The Obvious Choice: #TommyLeeJones #Acting

The Fugitive,

What a belter! Classic 80s action/ thriller brilliantly executed. Right from the single-coloured block letters of the opening credits that date the film around the same time as Bruce Willis' Moonlighting series.

 

It had everything from a one-armed baddie to a precision-grown beard from Harrison Ford, all the while show-casing Chicago as a city of intrigue and beauty. But, it's one small moment that struck me out of the whole film that I wanted to write about and it was a section after a shoot-out hostage situation that left Tommy Lee-Jones' colleague temporarily deaf in one ear. It went something like this:

TLJ

You think I should've tried to talk him down...

AGENT

Yeah. I do. We could've taken him in. You could've missed and killed me.

TLJ

Bargained with him?

AGENT

Yeah - I can't hear anything at all. Could be permanent.

TLJ

You can't hear anything?

AGENT

Yeah. This ear. Nothing.

TLJ

Come here, lemme see. This ear?

AGENT

Yeah

TLJ (Leaning in)

I. Don't. Bargain. 

Did you hear that?

AGENT

Yeah. Yeah. I heard that.

So we learn something about Tommy's character but what I loved about it was the delivery. He made the less obvious choice as an actor - opting to whisper those three telling words rather than blaring them at the young agent. He did the exact same thing when Harrison Ford catches him unarmed in the storm drain earlier on.

HARRISON FORD

I didn't kill my wife!

TLJ

I don't care

Here's the storm drain scene:  http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ11Ws3tqP0

(And why not? That report for your boss can wait 40 seconds!)

He chose to give him personality not bravado. And that goes so much further when watching it back. It's these more daring choices that make the actor which we all strive for and it's this that today is dedicated to: the less obvious choice. I'm not saying 'The Fugitive' is a masterpiece (although it is) or that Tommy Lee-Jones is a diversely capable actor but these moments struck a chord with me and stayed with me a day later. Anyway, I'm off to work with a casting director this afternoon ahead of putting an audition on tape for The States and I'll keep be keeping this at the back of my mind. 

Final thought: Not all people with prosthetic limbs are murderers. Oh and not all men with big beards are innocent.

A Tale of Two Avocados

A short excerpt taken from the diary of Tristam Summers – intrepid colonial explorer

11^th day of November in the year 2012.

It is not without significant pause for thought that I put into writing an event which took place during my lengthy stay on the West coast of the Americas one year hence. My only hope is that in doing so they might serve as a cautionary tale for any future brave pioneers following in my footsteps.

... Having not long moved into my lodgings (a humble beginning but very leafy – very leafy indeed); I was walking from my vehicle to the front door of my abode, laden with shopping bags, when I noticed an avocado on the floor. It was just sat, ex-nihilus, (which is to say out of nowhere (from the Latin ex-from and nihilus-nothing)) in the middle of the path, its shiny green skin reflecting the late afternoon sun like the basking lizards so prevalent in these climes. It was certainly not mine – I have never bought an avocado in my life – and it seemed to be presented so perfectly as if to suggest that I was supposed to find it: As if this very avocado was left for me and for me alone.

I struggled to see how someone had managed to drop what one would unquestionably call a ‘luxury item’ from their purchases (without noticing!!) and not come back for it. Perhaps ... they had completely forgot about it - life must go on after all. Or maybe they did in fact retrace their steps and, seeing it lying there, sullied with dirt and nursing as one would imagine, a significant bruise; wrote it off as inedible. We can only speculate as to how the aforementioned fruit* came to be there and the void it indubitably left in someone’s carefully planned ‘chips and dips’ based evening. Well, devoted readers, I’m ashamed to say that I disregarded this other-worldly message and banished the peculiar circumstance to the darker recesses of my subconscious.

Seasons changed. I devoted myself to my studies. In short, I did what any man could do – I carried on with my life, but there remained a relentless nagging at the back of my mind. Now I am not a God-fearing man but I cannot deny that there are powers that exist far beyond our comprehension, altering in some circumstances, the very paths of our collective fate, as was the case almost exactly a year on from that portentous day - the details of which I shall relay to you now.

I was once again returning from the shops, bags in hand, when what should I encounter on my final steps but an avocado! Brazenly sat there in the middle of the pristine path, mocking me! Well I could scarcely credit its very existence nor could not be certain that it was not the very same avocado come back to haunt me. Everything suggested that it was.

Steeling myself against the implications of this discovery, I shook my head and continued on. “That’s so odd. The EXACT same thing happened last year” I remarked to myself, as I once again failed to heed the signs cast before me. It was not until I had closed the door behind when it dawned upon me! I rushed back out to the path and cast my eyes heavenward, and lo and behold! I saw a sky full of messages, just waiting for their moment on the path; their chance to bask in the mid-afternoon sun. An avocado TREE!! I laughed until I was giddy. I realised in that moment that this foreboding means of communication was merely the road to organic guacamole not a presentiment of evil spirits yet to come. I wondered then as I wonder now, looking up at all those ripening buds, how much time I might have wasted, ignorant to the delights that (literally) lay before me and resolved to let no such gifts be squandered in future.

If this tale of trepidation and intrigue has taught me anything it is that:

"Ours is not to question erroneous avocados, ours is but to eat them."

 

*(yes curiously it is so classified)

 

'A Late Quartet' - Best film of AFM2012 (Walken, Seymour-Hoffman, Keener, Ivanir, Poots)

I want to tell you about a film I saw at this year's American Film Market that in my opinion blew all the others out the water:

"A Late Quartet" is a film about family: A story about a string quartet and its internal dynamics which doesn't exactly scream must-see at first look. Performances from the likes of Philip Seymour-Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener and Imogen Poots will hopefully be enough to get people through the door. Equal parts touching and funny, it holds music up for one and all to appreciate and treats it with such respect that we never, for one beat, question how it can be so utterly all-consuming for these characters.

This is, in part achieved through a masterpiece of a script that takes its time, weaving the various themes together like a complex melody; expertly sowing seeds for later plot turns without labouring them. It's Sorkin-esque without the preaching. Perhaps it's delivery succeeds because it deals with issues that never grow old - love, jealousy, sickness, insecurity, parenting, obsession, infidelity and playing the second fiddle (literally and figuratively).

Yaron Zilberman (who penned, produced and directed) gives a lesson in subtlety which builds throughout, forcing us to care not just for the characters and their imploding quartet but even the music itself. Where on earth Yaron Zilberman (46) has been all these years is a mystery (with only one previous documentary credit to his name) but we can only hope this affords him the chance to do more. The score too, fits seamlessly with the live music, evoking emotions for the characters that far exceed even the pitch-perfect performances from the Hollywood stars. Live action is expertly seasoned with documentary inserts - a Brechtian device that allows us to laugh at old pictures of the actors while establishing the international credentials of these virtuoso musicians.

I've been trying to put my finger on the single aspect of this production that made me identify with it to such an extent. And my conclusion is that it's undoubtedly the story...oh and the script...and of course the cast, and their performances - not to mention the editing and score...and direction.

Perhaps, it's better to say that this represents one of those rare occasion in cinema when everything comes together in thrilling and wonderful harmony. Or as Seymour-Hoffman's character says of 'The Fugue' quartet, it is 'so much more than the sum of its parts'. Go and see it.

Updated 11/11/12: just found the trailer as it is now in theatres:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=NX66lRnNmqs&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNX66lRnNmqs

Current Headshots

 

Agents, Agents Everywhere ....

So last week was a busy one. I've been meeting with theatrical agents (and I'm referring here, you understand, to their vocational calling rather than their personas). Anyway it's a bit early to get side-tracked so... as you know I've been going on about various agents for a couple of months now it seems, so if, like me, you're losing track of all the agent talk and who represents me for what ... at the moment it looks like this:

UK Agent: BWH (Joe Hutton and Bill Petrie (or Bill & Ted if as far as mum and dad are concerned))
US Manager: Schachter Entertainment (Brantley Brown)
US Commercial Agent: Innovative Artists(Michele De La Riva)
US VoiceOver Agent: Innovative Artists  (Luanne Regis)
US Theatrical Agent: ............. [drumroll] .......... Domain Talent (Gabrielle Krengel)

And it's this gap that we were able to fill this week. After a constant barrage of emails from me, as well as new headshots, coupled with the end of pilot season mayhem, my manager set me up meetings with some 'boutique' (code for 'small') agencies for potential representation.

Now this may come as as a suprise to some but I would rather be an hour early for a meeting than a minute late. As such I spend a fair bit of time waiting for the appropriate moment before heading in to a meeting. Nobody however could have anticipated my turning up A WEEK early to my first agency appointment. Impressive, no!?? Only the head honcho, the guy who started the organisation! was in the office at the time and as luck would have it, we had a laugh about it, had a quite long chat anyway and he told me to come back again next week so I could meet with the rest of the team.

I've met with all the arranged agencies since, all with very different feels to them and it was pretty much the same set up each time and I was given the same ever-useful advice from my manager each time - be yourself only far more charming.

Anyway it was at this first meeting that the head agent said that he'd rung the casting director of my last audition (on my manager's suggestion) and that she raved about me. Which was news to me. I don't tend to hear my feedback so this was doubly nice to get. So I am doing it right!! Admittedly I was playing a well spoken MI6 agent - so not TOO far out of my remit but I'll take the praise none the less. Anyway all this goes to explain what I've been up to this week. Now all these informal chats went well, but I got the distinct feeling the same conversations would have gone down even better if my resumé had been more impressive.

Anyway I found myself today in the unlikely situation of being offered representation at three of the prospective agencies and after consulting with my manager and UK agent we unanimously settled on Domain Talent, who seem to have a great work ethic, stunning offices and agents I really got on with. This is great news and I'm ecstatic but I'm also under no illusions - you can't pay the rent with representation alone -if that were the case, I'd be driving my 67 Mustang by now - but hopefully it brings me lots of opportunities and the rest as they say is up to me.

Thanks for looking in guys.

p.s. If you missed my blog update yesterday about my new headshots be sure to check out the older posts in the right side-bar or just click here.

New Headshots

Having signed with a commercials agent recently I was encouraged to get some new headshots taken. Now if you're anything like as cynical me, alarm bells should be sounding around about this time. My current headshots were a little 'theatrical' apparently. I decided to do a bit of research and see what my contemporaries were sporting in the way of promotional shots to see if there was any credence to this view, or whether they were just looking to re-brand me (not as painful as it sounds). A month or two prior to my coming over to LA I'd had some headshots taken by an excellent photographer in conjunction with a shoot my girlfriend and I did for Cosmopolitan Magazine: and seeing as I was quite happy with these (my first techni-colour headshots (which is how they do them over here)) - I was reluctant to bite the bullet on some new ones.


I took a gander at the sort of looks everyone else had. Well, they all had more than one shot for starters and showed a variety of styles which I guess gives them scope for a wider variety of roles. Also, they seemed to be much less serious in expression than any of those I'd had taken, or seen among my industry friends in the UK, so it seems, to use the vernacular, "it's a totally different ball game out here." This was reinforced by my manager who told me to make sure that whatever looks I was hoping to achieve for my new commercial representation, I ought to get a few 'looks' in the leading man mould while I was at it.

I was given a long list of reputable photographers within the industry, so I set about critiquing all of their portfolios for something that I aspired to or appreciated stylistically: their use of lighting, their choice of backdrop, composition, whether they made a distinction between commercial shots and theatrical ones, and of course their price range. I saw a familiar face on one of their websites so asked my mate what he thought of the guy who'd taken his:

"Oh he's great. He'll make you look Like a 9! Not the 4 you are!!"

Praise indeed. I didn't actually go with this guy in the end. It's a very personal and subjective process and I wanted to make damn sure that I didn't saddle myself with anything I wasn't going to be happy with. In this way, Headshots are like a form of marriage: all too often people don't know what they're signing up for. And, to stretch the metaphore, it's really something you only wanna do once. Or at least with a few years gap inbetween.

Most photographers in L.A. set their prices based on the number of 'looks' (changes of clothes) you go for and give you a 10" x 8" for each one (charging for post-shoot re-touches on top). So it's an expensive business and everything can stack up. But, It's also a necessary tool - your first form of marketing in the brand that is 'you' - Yep! Before your demo reel and before your résumé, it's the first point of contact and the first hurdle. I know that I'm preaching like a "how to approach acting as a business" book but this much makes sense to me. So for whatever reasons (and the inherent narcissism that all actors profess to deny aside) you want them to be as good as they can be, so I deemed them worth paying a little more for.

I took a load of screen grabs of the sorts of shots I was hoping to recreate and ran them past my new agent to check we were all on the same page. I had nightmares of... (and these nightmares are figurative you understand - I sleep like a baby) so ...yeah, figurative nightmares about being really happy with the shots, telling the photographer so, and then having to backtrack when they were vetoed by the 'top brass.' Thankfully this wasn't to be.

I decided on Peter Konerko (who had great shots and a really smart website too which didn't hurt) and cannot recommend him highly enough to anyone considering a similar shoot. He took a great variety of shots; theatrical and commercial with backdrops that suited each different styling and, instead of constraining the shoot by charging per look, we discussed what we aimed to get out of it and worked until we'd got it. He even recreated exactly, the shot I was most hoping to get, and I'm pleased to say this is the one my manager has chosen to front my profile on all LA casting formats.

  

 

A Day at the Gun Range

Massively excited. We were off to the gun range. "LAX Gun Club" no less. Having looked into our options, we steered clear of Inglewood's range - twice the price with half the chance of survival - and settled for LA's top spot.

We rocked up at the same time as some kids with a 'Call Of Duty' bumper sticker on their car and Tshirts to match. Did they think this was some kind of computer game where no one can get hurt? I had visions of having to duck for cover and then lay down the law myself but for now at least, everything seemed fine.

At the counter was a vast array of guns... Just Vast. After some indecision, (I was initially tempted by the Colt and then the Smith & Wesson) I eventually settled for the one which seemed to fit my hand the best - a Beretta 9mm. But, before I could even lock and load the thing, I had to be vetted as responsible enough to wield a deadly weapon. I remembered from the only other experience I had of doing this, how strict they were in Vegas, and how you were barely given time to think, let alone load and fire! I braced for the onslaught.

"Name...

Address...
Do you promise promise promise you're mentally stable and won't go 'Columbine' on us?
Great. Lane five is free. What target d'you want?"

'The Barrel' & 'Left Eye Louis' last seen 1998.

'The Red Light Girls' & 'Bullseye' last seen 2001.

Holding my trusty Beretta instantly took me back to my days as a dirty cop working the beat. I cast my tired eyes over the potential 'targets,' saddened at how many of these no-good paper perps I'd put away in my time. Always the same old faces. Nothing changes in this town. Such a waste. And then I saw it. An infamous mugshot up on the wall. But it couldn't be!!!....

"The PaperMan" and I had history. He was wanted for a litany of two-dimensional crimes all over town. Always armed and incredibly dangerous. My orders were to "shoot on site" and I wasn't gonna take any chances (he had gotten away from me once in 2004 when a skirmish in Vegas went South. I wasn't about to make the same mistake twice.) I turned that sucker into a Swiss cheese. Or so I'd thought. But here he was! I guess nothing stays dead in this town. My slacks were dirty and I had three-day whiskey breath but looking at the hit-list on the wall, I had work to do... I tracked him to a smokey dive bar in China town. He wasn't talking so now I'd strung him up. He wasn't going anywhere. it was time to administer some rough justice and I was gonna enjoy this.

If you're on an Apple device click here for video.

And it's incredible - the rush of power, the triumph over your paper nemesis, the self-belief that you ARE John McClane. And suddenly, the absolute certainty that you can only afford one weapon is long forgotten. No self-respecting vigilante would confine himself to one firearm! The Matrix wasn't over-thrown with a single beretta. No sir. Anyway we must have made our way back to the front desk as I now found myself at the counter demanding:

"What's the biggest thing you've got?"

The owner gave us a wry smile and recommended the "DRAGUNOV 7.62" - a semi-automatic sniper rifle: Presumably derived from the Russian - Драгунова: "to blow the head clean off something." As I followed the man's gaze, the ceiling parted, bathing the instrument of death in a heavenly glow that drew me like a moth to a flame. Anyway I must have agreed to pay for it as it was now in the crook of my shoulder, aimed at my arch-nemesis (why won't he die!).

(The Remains of "The Paper Man")

The sheer power you wield at that moment is awesome, in the true sense. If the grim reaper were to cast away his scythe, we would surely meet our maker with the earth-cracking boom of a Dragunov, ringing in the place our ears used to be. The 'Call of Duty' boys heralded us as Gods among men, suddenly shamed by their own selections. And you can understand why - The recoil is staggering, the noise it kicks off is incredible - to the point where people were coming over from other lanes to see what it was we were firing - and the flash from the muzzle is enough to make a lesser man blink. The spent cartridges are ejected so quickly that the ricochet off the side wall caught me on the side of the head (you can see it in the video if you're looking) and hit me hard enough to leave a war wound. So I guess playing with guns CAN be dangerous!!

(War Wound - Lawsuit Pending)

#Nero Live at the #NokiaCenter

This Thursday last was a big one - but I'm a terrible narrator and I'm already getting ahead of myself - first, a bit of exposition:

My friends from London started mixing tracks as DJs more than a few years ago and took the humble name of 'Nero' to put their re-mixes and original tracks under. A record signing later (to Chase & Status' label) and with the addition of another good friend of mine, Alanna Watson, jumpininto the mix they were given the accolade of Radio One's "Acts To Watch In 2011." No small feat for an industry saturated by pop and cheap hooks. Nero graduatlly began to carve a niche for themselves in the drum and base and notably dub-step scene, drawing influences from French Electro as well as mainstream culture and music.

Their re-mixes alone drew fans from various genres. Alanna's lead female vocals have, in my opinion, done so much more than give the two DJ geniuses a voice; her inclusion has catapulted the band into the mainstream psyche and proven the most listened to UK Radio station's predictions to be - right on the money. There's a 'cause and effect' debate in there somewhere over whether Radio One 'called' their dominance or 'created' it but to be honest nobody cares. Their music is phenomenal.

As a friend of the trio I am undoubtedly biased and was a big fan of their essential mix that aired on Radio One but it wasn't until this week that I truly 'got' Nero in its entirety. The idea of getting tickets to see someone mixing tracks in front of a live audience never really appealed to me before: surely they could just do that at home, bring it in and press play. Except that to watch them, surrounded by all the custom designed staging (which was derived from sketches of Dan's), amid all the flashing and strobing choreographed lights and screens, is to appreciate their work on a whole new level. And even more important than all the dressing and packaging - the hard work that they put in to get exactly the sound they've strived for, is clear for everyone to see in the way they move with every grime-soaked beat. It really is a piece of theatre, with every moment planned down to the last second and the set-list has been calculated to keep die-hard fans and newcomers on their toes throughout.

Admittedly, we enjoyed a slightly less authentic experience from the upper gallery and then the V.I.P bar - choosing instead to watch the mosh pit from a distance (placing bets on those quite literally 'punching above their weight') - but this in no way detracted from an incredible night. And while the ringing in my ears and the inevitable 3am burger stayed with me longer than I'd hoped, the memory of an incredible night and the pride of seeing my friends hold a packed-out venue in the palm of their hand, will last until I'm old, grey and deaf in both ears.

Getty Centre

It's in all the guide books. It's renowned around the world. More than a little touristy I know, but while my girlfriend was over for a couple of weeks it worked as the perfect destination to cram into an already jam-packed fortnight (so plenty of touristy updates to come). The Getty Centre! Oh and just in case you were thinking of it, it's not open on Mondays - we made that mistake!!
Instead of charging an entrance fee, the Centre charges for parking and at $15 it's definitely worth it. Next you make your way up the side of what looks like a mountain to the Centre itself. The architecture is sort of Spanish in feel but modern and far more angular. It looks like they made everything out of the same stuff as my Mum's kitchen floor. The views of L.A are impressive and the artwork equally so. Basically (from the little I gathered) some really really rich guy with a massive collection of paintings decided that he would bequeth it to the city so that more than just him and his family might enjoy them.

(This feller was my favourite of all the exhibits - The love child of Asterix & James Dean)

I didn't realise how much of a big deal the complex is and last year I was acually given the opportunity to live with the curator of the Getty Center. As most of you will know, I'd set my heart on living near the sea  - away from downtown and her house was really impressive but it was in Burbank and apart from the studios, dare I say there's almost nothing else to the area. A great little bar called Henry's Hat where we had an entirely free evening - food, drink THE LOT (and got completely smashed I should add) because they cocked up our order. Anyway I'm losing the point.

The highlight was what one of the security guides called the 'Celebrity Impressionists' Room - Cezanne, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh. Everything reminded me of The Thomas Crown Affair, right down to the 'Haystacks' hanging on the wall!

A great way to spend an afternoon. One of L.A's 'must do's'
Thanks for looking in guys

Rodeo Drive: Not my first Rodeo
 

Arguably the most glamorous street in the country, and it feels it. It has all the shops you've heard of - and a whole host that you havn't. It's unthinkable clean and impossibly expensive: and whether it's an entire boutique adorned with fake vegetables (YSL- Call me a heathen but I don't get it), or the sparkling offerings at Tiffany & Co., everything oozes money, (the parking alone is $2.75 per 15 MINUTES!!).

Unfortunately though, for every sophisticated shopper, there are five pathetic, snap-happy tourists gawking at the latest, completely over-priced automobile parked outside.

The trick is to keep your head, stay aloof and not fall prey to ... Damn It!!

 Last time I was here I was a spoilt brat of a teenager being dragged around America on a whistle-stop tour (a trip I would kill for if offered now) and I vaguely remember wanting a pair of Tommy Hilfiger dungarees. Mercifully I was denied. THANK. GOD!! The observant among you will have noticed that I am in fact white! And I have no doubt that photos of such a travesty would have haunted me to my dying days, rearing their ugly heads at the most inopportune moments.

This time I appreciated the spectacle that is Rodeo Drive, kept my McHammer proclivities in check and the set my sights on a Cartier watch, making myself a promise for the future.

Some day.
Thanks for looking in guys.

If you're new to my blog and would like to get a mail when I post my next update put your email address in the box.

Voice Over Demo & Representation

Hi guys,

I hope you're all well. Things have been good here since my last post. I managed to get an appointment, through a contact I have out here, with the head of commercial casting (Kim Byrd) at an agency called Innovative Artists. My manager had been waiting until pilot season calmed down until trying to line me up with agents but seeing as I'd already arranged a meeting, she made a call to see if I could also meet with the voiceover department. They said yes.

I made myself presentable and arrived at the office (which is very unpretencious given their client list) and waited. I'd been told that I would meet two other ladies from Commercials who would need to sign off on me and the head of voice-over. What transpired was a revolving door of people. I first met with Kim as arranged who was lovely. She asked me about myself and told me how they work and a bit about the industry. Obviously I tried to strike the balance between selling myself and letting them actually know what I'm like.

I'd done a bit of research on the department and the people I'd be meeting and I'd synced every form of media to my iPad that I could possibly need (All voiceover spots, Commericals, CV ('Resumé' over here), Showreel ('Demo Reel'), Voice Reel, Headshots from several shoots, as well as stills from productions). In the end I hardly needed any of it but I know that if I hadn't spent ages getting it ready, it would all have been expected of me - that's just how Murphy's Law works.

I was able to ask a few questions of Kim's co-workers based on what I'd learned of them online and tried to show that I was being pro-active about this industry and my choice of career. After all, I am a few thousand miles away from home on a wing and a prayer. They were fairly matter of fact and clinical, and even pointed out that they couldn't have too many similar clients on their books. Although still nice, they seemed impervious to English charm! Especially 25-yr-old (I didn't correct her) white, caukasian males - I was told there are a ton of people who look just like me out here. Who knew?

Next I was due to meet Marcia Hurwitz from voiceover but she had become busy since I'd arrived. I was instead greeted with FIVE of her employees - I'm convinced they were the rest of the department! Immediately I thought two things ....

One) I'm being fobbed off here.
Two) If they're all in here, who's answering the phones!!?

They were all really really nice and filled me in on the differences between the British and American industries. Told me what field they specialised in from celebrity to narration to video-games to commercial to "I pretty much do anything weird that comes in." Thankfully Marcia breezed in towards the end of our meeting and was charm personified. Surely nobody in this industry is that nice? She pointed out being youg AND British was an asset (don't toy with my emotions!!!)

Both deparments told me they would have a think, consult among themselves and come back to me within a week. Next thing I know, I get a call from my manager that evening saying can I get to a voiceover casting for them tomorrow at 11.00. Knowing that my performance would probably be fed back to them, I put in the time preparing it that night and gave my best Cumbrian accent the next morning. It was such a privilege to go in to the Fox studios, meet the casting director who also casts Family Guy, American Dad etc and leave feeling like I'd done a good job.

I snapped this while waiting, got to hear a load of people recording background screams for the show and saw the sound/initial animations for a future Family Guy episode!!!

She was probably the nicest casting director I've met to date, asked if I could come back tomorrow to read for something else and even hugged me goodbye rather than the 'we don't shake hands' that I've become accustomed to. When I got back, I ran some flowers into Innovative to the two departments (you old smoothie Tris ;) ) to say thank you for their time whatever the outcome. Later that afternoon I got a conference call from both managers at Shachter to say congratulations, Innovative would like to represent me for both Voiceover and Commercials!!! I've since been in to read for a computer game where I had to do English, German and Italian accents, Postman Pat and a feature animation with James Gandolfini and Jessica Alba. Given that it's only been a week I asked Luanne when I went in to do some paperwork what had taken so long to get the ball rolling? Thankfully she gets jokes; British or otherwise.

Apparently I'd done a good job at my first casting too which probably helped and hopefully they'll keep me busy but I won't be any less restless until I've booked a job - and maybe not even then! As promised, here are the latest cuts of my voice reel/ demo: (it's also currently the left-most YouTube clip at the top of this blog)

USA & UK Mixed Demo
UK Demo
USA Demo

Thanks for reading & until next time, take care.

Back in LA. 2012.

So I've been back in LA for just over 5 weeks and have fully settled in. I've navigated; battling jetlag, finding a place, buying a car, purchasing a surfboard, repairing the car, going to acting workshops, insuring the car, attending castings, registering the car, joining a gym, smogging the car and getting representation for commercials and v.o. I've met some amazing casting directors, been to some incredible studios, met a classic actor 'douchebag', got sunburnt, been on some hikes, played some Texas hold'em, cycled to Malibu, surfed, been on a yacht surrounded by dolphins, attended an Oscars Party, watched all 8 seasons of Spooks, and am just trying to soak it all up like a sponge and stay open to new things all the time. I've given up coffee, fallen off the wagon, resisted the urge for a bit, only to succumb again- I'm wondering if there are CoffeeAddictsAnonymous meetings I could be a part of?! Whatever-a guy has to Live! In fact I'm just finishing an "Angelina" at my favourite coffee house, presumably so-called because its sweet as a stolen kiss but ice cold and shaken up.

I've been visited by one of best friends from London, been accompanied by two others, reconnected with some mates out here: My gf is coming out for a fortnight, a snowboarding buddy is hooking us up for a boarding trip to Mammoth, 2 kilburnites are driving across the whole of America purely to come and see little old me (well that's how I see it), 2 jet setters will be over with their production company, another friend is coming over from Chicago and a fitness fanatic mate will be moving here from the UK in time to whip me in to shape. I am very lucky to have been kept busy and entertained so far with things on the horizon to look forward to.

I've auditioned to be detectives, students, rock stars, Postman Pat, aliens and today even 3 members of The Beatles - to name a few. Call me a bit 'green' still (despite this being my second pilot season) but the variety and constancy is still refreshing - even with the Californian Sun beating down on you the whole time. But. Anyone who's listened to the Poison classic will know that 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' though and there are obviously times where you can feel completely isolated and mildly insane for what you're daring to believe in. That said this is the Mecca of the entertainment industry and if you're going to aspire to anything, why not this & here?

so that's a general 'what I've been up to' and where I am now. Short(-ish) and sweet.
Thanks for checking in
T

Sent from my iPad