Wrapped - The Offer

Got the opportunity to work with an old friend from class in a lil number somewhere between Ozark and Breaking Bad. Not a bad way to spend a night.

Upcoming Shows - The Five Star Weekend

SO MANY PLACES TO READ THE SAME THING!

It’s here! At least the announcement of it being here soon, is here. The cat’s out of the bag, the beans have been spilled, and the butter’s getting hard (RIP CH).

I’m very proud of all the work that has gone into this show. Having an inside view on how the sausage gets made from start to finish gave me a better understanding of the sausage factory that is Television.

If you’re an actor, produce anything yourself. You will learn so much about what your role is and isn’t. It’ll give you more focus on what you control as a performer.

The show is still in editing - a much overlooked and underappreciated job that is absolutely essential. On an indie project, they’re the first person to be paid, because they’re so in demand and undersupplied that they can absolutely ask for and get compensation. So please, don’t be like DeNiro, thank your local editor.

Wrapped - Five Star Weekend in Nantucket

It’s been a little over a week since we returned to LA and settled in after a long shoot in Nantucket.

Nantucket is a darling town full of quaintness and cobblestones, and has some spectacular beaches and good food. Apparently it’s a place for drinking and spending money, but most of my time was spent alternatively watching the kids and enforcing the law in this alternate reality.

It was just a delight to hang w/ the cast and crew on this little island - it all felt like camp (at least I imagine because I’ve never been). We all got our own room assignments, and because the island is so small you’re running into your coworkers on your day off, exchanging tips about where to get the best ice cream (some say Juice Bar, my kids say Jack and Charlie’s).

One of my favorite new things was precision driving an F150 around. When the AD tells me “you were 6 inches off the mark”, I instantly understand how precision the driving is. With the stunt coordinator Shauna whispering directions over an in-truck walkie, and with a pro tip from our truck driving teamster Jared (who has ripped off some impressive precision driving stunts), I was able to pull it off most of the time.

It was so much fun, and now that shooting is all finished, all we can do is wait for it all to cut together and be as enjoyable as the vision and people.

Wrapped - Five Star Weekend in LA

This is a celebration of Los Angeles and its relevance as a hub of entertainment.

Listen - TV and film are going global in the name of cutting costs and bottom lines and all that. But look - you get what you pay for.

The talent is where it always has been. I’m not talking about actors or directors (primarily). I’m talking about crew. It is a professional army of talent who create an environment so fluid that creatives can step in and do their best work. And all the facilitators - the drivers, the caterers, the assistants - they makes the transitions easy, enjoyable, and smooth. Their families are here, supporting them as they endure 6 day weeks for 10-14 hours a day. And they, in turn, support the creative team, who are enduring similar hours and expected to recreate a simulacrum of reality in emotionally charged circumstances. The most efficient system is here because it has attracted the best of the best.

Now let’s talk about the creative team.

This show is stacked with talent in the cast, directors, and cinematographers.

Look at the current cast and creative lineup for The Five Star Weekend and you’ll see what I mean. It’s easy to say yes when the production is in your backyard.

I can’t say enough praise for the talent on this show. I’m ecstatic that this team of stars (cast, creatives, and crew, I’ve also heard the executives are coming along too) get to do it some more on Nantucket. The majority of my episodes are there, so I’m grateful that I’ve only just started.

I really can’t wait to share this work, because it seems like everyone is making it the best that it can be.

Wrapped - Countdown

Here’s my parallel universe clone as imagined by AI in a show I just wrapped with some of the most delightful people to be around.

I got to dip my toe in this thriller as a biker goon and play make-em-ups with people I’ve long admired on TV and film. Everyone in the green room were people I had seen before who gave me the feeling that ‘oh I remember them in a lot of different things, all of them great performances’.

One of the days was a big group scene, so it turned out to be a long day - but was made so much easier by being surrounded by positive attitudes. You forget how much fun it is to work hard and get to that sweet sweet ‘martini shot’ of the day. Makes you respect how hard being a regular on a set is, whether it be cast or crew, because they’re doing this day after day - pumping out the hits.

My son asked me how my job playing a ‘tough guy’ was at my acting work. Very fun, little dude, very fun.

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.

New Favorite - Mr. In Between

This show falls into the fantasy of ‘older guy who is still a badass’. I fully acknowledge this is a feature of this entertainment that draws me in, being squarely advancing towards middle age (depending on what metric we use here), and yet I enjoy it anyway.

I usually internally chuckle at these shows/movies and how ridiculous they are in fulfilling the protection fantasy of older dudes who are righteously violent. I can’t fully invest in the reality of a story if it seems to be fulfilling these fantasies, but I do enjoy them all the same. It’s entertaining, but at a distance. A couple of examples are ‘Nobody’ and the later movies of the series ‘The Equalizer’ - I have no problem with enjoying the entertainment of these, but I’m just bemused by the amount of violence these older gentlemen are capable of inflicting because they’re just THAT GOOD at it. It’s fun, I get it, beware old men in the trade of violence because there’s a reason they’re still alive and all that.

At what point do they stop due to the invulnerable enemy of entropy? Why not see a movie of a badass in a walker slamming people about? Would love to see that dark comedy.

I digress, again - no beef with this genre. I just want to celebrate this show, because the violence within it seems plausible. This fellow Ray here has a sharp instinct for when to use violence, he employs it quickly/usually pre-emptively, he gains the upper hand through tactics (experience), and it ends quickly. He also endures injuries that remain for the entire episode, if not through multiple episodes. He loses things dear to him that he can’t get back. The episodes with his disabled brother are heartbreaking, tackling the pains of a debilitating condition from the POV of the person going through it. Their storyline was incredibly moving and possibly the best part of it.

There’s also a great teen/dad dynamic going on, a few oddball friends that are fun, and a great deal of comedy, often peppered with sage perspectives on how the world works. Also - accents. Good on ya if you watch it.

In Development - TV Greenlight

I know I’m one of a thousand fathers/mothers on this victory/success, but a project I’d been developing/consulting on just got the greenlight. My fee of late has been a character in the project, so I’m looking forward to having some fun on what’s going to be a delightful show.

And of course all of the credit belongs to the showrunner. I’m a big fan of hers. Maybe her biggest? Likely if size is a factor that’s true. I will fight anyone for that title.

The lead of this show was the lead of a show I first booked a featured spot on when I came out here and got into the game. So when it all pans out this will be a full circle kind of thing.

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.

New Favorite - Fallout (TV Series)

Ahhh Hakunin. The beginning of a great journey.

Ol tree in the head Harold. So fun.

Adaptations are tough - especially for something very widely loved. Balancing what fans originally loved, the challenge of creating something new within an established world, and the input of your producers/distributers is probably challenging.

You needn’t read my praise to know that - the new Fallout TV series is widely lauded by critics for good reason - it’s very well done. It’s clear the tone of the game has been translated faithfully, the world design is immaculately detailed, and the story is something new and surprising.

The balance of tones immediately made me think - “oh, these people have actually played the game.” Or more likely, all of the games. The detail on the set and props made me think that the people making them really enjoyed it. The story is familiar and in the spirit of the game, but has its own surprising turns, and actually provides the world of Fallout with more clarity.

I’ve loved the game series since it was in bird’s eye view. Fallout 2 is particularly memorable because of the characters you meet (both the writing and voice acting is stellar). I’m stoked there’s a second season coming, and hope they continue to explore what they can do with this thing.

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 - 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. 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.

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.

Upcoming Show - Rocketjump The Show

I'm on this fun show that premieres today! I'll be appearing later on, but check out what they're up to - it's a mix of behind the scenes, in front of the scenes, and all around the scenes!!!

Here's the latest trailer for it:

Wrapped - RocketJump & FPLA Staged Reading

I'm thrilled to have just wrapped yesterday on a really fun project with RocketJump. I've been a fan of Freddie Wong's for a few years now, so it was like stepping into a really fun dream.

For info on the project, HERE is their creative director Danny Vink.

Check out their videos for some delightful action, special fx, and comedy.

Here is a clip of theirs with Key & Peele that's received OVER 11 MILLION VIEWS!!!

The cast and crew were all amazing to work with, and so talented.

Big thanks to Adrianne and Christopher for bringing me in to read for it! And to Freddie for building his online wizard empire.

On Tuesday night this week was the FPLA staged reading of Sharon Yablon's play Hello Stranger.

The audience seemed to enjoy it, and it was really fun for me to do a play again. You get to ride a story the whole way through, instead of in the typically shorter bursts of other mediums.

This is me lurking behind Heather Boothby. If you want to wander into a backyard in Fontana on El Dia De Los Muertos, this play is for you.

Big thanks to Fresh Produce'd for having me!

Wrapped - Hart of Dixie

I just had the pleasure of returning to Hart of Dixie as Big Tom.

Once again Bluebell was an absolute delight, in no small part due to the efforts of the cast and crew.

In one day I felt like a part of the community there, and from what I understand that's pretty rare.

My contributions - buffoonery, awkward flirting, & repartee.

I hope you're looking forward to the episode...I'll post the air date once it nears.