Audition: “10.0: The Big One” @ Arlie Day Casting.  I felt good about this one; I fumbled a line I think, but I stayed in character and focused on what the character wanted in the scene.

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Audition: “Toyota” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  Wow, I was beginning to think that my commercial career was over!

Why?

Because this was my first audition since December 5^th…an eternity.  Especially since I’m not working another job for income.

This one was wall-to-wall copy and I was very happy with my performance in the room.  Hopefully, I will get a callback, but if I don’t I’ll get one soon for something else.

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This past Halloween my 9 year-old Goddaughter, Hazel, requested that I attend Career Day at her school to share the ins and outs of my career as a photographer. Evidently she thinks I'm a photographer because I'm usually shooting photos when she sees me.

I called a meeting with her and "discussed" the possibility of my attendance as, I don't know...an actor? She gave the "go ahead", fortunately. I didn't have the guts to ask her if she thinks I'm a better photographer than actor.

I tossed a few ideas out there like bringing a few old/new headshots, a demo reel of past work and maybe writing a scene so that they could perform in the class. The performance part really got her excited!

So I wrote a 4-page, 6 person scene for them. I included some unisex character names so it would be easier to assign roles to the students.

I spoke to 4 classes total; 3 were 4th/5th graders and 1 was 2nd/3rd graders. It was a complete blast! We all had a great time and I heard a few days later that the students really enjoyed it.

What I didn't know until just before I went home for the holidays was that the students wrote letters of appreciation to me. When Hazel's father dropped me off at LAX for my flight he gave me the letters.

I'm admittedly a quite emotional person and the letters really touched me.

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Audition/Producers: “I Feel Like Going On” @ Biblical Films.  This was the first time I’ve done a monologue since who knows when and I’m happy to say that I feel that it went pretty well.  I didn’t get all of the dialogue correct, but the essence of the piece was in tact to the very end.  I left with a feeling that I might have half a chance in this “acting thing”.

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Audition: “Atlas Shrugged 3: Who is John Galt?” @ Beach/Katzman Casting.  One-liners get more and more difficult it seems.  Geez.

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Today I got the results of my lumbar puncture aka “spinal tap” 3 weeks ago.  I was braced for some not so great news, but fortunately, it was better news.  Well, more accurately, nothing bad was confirmed.  I’ll take that as good news. 

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Audition “Motel 6” @ Sonnenberg Casting.  Funny, funny spot, but I couldn’t get it right in the room for some reason…or at least get it funny.  My partner was great though; hopefully he’ll book it or at least get a callback. 

Audition: “Sillicon Valley” @ McCarthy/Abellera Casting.  Short and sweet and I felt great about it.

Callback: “Taco Bell” @ Francine Selkirk Casting.  Not so much, which is too bad, because I really want to work with this director.  My last callback with him was much better, but maybe I’ll score next time. 

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Audition: “Time-Warner” @ Sonnenberg Casting.  Eh, not so much on this one.  Plus, there was a little bit of a physical aspect to it and I’m not feeling 100% yet, so…

Callback: “Walgreen’s @ Shane Casting.  I don’t think this one could have gone any better.  The little girl I worked with amazing!  I have a really good feeling about this one.    

Later in the evening the headaches returned, not as bad as before, but still enough to interrupt ones flow.

Also, later in the evening, I got the news that I’ve been placed on avail for “Walgreen’s”! Yes! 

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Audition: “Taco Bell” @ Francine Selkirk Casting.  This went really well.  Me as a teacher of young children?  Perfect!

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Today is the first day since the lumbar puncture aka “spinal tap” procedure that I’ve felt relatively normal.  Not completely normal, but relatively.  I’ve been pretty much on my back for the last 5 days.  I’ve developed an entirely new scale of what a headache is to me.  The ONLY thing that would relieve the excruciating pain was lying flat…and fortunately it worked.  So that’s where I’ve been for the last 5 days…in my bed, on my back.  I think I’m on the road to feeling normal again.

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Today I had a lumbar puncture aka “spinal tap” scheduled at UCLA Medical Center.  Plainly put, I was freaking nervous. 

Before the puncture they did two other tests where they stuck me with multiple needles and shocked me with probes for 25-30 minutes.

The lumbar procedure ended up not being as bad as I expected.  As recommended I was stationary for 30 minutes following the procedure then went home.  I had been cautioned about a very specific headache that sometimes accompanies the procedure. 

Shortly after getting home it hit me.  The headache.  I immediately had to get into to bed.  I slept for 3-4 hours.  I then woke up and went to a movie.  I felt okay, not great, but not bad enough to not do anything.  I had no idea what was to come.

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Audition: “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn” @ Aufiero/Horn Casting.  I was happy with how this went and think they were happy too.  I also think they were happy with the energy that I brought in the room.  Things like that can be so important because it can really change the temperature of the room.  I have to own that more often in my life and my business.

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Audition: “Fiat” @ RMB Casting.  I think this one went okay even though I didn’t really know what was going on.  I walked in during a group explanation and missed some of it.  We’ll see…

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Today I had a meeting with my financial advisor.  This stuff is always important to me, but now that I’m only relying on acting income and savings it’s of vital importance to me.

The meeting went well.  I left feeling quite happy with what I’ve accomplished over the past several years, considering I don’t and haven’t ever made a lot of money in a given year.

In actuality, I left feeling even better about “the job” and how I handled it financially during my time there.  While employed there I contributed 20% of my pay into the 401(k) plan and with the company match they gave me over $5,600 of free cash over the years!  Plus, the contributions lowered my taxable income and that equals even more savings.  Years ago I probably wouldn’t have participated.  I’m so glad that I’m smarter in that area these days.  I may not always be debt-free, but the lessons that I’ve learned from my financial past will stay with me for the rest of my life.

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I didn’t have any auditions scheduled for today…until my commercial agency woke me up with one for the afternoon.  Great!  Since I left my night job days without auditions feel just a little bit different now that I’m flying “without a net”.    

Before I even got out of bed I received another call for a second audition.  Somehow, this gave me the energy to rush out to the gym for a quick workout.  I wish I enjoyed going to the gym half as much as I enjoy auditioning.  I think I just need the right motivation.   

Audition: “Walgreens” @ Shane Casting.  This was a ton of fun!  I love working with kids and today I had a chance to work with a 7 year-old girl and her audition “parents”.

Audition: “Audi” @ Ross Lacy Casting. This was insanely simple, just a short interview, but the other actor who I was in the room with brought his dog.  Cute dog, but he was going ABSOLUTELY NUTS in the room.  Like crazy.  The character was a PET STORE OWNER, but they said nothing about bringing a pet to the audition.

When I walked in the lobby area they guy was signing in on the sign-in sheet and the dog was cursing like sailor.  I was going to try to calm him down, but nope KILLER was not having it.  I stayed my narrow tail away.  Five feet beyond the reach of the leash.  

We get in the room and the FIDO was TURNT UP!  The session director almost sent the dog and the actor/owner out of the room so I could audition in peace.  ROVER settled a little...for a moment.  Then went crazy.  Then settled and I got through my read. 

The whole audition was just a question.  He asked me who I’d like to spend time with, right now, living or dead.  I said “My mom!” My face lit up! I went on about how cool she was and that her birthday is tomorrow.  I was so animated that I don’t think he realized that she had passed away 11 years ago.  Fortunately, SPOT, showed respect for my mom, Louise, and was quiet for that moment...well, relatively quiet.  Callbacks are tomorrow and hopefully I’ll be there. 

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Audition/Tape: “Sean Saves the World” @ Greenstein/Daniel Casting.  I’d run into CD Brett Greenstein a few weeks ago while I was still working at my night job.  I mentioned to him that I was retiring from waiting tables and he remembered ask me if I had, in fact, left.  Nice of him to ask.

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Audition: “Toyota” @ Alyson Horn Casting.  Hmm…I’m not really sure how this went.  My “wife” and I were just the 2^nd group of the morning and I think they were still sorta figuring out what the audition needed to look like, but I think they were happy with what they got in the end.

Audition/Tape: “New Girl” @ CFB Casting.  I delivered my one-line…twice.  I was happy and I hope they were too.

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Audition: “Workaholics” @ Alyssa Weisberg Casting.  Ah!  These one or two line parts used to be much easier for me to book, but I seem to have lost my mojo.  There was a period of time where I was being very selective about these types of parts, but that period of time is not now.  I really need to get in the swing of things and start booking work…even if it’s one line. 

Audition: “H&R Block” @ Jeff Rosenman Casting.  The audition went well, the session director even had me read for a different role that he thought I was right for.

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Well.  It’s over.  Last night was my last shift at my restaurant job.  I can’t believe it’s finally here.  I spent 5 years, 5 months and 15 days preparing for my departure from there.  I consider the experience a success for both parties.  I worked hard, really hard.  I feel I did what I was supposed to do for the company and they did the same for me.  Actually, now that I think about it, I feel I got even more than I expected from them as a company.

I’m going to miss some aspects of it…other aspects?  Not so much.  I WILL miss the people and some of the diners. 

I learned a lot about people while working there.  I learned a lot about myself working there.  It gave me a lot, it took a lot.

I took advantage of the 401(k) program and upon leaving will be paid my 120+ vacation hours that I had earned.  I’m thankful for that.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do next.  The first thing I’m going to do is rest and try to get on a better, healthier schedule.  I’m super excited and somewhat nervous about what the future is going to bring.  I’ll try my best to move forward with confidence that I can, again, make a living as an actor.

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Last week my 9 year-old goddaughter, Hazel, asked that I attend and present to her class (and other classes) for CAREER DAY.  She suggested that I talk about being a photographer…interesting I thought.

So I drove over to her house for a meeting to discuss the details. 

STEPHON: Photographer?

HAZEL: Yeah.

STEPHON: Well, what do you think about me being an actor?

HAZEL: Okay.

I don’t know if she was, in her own way, suggesting I’m a wannabe actor or what, but I was a little offended by the 9 year-olds’ suggestion…OR maybe she thinks I’m a pretty good amateur photographer.  I won’t ask and risk getting my feelings hurt.

What to do, what to do…

I got it!  I’ll start out with asking the students if there are any actors in the room, ya know, get them involved.  I’ll bring some old headshots, new headshots, put some commercials on a reel and show them some of the work I’ve done over the years.  And I’ll wrap it up with writing a scene for them to perform.  Now I’m excited!  I’ll get as many up on their feet as possible.

Hours later…

It’s GO TIME!

I was literally up all night writing a 4-page, 6-person scene for them to perform.  It was a great time; I had at least as much fun as they did. 

I think I better start preparing for next year’s Career Day.

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