It's been three months, and much has changed. I've gone from sleeping in someone's bed (while they were away ... just dispelling any potential rumours) to someone's futon, to my futon to my own bed. In my own place. Sans roommates. And it is sweet.
High Horse Theatre has begun it's second season, sans me. This time they're at the PAL theatre at 581 Cardero Street, playing every evening until closing this Saturday. Curtain's at 8pm every night. I was offered a lead part in one of the shows (again, a night of three one-act plays, this time 100% original material), however I had to decline, and for a very good reason.
Long story short, I am now supporting myself as an actor; and only as an actor. Not an actor/security guard, not and actor/expeditor/porter/bartender, but as an actor. Period. I've gotten a recurring part on a new Television series which will begin airing on CTV later this year. There's much more to it than that, and I'll get to all of that later.
While at VFS, we had a project where we wrote a letter to out "future selves". It was mailed to my parents house back in Nova Scotia, which my mom then mailed to me. Written on February 26, 2007 (I suppose I should have gotten this last year), I shall share what I wrote here:
"A year from now, I see myself as a successful person. Monatarily, aswell as personally (sic) (1). My acting career is just starting to pick up. I'm getting a lot of voice-over work. Commercials, TV, even some cartoons. I'm getting a lot of auditions every week (2). I'm proving my success to myself and people I know. Personally, I'm doing great. I have a lot of good friends and I see my family a fair amount. I still talk with some of the people from VFS. Most of them actors, some of them from Film Production (3). I've gotten to work on a movie with Mike and his NYFA friends. It was a great experience, and I'm starting to get some contacts in LA (4). I'm paying off my debts, I'm in great physical shape, and I'm doing what I love (5). My life is in a great place, and we're finally going to shoot the western in HD. It will be opening in the summertime (6). Hopefully I improve myself over the next year, and I know I'm good enough to be nominated for an Oscar. Maybe when I'm older and have done some more acting classes (7)."
Well, I was quite the optimist back then. Needless to say if the letter came last year or even two months ago, it would have been a downer. Let's examine:
(1) How does one measure "success"? I have money and life is good, so we'll chalk this one up as "happened(ing)".
(2) I don't know what stage of my acting training I figured I'd just be a voice-over guy, but clearly this was written during it. I've had a few voice-over auditions, but I still need a demo reel before I can go out for cartoons. I'm getting some auditions, I wouldn't say "a lot every week", but a good amount.
(3) Yeah, the people in my life are great, and I see VFS people everyday. Hard to turn a corner or pick up my phone without seeing a person or the name of a person that I went to school with.
(4) Before going to Vancouver I had planned to go to LA after I graduated to work on a movie with a buddy of mine from home. This never happened, but I got to hang out with him when I visited for Christmas, which was cool. No contacts in LA yet, but my agent has some ... so that's getting somewhere.
(5) Two out of three, still working on that "in shape" thing. I'm going to the gym often, but I'm also eating often ... it's a vicious cycle.
(6) The western was an idea I had with another buddy of mine from home. We never shot it, and we likely never will. Don't know why I wanted it to open in the summertime. I was aiming for a summer movie season blockbuster maybe?
(7) It's a legal requirement for any actor to mention an Oscar in a list of their hopes and dreams.
Good thing I know the trick to winning one: oldness and acting training.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, December 08, 2008
"2009 Will Be Your Year"
Just a friendly reminder to all in the Vancouver BC area that a night of plays in which I am preforming begins ... wait for it ... Tuesday night 8pm at Havana Theatre on Commercial Drive. That's 1212 Commercial Drive, for those with Google-mapping tendencies. Hit-up highhorsetheatre.com for tickets, $15 for civilians, $10 for students. Bring a friend or two or fifty-nine with you.
"Specter" by Don Nigro, "The Problem" by A.R. Gurney and "Fool For Love" by Sam Shepard are all part of this delicious three-course night of "... unrivaled entertainment" - The Will Street Journal, and " ... the kind of acting that makes you look at yourself in the mirror and say 'no matter what I do in life, it shall be a meaningless endeavor compared to the feat I've just witnessed.'" - The Vaughancouver Sun.
I had my first audition in a looong time last week, and it consisted of two lines, with is a 100% increase over the line I had in my previous audition which was ... six weeks ago. Memories not what it used to be.
This was one of those things where I was reading auditioners for the project, and the Executive Producer himself asked me(!) to audition for a certain role. With enthusiastic pluck, and vim, and vinegar and caffeine, I read those two lines ... well, like a nervous wreck.
The Exec was laughing at me even as I was walking in the room,
"Look at how nervous he is now that he has to be on camera!"
I don't usually think of myself as a nervous person, and in this case I didn't freeze, I just had a nervous twitch in my legs. I was able to relax more after a few takes, but man; I either need to take another acting class, or I just need to audition more.
"2009 will be your year," says my agent at my agencies voice acting workshop this past weekend. This workshop was intended to give us a chance to go into the recording studio and work on mike technique, voice over auditions and stuff like that. I discovered I can't "read" young, because I resonate too low. It's cuz I'm so many and masculine. Well, no one actually said that to me, but I could tell that they were all thinkin' it. Hopefully I'll have some luck recording commercial voice-overs. The Agency Christmas party is tomorrow. Did somebody say open bar?
Well, 2009 isn't here yet, but if I could use "my year" anytime, it would be now. I know I'm on the cusp of something. A lot of changes have happened already. Hopefully I'll a semi-permanent address soon so I can get my life in order and concentrate on what I need to do to succeed. It's why I can come a across as nervous or too serious; I just want to well. I need to concentrate very hard to do what I need to do. And a lot of the times concentration is easier said tha- I'M HUNGRY.
"Specter" by Don Nigro, "The Problem" by A.R. Gurney and "Fool For Love" by Sam Shepard are all part of this delicious three-course night of "... unrivaled entertainment" - The Will Street Journal, and " ... the kind of acting that makes you look at yourself in the mirror and say 'no matter what I do in life, it shall be a meaningless endeavor compared to the feat I've just witnessed.'" - The Vaughancouver Sun.
I had my first audition in a looong time last week, and it consisted of two lines, with is a 100% increase over the line I had in my previous audition which was ... six weeks ago. Memories not what it used to be.
This was one of those things where I was reading auditioners for the project, and the Executive Producer himself asked me(!) to audition for a certain role. With enthusiastic pluck, and vim, and vinegar and caffeine, I read those two lines ... well, like a nervous wreck.
The Exec was laughing at me even as I was walking in the room,
"Look at how nervous he is now that he has to be on camera!"
I don't usually think of myself as a nervous person, and in this case I didn't freeze, I just had a nervous twitch in my legs. I was able to relax more after a few takes, but man; I either need to take another acting class, or I just need to audition more.
"2009 will be your year," says my agent at my agencies voice acting workshop this past weekend. This workshop was intended to give us a chance to go into the recording studio and work on mike technique, voice over auditions and stuff like that. I discovered I can't "read" young, because I resonate too low. It's cuz I'm so many and masculine. Well, no one actually said that to me, but I could tell that they were all thinkin' it. Hopefully I'll have some luck recording commercial voice-overs. The Agency Christmas party is tomorrow. Did somebody say open bar?
Well, 2009 isn't here yet, but if I could use "my year" anytime, it would be now. I know I'm on the cusp of something. A lot of changes have happened already. Hopefully I'll a semi-permanent address soon so I can get my life in order and concentrate on what I need to do to succeed. It's why I can come a across as nervous or too serious; I just want to well. I need to concentrate very hard to do what I need to do. And a lot of the times concentration is easier said tha- I'M HUNGRY.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
T-Minus One Month
'Til I'm home in Halifax. Well, home for a rest, so to speak.
"Home is where your rump rests" - Pumbaa The Warthog, The Lion King, 1994
A lot regarding my living situation has been altered since last I wrote. In trying to get out of a place I couldn't afford, I found a replacement. Set to move in at the end of October, I was ready to move out. Didn't take long to find a new living arrangement, which I came across by chance having only concentrated on getting out of one place and not getting into another.
I met with my friend to apply for the lease, and an hour later I was on my way. I said goodbye and awaited the call from the rental office saying all the references have been called and everything was in order.
At work on Saturday, October 25 I had stayed later than planned. Being cheesed that I was missing a photo shoot with my Theatre Company, one of the hostesses came to me saying there was "some cop on the phone" for me. Odd, I thought. I hadn't done anything illegal lately, as far as I knew.
"Hello William? This is *cop's name* calling from the Vancouver Police Department, how much longer will you be at work?" I told him, and he said he was going to meet me there, because he had to talk and it was an emergency.
He met me there with his partner and asked me about the roommate that my friend (the one I was moving in with) was living with. I told them the limited information I had, having only "met" her last week. I say "met" because I never actually saw her, I just heard her voice coming from the room I was moving into. She was just some woman that he found on Craigslist to live with him for one month.
After questioning, they told me: My friend was seriously injured and was in the hospital. I had the feeling something was wrong as they were questioning me, and in the end I was glad he was in the hospital, and not somewhere worse.
After work, I went with a friend to visit him, but he was in the Intensive Care Unit, and therefore could only be visited by immediate family. The nurse told us that if he makes it out of The ICU then he'll be moved to the Burn Unit. Burn Unit?
Having little information, I called some friends who told me more: The roommate I "met" was murdered, and my friend was an innocent bystander. I found out more information from the paper, which reported that the apartment I was supposed to move into a week later had exploded. An ex-boyfriend of the woman living there was caught and charge with second-degree murder and attempted murder.
My friend remains in The ICU, receiving skin grafts and dialysis and battling Super-bugs. Another friend of mine has been visiting him regularly, and reporting on his progress.
The hardest part through all of this is seeing the story in the paper. He was just another person you read about, between the murders and the robberies and the car accidents. But he was my friend. He is my friend. One of the nicest, most self-less guys that I know, and if anyone is getting through this, it's him. I can't wait to see him again.
After all of this two of my roommates up and left the townhouse, moving back to Alberta for a few months. My remaining roommate told me to tell the guy I found to replace me to forget it; he wasn't going to live there with strangers. Rather than dash on the lease, we were left to find new tenants, which luckily didn't take long. The landlord showed the place to two groups, and the second group said they'd it. So now I had my out again, with no in. Well, I had some friends offer me a couch to sleep on, but no new place.
A slight upgrade from the couch is an entire room to stay in. I'll be staying with a very generous person for December, which works for me, because I'll be gone for a week anyway, so no point in paying a whole month's rent. But come January, I'll be wanting a place for my own. And just my own. No more roommates for me. That last sentence isn't carved in stone, but if you want to take care of yourself, you just gotta do it yourself, I guess.
November's been rough: No auditions, occasionally reading, but no full time projects. I was asked to read for next week, but work got in the way. Luckily I have one thing keeping me going: High Horse Theatre.
A couple of buddies of mine from back home finished their Theatre school, moved to Vancouver and two weeks later had an entire company up and running. Talk about efficiency. They asked me to be in their production of "Fool For Love" by Sam Sheppard. I love being asked to do things. I was more than happy to do it, and we've been rehearsing steadily ever since.
We'll be putting on our shows (three one-act plays) at Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver BC. The shows are on December 9-13 and 16-20. Curtain rises at 8pm each night. Don't be late. Buy tickets or donate at our website (copy and paste it):
http://www.highhorsetheatre.com
Despite how not fun it's been to recollect on the last month, I figure:
"The night is darkest before the dawn, and I tell you the dawn is coming!" - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight, 2008
"Home is where your rump rests" - Pumbaa The Warthog, The Lion King, 1994
A lot regarding my living situation has been altered since last I wrote. In trying to get out of a place I couldn't afford, I found a replacement. Set to move in at the end of October, I was ready to move out. Didn't take long to find a new living arrangement, which I came across by chance having only concentrated on getting out of one place and not getting into another.
I met with my friend to apply for the lease, and an hour later I was on my way. I said goodbye and awaited the call from the rental office saying all the references have been called and everything was in order.
At work on Saturday, October 25 I had stayed later than planned. Being cheesed that I was missing a photo shoot with my Theatre Company, one of the hostesses came to me saying there was "some cop on the phone" for me. Odd, I thought. I hadn't done anything illegal lately, as far as I knew.
"Hello William? This is *cop's name* calling from the Vancouver Police Department, how much longer will you be at work?" I told him, and he said he was going to meet me there, because he had to talk and it was an emergency.
He met me there with his partner and asked me about the roommate that my friend (the one I was moving in with) was living with. I told them the limited information I had, having only "met" her last week. I say "met" because I never actually saw her, I just heard her voice coming from the room I was moving into. She was just some woman that he found on Craigslist to live with him for one month.
After questioning, they told me: My friend was seriously injured and was in the hospital. I had the feeling something was wrong as they were questioning me, and in the end I was glad he was in the hospital, and not somewhere worse.
After work, I went with a friend to visit him, but he was in the Intensive Care Unit, and therefore could only be visited by immediate family. The nurse told us that if he makes it out of The ICU then he'll be moved to the Burn Unit. Burn Unit?
Having little information, I called some friends who told me more: The roommate I "met" was murdered, and my friend was an innocent bystander. I found out more information from the paper, which reported that the apartment I was supposed to move into a week later had exploded. An ex-boyfriend of the woman living there was caught and charge with second-degree murder and attempted murder.
My friend remains in The ICU, receiving skin grafts and dialysis and battling Super-bugs. Another friend of mine has been visiting him regularly, and reporting on his progress.
The hardest part through all of this is seeing the story in the paper. He was just another person you read about, between the murders and the robberies and the car accidents. But he was my friend. He is my friend. One of the nicest, most self-less guys that I know, and if anyone is getting through this, it's him. I can't wait to see him again.
After all of this two of my roommates up and left the townhouse, moving back to Alberta for a few months. My remaining roommate told me to tell the guy I found to replace me to forget it; he wasn't going to live there with strangers. Rather than dash on the lease, we were left to find new tenants, which luckily didn't take long. The landlord showed the place to two groups, and the second group said they'd it. So now I had my out again, with no in. Well, I had some friends offer me a couch to sleep on, but no new place.
A slight upgrade from the couch is an entire room to stay in. I'll be staying with a very generous person for December, which works for me, because I'll be gone for a week anyway, so no point in paying a whole month's rent. But come January, I'll be wanting a place for my own. And just my own. No more roommates for me. That last sentence isn't carved in stone, but if you want to take care of yourself, you just gotta do it yourself, I guess.
November's been rough: No auditions, occasionally reading, but no full time projects. I was asked to read for next week, but work got in the way. Luckily I have one thing keeping me going: High Horse Theatre.
A couple of buddies of mine from back home finished their Theatre school, moved to Vancouver and two weeks later had an entire company up and running. Talk about efficiency. They asked me to be in their production of "Fool For Love" by Sam Sheppard. I love being asked to do things. I was more than happy to do it, and we've been rehearsing steadily ever since.
We'll be putting on our shows (three one-act plays) at Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver BC. The shows are on December 9-13 and 16-20. Curtain rises at 8pm each night. Don't be late. Buy tickets or donate at our website (copy and paste it):
http://www.highhorsetheatre.com
Despite how not fun it's been to recollect on the last month, I figure:
"The night is darkest before the dawn, and I tell you the dawn is coming!" - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight, 2008
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Bootstrap
Nicknames are a funny thing. I've had a few in my life, some I've not necessarily wanted, but as nicknames often go, they stick no matter what. "Rookie" is one that I never understood, and still don't to this day.
At work, I've received the nickname "Bootstrap", which I didn't understand immediately, but upon pondering the matter, I realized I'm nicknamed after "Bootstrap" Bill Turner from the Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy. Often this nickname is accompanied by stereotypical pirate cries of "Yar", and the like. Now this name has since branched-off from "buckle my boots" to "Buckles", but the core name still remains.
Now, onto this week.
Battlestar Galactica was a blast. I worked with two other actors who were on for these "Webisodes", and we all got along smashingly. We all had a similar dry sense of humour, and we cracked each other up on numerous occasions. The regulars on the show were fun too, and the crew was very laid-back and easy-going.
I play a pilot on the Webisode, and anyone who has seen the show knows that all the pilots get nicknames. "Starbuck", "Boomer", "Racetrack" and "Helo" are what some of the main characters have, so what did I suggest when they asked what my nickname should be?
"Bootstrap."
"Yeah, 'Bootstrap', that's a good one."
They actually "label" the ship with the pilot's nickname, so when I later saw "Shark", I didn't quite understand why I'm flying some other guy's ship when I then realized that they didn't take my suggestion. Not that I'm complaining about "Shark". The fact that the name of a character I've played has been plastered on the side of a spaceship, while I wear a flight suit with a helmet and a gun strapped to my leg is the coolest thing I could ever ask for.
But the "Bootstrap" fun doesn't end there.
At work last night, one of the porters comes back to tell me,
"Those guys from that awful show 'Supernatural' are at the bar, and one of them is actually flexing for a fan."
Oh, I had to see this. I do a very clever thing when scoping celebs at the bar, which is I pretend I'm looking for someone else so I don't look too obvious. Oh yeah, I'm smooth. Sure enough there was Sam and Dean Winchester, the guys I play almost every time I read on the North Shore. So, I see 'em, and think "cool, I've seen 'em," and go on about my business (because it is "my business") when I later get assigned to bathroom-checking duty.
So I'm wiping up the counter that seems to never be dry, when lo and behold the Winchester boys bust in, laughing and cavorting, as often brothers do. I step out to grab some c-fold paper towels, and go back in where Jensen Ackles (AKA Dean) is talking to the guy they're with. One of the off-duty kitchen guys comes in to relieve himself and acknowledges me with a "Bootstrap!"
"Bootstrap?" inquired Jensen.
"Yeah it's my nickname," said I.
"Bootstrap?" he persisted, still curious.
"Well yeah, my name's Will, so it's like 'bootstrap' Bill Turner from 'Pirates of The Caribbean."
"Oh. I just said 'nice shirt' to that guy, 'cuz it's got the big letters on it, and he just says 'bootstrap'."
"Oh, so he totally ignored you?"
"Yeah."
"Weak, man."
And then, I couldn't resist. I had my opening.
"You know, I read for your show all the time."
"Really?" he said, smiling big.
"Yeah, actually one of the girls who works here was on the episode that aired last night."
"Which one?"
"Oh, she was the girl at the doctor's office in the '70's episode."
"Oh yeah, I remember. Hey man, I'm Jensen what's your name?"
I then shook his freshly-washed (I hope) hand, and went on my my way. I could have shot him a "see you on set one day", but that would have been a bit much.
Or would it?
At work, I've received the nickname "Bootstrap", which I didn't understand immediately, but upon pondering the matter, I realized I'm nicknamed after "Bootstrap" Bill Turner from the Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy. Often this nickname is accompanied by stereotypical pirate cries of "Yar", and the like. Now this name has since branched-off from "buckle my boots" to "Buckles", but the core name still remains.
Now, onto this week.
Battlestar Galactica was a blast. I worked with two other actors who were on for these "Webisodes", and we all got along smashingly. We all had a similar dry sense of humour, and we cracked each other up on numerous occasions. The regulars on the show were fun too, and the crew was very laid-back and easy-going.
I play a pilot on the Webisode, and anyone who has seen the show knows that all the pilots get nicknames. "Starbuck", "Boomer", "Racetrack" and "Helo" are what some of the main characters have, so what did I suggest when they asked what my nickname should be?
"Bootstrap."
"Yeah, 'Bootstrap', that's a good one."
They actually "label" the ship with the pilot's nickname, so when I later saw "Shark", I didn't quite understand why I'm flying some other guy's ship when I then realized that they didn't take my suggestion. Not that I'm complaining about "Shark". The fact that the name of a character I've played has been plastered on the side of a spaceship, while I wear a flight suit with a helmet and a gun strapped to my leg is the coolest thing I could ever ask for.
But the "Bootstrap" fun doesn't end there.
At work last night, one of the porters comes back to tell me,
"Those guys from that awful show 'Supernatural' are at the bar, and one of them is actually flexing for a fan."
Oh, I had to see this. I do a very clever thing when scoping celebs at the bar, which is I pretend I'm looking for someone else so I don't look too obvious. Oh yeah, I'm smooth. Sure enough there was Sam and Dean Winchester, the guys I play almost every time I read on the North Shore. So, I see 'em, and think "cool, I've seen 'em," and go on about my business (because it is "my business") when I later get assigned to bathroom-checking duty.
So I'm wiping up the counter that seems to never be dry, when lo and behold the Winchester boys bust in, laughing and cavorting, as often brothers do. I step out to grab some c-fold paper towels, and go back in where Jensen Ackles (AKA Dean) is talking to the guy they're with. One of the off-duty kitchen guys comes in to relieve himself and acknowledges me with a "Bootstrap!"
"Bootstrap?" inquired Jensen.
"Yeah it's my nickname," said I.
"Bootstrap?" he persisted, still curious.
"Well yeah, my name's Will, so it's like 'bootstrap' Bill Turner from 'Pirates of The Caribbean."
"Oh. I just said 'nice shirt' to that guy, 'cuz it's got the big letters on it, and he just says 'bootstrap'."
"Oh, so he totally ignored you?"
"Yeah."
"Weak, man."
And then, I couldn't resist. I had my opening.
"You know, I read for your show all the time."
"Really?" he said, smiling big.
"Yeah, actually one of the girls who works here was on the episode that aired last night."
"Which one?"
"Oh, she was the girl at the doctor's office in the '70's episode."
"Oh yeah, I remember. Hey man, I'm Jensen what's your name?"
I then shook his freshly-washed (I hope) hand, and went on my my way. I could have shot him a "see you on set one day", but that would have been a bit much.
Or would it?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
So Hot Right Now
Before I natter-on about my life, a fellow Nova Scotian has moved out here and is blogging about his life as a couch-surfing PA (currently working on a project I auditioned for). He's also an aspiring actor, having taken Theatre at Bishop's University. It's not as highly-regarded as VFS, but irregardless of that, the link to "No I am Not Judd Nelson" is that-a-way --->
Man I needed today.
I've come to the realization that my moods depend on my acting; if the acting is going well, I feel fine. If there's nothing going, then I feel lousy.
To begin, I got a call back for Supernatural, which I think holds the record for most auditions for a single show for me. Actually, most for a TV show, "I Love You, Beth Cooper" still holds the record for most auditions for a single project.
And yes, eight months into my career, I have "records." And they are shoddily-kept. Deal with it.
This one is ... interesting. The whole story about how this audition came to be is rather remarkable. So, allow me to remark upon it.
Last Thursday I read for Supernatural Episode #407, but #408 was reading for one character: A giant, animatronic Teddy Bear. So, the guys came in, I read, they acted, and then the Casting Director suggested that I audition for the part. Well, when it's offered, who can say no? So later that day, I auditioned, and when they asked about any "costume/movement experience" I told them I played Darth Vader in a short (*COUGH* ) and that I took movement classes at VFS.
So today I got the call back for it, and it's a good part because if I book it my face won't be shown, so I can always come back and do another episode.
Maybe "Beth Cooper's" record will be broken after all.
Later that day at the gym I see none other than the Tooth Fairy himself, looking ripped. Like, very ripped. He's not as thick as he was in his wrestling days, but he's still large. I was slightly tempted to go chat him up and be all "hey, you know those guys you're acting with? I knew 'em first, and I helped all of 'em get the job," but I didn't want to bug him during his work-out. I also didn't want to suffered a "Rock Bottom" directly onto the gym floor, and the subsequent "People's Elbow" that would follow. I'm sure he still fights like that in real life.
After all that excitement, I check my phone after coming out of the gym shower, and see a message from my agent.
Without going into too much detail, I'm being "held" from the 24-27th of this month to film a "Webisode" (definition: an "episode", but on the "world wide web", hence the oh-so-clever combination of the words into "webisode"; nothing to do with spiders, I'm afraid) of a certain TV show that filmed it's last episode in July and is now making an MOW and is now apparently making webisodes. It's the show that will not die, and I never want it to.
I'm super-psyched just to be acting in it, and with no details, my brain is going wild imagining what this could entail. I mean, webisode = web series, right? Possible recurring? Ohh, I do love that word "recurring". Another cool thing is I could be shooting on the 26th, which is my birthday, which certainly beats being in an OFA class all day like I was last year. The gay improve show that night was pretty fun, glad I didn't really kiss that Drag Queen.
Moving on.
More Celebrity sightings tonight as Owen Wilson sat at the bar at the World-Famous Cactus Club Cafe, and left happy. He was watching the Monday Night Cowboys/Eagles game, and had to be pleased at the outcome. My guess is that he was in town for "Night At The Museum 2".
I told the roomies I couldn't live where I am now, and thankfully they understood. I'm a big reason we moved here, as I wanted the three of us to stay together, but the place is just too much for me. They love it, which is good, I just need to find another person with some money to love it as much as they do. If you (yes, YOU, Mr. or Mrs. Reader) are at all interested, drop me a line and I can dish the deets on the place. Finding a replacement is top priority, finding another place will be second.
That second part should be easy, considering the front page of the paper was about the record-low vacancy rates in Vancouver. No big deal.
Man I needed today.
I've come to the realization that my moods depend on my acting; if the acting is going well, I feel fine. If there's nothing going, then I feel lousy.
To begin, I got a call back for Supernatural, which I think holds the record for most auditions for a single show for me. Actually, most for a TV show, "I Love You, Beth Cooper" still holds the record for most auditions for a single project.
And yes, eight months into my career, I have "records." And they are shoddily-kept. Deal with it.
This one is ... interesting. The whole story about how this audition came to be is rather remarkable. So, allow me to remark upon it.
Last Thursday I read for Supernatural Episode #407, but #408 was reading for one character: A giant, animatronic Teddy Bear. So, the guys came in, I read, they acted, and then the Casting Director suggested that I audition for the part. Well, when it's offered, who can say no? So later that day, I auditioned, and when they asked about any "costume/movement experience" I told them I played Darth Vader in a short (*COUGH* ) and that I took movement classes at VFS.
So today I got the call back for it, and it's a good part because if I book it my face won't be shown, so I can always come back and do another episode.
Maybe "Beth Cooper's" record will be broken after all.
Later that day at the gym I see none other than the Tooth Fairy himself, looking ripped. Like, very ripped. He's not as thick as he was in his wrestling days, but he's still large. I was slightly tempted to go chat him up and be all "hey, you know those guys you're acting with? I knew 'em first, and I helped all of 'em get the job," but I didn't want to bug him during his work-out. I also didn't want to suffered a "Rock Bottom" directly onto the gym floor, and the subsequent "People's Elbow" that would follow. I'm sure he still fights like that in real life.
After all that excitement, I check my phone after coming out of the gym shower, and see a message from my agent.
Without going into too much detail, I'm being "held" from the 24-27th of this month to film a "Webisode" (definition: an "episode", but on the "world wide web", hence the oh-so-clever combination of the words into "webisode"; nothing to do with spiders, I'm afraid) of a certain TV show that filmed it's last episode in July and is now making an MOW and is now apparently making webisodes. It's the show that will not die, and I never want it to.
I'm super-psyched just to be acting in it, and with no details, my brain is going wild imagining what this could entail. I mean, webisode = web series, right? Possible recurring? Ohh, I do love that word "recurring". Another cool thing is I could be shooting on the 26th, which is my birthday, which certainly beats being in an OFA class all day like I was last year. The gay improve show that night was pretty fun, glad I didn't really kiss that Drag Queen.
Moving on.
More Celebrity sightings tonight as Owen Wilson sat at the bar at the World-Famous Cactus Club Cafe, and left happy. He was watching the Monday Night Cowboys/Eagles game, and had to be pleased at the outcome. My guess is that he was in town for "Night At The Museum 2".
I told the roomies I couldn't live where I am now, and thankfully they understood. I'm a big reason we moved here, as I wanted the three of us to stay together, but the place is just too much for me. They love it, which is good, I just need to find another person with some money to love it as much as they do. If you (yes, YOU, Mr. or Mrs. Reader) are at all interested, drop me a line and I can dish the deets on the place. Finding a replacement is top priority, finding another place will be second.
That second part should be easy, considering the front page of the paper was about the record-low vacancy rates in Vancouver. No big deal.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
So Much To Do, So Much To See-attle
Since last I wrote, I:
- Taped an audition for something shooting in Romania.
- Pretty much became a full-time reader.
- Moved.
- Auditioned in front of the guy I was supposed to act with in Battlestar Galactica.
- Visited Seattle.
Let's take it from the top, shall we?
The taping was for a Sci-Fi MOW called "Hellhounds". I don't know who at Sci-Fi is coming up with these titles, but they're brilliant (sadly, DRAGONSTEEL has changed its name to "Mirabilis", which is the name of the world where the story is set. Lame). The audition was for the lead role, which was pretty cool, but they needed to know some things first:
1. Do you have a valid passport? (I do)
2. Do you have any allergies? (I don't)
3. Do you have any tattoos? (I don't)
4. Can you ride a horse? (I ... can, I guess)
My reader for my taping slept past her alarm, so being a little stressed before the taping didn't help. Luckily, my female roommate was able to bail me out, and I gave an audition that my agent called "good work". Well, that's a relief.
I met with him recently, saying that my work is good, but he's not sure why I'm not booking as often. He keeps harping on this "testosterone" thing that he says this town needs. So, we decided an image change might be in order. Nothing huge, just change the hair a little (which I never really cared for anyway) and grow some scruff. Sweet, the beard's comin' back, baby!
He's also worried that I'm reading too much, which is wearing me down a little. I read in the day and I work at night, which leaves virtually no time to go to they gym, or to get anything simple done, like dry-cleaning. I told him that I don't want to be a career reader, but I need the money, and I like doing it. He doesn't mind me doing it, he just thinks four or five times a week is excessive.
The move was the entire day Sunday, helping the movers get everything into the van (except for my bed, what great luck on my part) and the second half of the day was spent cleaning, which turned out to be sub-par anyway, according to the landlady.
This new place is quite nice ... but I can't stay. I'll find me a replacement roomie and cheaper digs. It's just way more than I need, and to pay for it, I need to be working way more than I should. I'm making some money reading, but it's not consistent, and Cactus Club is scaling back hours across the board. I'd be nice to book a part, but I don't have much control over that.
I thought I had a great chance with a Battlestar Galactica MOW that they're making. Edward James Olmos, the guy I was supposed to share a scene with when I first booked on the show, was directing. I couldn't help but tell him:
"Hey man, I supposed to do a scene with you on the last episode, but they didn't shoot it."
"Well, let's see if we can't get this one," he said.
Well, I didn't get this one, but I came close. But hey, close only counts in horse-shoes, hand-grenades, and US Federal Elections.
My parents came to visit last Thursday, and are currently somewhere between Golden, BC and Banff, AB. We went to Seattle last Friday, which was fun. It's the first major American city I've ever visited, and I got to see the first ever Starbucks. Way cool. I got me $100 in green-backs before going down, but I didn't spend near all of it. I wanted a Pearl Jam shirt, but I ended-up with a Big Lebowksi t-shirt, and Washington University hoodie. Not a bad haul, and the good part is that it's close enough that I can just make a day of it again.
Or a weekend of it, if the Seahawks were playing, for instance.
- Taped an audition for something shooting in Romania.
- Pretty much became a full-time reader.
- Moved.
- Auditioned in front of the guy I was supposed to act with in Battlestar Galactica.
- Visited Seattle.
Let's take it from the top, shall we?
The taping was for a Sci-Fi MOW called "Hellhounds". I don't know who at Sci-Fi is coming up with these titles, but they're brilliant (sadly, DRAGONSTEEL has changed its name to "Mirabilis", which is the name of the world where the story is set. Lame). The audition was for the lead role, which was pretty cool, but they needed to know some things first:
1. Do you have a valid passport? (I do)
2. Do you have any allergies? (I don't)
3. Do you have any tattoos? (I don't)
4. Can you ride a horse? (I ... can, I guess)
My reader for my taping slept past her alarm, so being a little stressed before the taping didn't help. Luckily, my female roommate was able to bail me out, and I gave an audition that my agent called "good work". Well, that's a relief.
I met with him recently, saying that my work is good, but he's not sure why I'm not booking as often. He keeps harping on this "testosterone" thing that he says this town needs. So, we decided an image change might be in order. Nothing huge, just change the hair a little (which I never really cared for anyway) and grow some scruff. Sweet, the beard's comin' back, baby!
He's also worried that I'm reading too much, which is wearing me down a little. I read in the day and I work at night, which leaves virtually no time to go to they gym, or to get anything simple done, like dry-cleaning. I told him that I don't want to be a career reader, but I need the money, and I like doing it. He doesn't mind me doing it, he just thinks four or five times a week is excessive.
The move was the entire day Sunday, helping the movers get everything into the van (except for my bed, what great luck on my part) and the second half of the day was spent cleaning, which turned out to be sub-par anyway, according to the landlady.
This new place is quite nice ... but I can't stay. I'll find me a replacement roomie and cheaper digs. It's just way more than I need, and to pay for it, I need to be working way more than I should. I'm making some money reading, but it's not consistent, and Cactus Club is scaling back hours across the board. I'd be nice to book a part, but I don't have much control over that.
I thought I had a great chance with a Battlestar Galactica MOW that they're making. Edward James Olmos, the guy I was supposed to share a scene with when I first booked on the show, was directing. I couldn't help but tell him:
"Hey man, I supposed to do a scene with you on the last episode, but they didn't shoot it."
"Well, let's see if we can't get this one," he said.
Well, I didn't get this one, but I came close. But hey, close only counts in horse-shoes, hand-grenades, and US Federal Elections.
My parents came to visit last Thursday, and are currently somewhere between Golden, BC and Banff, AB. We went to Seattle last Friday, which was fun. It's the first major American city I've ever visited, and I got to see the first ever Starbucks. Way cool. I got me $100 in green-backs before going down, but I didn't spend near all of it. I wanted a Pearl Jam shirt, but I ended-up with a Big Lebowksi t-shirt, and Washington University hoodie. Not a bad haul, and the good part is that it's close enough that I can just make a day of it again.
Or a weekend of it, if the Seahawks were playing, for instance.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Pending For A Bending
Looking back on my iCal, I've had as many auditions in the past week as I had in the entire month of July. Listen folks, it's slow, it's been slow and it remains slow. "It'll pick-up" is the mantra of my and many other agents, and has been for the past five months or so. Can't begrudge them for positive thinking.
I've been reading more often for the Casting Directors in North Vancouver, due to the fact that one of the girls who reads for them (from my agency, no less) is gone for the entire month of August. It's a great honour just to be asked, and to become a "regular" is even better. I hate to use the word "job" where acting is concerned, but I consider this my second job. Today I found out that I am "the guy" for a feature they're casting called "Tooth Fairy".
Basically it stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson who takes a "The Santa Clause"-esque turn (it's directed by the same guy as TSC 2 & 3) as a nocturnal collector of ejected juvenile enamel. Once I found out about Mr. Johnson's involvement, my excitement regarding the project went from a 7/10 to around 70/10. I'm that pumped that FINALLY, THE ROCK HAS COME BACK ... TO VANCOUVER! I'm a wresting geek and I make no apologies for my tastes whatsoever.
I was given an audition for the project last week, as a guy who trains The Rock in the ways of the 'Fairies. I had an acting coach offer to coach me at 7:30am the morning of the audition, and though hella early, I could not refuse the offer.
"Just be good," he said, "I've had a lot of crappy coachings."
I thought I'd bond with him on that level by mentioning one of the guys who I read for in the audition room, who I felt was not auditioning at the level needed (read: I thought he sucked).
"Quit the job before you get mean."
Wow. That hit hard.
"Quit the job before you get mean, because it'll make your work small. I've just seen a lot readeritis happen, I can recognize the cycle."
I certainly don't want this reading thing to hurt my career in any way. Tonight he explained to me, after I defended myself saying that I am impressed more often than I am unimpressed in the room:
"You're not there to be impressed, you're there to get them the job." Guess I gotta know my role, and shut my mouth ... until I have a line, then I gotta read it.
After the Tooth Fairy audition, I had my agent call about a project called "The Last Airbender", which sounded familiar to me, especially after my agent's comment that it was an "interesting script". Also, the audition was on a Saturday afternoon, which is uncommon.
Here's the deal: it's the live-action version of the Nick cartoon "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (an "Avatar" is a being that can "bend" earth, air, fire wand water, but also it's the title of a James Cameron movie coming out in 2009, so this one has to drop it and stick to "The Last Airbender"). This will also be directed my M. Night Shyamalan whom, whether you've lost all faith in him or not, is an interesting choice to helm a trilogy based on a cartoon. A cartoon with martial arts and cool effects (basically "bending" = controlling the element).
My character was a fire bender, which is the most awesomest of elements to bend ("airbending" is what I do after a hearty bowl chili, "waterbending" is what I do after I "break the seal" at the bar, and earthbending ... you don't wanna KNOW earthbending.) After the audition they asked about any martial arts or dance background that I may have, to which I responded: not much. Sometimes the truth hurts ... your chances of booking the part. I don't want to sound like a defeatist, but I have snowball's chance in the fire province of bending this part, as they're casting a broad net across North America for this one.
Monday I had an audition for a Casting Director that I've tried to see twice, but couldn't due to other commitments (i.e: reading). This one was for an Movie-of-the-Week called "The Boy Next Door", a formulaic murder-mystery that was enjoyable to work on, if only to have fun with genre. This detective stuff is kind of my bag, and certain people should certainly know why.
I just wish I had my trench-coat.
I've been reading more often for the Casting Directors in North Vancouver, due to the fact that one of the girls who reads for them (from my agency, no less) is gone for the entire month of August. It's a great honour just to be asked, and to become a "regular" is even better. I hate to use the word "job" where acting is concerned, but I consider this my second job. Today I found out that I am "the guy" for a feature they're casting called "Tooth Fairy".
Basically it stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson who takes a "The Santa Clause"-esque turn (it's directed by the same guy as TSC 2 & 3) as a nocturnal collector of ejected juvenile enamel. Once I found out about Mr. Johnson's involvement, my excitement regarding the project went from a 7/10 to around 70/10. I'm that pumped that FINALLY, THE ROCK HAS COME BACK ... TO VANCOUVER! I'm a wresting geek and I make no apologies for my tastes whatsoever.
I was given an audition for the project last week, as a guy who trains The Rock in the ways of the 'Fairies. I had an acting coach offer to coach me at 7:30am the morning of the audition, and though hella early, I could not refuse the offer.
"Just be good," he said, "I've had a lot of crappy coachings."
I thought I'd bond with him on that level by mentioning one of the guys who I read for in the audition room, who I felt was not auditioning at the level needed (read: I thought he sucked).
"Quit the job before you get mean."
Wow. That hit hard.
"Quit the job before you get mean, because it'll make your work small. I've just seen a lot readeritis happen, I can recognize the cycle."
I certainly don't want this reading thing to hurt my career in any way. Tonight he explained to me, after I defended myself saying that I am impressed more often than I am unimpressed in the room:
"You're not there to be impressed, you're there to get them the job." Guess I gotta know my role, and shut my mouth ... until I have a line, then I gotta read it.
After the Tooth Fairy audition, I had my agent call about a project called "The Last Airbender", which sounded familiar to me, especially after my agent's comment that it was an "interesting script". Also, the audition was on a Saturday afternoon, which is uncommon.
Here's the deal: it's the live-action version of the Nick cartoon "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (an "Avatar" is a being that can "bend" earth, air, fire wand water, but also it's the title of a James Cameron movie coming out in 2009, so this one has to drop it and stick to "The Last Airbender"). This will also be directed my M. Night Shyamalan whom, whether you've lost all faith in him or not, is an interesting choice to helm a trilogy based on a cartoon. A cartoon with martial arts and cool effects (basically "bending" = controlling the element).
My character was a fire bender, which is the most awesomest of elements to bend ("airbending" is what I do after a hearty bowl chili, "waterbending" is what I do after I "break the seal" at the bar, and earthbending ... you don't wanna KNOW earthbending.) After the audition they asked about any martial arts or dance background that I may have, to which I responded: not much. Sometimes the truth hurts ... your chances of booking the part. I don't want to sound like a defeatist, but I have snowball's chance in the fire province of bending this part, as they're casting a broad net across North America for this one.
Monday I had an audition for a Casting Director that I've tried to see twice, but couldn't due to other commitments (i.e: reading). This one was for an Movie-of-the-Week called "The Boy Next Door", a formulaic murder-mystery that was enjoyable to work on, if only to have fun with genre. This detective stuff is kind of my bag, and certain people should certainly know why.
I just wish I had my trench-coat.
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