Audition: “Chevy/SUV” @ Craig Colvin Casting. This was a surprising, same-day call. I wasn’t expecting any appointment during this week, but hey, I’m town and I’ll take it. I had a great time! No sides or anything; just a personality interview with two other actors. Hopefully, I’ll get to callbacks and finally book something at this office.

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We lost a legend today. R&B singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, etc. Teena Marie passed away today at the age of 54. As some of my close friends know she was one of my most favorite performers. 54? That’s just way too young.

Back on June 29^th 2002 one of my dearest friends, Genine, surprised me for my birthday while I was in New York. I didn’t know what the surprise was, but she needed to stop and get tickets for it at the venue. The venue was BB Kings on 42^nd St. so I waited in the car, double parked, on the busy street while Genine went inside. I had traveled up to the NYC from my Summer vacation in Virginia Beach and very vaguely knew that Teena was on the road. I thought to myself, “Maybe this is where she’s performing”.

Right as Genine was getting out of the car a limousine pulled in front of me. I knew there was no way that it was Lady Tee herself, but I reached for my camera just in case. I couldn’t believe my eyes; it was Teena coming in for a sound check. I eagerly leaped out of the car and Genine snapped this shot of the two of us. Thanks Genine for one of the best birthdays ever for me. Teena, thanks for the 10.6 hours, 1.11GB adding up to 123 songs on my hard drive. R.I.P.

Me & Teena Marie/New York

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Happy Holidays! I hope everybody had or is having a great holiday season. I worked last night; of course it was pretty slow in the restaurant. I think I get more tired when it’s slow than when it’s busy because I was completely exhausted today. I just didn’t feel like getting out of bed…so I didn’t; until my younger brother called and we discussed things we plan to do in the near and distant future.

That conversation gave me a serious boost of energy and I decided to get out of bed and go skiing at Mountain High, the closet ski resort. They have night skiing so I figured I’d go get a few hours in on the slopes. I think I underestimated how cold it was going to be; I was freezing! But it was a blast at the same time. Until I finished and was packing up! It had started snowing pretty heavily; at least for me. I must admit that I was a nervous wreck driving down the mountain in my little Honda. I refused to be a statistic and get into a fender bender…or worse. THAT was NOT how my quiet and potential depressing Christmas was going to end up. I saw cars on the way down the hill that didn’t have such great luck in getting out of there without running into something, but fortunately, I made it unscathed.

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Callback: “Capital One” @ ASG Casting. This went fine; I think the director might have had a long day by the time I got there or maybe it was the rain. It wasn’t bad though. I have to say that I think it’s a long shot for me to be placed on avail or book. Why? Well, because in this particular spot I have a sneaking suspicion that it’s going to be a Caucasian actor to book the role. If they cast me, a black actor, they would probably cast a black wife and kid to go along with that. Of course that can happen, but I would think that they would already know if it’s going to be a black family…of course there is option that it could be a mixed family. Again, what I think doesn’t matter, but it was great to have a callback. It gives my agents & casting the continued signal that I have the goods for the big stage.

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Audition: “Lowe’s” @ broad-cast. This was a ton of interesting fun! I had a great fellow performer in my “wife” and we connected really well. I expect both of us to be at callbacks.

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Yes, it’s official! I’m booked in the role on RAISING HOPE. It’s a smaller co-star credit…the kind I’d really like to move on from, but at the same time it’s great to be on set and get a current show credit on the resume. Plus, I expect to have a great time. The part that I’m truly conflicted about is that is an AFTRA show. I’m not sure if I’ll have to join that union before working, but I sure wish it was a SAG show. Oh well, if I have to join, and I will eventually, I’ll try to make the best of it.

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After a very restful night of sleep I was awoken with a call from one of my theatrical agents. The news was that Greg Garcia, Creator/Executive Producer of RAISING HOPE, MY NAME IS EARL & YES, DEAR viewed my tape from yesterday and wants me to read for another, larger role, today @ 2:15; this time at Paramount Studios. That is great news!

After downloading the 6 pages of material, doing more research in trying to see who this character is interacting with in the script and just before getting my video camera set up...I got ANOTHER call from my agent saying that Greg had already made a choice with a different actor and that my appointment had been cancelled. Ouch!

It’s not at all a lost because I’m very happy that after viewing my tape he saw the potential to use my talent in a more substantial way. My agent also informed me that I am still on avail for the role that I read for yesterday and I should be officially booked by the end of the week.

Audition: “Best Buy” @ Kathy Knowles Casting. This was great, especially because, Marvin, the session director makes me so nervous. Not bad nervous, just nervous nervous because he’s so good at his job and I don’t want to look unprofessional when I read, especially for him. So it was a good time for myself and my partner and hopefully Marvin too.

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Busy day on tap, but I think I can handle it.

I am scheduled today, noon – 4pm, for some training for my night job, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to make it. Just more proof of why working days or evenings for a supplemental income gig probably wouldn’t work out for me.

Audition: “Capital One” @ ASG Casting. I’m getting better with knowing my dialogue, which is a good thing because it enables me to be much more free in the performance. This went really well.

Audition/Producers/Tape: “Raising Hope” @ Dava Waite Casting. Not sure how right I feel I am for this one, but I’m going to give these few lines all I have to give. I went in a few months ago for this show and am glad they have invited me back to make the 50-mile round trip drive to audition for another part. Actually, I like making the drive. I’ve done it numerous times; usually just to drop a photo, with the hope of getting an appointment. So to actually get an appointment is a victory for me.

The audition goes well…I think. It’s hard to tell, but I guess…time will tell. Next!

Audition: “Starburst” @ Joe Blake Casting. This was a complete blast! I had a great time with my partner, Mike, and the session director. Funny guys, funny spot.

While I was walking back to my car I got the call from my agent that I am, “On Hold” for “RAISING HOPE”! Of course I’m not actually “On Hold” because that would mean that compensation is involved and there isn’t, which means, more accurately, that I’m “On Avail/Watch & Advise”. Yeah! The dates to clear are January 3^rd – 7^th. I’m assuming it’s just one of those days. Cool. I’m not even that upset that accepting the job would force me to join AFTRA…don’t get me started on that.

Audition: “Shake It Up” @ Howard Meltzer Casting. I felt good about how this pre-read went. It’s a multi-camera show and I love to be on it. I guess a callback is the next step since there wasn’t a camera present.

Again, when I was walking back to my car, I received another call from my theatrical agency. This time it was a Producer/Director session for THE MENTALIST. This is especially great news because I had to cancel the appointment I had with them last month because it conflicted with the shooting of the DEGREE commercial.

This was a busy, busy day and one of the main reasons why I moved to Hollywood. I’m following my dream; yes, I am.

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Wow, I haven’t had an appointment for over a week, but I have one today. This was 2 different spots with quite a bit of dialogue and I left feeling pretty good about both of them. I call that a victory!

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I got off work this morning and just before jumping in the bed to get some rest I got the news that a friend, actress Chane’t Johnson, had died of a heart attack at the young age of 34. Needless to say I was speechless.

I remember, years ago, when she first arrived in Los Angeles to take on this world of Hollywood. We attended casting director workshops together at Actorsite. Not only was it immediately evident that she was incredibly talented and dedicated, but she was also a sweetheart with a warmth about her that was the size of her home state of Texas.

Chane’t didn’t waste any time letting the industry know that she had arrived. She started amassing TV credits right away. I remember her first one on The Division back in 2002. Many, many more followed. We lost a great one in losing her…she really cared about people. Rest in Peace Chane’t.

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Callback: “TidyCat” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Hmm…not so much. I didn’t feel too much of a connection on this one. They even had a real cat to see how the actor would interact with the feline. That interaction ith the cat went better than the actual audition. Don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t a terrible showing. I just felt kind of “neither here nor there”. BUT I’m smart enough to know that what I think doesn’t really matter. So who knows, maybe I’ll get some good news.

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Audition: “Well’s Fargo” @ Ross Lacy Casting. This one was quick-fast and went great with a great partner.

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Audition: “TidyCat” @ Ross Lacy Casting. I think I did well in this audition involving a little gymnastics with two vacuum cleaners.

Audition/Tape: “Untitled Teen Action Comedy” aka “Spiderman 4”@ Francine Maisler Casting. This was the kind of role that I’m perfect for AND it went well. Big film, big casting office and I hope I book it.

Audition: “Staples” @ Shane Casting. This same-day call went really well also. Hope to see them at callbacks!

Audition: “The Killing” @ Junie Lowry-Johnson Casting. Another really big, important office and a hot project. I had to do an accent for this one, but it was very little dialogue. I think I did pretty well.

That was a great busy day in the field and it all worked out perfect!

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Callback: “AT&T” @ broad-cast. Looks like my hunch was right in that I would get a callback. The callbacks were held at a different studio than the first audition and, of course, I forgot and went to the original place. I made it to the correct address in time and I think it went okay. Not great, not bad. The director was on a monitor in New York or Chicago I think. Anyway, it was great to get to the next round again, but I’d LOVE to book something before the year is out.

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Audition: “AT&T” @ broad-cast casting. Hmm…this one was a little confusing because I often over think things that are very simple for most people. I’ve tried to get a handle on that, but I don’t think it’s working. Anyway, the session director gave me direction, I promptly made it confusing, but I still think, for some odd reason, I have a good chance at getting to callbacks.

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Today I shot more photos with Hazel Dean. I think we underestimated how cool and windy it was outside. It definitely made it much more difficult to shoot while we were just trying to keep warm and not blow away. Even still, I think we captured a few interesting shots.

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WAKE UP! I worked last night from 9:30pm until 5:45 this morning, got in bed at 6:15am and awoke 15 minutes later @ 6:30 to get showered and drive to downtown LA to be on-set for my 8am call time. If nothing else, I’m dedicated…

Shooting: National Network commercial for DEGREE with Bear Grylls. I arrived downtown at the location, checked in, got reacquainted with my fellows actors from the fitting a few days ago, jumped into my wardrobe and checked in with the producers and the directing team – The Perlorian Brothers. About 30 minutes after arrived, I have to say, that a strange feeling came over me. Why? Well, I’m a true fan of his show(s), Bear Grylls’ show, and I think he does thingsthat take incredible resolve, faith, skills, etc. Plus, even though, at this point, I hadn’t spoken to him directly he seemed like a super-nice guy…I’m a complete sucker for nice people.

I walked to set to watch them shoot a scene I wasn’t in and to get final approval for my wardrobe. Shortly after that the whole cast and crew drove a short distance to another location where I was to be working. While we were assembling for a rehearsal Bear came over to introduce himself to us. And yes, it’s confirmed, Bear Grylls is one of the nicest, most sincere, people I’ve ever met.

I have to say up that until immediately before the first rehearsal myself and the other actors had no idea what we were doing – nothing. Right before “ACTION!” the producer gave us the instructions of what he wanted. Of course, we did numerous takes and variations of what they were looking for. Something that was, I think, a great sign was that we were rotating 3 different versions of the same product for different territories around the world. Hopefully, that means that there are big plans for this campaign. Shortly afterwards we broke for lunch.

Bear, who definitely could have gone back to his large motor home, opted to, instead, dine with myself and the other actors. I have to say that it was weird to see him eat normal food…on a plate. You have to remember that, prior to this, I’d only seen him eat on his show, MAN vs WILD. On there he eats things like raw, live fish, snakes, caterpillars, etc! I kept thinking that it was probably boring to him to eat like the rest of us. I actually told him that I didn’t think that he ever got cold or uncomfortable in any type of conditions, but there he was; looking for a jacket like the rest of us, “I need a fleece mate!” He said. Great guy and I’m in complete awe of his knowledge and talent as an adventureman.

After lunch we changed into our underwear to brave the chilly temperatures, fake snow…and the freakin’ fog machine…the fog machine! The fog machine about put me down for the count. We finished up and heard, “It’s a wrap on our test subjects!” and got a big applause from the crew. One of the directors, the Perlorian brothers’, approached me to get my email address to make sure I got a copy of the finished product. I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before. With that, I headed back to my tiny room in the trailer to change, return my wardrobe and I was on my way….On my way where? Home. To, hopefully take a nap before going back to my other job. BUT as soon I got almost all of the way home from downtown I realized that I had forgotten to get my wristwatch back fromthe wardrobe assistant. Ahh! So I called to make sure they were still there and drove all the way back downtown to retrieve it. That silly move cost me at least an hour of precious time in my lovely, ultra plush, queen-sized bed with 600 thread-count sheets. Believe it or not, 2-hours later I was due back at my night job. Hey, you gotta do watcha gotta do.

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Audition: “Turbo Tax” @ Ross Lacy Casting. I had to get rescheduled for this because the original it was during the fitting for DEGREE; fortunately it worked out. The audition went really well and my fingers are crossed for a callback! The fitting was cool too and I’m looking forward to a great shoot.

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Good news! It seems that the DEGREE people haven’t changed their mind about me. The talent coordinator and the people from wardrobe have called to set me up for a fitting tomorrow.

I say that because booking the job is only a step to actually getting to shoot the job. I have had that very thing happen on 3 different occasions for 3 different reasons. One was a commercial and two were studios films. Even though it was painful at the time it happened; I look at it as a success in my career. I believe that the more jobs one books, the more likely those things are to occur. It’s earning my strips in the business. So on to the Santa Monica fitting I will go.

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Today I participated in another student script reading project at West Adams High School. These kids wrote some really great stuff and, myself and the other performing had a great time reading it.

In other, great, fitting news on a Monday morning was a call from Alicia, one of my commercial agents. I don’t usually talk directly to my agents unless I stop by the office or its something real important. Most correspondence is through email with the wonderful assistants – Megan & Ariel.

So, the fact that it was a Alicia’s voice get me the feeling that great news was on the horizon. Sure enough, the news was that I booked the DEGREE commercial! I was so happy to get the news. The project run is National network, cable, internet & syndication.

In the “ebb & flow, comes & goes” column I was scheduled to go to producers for THE MENTALIST tomorrow, but it shoots the same day as the commercial. Oh well, I can’t think of a better reason for that to happen. Hopefully, they’ll bring me in on something else and another fitting, deserving actor will get my audition time. The timing of this might be perfect for earning my SAG Pension credit and qualifying for SAG medical insurance for next year. Plus, this commercial looks to be a lot of fun!

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