What's Up - Physical Fitness Order of Magnitude

Last year, my agent asked me if I was ‘ripped’. I had to admit that, ‘no, that probably wouldn’t be what I’d call myself, I’m more athletic’. On the above order of magnitude chart that would likely be 49.

The goal this year is possibly to get myself to Ripped, which is 56.

But also I have my own problems with this chart. It spends way too much space on the out of shape range. More than half. Maybe this is more a reflection on the author’s own negative perception of being overweight, maybe not.

Currently, after considerable effort, I’m proud to say that I’m probably somewhere between 50 and 51.

I’d like to eventually get to a category not really listed here, which I’ve always liked, which is ‘rocked’, or ‘jacked’. That’s somewhere beyond ripped maybe, who knows. We’ll see what my body can tolerate.

Also, who says ‘yolked’? I know ‘yoked’ like you’re oxen-esque, but maybe I’ve been hearing this wrong. I don’t know how egg yolks accurately describe an appearance. Diet yes, appearance, no. Plenty wrong with this chart, basically.

What's Up - Still Dunking

I had felt my knees get steadily weaker over the years, and I had barely pulled off a dunk many years ago. After it I thought, “Well I better stop now, so I can say the last time I checked I can dunk.”

A friend, who is over 6 feet tall like me and was an ultra marathon runner, suggested I check out an Instagram fitness dude - @kneesovertoesguy - to rehabilitate what was becoming a tricky knee.

He provides lengthening workouts to strengthen the joints, and offers insights that have recently been ignored by a lot of weight trainers. After some research, I decided to give a few of his workouts a try. I very soon realized my joints felt more stable.

Cut to a now, a month and a half later, me shooting around at the park. Layups feeling alright, getting some air to slap the backboard easily. No pain in the knees. I’m like, ‘maybe I can do this’.

I get up there, one hand with the ball, but lose the ball with my hand. Still, I take note of how high I am up, and it’s substantial altitude. As high as I ever remember. Okay, now with two hands I launch, and throw it down easily, efficiently, with no pain. (Two hands is harder than one hand for me usually)

I am just one of a chorus of people who are singing this guy’s praises. What he’s proposing isn’t entirely new. Many athletes and trainers have implemented these workouts. He does innovate a lot of new stretches and gradations so that you can ease your way into having bulletproof joints.

Mine are by no means bulletproof. But I’ll take this latest flight test as positive encouragement.

And, if you ever need a mid-life white dude to dunk in your project, bring me in. I’ve got at least one or two takes in me. By the time you read this, probably more.

New Favorite - Val

If you haven’t seen the documentary ‘Val’ yet, and you’re in the arts, it’s worth a look. It’s a look at his life as an actor through the many lenses from home footage that he shot while working different jobs.

Most actors would be happy with the career of this legend. It’s illuminating to see that even he has had his misgivings about roles he has taken, and choices he has made. It’s nothing I wouldn’t expect - I hear most actors, and people for that matter, are always looking toward the next thing, wanting more.

Desire is what makes human beings human. (an insight from my friend Miles)

He ends the film with footage from him playing Jim Morrison, reflecting on his own nature as an artist, and there’s a great deal of synchronicity between the two. He sums up his approach to acting by offering that he’s found a little bit of himself in the character, and found a little bit of the character in himself.

Another inspiring bit was how he unabashedly pursued roles that he wanted, failing more often than not.

Siempre luchando - a favorite Puerto Rican quote of an actor I worked with (Rudy Willrich) that I’ve held on to.

What's Up - Werk

So much of an actor’s work is transitory, and I celebrate that. I love that. We work, share that work, and then it exists only in memory or on screen. You can’t hold it. You can only experience it.

Many other jobs end in a finished product - something that you can see and touch and use. I’ve done some of those said jobs and there’s a satisfaction to being able to hold your work.

For those whose work is creating an experience, it may feel like your work dissolves into thin air. So it can be useful to remind yourself of the work you have done, if only to say hey, I actually did do something with my time.

Here’s my work station with a folder of scripts from auditions, classwork, and jobs that I’ve kept from this year so far.

I’m grateful for the work entrusted to me by my amazing teacher Amy Lyndon, my new team at UGA and AMG, and for future work that comes my way.

If only to fill up this cardboard box, move my eye line markers around, and keep fresh the muscle that expands my understanding of the human condition. Especially if that human condition includes a drawing of superman that looks like he’s smuggling something massive in his underpants.

What's Up - MQBD is back!

Our podcast is back to dropping weekly episodes every Friday!

Glad to finally share these, just click on the logo above for the first episode in a long time.

What's Up - New Rep: Agent and Manager

I’m excited to get on board with a new manager and remuster the forces of my agency.

Together we form a team of kinda strangers/now coworkers dedicated to finding the markets for my strange art and achieving artistic and financial bliss by helping people transcend their lives into new understanding of themselves, their world, and life itself.

An exciting mission, no doubt.

New Content - Demos

Happy to say some recent work has made it through post production!

Relentless Filmworks shot and edited the four scenes you can find in my the new section of my site below:

DEMO REELS

Above is a compilation of short clips of each for a reel that can only be described as sizzling. Watch yourself.

My co-stars were great and can be found making believe around the world in the best possible ways. Cheers to Chase Drews, Paige Simons, Zach Chyz, and Anonymous L. Jones.

Much thanks to my acting teacher Amy Lyndon, who has a keen eye and technique that is rivaled only by Russian Olympic gymnast coaches.

The first day we shot was exactly a year from the time I first met in person with Relentless. It’s been a year.

Wrapped - Reel w/Relentless Filmworks

In the beforetimes, I met with a reel production company and was about to shoot this thing here. Exactly one year later we made it happen.

The goal was/is to get an accurate representation of where my work is now in different genres of TV/film. I’m very excited to see how it turned out.

If anything, it was a very fun exercise in realizing a vision.

What's Up - 10 Videos of Creature Comforts Resort!!!

I’m proud to say I’ve still got some of these animations in the works, and that I’ve put out 10 episodes now!

The excessive talent in my guests here is the real highlight, and this whole thing has lent me a reason to be back in touch with people that I’ve missed since we’ve been socially distancing.

I’m looking forward to doing more, and learning more from the program I’m using. It’s only getting easier to navigate, so let’s hope that shows!

Check out the series on Youtube HERE

Or on Instagram @creature_comforts_resort

Now Playing - The Secret: Dare to Dream (POD)

This here is possibly the first feature film project that I’ve helped develop, albeit in a very tiny way (act breakdowns and troubleshooting plot).

It’s an adaptation of a philosophical book that swept the world a while ago. You may have heard of it, or not.

The result is a little more surprising than what you’d expect.

It was fun to see choices and plot points you’ve come up with manifest themselves in such a well produced movie.

It was my first glimpse into how a feature film gets made. It was illuminating to see the different viewpoints combine to produce this final result.

New Content - Creature Comforts Resort

The critters of Creature Comforts Resort are having a rough time. Their normal lives of luxury have been disrupted by the absence of humans at their resort.

Making this has helped me stay active in a creative project that exercises my talents and connects me with other artists during these ‘times of uncertainty’.

All of the recording was done remotely, and this has been, and hopefully will continue to be, a delightful exercise in exploring my relationship with this very weird year.

What's Up - High Sierra Spot

Did a lil spot for High Sierra Music Festival. Quick turnaround! Looks like an amazing lineup!

What's Up - Paneling at Studio SIXTY 25

This is me experiencing a little bit of impostor syndrome, which, I imagine is an experience many first time panelists have gone through.

These are my questions to myself:

• What do I have to offer to the world of content creation?

• How am I sitting at the same table as a prolific, hilarious comedian?

• And a professional YouTube cook?

• And a professional musician who has built this amazing studio?

• And that representative from a quality mic company?

To ignore these self doubts I focused on the questions posed and tried to add in any new insight if my fellow panelists had covered my sentiments thoroughly. My wife has done a panel before and said this is just how it goes - you hope that someone hasn’t already said what you’re going to say.

That happened plenty, yet I still managed to say something slightly different here and there, and that might be of value to someone looking to make things. To be clear, I have nowhere near the metrics of my fellow panelists.

But one question that I thought was interesting was essentially - how has your content creation changed?

How have I adapted? I honestly don’t think I have very well yet. My answer was that I am thinking of shorter form content. Which is why you’ve seen a couple of animations on my page recently. I’m looking to make more of those. They’re fairly easy to make happen, and I can make them all on my own.

So look forward to that! If you have any ideas for me for animations, I’m game.

Now Playing - Magic Quest Boys of Dragontown

My friends - I am a part of this very fun podcast.

It’s a dungeons and dragons (comedy) podcast. I put comedy in parenthesis, because the story comes first and comedy is subjective. Not to brag, but I play a bit of dungeons and dragons here and there, and some of the most fun I’ve had has been with these guys. We’ll all actors, who like playing dnd. I can hear you cringing, and I concede that there are moments of over-theatricality, but for the most part I’m impressed with the quality of production (music is on point), the fast progression of the story within the sometimes laborious rules of dnd, and the committed character choices of my fellows.

If this at all sounds like your bag, click the logo above to be transported to a magical place.

That place is in between your ears. Join in the fun and write us a review to become part of the story. We’ve got some really talented guests coming through as well. There are a lot of reasons.

Upcoming Shows - Butcher Holler

‘A descent into the male psyche-in-crisis. A linguistic immersive experience entirely lit by headlamps.’

Come join me in the darkness as me and four other dudes sling out Appalachian slang as we spiral into madness.

I’m jumping into the fun for three of the seven performances - 6/14, 6/15, and 6/18

Get yet tix here - https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/5921

See you in the cold dark ground.

Now Playing - The Cake @ The Geffen Playhouse

The Cake has been remounted at the Geffen, and it’s been an amazing transition. The Geffen is such a lovely place to work, and their staff has been extremely supportive of this production’s transplantation from the play’s world premiere at The Echo.

I’ve finally caught a breath to take stock of all of it. It’s been awesome.

8 shows a week - extremely talented cast - amazing theater - I love what I do.

Highlights so far - performing with this cast, under Jennifer Chambers direction; meeting Carl Weathers at the opening; watching my wife’s masterpiece unfold; being sung happy birthday by the audience and cast at curtain call.

Come check it out if you get the chance - THE CAKE

If you’d like a discount code for tickets, feel free to CONTACT ME and I will hook it up!

Press - The Cake (Barrington Stage)

The Cake is traveling, and my voice travels with it to certain productions.

Here's a favorable review (meaning they mention me!) from Berkshire Edge about my voice in the Barrington Stage Co.'s production of this delicious thing -

MORRISON KEDDIE MENTIONED

My favorite part is when they describe me as 'already well known'.

If you're checking out this page, you probably already know me, so I guess that's true?

For Sale - Again on Amazon

It's Groundhog Day again, so I'm happy to relay that Again is now out for general distribution on Amazon. I couldn't be happier with the life this film had in festivals, and that now anyone can see it if they so desire.

If you feel like getting super meta and watch it today, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR.

Just click on my stupid face above to link to the Amazon page.

Press - The Cake (LA Times Critic's Choice)

We've had quite a few reviewers in to see The Cake. Most have been raves, with a small number taking exception to parts here and there.

Probably my favorite review mentioning me says I'm "Also fine...".

It's like 'He was there', or 'he didn't mess up!' But hey, this was the review that was mixed, so I'll take it as a win.

The Cake is a LA Times Critic's Choice and Ovation Recommended.

Check em out -

LA Times

Broadway World

Theatre Notes

LA Post Examiner

Stage Scene LA

The Los Angeles Post

Upcoming Show - The Cake

The Echo Theater Company has been a very consistent producer of really good theater, so I jumped at the chance to be included in this wonderful play by Bekah.

Even after the after-tech run, which are always wonky, I'm confident we've got a really good show here. I had to suck in my tears many times and I've seen it a bunch already. I can't wait until you suckers get in there. Please save your tears in a jar and I will collect them after the show to add to our future pool made of audience tears.

• 6/28 - 8/6 @ various times at The Echo Theater 3269 Casitas Ave. LA, CA 90039

Enjoy your feelings!

For tickets, click on the image or HERE
(or get in touch with me)