audition “XXXX” @ XXX Casting.  I signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement for this one.  I was okay with the copy, but I felt like I needed more choices and variety in my work.  It was okay I just felt as though I was doing the same thing over and over again. 

After I finished that audition a producer for a commercial being cast in the next room asked if I was available to go in for a “Statefarm” callback.  Of course.  So they gave me the script, assigned me the role and the waiting began.  They had to see the actors with appointments first…so 2 hours later it was my turn.  BUT, right before I went in they changed the role, LOL!  I took a few moments, switched it up and went in. 

Audition: “Statefarm” @ Kathy Knowles Casting.  I had a little fun in the room and left.  Then, as I was walking out the door, they came after me to be seen for a different role in a different spot.  That role went better.  So we’ll see.

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Audition: “Verizon” @ Spot Casting.  Okay, so I portrayed a basketball player in this one…Yeah.  It was fun working with the other guys; especially in my motocross gear.

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Audition/Producers: “Luck” @ Creative Casting.  I think the part I enjoyed the most about this audition was the extra long wait to be seen.  There was a whole lot of us waiting in the lobby…lots of funny people.  I don’t think I was all that right for the role, but it wasn’t a bad read.

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Wow, what a great, useful commercial class today.  It looks I will be in this class for a while.  I have a lot to learn and seeing myself on camera is so, so helpful.  So I’ll be here for a while I think.

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Callback “Nissan” @ [skirts] casting.  Yeah, this callback was very simple, but I don’t think it went too well.  Not at all terrible, but not sure how great…nice people in the room though.

The bigger news that I got this afternoon was the arrival of my new niece Sophia Renee Fuller.  I'm really excited and eager to meet her.   

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Where am I?  What am I doing?  THAT is the question.  I wish I was sure about things more often, but I’m not, plus it probably wouldn’t be normal to be in control of everything, all the time.

I’m trying to figure out how to get further along in my career…and my life for that matter, lol!  I know that I have what it takes to work at a much higher level than I have thus far in my career.  I know it and I just HAVE to make it happen.  Yes, I’m aware that I’ve done more than many who have attempted to make a go of it in Hollywood, but I believe I can do more than I’ve done…much, much more.

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I go to my supplemental job at 9pm.  Five nights a week.  That sucks…not the job.  Actually, within the realm of what the job is it’s pretty good.  I have a 401(k) retirement plan, vacation accrual, paid holidays, etc. and it’s a relatively easy place to work.  It’s just that I didn’t move 3,000 miles away from home to serve burgers and beer.  I often deal with people at their worst.  That wears on me.  It’s a grind.  But I also deal with very creative people; which is sometime fun or…interesting…or dangerous… 

The really scary part is that I’ve become used to it.  I’ve become used to the fact that I don’t have much of a personal life and an alarming low number of close friends.  I’m trying to change that, but it’s hard because, in general, I enjoy working, so it’s easy for me to “punch in” and try to “get something done”.  None of that is a reflection on “the job”.  The job is what it is…plus, I signed up for it and I stay by my own choice.  “The job” has been much more of a positive than a negative in my life.  As a matter of fact I have grown to greatly appreciate my employment on The Sunset Strip more than ever. 

That said, how long can I keep up the pace?  I don’t know.  It’s certainly wearing me down, but I still want to perform on the biggest stages in the business so I “keep on keepin’ on”.  I think “keep on keepin’ on” is probably the best, smartest thing I can be doing right now…keep believing and stay engaged in the game.   The last thing one wants to do is to give up when a game-changing event is right around the corner.

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Audition: “Nissan” @ [skirts] casting.  This audition required good, small acting and I think I nailed it.  Nuff said.

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Audition: “Chevy” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  This was another singing dealio.  I actually sang too!  In a group; not a solo type of thing.  I would’ve done that too if I had too.  Gotta be willing to put it out there.

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My commercial improv class went great today!  Of course I have a long, long way to go, but it’s good to feel like I’m moving in the right direction.  I plan to take some sort of a class at one of the improv schools in town in the near future as well.  

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Audition: “Toyota” @ Kathy Knowles Casting.  Ah yes!  Great fun with one of the session directors that really knows how to get actors where they need to be.  It was a great time with two other actors.

At 5:49pm just as I was walking in to see a movie my agent calls with a last minute appointment for a small role in a big film.  She didn’t expect me to be able to make it on such short notice, but I had other plans.  Those plans were to see the movie at another time and try my best to book a role in a movie.  Of course!

I had to sign a non-disclosure form so I can’t say anything else about it.  The audition went well and even after finishing I still didn’t know what project I had auditioned for.

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