Audition: “Hanes” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Another spot that I am PERFECT for; this is me ALL DAY LONG!  They should call me back because I’m just that good…well, sometimes…

Audition: “CarMax” @ Brigid McBride Casting.  This was another really good one for the day.  It almost gives me the feeling that I can do this acting thing!  For a living even!

YAY!  My VERIZON commercial started airing last week!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

There are new, great and exciting developments at my “day job” which is actually at night.  These developments are so good and exciting that…I won’t be around to see them come to fruition.

At least not as an employee.

Serving burgers and fries is just too far and away from why it is I came to Los Angeles in the first place.  It’s been a great ride being on The Sunset Strip for the past 5 ½ years.  Well, “great ride” isn’t really accurate because, honestly, I’ve had to lie to myself to get through it.  One of my strategies at work has been to always stay busy doing something to keep my mind from going to the “dark side”.  That strategy has worked pretty well over the years, but I think I’m at the end of my rope.

It’s been tough on me mentally, emotionally, physically, etc.  It’s also helped me get out of the financial hole I was in.  I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity for steady employment there because I desperately needed it at the time and it was a great test ground for learning, developing and implementing my new financial habits.  I will be forever thankful for that.

I’m really excited about moving on, and honestly, a little nervous too.  I’m not sure exactly when I’m leaving just yet, but I’m almost positive I will not be there as an employee in 2014.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition/Producers: “Criminal Minds” @ April Webster Casting.  I must say that I am very surprised to be called in for this show because I worked on it several years ago.  I played a police photographer. 

Honestly, I want to kick myself for how it went.  It wasn’t so much that I didn’t prepare; I did.  I just went the wrong way with my preparation.  I dressed wrong for the character and I accidently changed a line, actually a word, in a way that got me in my head. 

It was really the wrong situation to screw up.  I need to put myself in “time out” over it and wake the eff up.  I know better than to squander opportunities like that.  Ouch! 

Of course they may not at all feel that way.  Who knows.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

My Life on Beverly Blvd…

EXT. BEVERLY HILLS SIDEWALK – AFTERNOON

Stephon Fuller, African-American, in his xx’s.  He’s an actor in Hollywood out “making the rounds” dropping off photos to commercial casting offices…something even he himself believe is just barely above being a complete waste of time. 

So far, things aren’t going well, but he remembers one time, long ago, when this very same practice of dropping photos led him to booking a job that shot in Tokyo, Japan.

He is looking for that same magic again.

It’s a cloudy afternoon with a slight drizzle as Stephon walks down the sidewalk to his next location.  To his right, in the crosswalk, there is a Hispanic woman carrying one child with 3 more in tow.  I paused as we met on the sidewalk and let the mom and the cute brood go up the stairs in front of me.

It was then that I noticed something about the oldest boy…oldest as in maybe 9 or 10.  I looked at him again and turned away really quick.  Can’t be too careful, I didn’t want mama to think I was a weirdo…even though I was probably being “weird adjacent”. 

“Is it him?  Could it be?” I thought to myself.

I held the door for them to go into the building.  Well, I held the door because I’m a nice guy… and because I wanted to see the kid from the front.  I was 99% sure it was him.

As the mom is thanking me for holding the door I walk a few steps inside and say to her…

STEPHON: Is is is that the kid from the the AT&T commercial???

MOM:  (smiles) Yes, that’s him.

STEPHON:  Aw man, he’s like my favorite right now in commercials.  He was great!

Turns to the kid.

STEPHON:  You were great!  You were so funny!  I love, at the end, when you did the funny little pointing of your finger and you said, “To make it funny!”

The kid just looked at me and smiled.

KID:  Thanks.

To his mother.

STEPHON: Do you mind if I get a photo with him?

MOM:  Sure, that’s fine.

I pull out my phone.

STEPHON:  Can you do that thing with your finger?

KID:  Like this?

STEPHON:  Perfect.

I take photo.

STEPHON:  Thanks, I really appreciate it!

AT&T Commercial "Joke"

http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7OF0/at-and-t-joke

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Callback: “FedEx” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  Yes!  This is perfect because I’m pretty sure, but not totally certain, that my previous “FedEx” commercial conflict from last December has finished his run.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “FedEx” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  Hmmm…this went great as far as performance goes, but am I right for it?  I don’t know.  I just feel a bit young for it.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Silk” @ Ross Lacy Casting.  Yeah, I still got it!  I had fun in the room, don’t really feel a callback necessarily, but we’ll see.

Audition/Producers/Tape: “Sex, Death & Bowling” @ Sig De Miguel/Stephen Vincent Casting.  Wow, can I be cast in this role???  I’m perfect for this…at least I think so.  C’mon!  Give me da ball!  Put me in coach!  I can do it!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

Audition: “Honda” @ HMH Casting.  I’ve never been to this office before or even heard of it, but I’m sure glad to be here now.  I had fun in the room, but I don’t know how “good” I was.  I’ll let them be the judge of that.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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!

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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.

http://www.stephonfuller.com

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.

http://www.stephonfuller.com