Audition: “Hello Ladies” @ Allison Jones Casting.  This audition should’ve been more fun than it ended up being.  There is a guy inside of me that didn’t show up in the room.  

http://www.stephonfuller.com

I’m in an advanced looping/ADR workshop all day today.  It’s not easy stuff to learn, but it seems like a great gig if you can get the work.  I’ll keep trying to learn the craft and eventually get into a loop group eventually.  Gotta diversify as best I can.

Last year was horrible from a financial standpoint. This year, so far, hasn’t been great, but I’ve already earned twice as much as all of last year.  I’m determined to make the second half of this year even more successful.  I have to make it happen…and I will.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Eighteen years ago today I arrived in NYC from Virginia Beach, VA to further my acting career.  A lot has happened in that time…at the same time a lot hasn’t happened.  But I continue my pursuit.

Audition: “AT&T” @ Craig Colvin Casting.  This audition was fun, but only because I’m such a terrible dancer.  My partner was a woman I had done a play with some years ago and I think she thought I was cooler than I actually am.  I am NOT a very good dancer.  THAT is what made it a fun time.  I don’t know if there is a callback in my future for that one.  If I was a betting man I’d have to say “probably not”.

Audition: “Honda” @ Broad-cast.  I think this one went fairly well, although I may have been “acting” a little too much.  Maybe, we’ll see.  I had a great conversation about personal finance with my audition partner though.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Wow, I haven’t had a single audition in over 2 weeks.  Pilot season went on without me too!  So it’s been pretty quiet for the last few months, but for some reason I’m not freaked out…maybe I should be though.

BUT!

This weekend, a friend and myself went on a road trip to Las Vegas!  I went to attend the Monster Energy Supercross Finals and she has a close friend that lives there.  I hadn’t been to Sin City in exactly 10 years.

Since I got my new(ish) car a few months ago I’ve been wanting to go on a road trip and Las Vegas was perfect.  We had a great time!  Overall, traffic wasn’t bad other than one complete shut down for an accident on I-15.  It didn’t last too long and I got a chance to vacuum my car and skateboard while traffic was stopped.  That helped to pass the time.  I plan to get out on the road more often in the future.

The perfect time to vacuum my car?  Why not!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Today I went MX riding at Perris Raceway.  It was a real workout for my body and an absolutely great time.  I had been talking about doing it literally for years and I am so glad that I finally did.  I will be doing it again in the near future.  

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “McDonald’s/McCafe” @ Alyson Horn Casting.  This was fun.  I was a little surprise I was called in for it, but I was happy to be there.  Not sure if I see a callback in my future for this one, but time will tell.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Shooting: TIME-WARNER CABLE.  So I worked last night, or rather this morning until about 5:30am.  Got home and slept until 7:45am, left my apartment @ 8:15am to be on set at 9 AM in Sherman Oaks.  A brotha’s gotta do whatta brotha’s gotta do.

The shoot went great.  I was there from 9am, got home at 8pm and went to work at 9pm.  It’s official, I’m tired, but I’ll be fine.  Just a few hours of selling burgers and I’ll be able to get some rest.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Chase” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Eh, I did okay I think.  Actually, I think I did too much…which is probably not okay.

So I’m at the library working on my screenplay and my commercial calls.  Of course I hope it’s in reference to the avail for the TIME-WARNER CABLER commercial.

As usual, I let the call go to voicemail.

Now I wait and see how long it takes for the message notification to arrive.  If it’s a really short period of time I can usually bet that I’ve been released from my commercial avail.  However, if it takes longer, like 45 seconds or a minute there is a much better chance that it’s great news.

Wow, this one took more than a minute.  My heart started to race as I dialed in to retrieve the message.  The next indication of the outcome is the voice I hear on the other end.  The voice is that of Brooke. 

Great news.  I’ve been booked on the commercial!

The wardrobe fitting is this evening in a few hours in, of course, Santa Monica.

A few moments later production emailed me the call sheet along with my confirmed day of shooting.  I shoot on Sunday which means double pay and there are multiple conflict categories so I’m being paid scale +50%.  Plus, they are planning to shoot B-roll footage so I’ll also be signing an industrial contract.  Could be a very profitable day.

Upon further examination of the call sheet I look to see who was playing “my wife”.  To my delightful surprise it was the actress that I read with at the callback that thought she blew it. I was so happy for her, me and us.

The wardrobe fitting was cool.  I didn’t have to try on too many things.  David Shane, the director, remembered from our chat at lunch when we shot in New York that I was starting to write a little bit.  I told him I was still chipping away at it and had taken a few classes as well. 

I finished up and headed home, missed the bad traffic and went to work @ 9pm.  A really long, fruitful day. 

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Today I already have a commercial audition scheduled in Santa Monica and late this morning I received a call for a callback for a commercial I auditioned for last week.  Fortunately they are both less than a mile from each other because getting in and out of Santa Monica in the afternoon isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

Audition: “Chevy” @ Kathy Knowles Casting.  This audition was a lot of fun with one of my favorite session directors in town.

Callback: “Time-Warner Cable” @ RMB Casting.  This was a case of “hurry up and…wait.”  Yeah, sometimes auditions take a long time for whatever reason.  I don’t usually get too stressed out over that as I’m pretty mellow and can always occupy myself with something constructive.

While I was waiting I recognized David Shane as he walked through the lobby on a call.  He must be the director.  I worked with David 4 years prior in New York on a KY Brand commercial.  Great guy, very, very specific in his direction.  That explained a lot.  He takes his time and really knows what he wants.

When I walked in the room I wasn’t sure that he would actually remember me, but he certainly did.  He shared with the rest of the creative team when and where we had worked together.

I didn’t have a lot to do in the audition; “my wife” had most of the heavy lifting.  In the end she felt as though “she blew it” and was out of there in a hurry.  We chatted and laughed as we walked to our cars together.  The last thing I said to her was “watch, you’ll book it”.

The traffic getting home from Santa Monica took FOREVER. But I was “all smiles” when I got a call from my agency during the drive informing me that I had been placed on avail.  Yes!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Offshore” @ Lindsay Chag Casting.  This film audition went pretty well.  I did it my way the first time and then ask a few questions, got a few answers and did it a completely different way for the second take.  I feel that I accomplished showing them two completely ways of approaching the character.  Victory.

My Life on the Sunset Strip…

So this party of 5 comes in and...let's just say that they were "testing me", not a lot, but enough. They thought it was hilarious that I exited their conversation about penises with "...I'm going to get you all some water for the table".

Fortunately, "we" got through their meal without further hijinks.

I dropped the check, ran the credit card and as they were leaving I picked up the signed credit card voucher. Hmm...I thought. I better go clear this up with the gentleman now rather than possibly having an issue down the road. I didn't want to be "too" presumptuous because, after all, what he wrote was very clear. I very gently asked him if the figures on the voucher were what he meant to write. He replied with "Oh, I'll fix it" and he wrote his initials twice, said thank you and left. I just stared at the back of his blue plaid shirt as he walked out the door.

One never knows what will happen on the graveyard shift.  

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Time-Warner Cable” @ RMB Casting.

Audition: “Samsung Fridge” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  I was slightly confused in both of these auditions and both of them went rather well.  Maybe that’ll be my new approach; complete and utter confusion.  Nah, I’m too much of a control freak.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Today was the day to get my taxes completed.  I have a slightly larger return than I expected that I’ll…save for a rainy day.  Yup, gotta be responsible.  

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Farmer’s Insurance” @ [skirts].  Auditions don’t get much simpler than this one…and I was good!  Great, in fact!

This afternoon I was checking my email on my phone and a call came in from my commercial agency.  I don’t usually pick up; I let them go to voicemail so that I have any pertinent information they may have for me.  I had a feeling this particular call was about the SCHLAGE commercial that I was on avail for.  I knew I would be able to tell whether I was booked/had another callback or released by how quickly the voicemail notification came through on my phone.  Unfortunately the message came through almost immediately.  I checked the message and it was confirmed that I had, in fact, been released from the spot.  Ouch!

There is no way to give me dates, compensation, shoot dates, director, production company, wardrobe info, etc. in 12 seconds.  But one can easily say “Sorry Stephon, but you’ve been released from the SCHLAGE spot”, in 12 seconds.

That’s okay, I’ll book another one soon.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

I went skiing yesterday with this kid from work that I’m sorta mentoring.  The snow was that great, but we had fun nonetheless.  I’m loving my car too.

Callback: “Schlage” @ Cathi Carlton Casting.  Yes!  This callback went great and within an hour I got the call from my agency that I had been placed on avail for it.  One more step in the right direction.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Pearl Vision” @ Craig Colvin Casting.  This went well for myself and most of the group of gals I went in with.  However, one of them had a very interesting take on her read. Didn’t feel at all friendly, but maybe she’ll be the one to “stand out”.  Who knows how they choose who they cast.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Schlage” @ Cathi Carlton Casting.  After all the effort it took to travel to and from Santa Monica from West Hollywood in Friday afternoon traffic I’m really glad this one went well.  I had fun.

Today was a really good day.  First, the kid I’m mentoring at work called raving about a book I turned him onto.  I was SO excited that he was moved to pick up the phone to express his thoughts.  Then, at my audition, I ran into Craig Welzbacher.  Craig was instrumental in me booking a commercial for HONDA about a decade ago in which we filmed here in LA and later traveled to Tokyo, Japan to shoot additional spots.  Good, good times!

Lastly, the mail was very kind to me through the FedEx commercial I shot this past December.  A very welcome surprise.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition/Tape: “Melissa & Joey” @ Rick Millikan Casting.  Eh, I was okay.  I kinda jumbled the dialogue and got off course and didn’t straighten myself back out.  

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Nationwide Insurance” @ [skirts casting].  This was quick-fast, I think I was good, but not sure how right for it.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Callback: “Macy’s” @ Action Casting.  This was fun and I had another great “wife” to work with.  It was over in a flash, but “my wife” and I had a great time.  One day I’ll get a real wife and have a great time…one day.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

I attended an all-day looping/adr workshop today.  I’ll admit that after car buying yesterday and working all night last night I was exhausted…but I was glad I was there.  It’s certainly an area of the business I want to learn more about…and a potentially very lucrative area of the business.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Ooops.  I bought a car today.  It’s even more than I expected to get.  It’s a White 2012 Acura TSX w/Navigation and black leather interior.  It’s Acura-certified with just over 10,000 miles on it.  It’s the exact car I wanted. Seriously.  I’ve worked hard and I feel that this is a good move for me.  Now I just have to pay for it…

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Macy’s” @ Action Casting.  I don’t think I’ve ever auditioned for this company before, but I’m glad I’m here today.  The read was fun and went very well, PLUS I had a great “wife” to work with.

On another note I’m knee-deep in my search for new wheels.  It’s really exciting…and also a bit scary.  I’ve been debt-free for the last several years and I’m literally coming off of my least successful year as a professional actor.  Do I really want to take on debt right now?  Sizable debt?  My net worth will still be positive, but still.  Yeah, I’m ready to take the risk. 

I’m sure about the car: Acura TSX

Not sure about the year: 2010 or 2011.  There are a few upgrades that I like in the 2011 versus the 2010.

I’m sure about the exterior color: White, Metallic, Silver or Black…in that order.

I’m sure about the interior color: Black.  I like the beige, but black will be easier to maintain over the long haul and I have a history of keeping my cars for an average of 9 years.

I’m sure that I want the navigation/tech package.

Lastly, I’m sure that I want it to be a certified car.

I’ve got my financing in place and I’m ready to pull the trigger.  The financing is funny because I was offered the best avail rate from Navy Federal Credit Union.  I’m not sure I believe it.  I say that because my fear of rejection is so deep-seeded that I almost always feel that I’ll be turned down in some form or fashion.  I mean I was surprised that I got the loan; I’m just surprised that I qualified for the best available rate.  Maybe I’m growing up.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Yeah, right, LOL!  I have no Valentine.  But I decided today that I’m going to be my own Valentine and get myself a newer car.  I plan to get something pretty nice too.  I have no wife, no girlfriend, no children, no debt…I should have a relatively nice car.  Right? 

Don’t get me wrong my current ’98 Honda Accord EX Coupe w/173,217 miles that I bought in ’04 has been nothing short of great, but I’m ready to have something a little nicer for myself.  I’m really excited!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Good Luck Charlie” @ Stiner/Block Casting.  …let’s’ just pretend this one didn’t happen.  

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Geico” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  This was fun. I wore shorts.  Nuff said.

Audition: “US Navy PSA” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  Even though this was just an interview type of audition I don’t think I came across as all that interesting.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Ford” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  My wife in this audition was so beautiful, cool and all of that…don’t remember much else.

http://www.stephonfuller.com