Tuesday, July 13, 2010

ACTING!


Yay! Tonight I get to play a dead or dying victim of something. One of our friends is helping his buddy put together some kind of thing, I honestly have no idea if it's a short or a web series or what, and has asked The Beefcake to play a large intimidating man. Naturally, he asked if I'd tag along as a woman who gets to lay on the ground and get fake blood on her clothes, which of course I would. Why would I not?

This will by my third acting job since I moved to LA. The first was Area Five, directed by my buddy Michael Sullivan. I actually had to memorize lines for that even though a certain someone who was supposed to be a real actor did not memorize his lines at all. I later invited myself along to a shoot when The Beefcake and I first started going out, and somehow wormed my way into a voice over job - I have a deep voice for a woman - AND a part hanging onto the leg of the protagonist as he attempts to look very manly. This film is not yet finished because the director lost interest in editing, but I nag him about it every chance I get.

As you know, I don't have a job in the film industry. The first set I ever visited was my own, and it was in my living room. I love being a minor part of a film production because it's my only chance to see how different directors put the pieces together.

Years ago before I'd ever seen a real set, an actor friend of mine was helping his buddy put together a short and I asked if I could help in come capacity - craft services, PA, whatever, and without consulting his buddy my actor friend said no right away. I got an audition for that same actor for a lead in an independent feature and he blew it off, so I guess I shouldn't be too offended. That guy and I aren't friends anymore. I'm pretty sure he's still bartending.

I never understood his mentality. Sure he was an extraordinary looking guy, but it's not like those are all that rare in Los Angeles. If you want to get somewhere in this town, you have to bust your ass and take every opportunity that comes your way.

So I eagerly play Dead Hooker #2 or whatever I'm supposed to be tonight, just so I can lie there in a pile of corn syrup and watch another director at work. I can't wait.

7 comments:

  1. Great!

    Isn't that how Kevin Coster broke in?
    As the dead body in The Big Chill? (apparently his stellar performance wiped out any memories of his appearance in Sizzle Beach)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous8:45 AM

    Since everyone is commenting.
    Here is goes. I think Julie Gray was unfairly treated.
    My message to Julie Gray - you are a unique business woman and very talented screenwriter and I like your blogs and Im a fan of your vision. I find that the bigger you get in this business the more stress one will have.

    So Julie , please hang in there and dont let the guys and dolls on DONE DEAL PRO bother you.

    I find the guys and dolls on Done Deal Pro to be losers and under acheivers. Lots of them are purist loserists.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey don't bring that shit here. This ain't Julie's blog and it ain't Done Deal. There's a reason I've mostly stayed out of this conversation.

    I've always had good experiences with Julie personally and know that she cares about writers, but this whole issue has been mishandled from the get go, and that's all I have to say about it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great! I finally found the place were we deposit our inane opinions that totally aren't relevant to the topic! I knew it existed!

    I think Mel Gibson was unfairly treated. Please hang in there and don't let the guys on Radar Online bother you. I find the guys on Radar Online to be losers and underachievers. Lots of them are purist losers.

    My message to Lindsay Lohan - you are a unique business woman and very talented actress and I like your clothes and I'm a fan of your vision. I find that the bigger you get in this business the more stress one will have.

    Free Polanski!

    ReplyDelete
  5. If you're really interested in doing lots of work for free, our roommate and his girlfriend do lots of web work. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous5:23 PM

    >>I got an audition for that same actor for a lead in an independent feature and he blew it off,<<

    That is crazy. How incredibly unappreciative and unbelievably stupid. He'll be bartending 'til he's 90 with that attitude.

    Sarah

    ReplyDelete

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