I got a part in that Austin Film Festival competition trailer I mentioned yesterday!

I'm doing a Supporting and VO, so this should be a pretty fun piece.

Suh-weet ...

I just auditioned for an Austin Film Festival competition trailer for the folks at KLG/Jade, and I am excited about it.

This is one of those deals that I'm bummed I can't talk about. Not that I'm sworn to secrecy or anything, but I feel like this project is unique enough on the creative and technical fronts that I don't want to be the one who let's the cat out of the bag.

Be watching the fine folks at KLG/Jade, though -- they've got something pretty fun in the works.

Hopefully, I'm in it.

I was in San Francisco again this week, but unlike last time, this time it was a mix of toy job and Biz. And the whole thing ended up being a mini/lite version of a Biz film production.

I was asked by my BigHugeCorp to do a non-broadcast industrial, with the understanding that it'd be "your project".

I was told to hire a crew, write a script, do the editing, and "git 'er done!"

After having written the script and solicited local crew, BigHugeCorp let me know they'd be hiring the crew, sent me a script they'd written, and told me it was still my job to "git 'er done!"

I actually thrive on adversity (what successful actor doesn't?), so I negotiated a bunch of the stuff in the corporate script as optional, filled in the gaps with stuff from my script, added transitions to make it all flow, and fully storyboarded the thing out.

During actual filming, OneWhoHasSomePower freaked out from Cali because she wasn't onsite to see what I was doing, and because she didn't have the background to make the leap from text script to conceptual vision (fair enough, though the reaction was unequivocally out of whack). Which meant I had to shoot a bunch of scenes twice, in case she nixed my ideas.

Which meant also I had to spend a whole Saturday with her when she got back into town, walking through all of the rough-cut footage, to end up at the end of the day with my original plan, with a two-day delay (Friday FedEx would have gotten to SF; Sat. FedEx arrives on Monday).

Editing was also out my hands, since all post was being done out of the Bay Area. All I could do was ship the beta tapes, storyboard, and annotated shot log, and hope for the best.

So, how did it all turn out? The video wasn't what I hoped it would be (the
editing job was lower caliber than I expected). But it didn't matter.

The crowd loved it.

Coupled with my brief emcee stint (my secret to being comfortable on stage? I don't care if I'm liked), the video had a couple of execs laughing so hard (in a good way) they were almost crying.

It probably helped that the video had a talking jackalope (voiced by me).

And now when I get the original footage back, I can edit stuff for the "directors cut".

Like I said, the whole thing ended up being a mini/lite version of a Biz film production.

Video will be up (hopefully) soon.

I saw the new Hayao Miyazaki film, Howl's Moving Castle, today.

Uh. Wow.

This is an absolutely beautiful fairy tale film, and Miyazaki crafts a gorgeous and complex, but still very accessible fantasy film that's a brilliant new take on the Wizard of Oz. He has a lot to say and show in his films, but they never feel burdensome. Listen to what he has to say about getting old, loneliness, and arrogance.

Pixar has been tapped to do the English dub, which includes an all-star cast (Lauren Bacall, Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, hardworking VO actor Crispin Freeman, etc.).

Hey, these actors get to do a Miyazaki and a Pixar film in one shot! Do they realize how lucky they are?

Anyway, see the film. See all of Miyazaki's films. They're incredible, and incredibly rewarding.

Updates to my website!

I updated my HTML resume (PDF to follow) with my For Sale by Owner (Chheda Films LLC) VO credit, and streamlined my film credits (yeah, sexy, I know).

I also cleaned up my VO demos page to better separate my demos from my clips.

The coolest thing I did, though, is finally get my Video page up and running and added to the menu!

Right now, I've got a clip from my Texas Association of Builders non-broadcast industrial, but I plan to have clips up shortly for films Don't Know Why and Suicide: A Love Story, my Marvel Ultimates VO audition, and a recently nixed VO session for ... uh ... a jackalope.

I had a great audition for a SAG national commercial for Chevy yesterday, which would be absolutely suh-weet to book!

The best part? I was auditioning as a fly fisherman, so I was there in a nice casting shirt, vest, and had my incomparable Sage fly rod in hand and at the ready.

Since I'm a lifetime fly fisherman (roughly a quarter decade and counting), it'd be a shame if my authenticity in the role didn't land me this part. How cool would it be to do two things I love (and I'm good at) -- acting and fly fishing -- and get paid for it?

The audition was at CastingWorks LA (I really like auditioning there, because I know exactly what's expected).

We'll see what shakes out, but man it would rock to get this one ...

Hey, I'm in the Biz Directory!

I've got about ten pages of articles/interviews in the back of the book, covering Email, Web sites, mobile phones, gadgets, and software useful for the working actor.

No, I don't get any kickbacks for hyping The Biz Directory. But I can't imagine being a part of the Biz and headquartered in Austin, and not having this book. That would be kind of like eating a pint of butter pecan ice cream without a utensil -- Yeah, you can do it, but you won't be as efficient at it as you could be, won't be as presentable afterwards, and the whole experience winds up being less satisfying than what could have been.

Right, so we've established metaphors (outside of screenplay) aren't my forte.

Whatever.

Buy the Biz Directory.

"If I start crying up here, it's because of the kind of day I've had... Catharsis."

I caught Ryan DeSiato's set tonight at Momo's Club.

Yeah, I was there for a Collier Talent Agency group B-Day. But, face it, a live music venue isn't the best place to chit-chat and get caught up, and I can only take so much "OMG-you're-a-Taurus-too?"

Ryan absolutely rocked. And crooned. The guy is a blast to listen too, amazing to watch, and someone I'm going to try catch whenever I can.

I'm particularly taken with "Minefield" and "Empty Handed", which should be on his new upcoming album (he was in the studio last week recording).

"Ryan DeSiato, simply put, makes music for people who give a damn."

Lyrics to Nickelback's song, "Believe It Or Not":

Believe it or not, everyone have things that they hide
Believe it or not, everyone keeps most things inside
Believe it or not, everyone, believe in something above
Believe it or not, everyone, need to feel loved

Feel loved, but we don't, and we don't
Until we figure out, could someone deliver us?
And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up
Coz faith is so hard to find
But you don't, and you won't, until we figure out

I've seen it a lot
Every time to the world turns upside down
Believe it or not, everyone
Most of us feel like we're losing ground
Believe it or not, everyone, hate admitting fear
Believe it or not, most of us wanna know why we're here

Why we're here, but we don't and we won't
Until we figure out, Could someone deliver us?
And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up
Coz faith is so hard to find, someone deliver us?
And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up
Coz faith is so hard to find
But you don't, and you won't, until we figure out


Most of us have nothing to complain about
Most of us have things we could live without
Everyone need advice on how to get along

Get along; we don't, until we figure out

Believe it or not everyone…

Believe it or not, everyone have things that they hide
Believe it or not, everyone keeps most things inside
Believe it or not, everyone, believe in something above
Believe it or not, everyone, need to feel loved

Feel loved, but we don't, and we don't
Until we figure out, Could someone deliver us?
And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up
Coz faith is so hard to find, someone deliver us?
And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up
Coz faith is so hard to find
But you don't, and you won't, until we figure out

I missed the SXSW sneak premiere of the film in March, but I snagged Unleashed at a matinee showing this afternoon, and I'm impressed.

It's a Luc Besson film, and closer to The Professional (Léon) than The Fifth Element.

The film is a mix of heart-wrenching emotional scenes and gut-wrenching violence, and I think it pulls it off well. Not to introduce any spoilers, but in the film Li is the barely-human version of a psychotic attack dog who is separated from his owner. This is the story of his humanization.

It's not easy to convincingly portray the emotion and effort behind a Helen Keller/Baby Jessica rehabilitation in a sub-2-hour film. And though the piece struggles a bit, it works through the challenge admirably.

I hope this film does well. Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins are inarguably acting powerhouses, but Jet Li comes into his own in this film.

While Li came into mainstream U.S. focus as the bad ass in Lethal Weapon 4, follow-on films (notably Romeo Must Die and Hero/Ying xiong) have been sadly underrated. This film almost feels like a "one more time for Jet" effort, and I'd hate to see him go back to primarily Asian cinema due to lack of critical and popular success stateside.

But check out Unleashed. Jet Li has said , "... I think Unleashed is my best work yet ... and I believe that my fans will love it."

I agree.

As an aside, Kerry Condon does a compelling job in the movie as Li's adoptive sister. She suffers a bit of a rough transition from loquacious teen to caring surrogate, but sails well after that.

I recorded audio tonight for the film For Sale By Owner.

This suspense/horror by Chheda Films LLC has its secrets tightly under wraps, and hopes to explore "new extremes of basic human emotion -- fear!"

I do the VO for Paul, an a** hole boss calling via mobile phone.

Check out the film's trailer -- very slick, and very promising (to me, it has shades of Identity).

Then I came home and recorded a Mission Impossible (Mr. Phelps) spoof for a buddy. Heh.

Happy birthday to me! *hic*

Happy *hic* birthday to me!

Happy birthday *hic* dear ... um ... Ah #*&@*&! ...

I had a good audition for the film Cake, with writer/director Will Wallace. I did a workshop with Will back in January, and today got to read for the role of Desmond, the not-quite-closet hairdresser doing a wedding video monologue.

Despite muffing one word (it's "clashes", not "exploded", but when in doubt, substitute with conviction), the audition was a blast, and it was fun to play with such a different, flamboyant character. And "Doing something totally different" on the second take to me meant going lumberjack (initially with a southern USA accent, but ending up sounding southern Australia).

I went with kind of a gay-bohemian look. Between the pressed cargo pants, sleeveless T, fabulous purple Bill Blass button down, Birkenstocks(ish), silver and white gold rings, Miami Vice stubble, and the pink emory board I was waving around, I felt the part.

I narrowly avoided disaster when, showing up for the audition, I dropped the magnetic studs to my earings somewhere behind the driver's seat, into that black hole where parking garage ticket stubs and french fries often disappear. Good thing I'm a quick thinker, and crimped my toe ring onto my left lobe (no, I hadn't put it on my foot yet, and yes, my ear is healing nicely, thank you).

Anyway, Will and team were great to audition for, the audition was a blast, and I really recommend you go see Cake when it's finished, even in the tragic event of my not being cast, and the name of the film changing to something less pithy ...

On the way out, Casting Director Donise Hardy snagged me and introduced me to accomplished actor Pato Hoffman, who seems to have this unpretentious gravity about him. Pretty cool. And Donise was beyond kind in chatting me up with Pato. Plus she said I looked pretty ...

Also ran way too briefly into fellow actors Chel Simon, Nicole Graf, and Karrie Hamilton (she and I muffed a scene together a couple of weeks ago).

Great day ...

I had class tonight.

Last week's scene sucked, but I should get over it. Last week's scene sucked, but I should get over it. Last week's scene sucked, but I should get over it. Last week's scene sucked, but I should get over it. Last week's scene sucked, but I should get over it. Last week's scene sucked, but I should get over it. Last week's scene sucked, but I should get over it.

I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it. I hate next week's scene, but I should get over it.

[sigh]

I had a commercial audition today for Cici's Pizza at CastingWorks LA.

The spot is a SAG regional, and let me leverage stuff I learned from my commercial audition workshop a few days before.

I was a dad "straddling the white and blue collar, and trying to do right by my family (wife, one boy, one girl), by taking them to Cici's." I was paired up with 3 new actors with whom I hadn't worked before.

Lotta fun, and I really enjoy these opportunities.

Man, I stunk it up last night in class.

Not sure what happened. I was doing a scene from Tony Kushner's play, Angels in America. I was Joseph (Joe) Porter Pitt, a Mormon who's a closet homosexual, and the scene was a new job offer conflict with my valium-addicted, paranoid Mormon wife.

Everything should have worked. My four years at Utah State University more than prepared by for the culture. We brought great set dressing (Brigham Young University diploma wtih Joe's name on it, a picture of the Salt Lake City Mormon temple), a Book of Mormon (their religious book in addition to the Bible), scrapbooking stuff). My job sucks, and I'd be stoked to get a new job offer, so I connected with Joe's excitement about the possible move, and frustration with his wife not wanting to move. My scene partner was even named Karrie (I once dated a Mormon named Carrie).

So what happened?

Karrie and I couldn't get connected.

Maybe I was too confident in my background, workshopping, and set dressing. Maybe it was doing the blocking and shooting the night of, and getting one take to naturally move and talk around the camera. Maybe it was the first line not landing for me, and everything downhill from there.

Maybe it had something to do with the whole vibe being off for me Monday night. It's wonky, but the evening felt "wrong" from start to finish. Vibe's important.

Dunno. Anyway, for whatever reason, I was off last night. And though I'm dreading seeing the film next week, I am curious to see if plays better on screen than in person ...

I had a fantastic Commercial Audition today at CastingWorks LA!

Donise Hardy (C.S.A.) is an absolute commercial powerhouse in this town, knows her stuff, and knows how to get critical information to people taking the workshop.

The workshop was all-day, a mix of both first-time and returning Donise pupils, and we had the chance to run through 4 commercial auditions (including the whole "business" side of the auditioning, including slates, profiles, etc.).

Personally, I really enjoy auditioning for Donise, because I know exactly what's expected of me: I'm there to do a job, having fun is expected, and I never break professionalism to goof off.

The biggest thing I got out of the workshop is just how much Donise wants actors to shine during the audition and callback. Yes, she's doing a job. Yeppers, she's getting paid to bring in top talent, and she wouldn't be doing herself (or the talent) any favors if she brought in people to audition because they've taken her workshop, or are nice, or whatever. When Donise invites me to do an audition, it's because she believes I can do the job. It's because she trusts my agent to pick the talent that can do the job. It's mine to lose.

Plus, spending all-day in the casting office really gave me a whole new level of comfort with the space. That, I can leverage ...

The all-day workshop was made up exclusively of talent from Collier Talent Agency, and our top-notch agent was there for us for the long haul, to watch us grow (or not).

I met new co-actors Aaron Weisinger (a ton of fun to watch), Marc Hustvedt, Roger Edwards, Erin Fallon, and Drew Whelpley (who's a nice guy with incredible comedic talent and timing), Shari Brown (fantastic listener) and Carolyn F. West (fellow voice actor).

I also got to hook up with previous acting class alumns Richard Ricks (picks up a scene, memorizes it, and workshops it in an instant), Nicole Graf (a ton o' spunk, fun to watch, and the she makes "Valley Girl" fun again), Elizabeth Mason (talk about commitment and comedic timing! And pairing her up with Drew Whelpley? It's like peanut butter and chocolate), Tom Procida (Another really good actor, and after 10 weeks of acting class where we never got paired up, class ends and one audition and one workshop since have seen us paired up with each other), Laurie Coker (another fellow voice talent, and currently sharing ongoing class time with me), and Jessica Robertson.

I mentioned Jessica a month or so ago, and how impressed I was by her professionalism. Well, I got to do a scene with her, and that kind of focus and professionalism is really welcome in a tandem audition. We could run our lines together, and if one or the other needed to break out for solo prep (tongue twisters, memorization, etc.), the other would do the same, and we'd come back together without saying much of anything for the transitions. Cool. Plus we had fun with the piece.

All of these folks were incredibly strong, and I really enjoy spending a time with folks this talented and focused on bettering themselves.

So, uh, yeah, I really recommend the workshop ...

Run, don't walk, to check out Kung Fu Hustle.

This Asian import has been playing in NY and LA since April 8th, and opened everywhere today (I caught the first matinee).

I really encourage you to see the film without reading any of the rest of my stuff -- it's one of those flicks that's best to see without expectations.


The film's tagged as "A new comedy unlike anything you have seen before", which to me kind of minimizes how diverse and amazing it is. Comedy? Yes. Dancing? Uh-huh. Brutal, explicit kung fu carnage? Yeppers. Heart-wrenching moments (assuming you're not emotionally constipated)? [Sniffle.] Yeah.

Directed, co-written, and co-produced by and starring interational sensation Stephen Chow, the flick is peppered with pop-culture one-liner and scene send-ups. The Matrix, Spider-Man, The Shinining, Untouchables, Thriller, and more.

Hopefully, this film won't be dismissed as YAAEwCE ("Yet Another Asian Export with CGI Effects"). This is something special.

By the way, it's in Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles. Not that you should care. Not that you should be reading this, as you're running to your nearest theater, or clicking away on Fandango to get tickets.

OK, so it's pretty much unforgivable that a comic book geek like me took this long to see Sin City, but I finally did, and is an amazing experience.

This is one of the better direct translations of a comic book to film I've seen, and Frank Miller's twisted and violent film noir comes through amazing on celluloid.

With direction by Robert Rodriguez, Miller, and guest direction from Quentin Tarantino, the film takes the almost storyboarded world of the Sin City and Yellow Bastard vignette-noir storytelling and makes one compelling film.

Some words of warning, though. Miller's original work is some adult fare, and they chose to translate even some of the most extreme violence and sexuality that I didn't think would make the cut to the movie. Think Pulp Fiction/Kill Bill taken to even more of an extreme, with a whole lotta gratuitous T&A thrown in. As opposed to non-gratuitous T&A. Or something.

Consider yourself warned...

I had a commercial audition for 24 Hour Fitness Centers at CastingWorks LA.

The spot is a SAG regional with international hero and Austin local Lance Armstrong -- very cool!

What made this one fun (besides the Lance potential) is that I was auditioning as one of two businessmen (suit and all), who is infected with the "Lance Fitness Bug", and starts playing a spontaneous game of soccer with a can lying on the street.

I was lucky to get paired up with Tom Procida, with whom I just finished class. Tom is great actor, he and I are comfortable with each other, and we went whole hog on our game o' "soccer" (while staying totally in frame).

Lotta fun.