Sleep is a wonderful thing. Good sleep is even more wonderfuller…is that a word? Probably not, but let me tell you; I slept like Rip Van Winkle well into the afternoon.

I woke up to a missed call from KSA - my commercial agency. In my drowsy state I checked my voicemail while my mind wandered about what the call might be concerning – an audition for this afternoon, an audition for Monday, another callback for “Cheetos”, the not so great news that I’d been released from my “Cheetos” avail or “something else”.

I knew that if the voice of the person on the message was that of Leah or Stefanie it was most likely an audition, a callback or “that thing” I’m trying to become less familiar with - an avail release. I also knew that if the voice was that of Alicia there was a good chance it was “something else”.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful every time I speak to Stefanie and Leah, but at this particular time, on this particular day Alicia’s voice would be the voice that would “make a brotha wanna holla!” As I lied in my bed pushing the keys of my phone the voice mail menus seemed to take forever. Finally, I was less than one second away from hearing whomever it was that was going to utter the first syllable of this message to me….

The conversation was a blur and I don’t want to bore you with details so I posted the rest of it here…I choose to keep it short…

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: “SuperValu Cub Foods” @ Craig Colvin Casting. This was so fun! I got to play the dad of 3 young children; a girl and twins boys. I knew it was about chemistry so I immediately tried to connect with them so we would come off as a family on camera. While the session director was setting up I asked the kids how old they were. They were all 6 years of age. Then, right away, I said, “let me guess your ages”. The first boy I guessed 7; he laughed and said, “wrong”. For the little girl I said 4 and she said, “no!” and the other little boy - I paused, squinted at him like I was really going to guess correctly this time and then said 15! They all laughed and were charged up and ready to go. By that time the session director was ready to put us on tape. It went wonderfully; I hope we all get callbacks! Do I look like I have 3 kids? Who cares…

So I've been at my day/night job for 4 months now and it's working out okay I guess. As I've said in the past it's been a great diversion from being so involved in "the biz" and talking about it what seemed like all the time. I also like having a tighter schedule, but don't get it twisted...I'd rather be on a series than slinging burgers and delivering raspberry mojitos...and I firmly believe that being on a series and more is in my future.

Part of the reason why the job is a positive thing is because I'm an "idea man". I'm always coming up with ideas about things in general – I can’t help it; they just flow. I'm not saying they are always great ideas, but they are always worthy of a listen. Sometimes it gets in the way because I can easily get buried in “hmmm…how can I make this…” rather than just “keeping things simple”. The job gives me that outlet…even if only in my head.
Yeah, I’m currently working at the restaurant fulltime, but that doesn’t make me a “company man” per se. I care much more about my personal future than I do the job; after all, “the job” doesn’t care about me either. The job cares about making money and so do I. So maybe it’s a good fit for the time being.

Sometimes my mental state while I’m there swings wildly. It’s never too negative, but usually quite interesting – at least to me. One minute I’m taking a drink order from an A-list celebrity and the next I’m being asked from someone from the Midwest how I can possibly work the graveyard shift on The Sunset Strip. That usually leads to:

“well, I’m an actor and I need my days free for auditions”;

which leads to “Oh yeah, what have you done?”;

which leads to “ah, a little of this and a little of that”;

which leads to “anything I might have seen?”;

which leads to “…yeah maybe…I’ve been fortunate to work on some pretty cool projects over the years, but it’s been kinda quiet lately;

which leads to “Like what projects?”

which leads to “well the last commercial was….”.

Yeah, that’s how it usually goes. Last week, after an exchange like that with a table of out-of-towners at 4 in the morning I had this AMAZING feeling that I was “living vicariously through ‘my own past’” while talking about the jobs I had done. It completely blew my mind!! For an entire day I wasn’t sure what to make of my thoughts about it. I was confused. I was proud. I was tired. I was ready to get my a** back on the horse and book some freakin’ jobs!

I guess its all part of the gig as an actor. I feel like I’m doing what I need to be doing. I don’t know how long I’ll last at the job because; physically it’s just so hard to keep the hours and burn the candle brightly at both ends.

I’m never hope to not have auditions scheduled for the next day, but I have to say that I’m really looking forward to sleeping most of the day tomorrow. It’s been a long week and I really need the rest.

No word on the “Cheetos” avail. After so many calls to release me from commercials avails in recent years; I’ll take “no news” as “good news”.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Shooting: “Do Not Disturb” @ Fox Studios. Day 2. This morning started with the hustle of trying to get rescheduled for the “Cheetos” callback at Ross Lacy Casting. My call time for “Do Not Disturb” had been pushed from 11am to 12pm so I asked my agent if it was possible to be seen by the creative people earlier instead of my scheduled time of 4:30pm. She put me on hold and called the casting office, but the answer was “no” because at that time they were doing an entirely different spot with an entirely different creative team. Okay… Plan B…whatever that is.
I’ve worked enough multi-camera sitcom days to have a great feel of how “show day” is structured and I believe there is a good window for me to be able to make my appointment. I knew when my scene was scheduled for rehearsal and I knew what time the network run-through was. Sometimes the 1st or 2nd AD can be a little difficult about releasing an actor, but I think it’ll work out. I informed David, the 2nd AD, last night of my “situation’.

Great! We finished the network run-through at 3:15 which gives me plenty of time to drive from Fox Studios to the Casting Studios on LaBrea. I think my category for the callback starts at 4pm so hopefully I can be one of the first groups and get in and out before my 4:30 appointment time.

When I arrived around 3:45 there were already some actors there for what I think was a different spot or a different part in the same spot.

It took FOREVER for them to start my category; I’m sure it just seemed that way because I needed to get back to the Fox lot….in afternoon traffic. Actually, it was looking like I was going to have to just leave without getting seen at all because I really had to get back to Fox…after all they were paying me and the “Cheetos” callback wasn’t.

Finally, they started my category and I was in the 2nd group. It was over in a flash and I did the same exact thing I did in the first audition. With that I ran all the way back to my car and was on my way. I made it back to Fox right as lunch was over. Other than being hungry it worked out perfectly.

I went to my much nicer dressing room, put on my sharp, tweed suit and went straight to make-up. Of course make up takes me all of 3 minutes and I was ready for the cast pre-show speed read of the script. We read the script and the show was ready to start. Working on a sitcom is a lot of fun and I hope to get on more in the future. There aren’t that many multi-camera shows left, but I’m going to try to get on them before it’s too late….especially the ones that work under SAG contracts and not AFTRA.

As soon as we finished the cast speed read my commercial agent called to tell me that I was on avail for the “Cheetos” commercial. Nice! Of course I’m available!

About 7:30 I got a call from a fellow employee at my night/day job to ask me to cover her overnight shift tonight. I have to tell you that I was really looking forward to getting a good night sleep tonight. I’ve been at Fox since 12 noon, drove across town full of anxiety and back for a callback, missed lunch and don’t expect to finish until 11pm tonight. I’m kinda beat. BUT in this particular situation, for this particular person I felt I had to do it. I would’ve have felt terrible if I’d said “no”; so I said “yes”. I told her that I probably wouldn’t be there for the 11pm start of the shift, but I could most likely get there by midnight. What was I thinking? I’m not Superman…I don’t even play one on TV.

A couple of hours later our scene was up; I was playing 1 of 3 reporters at a press conference. It went well. Yeah, I completely blew one take, but I had several good ones too. I’ve learn to not worry about that stuff so much; it’s all going to be pieced together from 4 cameras anyway and director knows when he/she has what they need.

Vanessa Mizzone, me and Allen C. Lui.

The casting directors, Brett, Colin and Tessie were all in attendance and I also got to talk to the co-executive producer Kirk J. Rudell. Kirk was also one of the writers/producers of “Good Morning, Miami” that I worked with in ’02 &’03. He said he saw me on the tape and thought “of course were going to hire him”. Cool! You never know if you’re being remembered or not. With that, I said good-bye to everyone, changed out of my cool-as** tweed suit, went by my apartment to pick up my uniform and was on my way to my day/night job. 12 noon to 11pm; then 12 midnight to 7am…what was I thinking when I said yes…at least I’m getting paid. Actually, it’s all good because I know I’m going to need someone to help to me in a pinch too one of these days.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Me and Jolene Purdy.

Me and Jerry O'Connell.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Shooting: “Do Not Disturb” @ Fox Studios. The look on my friends face was priceless when she saw me at rehearsal this morning. I was going to call her over the weekend and tell her I got the part, but I figured I’d wait and surprise her on-set. I’m talking about the friend that I worked with on “Dollhouse” recently. Actually, she was sorta my stand-in even though she didn’t end up needed to actually “Stand-in” because we were pretty much finished as soon as we started. She’s a regular stand-in on “Do Not Disturb” and she put the energy out in the universe that I would be working on the show in the very near future. I think she is magic!

Even funnier is that on Friday, shortly after I auditioned for the role, but before I received a call that I was the choice; she was reading the role for the producer’s run-through. Weird, huh? Even more weird is how I have an attractive, blonde woman standing in for me in the first place AND she’s way curvier than I…way more.

I wish I could promote myself the way she promotes me. Every time I’m on set with her she sells me as this person that’s really, really on the move. I have to learn to just “go with it” and “be that guy”. It’s hard because I feel so silly being promoted like that as I’m naturally pretty low-key. Oh well, I’m trying to embrace that part of the business and be more willing to “get out there” and “work it”. I’ve always been terrible at the networking and schmoozing part of the biz, but I’m trying to get better in that department.

It’s been 3 years since I’ve worked on a multi-camera show; so I’m definitely looking forward to the live audience dealio. So after checking in I was shown to my dressing room; which was an interesting experience…I’ll leave it at that. The director, Bob Koherr, treated the cast & crew to a trip to a coffee catering canteen truck. Since I don’t drink and have never had a cup of coffee in my life I opted for a Strawberry/Banana Extreme smoothie and it was the best Strawberry/Banana smoothie ever! Thanks Bob!

After a while I was introduced to regulars Niecy Nash, Jerry O’Connell, Jessie Tyler Ferguson and Jolene Purdy – all very nice, funny people. We rehearsed/camera blocked and I went to wardrobe and that was it – I was wrapped for the day. I have to say that I felt like a grown-a** man in the suit they chose for me. Maybe the clothes DO make the man… Tomorrow is shoot day.

A couple of hours later I got word that I have a callback for that “Cheetos” commercial I auditioned for last week. I had a strong feeling this would happen and I really hope that it all works out and I can get released long enough to make it to the callback. I kept all of my agents abreast of my availability so we’ll see what happens.

Oh yeah, I was told that I would have a different dressing room tomorrow for the long shoot day. That is a good thing.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Another overnight shift last night. I gotta tell ya; this overnight stuff is BRUTAL and I DO NOT recommend it. It’s just so hard to get the amount of rest that I really need; not that I got the proper amount of rest before I started working there, but still.

Anyway, I had a commercial audition scheduled for 12:30pm. I figured I’d get in the bed by 8:30am, wake up @ 11:30am, shower and make my way to the Valley. Lo and behold, just as I was preparing to go to bed my phone rings at 9:14am. It was a number I didn’t recognize so I let it go to voicemail. The call was from a casting office asking if I would come in to audition by 11am. I called back and told them I would be there and then e-mailed my agent to give her the info as well.

This was the same office, same show and same episode of the audition that was cancelled 2 days ago. Multi-camera shows have way more rewrites than single-camera comedies and one-hour dramas.

When I arrived at the audition I saw several people I knew; some of which I’d work with in the past and some I hadn’t seen in some time. I’ve been keeping a low profile for most of the year which has been working out really well for me, but it was great to see some of actors that I’ve been in the game with for years. One person was Lydia Blanco who recently tested at the studio and network level for a pilot. Lydia and I worked together in “The Terminal”.

Audition/Producers/Tape: “Do Not Disturb” @ Greenstein/Daniel Casting. The role was that of a reporter and everyone I saw looked right for the job – including me. It went pretty good in the room; I’ve had better, but it was good. The woman, who I assume was the writer, offered some feedback; I did it again and was on my way. It is known that, especially, in half-hour comedy it’s really important to stick to the script. I had a little something I wanted to add, but not in a “oh I added this because I thought it would make it better” sense.

I added it in a down-low type of way – under my breath and to myself, but loud enough for writer and casting directors to hear me. I did it in the same way I added a line while working with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks on “The Terminal”. It was just kinda a natural next thing that this character might say. It seemed to go over well enough. So that was that - we’ll see. I should hear something (or not) soon because today is Friday and I believe it starts Monday for a live audience shoot on Tuesday. With that I was on my way to my commercial audition.

Audition: “Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr.” @ Francene Selkirk Casting. I must admit I was really, really tired for this audition – I worked all night and hadn’t slept at all. That isn’t the reason why I sucked in it, but still, LOL! It was pretty simple, but I just couldn’t get it right. BUT!! I think I’m really right for it; so maybe I’ll get a callback despite dropping a bomb in the room – hey, it happens.

Two hours later at 2:49pm my agent called me to tell me that I’m “the choice” for one of the reporters for “Do Not Disturb”. They just needed to make sure it was going to stay in the script before making the official offer and that I was available and interested. Cool!

Then at 4:04pm my agent called with the offer of the 2 days of work. So I accepted the terms and that was that. I must admit that I was expecting more in the way of “’da Benjamins” and considered doing a “no quote”, but after talking to my agent about it figured that it was worth the trouble for this type of booking.

I am really looking forward to working on a multi-camera show in front of a live audience. It’s been 3 years since I done it and there are only a handful of those types of show currently on the air.

Later I was e-mailed the script and the co-writer of this episode is, Kirk Rudell, Kirk was a writer/supervising producer on “Good Morning, Miami”. Maybe the 12 episodes (really 14 episodes) that are listed on my resume worked in my favor – who knows.

The neat thing is in this business you really never where the day is going to take you. I had one appointment scheduled today and ended with 2 appointments and a booking. It also tells me why I’ve always included my direct contact info on my resumes. I was called directly for this job. Who knows, the casting assistant could have stopped trying to reach me after not getting my agency on the phone because they weren’t open yet. We wouldn’t even have known I was being considered if she chose to just go “NEXT” on the list.

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that I am thrilled again that this show is under a SAG contract and not AFTRA.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: “Cheetos” @ Ross Lacy Casting. YES!!! This went great! I had the best time. It was so simple, but I think I was perfect – I think. At least it felt perfect – eff that, it WAS perfect! Where’s my callback??? I think I’m really right for it so we’ll see what the future brings.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

So I worked overnight last night, came home and got in the bed about 9:30am with an alarm to wake up @12:30pm to rehearse for my 2:30 audition for Fox comedy “Do Not Disturb”. That’s the show that, last week when I was working on “Dollhouse”; my friend said she always thinks I’m going to book a job on.

I woke up about 10 minutes before my alarm was to go off and lied in bed running lines before I was actually going to find the energy to get up. Right then my BlackBerry rang and it was a message from my agent saying that the audition had been cancelled because the role had been cut. Aw man! I was feeling good too! Oh well, what can you do? That’s they way multi-camera shows work – constant rewrites. Who knows; maybe the role will get written back in or another role will surface. Stranger things have happened. So, my narrow a** went back to sleep. Not for long though; I woke up a little while later and did some general drop-offs around town.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition: “Healthy Choice” @ Ross Lacy Casting. This one went okay I guess; I made an amateur mistake – I went in before I was ready. Simple as that; I should have taken another 5 minutes to get the dialogue where I needed it – but it was still fun ‘cause my partner was cool to work with.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition/Tape/Producers: OMG! When my agent called with this appointment I could tell that she REALLY didn’t want me to go in on it and I understand why. It was another really small co-star role. But the thing is that I’ve been dropping off photos around town; specifically to people I have worked with in the past. Well, that’s not totally true I’ve been dropping off to a lot of places, whether I’ve worked with them or not, but this particular place has an associate who hired me last year. I was trying to jog her memory.

Maybe it worked, I don’t know, but the thing is I didn’t want to drop-off within the week and then not come in when/if they call with an appointment. I mean, there are situations where I would do that, but I felt that I wanted to go in on this. I didn’t want the word to be “well, we keep getting his photo and postcards in the drop box so why is he refusing to come in?” I actually do drop-offs in different ways to different offices depending on which one of my agents cover that particular office. It can get a little dicey sometimes, but hey, “a brotha needs to work – knowwhatimsayin?”

Anyway, the audition went okay. The best part was that they talked about the other job I had booked through the associate. That was cool because they know I’m hirable. So, on to the next and, hopefully, more substantial one.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Shooting: "Dollhouse" @ Fox Studios. This was good time; a little nerve-racking 'cause I had to correctly pronounce a few medical terms and use a few instruments while working on a patient. It was hot, sweaty and fun.

My name was on every single page...

The only bad part was that I had to get my shift at my day/night job covered. That might sound a little silly, but I pride myself in being a hard, reliable employee/independent contractor - whether it's for Warner Bros., Paramount or a job in the "real world". I wanted to also work at my other job because I like having a tight schedule and it's a good mix for me right now to have things to do that aren't entertainment related.

It was a pretty short day shooting and I could have made it to my overnight shift in time, but I had already gotten it covered.

On the show I worked with a friend that I’ve worked with numerous times in the past. She works on another show on the Fox lot normally and said that every week she thinks she’s going to see me show up to work on it too. I like that way of thinking! Anyway, I haven’t yet auditioned for that other show, but I have read for that same casting office the does casts that show twice this season. So maybe I’ll get a chance to get on that show before too long. Fingers crossed. I won’t bombard them with more drops – that would be overkill, they know I’m out here.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Okay, it looks like me being "the choice" for Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" has turned into me actually being booked for the project. It should be fun; sure I'd like to do more, but I'd rather be on set than not right now. Make no mistake; it's great to book another job, but the smaller co-star roles are not so much where I want to go with my career.

One of the many good things about it is that they agreed to pay me more than I expected thanks to my agent. Of course the money isn't the only good thing, but it's an important element in the bigger picture. Another good thing is that this is the 3rd time that this particular casting office has hired me. That is definitely a good thing. Oh yeah, ANOTHER great thing is that I now have something new and fresh to send postcards about. So there you go; it's usually better to be working than not - usually.

Oh yeah, and how can I forget this positive part of the equation? It’s a SAG show and not AFTRA. I know I’ll eventually work under an AFTRA contract, but right now I don’t even pursue AFTRA shows in my personal hustle. Hopefully, one day things will change, but right now in my mind AFTRA = a pay cut. For the life of me I can’t understand why AFTRA is SO okay with actors working for less than we have in the past. I keep thinking I’m missing something about AFTRA, but I can’t get anyone to explain to me how AFTRA is moving acting as a profession in a positive direction.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

…hmmm – no news on my “situation” today. “Situation” meaning me being “the choice” for the role on “Dollhouse”. I guess I could’ve simply called my agent to see what the dealio was. Sometimes I do exactly that, but for some strange reason I’ve just decided to let it work itself out. I mean if they want to book me I’ll eventually find out, me calling is not going to speed things up. All of the sudden I’m “Mr. Patient”??? Where did that come from? “Patiently, impatient” would describe me well – sometimes.

On the flipside I called one of my other agents to see if I was still in the running from my callback yesterday for “Kath & Kim”. No rhyme or reason; I guess I wasn’t feeling so patient. The answer came about an hour later it was “no” I am no longer in the running for “Kath & Kim”. Oh well, hopefully I’ll get another shot to work on the show again soon.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Callback: “Kath & Kim” @ Greenstein/Daniel Casting. This went really well. It was just a couple of lines, but I walked out thinking I booked the role and even if I didn’t book this one they will bring me back in soon for something else. I felt great about it.

Yesterday I got word that I was “the choice” for “Dollhouse”, but I didn’t hear anything by the end of the day yesterday or all day today. …hmmm…being “the choice” and being “officially booked” are two totally different things. “The choice”, “callbacks”, nor “avails” pay a fee – “official bookings” do. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get some news that includes me being “officially booked”.

Here's the postcard I sent out a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have anything specific to highlight, but I wanted to take a moment to recognize the assistants, associates and directors in casting and the directors on the projects I've worked on over the years - and obviously try to drum up some business. Thanks guys and gals!

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Well, I “thought” I was off work last night. I was “on-call” and was called in to cover someone else’s shift. I’m tired, plus I have two overnight shifts to follow. I’m not complaining, I’m just sayin’.

Audition: “Kath & Kim” @ Greenstein/Daniel Casting. I read for a series regular role on the show a couple months ago and it’s nice to get back in there. It’s not a series regular role, but something is usually better than nothing – usually.

I worked overnight last night; got off at 7am this morning, slept from 8am until 9am, rehearsed some more from 9am to 9:30 in order to make it to my audition at 10:30am. Whew! At least I’m off tonight.

When I first read the sides I had this character in mind that I wanted to go in as, but in the end decided not to take the risk of taking it too over the top. I was hoping I wouldn’t regret it. The audition, which was a pre-read, went well. I read it once, got some direction and did it again and was on my way.

Soon as I got in the car to leave my agent called. My first thought was that I needed to return to the casting office to read again with more direction. I listened to the voice mail from my agent and it instructed me to call the office. That usually means that I booked something or am close to booking something. Could I have booked the “Kath & Kim” that quick? Stranger things have happened…not to me, but they’ve happened I’m sure.

When I called the office the agent that left the voicemail was on a conference call and I spoke to one of my other agents – the one that covered the “Kath & Kim” office. She asked how it went; I told her and she said that the other agent would return my call shortly.

A short while later my call was returned. The news was that I was “the choice” for the role from my audition for “Dollhouse” yesterday. My agent needed to confirm my quote information to make the deal. Cool!

Five minutes later the “Kath & Kim” agent called back to say that I have a callback for “Kath & Kim” tomorrow at the studio. Yay!!

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Audition/Tape/Producers: “Dollhouse” @ CFB Casting. Cool! I did a drop-off at both locations of this office last week. I also recently sent out a round of postcards last week as well. Gotta let people know I’m here…and still here. This office previously cast me on “Monk” & “Weeks”. Let’s make it a third time!

I worked overnight last night; got off at 7am this morning, slept from 8am until 9am, rehearsed some more from 9am to 9:30 in order to make it to my audition at 10:30am. Whew! At least I’m off tonight. The audition went well and I was on my way…I didn’t even do it “better” in the car on the way home.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

I took ANOTHER blood test this morning. Still trying to get to the bottom of the reasons why my iron is low. My anemia is very mild, but I feel completely drained of energy sometimes. Working the graveyard shift probably doesn’t help either...and I need to eat more…and drink more water…and sleep more. I know, I know. Anyway, I should get the results in a few weeks and the figure out what the next step is.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

After 2 weeks of quiet I finally got a call for an audition. YAY!!!! My night job is occupying quite a bit of my existence right now so I don’t notice it as much when I don’t get appointments. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. At any rate, it’s nice to have other things on my mind than the entertainment business.

Audition: “The Game” @ Susan Goddard-Smythe Casting. This just went okay. I won’t go into it too much, but I think I heard the actor before me through the wall and thought he was perfect for it. I knew going in I was going to have trouble – maybe he got in my head – just being honest.

Audition: “State Farm” @ Alyson Horn Casting. This went great! I think I’m perfect for it and I should get a callback.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Last minute, same-day call. It seems like it's been forever since I've had a theatrical appointment.

Audition: "Dirty, Sexy, Money" @ Junie Lowry Johnson Casting. I've been trying get back in this office for a long time. One of the associates used to call me in a few years ago. I never felt I was quite right for the roles, but it was great to get seen nonetheless.

The role was that of a reporter; a few lines. It would have been nice if there was more substance; actually my agent was a little weary about me going in at all, but right now I'd like to book just about anything.

It went okay. Actually, it went much better in the car afterwards. It was one of those situations where I think I should've committed more and not downsized it for the small casting office. I should've been "that actor" that you hear through the walls hooting and hollering because he's "in the zone"...yeah that's probably what I should've done. Oh well, I bet “that actor” got the job - and rightly so. Good for him!

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

Ten years ago today at approximately 4:30pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) I boarded a flight from JFK to Chicago. Why? Because I was relocating to Los Angeles. Yup, I was leaving the Big Apple for Tinseltown.

Was I nervous? Not too much. Not because I'm not a "nervous type"; (trust me, I get super nervous about plenty of things) it was more because everything was happening so fast. I felt like a passenger in it all; I was nothing more than a piece of the engine. I wasn't planning to move to LA so soon. I'd had a day/night job at the Harley-Davidson Café that I really enjoyed, a special "lady friend" that was very important to me, a theatrical agent (I stopped saying 'legit agent' about a year before leaving New York), I'd just signed with my top choice commercial agency (DBA) and I was only an hour flight or 6-hour bus ride home to Virginia Beach.

I wasn't really ready to leave New York...well, that's not totally true. Sure, I was tired of my 3rd floor walkup, my heavy-ass backpack, the stifling hot (and nasty) 42nd Street/Times Square Subway station, but I thought I'd be in New York for at least 18 more months - oooh, oooh, oooh, I almost forgot the mice in my apartment. Yes, I was tired of the mice (I had no idea at the time that I would move to LA and encounter the West Coast brethren of the New York mice- mice that fly – also known as BATS!!!!) BUT, all in all, things were working for me. I LOVED many things about New York, especially riding my mountain bike through the city dodging cabs along the way…and down the West Side Highway to Battery Park…and across the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges…

Of course I knew I was eventually moving here to Los Angeles, but I thought it would be a little more rehearsed and planned out. I was prepared, very prepared in fact, but it felt a little premature. Premature, but I knew I had to follow the signs of how things were unfolding for me.

It all started because an actor friend of mine that I met in Virginia Beach in my first acting class and moved to New York with (and shared a bed with for 4 months in Hell’s Kitchen) – long story. Anyway, he had relocated to Los Angeles from New York and booked a pilot for NBC. The pilot was picked up to series and he was coming to New York for the annual Upfront Presentation with his agent. He told his agent about me and she agreed to at least have a meeting with me whenever I decided to move to Los Angeles. That got my wheels turning.

Within a week or so I’d done a 42-piece targeted mass-mailing with cover letter to commercial and theatrical agencies in May of ‘98. The mailing resulted in 6 appointments including the one with my friends’ agent. I flew to LA in June to meet the interested agents, but had to cut my trip in half because of a commercial callback in New York. Fortunately, I was able to reschedule my meetings and get them all in before returning to New York. The meetings went very well.

The last day before leaving I looked at apartments and then hopped on the red-eye to New York that Sunday evening, my birthday June 28. I arrived in New York early the next morning, got cleaned up and went to the callback – it went great. Two days later I had another callback which also went great. Later that day I got the news that I booked the commercial. YES!!! It was for the first Ford Expedition SUV shooting in Brooklyn - Prospect Park to be exact, near where I used to live in Park Slope.

We shot July 20th & 21st and I left New York on Tuesday, July 28th on a flight to Los Angeles connecting in Chicago. I was flying stand-by and wasn’t sure if I’d arrive here in Los Angeles that night or the next morning. I called my new commercial agent from Chicago to tell her that I’d be ready to audition the next day after 12 noon and she already had an audition for me scheduled at 10:30am!!! (I’d sent my headshots to her a week prior from New York to help get the ball rolling.) So on July 29th 1998, 12 hours after moving to Los Angeles, I had my first audition. In fact, I had 3 auditions and 3 callbacks my first week in town. Wow, happy anniversary to me. Ten years!

I’ve experiences so many things along the way – great, no so great and many things in between. One of the things I’m experiencing right now is being at a job I worked at years ago – same shift, same place and even some of the same people. It would be easy to look at it as a step backwards, but I see it differently. I see it as a step, sure a challenging step, but a step nonetheless. Yes, I have to pull out my bag of mental tricks to get through it at times, but a brotha gotta do what a brotha gotta do. The job is a great diversion in my life right now and it occupies idle time.

Today I went to Magic Mountain with several co workers and rode some of the most insane rollercoasters in my life – Tatsu & X2 were two of the craziest.

me scared? c'mon.

I’m not much for theme parks in general, I’d rather ride motocross, ski, snowboard, fish, mountain bike, but I’m really glad I went. It was cool to hang out with my co-workers out of uniform and in a different environment. I had fun until I lost my cell phone at the very end. UGH! But I really like my new BlackBerry Curve that I bought the next day with a completely, COMPLETELY unexpected residual check from a foreign airing of “Bones” that covered the purchase and more - A new phone wasn't in the budget otherwise.

Where are my callbacks!?!?!

I didn’t get a callback on ANY of the last 3 commercial auditions I went on and, trust me, I was sooo good in them, LOL! Oh well – NEXT!

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w

YES! At 4:16pm the callback came in for last weeks “National Car Rental” commercial @ Ross Lacy Casting. NO!! At 4:45pm the call came in that they had to cancel my callback because the role was cut. Aww man! Anyway, at least they wanted to see me again for the spot. Then, at 6:04pm, another call came in for a different commercial also at Ross Lacy Casting.

Audition: “Marshall’s” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Another really great one. Callbacks are next week and I plan to be there.

On to other stuff…I’ve had two blood test in the last week to try and figure out this mild anemia that is sapping my energy and making me so tired. I have a sinking feeling of what the doctor will recommend for the next step of testing. I did it a couple of years ago and it’s not pleasant, but did include some good drugs…really good drugs.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w