The Scam that is Explore Talent

I'm sure I've written about this in the past. I am too lazy to search my archives for a related post.  So I'll just talk about the last week of annoyances from Explore Talent. I had a profile on Explore Talent 5 or 6 years ago. I realized it was pretty useless after about a year or so. I deactivated my profile. I was getting no work. And it was just a repeat of notices that were readily available everywhere else.

Well, I've started getting text messaged from them within this past week saying thing along these lines:

Here is the problem with this. This is meant to lure people in. You think, "Oh man! A part for me?" You call in and the operator will tell you that in order to submit you for this project you have to sign up for an account with ET. Which is way more expensive than it should be. Especially compared to the other casting sites out there which are MUCH cheaper.  

So looking at this notice right away alarms should tell you that no one is going to cast for a major film via text. Also a little research will uncover that this is most likely in reference to "33." The film she is in pre-production for about 33 miners trapped in a mine. Probably not filming in NYC. So why are they texting me? Oh yeah, to get me back into their fold for $$$$.

A little more staring at this and you'll realize the rate. They can't just claim here is how much you'll get! Because really, again, who is casting through this.  

So to sum this up. They spam people, those people call in thinking...what an amazing opportunity, and then shell out moola to join this site in order to be submitted for parts that are either already cast, or just would never be cast in this way.  It's a scam. A total scam. It's horrible.  I cannot stand how people in our business are always being targeted as fools and being taken advantage of.

I called them. Yes I did, thank you very much. And basically said, I ended my account years ago, why am I being spammed with misleading text messages.  Of course they tried to defend themselves, but the texts are EXTREMELY misleading and it's pretty much spam. I did not ask to receive these. I did not sign up for them. If I had in the past, I have clearly made it known that I don't want to receive them by, you know, deactivating my account.

After being transferred from person to person I was finally able to get my information purged from their system.  I hope.  Moral of the story is to steer clear of Explore Talent. It's such a slimy, skeezey, sketchy...and other "s" words, website.  They're in the business to make money off of actors. Not to help actors get work.

Instead look at Actors Access

Backstage if you must (but it's also got it's issues)

Animal Planet's Top Hooker Season 2

So this just popped up in my email and I had to share. It took me several minutes of staring at it before I realized what it was really for. Top Hooker Season 2!
Project Name:	Animal Planet's Top Hooker Season 2 Casting (USA)
Role Role Type Gender/Age/Ethnicities Description/Note Professional, Sport & Recreational Fishermen Lead Male or Female / 21 to 42 / All Ethnicities We are looking for COMPETITIVE, OUTGOING and SKILLED anglers, spear fishermen, game fishermen, fly fishermen, trawlers and trappers from all walks of life. It doesn't matter if your experience is commercial, sport or recreational. As long as you're skilled, adaptable and confident enough to take on anything we throw at you, you could win A BIG GRAND PRIZE and the title of Animal Planet's next Top Hooker.

Bloggity Blog Updates

So this isn't much of a hey look at me and what's going on post. It's more of a "I've gotten tired of looking at my blog and feeling it's a mess and beyond my control to clean up."

I'm not sure why I felt that way. Maybe because I always feel like I just barely have control over whats going on around me. Acting is like being an experimental air craft pilot. I'm like the Hal Jordan of the acting world. Just...you know, without a green ring and stranded alien giving me special powers...I digress.

Out of control. Yes yes. Most of the time I feel like everything is just barely being contained or just on the verge of blowing up. So those few things I do have control over, I've decided to give them my all.  This blog being one of them!  So I hope you all like the cleaner look and updated format.

What did I do?  Deleted a few unnecessary things and will continue to reformat a few of the things on the side bars.  I've also added a pretty swift little navigation/menu bar. Whatever you want to call it.
It's got links to my headshots on here, my reel, and 25 cents for love.  Not to mention a link to the official site cause I know you people love going there and refreshing the shit out of your browser to keep up with all my goings on.

Don't lie. I know you do that...err...I do that.

So look around. If you're here then you've probably already seen all this but I welcome feedback!

I'm an actor, give me notes damnit! Or good press. One or t'other.

More to come soon though. Got some SHOW news to broadcast.

In the mean time I'll leave you with this little tidbit from the Museum of the Moving Image*. Which is an amazing place and everyone should go visit. It's such a great trip through the history of film making from all aspects, not just the actors. But everyone involved in making a movie from start to finish.

This exists. Somewhere. Out there. People made this. And other people bought this.
Good night everyone.

*If you're a member of SAG-AFTRA you and a friend get in for free...so what's keeping you?

READINGS! The way to keep busy when you're slow

Readings Galore!

When you're between projects what do you do? How do you fill the spaces between shows and films?

READINGS!  Theater companies have readings ALL the time to try out material for their upcoming seasons, as part of nights where they feature playwrights, or just to hear plays read. Production companies and writers themselves will also organize readings of potential works to be made.  So, that's how I've been filling the empty spaces right now between project.

The first set of readings I did were with the amazing company Theatre East.

A dear friend (Darlene!!!!!!!!) appeared in one of their productions last season, Normalcy, and it was by far one of the best things I've seen on stage in a long time. Smart Smart Darlene has done what all good little actors should do and has cultivated a loving relationship with this company.  (Honestly how could you not. The Husband and Wife duo who run it make you feel more welcomed and a part of the ensemble than many a family gathering.)  So it was with great joy that I jumped at the chance to read a part in Darlene's play, Property, at one of their new works reading nights.  It's like a stress free audition. How can you go wrong with that? Twas a great night of words and beer and making new friends. (And hopefully connections)

That hopefully turned into a...nailed it! Shortly after the reading I was contacted by Judson Jones, the Artistic Director to read a new play by the daughter of Dominic Chianese, the actor who portrayed Uncle Junior in the Soprano's.  Why would any one say no?  In their defense the action centers around an Italian neighborhood and hello...me...need I say more? It was a small part, but another good night of reading. Having people hear my voice say these words.  It was a simple table read so of course it was rough in some places (talking about my own delivery) but who cares. They called me back to read some more!  You can bet a thank you is on the way.

The next reading I was invited to take part in was of Chekov's Cherry Orchard with the American Bard Theater Company.

First of I have to say that I love the idea of going back to American Globe, which is where Amer. Bard is currently residing. There is such a feeling of going home. Of being home. In a space that I've only worked a few times, but fell in love with. Both companies are filled with people who look at you and smile, instantly accept you, and want you to succeed. You'd think that would be the case everywhere, but it's not. So no wonder I feel like I'm home when I'm there. 

With American Bard I was asked to read a part in a very casual round table read of the Cherry Orchard. (Which to me is a ridiculous comedy. The people in it are honestly ridiculous save for one person. But of course no one listens to them.) I'll also say that sometimes reading the classics on your own is a chore. A chore among chores. For one who is a Shakespearephile, it's stilll so difficult to get me to sit down and read some of these older plays.  But to sit in a circle and see and hear the characters come to life? Sign me up. 

Plus it doesn't help that I feel as if I helped with the planning of their upcoming season. (even if I really didn't, it's nice to feel important)

I'd like to say this is how I ALWAYS spend my down time between projects, but that would be a lie. Ideally this is what I would do to keep the creative acting juices flowing. But you can't really plan your life out like that. 

So after all that, who spends their downtime how? How do you fill the spaces between projects?

When Smaller Agents Call You In...

Are people just rude because it gives them some kind of self satisfaction? A misplaced feeling of power?  I really don't get it!


I'm pretty sure we're all in agreement that this business is hard.  Much harder than anyone ever truly is able to convey.  (One thing my professors lacked was the ability to tell us all what we were getting into. Thank you professors for dropping that ball...that energy ball...)
That being said, shouldn't we all be in this together more or less?

I was contacted by an agency in PA recently.  (Those clever few of you who know me better than others can guess who)  I had not reached out to them. As far as I know I hadn't. Like all good actors I keep my log of mail outs and submissions.  So they reached out to me.

First off, PA. It's not my market. It's not too difficult to get there.  And I know plenty of people who do that trek on a regular basis. Hell, I know plenty of people who travel in from Long Island which at times could be just as much of a journey as the train to PA. So it's not unheard of.  Ideally I would rather not go there but it's an option.

So I replied to their email with some simple questions. Mostly logistics.
Do you ever send your clients to auditions in NY (my primary market)?
Is there a sister or affiliated agency in NY you could refer me to if PA isn't too viable an option?
And of course lots of thank-you's.

The reply was 2 lines. Essentially saying they represent people in the tri-state area.  Which I knew, but thanks. And to re-apply when I'm ready to travel to PA.
Thank you but no thank you. There are ways to say things and this was not it. It's a smaller market anyway and will not do much to push my career forward. I looked at it as just a possible something extra to have in my corner, but I feel like they're the kind of agency that just sends people out for whatever, over-saturating auditions until someone books it and they can get their commission.

Don't need em.
Don't want them.

But can't we just be a little nicer to people out there? Anyone else ever have issues with these smaller boutique agencies acting like this? As I write I also think it's an attitude they adopt because they think it's how the big agencies like Abrams operate.

**This is also a lesson in 'Trust your Gut. Nearly all of the comments online about this agency are negative. The only positive ones are THEY THEMSELVES defending their reputation. Red flag anyone? Way to help that reputation.

Oscars 2013

In honor of the 2013 Oscars I thought I'd share a pic of myself holding one from a few years ago.

I like to point out a few things.
1. How natural it looks in my hand. (for all you academy members out there)

2. The SNL shirt clearly a harbinger of things to come.

3. Where is my beard and why is my hair so long.

4. I don't think I can pull off the t-shirt over a sweater look.

5. I think I'm threatening Oscar with my left hand for some reason. Clearly he asked for it.

  Whether you watched or not, whether you agreed with the out come or not, whether you enjoyed it or not, you cannot deny there was literally a powerhouse of talent in the theater last night.  I took away this thought:

There was no real clear "winner." And by winner I mean that not 1 film dominated the categories. I feel like it was pretty spread out across the board. And a lot of predicted winners didn't win. Like Brave over Wreck-it-Ralph. And Argo over Les Mis....ok that's a joke.  It was just nice to see it spread across the board and not just dumped on the year's big budget film.

And those are my thoughts.

I welcome others. I've been enjoying today's post Oscar discussions all over the web. From bashing/defending MacFarlane to the celebration of music in film/not enough celebration of music in film. (Apparently what this year's theme was supposed to be.)

I will end this with YAY ARGO!

SNL: Again! An Interesting Start To 2013

Happy New year!

I realize it's been a while since I last posted. I have to say my picture a day exercise from last year was quite a challenge. I had anticipated posting every day. But thanks to the suggestion of a friend I started doing weekly recaps. And eventually much longer posts with pictures from a few weeks.

While taking the pictures is easy, posting about them took a little more vigilance than I had anticipated. I think I'll get a nice slideshow up here somewhere. It's amazing to look back at a year in pictures.  But all that made me really need a little break. Hence my absence for almost 2 months. But now I'm back!

Headshot under a bridge. Like a Troll

A lot has happened in the past 2 months. Some good. Some not so good. Some sad. Let's focus on the good...and perhaps the not so good.  I've gone back and forth about whether or not I should write about this. We try to sell ourselves as artists. To make us look better than we are.  Which I HATE. There are far too many people who puff themselves up with talk but it's backed up by nothing.  So here is the down and dirty of this world.


My manager dropped me.

There I said it. We've parted ways. We've parted amicably. The thing is, I can't blame her. I don't think I'm a type she gets much work for. And I'm mostly a stage actor slowly working at getting into film. She focuses mainly on film. While she's been a great asset and has truly operated as a manager, it just didn't work out. It happens. All the time. Am I sad? Sure. Who wouldn't be. But you know what? Onward and upward.  Her company merged with another and she could only take so many of her former clients.  That's how things go sometimes.  So I spent a few days scouring the web to try to take her off all my profiles because, well, that's what you do. Reformatted my resume a little. Made some adjustments to my website. Little things.

Now begins the push for 2013. A few little setbacks did occur which I'll go into in another post. For now let's keep this one a little more light-hearted.

So. Manager gone. That's ok.
I think as she was literally hitting send on the goodbye email I was filming a digital short with SNL.
So there's that.

Now I've railed against background work. It's horrible. I hate it. You're treated like cattle because let's face it. In a film you're just glorified scenery. I hate all those pseudo-actors who do background work and then add it to their IMDB profile as "uncredited." You're not credited because you were background. It's a personal pet peeve. But what can you do.

That being said, there are a few shows I WILL do BG work on because I love them. And the working conditions are fantastic. They treat you like gold. Saturday Night Live is one of those shows. The other being 30 Rock (R.I.P.).

So yes, I did BG on SNL. But, and I know everyone says this, (those people trying to talk themselves up) I actually had a few bits. Which in the end got cut. I had several moments with Bobby Moynihan. One with beakers in a chemistry class, another in the lunch room. But it all comes down to editing and while I'm there, I'm not THERE.  You know?

The skit?  Possibly one of the funniest and smartest I've seen in a while. The "Soprano's Diaries."  Have you seen the Carrie Diaries?  It's just itching to be made fun of. No. It's screaming to be made fun of. It's up there with Smash (which I think makes fun of itself not to need a parody. Oh Smash...)

So sure I lost a manager, but I was on SNL again. And the best thing was the commute to the location was just around the block.  Here is the skit...until NBC pulls it from youtube.  Enjoy!

Photo A Day 352-366

Here we go, the home stretch to the end of the year!

352. Many a mixtape died that day.

353. Dropping off a thank-you gift to my agent and was pleasantly surprised to find a pianist tickling out holiday tunes. 

354. I pass this a lot walking around the Union Square area. I love this old drinking fountain from the zoo. I wish they would set it up as a real fountain outside this antique store. Let people get some use out of it.

355. One of my last submissions before the new year. Fly my little friend. Fly fast and true and hope I get a call.

356. Andre is always there. Always watching. Always Obey.

357. Take off for the holidays with the family...

358.   Pretty much sums up this day!

359.  Grandpa...Miss you...

360. Sucker for Italian cookies on Christmas. Mine...mine...mine...

361. I'm sure this is somewhere in this photo blog, but Jeff this will always remind me of you. on top of it. a king of the springs.

362. Home again home again. Goodbye sun and hello NY Winter.

363. The ever elusive Lily. Cat-sitting.

364. Early morning snow/rain storm fire truck scare. Still no clue what was going on. But we had fun playing with the pencils...(name that reference)

365. Possibly the greatest socks ever. And I mean...ever.

366.  Starting the evening off with eggnogg and Hennessy, which I do not suggest anyone in their right mind ever does. But Happy New Year. And here's to 2013!

Thus ends this wonderful experiment. My Photo a day in the year of 2012. It's be a long eventful year. And looking back, these are some amazing glimpses into that journey. Hoping 2013 is an even greater adventure! And thank you all for coming along for the ride. See you in the new year.