Turkey bread! It never gets old

Globe, American style!

Shakespeare has been good to me.  I'm sure, like a lot of other actors out there, there is a debt of gratitude to the bard for all he left us.  My career is quickly being shaped as a Shakespearean actor.  I don't mind.  It worked for Captain Picard.  Might as well ride his coat tails, so-to-speak.  I also seek out auditions for Shakespeare.  Also not a bad thing.  Go with that you know, right?  It's worked so far.

Granted I've messed up my fair share of auditions.  I recently auditioned for the Adirondack's Shakes Fest. Yup, blew that one.  Score for me.  I have no idea why either.  I just got up, started talking and realized, woa, that horrible stench is me.  Yup, stinking up the room alright.  Follow THAT all you other auditioners. Well, I know one place that will not be hiring me this summer.  Oh well.  It happens.  An off day.

I've just been feeling a little restless though.  I have a few tiny projects here and there, but nothing of any real merit on the horizon.  I guess its the nomad or gypsy or mummer that's inside all of us performers.  Its hard to stop and sit still for too long.  And after too long you start to go to this scarey place in your head.  Keep Out damnit!

So anyway, I've been tiptoeing near that door.  Fringe left me with such a high and recording the voice for a radio show just added to it that now i feel...AHHHHHH Nothing is going on and I'm bombing auditions!  Enter, American Globe.    I auditioned for them in the spring and then played the waiting game all summer/fall. I knew this of course.  They told me they'd maybe be in touch for callbacks in the fall.  So I wait, patiently.

and wait..
and wait...and Ring!  Called in for a call back.  They're casting their school tour of Macbeth and I was called in to read for the Porter, a witch and Rosse.  I'm all prepared like a good little Shakespearean actor, I get there early, greeted with such warmth..(they're really good people)  So I read and I'm asked to read some more, Macbeth even!  It's a good day.  Call back goes better than can be expected and I'm kinda riding a little high.  I'm invited to the fight call the following weekend.  I feel like as long as they can see that i can swing a sword and pick up choreography, I'm in.  (yeah, I was pretty self confident.  Sometimes you need that) The only issues, we were told we'd be off for a week in April, a week I've already made travel plans for.    And apparently there is 1 performance that week.

Well I get to the fight call, no one said not to come, so I'm thinking they moved that day or something miraculous has happened.  In fact they emailed me more sides to read earlier that day prior to the group call.  Fight call happens.  Great stuff.  I'm very excited, good work out and they all looked pleased at not only my work, but the work of all the combatants.  They keep us all a little after just to give us some info about the tour and guess what?  That one conflict has been rescheduled.  Now of course i'm thinking...they want me.  But I'm sure its been moved so the whole cast, whomever it may be, gets a week off.  but still....Happy dance.

So I go on my merry way for the day. About 2 hours later my phone rings and it's the Globe, I'm in!  I was on the subway laughing to myself.  A happy weekend indeed.  So now I know I have a job coming up in the new year.  And with a company that I've been wanting to work with for far too long. So hooray and thank you Will for yet another role.  Oh, who have I been cast as? One of the murderers, Duncan, and Macduff.  Great fights abound!  I am definitely looking forward to this.

American Globe!

Just a quick update because it's amazing news.  American Globe called and I'm in!  Full report to come.  But YES!

New Post New URL same actor..

Male, mid to late 20's. Devilishly handsome.  Walks into the new blog space, pauses for a moment as he takes in the familiar surroundings yet notices the subtle difference.

Patrick:

So new place, huh? Looks the same.  Welcome everyone to the same old new blog.   After a long battle with myself and friends about making a more suitable url for this here bloggy blog blog, I finally broke down and did it. So here we are.  I hope you enjoy this.  If you even read it.  

To the Universe...

Just slowly catching up on my google reader and reading up on everyone's adventures out there, I realized that there should be a Twelfth Night film made.  And universe, if it's made hello!

Me and Lira over at The Struggling Actress...yes? no?

Random thought today.

Best Breakdown Ever

Saw this in one of the breakdowns for a project.  Just had to share.  


Character description:


you´re a classical gangster who hides a REAL mermaid in your apt. she only use you for become famous. you know the "real" world and want to save her from the wrong guys outside. at the end you will not reach your goal and die.


And no..I did not submit myself for it.

15.5 hours barely any sleep

Oh background work.  I hate you!  We all do.  I have railed against it in the past and still do.  It is essentially pointless work.  Aside from the fact that there is always an abundance of food, and good food at that, there is no point to it.  It is a huge waste of time and something that should NEVER go on your resume.  Ever.  We'll talk about that in a few.  Sure it pays, peanuts. And if you've never been on a film shoot it is the best way to get an idea of what goes on.  But its still the worst aspect of film that I can think of.

I have this agreement with myself, and its shared with a dear friend of mine.  No background work except for a few exceptions.  1) I like the show.  And I like 30-Rock, so this past weekend I agreed to do some BG work when they called.  and 2) only if they call me in for SAG credit. (Think I'm going to devote an entire post to this soon so look for that.  There are sooooo many questions about it.  It's a bit to get into)

So thanks to option 1, I found myself at Silver Cup Studios both this past Friday and Monday mornings.  Don't get me wrong, it is fun in a way.  You're on a film/tv set. Even the most cynical actor who is trying to pretend they're not impressed, is impressed.  One of the biggest downsides is the waiting.  That's all you do.  Wait.  Friday got there at 9 and didn't get to set until 4 pm.  Yup.  That was the 14.5 hour day.  Monday I filmed early and then spent from about 2:30-12am doing nothing.  Nature of the beast I suppose.  And sure, I "met" Tina Fey.  Er...she said hello to me as we were getting coffee.  So that was something.  I don't get star struck, but I sure was impressed to be in the presence of comedic talent.

Some interesting things about doing BG work? You get to see the innards of a studio or film.  We were on a plane.  They had the body of a plane set up in the sound studio.  How often do you see something like that?  No, there are no pics.  HIGHLY unprofessional to take pics on set and of the actors.  Silly bloggers what were you thinking?

The other aspect, aside from the waiting, is the other BG extras.  This might sound mean or horrible or cruel but I usually keep to myself when I do these things.  First of all I have a huge audition coming up for summer Shakespeare Festivals.  So I was able to spend some time re-reading Henry V.  But also, I know this is a generalization, but extras can be very very..odd.  I feel like every shoot I've been on there has been at least one person kicked off for some random reason.  And the others are all about being seen.  Now, the point of BG is to NOT be seen.  You are glorified scenery.  Sure its fun to see yourself on tv if you can, but that's not the point of the work.  So those people who spend all day planning and plotting to get seen on camera...annoy me to no end.

This shoot was actually made up of some fairly fun people who for the most part got it and understood that this is just a job.  Nothing will come of this other than a paycheck and maybe some interesting stories.  There were a few people very new to the world of acting who pumped us all for information.  Its nice to sit at a table and just discuss eachother's adventures so far.  See what works for other people and what you can possibly adopt to help your career.

Of course the question of, "do I put this on my resume?", came up.  The answer to that question is always no. I don't care what the logic behind it is, it's always no.  I've heard people say it shows that they're working on current projects.  I've also heard people say any experience is good experience.  No no no no no.  Do not put BG work on your resume.  Why?  Anyone can do it.  Literally anyone.  Hence why there are always so many crazies.  It is also NOT acting.  Unless you count acting as scenery as acting.  Then sure.  But no, it should never go on your resume.  Not even featured extra.  Ye be warned.  It looks very unprofessional and is not an example of your work.

Now the big question, why even do BG work.  Well I mentioned earlier that we do it to try to get SAG credit. I promise to devote a whole blog post to this.  There is a lot to cover.  But the short of it is that one of the ways to become eligible to join sag is to do BG work and get 3 waivers.  (3 credits) to become SAG.  They don't just hand them out.  They're random. It is a crap shoot.  But you do it anyway in hopes you'll get it.  I have 2 out of the 3 so far. 2 I got from being called in directly for work on 2 films.  Sometimes it works that way, sometimes you get them the day you show up..surprise.  But still a crap shoot.

So that was my weekend.  BG work.  Yeah, i did it.  I'm not proud, but I'm not ashamed.  Its how you get your foot in the door.  It just takes forever and I'm still trying to catch up on sleep.  While Friday was 14.5 hours, Monday was 15.5,  blech!