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Read about my 1st year in Chicago - 2000
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Upcoming shows or shoots!
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Films in post production:
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Out there somewhere:
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Today was the first Chicago Improv Festival meeting with Jonathan (Executive Producer) and the three Associate Producers (myself, Don, & Becky). CIF is getting it's own office and next year is going to be bigger and better than the previous. How is that possible you ask? Just wait and see...
I ran lights for Renfield tonight over at WNEP. My buddy Jonathan (who also directed the show) had to go open a different show over at The Skybox Theatre. It was a very different experience for me being behind the scenes. Overall I really enjoyed it. I just tried to become one of the actors on stage, but through the lights. When it felt right, I'd slowing fade. When it felt like a blackout, I'd blackout! So it was pretty cool. I don't think I want to do it again though. I like being in front of the lights!
Today I auditioned for my most favorite role of all time - Lenny in Of Mice and Men. The Citadel Theatre Company of Lake Forest is doing the show. The audition went great. I've auditioned before and made it all the way to the final callbacks, which these were as well. And each time I audition...a f#$%ing GIANT walks into the room. I'll assume he got the part...damn giants.
So Awake in the Night closed tonight. Man...I have conflicted feelings about that show. I really enjoyed being cast in the show because of it's intent - to do a dramatic improv show. The form was very tough to learn, but a fine concept. Then we started to roll and just like all improv, it was hit and miss sometimes. And when it hit, it hit well. But when it missed...boy did it miss!
But something just wasn't right overall. I shouldn't judge, because who the hell am I to judge? But I have to be honest with myself and say that I was hoping for more, and it didn't happen, so in the end I wasn't as happy as I thought I'd be with the show.
Some of my old Second City class and I hooked up tonight to check out the current e.t.c. show. A bunch of people said they were coming and only a few showed up. So that was lame, especially since I had to drive to Indianapolis after the show! But for the ones that showed up, we had a good time. We were hooking up because it had been exactly one year since we all graduated from the Conservatory program. Wow...it's already been a whole year. Seems like it was just yesterday...
I shot another student short film today. This one was called Outside Of This House. I played a small role. It was about a little fifteen year old girl who is having trouble dealing with her older brother going off to college. Their home isn't the greatest to live in and the dad is...let's just say...not so nice.
The son going off to college catches a ride with a friend and I played his father. On the way there, we find the daughter in the back with the boxes...a stowaway!
Overall it was an ok experience. I was really beat from driving back from IN the previous day and I had a show that night too. I think I might be done doing small roles in student films. I need more of a challenge.
Today, besides turning 34, I shot a black & white silent short with Eitan from Superdimona Productions. It was a student project through Columbia College. Eitan is a cool dude with funky ideas. It was a quick shoot, but a lot of fun. I was Humpty Dumpty walking & jumping on my wall (in Grant Park) and who comes along...but ole Queen Alice. She is upset at my jumping and begins to through wads of paper at me. Of course, this makes me fall down and die! It was played over the top comically...like the old silent shorts.
The camera was super old and you could hear the "whizzing" of the film moving and between each shot he had to "wind" up the camera. I felt like I was an old timey actor...cool baby!
It was great to be shooting a film today. I can't think of anything better to do on my birthday.
Well...she's all done! Runaway Divas is finally complete. I can cut my damn hair now! I am so tired of being a blonde!
The shoot today was a lot of fun. It was a runway scene where the lead (Aleksandra - who looked great!) is dreaming of being on the runway. I pop into the frame and give the crowd love and congratulate her on looking wonderful. Afterwards, we all went down the runway crazy-like for cool video footage for when the credits roll.
This experience was really, really amazing. I had a great time with a great crew. I hope I can be so lucky to work with these guys again.
Seven years ago today at 7:30pm, I turned away from making a ton of money running my own computer consulting business and decided to pursue my dream of acting. I've been poor as fuck ever since and never happier. Thanks Tad & Gene'. Check out the Maryland Ensemble Theatre to see where I got my start.
I saw Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo tonight at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Johan Botha played Canio, so he sang my most favorite aria of all time - Vesti la giubba. At the aria's crescendo, tears ran down my face. I don't think I've ever been more moved at a theatrical experience.
I dream of having a performance of mine emotional effect people on that level. Not necessarily causing someone to cry, just to touch people so intensely that however the react becomes an experience that they will remember forever.
I know I sure will...thanks Johan.
So today I shot a quick scene in front of an instrument store for Runaway Divas. It was short and sweet. This shoot is a lot of fun. It's a crazy schedule, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
Speaking of crazy...I saw the premiere of Haciendo el amor...brujo last night. It's a film I did at the beginning of this year. It had some good parts, but it was really weird. It's very hard to describe. I thought it was supposed to be a comedy based on the making of the horror film Amor Brujo, but I don't think that it turned out that way. The best thing I can think of to describe it is, it was an conceptual piece with no concept.
Yesterday, after finishing a scene of Runaway Divas, I ran to audition for Outside of this House. It's a short film and I was auditioning for the role of an emotionally abusive father. It was kinda wacky doing a scene SUPER DUPER over the top, with my hair spiked and way too much makeup on, then 30 minutes later doing an audition where I was practically slapping my wife and abusing my son...crazy world huh?
The Chicago Reader review for Awake in the Night is in:
Last night was the final night shooting the club scenes for Runaway Divas. I was called on set two days ago and not even used. That kinda sucked, but what can you do. Then I was "on call" to be available yesterday and didn't get a call. So I ended up not being able to do too much running around. They are having some scheduling issues, so that's screwing things up. And the makeup artist disappeared too...yikes!
But finally tonight, they called me in and shot my scene. It ended up being the martini and that was that! Even though I ended up waiting around a lot, I didn't care. It's such a good time being on set. All the people running around, all the equipment, all the hustle and bustle. I hope to work on film as much as possible...it energizes me and makes me tingle.
And, my new roommate Mark got into the film and got a line! He was Guy #1 at the bar...yeah Mark!
Well, Awake in the Night is open! The show went well. Again, I think we could have been stronger and there were some volume issues, but overall a good first show. The house was a little light, but hopefully word of mouth will fix that. This should be a good run and I think we are really starting to click as an ensemble.
Today was our tech rehearsal for Awake in the Night. I think it went pretty well. I think we could have had a "stronger" show, but damn, I think I might be a little too picky. We open tomorrow and I think we'll have a good show.
Today I had a IL Lottery audition and then I had to run straight to the set for Runaway Divas. Tough life huh? The audition was super quick and that's always a so-so sign. They are just looking for a certain look and that's that. They were looking for a white trashy monster truck type guy. So, you either look the part or don't. Of course, I guess that's best for a print shoot!
Today was my first day of shooting for Runaway Divas. I just had a quick little MOS scene, so I just sat there giving an approving look to the lead actress...easy stuff!
My costumes, hair, and makeup are completely crazy! This character is WAY over the top and just nuts! It should be really funny. And there's a huge poster of me in the studio, so sometimes I'll be seen with me in the background...scary huh?
Yesterday was my final day of shooting for The Lot. Man what a good time. At the very end of the day, we re-shot my emotionally charged scene from the first day (because of a lighting problem). That was right after I shot one of my first scenes when I have a face full of doughnuts. So that was a pretty cool challenge...go from this funny "ha ha" scene to an intense one. It was fu$@ing great!
I think the pilot should go over pretty well. The characters are pretty well developed, the story is very interesting, and it was a nice ensemble cast. But...it's all in the editing, so we shall see!
Tonight was one of my rehearsals for Awake in the Night. We got a couple of weeks left of rehearsals. I think overall the show should be good. There is a varied level of experience and trust happening, so we've all just got to get on the same page and we should be set.
Tonight we did some stage combat and kissed everyone. It's likely that both of those things can end up in a dramatic improv show. And yes, the guys kissed the guys too...yuck!
Yesterday was my first day shooting The Lot. We shot one of my final scenes, which happened to be one of my more emotionally charged ones. It was an interesting challenge to "get" to that level of commitment to what was happening, when I hadn't yet experienced the things that got me to that point...pretty cool huh?
Tonight was the read thru for The Lot. The producer is pitching this as a TV pilot. It's a good script and the actors seem to be cast well. We all read thru the script and afterwards talked about our character qualities and what we thought made us tick. We also talked about our relationships with the other characters, which I enjoyed very much.
This shoot be a great shoot. I've worked with some of these guys before and they are very professional and strive for a quality product. And it also doesn't suck that it's a paying gig!
I auditioned today for a Chevy truck TV commercial. It was a pretty simple audition. All I had to do was look at a super duper sized hot dog like it was the most amazing thing in the world. I'm not sure how the heck that fits into the Chevy advertising scheme!
I think I have a really good chance of getting this one. The clients were in the room and they were laughing at my reaction shots...so cross your fingers!
Today I auditioned for a TV commercial for US Cellular. It's a campaign that will begin soon with Joan Cusak. I went in, did a couple of quick one liners, and I was out! A super quick audition. They are just looking for specific types when it's like that, so we shall see!
Today was my Second City Touring Company audition. It was overall ok, but it was tough baby. The guy I was paired up with had obviously just started doing improv. I did my best to say yes to everything, but boy-o-boy. Maybe next time!
Tonight, some of my old Second City class and I, along with other recent graduates, performed in the first Best of Level 5 in Donny's Skybox Theater. And...uh...the "best" it wasn't. Some of the scenes pretty much blew chunks and weren't even from their Level 5 show.
It was basically a way to get graduates from Level 5 to come and hear a pitch about the upcoming things available to from The Second City. It was overall a good event...they had free pizza.
Tonight was the first read-thru of The Lot. It's a short film about a family owned car dealership that will be pitched as a TV pilot. The cast is talented and I think the shoot should be pretty cool. I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing this character. He starts off a little goofy (surprise for me huh?) and then has a nice "stand up for yourself" change at the end. It should be pretty sweet!
I auditioned today for a commercial for Archipelago Online Stock Exchange. It was about the two goofy guys who travel everywhere to find the "best" sound to open the online exchange. It was improv and I think the audition went really well, but who knows with this crazy business!
Today I auditioned over my cell phone for a radio spot. At the time, I happened to be having lunch with the director of my next film (The Lot). Since I had to do a "bellowing laugh" I couldn't do it in the middle of the restaurant, so I locked myself in the women's bathroom (the men's was locked already).
It went ok, I think they wanted someone a little older, but it was still a pretty weird/cool experience. Oh the joys of acting!
Tonight was my first rehearsal for the yet to be named two act dramatic improv show. I can tell that the show will be good. The cast is very talented and the director seems to have everything together.
The basic concept of the show is the audience will pick a number -1 through 36. We'll take that number and select one of George Polti's "36 Dramatic Situations." And that becomes our suggestion and off we go!
Today I finished the FanFest gig. It wasn't as lame as I thought it was going to be. It was pretty fun entertaining all the people. The woman who runs the show said I'll have the gig again next year if I want it. Next year's gig is in Chicago, so I'll be all over that!
I auditioned today for a short film that shoots in Chicago and New York. It's about a futuristic guy who has a Virtual Reality video store where people rent memories to become their own. The only problem is, the way you get these memories, is "taking" them from someone else. When he looses a loved one, life altering decisions have to be made.
The audition went ok. I kinda got the vibe that I wasn't right for the role. And my blonde hair probably freaked them out too...DOH!
I got a call today from the director of the dramatic improv show at The Playground Theater and she offered me a part. I accepted! Rehearsals start in a couple of weeks and the show runs Sunday nights, Sept 8 - Oct 27.
I'm really looking forward to this gig. Doing a dramatic improv show should be quite an experience.
Today I drove to Milwaukee, WI for a fitting/rehearsal for the FanFest gig. I thought it was going to be a pretty lame gig, but it turns out that it shouldn't be too bad. If you are a baseball fan, this place is going to be heaven! It's three floors of crazy baseball everything!
I'm not that big of a fan, but it will still be pretty cool. My actual station will be the "Card Flipping Challenge" (see below). I'm on stage with microphone attached to my head and my primary task is to make everyone laugh and have a good time. Sounds pretty tough huh!
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FanFest Card Flipping Challenge Test your skill at baseball card flipping and win cards and other prizes |
Today I flew in from Maryland, played a double header softball game, and had a dramatic improv audition at The Playground Theater...whew! It was for their "Director's Series."
I think the audition went pretty well. I was intrigued by the audition notice, because it said they wanted actors who could improvise (a category I put myself in) and actors who weren't afraid of the dramatic side of improv.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE doing dramatic improv, so it seemed like a nice fit. So, I hope I get this gig!
Last night was the "9th Anniversary Comedy Pig" show in Frederick, MD. Man, it was a really good time. We did some of our most popular sketches and songs and the show was a standing room only slaying hit! It was great performing with my ole' buddies and a couple of new pigs.
That night found me playing a retarded baby bear, a blood coughing up smoker buying a pack of Marlboros, a half naked Irish dancer (ala Riverdance), and during the improv - Bob Dole's penis. What a night!
I can never go out in public again! Today was my photo session at Pete Stenberg Photography. It was for the film Runaway Divas. One photo will turn into a life size poster and the other is going to be a magazine cover. I'm shooting between now and the end of September, so I guess this is my summer do! In case you can't tell, I'll be playing a "flamboyant" world famous fashion designer.
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Last night was my final ImprovOlympic 5b show of Jose Jones. It was an ok show I think. I think we were all a little nervous and timid about it being our last show, but it was still a good time.
So finishing that program was a big goal of mine. My next big improv goals are to get onto a team at IO and to audition again for The Second City Touring Company. We shall see!
I received a copy of Under the Sun today. It's short film I did for CrossEyed Pictures. It turned out really well. The acting is good, the tension of the piece is very tight, and the editing is awesome. It's basically about a guy who gets into a car accident and ends up in limbo (or does he?). I played a guy who does nothing else but play chess in this limbo like place. Except all the pieces are the same color and we move however the heck we wanted to.
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I meet with Charna Halpern & Mike Click today at ImprovOlympic. I'm now the guy that will be selling their "Road Show" and "Business Theatre." I'm super pumped. That's going to be a bad ass time!
Today I drove to Rockford, IL to do DVD commentary for Root Canal. I shot that film last year. It was a cool experience. The film turned out really good. It's very freaky and has a nice dark-like comedic edge. I hated my performance, but I'm not sure if I'll every like watching myself in anything!
Well, it's official. I found out today that I definitely got the John Hancock All-Star FanFest gig in Milwaukee. It is July 5 - 9 and it should pay pretty sweet....sweet!
I think my print ad callback audition (10:55am) went really well. It was essentially more improv and an interview process. The guy I was with this time was really good. The 6 or 7 suits seems to laugh it up at our expense. What a tough life I've chosen huh?
And the commercial audition (3:40pm) went okidoki too. We ran through the script a couple of times on camera and that was that. We all were doing "thick" south side Chicago accents. Kinda like...Da Bulls!
Last night was my first read through of Runaway Divas. I think it went pretty well. There are a couple of people that are going to be very funny in the film. After the reading the costumers went nuts on me with different outfits...damn I'm going to look insane!
Today, I got a callback for the Hollywood Casino print ad...it's tomorrow! And moments after that call, I received a call from a different agent for a DiGiornos Pizza commercial tomorrow. How cool is that!
I had another audition through Lori Lins, Ltd. today. It was for a print ad for Hollywood Casino. I think it went pretty well. They brought two of us in at a time and we just did a little improv card playing bit. The guy I was doing it with was doing it "super big." So that kinda blew. Oh well, what can you do?
I got a call from Lori Lins, Ltd. today. They said that I'm on ice for the John Hancock All-Star FanFest in Milwaukee. I'm 99% in. If I get it, they think I'll be a "card flipping host." I'm supposed to be quick thinking, have a sense of humor, and animated.
I think I could do that. Especially for a $1000.00 bucks or so...
Tonight was my good buddy's (Pip) Second City Touring Company show. It was a great show. After the show, he asked me if I wanted to come up and do the improv set with them. I thought to myself - "Well, I've been bumming around the house all day watching the basketball finals, wearing the same jeans for the past 5 days, the same shirt as yesterday, I haven't shaved or showered yet, and the left over Chinese food is making me fart still." - so I said "Yes, of course!"
It was unbelievable. I've never been actually "backstage" at The Second City before. I was sooo nervous. My heart was racing, my knees were weak...it was great! I hadn't felt that nervous in forever. But it was a good nervous though.
There were about 4 other guests too, including Craig Cackowski (Second City Alum). I had such a good time. I tried my best to have fun and be a good support player. In one scene, from the suggestion of "horny," Craig and I ended up being Caribou with our hands on our head as horns. It was nuts! It was over way too fast though. I could have done that for days and days.
I owe Pip a lifetime of thanks. It's always been a dream of mine to perform on that stage and I guess technically...I have...kinda.
Last night was our fifth show with my IO graduating class Jose Jones & Pacotomo. I think it was our best show yet. We are getting our "show legs" and supporting each other really well. I had the most fun I've had in a long time improvising last night. We've got 3 more Fridays to go. Good times baby!
I received today the below poster for an animated film I did a while back. Pretty cool huh?
Through my WI agent (Lori Lins, Ltd.), I auditioned today for Baseball's John Hancock All-Star FanFest in Milwaukee. It was an improv audition and I think it went pretty well. The other people I auditioned with were really funny and supportive, so I think we all have a good shot at the gig.
If we get the gig, we'd be doing 6 hour shifts for five days at an auditorium of some sort. Either hosting a certain area or walking around doing meet-n-greet stuff. It would be pretty simple stuff. Just basically making the patrons laugh. What a tough life huh?
Today I met with the director and costume designer of Runaway Divas at a crazy funky store called Beatnix on Halsted street. It's got insane clothes and it's in the middle of "boystown." They had me try on a bunch of outfits that glimmered, shined and were way too tight. I'm going to look like a chubby gay pimp from the 60's. They even bought a pair of size 12 knee-high platform zebra boots!
I hope to god this footage never gets out...
I shot my scene in Company of Strangers today. It was misty and chilly and we were outside in a park off of downtown Michigan Avenue. I had to walk back and forth on a wall about fifteen feet off the ground. It wasn't too bad, but I scraped my shin getting up one time. It was tough baby!
I think the scene should turn out pretty good. The character I played was kind of schizophrenic and he mumbled often. But if you want to escape across the Chicago border in the future, you come to me!
Today was my costume fitting for Runaway Divas. I'll have about eight different outfits. They are all going to be LOUD and FUNKY. I'll be pimping baby!
I'll be shooting some pre-production scenes in June and principal photography in September. The director/writer is awesome and I know I'm going to have a super time shooting this. Oh, and by the way, the costume designer is a cutie!
I meet and had coffee with a guy named Eitan today. He is the writer and director of a film called Company of Strangers. My buddy Pish is part of that film and they need a crazy type character to walk on a wall like Humpty Dumpty. So, of course, Pish recommended me!
The scene seems very fun to play, so I'm looking forward to it. The character is the guy to go to in a futuristic Chicago if you want to leave undetected. Here's a snippet:
Last night was my first ImprovOlympic performance level show called Jose Jones! It was a good first show. I think we were all pretty nervous and it made the show a little frantic, but it was pretty good. We'll tighten it up and start rocking real soon. I hope to see you there!
Today was my final ImprovOlympic Level 5b class with Noah Gregoropoulos. Overall, I enjoyed the class. Noah is a good teacher. He pushes people to do good work and gives very direct & solid notes.
I've been taking improv classes almost 7 years straight and I'm officially burned out on classes. I'll be taking a break from taking classes. I need to perform and teach now. I'm scheduled to teach a "Physical Comedy & Character Workshop" at Frankie J's starting May 6th. I'm excited to do that.
I'm also in talks to start traveling this year to teach improv workshops around the country. That will be loads-n-loads of fun! I'd love to spread the passion and zest I have for improv all over the world.
When I moved to Chicago (2 years, 3 months, 4 days ago), I had 12 major goals:
Train at The Second City Conservatory - done
Train at The Annoyance Theatre - done
Train at The ImprovOlympic - done
Get an agent - done
Work in film more - done
Work in TV - done
Do print work - done
Do plays - done
Do sketch shows - done
Start teaching improv in Chicago & around country - starting soon
Get into The Second City Touring Company - not done yet
Get on a team at The ImprovOlympic - not done yet
So, I'm almost done with those goals. Once I've completed my goals, I'll be moving to LA to continue working in film. I must admit...I'm getting the itch and I may be moving sooner than I had originally planned. But that's ok, I'm flexible!
Well, I just got a call from Aleksandra from Monola Productions. She offered me the role of Guiseppe in Runaway Divas! I happily accepted. She said they really liked my audition and she was looking forward to working with me. It sounds like it will be an awesome time. The shoot is in September, but they'll need me before then to do some photo sessions, and pre-production work.
I can't wait. Man I absolutely LOVE doing film!!!
Remember when I said I need to sleep for about a week? I wasn't kidding. This whole past week I've had the flu and been dog ass sick & tired. Sadly, I was in WI and had teach every day, so there was little I could do except rest and take medicine.
Anyhoo, while I was away, I got a call from Monola Productions to do a callback audition today. I auditioned for them last December. I think the callback went pretty well. They seemed to laugh a lot.
The role is a "flamboyant" fashion designer named Guiseppe Velente and the film is called Runaway Divas. I read from the script and then did a little improv. I loved doing the improv part. It was a lot of fun. I'm starting to get the hang of these auditions. You just got to go in there, show them who you really are, do the audition, have fun, and then split. That's it!
They said I should hear something in a couple of weeks. I hope I get this one, it looks like a cool group of people and the shoots should be fun.
OH MY! Now that was fun. The festival is over and boy did I have a good time. I got to meet tons of people and saw some really good shows. I feel like I need to sleep for about a week, but unfortunately, I've got to go out of town for a week to teach workshops in WI. Yeah for me!
Nothing else exists right now except the Chicago Improv Festival!
Today was the Under The Sun shoot. I got there at 8:00am and we started shooting pretty quickly. We shot in a "sheik" bar in downtown Chicago. Zach (the director) ran a tight ship. Everything was really on a set schedule. I've actually never worked with anyone before that kept things so on time. So that was cool.
One highlight for me was after one of the breaks (I took a well deserved nap), Zach had us all rehearse the scene WAY over the top, just to get our juices flowing again. It actually turned out to be SUPER CRAZY and funny. Oh boy...hee...hee...I guess you had to be there.
I supposed to go to a commercial audition in WI tomorrow. I can't! I'm going nutso busy helping out with the Chicago Improv Festival. I'm loving every damn minute of it though. Boy this is fun stuff!
Today was my callback for Diagnosis: Trauma. I don't think it went so well. I've been so crazy busy recently, and I didn't really put enough energy into preparing the script. And I know it showed in the audition. I hate when I do that!
I had my first audition today with my shirt off!!! I know what you are thinking...eeewww! Yeah, me too. It was for a department store commercial and they wanted everyone in just swim trunks. Yep...JUST swim trunks!
It was pretty easy. We just sat in a chair, read a magazine, and "smacked" mosquitoes that weren't really there on cue. What a way to make a living!
I did what is called ADR (Automated or Automatic Dialog Replacement) work today. It was for the film Threshold. ADR work needs to be done when the sound quality of the scene isn't good (camera noise, environment noise, etc.). The whole process was really, really weird.
I had to go into this sound proof booth and listen to my performance that I had done many months ago. It was even difficult to find the same voice that I had worked out for that film. Overall the magic of the sound designer is what made it work. I did numerous takes and she was able to use bits and pieces from different takes. The hardest part was making the take line up with the way my lips were moving. It was definitely a learning experience. But that is one of the many reasons I do what I do!
Today I had a rehearsal for Under The Sun from CrossEyed Pictures. It was pretty simple. We just did a read thru a couple of times and talked about the characters and blocking. I'll have it pretty easy. My character is just sitting at a table playing chess with this other guy the whole time. Did I mention that the chess pieces are all the same color? Freaky huh?
And I also got a callback for Diagnosis: Trauma today. Woo Hoo!
Last night was Adam's show!!! It was awesome. I think he did a great job and the audience really dug it. I was very proud of him!
I did an audition today for Diagnosis: Trauma. It's a quirky dark film. I'm auditioning for the role of a Podiatrist that is freaking out one of his patients. The director seems to really like me for the part, but he said the producer likes someone else...we'll see!
Last night at midnight was the tech for Adam's show (Variety Pack). It was a good time, once we figured out how to plug in the CD player and lights in the IO tech booth! We worked out some staging issues and did a cue to cue, but we never actually got to do a full run thru. That kinda sucked, but Adam is super ready to go. I can tell Adam is going to do a good job and the show should be pretty damn hot.
I shot another one of my scenes for Haciendo el amor...brujo today. It was fun. My character comes in with a small virgin Mary statue and I rigged it up to shoot blood. The scene was me interrupting an old lady auditioning and she runs out screaming...so that was cool.
My good buddy Adam is doing a one man show at the ImprovOlympic this Thursday. The IO does this weekly thing and they call it the "Slugfest." You've got 30 minutes to do whatever you want. It's going to be brilliant. You gotta see it!
ADAM DEVLIN-BROWN
FORCE FEEDS YOU THE
VARIETY PACK
A ONE MAN PERFORMANCE
DIRECTION BY TRENT
Thursday, March 14
10:30 PM
Improv Olympic
3541 North Clark Street
Come see the blasphemy, the cat on wheels, and
other "questionable material"!
Today I was supposed to begin filming a student film called Virtuoso. Apparently they are having script troubles along with other excitement, so I think it's off for good. That sucks huh...
Today I shot some more scenes for Haciendo el amor...brujo. It was pretty much a full day of shooting. So much so that I missed my first Performance Level class at ImprovOlympic. We shot some pretty funny stuff today. The whole damn thing is in Spanish and I can tell it's going to be funny. It's pretty interesting trying to hear my cue in Spanish. Ah Chico!
The film Haciendo el amor...brujo is a comedy based on the actual shooting of Amor Brujo. This film will be screened at the Latino Film Festival on Monday, April 8, Facets, 7:00 PM. I'm thinking about checking it out. It will be kinda weird to see the film I'm pretending like I'm helping to make. Woa..(in a Keanu Reeves voice)...I think I just hurt myself thinking.
I shot some of Haciendo el amor...brujo today. It was just background stuff. I wrestled with a gold circle screen and ate a 12" inch sub. What a tough day huh?
After the shoot, I went to my final level 5 class at ImprovOlympic with Craig Cackowski. It was a good class. He's a very mellow teacher and he gives very good scene notes.
After class, I met with my good friend Adam from my old Second City class. The above picture is from when he rode around the country on his bike. He's bathed since then. Anyway, he's doing a one man show type showcase thing called "Slugfest" at ImprovOlympic. He asked me to give a little direction and help him run the show at show time. I'm supper happy to help. He's very talented and his pieces are going to be great. Catch it if you can - ImprovOlympic - April 14 @10:30pm.
Don Hall of WNEP Theatre asked me to come to the show Sickest F***king Stories I Ever Heard tonight. I went and boy is it appropriately named. It's essentially 5 or 6 people sitting around, playing poker, smoking, drinking & telling sick stories. It was a good time.
He said later in the year, they'll be remounting the show and he wants me to be a part of it. I said sure...that's gonna be fun.
Today was supposed to be my callback for an independent film by "One World Productions." That's the audition where I stood out in the cold for 20 minutes waiting to get in. And they were also supposed to email me a script to work on the sides. They never did...so screw that audition. Sometimes the signs pointing out a bad scene (literally) have to be adhered to.
Via email today, I was offered a role in Redemption. This is the audition that was a complete mess recently. I'm going to read the script and get back to them. My part would probably shoot for about a week in June, so I'll be more available then. We'll see...
I got offered a role today in the film Under The Sun by Crosseyed Pictures. It's a short film so I've only got one day of rehearsal and it's scheduled to shoot March 29. Of course the next day I'm shooting Haciendo el amor...brujo. And then two days after that the Chicago Improv Festival begins! I'll be going nuts, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I also got offered a role via voice mail in Virtuoso. It's the Columbia College student film. I haven't called them back yet, but I have no idea how I'd fit it in! Man, these are good problems...
1) Harvard Prospect (02/09/02) - Northwestern Student Film - The director (from Marietta, GA - my neck of the woods...literally!) and producer were really nice. I think the reading went well. I read for a wise stoner mechanic guy. They also asked for a monologue and laughed in the right spots. I hope to get this one, because they seem like they'd be fun to work with..
2) One World Productions (02/10/02) - Independent Film - After waiting outside the director's apartment building near Chinatown for about 30 minutes in the freezing Chicago cold wind, I was let in by my good buddy Alex who had just auditioned before me. There was no phone in the apartment, so the buzzer wasn't working. To make things more exciting, she had given out the wrong address anyway.
I, of course, expressed my discontent (Get it? The winter of our discontent...ah...forget it.) about standing in the cold, so she sent her husband and young daughter to wait by the door to let other people in. I did my monologue on camera and it seemed to go well. At least the small kid wasn't making noise during my monologue like she was for Alex's. She also asked me to improvise two accents - a "brother" and a "Chicaago guy." That was interesting to say the least. She said she wanted to give me a callback slot and she'd send me a script to work on. For the callback audition, she wants a Polish accent. Somebody shoot me please.
3) Redemption (02/11/02) - Feature Film - OH MY GOD! I have now been to the second most screwed up audition of my life. The first being some TV show series that was an unorganized mess. Anyway, I get there at 6:30pm (my slot was 7:00pm) and there are about 15 people just sitting there. Apparently the camera & and the camera guy are stuck somewhere on a train! I left a little before 9:00pm.
To make things worse, there weren't enough sides to go around and the girl running the show wasn't really running the show. If I hadn't brought my sides, who knows what I would have been reading! I happened to print all the sides that were emailed to me, so luckily other people had sides to read from too...silly huh?
And for my readings...uh...let's just say I could have been reading with pieces of wood and it would have been more interesting.
4) Virtuoso (02/12/02) - Columbia College student film - This was finally a normal audition. I went in, filled out the form, read 3 scenes with two different people, and then left. The director & co-producer seemed like cool guys and the project sounds fun. They said that I should know something in about two days.
Now I truly know what the saying "when it rains, it pours" means. I got a call today from a Northwestern student who got my headshot from a different student (who I didn't remember auditioning for) to audition for her film Harvard Prospect.
It's about this guy who's been in High School for about seven years and he accidentally gets accepted into Harvard. Crazy huh! The part I'm being considered for is his mechanic friend who's kinda like the John Goodman role in The Big Lebowski. Sounds like fun!
So four auditions over the next four days. Man...now this is living!
Boy-o-boy is it audition time! I just got a call today for another audition. He got my headshot from a different audition inquiry...ain't that the way it always works. He even said that someone else saw my headshot and wants me to audition for an upcoming play. Man, I've got to start charging for this work. So here's the current line up:
Break a leg to me!
Yesterday I got a call from Scott Gribble at Wonderdog Media. I did a film with them last year called Root Canal (still in post production). He said that he has a script currently being "tweaked" that he is considering me for. I'd be playing a mayoral candidate who's a not so nice guy. He kills a cop's brother and the out of town cop would be after me. He's looking to shoot it in the fall. I hope it works out, I'd love to play a bald guy! Wait...I meant bad guy...yes...a bad guy.
I auditioned for a film today called Under The Sun from Crosseyed Pictures. It's written and directed by Zach Baliva. I think the audition went well. Zach said he liked it and wants to offer me one of the roles. He's just got to figure out which one. One cool thing is his AD worked on another film I did (Plain and Simple), so that's a good connection.
The two roles I'm being considered for are these guys who are playing chess (with the same color pieces) in this dreamlike purgatory place. The film is about this guy who dies too soon before he shows how he really feels about his family.
I only got to see a few sides today, but I think it's going to be a cool film.
Yesterday was my first weekly meeting for the Chicago Improv Festival. I am now the Education Coordinator and Intern Coordinator. I'm essentially organizing all of the instructors, their classes, the students, and all of the interns. In case you're curious, I'll be going nuts between now and the festival (April 1 - 7).
This past Saturday was Ed Furman's last night on The Second City mainstage and last night was Sue Gillian's final show too. I went to Ed's and it totally ruled. Ed is so insane and funny. Mick Napier & Kevin Dorff were there and they did a great improv song bit.
Last night I was on my way to Sue's last set and ran out of gas on Lake Shore Drive. I'm a complete idiot and when my car's (it's new) gas light comes on...it REALLY means it's out of gas. So when I finally did make it to The Second City, the crowd was walking out the door as I was walking in. I did say hi to Susan, but I didn't say I missed her show. Man that sucked missing her last show. Did I mention that I'm an idiot?
Last night was the final Second City mainstage performance by Craig Cackowski. I saw the improv set and it was awesome. If you didn't know, at the final performance, the person departing chooses their favorite sketches to perform during the set. They often perform crazy & silly ones that didn't make it into previous shows. They also say their farewells to everyone. It's quite a touching experience.
Craig is my teacher over at IO and it was really special to see him do his final set. He's a nice guy and I'm sure he'll do very well in all his endeavors.
I auditioned today for a Northwestern student film called Lover and a Poet. The audition went well with the exception that once I read the sides, I realized that I wasn't right for the role. The role totally calls for a "leading man" type and if there's one thing I'll never be...it's that!
I got a callback today from Monola Productions. That's the film company from LA that I auditioned for on December 22nd. It's a comedy about a modeling agency that takes advantage of unsuspecting women and their money. I'm being called back for a guy who is a "flamboyant designer." Where will I find the motivation!?
The callback is in May and they are hoping to shoot for a month in September. I can't wait!
Today was my first rehearsal for Haciendo el amor...brujo. It was fun, but very different. It's a little strange watching a whole scene in Spanish, not knowing what's going on, and then entering when you are supposed to, and then speak in English. I've got the speaking in English part way down, but whew! This will definitely be a learning experience. We are supposed to be shooting from the end of February till the beginning of May, so wish me luck!
I met with Jonathan Pitts (Producer of Chicago Improv Festival) today and he has asked me to be the Intern Coordinator for the festival. I originally was asked to be a production assistant, so I'm moving on up! I can't wait to help out with the festival. It's an awesome show and it will be a lot of fun being a part of it.
Today was my first Level 5 class at ImprovOlympic with Craig Cackowski. I can tell I'm going to like this class. He has a really good energy and is already giving us direction and notes on how to improve. He seems like a very nice guy and I have enjoyed watching him work on the mainstage at The Second City.
I'm helping out friends Kara & CJ with there 2 woman show called Cowboy Crushes, Prank Calls and The Biblette. I have the very, very important job of running the slide projector. I take my job very, very seriously. I warm up the my right hand forefinger every day in preparation for the show.
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