Thanks for sticking with me

Hey, I'm sorry I haven't updated this blog in a while- but if you remind me to post something new (thanks Kelly!), I'll will happily oblige! So...like I said I would do back in November, I'm going to tell you a story. The votes narrowed it down to "Fight Club Theatre Fiasco" and "Wait a minute, my character has to make out with a bikini model?" In the end, though, the latter outweighed the former by a whopping two votes to one! But before I begin, I'll give you a speedy update on my life the last few weeks: last Monday I got to be a featured extra (aka you can actually see me rather than just being a blur in the background) in a Boost Mobile commercial as a doctor; I started taking acting classes on Monday nights with the Australian Institute of Dramatic Arts; last Friday I got to be in a short film called "Expired" as a cocaine butler (the film is about a drug addict includes recognizable actors Bob Clendenin and Chris Owen); I've been tutoring three students: Cindi (Lang. Arts), Ronald (Lang. Arts) and Stephen (Math); I have been going to about 6 auditions a week; and I've personally been submitting my headshot/resume to multiple casting directors: Dorian Frankel (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Parks & Recreation), Nikki Valko (Big Bang Theory), April Webster (Criminal Minds), Julie Ashton (Psych), Patrick Rush (Chuck) [quick story about dropping off my headshot/resume to Patrick Rush: when I knocked on his office door, his secretary opened the door and said with one of the sweetest smiles "How can I help you?" Taken aback by her friendliness (most casting director offices are annoyed when I come by with a headshot/resume) as well as her physical beauty, I responded with a "Uh...I just wanted to, uh...Sorry. I guess I just wanted to drop off my headshot and, uh, resume- if that's alright." "Sure, no problem." "Hi, my name is Michael." "Hi, Michael. I'm Georgia." We shook hands and somehow I pulled myself away from that door. For weeks I contemplated living dangerously by calling the casting office to ask her if she would like to grab coffee sometime (and I don't even like the smell of coffee). Our meeting even had me changing the words to James Taylor's song "Carolina In My Mind" to "Georgia In My Mind." Instead of calling her work line for a personal inquiry, I've decided to personally deliver a Thank You card to Patrick Rush for considering me for the Nerd Herd in Chuck and, if I have enough boldness that day, I'll ask her if she would like to chat sometime over a cup of apple juice (or coffee, I guess)]. Oh, about that story I said I would tell...

"Wait a minute, my character has to make out with a bikini model?"

Everyday I submit to projects (called "breakdowns") that are in need of actors on lacasting.com. Many of the projects I am allowed to see and therefore submit to are student films and other non-paying gigs (my agent is allowed to see and submit to all the paying gigs because she's an agent). The benefit of these non-paying projects are the experience, the chance to work with up and coming directors and footage for your acting reel. Back in November I saw a project titled "Calendar Girl" and I quickly submitted without a second thought as I normally do (I usually submit to about 25-30 projects a day). About a week later, I received an email saying that the director of "Calendar Girl" would like me to audition. Alright, I thought, let's check out what this project's all about. I went back on lacasting.com and read the character description: a down-on-his-luck photographer shoots a swimsuit calendar to make money after getting laid off. Interesting- I've definitely never had this role before. I emailed the director back about setting up an audition time and he responded by asking me if I could be in the film at a specific date and time in the middle of December. I said sure- I mean, I wasn't going to complain about not auditioning. I decided I should read the character descriptions for the other roles if I was going to be in the film. Back to LA Casting. I scroll down and start reading about the bikini model character. First off, she was getting paid $200 for her role (all I get is gas reimbursement). I suppose being in a bikini in front of the camera is probably uncomfortable for someone who's not used to it, so I could see why she would be getting paid. The description continued: "...will be making out with the photographer..." Wait a minute. What was that? I'm the photographer. She'll be making out with me! That wasn't in my character's description! Instantly getting nervous- I've never kissed someone on stage or film let alone making out with them- I considered backing out. But I slept on it and eventually reasoned that, hey, I'm going to have do it sometime, so why not now?! To be continued....