The Name Game

You know in every field, they (who ever they may be) say that it is more important who you know than what you know. I have disagreed with this for years...it is inherently unfair and as an outsider, leaves one with a "no hope" feeling.  I must admit, as so many things and ideas surrounding my ideas on employment have shifted...as have I.  I recently had a very good discussion with my brother over the current state of employment/under-employment or unemployment...  we talked of what is missing today is the "opportunities."  The opportunity to work your way up, to reach the position you want simply through hard work, passion and will.  These days, there seems to be a "Fat Cat Ceiling."  The old guard are protecting their own, protecting their guild and refusing to change.  No, make no mistake, they were given opportunities to grow within a company...to learn new skills...but now, they refuse to move.

I still don't agree with it's "who you know".....I feel it is "Who you are Related to." I have seriously considered changing my name.  Rockefeller, Kennedy, Bush, Frist (in Nashville), Woodruff (in Atlanta), you get my direction.  I know so many actors who get work simply by who they are related to. When I graduated school, the bulk of the students who found work was through working for/with their parents.  I know...what is so wrong with that. Nothing inherently, only it leaves a huge group of talented, hungry and passionate persons left with a hopeless feeling.  Although I am down...failure is not in the falling but in the staying down.  Hope to make my name something....then my nieces and nephew's will have an easier path.

As a post script....all those who have the names already, stop acting like you hit a triple when you were actually born on 3rd Base.

Putting it out there in the Cosmos!

Ok....I am just putting this out there in the Cosmos.

I am giving myself 2 years to "make it" as an actor...although I would be okay if came earlier than that.
It was a huge struggle for me personally to admit it's what I want to do. It still is. The hardest question to answer is "What do you do?" I always skirt the answer with "Hustle"...ha ha I laugh it off, but I don't think anyone knows how are the day to day is.  No place to go...looking for work...filtering through so many "NO'S" and filling like life has past you by.
The reason I started acting is because it was all I had. Seriously...getting background acting work was and is the only thing calling me...I moved here to get into the music industry. That was my background, my education and my connections.  But after hitting a wall for 2 years, I was even more desperate. So it started out as a response to a Craigslist ad for film here in Nashville.  Made that, figured what the heck....my wife sat me down and said "Go For It!" but if you do...go 100%! So I had headshots made, started taking acting classes at night and email my acting resume for anything...I have been in music videos, short films, feature films..all as background acting...but I hope to get a role, even a day player, something with lines! To all those who laughed, and made fun...stick it!

So Dear Cosmos...here is what I want-

Constant and Steady acting work..

To be on Syfy

To be on a BBC Series

To be interviewed on The View (Whoopi has to be there!)

To take my wife to an Awards Show.

and if or when I win....I am thanking her first!

Rolling Rolling

My brother asked me to chronicle my various times on a set of a film or television show. As you know, you usually have to signed a non-disclosure agreement stating you can't tweet/blog/write/take pics/semaphore/smoke signals/ Morse Code....etc anything about the scenes....so I will try my best to give an overview of a day in the life of a Background Actor (I was told not to use "Extra").   My last call was for a movie in Atlanta.  The call time was in the late afternoon, we are told to expect at least a 12 hour shoot...putting cut time at around 4-5 A.M.  I actually prefer late shoots...I would rather get home at 4 A.M. then leave at 2 A.M. .....


So you arrive a little before call time....sign in and fill out paper work  (I-9, Tax info, citizenship/residency,  sometimes age requirements, non-disclosure agreements, waiver of use of image and likeness).
The location was a very pretty rented church, so we parked there and dinner was in their fellowship hall.  So next was dinner...by far the best craft services EVER!!!!  I mean full service food tables, sushi table, carving station (as one who doesn't eat a lot of meat and no red meat, it was welcome sight to see fish!)  Full table of desserts (ever strong willed resisted) and even a band. It was great.

Usually it is a hurry up and wait! So this time was no different...it was 4 hours until we were taken by bus to set. (can't say where or who was there but it was neat)...the shoot was actually a re-shoot from a previous scene....
The Assistant Production Director was our handler...he broke us up into groups (as a Star Wars fan we were named different Star Wars Characters, the jaba's, the ewok's...etc etc)...we served as background patrons at a park....back and forth....back and forth...it truly is so much fun....there is a pause to switch camera angles and shots....you learn a lot of movie magic just being on set.  The positive thing was it was just two scene shot....we called it a little before midnight....it was a quick and fun shoot. You get an opportunity to meet some neat people and at the very least, it's nice to say you did it!

up next....two day shoot next week!