Friends in the biz - NOT!!

If anyone thinks that it's easy to make friends in the acting community. Let me speak from experience. It's not. Building friendships with fellow actors is very difficult.

I'm still trying to figure out why. When I gain some insight as to why that is I'll let you know. In the meantime I'm going to stop trying.

Miss January

It's been a little over a month since I've updated my blog. My wife and I separated recently and it's been a tough time for me personally. I remain optimistic that everything will be ok in the long run.

Last Friday I spent another $160 in gas to make the pilgrimage to Detroit. This time it was for an audition for the movie "Miss January". A movie based on the 1970's porn industry starring Kim Cattrell and Brian Dennehy.

How did I do? Well, I didn't do as well as I would have liked to. I had the two lines memorized as I walked into the audition room. I only had five minutes to do so as I was the second person to be called.

Somehow between talking to the casting director and introducing myself and my character to the camera. The second line I was supposed to read decided to take a ten second hiatus from my memory. Ten seconds doesn't seem like a very long time, but when you're on the spot it seems to take an eternity.

They also didn't tell me where they wanted me to look as I read my lines. So in hindsight I may have looked too far away from the camera. Not my fault since the casting director should have given me direction.

Well it's over now. "Back to reality" as Eminem says in "8 Mile". That song played over and over in my head as I endured the long drive home. Discouraging.... Yes. Am I giving up my dream of being a successful actor? Not a chance.

Callbacks are going to be by the end of this week. Whether I get the part or not they will let me know. I'm setting my expectations very low.

On a brighter note I drove through my old hometown on the way back to my place. I stopped in to see an old friend Travis Miller from highschool. He runs a large farm and feedstore. It was great seeing him after all these years. We're getting old. He's just as grey as I am. He said he had been having a bad day. I hope my visit cheered him up a bit.

I like to think that everything that happens to us in life. Happens for a reason.

My First Movie - Post Production

So on Thursday June 12th the final scenes for "Harmless Thoughts" were filmed in downtown Utica. These required many extras. I posted the info beforehand at Actorspages.org for anyone interested. I haven't asked, but I'm assuming they had a great turnout considering they had the blessing of the Mayor of Utica, Michigan where it was filmed.

Within days they had the trailer finished and posted on their Myspace Film page.

As independent films go. I have to say that the trailer was quite impressive. There are a few scenes in the trailer that really caught my eye artistically. I can't say for sure but I'd wager some money on this film winning at least some film festival awards.

Two frames and some audio from my fight scene made it into the trailer. You have to go frame by frame to see it. There is a scene where David, played by Randy Stetson, walks ahead of the group and takes off his glasses. Then you see Hailey, played by Mary Gibbs, running. Stop the trailer there. The next two frames after the white screen shows me tussling with Jeff Priskorn who plays Young Dale in the film. If you play the scene you can hear the audio of that fight.

My scenes are a bit more lengthly than that but it's a teaser trailer after all. I'm happy with it and as I've already said. It's quite impressive.

Now comes the hard part of waiting for premier night and hoping it does well. Unless something major happens, my next post on the film will be this fall after premier night.

Lottery and Roulette

There is some information floating around on the internet about me and my past interest in creating gaming systems. Namely the "Sedertree Matrix Wheeling System™" and the "Reika Roulette System™".

In short. The personal, professional and financial reasons to leave the lottery community. Far outweighed my reasons for staying. I'm much happier without all of that drama in my life.

I'm not going into any more detail than that.

My First Movie - Production

I was pretty concerned that for weeks before shooting started. A location for my fight scene wasn't nailed down yet. Voicing my concerns first to Gary, and then Megan, the 2nd Assistant Director, once filming began. Only brought reassurances everything was going to be alright.

So I waited, and waited..... Twenty-four hours before shooting comes and goes with still no word on the location. An email to my scene co-star, Kate Mcglynn, reveals she hasn't heard anything either.

What no one is aware of, is that I live five hours away from Detroit. I recently switched to third shift at work and had to take two vacation days instead of one. I have spent $400 in gas at this point for the audition and pre-production meeting. I've got a lot invested here and am prepared to invest more to be in this film.

I begin to prepare myself for the worst case scenario. That possible scenario being that they decided to cut my scene from the movie.

One final email to Megan. "I have to know the location for our shoot by close of business today." I said. Knowing that if I don't hear anything I will be canceling my vacation and going to work instead.

I am relieved and apprehensive to get an email from Gary with the message to call him ASAP. When I do reach him it is good news. We have a location (his house) and he gives me the address. The filming is pushed back two hours because, so far, they have been shooting ahead of schedule. Sweet!!

Even after getting a little lost. I still find the location an hour and a half early. I do a drive by and turn around at the end of the street. I drive by once again before heading out to the main road to find somewhere to kill some time.

A half hour of sitting in my truck at the gas station reading the script and I'm like, "Screw This!"

I pull in and Gary is there bringing out equipment. We talk while he is setting up the camera. He was going to film on the back porch but decided instead to shoot our scene at the front door and yard.

He wants to use my truck in the scenes because it "Looks like a vehicle my character would drive." He has a point given the other vehicles that show up driven by other cast and crew.

Cast and crew arrive on time. We all know that the script will be played pretty loose. There will be a lot of emotion and anger so there will be a lot of improv to "keep it real". Just remember to stay in character and "just go with it."

The one line, and the first one uttered by my character, that is insisted on reads "How's it going chief?" I'm surprised to find out that my character says this in an extremely agitated and angry state. Reading the script, I envisioned a buildup up anger leading to the eventual fight scene.

In my experience, that line "How's it going chief?". In real life is never spoken in anger. It is usually reserved as a friendly greeting between strangers of the male persuasion.

They wanted me to come to the door ready to kick ass and take names. So I tried, and tried, and tried to get that line to come out like they wanted. After some coaching I think I nailed it and the scene was wrapped. We'll see how it looks on film.

The next scene was the actual fight scene.

Already pumped up from the first scene. I knew what was to be expected. A quick rehearsal had the neighbors dogs howling. Several angles, A motion cam, some closeups and an audio take later and my scenes were filmed.

I stayed around partly because my truck was still needed for continuity. I also wanted to watch them film the rest of the scenes. They mentioned watching the playback later. I forgot about it and left before getting to watch.

Gary told me in an email shortly afterwards that the scenes came out better than expected. No pickups (re-shoots) were necessary for any of the scenes I was involved in.

Cool, now I can get my yearly haircut.

In hindsight there were ideas floating around on set that didn't make it onto film. Everything went so fast that no one ever stopped to say, "Let's try it doing this or saying that." I guess it just "worked" the way it went down.

My First Movie - Pre Production

Script, Contact Sheets for Cast and Crew, Shooting Schedule and a welcome letter from the Executive Producer were emailed to everyone working on the project.

A mandatory pre-production meeting was scheduled at a community college near Detroit. I almost didn't make it because the exact location had been pending. I ended up calling one of the lead actors for the info.

Morning traffic and road construction slowed my commute. I arrived with less than ten minutes to spare. The Producer saw me walk in. He called me over and directed me to the meeting.

Almost everyone was there and we began almost on time. Contracts were passed out for everyone to fill out, sign and turn in. The Executive Producer was the first to speak.

Paul Mentier of Sparkling Frog Media LLC came across as a man driven by his work in film. He had many good things to say about the Director and Producer. More importantly he was as excited about making this movie as I was.

Next was Gary Bosek the Director/Co-Director. Gary is probably the most optimistic guy I've ever met. He is very genuine and friendly. He introduced everyone at the meeting and had a good word to say about all who were in attendance.

When he got to me a few giggles broke out when he described the fight scene. Jeff Priskorn, the actor I'm supposed to fight. Is sitting across the room with his wife and co-star, Jacquie Floyd. In character I looked over and nodded to Jeff. Now I didn't catch exactly what she said but the jist of it was to go easy on her man. The giggles turned into laughter and I couldn't help but to smile.

Then Producer and Co-Director Jon Janosko had his turn to speak about the plot of the film. Now Jon is a person that when he speaks you can actually hear the gears of creativity turning in his head. He is methodical, precise and when he's not thinking and talking at the same time. He's approachable and laid back.

The meeting concluded and I had some words with Gary and Jon about the script. They assured me everything would work out on the day of filming and it "Was going to be fun".

I left feeling a little apprehensive about the whole "fun" thing. I'm an actor who has mostly studied drama. I can be funny, don't get me wrong. My one-liners leave my friends, family and co-workers busting a gut.

My feeling from reading the script was that this was going to be a psychological thriller. How do you have fun with this genre?

Little did I know how fun it was going to be.

My First Movie - The Audition

Following a lead from another actor. I scanned the website Mandy.com for any films being shot here in Michigan. Our governor had recently signed a large tax break package to lure production companies to our great state. So I felt that the timing was perfect.

It was on that website that I found a listing for the Independent Film "Harmless Thoughts".

Reading a short description of the film I was excited at the prospect. I researched the directors working on the project. Everything looked to me like something I would like to be a part of.

Not really expecting a response. I sent in a headshot and a brief note expressing my desire to work on this project. The next day the director sent me an email. They needed someone to play the role of "Male Homeowner". This character was required to do a fight scene and carry some dialogue.

Ok.... this I can do without a problem. Then he asked the cursory questions. No problem I thought, piece of cake.

Then came the question that brought me back down to reality. "Do you have any experience in film?"

I was floored... Could it be possible that I would be rejected because I didn't have any experience in front of the camera? I pondered this for a few hours. I recalled a quote from Bruce Campbell where he basically said. If you really want to be an actor just go out and do it. Thanks Bruce!!

So I answered the cursory questions first. Saving the best for last. I was honest and explained how I approached my training to become an actor. After I sent out the email I sat on pins and needles almost the whole time.

I looked at that email response sitting in my inbox for an awkward moment. Taking a big sigh I thought to myself this was the moment of truth. I was relieved when the director said that every actor has to start somewhere. I was still being considered for the part. What a relief!!

A few days later assurances came that I was still being considered for the role. The next time I heard from them it would be for the time and location for the audition.

I arrived early in costume for the part. Not knowing how traffic would be down near Detroit. I sat with my wife at the coffee house until the director and producer arrived. I listened in to their first meeting with the soon-to-be sound engineer.

When the interview was over. Being recognized from the headshot I was asked over to their table. The producer had to leave so it was just myself and the director. His demeanor was pleasant and friendly. I felt relaxed and confident during the audition.

When the producer came back. I was instructed by the director to speak a line to him as he came in the door. He looked shocked for a second before coming back with some improv of his own.

Sitting down next to the director. The producer and I were introduced before the director excused himself. We talked about the film for a few minutes before the director came back.

It was at that moment I was offered the role.

Words can't describe how I felt. My hands were shaking as my wife and I left the coffeehouse. My wife had been listening in and didn't understand why I suddenly began yelling at people. "You sounded so mean and hateful", she said.

We laughed and talked about it down the road at Wendy's over a burger and baked potato. On the way home she called everyone in her address book to tell them the good news.

The Beginning

From a very young age I dreamed of becoming a real actor.

That dream was put on hold for a long time because of commitments and priorities. I never gave up on those aspirations. If it was meant to be, I told myself. The opportunity would present itself when I was ready.

Years turned into decades. The Internet became more sophisticated and I learned that movies weren't always filmed in Hollywood. DVDs began to include special features including behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and commentary. I began to study acting by studying the bonus materials. Friends, family and acquaintances became subjects of study. I tried to incorporate their mannerisms in perfecting various characters.

Now what I needed was experience acting in front of the camera. I was not so naive to think that a forty-something with no acting experience was going to get a paying role. What I needed to do was find Pro Bono acting jobs in Independent Film.

Unlucky for me I moved far away from the big cities. Growing up in rural Michigan, I never liked the hustle and bustle of city life. So when the opportunity to be in a movie presented itself. I jumped at the chance and endured the five hour drive to follow my dream.