So I am so pumped right now. I just got an email from the director of ‘Route 1’ asking me to play a lead role in the privately funded TV pilot that I auditioned for last week. It is going to be filmed on HD and the locations will be in parts of Maine and Massachusetts. I just got the full script and it looks really great, and very funny. I think this one is going to be very cool. Another thing that I am excited about with this project is that I am cast in a starring role. This show revolves around the crazy adventures of these two friends, and I am one of the friends. Getting a lead role is hard for me simply because people just don’t write that many scripts where the lead character is a short heavy guy; people with my body type usually can only expect to play minor and major supporting roles most times. This is why Danny Devito is my hero because he broke through that barrier and moved into leading roles, and he is even 4 inches shorter than I am. Some other actors who have had starring roles even though they did not fit the cookie cutter leading man body type are: Michael J Fox 5’4.5”, Peter Falk 5’6” and a Glass Eye, Joe Pesci5’5”, Robert Blake 5’4”, Dudley Moore 5’2”. I love the internet, it so easy to find information on any subject even short actors.

‘Tis all for now.

Tags: Audition, TV Pilot, Lead Role, Starring Role, Michael J Fox, Peter Falk, Joe Pesci, Dudley Moore, Short actors

So this weekend has been great. It started out with a very cool audition in Boston for a privately funded independent TV pilot called “Route 1”. I had the script for a few days before the audition and I really liked it. I really connected with the character I was reading for and was excited about the audition. One of the ways I can tell if a character is strongly connecting with me is seeing how much I remember after reading through the script once. If after reading through I have the scene nearly memorized I know that this character is going to stick with me. In these cases I don’t have the script memorized word for word but I have the essence of the scene nailed down.

When ever I get scripts emailed to me before an audition I never try and memorize the scene perfectly. I have read in many books that it is not a good idea; each book having a different reason why you shouldn’t do it. I don’t remember the reasons so much anymore, and now it is just my way of doing it. I go in and use the script to prompt my memory, and I don’t worry so much about getting the words exactly. I worry more about doing a good performance and getting the emotion and essence of the scene. I am going on the theory that they are not hiring you on how well you can read a piece of paper, but how you can put across the story. This may back fire some day, especially if the writer is in the room.

So, anyhow, I went in and did the scene with the director and it was great. He started smiling half way through and at the end he said it was amazing or something like that. He said he was even more excited about the project after seeing me read it through. I have no idea if I will get the part, but he seemed to like me a lot. I try not to think about it too much, or get to excited about it, but damn it is tough when they really seem to like you. But I must go back to the old standby and Fire and Forget. Just let it go and if I get a call then it will be a nice surprise and if I don’t it won’t matter because I will be off on some other audition or gig.

So on to the next cool thing of the weekend. This Saturday was the screening for the movie Swink. I met at a restaurant in Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA with five of my friends. We had a nice lunch then all took the subway over to the Kendall Square Cinemas to meet 6 more of my friends and we went in to see the screening. The theater can seat 300 people and it was at least 80% full. The movie looked great, and sounded very awesome. The movie was scored by a very talented musician who created a beautiful extremely professional sounding score. The audience seemed to really enjoy the movie and my character got some nice laughs. After the movie there was an after-party across the street at a bar/pool hall called Flat Top Johnny’s. There was catered food and an open bar for beer and wine. My friends were pretty excited about the free beer. It was fun hanging out with the cast and crew and their friends and family. I ended up signing lots of autographs; felt weird but fun. All in all I had a great weekend. Today, Easter Sunday, I am just hanging around relaxing and enjoying the day.

‘Tis all for now.

Tags: flat top johnny’s, Swink, audition, screening,Donald Foley,
Kendall Square

So April is going to be a little light on the acting front I am afraid. Kind of like the calm before the storm that is coming in May (3 gigs, and rehearsals for a 4th). So, except for maybe a couple of days on the Student Film “188 Minutes” and maybe some pick up shots for “Out of Alignment” and an acting class on Thursday nights not much else is going on. I do have a few auditions lined up, but nothing serious.

The acting class is an On-Camera auditioning class run by CP Casting here in Boston. One of the reasons I am taking the class is that the person who teaches it is one of the main casting director in the area and I want some visibility with her. Her name is Carolyn Pickman and she owns CP Casting. Since she runs most of the high profile auditions for the big budget projects in the area I figure by taking her class I am learning what she expects from actors in her auditions. One of the side benefits is that she knows her stuff and I am learning a lot. Another side benefit is I have met a couple local actors in the class for whom I have seen their work before, but have never met them in person. The two actors are Patrick Pitu, who is starring in “Pretty Dead Things” which I will be acting in this May, and Danielle Lozeau. Both are great up and coming actors.

‘Tis all for now.

Tags: patrick pitu, Danielle Lozeau, april, acting, auditioning

The status of my film gigs present and future.

Underground (75% Shot, Filming resuming end of May 2006) – Underground is a martial arts action movie about a young man who’s life becomes very challenging after a fire kills his parents. He has to take care of his siblings and in an attempt to get some money he enters himself into an illegal fight ring. I play the comic relief character of an inept cop who goes undercover as a gangsta rapper to take down the ring. After a few false starts and misunderstandings I end up joining forces with the young man in an attempt to take down the leader of the ring. We start filming again at the end of May and I have heard that I am in another fight scene, should be cool.

Armageddon of the Kippered Beef Steak (25% Shot, Film Canceled)- Short Comedy (30 min.) about a man who is forced between killing one person in 24 hours, or allowing the earth to be destroyed. This lowbrow comedy is in the vain of South Park and the Simpons. I play a hip college professor who helps the lead contemplate the moral dilemmas he is forced to deal with. The curse I talked about in an earlier post has taken its toll and this movie has been canceled indefinitely. Damn! I was enjoying it very much.

Out of Alignment (99% Shot) - Full Length film about a pilot who gets grounded. I play a comic relief character. I play the small town cop with a bad attitude who harasses and tries to arrest the main protagonist throughout the movie. This movie is almost entirely completed except for a few minor shots. Just some shots of me and the other cop pulling out to follow the main character after he drives by us; just one line of dialog. This will be another acting while driving scene.

A Means to an End (Shoot Delayed Indefinitely) - Full Length crime drama about a streetwalker whose difficult life becomes perilous when she witnesses a brutal murder. I play a not so honest Captain of the local police force. The script is very good, and I am very excited to be involved. However, it looks like this one has been having trouble on the fund raising side. Not sure if this film will get shot or not.

Pretty Dead Things (May 2006) - Full Length comedy horror involving vampires and government corruption. I play a comic relief character. A sleazy pornography director who has no limit to the depths of his immorality. This movie is written and directed by an excellent film maker named Richard Griffin. He has had three of his movies get picked up for world wide distribution: Feeding the Masses (Out Now), Raving Maniacs (Q2 2006), and Seepage! (Q4 2006). I am excited to be working with him again; I had a small part in Seepage.

Elevator Chasers (May 2006) – Full Length comedy about the wry, charismatic career criminal, Johnny Castalanno, who decides to go legit by rolling with a crew of self-titled “elevator chasers” and sue the city for millions by headlining the most flawless elevator scheme in lawsuit history. I have a small role in this film but it is the first speaking role I have had in a film with a budget over $100k which completes one of my 2006 milestones. I am a happy boy.

188 Minutes (April 2006) – Student short film, a dark comedy, about how office workers deal with a bomb threat that keeps them stuck in the office. I have a small speaking role, should be a one day shoot for me.

undisclosed project (Summer 2006) - Lastly, I have another project I was cast in that will be filming this summer. I signed an NDA so I can’t talk about it yet, but it should be a really great opportunity for me. I will post more on this one when I am allowed too.

‘Tis all for now.

Tags: Richard Griffin, Raving Maniacs, Feeding the Masses, gigs, world wide distribution