My appearance on General Hospital aired today!  …two days earlier than I thought it was going to so I missed it.  I caught it a few days later and I was pretty happy with the outcome.  I don’t know if I’ll be able to actually use the footage, but we’ll see.  Now onto more work!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Dollar Shave Club” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  Since I’m not a guy that has “beard issues” I’m not sure where I fit in the concept.  However, I had fun in the room and I’ll let the cards fall where they may.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Dr. Pepper” @ Rick Montgomery Casting.  When I walked in the room for the group explanation the first thing the casting director said to me, jokingly, was to “come back in the room looking older”.  Once I put down my skateboard, took off my ball cap and rehearsed with my partner…I was more than ready.  I think the casting director was happy with the tranformation.  That said, I think I’m too young for a callback on this one.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Tonight was the last night of my 4-week voiceover class with Lauren Adams.  I really enjoyed it and learned a lot.  John Lohr, booth director/agent @ Arlene Thornton & Associates, was in attendance.  He gave invaluable insight into the realities of the business and really encouraged me to continue to pursue the craft as a professional.  I took that as a big thumbs up!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Callback: “Stanton Optical” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Wow, this was one of those callbacks that made me feel as though I could actually have a future in this “acting thing”.  It was simple, small and real.  Hopefully, I’ll be getting a call soon to say that I’ve been placed on avail.

Audition: “Buick” @ broad-cast.  I can’t think of one, single commercial that I see more often right now than the spot for Buick.  I can’t even begin to speculate on how much exposure those actor$ have gotten. 

Anyway, my audition went really well…so I hope to get to the next step in the process.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Stanton Optical” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Embarrasingly enough, I almost missed this appointment because I was late.  No excuse, I was just trying to get some errands done…things that could have waited.  It all worked out and the audition went really well!  So hopefully, I’ll get a callback!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Shooting: “Bank of America” Downtown Los Angeles.  Yay!  I finally booked a B of A commercial!  The shoot was fun and I got to work with the wife of an actor friend.  What a great place to meet her…on set, making money!

I have to say that I have a really good feeling about both the B of A and the Sprint commercials I’ve done recently…I sure hope I’m right and they run long and hard.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Fitting: “Bank of America” @ MJZ.  This was great for a few reasons.  First, because being at a wardrobe fitting usually means a job has been booked!  Second, the clothing!  They gave me a suit to try on and, in my opinion, it looked fabulous on me!  It was tan and the head wardrobe person thought the color was too light.  Then they put a charcoal colored one on me and it fit even better! 

I tried on a few more things, but before I left I asked where they purchased the suits.  They said JC Penny’s.  I went straight there from the fitting and bought two suits.  They were on sale so I ended up getting them for 50% off.       

I had been meaning to buy a new suit…for ever, but STILL hadn’t done it so this was just so perfect. 

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Shooting: “General Hospital” @ ABC Prospect Studios.  Let’s start off by me admitting how freakin’ nervous I am about shooting this.  As I’ve said before, I’ve never been on a soap set before and I’ve always heard about how little prep time/rehearsal one gets and just how much shooting they do in a single day.

Fortunately, the dialogue in my two short scenes is pretty straight forward and I don’t have any weird physical moves to make.

My call time was 7:15am.  I drove on the lot, parked, went through security to get on the stage and checked in with the first AD.  She signed me in and I went back to security to get my room assignment.  Ironically, I was assigned to a room that is usually reserved for a guy that I know that is a contract player on the show.

About 10 minutes later I called to the stage for a rehearsal.  Admittedly, I don’t normally watch GH, but I had been watching it all week to be more informed about the tone of the show and who was who.  I recognized a few of the contract players right away.  We walked through it 2 quick times and I was released to go back to my room. 

About 30 minutes later it was my turn in front of the cameras.  By this time I felt pretty good and almost relaxed.  We did one rehearsal and two takes and that was it.  I was wrapped by 9:30am. 

On my way out I stopped by the office of Casting Director Mark Teschner to thank him for the opportunity to work.  He is such a nice guy and said that “Ya never know, sometimes these roles come back on the show.”  Cool, I’ll take that.  It was a great experience!  As far as I know the episode will air Thursday, June 18^th.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

7,305 days ago, 20 years to be exact, I left Virginia Beach, VA with a pink duffel bag and $250 in pocket. I was on my way to New York City, Hell’s Kitchen to be exact, 450 W 46th St, APT 4RW, to be even more exact. The bus ride to The Big Apple cost $50. I wanted to be an actor.

For 4 months I shared a full sized bed with my friend, Greg Lee. Only once did he wake up in the middle of the night and think I was his girlfriend back in VA…I don’t think I ever told him that. I’m sure he has no recollection if it.

A lot has…and hasn’t happened in these 20 years past. It’s been a long journey, thus far, and I admit that the hustle of it all has worn me down, but I kept trying to succeed.

Will I still be doing this in another 20 years? I don’t know. Another 15? 10? 5? I don’t know that either. I’ll still be doing it tomorrow because I’m on avail for a commercial and I kinda want to see if it goes my way before I make any big decisions. I DO, however, know that the desire to be a professional actor has not waned at all. None. So, I’m guessing, I probably will be still doing this "actor thing” in some form or fashion on 5/10/2035.

Thanks Dalbe Markman, Lindsay & Shaunda for making my transition a smooth one.

Happy 20th Anniversary to me...

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Yesterday and today I stopped by commercial & theatrical agencies and gave all of the agents and assistants a $10 gift card from Starbucks…I think, or was it The Coffee Bean?  Hmmm…not sure which one, but they all can get a little coffee and/or tea on me.  I just really appreciate all that they do to help me along my journey.  I guess, when I think about it, “my journey” is a part of their journey too.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

This morning I stopped by the ABC/Prospect Studio to sign my day-player contract and pick up my script for work next week.  I got a chance to meet Casting Director Mark Teschner for the first time too.  He was very happy to be able to give me the opportunity.  I can’t even begin to imagine how many actors he’s hired that have gone on to amazingly successful careers…I’d love to be one of them too! 

Callback: “Bank of America” @ Cathi Carlton Casting.  This was one of those callbacks that just feels right!

Audition: “Comcast” @ Cathi Carlton Casting.  Pretty simple stuff, that I’m pretty right for.  I like those odds.

Cut to: 8:29pm – The call comes on from my commercial agency that I’ve been placed on avail for Bank of America.  One step closer!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Experian” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Yeah, this was a fun one.  I like the current campaign that Experian is running and would love to be in a future funny one.

I’ve lived in Los Angeles, pursuing my dream of being a professional actor for 6,127 days, almost 17 years. In that time I’ve auditioned for television, film, commercials, print, voiceovers, industrials, theater, etc. Amazingly enough, I’ve never, in all of that time auditioned for an adult video.

Shocking I know…(well, full disclosure, I didn't have to audition...

What’s even more shocking, at least to me, is that I’ve never, not even once, had an audition for a daytime soap opera. Not once.

Now I get it, I’m not a “soap type” per se, whatever that really is, but they have "normal looking" people on those shows sometimes too. Okay, maybe I'm not "normal" looking in the classic sense, I have an extra chin, 4 eyes and a smile that's just a little too eager, BUT I'm normal enough looking. I can recite the lines, "I had no idea she was married, I couldn't see her wedding ring with the lights off!” as good as any actor in Los Angeles.

Alright, for those of you, which I'm sure are the majority, that are thinking this collection of nonsense I'm writing will end with "I finally got an audition for a daytime soap opera!".

It doesn't.

It doesn’t end that way at all because in 17 years of pursuing my dream as an actor in Los Angeles I’ve STILL never had an audition for a daytime soap opera.

BUT, finally, I can say that I’ve booked a job on a daytime soap opera.

I'm SO, incredibly thrilled!

And one day, in the future, near or far, I will land an audition for a daytime soap opera.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

So I got an email this evening from David, one of my theatrical agents, and in the subject line, in all caps, it reads: ARE YOU AVAIL TO SHOOT GENERAL HOSPITAL 5/12?

Well, I checked my schedule and the answer is…

…Yes!

I emailed him back that, I am available to work on General Hospital on 5/12!  His response was: “Sending your reel. They will book off of that. They wanted to know if you were available before I sent it. Fingers crossed.”

My immediate thought was…what reel?  My demo reel is so old that I forget that I even have one.  It’s been so long since I’ve booked anything that was “reel worthy” so I just keep what I’ve got.  I had hair back then! 

My next thought was:  Oh no!  Might I actually LOSE this job (that I haven’t yet booked) BECAUSE of my reel???  Alright, stop it Stephon, and let the cards fall where they may.  So that’s what I did.

Audition: “Bank of America” @ Cathi Carlton Casting.  I swear; it seems like every time I audition for a Bank of America commercial I am perfect for it!  One of these days I’m going to book one.  They seem to run a lot and that, of course, is what we hope for as commercial actors.

I also started my 4-week voiceover class tonight which went really well.  I HAVE to diversify my talents in the business and v/o is an area I’d like to expand into.  It’s not at all easy, but I want to remain committed to learning the craft.      

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Toyota” @ Petite, A Casting Company.  This was another one that I feel I’m perfect for and it went really well.  It’s great that I was able to make it on a day that I’m actually shooting.  Double win.  Hopefully I’ll get a callback!

Shooting: “Sprint” @ Universal Studios.

RECAP

I moved to Los Angeles on Tuesday July 28th 1998; arriving on a 10pm flight from Chicago, originating in New York. My first commercial audition was the following morning at 10:30am at an office in the valley. I’ve auditioned at this particular office countless times over the years.

Auditions/callbacks/avail totals

1998 - 3 times


1999 - 4 times


2000 - 1 time


2001 - 2 times


2002 - 1 time


2003 - 3 times


2004 - 4 times


2005 - 3 times


2006 - 10 times


2007 - 3 times


2008 - 3 times


2009 - 2 times


2010 - 5 times


2011 - 7 times


2012 - 0 times


2013 - 10 times


2014 - 12 times


2015 - 5 times

All without a single booking…not one.

Last week, Friday, I had an appointment there. I didn’t know it was a callback session until I got in the room. They said it may book over the weekend and be reachable by phone. Before even getting home I got the call that I had been placed on avail. The weekend came and went and I heard nothing. Monday came and went - crickets. I kinda took it as “no news is good news and better than an official release from the avail”. Tuesday evening, 5:35pm, I emailed my agency for an update and was informed that I was still on avail and they should have a decision by the end of the day. End of the day came and went - bigger crickets.

Wednesday morning I get the call.

I usually let the call go to voicemail in case there is information I want to play over again. Before listening to the message I knew what it was. Why? It was only 6 seconds…Plenty of time to say, “Hey Stephon, it’s Xxxx from KMR. Unfortunately you’ve been released from Xxxx. You’ll get the next one!”

And I was right. I had been released. I think I like the crickets better…

Exactly 24 hours later one of my agents calls, which is rare, much of the communication is through text and email. The request is to go to the set at Universal Studios to…audition for a different commercial. The directive was that they’d make a decision pretty quickly and the lucky ones would go straight to a fitting and work the next day, Friday. The audition was taped on an iPhone and I didn’t walk out of the room feeling lucky. So unlucky that I drove home and got on with my day…which really meant going to sleep after working the previous nights graveyard shift.

The time frame for making the decision “pretty quickly” came and went…those damn crickets again! Maybe I will get the next one because I felt this one slipping away. Gone.

Then, hours later, the phone rings while I was on another call. It’s my agent with the unbelievable news that I had finally, after almost 17 years of going into that particular casting office, been booked on something!

So I made my way back to the valley for the fitting and shot the commercial the next day.

Sometimes one does, in fact, "get the next one!"

The shoot itself was fun and tricky.  That’s all I can really say.  Good tricky though and I think it’s going to be a funny spot…a spot that runs long and hard!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

10:06am:  One of my commercial agent, Alicia, leaves a voicemail early this morning.  The news is that Francene Selkirk’s office for Sprint wants to see a few people for another audition.  So I need to go to the set where they are shooting to audition for the director, producer, ad agency, etc.

When I arrived I find that it’s a different commercial all together.  Six actors showed up and I believe 3 will be cast.  Basically, they were going to have us read, wait around if we wanted and a decision would be made relatively quickly.  Wardrobe will be this afternoon and it’ll shoot tomorrow. 

Callback: “Sprint” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  I was having a world of trouble executing the text and when I got in the room…I felt myself going down in flames.

After the audition I chatted with one of the production guys that I know from back in New York and then went home.  I just didn’t feel that great about my performance.  Of course, if by chance, I got the job I’d drive back over the hill with a big smile on my face.  If not, NEXT!

So I went home, licked my wounds, and got on with my day. A few hours later, to my big surprise, I got a call from my agent telling me that I have been booked on the spot!   So I drove to my agents office to sign paperwork for it and back to the set for a wardrobe fitting.  Yeah!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

I got the news this morning that I’ve been released from the Sprint avail.  Ugh!  I wanted that one…or something, but instead it’s on to the next one.

Audition: “The Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival” @ Cara Chute Casting.  For this audition I had to prepare a one-minute monologue.  Ugh!  Not good, monologues, but I really wanted to be a part of this project so I jumped in. 

I was absolutely horrible in the room, I just completely fell apart.  I was so far out of my wheelhouse it wasn’t even funny.  I left feeling quite dejected over my performance. At the same time though, it gave me much appreciation for the trained, stage actor.  Bad, bad bad…      

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Still no news on Sprint.  They are supposed to have made the choices by the end of the day, but that came and went with no news.  I’ll take that as a good sign.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Callback: “Mercedes” @ Cathi Carlton Casting.  I couldn’t have asked this callback to go any better!  Hopefully, I’ll be placed on avail for this too.

No news, book or released, on the Sprint avail.  Still in the running.

Audition: “Infiniti” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Quick and simple, in and out.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Callback: “Sprint” @ Francene Selkirk Casting. On avail.  I had no idea this was a callback until I got in the room.  I was definitely quite a bit older than most of the other people I saw there, but I had to put that out of my mind and give them what “I” had in store.  It went great I thought!  They informed us that it will, most likely, book over the weekend and that we should make sure we are very reachable.  Just before I arrived back at home I got word that I had been placed on avail!  YAY!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “High Level Comic Book Film” @ Tamara Hunter Casting.  I’m think I’m so, incredibly perfect for this role that I just have to book it. Right? The audition went well.  My job is done.  It shoots in a few days so I’ll know something…or nothing really quick.

Audition: “Mercedes” @ Cathi Carlton Casting.  Just another commercial audition that I think I’m perfect for is all…  Call.  Me.  Back.

http://www.stephonfuller.com