Audition Audition Audition

This past thursday I auditioned for a children's production...ugg..of the Emporer's new Clothes at Florida Studio Theatre. Hello EMC points (The points we need to become a member of Actor's Equity). Of course, that is if i get it. Its really minimal pay, but the points make it all worth while. The audtion was fantastic. I made the casting director laugh with some witty anecdotes and then had a very "strong and spot on read." So I'm waiting to hear back now. I should hear within the week. I hope. It'll be a great way to see family and also work. So who knows.

And last week was also an audition at beautiful SVA.

Yeah, thats right. Sva. Which is a walk from where I work to the complete other side of Manhattan. Thank god yesterday was a nice day and not sweltering like it has been the past few weeks. In addition to that both myself and Samantha Mason were called in by the assistant Director. A gentleman we have both worked with in the past and who based on past experiences, has a pretty good eye, and an intelligent head on his shoulders.

Competance is sometimes a scarce thing.

So how did it go? What was it for? Well its for a western. Yes, me in a western. It is being shot sometime in October out in Penn. Roadtrip! As for how it went. I don’t think an audition can go better.

For starters, I was actually a little nervous. its one thing to audition for random people you don’t know and will probably never see again, it is completely different when you know at least one of the people behind the table. All that aside, things went well. My monologue i use for contemporary pieces is fairly obscure and no one has recognized up until yesterday. I count that as a good sign that the director recognized it and was pleased with the choice at least. From there I was given a few sides to go over. While out in the hall, our very own Samantha stepped in to audition. She too was given sides which..we were brought in to read together.

I can’t tell you have reliving it is to know the scene partner in an audition and to trust them. There is a certain feeling when you know you nailed an audition. And, yeah, we nailed it. Its one of those things that if i don’t get called in for a call back or a part, I don’t care. It means I wasn’t right for the part. Plus, i know I did my best. So, Booyah!. Take that SVA.

So now we play the waiting game.

Carmex and Drinko and Tea. Oh My!

Its that time again. Time to share all the little projects that have been going on in the past few months with all of you. Some I've been a part of some I haven't. But nevertheless, you're going to get them all.

So the first, and closest to me is Doug Mackrell's entrance into the "Camex-Share the Tingle" video contest. Please, watch below and rate and enjoy. It was a pleasure to work with him and Jenelle Sosa, the featured girl in the short. I am so very proud of the outcome. (should have worn a different color shirt, oh well.) So with out further ado...



Next up on the list is Clay Drinko's video for his newest release 'Terror Ass.' Featured in the video along with Clay is also miss Becky Byers, no stranger to the stage and former scene partner from Wakky NuNu.




And Last but not least is Pam Ralat's entry for a scholarship competition. So by all means go and rate this. Vote happy and enjoy. Featured in this are her friends as well as Jeso O'Neil making a pleasant departure from dancing to being in front of the camera.




So thank you all for the support and I hope you enjoyed these. Please rate the Carmex an the Tea videos positively as the outcome of both of them is very important and success hangs in your little 5-star-click.

When In Rome, Part 2

Week number 2! Alright. The first week of horrid background work ended. The crew flew off to Italy to film scenes there. Scenes that as far as i can tell will include Danny Devito. What is he doing in a Disney romantic comedy?!

So they called us in for another week's worth of work which went by nice and slow. If i haven't said it before. Background work is the most boring time sucking thing you could ever do. The only consolation is the fact that you're getting paid to sleep.

The Paramount Truck.

I dunno, I just thought it was cool. Yours truly and the mountain.

So we filmed and filmed and filmed. I will say this. The scenes we were filming (over and over again) take place in the very beginning of the film. The camera opens up on some exterior shot of the church, some scenes of the wedding itself, then it pans inside the reception hall where there are a few people dancing. Oh yeah, I'm there baby. I'm actually in several scenes dancing, a slow waltz, and also dancing with traditional dancers. The things we do for peanuts, right?

So here is a shot of the crew setting up some tracking shot. Like little train tracks.

And here we have one of the stars, josh duhamel getting ready for the next scene. His co-star, kristen bell...is off hiding somewhere.

Check out the location. Its downtown near city hall and Dance New Amsterdam. From what we were told its an old courthouse that they decorated to look like an Italian Villa. It looks good to me, never having been in a real Italian Villa.

As for the stars, mr. josh there was actually and surprisingly a nice guy. He was genuinely nice, not putting on airs as many actors do in films. Its refreshing when you see someone enjoying what they do, and enjoying the company of complete strangers. More so, its nice when that person acknowledges that we as background are peons, but important to the look of the scene and its not glamorous or fun work. His constant thank yous never once felt false nor were they unappreciated.

So again. more extra work. I have no crazy stories about the nutjobs who work as extras (since i was one of them) this time. Its always interesting, however, to see how things work on a movie set. And hey, its free good food. Can't complain about that. And of course, this was another possibility to get a waiver in order to become SAG. Someday.

For now..Back to auditioning. Good news. I've just been cast in a play opening in September. I"ll write details as i get it.

When In Rome

Well Ladies and Gents, it might not be glamorous work but once in a while background extra work can be fun. Or at least a way to pay the bills. On that note, last week i found myself as a guest at a huge Italian wedding (go figure) for the film When in Rome With Kristen Bell, Don Johnson, Danny Devito, Anjelica Houston to name a few. Don and Kristen (yeah like i can call them by their first names) were on set. No huge deal. Its always a great character study when doing extra work. I was contracted for 5 days so you can't complain about that.

The film according to IMDB.com is about "In New York City, a young art curator finds herself aggressively pursued by a band of wannabe lovers after she steals coins from a Roman fountain."

First day was cancelled due to the director being ill. (but still got paid!)
Second day, right off the bat someone wacko was escorted off the set. There are obvious rules to doing extra work. Basically, you're a nobody and don't presume that you have any clout. With a room full of 150+ extras losing you will not make much of a difference. So just sit and play nice with the other kids.
All in all it was a nice full day of filming where I was pulled out as one of the few people waltzing. So we'll see when this film comes out. Maybe I'm seen who knows? Who cares really. Its not featured extra work. Its a waltz for Christ's sake. It was a long day (night?) thought. 5:30 p.m. call and shot until 4:45 in the morning. good times.
Third day was cut short because the director was ill yet again.

and then we wrapped. Apparently he had his appendix taken out and was too sick to continue. I sadly did not get paid for the remaining days. Boo.

But still, it'll be a nice check and if anything i got to spend time with some friends who also worked the shoot as well as laugh at the most ridiculous characters...as usual.

Wild Wild Wakky Reviews..

Well folks, we are at the mid point in the run of The Wild Wild Women of Wakky NuNu, and things are falling into place. I have to say that this show has made me laugh during the rehearsal process and onstage than most others. I truly enjoy being a part of this wakkiness every weak. And cast wise, we have pulled together through some minor bumps and bruises.

The show is receiving mixed reviews. But there have been a lot of positive things said about it and the cast. I've decided to post hilights from some of the reviews so far.

A.J. Mell of Backstage:

"The show deserves a slight tip of the hat for sheer energy if nothing else. The leads mug enthusiastically, and the aforementioned Amazons glower, prance, and waggle their shapely grass-skirted bottoms with admirable gusto."

Winnie McCroy of EdgeNewYork.com:

"Sassy Stevie puts aside her idyllism and delivers a well-choreographed beat down to the women who plan to take Jake"
(Hooray for my choreography!)

Kristin Skye Hoffman of NYTheatre.com:

"Jake Manley, ..... and his sidekick, Cubby (adorably played by Patrick Pizzolorusso), concoct a scheme to stage some photos of the lost Amazon Women of Wakki-Nunu to maintain their careers."
(hell yeah i'm adorable)


"This level of ambition is commendable in independent theatre here in New York and this group of artists have taken on an enormous show "

"there are enough emeralds in this production"

"I will definitely keep my eye open for what they try out next."

So there we go. A few positive little things here and there. I'll update this post as we get more reviews.
And folks...2 more weekends at the Red Room Theater. If you come this Sunday i'll join you from some victuals post show.

Wild Wild Women of Wakky Nu Nu

Ladies and gentlemen. Its official. The site for the Wild Wild Women of Wakky Nu Nu is up and running.

Its slowly being update with more and more goodies every day.

We are a few weeks away from opening and in a really good place. I have to say that its hard to get through rehearsal without laughing. Laughing to the point where it starts to hurt.

(thats gotta be a god sign...i hope)
So the show runs for a month from May 11th through June 3rd at the Red Room.

Lifted from the official Wakky site:

"There is a legend spoken of in hushed whispers amongst connoisseurs of mystery, adventure, and fine living…

a legend of an island paradise inhabited solely by a tribe of powerful and beautiful women… Amazons!

Deep in the forbidden tropics they reside and conquer, their existence a closely-guarded secret, their location an inscrutable mystery! It is this legend that spurs an over-the-hill actor-turned-nature-show-host and his beleaguered, put-upon sidekick to their greatest adventure yet! Aided by a sexy young starlet hungry for fame and fortune and a young photographer with a chip on her shoulder and nothing left to lose, their journey begins – only to be cut short by plane trouble and catastrophe! Now, the womanizing Jake Manley is about to learn that you should be careful what you wish for, when he finally encounters…

THE WILD, WILD WOMEN OF WAKKY-NUNU!"

The show is a non-stop laugh riot from start to finish. So make sure you use the bathroom before you sit down. We don't want any accidents.

DO WHAT NOW MEDIA in association with HORSE TRADE THEATER GROUP present

the new comedy from the creator of Bitch Macbeth and Sugarbaby!

THE WILD, WILD WOMEN OF WAKKY-NUNU!

starring

PATRICK PIZZOLORUSSO * BECKY BYERS * SAMANTHA MASONKEVIN MYERS * SARAH E. JACOBSDOUGLAS MACKRELL as Hickory “Toot” Sweetwith JESS BEVERIDGE * SARAH BRODSKY * LEAH DIETRICH * CELESTINE RAE * CANDACE YOSHIOKA * HALEY ZALE

and FRANK CWIKLIK as Jake Manley

Publicist EMILY OWENS PR

Choreography SARAH E. JACOBS

Co-Producer MICHELE SCHLOSSBERG

Written, Designed, Produced, and Directed by FRANK CWIKLIK

Cubby Gaines (Patrick Pizzolorusso) and Bunny Baretta (Becky Byers)

A Day in the Life of an Actor

So this weeks Post is intended to be more of a pictoral "day in the life" type of deal. I thought, why not? So here we go..a day in the life of an actor in godo old New York City. As you know..since you're an avid reader, I'm in rehearsal for a new comedy called The Wild Wild Women of Wakky NuNu. Here is my adventure on sturday....

The Mist...For the love of god do not rent this movie! I was overjoyed to push it in that little drop box hole at Block Buster.

Good 'Ole Ditmars in Astoria. The sky was gorgeous so I had to take a pic.

The N Train into Manhattan. Gotta love it. Roads, where i'm going i don't need roads...just umm...train tracks and such..

A View from 54th street and 7th ave looking South into Times Square.

The new Hearst builing built right on top of the old one.

Yours truly

I couldn't resist. This man was...well..the size of the globe outside of Trump Tower!

Walking down 7th i passed a photo shoot for some random add. So I shot it.

And now we skip another train ride downtown to East 4th. Across from the red room is this great old theater. I love the spiral staircase in the front.

Cuppa Cuppa is where i sit before each rehearsal and....

....Go over my lines. Over and Over and Over again.

And here we are at the Red room. Right about the KGB Bar on East 4th. Which is right across from La Mama.

And an audience view.

Becky Byers (not pictured) who plays Bunny in Wakky NuNu.

And finally..a nice charming pic of some of the cast. Don't you want to see the show based on this?

And that my friends is about the time when rehearsal started and I stopped takikng pictures. And as for the way home. Just scroll up and watch the day in reverse.