Audition: “Halos” @ Kathy Knowles Casting.  This was great fun!  I even got to take off my shirt. Ha!  My “wife” was great too.

Audition: “EA Sports” @ Gabrielle Schary Casting.  I had the pleasure of reading with a young actor, new in town, from Illinois that played my son.  I felt more like his friend to be honest, but by the numbers he could certainly be my son.  He was great, WE were great!  He’ll probably get a callback. Me?  I’m not so sure, but it was a fun time.

My Life on the Sunset Strip...

INT. DINER - 1:13am

Woman, late 20's (in Hollywood years), shapely, dipped in pink pants, brunette hair...dipped in a blonde bottle. High-pitched voice, reasonably nice.

Her friend...different, but exactly the same.

Server, cynical with an easy smile. He's seen this all before. He picks up payment from the table.

In a world of very high debit/credit card usage the server is presented with an unusually large stack of cash.

Server: Thank you, I'll be right back with your change.

Her: (the pink-dipped one) No, that's fine it's all yours.

Server: Thank you! Have a great night and we'll see ya again soon.

The server leaves, proceeds to the server station to count the mound of cash.

Server: (to self) I won't judge you if you pay me with 67 one dollar bills, but my mind will wander...then I'll wash my hands.

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7,305 days ago on September 22nd, 1993 I started my first acting class with Sylvia Harman at The Actor's Place in Virginia Beach, VA.

It was a Wednesday evening.

Class started at 7pm. I was nervous, really nervous. During the introductory "who are you and why are you here" the teacher called me out thinking I lied about my age…I looked about 10 years younger than I was. That made me even more nervous.

Twenty or so "actors" started that night with what seemed to be silly exercises of repetition. I had no idea what I was doing. I quickly learned that this "acting thing" was much, much harder than it looked. I was intrigued.

It's been 20 years since that night and I have never stopped pursuing my career. Never, not even for a day. Sometimes I think it would take more courage to stop and get off of the ride than to continue on and forge ahead. I still don't know.

I admire those who have the guts to quit…and also those with the resolve to stay in the game.

Over the past two decades I've booked a few jobs, traveled a few places and met countless amazingly talented people. I had no idea where I thought I'd be in 20 years…and honestly, I'm not even sure where I am in the big picture of the journey.

I often wonder if I've already booked my last gig.

I don't think so, but one never really knows. I think it's just my deep-seeded fear of rejection rearing its head.

One thing I know is very clear. That is the fact that I still really want to be a professional actor. I'm excited, I think my best days are ahead of me.

Happy anniversary to me.

First Headshot - 1995

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Audition: “Jennifer Falls” @ Sandi Logan Casting.  I met Sandi years ago when she worked at UDK Casting.  She has spent the last several years as an executive at ABC and is just now getting back into actual casting instead of overseeing casting.  I think things went pretty well after getting a redirect from her in the room.

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Shooting: “Verizon” Calabasas, CA.  Here I am again.  I say “again” meaning that I went from working all night in the restaurant to an all-day acting job and, basically, back to the restaurant.

I worked last night from 9pm until 4:15am this morning.  Of course I didn’t sleep because I was afraid I wouldn’t wake up for my 6am call time – so I stayed awake.

I’m often asked why I don’t just get someone to cover my shift for me.  Much easier said than done.  I work the graveyard shift, trust me, no one is eager to take over my shift.  I’ve never even asked anyone to help me out, I have a huge fear of rejection.  Asking someone to help me out and then no one coming through to actually help me out is worse than not asking at all.  Yeah, my fear of rejection is huge.  As long as I know what my day looks like I can usually handle what I need to do…that doesn’t make it smart though. 

Anyway, the shoot was great!  I was one of a group of “innovators”; more specifically, I was the “lead innovator”.  That came by surprise because I had no idea that I was what they call the “hero guy”. 

Director Lance Acord and crew were a complete pleasure to work with to say the least and I felt great about my performance.  A great day on set!  A great day for my wallet too.  I had an 8-hour day, plus 2-hours overtime, plus 3-hours double time, plus a 3-hour wardrobe fitting last week and a meal penalty all at SAG scale and a half.   

I got home just in time to shower, cat nap, and go to my other job…nice.

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Audition: “NBA” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  This was quick, fast & simple.  I was almost brilliant in the room.  Almost.

I attended a Dodger game tonight and really enjoyed it.  I used a Living Social coupon which gets around some of the convenience fees used to get more cash from ya!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

My phone is ringing @ 10:01am.  It’s my commercial agency.  It’s one of 4 things.

A last minute audition.

An avail release for VERIZON.

A 2^nd callback for VERIZON.

Or, a VERIZON booking.

Can you guess which one I’m hoping it is?

If the voicemail notification arrives within 15 seconds I’m pretty certain it’s release from VERIZON.  If it takes longer…then it’s most likely better news.

It’s take longer; around 30 seconds. 

The next step is retrieving the voicemail and listening to it.  My hope is that it’s a woman leaving the message and not a man.  If it’s a woman it almost guarantees that I booked VERIZON. 

It was a woman, and YES!  I booked the VERIZON commercial!!!  I’m so excited.  40 minutes later wardrobe calls to see if I can be at a fitting in an hour.  Of course I can. 

The fitting was interesting.  Years ago I had an “incident” at a casting director workshop where an actress “slapped the taste out of my mouth” during a scene.  I later called her on the phone to discuss it that was also an interesting exchange.

Anyway, I saw her name on the call sheet, then 30 minutes later I saw her in the flesh!  It’s on!  Just kidding.  I didn’t say anything to her…and she didn’t say anything to me.  I don’t even know if she remembers that “the incident” even happened or who I am/was.  Who knows.  BUT, I knew I’d see or work with her again! The “Day of Reckoning” has arrived!

Back to the fitting.

As usual, I tried on a zillion different outfits, took a bunch of photos and, 3 hours later, I was on my way back to…bumper-to-traffic on Interstate 10E with a happy smile on my face.

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Audition: “Allstate” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Auditions don’t get much easier than this one.  I think I nailed it!

Well, it’s been 2 days on avail for VERIZON I feel it fading away.  BUT I contacted my agency and they said I’m still in the running for the booking.  Cool!  Didn’t expect to hear that.

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Callback: “Verizon” @ Dan Bell Casting.  Yes!  This is that one from last week that I think I’m perfect for.  It went really well I think…fingers-crossed.

Cut to: Hours later.

Oh yeah, this evening I received news that I’ve been placed on avail for VERIZON.  Yes!

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Audition: “Walgreen’s” @ Pogo Casting.  I don’t think this one went so well.  It was as simple as could be, but still, I felt I was doing too much.  Next!

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Tonight I participated in a reading of a script titled B.O.O.S.T. through my friend/actress/CD Lydia Blanco.  I didn’t have that much dialogue, but I made the most of little that I read.  I had fun!

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Audition: “Verizon” @ Dan Bell Casting.  I’m not sure how this one went.  I think myself and my fellow actors were working too hard.  The session director seemed a little frustrated with us, BUT I think I’m really right for it so hopefully I’ll get a callback.

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I’ve been having issue with my left hand/arm/shoulder.  I’m not sure what exactly is going on, but my little and ring fingers have limited mobility.  Last week I had X-rays of my neck and elbow taken. They didn’t reveal much so today I’m having an MRI performed on me.

Audition: “Chevy” @ Kathy Knowles Casting.  The best part of this audition was the woman who played my “wife”.  Wow!  She had the most beautiful hands!  And get this, I told her so!  Man, I hope I get a callback with her.

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Audition: “Statefarm” Francene Selkirk Casting.  I think this one went better for me than it did for my partner.  He had the heavy lifting to do and I just had to not overdue it. I think I accomplished that!

Callback: “HP/UPS” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Hmm.  Not sure how this one went.  They completely changed the character and, honestly, I wasn’t really sure what was going on when I entered the room.  Sometimes that’s fine and I think this was one of those times.  I just played close attention and followed directions.  I think it went pretty well considering.

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Audition: “HP/UPS” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  This interview-style of audition went well today; they don’t always go well because sometimes I think I get caught…acting.

Anyway, I think I look the part.  Callbacks are tomorrow so I’ll know soon if I’m moving on to the next stage in the process…or not.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition/Tape: “The Goldberg’s” @ Leslie Litt Casting.  This was a great time!  I actually walked out of the casting office feeling like I was certainly doing what I was meant to do…instead of filled with self-doubt. 

The Casting Director, Leslie Litt, is the CD who cast me on “FRIENDS”, my first TV job ever.  I wasn’t sure if Leslie would remember me since I haven’t been in her office many times, over the years, since “FRIENDS”.  Turns out she did remember and we had a nice little chat about it.

I would love to book this role!  It would be fun to play and good piece for my demo reel.  If I don’t book this one hopefully I’ll be called into her office more in the future.  The near future.

Audition: “HP/UPS” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  This interview-style of audition went well today; they don’t always go well because sometimes I think I get caught…acting.

Anyway, I think I look the part.  Callbacks are tomorrow so I’ll know soon if I’m moving on to the next stage in the process…or not.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Honda” @ [skirts].  This was quick-fast and I had a ball in the room. I think the direction I went in the room might have been a little risqué, but I had fun nonetheless.

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Last week when I met with my commercial agents about photos my print agent stopped me in the hallway and wanted to meet with me as well. So today I’m sitting down for a quick meeting with her.

About 18 months ago I shot photos specifically for print work, but they did not work for me, at all, like literally I think I had one print go-see in the last year.   Who knows, maybe I can get some print stuff out of this upcoming shoot.  I hate shooting photos…

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Callback: “ABC Talent Showcase” @ Disney.  I think I blew this one.  Terrible.  I didn’t connect with the scene and didn’t execute the redirect.  All of my auditions are very important, but this was really the wrong one to not perform in.  Ouch, ouch, ouch!!!

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Callback “VW” @ RMB Casting.  I’m not sure how this one went, I just didn’t feel all that connected to the creative team.  I had fun with my fellow actors though.

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Yesterday I had a meeting with two of my three commercial agents about my new pictures.  The meeting went really well, I just hope I can translate their instructions and get the pictures that they need.  I do not enjoy shooting headshots. At all; I pretty much hate the whole process of it.  It’s necessary though.

Callback: “Citibank” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  I think I did a really good job in the room. I just have to keep doing that and the bookings will come eventually.

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Audition: “Citibank” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  The usual stuff.  I had fun and I think I’m really right for it.

Callback: “Toyota” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  I think I did my job well. That’s about all I can do.

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Audition: “Toyota” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  C’mon!  I’m SO perfect for this one!  It went great, I had fun, when are callbacks?!

Audition: “VW” @ RMB Casting.  Fun, good times.

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Audition: “ABC Talent Showcase” @ ABC/Disney/Jessie Disla Casting Director – I try to get in these showcases that the different networks sponsor every year.  For this one I dropped off my photo & resume about two weeks ago and I got a call for an audition last week, so here I am.

The read went well; I did everything I wanted to do in the room.  It was a lot of fun.  Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be?  Anyway, on the way out, the casting director, spoke to me.  I knew I had met her before, but I couldn’t remember her name. 

She refreshed my memory.

It was Jessie Disla.  She was an assistant at Warner Bros. TV back when they staffed an entire casting department.  Those were the days!  She remembered when I booked my first TV job, FRIENDS, back in 1999.  She thanked me for coming in and said that “she was really glad to see that I was still pursuing it, the dream”.  That was very nice of her to show support and encouragement of my career.

Audition: “FEMA PSA” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  This was great fun! I even had a wife and two kids to work with…maybe, one day, that’ll happen in my real life!

I got some interesting news at work this afternoon that, I suspect, will result in a very, very significant reduction in earnings.  Not good.  I really have to make this “acting thing” work.  Like seriously. 

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Audition: “Skittles/Starburst” @ Cathi Carlton Casting.  Eh, this went okay.  Funny commercial, but I think I was trying too hard.  I got to go in twice and the two actors did it completely different.  I think I did it better the second time.

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Audition: “Audi” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  It’s great to be back at this office!  It’s been a while.  I was good in the room today.

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Audition/Producers: “Fatal Instinct” @ Jan Glaser/Neely Gurman Casting.

Wow!  This is the first audition I’ve had in 5 weeks and just a handful over the last 3 months.  Hopefully that will change with episodic season starting up over the next several weeks.

I had a great time in the audition room.  I’m not sure what they’re looking for, but hopefully they will consider me for the role and/or other projects in the future. 

http://www.stephonfuller.com