What's Up - End of Summer

This summer has me feeling all cliche in all the goods ways. Wishing you ‘all the joy that you may wish’.

In Development - Industry Standard

Five years ago, when the world stopped making most things for a year, all there was to do for my wife and me was develop ideas for TV and film.

Just yesterday we learned that a TV pitch document we created for a studio is still used today.

The studio uses it as an example to other writers of how to do a pitch document.

I’m proud. We put in a lot of work on that document, and though the show was never brought to fruition, even creating a roadmap that was emotionally compelling and understandable, especially given the source material, is a win.

The book was very complicated to adapt to TV - it’s basically written like 24 (each chapter takes place in an hour), but in reverse. It was also a bestseller about a highly divisive topic. So, high bar.

Sometimes I find constrictions on a story as helpful, in that they narrow the focus. They create a puzzle of hoops and mazes to jump through that can only yield something creative and unexpected.

What's Up - Next Level

I just closed a deal on an offer to play something a little less henchman thug, a little more small town public service worker.

It’s a step up from roles I’ve played on TV before and one that’s been in the works for a while. It’ll be a great opportunity to have some fun.

The stoke is at maximum level. The cast, directors, writers, and showrunner are all extremely talented. It’s a fun world.

What's Up - The Rule of Booking

There are no rules. Maybe just guidelines - stay loose, swing through, be you on a very specific frequency.

Excited to get back on the procedural horse and have some fun for a couple of rowdy days.

What's Up - Training

The movie I’m working on involves a big fight scene. I’ve always loved fight choreography. It’s all just pretend, until now. I think I’ve rediscovered a new love - boxing. It’s killing the two birds with one stone - trimming down my mass and turning my body into a believable force for violence.

What's Up - Development Wins

While TV production slowly ramps up, I’ve been developing various projects with my people (wife and friends), and just wanted to share some wins there. My success rate with this is pretty solid, so I may soon officially add a second shingle to my shop.

A friend had a rare opportunity to pitch an animation show to a production company with the rights to a very popular IP. He’s a talented writer, been in the running on quite a few ‘lists’ for a screenplay he submitted to ‘the contests’, has some very funny sketch content out there, but not quite worked on TV yet. YET. I’ve been coaching him through pitch after pitch on this, and it has gone as well as it could possibly go, so here we are in the final running, pitching to one of ‘the streamers’. And I’m still in his corner.

What's Up - Tony Awards

Very proud of my wife today for her hard work on The Notebook: The Musical. For her, being a book writer was kind of an invisible job - that is, if you’re doing it right it’s not really noticed. So I know she feels very lucky to have been honored in this way.

It’s a strange thing to parse out the pieces of a collaborative work like this, being that the actors and book are very directly related to the music and direction and design and everything else that goes into it.

On the set of a network procedural, I thanked the director for his help in getting me to where I needed to be, and he kept chalking it up to, “well it’s a collaborative art,” kind of saying - ‘you did this too, and everyone else, no other way it can happen’. It’s true. Which is why those awards shows take so damn long. So many people to thank.

And lets be real - nobody loves a good award show like the entertainment industry. We’re out here congratulating each other left and right. We really do need the validation though - we’re not making something that lasts or that you can tangibly hold. We need the validation as fuel to convince us to keep going on to the next thing.

Also - now a great thing that will never/immediately get old is I can introduce Bekah as my ‘Tony nominated wife’.

What's Up - New Manager

I have joined up with a new manager at Aegis Talent.

Aside from having an amazing person in my corner, their company’s name implies that I will be heading into battle with either a ‘shield of Jupiter’ or ‘mantle of Zeus’. It’s a breastplate or shield of majesty, possibly made of goatskin or covered by it. Adorning myself with a kingly god’s boon can likely only be a good thing.

This was made by AI, and I’m wondering what this great role is that AI thinks I’m bound to play. Looks pretty rad.

What's Up - Work Life Balance

The aforementioned work life balance is a relatively new concept, previously known as life. I’m a fan of the simpler term, but want to acknowledge how one can prepare you for the other.

With my wife out of town for work, I’ve been in charge of the mornings/nights of both children, which has been an adjustment. To all the caregivers who do this always, I am impressed/humbled. It’s a multi-tasker’s dream, and minimalist’s nightmare. Here’s a small stream of consciousness of me in the midst of it at before dinnertime - is she on the couch? no, playing with that - good, maybe a minute then, careful cut carrots not fingers, did he say dad? oh he found it, zucchini? no, still more carrots - is she on the couch? put her in here? no still playing with that, nuggets 20 seconds maybe 25 will he eat some? no, no letters left - what else? has he pooped? when? fiber - apples first so cinnamon doesn’t scatter - does she have fruit left? etc.

It’s a flow, I’m a shark, always moving from one microtask to the next, a flurry of meal prep for three different ages.

When an action comedy project comes through the pipeline, the clearly written character and action gives me a direct path through an enjoyable experience. There are quick transitions that require focus, but none of them feel very challenging given the number of transitions my life requires, and the focus is a delightful break from the frenetic pace of whack-a-mole that happens when two children need different things at the same time.

What's Up - Stylist

Fashion cycles around and around. It’s funny to see kids wearing what people wore in high school. The clothes are getting bigger, the hair floppier, and the pants baggier.

I’m on board with baggier pants, as long as it trends 20s 30s 40s and not 90s. The rest of it I’ll leave at Hot Topic. Skinny pants don’t fit these legs that have to hold up my big ol butt and body. Baggier pants make me feel Swooshy ™. Some kinda karate master, or painter, or jazz dancer - something masterful that requires movement.

Got a big opening night coming up to celebrate my wife’s hard work. Sister in law’s a stylist. Sent along this reference point based on my ideas. We’ll see how close I come to this lewk. This guy is an ambassador from some land of mastery. If I get halfway there I’ll feel great.

Point is - ask your people for help. If I didn’t I wouldn’t be having as much fun with this mission.

What's Up - Surf's Up

Now that the strike is over, work flow can return to normal.

Here is a normal workflow - calm calm calm calm, swell - 5 PROJECTS AT ONCE - GO!

The calm will return, but I’m looking forward to getting ‘the best barrels ever…get pulled in and spit right out…and just drop the lip and smack in WHABAP, drop down - SWABAA, and after that just drop in, just ride the barrel, and get pitted, so pitted’. Look up funny surfer interview for this reference and an internet legend.

Actually, here you go anyway.

Merry Chrimbus - HERE HE IS

What's Up - The Rule of Booking Pt. 5

There’s a strike happening. It’s up and down, talks and then no talks.

Still there are some projects out there, if you look for them. Get back training weekly, get your chops back together, and put some tapes down on the ones that come your way.

One of them catches. It’s the type of role you’ve wanted to do for awhile. It doesn’t rely on your height. It doesn’t rely on your mean mug. It relies on an experience you have every day to your children. It feels like your life, but in a slightly different universe.

Additionally, it’s a film. You can take space to let more of your life in. Unlike TV, there’s not a clock ticking in the back of everyone’s head. It’s all a huge relief. You are grateful.

But then you realize you have to work out the schedule of your real children and this parallel family. Fortunately you have a real wife, unlike the absent one in the story. Again you are grateful.

What's Up - So Proud

This is just here to say that I’m very proud of my wife and the whole creative team behind The Notebook The Musical. My wife wrote the book, and I was just there for support. I’m on Team Jock Strap. Or Team Bra. Or Team Back Brace.

It’s been illuminating to see the degree of talent and work that goes into something like this. I was privileged enough to see the show in Chicago a few times, and it does what only live theatre can do - send you and everyone in the room on a beautiful transcendent journey that momentarily takes you out of time and into the heart of humanity.

So far it’s been a 6 year process, which apparently is short for musicals. I am beyond impressed, and can’t wait to celebrate in the city that never sleeps. Seriously, NYC, why do your trash tracks clang around at 2 am? People are trying to sleep. I love you but you’re loud.

What's Up - STRIKE!

I’m sure you’ve heard. The SAG-AFTRA guild of TV/film actors, including myself, are going on strike.

I’m proud of my guild for not settling. I’ve long taken issue with streaming residuals, their obfuscation of numbers, and plenty of the other issues on the table.

This has happened before - a new technology has arisen that restructures an industry, and for a time those who control the technology realize they can take advantage of this new structure, until the workers realize they must stand together and demand their fair share according to their contribution. The controllers of the technology are only special in that they got there first and were willing to assert their avarice.

What's Up - Downtime

The WGA is on strike, which means the auditions for film and television have dried up.

So, I pivot to another arena of my life. Family, friends, housework, writing my own projects, etc. Our 4 month old baby takes up quite a wonderful part of my day.

Got a moment to catch up with my Texan friend Blake Boyd, a talented, humble, and very productive fellow actor. He gave me some pointers on riding, we talked about scenes we were gonna film, we had lunch, and were serenaded in Spanish by fellow diners.

My horse for the day, Blue, was a big dude like myself, so I was grateful that he could bear my weight. Some places don’t accommodate for big ol butts.

Here’s some shots of us riding around.

What's Up - The Rule of Booking Pt. 4

You’re on paternal leave and auditions start coming down the line. Some start shooting after or almost after your leave is done (which, by the way, as an artist is arbitrary but completely necessary to allow time to adjust to life with a new baby).

Do you…?

A. Turn down the auditions that aren’t worth it.

B. Do the auditions that are worth it.

C. Do auditions while sleep deprived.

D. Book a substantial role on a network TV show.

E. All of the above.

The answer is E. And to sum up all of these series so far - being busy with life is a great reason to do an audition, not the other way around. I’m beginning to think that a little bit of chaos helps with focus.

What's Up - A Tool for Chaos

My life has been thrown into the wonderful chaos of caring for a newborn while also raising for a toddler.

The noise level of these combined events is sometimes counterproductive to focus, especially on creative work.

This ear protection, made to endure the sound of grinding steel, gunshots, and other cacophonies, has stepped up to save the day.

When I have a spare moment here or there, and when my wonderful wife is caring for the joyous noisemakers, these have allowed me the quietude needed to get some small amount of work completed.

What's Up - The Rule of Booking Pt. 3

The Rule of Booking Pt. III - it’s not hard to book, and it never was. It’s fun.

You cannot game the rules of booking. You can’t pretend it’s not hard if it is.

But if there’s any pattern it’s this - you’re busy working on so many different things (creative work included), which creates a state of mind that’s too busy to obsess over your work. You have just enough time to do the work necessary, so you do it, and then share it.

It’s a small relief that it doesn’t need to be hard. But still - you work hard so that it’s not hard. Many of life’s truths are a paradox.

What's Up - Roundup of 2022

Here are some of my favorite things that I watched this past year:

The Rehearsal - it’s absurd where it went and ended up but I love that they basically gave this man the money to take his artistic whims wherever he wanted.

1883 - Oh, you want more story than dialogue? Everything that could happen to you when playing the Oregon Trail, happens here through brilliantly written and performed and shot scenes. Every aspect is fantastic. Also a textbook way to use voiceover like it is here - to frame this violent world through the hopeful eyes of a young woman exploring it. Usually voiceover seems like a lazy way to lay out story. Not here. Taylor Sheriden is one of the best storytellers in the game right now.

Top Gun : Maverick - Just peak action. HRRRGN, HRRRGN, percussively breathe through the sharp turns of this aerial extravaganza.

Reacher - Likely never loved a character more than Reacher, and I think this hunky dude nailed his perspective. Lotta big guy being hungry humor I can relate to, lot of uncomplicated fun of a classic action thriller.

Severance - a slow burn that pays off hugely…you’ll be glad you watched a few too many ‘walking down a labyrinthine hallway’ scenes in the end.

Adam McKay - nearly any of what he touches is thoroughly excellent.

And here are some slight criticisms of entertainment these days:

I can now tell when a show is ‘doing a thing’. Like there were a lot of talks in pre-production about tone, and style, and there are wigs, and there’s some cool color correction, and it just takes me out of it really quickly. Basically valuing style over content. Have a good story first, then have it live in another world. With so many in the TV and film production game, it’s likely just a product of statistics. But it makes me change the channel really fast. And I lament the sunk cost of just creating a mood. Actors fall into the same trap of doing what they think it feels like or looks like instead of telling an authentic truth about themselves. I’ve done it.

I hope we are over saturated with charismatic con men and women. I know people are stupid and believe what they want to believe, and that there will be people who abuse this. I just find it incredibly boring. Yes, people will lie to get what they want. Lotta great performances are highlighting the morally bankrupt. Is that really what you want to do with your life?

Not everything needs to have musical numbers. I think executives really overshot trying to ride the trend here. Sometimes your leads can’t sing that well. It’s not pleasant listening to people who aren’t good singers. Leave it out and let the story do its thing.

I’m very much against throwing violence against children into a show. Likely because I’m a father now. It seems like a cheap attention grab to crudely engineer stakes. Very sensitive to how violence is used so cheaply to garner our sympathy and hatred of the characters.

Hey, but what do I know? I’m just a guy who’s trying to navigate this deluge of content and spot the trends that aren’t bearing any more fruit.

What's Up - The Rule of Booking pt. 2

The Rule of Booking Pt. II - when you leave town for an extended period of time, you will book a Network TV job in another town for an extended period of time.

You cannot game the Rule of Booking Pt. II. The logistics must be so complex to pull this feat off in a short amount of planning time that your brain will be too fried to be excited about the job. It must cost you and your family a small amount of sanity at least. You will have time later to be grateful.