I feel like crap! Completely terrible. I had two root canals this afternoon and the Novocain is wearing off…plus, I’m scheduled to work in a few hours. This is going to be interesting. Maybe it’s good that I haven’t had an audition in a week.
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Life on The Sunset Strip…
Server: Yes, this is a computer.
Her: Really?
Server: But it’s only for ordering burgers, fries, mojitos…stuff like. I can’t google what strip clubs are still open…
Her: Oh…
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Hey Mr. Postman? Thanks for stopping by and delivering those magical envelopes. Yes! A few days ago I received the first checks for the DEGREE commercial and they were for more than I expected. The first thing I did afterwards was to call my dentist and set up an appointment to begin the major dental work I’ve been talking about forever.
Last night I had my first grilled cheese sandwich and my first Valium. The sandwich was great. The Valium didn't seem to do much to me. Next up - Jack & Coke...and maybe, I'll give the Valium another chance.
Actually, I took the Valium in preparation for the procedures that were to take place in the dental chair.
I was in the dental chair from 7:15am until almost 2:00pm. Yeah, just shy of 7 hours. Lots of drilling, Novocain and the great news that I need to get 2 unexpected root canals tomorrow. I need another commercial on the air…and soon to pay for all of this.
The dentist left temporary “things” in my mouth which left my smile in much better shape than it was before, but hopefully the permanent one will look even nicer. It better.
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Life on The Sunset Strip…
I'd never actually seen anyone get their car repossessed before. I lost my appetite...and I wasn't even eating. I felt so bad…
One thousand ninety-five days ago, 3 years to be exact, was MAY 21st 2008. The day I returned to the world of having a day job…actually a night job. Correction, overnight job – there is a huge difference in between a night job and an overnight job. Don’t ask how I know…
3 years. Wow. Geez. What to say, what to say? I don’t know. Well, one thing I do know is that I’m very happy with most of how I’m handling it. I would also like for it to be over. Easier said than done. I’m making it work for the time being; better than I could have imagined. But I’d rather be on location…or in too many other places to name. But again, I’m making lemonades out of the lemons that are in front of me.
Happy anniversary…
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Life on The Sunset Strip…
Ladies, if you and your girlfriend are out having dinner and one of the two men hangs back and steals the cash tip off of the table...he doesn't get a second date. Nope, it's time to move on to another fish in the sea.
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I attended the SAG/AFTRA One Union Meeting thingy last night. Geez, I don’t know what to think. I do know that we have to come together as performers if we are going to continue to be able make any kind of living as actors. I hope it happens, but in the right way. So much of it is over my head that I don’t even know what the right way is. I have 12 SAG pension credits that I don’t want to see marginalized. I earned them!
Audition/Tape “Dexter” @ UDK Casting. I was really happy with how this one went. A DEXTER booking would be perfect right about now…and it’s a SAG and not AFTRA show!
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Life on The Sunset Strip…
Server (to self): you sat at the bar for 4 hours and I'm still having trouble believing you are a man...wow.
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Audition: “Walmart” @ Kathy Knowles Casting. Not so sure about how this one went, hopefully the third take was the charm. I was working with an 8 year-old girl and she was great, but it’s always a little weird about getting to close to them in the room…especially a little girl. So, as a result, I ended up “acting” a lot. By the third take I decided to go for it and treat her like I was really her dad and touch/tickle her. It worked, but I hope the cops don’t come after me.
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Life on The Sunset Strip…
Johnny Depp? Taller than me. Dave Chappelle? Taller than me. Hulk Hogan's Ex? Taller than me. The chick in my profile pic? Taller than me. Bud Bundy? NOT taller than me!
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My new commercial agent, Jamie, at KSR called yesterday to request a “get to know ya” meeting and it went great. My two other longtime commercial agents, Alicia & Brooke, sat in on the meeting as well. Jamie and myself are already big fans of each other! I plan to make her proud and happy to represent me.
Audition: “Chili’s” @ Ross Lacy Casting. This went well enough…they should callback and cast me.
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Life on The Sunset Strip...
Server: Sir, I’m sorry, but we don’t accept cigarettes as payment…even American Spirit Yellows.
Him: That so weird…
Server: How would you like to pay?
Him: ...this is weird.
Server: I agree…
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Over the weekend I went to Atlanta, Georgia; and Montgomery/Tuskegee, Alabama for my nephew, Trey’s, college graduation at Tuskegee University. His sister, my niece, Candace, flew in from Minnesota to attend as well.
Trey didn’t know I was going to be there so it was great to surprise him. It was important to show support for what he and his sister are doing…being responsible, young citizens that are great additions to society. Sometimes I think my support can be a bit overbearing, but I just REALLY want to be a part of making things better. I also think I’m trying to compensate for the support I didn’t get as a younger person. Being on the college campus made me wonder where I would be today if I had any type of guidance as a younger adult. I think it would have made a big difference…a huge difference in fact.
For the first time in who knows how many years I rented a car while away. I ended up with a Ford Fusion and loved it. It really made me want a new/newer car…and soon; sooner than before. I’ve already started saving for it, but I will be financially patient. The goal is to save up and pay cash for it…or mostly cash. I figure this will happen in about 3 years; at that point my car will be 16 years old. It could happen sooner though.
I had a great weekend that was a wonderful change of pace in getting to see a different part of the country. I should do it more often.
OUCH! I made a big boo-boo today. I, mistakenly, entered one of my auditions in my calendar as “1:15pm” instead of “11:15pm”. So, when I arrived in Valley Village at 1:15…I was 2 hours late. Fortunately, they were just on a break so I could go back later to be seen, but I had another audition all the way in Santa Monica. No one to blame but me. Let’s go!
I was happy to see that traffic flowed in my favor in getting to Santa Monica, but that is where time stopped. The audition took…forever.
Audition: “Xerox/Virgin” @ Kathy Knowles Casting. The copy for this audition was wall-to-wall. It was full page of dialogue and THAT is what was taking so long. Also, Marvin, the session director is very patient and helpful in getting great performances out of the auditioning actor. I was very happy with how it went.
In a jiffy I was back in the car and racing back to Valley Village in rush hour traffic.
Audition/Tape: “Spring/Fall” @ UDK Casting. I barely, barely made it there in time and…it went okay. Yeah, just okay. The casting director was impressed with my resume and the directors I’ve worked with. That put a smile on my face. I thought it was funny that the actor auditioning right before used to play for the Los Angeles Lakers!
Audition/producers: “The Protectors” @ Billik/Wood Casting. I was very happy with how this one went. I was pretty much off book, felt the beats in the scene and knew what I wanted to accomplish. This was kinda funny. After I parked on the street at Culver Studios I paid the meter and was walking towards the lot. I noticed a Black, late model Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG. As I got closer I could see that an actor, sitting in the drivers seat was going over the same sides as I was…and I recognized the actor. I didn’t know him personally; I know him from TV & Films. I thought to myself; “Wow, how is this guy going in for the same 3-4 page scene I’m going in for.” I could’ve easily believed he’d would’ve been “offer-only” on a role like that. So I went through the gate, found the casting office and signed in. A few minutes later he came in. He wasn’t tripping or acting like he didn’t want to be there. I could have taken it like “Why am I going up against this guy?” or “Hey, I’m glad to be the company of an actor that has been working for years at a higher level than myself”. I chose the latter. At the end of the day I’m going to go in the room and do my thing and whatever happens after that…happens.
The audition went really well with exceptions of flubbing a few lines at the very end. They seemed pleased, said “thank you” and were finished with me, but I wanted another crack at it. I wanted a cleaner take…and I asked for it. I saw the casting directors face, Jason, and I think he was a little surprised, but accommodating. They obliged and let me do it again. Of course, this time, I HAD to nail it or I wasted their time. I cleaned it up and was very happy that I asked for the second chance. I’m not sure the 2nd take was taped, but I didn’t want to drive home feeling that I should have spoken up in the room. The people that consistently work aren’t afraid to take charge in the room. I took charge in the room…of my 3-5 minutes.
As I was leaving the lot I ran into one of the actors, Tisha Campbell-Martin, that are in the scene that I had just auditioned for. I spoke to her briefly telling her that I’ve been a fan of hers for years and hope that I get to work with her on the show. Actually, I did kinda work with her, years ago, in my capacity as a reader for Casting Director Debra Zane. Great memory!
I stopped by my commercial agency today to say “hello’s, goodbye & thank you’s”. There have been several changes with assistants and one of my 3 agents has left the agency. Nothing alarming; just people moving on with their careers. I always like to stop by and thank them for all of the work they’ve put in to help me in my career. Why wouldn’t I say thank you? I mean these people really try to make my life easier by securing me opportunities to work as an actor. “They” have done a great job; I need to do a better job of turning those opportunities into bookings. Truthfully, I feel that they get me enough chances/auditions to where I really shouldn’t need a survival job. I HAVE to do better.
Speaking of “survival job” I’m continually thrilled with the success that I’m having at getting some of my co-workers to take a closer look at their personal finances. I’m loving it! Truth be told; I’m amazed that it’s actually working. A co-worker texted me last week to share the news that she had finally opened a Roth IRA account and put auto, bi-monthly contributions in place. I had been urging her to do it for at least 4 months. That news made my day.
Audition: “CLOO” Promo @ Joe Blake Casting. This was a great victory for me. Wall-to-wall copy for my character and I nailed it! I had a great time with a great partner.
Audition: “Lottery Monopoly” @ Carolyne Barry Casting. I studied with Carolyne about 5 years ago and I thought she was a great, no non-sense teacher. I went to her to help me increase my callback ratio. I’ve always felt that my callback ratio was on the lower side, BUT if I did get to the callback level my booking ratio was higher. So my brilliant plan was to try to increase my callback ratio and, hopefully, that would lead to more bookings. Funny enough, my callback ratio DID increase, but my booking ratio seemed to decline. I’m not sure why, more than anything I think it was/is just the ebb and flow of the business.
Anyway, the audition went okay. I did the first take; got a lot of direction from Carolyne and on the second take did exactly as instructed. I was happy with my redirect. I don’t think Carolyne remembered me as a former student, but that’s okay. It shoots in Detroit next week, I don’t know when callbacks are.
Day in the life of an actor: Show up at audition. Read copy. There is a kiss involved...with a woman. There is the eating of food in the commercial, but no real food in the room, no problem. When I enter the room I only see 2 forks - one for her and one for me...no bag full of forks. Ya know, so each actor can have a fresh one. Ooops.
I meet the woman that I'll be playing kissy-face with and we're told that it's to be a "big, long, 3-4 second kiss". Cool. But what about that fork? How many people have put it in their mouth?
There was a shortage of women at the audition time so "my woman" was also the previous actors woman. Damn. CUT TO: ACTION! I say: Blah blah blah. She says: Blah blah blah. Then the KISS! Oh my...she's a method actor. Nice!
I tried to be all gentlemanly and stuff in the 1st take, but "my woman" wasn't having none of that; so in the 2nd take I matched her..."passion" with her...and the fork. Oh and how passionate she was. We made beautiful music together! Between her and the fork I think I kissed most of Hollywood today...and I'm strangely okay with that. I hope she's at callbacks...I'll bring my own fork.
Audition: “Safeco” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Wow, this was a great time! I was a part of a great group of actors, but we didn’t really “act” per se. We entertained…and entertaining we were. It was a real laughfest and one of the major reasons why I’m an actor.
Audition: “Verizon” @ Ross Lacy Casting. This went okay, not bad, not great. I think I’m pretty right for it though so maybe I’ll get to the next round.
Audition: “Carl’s Jr.” @ Spot Casting. This audition went really well! I had a great young actor to work with and we hit it off right away while rehearsing and knocked it out of the park in the room. Next!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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….
Audition: “Lunchables” @ Ross Lacy Casting. This went well; I was in and out in a flash.
