Work, work and more work it seems is the order of many of my days of late. I’m not complaining; I’m just sayin’. I think it’s better than not having enough work opportunities to make a living. Speaking of work, after the monthly employee meeting for my night job I received a text message, directly from casting director Dori Zuckerman, asking if I had a current wireless conflict. If not, she was offering me a time slot to audition for AT&T later in the afternoon. It was a great surprise, but not shocking.

I met Dori about 10 years ago in a casting director workshop and have worked for her as a reader countless times over the years. I’ve even booked a few jobs with her and learned a bunch about the casting process.

Audition: “AT&T” @ Dori Zuckerman Casting. The audition went great and I had a wonderful conversation with my scene partner afterwards.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “LVCVA” @ Kathy Knowles Casting. This was quite the lively situation…and fun. Big ole group thing.

Callback: “The Whole Truth” @ Shaner/Testa Casting. Yep, me as a judge. I think this went well. The writer/producer/director, not sure exactly who the beautiful woman was, but she was very nice to me and thanked me for coming back in to read for the role. She’s probably nice to everyone…not just me. She sure did have a great smile

Anyway, I didn’t have any questions about the character and went right into the first read. I got a little bit of direction and read it once more. All seemed very happy with the performance, including me, and I was on my way.

This caps a week of 8 auditions and several graveyard shifts…I’m exhausted, but not complaining. The only thing is that I didn’t get too many drop-offs done this week. I did quite a few the week before and I’d like to think that some of that ground-level hustle had to do with the busy week I just finished. Who knows; I’ll take it however it comes.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition/Producers/Tape: “The Whole Truth” @ Shaner/Testa Casting. I think I’m really right for this one and I was happy with how everything went in the room. I read it once, got some direction and did it again. I would LOVE to book this role. I’d even have to join AFTRA to do the role…don’t get me started on 2 unions for the same acting work.

Less than an hour later my agent calls with a callback! YES! But for another, smaller role. Huh? Yup, and get this? It’s for the role of a judge. Really? Yup, really. I kinda don’t see myself as a judge, but it really REALLY doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what the buyers think.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “xxx” @ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx. This didn’t happen, but the confidentiality agreement I signed did.

Audition: “Target” @ Ross Lacy Casting. This is a spot for the upcoming Christmas season. Lots of underplaying for the feature director that is directing this commercial.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “NCIS” @ Susan Bluestein Casting. Yes! I’ve been trying to get into this office for years. The audition consisted of two short scenes and although I wish I would’ve read the second scene again, just to clean up the dialogue a bit, I was very happy with the outcome. I hope I’ve opened the door to a long-term relationship with this office.

In a new development at my night job I've been offered a promotion, a small promotion, but a promotion nonetheless. I'm not sure if I'm going to accept or not...gonna take some time to weigh the pros and cons.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “The Defenders” @ Felicia Fasano Casting. I have been trying to get into this office for years with no success, but finally it happened today. Not sure if it had anything to do with the general drop off of my photo last week, but I’ll take it any way I can get it. It’s been incredibly quiet from me lately, especially theatrically.

The role I went in for was that of the Master, the Legend…Sammy Davis, Jr. Yeah right. I mean, I don’t how know much I look like him, but I’d guess we are/were of similar stature and build. Dancing skills? Me a close 2^nd. Nah, not really. Singing skills? I’m right there…hmmm, not even close. Me drinking on stage with cigar in one hand and a gin martini in the other? Now you’re talking! Few can drink and smoke like me.

The cool part was that, in the description, it specifically said that the role did NOT have to be an impersonator, just an actor who resembled him. Cool. So I did some research on him over the weekend and Sammy was a bad dude for real. Massive talent. Going in I felt fine because it wasn’t like I had to dance or anything.

Of course, as soon as I got there the dialogue had completely changed. It wasn’t a whole lot to begin with so the change was no problem. I go in and the first thing I’m asked is if I’ve ever “done Sammy”, LOL! “Oh Sh*t!, I’m thinking, but I didn’t trip on it. I just gave her what I had…which wasn’t enough. She gave me some direction and I did it again. I think she wanted me to “be him” because my look was in the ball park, but she said “Nah, you’re not Sammy and I’ve got real impersonators coming in. But you’re a good actor; I’m pulling your photo and I’m going to get you back in here for something good.” Then she said, “Sorry.” I replied, “No, this is great, thank you.” And I walked out feeling really good about myself. I have to add that I smiled to myself when she turned my resume over. Why? Because I know exactly what’s on it.

So I have to stay out in the street; keep dropping photos, keeping trying to get more rest, keep trying to not let my other gig get the best of me and keep believing that I can continue to move forward in this career...and build my other one.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Wow, I got a very unexpected residual check today for the www.cars.com commercial. Perfect timing because I’m in the market for a new Windows laptop.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Petco” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Nice! This went great!

Wow, what a surprise! I got a holding fee for the Healthy Choice/Marie Callendar’s commercial today. It wasn’t a huge check, but it completely paid for the computer I bought today. I ended up getting an eMachines desktop instead of a laptop and I spent less than I had planned. I’m also going to reinstall the OS on my Macbook so that it will run faster. All that will help me run a smoother operation and get out in the street to make things happen again.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Wow, I got a very unexpected residual check today for the www.cars.com commercial. Perfect timing because I’m in the market for a new Windows laptop.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Ugh! I had a feeling this was going to happen. Why do I say that? Because I think it’s official that the Marie Callendar’s/Healthy Choice commercial I booked and shot back in early March is not going to go beyond the test marketing phase. I knew there was a chance of that from the beginning, but you hope for the best…and I still am. The possible use of the campaign was as follows:

Rate: Scale. Option for foreign, theatrical, industrial, dealer, simulcast, internet and new media at SAG minimum***

Run/Usage: Test Market (probably 1 to 2 cycles as wildspot) prior to roll out Nationally***

I guess that means the campaign didn’t test as they had hoped? I don’t know, but I saw another spot for Healthy Choice/Marie Callendar’s that was very similar to the one I was in. I haven’t had the best of luck in recent years commercially; not sure why. That’s just the cycle of things and my cycle of things hasn’t been all that favorable, but I keep moving in a positive direction. It seems that if there is some way, any way, for a booking to not end up the way any actor would hope; that way finds its journey into my life. This is run down of what the most recent commercial bookings I’ve have booked have gone:

MICHELIN TIRES – October ’06 - I had to pull out of OCEAN’S THIRTEEN and a scene with Al Pacino to do this one. In the end my scene was edited out of the commercial.

WaMu – December ’07 – Multi-day shoot and a great, national airing for a couple of months.

CHEETOS – September ’08 – A few days after being booked and just before I was going to the fitting I received a call informing that my booking had been cancelled.

KY BRAND – March ’09 – I flew to New York to shoot this one. After receiving holding fees for a year the commercial never aired.

CARS.COM – December ’09 – While it was great that this was a commercial for Super Bowl; those spots don’t always continue to run after the big game. To my knowledge, they only aired it on TV once, but I’ve made a nice amount of money through other ways the client bought it.

MARIE CALLENDAR’S/HEALTHY CHOICE – March ’10 – My commercial was one of a 6-spot campaign, but it appears they cancelled the entire thing and filmed new ones.

Oh well. What can you do? Good question. What I do is realize that it’s a great “problem” to have. It’s much better than to not have booked them at all. This cycle, if that’s what it is, will change into something more favorable I’m sure. In due time; I just have to keep my head in the game.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Callback: “USPS” @ Francene Selkirk Casting. It’s been 2 full weeks since my last audition. I HAVE to get on the grind or my career will be in the past. That can’t happen. I’m a professional actor and I need to act professionally.

The callback went okay; not sure I gave to the director what he was asking for. It went really well in the first audition so we’ll see what happens.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

hmm…another week with no appointments…at all. I would think that things would be picking up for me, but it doesn’t seem like it. I’m sure commercials will come back around, but theatrically, I have to stay on the ball. There is so much “trickle down” going with actors from a higher tier being willing to do work that they wouldn’t have taken in years past.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “USPS” @ Francene Selkirk Casting. This went great and I think I’m right for it. This is where I had my very first commercial audition in Los Angeles…12 years and 15 days ago. I’ve had many callbacks and avails, but haven’t yet booked. One day I will.

Audition: “Nationwide Insurance” @ Lisa Fields Casting. This came in as a same day call from my agent and also went well.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Callback: “Jack-in-the-Box” @ Alyson Horn Casting. Yes! Finally a callback for something. This was the appointment I had last week that I totally could not get it together. Fortunately, the session director was quite patient with me and got me to where I needed to be to shine on the tape. I guess it worked because I don’t think there was any way I would have gotten to round two.

It went well; who knows if I’ll book or even get placed on avail, but I do know that it felt good in the room. Alyson always calls me in for this client and I believe I’m right for these spots in particular; so eventually I should score some points with a booking.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Ford” @ Liz Paulson Casting. Eh, this went okay. Kind of caught me by surprise. In hindsight, I think me and my group would have been better off playing it smaller…but who knows.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Jack-in-the-Box” @ Alyson Horn Casting. Ooops! Not so much on this one. I was having trouble getting the dialogue out of my mouth…so was my partner. Thankfully, the session director was super patient with both of us and I think we put good stuff on the tape in the end.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Wells Fargo” Skirts Casting. Yes! Good stuff here and I think I’m right enough for it. Very happy with how it went.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

This morning, after working all night, I drove to Manhattan Beach to…Adopt-A-Kid-For a Day. Yeah, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while and I finally stepped up to the plate. It was a great day and a great way to give a little back. I really want to be a part of the solution. I mean that in general in many aspects of my life. No, I’m not perfect, but I aspire to be one of the people who care about humanity…like my mother.

I was paired with a 7 year-old and his 8 year-old friend along with another mentor. We got in the water with them, taught them how to fly a kite, participated in a 3-legged race, etc. It was wonderful experience and something I’m sure I’ll do again in the future.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Check this out! I went surfing today! Yup, sure did. AND paddle into, caught, and stood up on the very first wave I attempted to catch. I hooked up with a few people at work and had a blast. I think it might be something I want to do on a more consistent basis and it’s much more fun than going to the gym…although I need to go to the gym to be able to do it. It wore my a** out!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Charter Communications” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Can we just skip to the callback already??? It’s been since forever it seems.

http://www.stephonfuller.com