Happy Accidents...Tempest

So I am currently in rehearsals for Shakespeare's: The Tempest as Sebastian. The show is being produced by Hudson Warehouse. This is part of there summer festival of free outdoor theater. The venue is the Soldier's and Sailor's monument on 89th and Riverside drive. Tempest runs the month of June, weekends @ 6:30. Followed by Hamlet and then Midsummer.

Its looking like a nice little season.

The choreography of this show is being done by our very own Maria Colaco which, come on, can you beat that?
And talent wise, I'm surrounded by excellent classical actors. If rehearsals are this much fun, imagine what the show will be like.
So on to Happy Accidents:

There is a bit. There is always a bit in Shakespeare, right? Well the group traverses the playing area from audience right to audience left. Enter right. Exit left. Shows we're traveling. Pretty basic concept.
Well..not for me apparently. Or maybe its all my years watching Scooby-Doo as a child. 

So at one point Ariel, not the fish, scares this group of shipwrecked men. Enchanted somewhat and completely out of sorts they run off screaming and wielding swords at nothing.

Well I, of course I did it on purpose, ran off in the wrong direction. This caused my character's partner in crime to naturally follow. A second later we ran across the stage again exiting in the proper direction.
Laughter
Laughter
Laughter
and of course..."Keep it. It's in."
Sometimes its so hard being naturally funny.

I love when mistakes on stage bring about moments that might never have been found or would have been difficult to create without that spontaneous panic that over takes you.

So come on out and join the fun..
Thursdays - Sundays for the Month of June @ 6:30
at the monument at 89th and riverside:




View Larger Map

Officially In talks...

So there is OH so much going on. The past few weeks have seen me sleeping little and waking up way too early. No one likes this, but I'm thankful and fortunate for work. Who wouldn't be? And some of this work is good news and potentially big news.

So here is a quick run down. I managed to snag 2 student films (think they may be for the same class, which will be interesting). One was oh so so-so, but the most recent was filmed in and around Union Sq./NYU property. The actresses who were cast with me were amazingly talented and fun to work with. This comes in handy when having to awkwardly kiss a stranger. I'm eagerly looking forward to the finished products. The one I'm most interested in seeing is a short suspense piece which was written really well. My only gripe is that everything was one take. There were no two takes of any shots. Lots of rehearsals though. So hopefully we got something good. Fingers are crossed for sure.

The film noir piece I'm in is still not done filming. These guys have a great crew and a great idea. Whatever comes of it will surely be attached to my reel, however they just can't seem to get things together to finish up these last few shots. We've rescheduled I don't know how many times. We finally managed to get a good chunk of filming done about 3 weeks ago, but now with my schedule rapidly filling up :), and trying to coordinate a cast of working actors, these poor guys are running out of time.

How available can I keep myself, for how long, you know? They aren't overly organized so its a little annoying to schedule with them. The last shoot I got a call the day before from the director wanting to go over "the details of tomorrow's shoot." Bear in mind I had no idea i had agreed to shoot that day. No one had contacted me...and I found out NO ONE was contacted about it prior to that evening. I know film is stressful for everyone, but its nice to be in the loop, you know? Fortunately I had off from work and could be there.

So that is still floating out there and I'm waiting patiently for an email or two.

And now on to shows:

"Uncle Bruce Says its Cool"
presented by MariaColacoDance

An evening of dance works by MariaColacoDance exploring the concepts of loneliness, acceptance and trying really hard to make a friend.
Combining in-your-face dance with causal on-stage banter and video imagery in an updated Vertovian style, this is a modern dance concert in the tradition of an indie rock show.
You should come!
Uncle Bruce says it's cool.

We're performing as part of the 'boogie down in the Bronx' series at BAAD.
Performances are 5/21 and 5/21 @ 8 p.m.

Lots of energy, lots of movement, and lots of pain. I'm soo very sore from rehearsals and not looking forward to this weekends round of rehearsals. But Its that good type of sore, right? Anyway...come out!

"The Tempest"
presented by Hudsonwarehouse

I've been cast as Sebastian in the Hudson Warehouse's June Production of the Tempest By William Shakespeare. The show runs weekends in June at about 8 pm. The park we're using is 86th and riverside drive I believe. As i get closer to the run I'll post more information. its good to be working on Shakespeare again, and outdoor summer Shakespeare..there really isn't anything better.

A quick little mention of A World of her PWN. Its going well and this weekend is the filming of Ep 5. i am not in 5, BUT it should be fun and a very good episode from what I hear. Updates to follow..

So the BIG news......

I'm currently in talks for something really big, I don't want to say more. I know that's really vague, but I don't want to jinx it. I just more so want positive energy sent my way. I've had an initial meeting which could not have gone better despite my nerves. This past week I had a one on one workshop/audition which could have gone better. But lets face it, they always can.
The project this is for is currently running and I've been invited to see this year's show and meet the artistic director. I think that is a good sign. So many things are up in the air and it is a total crap shoot. And its one of those things that I wasn't expecting, but popped up out of nowhere.

And now...of course...I want it soo bad. Isn't that always the way?

So this is me for now and I'll update as I hear and post projects as I get them.

Yes...Queef in my Pants

I said it, I know.  Queef.

A dear dear friend, Lauren Olipra and her friends out in L.A. have put together a women's response to the SNL digital video 'Jizz in my Pants.'

And yes its called "Queef In My Pants."

From the youtube description:  

"This is the female response to SNL's Jizz In My Pants. Starring Marty, Lee Haven, Lauren. 

Directed by Marty. Co-written by Marty and Lauren. Camera by Neil. Music by Freedom Hill. 

Special thanks to V Lounge in Santa Monica. Lonely Betch Productions. 

Enjoy and spread the queef."

So do like the ladies say, and enjoy...

---with, Jess Busterna as 'the jew'

A World of Her PWN ep 4!

Good evening Ladies and gentlemen.

The latest and greatest episode of A World of her PWN is now live and viewable over at the escapist Magazine.

This newest episode "No Rest for the Wii-cked" pits Sam against her Wii after a 2 week bout of pining for Rick.  She is unknowingly sucked into a game of silent hill and tormented until finally being 'snapped out of it' by yours truly.  Please watch below or head over to the escapist.  Watch it there and comment and maybe wander around their site.  Its choc full of video game goodies, like updates about the new ghostbusters game!  

 

I do hope you enjoy the episode.  While its mainly a take off of Silent there are a few references that had me laughing when I watched the final cut.  And I know the jokes...so you know its gotta be funny.

Enjoy!  And remember if you like what you see, comment, or join the mailing list fishpasteproductions@gmail.com.  Or join us over on facebook!  Lots of options, I know.

And the episode:

Penny Dreadful Ep 12 (The End)

So this past weekend at the Brick Theater in Brooklyn was the final installment of Penny Dreadful.  The ongoing theatrical serial which I have had the fortune to be a part of.  The project started in the late fall of 2007 by Matt Gray and Bryan Enk in conjunction with the Third Lows.  Quite a run if you ask me.  The project follows the life and adventures of the Magician Viernik and the ex Pinkerton Detective Leslie Caldwell.  The series spans a century of historical events and the stage hosts a parade of historical characters all cleverly intertwined to tell this amazing story.

In this production I had the great pleasure of being cast as Harry Houdini.  A Houdini who becomes quite an ass as the story unfolds.

I want to thank everyone who has come out to support Penny these past months and who have watched it online.  Episode 11 is currently viewable 

HERE!

And this past and final Episode, 12, will be uploaded shortly.

To anyone who finds there way to this blog and is curious about any project helmed by the thirdlows, Matt Gray,or Bryan Enk...by all means jump at the chance to work with them.

I am so sad to say goodbye to Houdini and his porkpie hat, but am reveling in the ending to this huge undertaking of a series.

SAG Waiver #2

So good news campers!!

Last week I was called in to do some extra work on the upcoming series, The Unusuals.  Its being filmed at Brooklyn's navy yards turned film studio...

Thats right.  Steiner Studios.

SO i travelled to Brooklyn this past monday for background work.  Work which i was called in specifically for.  I got the call on Friday which was a garaunteed SAG Waiver.  A waiver, or voucher, means that for the day a non-union actor is treated like a union member for a number of reasons.  After doing this 3 times you can become a member of the union.  My hair..i think.  So simple.  I was being called in, not really for extra work, but to have my mug shot taken.  I'm going to be a picture in a book that some female victim is looking through.  

My big break eh?

So I don't know when the episode airs, but it was the quickest shoot i've ever been on.  I was there for 30 minutes.  In and out and got a waiver plus SAG wage.  You really can't ask for anything better than that.

So after I was done..I wandered around for a little bit..

This is a morgue set, i believe.  So very cool to see.  An entire room built inside a huge soundstage.

And here is a shot of the very same morgue, from the outside.

And here is the main hallway that connects all the soundstages, Damages, to Unusuals, etc.  Cool to just wander down.

So the travel time to get to and from the shoot took longer than the shoot itself.  But in the end, I am now the proud owner of 2...count 'em, 2 SAG waivers.  1 more to go and then I can shell out tons of cash to get paid higher wages.  And then?  The moon!

It was very fun to just wander around, not something i think they let most people do, but I got to see the inner workings and goings on of a movie studio.  Lots of random people running around with rolls of tape.  And framed pictures of past films like Maid in Manhattan.  Quality stuff there.

Week so far...and PWN

So today was supposed to be a film day.  There is a film noir piece I auditioned for eons ago and it keeps getting pushed back more and more. Today, Much to my relief, was scheduled to be the shoot day.  Yeah.  No.  This production team just can't quite get it together so we're being rescheduled AGAIN.  It looks like now we're shooting for the 27th.  Lets hope.  That's Penny weekend and Penny has priority, so we shall see.

But in other news, A World of her PWN: Episode 3 has gone live today.  That's right today!  This episode features almost all of the cast members so far and was shot on location at the NY Comic Con which was an exciting adventure.

All those people, all those comics, all those half naked Princess Leia's!  (And a good kinda 1/2 naked)

So the episode is up and finished and I'm really proud of all the hard work that went into this.  There were a lot of little bumps along the way, especially the day of shooting.  But we've churned out a really good piece of fun that's not just video game fluff.  There is something to this little episode/series.

You can click on the above link, or watch it here:

Whats next for pwn?  Stay tuned to find out.  I will tell you that this Monday and Tuesday we will be filming episode 4.  I can't tell you what it's about because...I don't know yet!  Haha.  But I do know that the story line will continue, but hopefully be a little more uplifting than the end of Ep 3.  

Again Ep 3...Watch it HERE!!!

And please sign up for the Pwn Newsletter.  Email Fishpasteproductions@gmail.com

Also going on tomorrow (Saturday) I'll be filming a piece with my dear friends Pam Ralat and Amye Lewis on the UWS.  Should at least be an entertaining afternoon.  It always is when we all get together.  The script, written by Pam makes me laugh and actually has a nice sweet genuine quality about it.  So...here is to a fun filled weekend