Is there a future in acting?

This is a periodic journal of events in my episodic career as an actor. I say episodic, because there's nothing really very regular about it.

So far I've done extras work in major features, and small roles in independent film. I'm willing to do the background work in major film, since it's a paying proposition, and there's the opportunity to see the best at work. Background work in unpaid film is just not something I'm willing to do.

Locations have been Ohio, Connecticut, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. I'm willing to go to NYC, NJ or Chicago for an extras role--even if I only break even. Cleveland is still problematic, although it got a little better in the Summer of 2011.

Michigan has been the place to go. I spent more than a month in Detroit, Ypsilanti and New Baltimore in 2010 on four different film productions. Real Steel was the biggest and most challenging: four different background characters in three different scenes.

In 2011, it was Oz: The Great and Powerful (see more below). Almost two solid months of work. I lived in Michigan for that one.

But Governor Rick Snyder worked hard to get film credits withdrawn, and (if history is any guide) that will be the death knell of the film industry there.

Strangely enough, my most recurrent role is that of the undead or zombie. You can read more about that here: The Secret Zombie Diaries.

Enough for now.

Fun Time with the Kings of Summer

If Wednesday's audition was ungodly bad, Friday's filming was terrific! The casting director (from Orlando, FL, I believe) put out an urgent casting call for an older gentleman for the film: "Toy's House" (later renamed "Kings of Summer"). I sent pics and resume, and she told me to report Friday the 13th at a hospital in the east side of Cleveland. I had a scruffy beard, but she said to keep it -- but to bring a razor just in case.

I always check IMDB for info, and found that Megan Mullally was one of the actors. The scene would be in an elevator, and I fantasized how great it would be to be in a scene with Megan Mullally -- and in an elevator!

I talked with Rance Martin and Terry Wylie in holding, but Terry left shortly.

After five hours or so, I finally got wardrobe and make-up. I would be in a wheel chair, being pulled into the elevator.  Basically got a tee-shirt, hospital gown, robe and flip-flops. I met the nurse who would transport me, but unfortunately cannot recall her name. Then we were called to set about 8:30 PM (I got to holding and signed in at 1:30 PM, knowing I would be a little early). At set they gave me a [fake] IV for a drip and oxygen mask. Not too much of me will be seen.

So the scene goes a little bit like this: two younger actors go onboard the elevator, then the nurse pulls me in. The first time in I saw a cute woman with red hair -- it was Megan Mullally! Dreams come true!! The elevator didn't want to cooperate, however.

I can't say too much more, except that there were 12 takes. But we got it right eventually. It should be a very funny scene in the movie! While not grand, this is the type of work I enjoy doing -- at least for now.

Underdogs

Auditioned for "Underdogs" last Wednesday. A youth football feature filming in Canton, OH. Lillian Pyles just sighed when I walked in the door. Then she wanted to add about four or five new lines to the read (despite the fact that she sent me the scripts that very morning). "You can take a few minutes downstairs to learn them," she said.

I've been on sets (many times) when the actors don't know their lines after having had them a week. Just too busy, I guess. But five or ten minutes just isn't going to work for an old actor like me. I told her I learned the lines she sent me. "Okay fine, we'll go with what you have." Even at that, it threw the entire audition off. And she only let me read the lines once (it's been my experience that even bored casting directors generally allow for more).

I'm sure it was a waste of time for both of us.

NYC: I'm Back

After "Oz: The Great and Powerful," my next big adventure was "Boardwalk Empire," starring Steve Buscemi. Grant Wilfley Casting handles extras casting, and I routinely submit. GWC has a policy of hiring only from the Tri-State area (NY, NJ and CT), however, but I keep trying. My last gig with them was "Taking Chance," the story of Chance Phelps, killed in Iraq. He was brought back to Dubois, WY for burial, and my scene was the community memorial service in Dubois High School. A school in NJ stood in for Dubois, and actors were needed who looked like "Midwestern types." I fit the description.

I'm not sure if there was a criterion for "Boardwalk Empire." So far I have been in a speakeasy scene, and an awards ceremony in Enoch "Nucky" Thompson's Catholic Church. I can't say too much more until the episode aires. I was both in the congregation, and later reception. Sitting in church, cross-overs for the reception. The church, by the way, was in Brooklyn.

The speakeasy scene was even better - I sat right next to Nucky's table in the speakeasy. I do have at a small chance to be seen in the scene (but you can take nothing for granted in film and TV).

The Players Club next to Gramercy Park in Gramercy was the location. 

For my role, I bought the glasses at Mr. Fun's, but despite their incredibly low cost (about $3.00), they were very good for the period. I had my hair specially cut for authenticity, and it was re-cut on set by make-up ("We can't use Ohio haircuts here," I was told). My hair was then glued down with "cement." It was as stiff as a wire brush.