The key to success? Commitment!

Here's a quote from Bryan Cranston after his SAG win on Sunday night:

"When you're an actor just starting out, you never plan for a vacation.  First of all, you can't afford it and second of all you're going to miss something.  So it gets ingrained in your lifestyle that you just go on searching and looking for your next job.  That's what we do forever.  In order to be an actor you need to totally commit.  Absolutely. You can't put your big toe in."

It's a philosophy that is hard for some people to follow once they arrive in Hollywood.  

It's easier to make the commitment when you're only dealing with one child in a family.  It wasn't the ideal situation for The Artist to be separated from his mom (and dog) for eight months last year.  We made it work because we wanted Zach to have a chance to see if this is really what he wants to do with his life.

I've met so many people that have left anywhere from 1-4 other children at home with the other parent.  I've been the odd man in the group because every other parent I've met that moved to Hollywood has been the mother of the child.  I've met some fathers on auditions and film sets but they have always been guys that have lived in Los Angeles for a good part of their lives.

It's tough for those parents to completely focus on acting because they're always thinking about the kid(s) left behind at home.  They plan trips home to see the rest of the family.  They work on getting home for proms, birthdays and school plays.

I get it.  I agree with it.  I understand the need to still be an active part of the family life back home.

It's not that casting directors, agents and managers don't agree with the need to go home on a regular basis.  They just don't have time to deal with it and keep their projects on track.

Which leads us back to the Bryan Cranston quote at the beginning of this post:

"In order to be an actor you need to totally commit.  Absolutely. You can't put your big toe in."

We've made the decision to totally commit.  It's a choice each family has to make but it's never an easy decision.

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Recent Random Hollywood Moments? Why Not!!!

I’ve been short of time to write a “real blog post” so here is a list of my favorite (recent) random moments from Hollywood:

***I saw what appeared to be a homeless guy standing with his sign on a street corner.  What was the message on his sign?  “Need $2400 to finish major film.  Please help and I’ll thank you at the Oscars.”

***There was a photo shoot going on while I was eating lunch at the park on Tuesday.  The female model was dressed as a nurse hanging with two male models.  One of the guys was holding a turkey while wearing a chef’s hat.  The other male model was wearing a cowboy hat, a bow tie and jeans.  I didn’t even want to know what was going on with that shoot.

***The two guys in front of me at the bagel place were discussing pitching their new screenplay.  They settled on “Think Star Wars mixed with Pitch Perfect and a dash of Django”.

***Even though the Clippers are having a great season, everyone wants to know how to fix the Lakers.

***Colin Hay (from Men At Work) performed at the opening of a BMW dealership.

***I saw another car dealership with a complimentary sushi bar.

***There was a note pinned on the local coffee shop community notice board from a lady advertising her acting skills.  My favorites were “flexibility, keeping plot point secrets and open to any kind of sex scene”.

***I overheard one girl on the phone telling someone, “I hope it isn’t like that time I showed up for a table read and it was just two guys asking to film me licking lollipops”.

***The best name I’ve heard for a 80s tribute band? “Flashpants”.

As always, I’d appreciate it if you take a moment and click on Zach’s IMDb page.  A high ranking on his page will be a big help for him as we enter pilot season!  

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4115971/

I don't have a long rambling post for you today.

Here's some behind the scenes shots of The Artist on the set for the latest Escape The Fate video.  The name of the new single is "Ungrateful".

The Artist strikes a pose fresh from wardrobe and makeup.

A shot of the kid actors on set from smallest to tallest.  All four of the kids knew each other before working together on the video.  They're all part of the improv crew at L.A. Connection Comedy Club.

The actors discuss current movies and video games during a break in filming.

The Artist texts his juice box dealer for a fresh supply.
















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I love the smell of pilot season in the morning

The TV and movie industry is getting back to normal as pilot season begins in just a few weeks. 

Pilot season is when the networks order a produced episode of a proposed show to help them decide whether or not to move forward with a series.  The pilot can be either the first episode of the series or an episode that spotlights the direction of the show if it goes to series.

Even though the production of the shows takes place in the early months of the calendar year, the pilot season process begins the previous summer.  

The networks receive HUNDREDS of “elevator pitches” for new shows from studios, producers, directors and various industry people.  The networks request scripts for (maybe) 100-125 of the shows pitched to them.  They narrow the list even further after they read the scripts.  The networks decide which shows they want to see as a pilot presentation.  The cast and crew for the pilots are then assembled in the early part of the year.  

Pilot season is one of the most competitive times of the year in Hollywood.  It’s also a great time of the year for extended stay apartments as well as folks looking to make some extra cash by leasing a room, home or apartment.  The population in Hollywood grows for a few months as actors descend on the city in an attempt to land a role in a pilot.

There are MANY tips to keep in mind as you put your best foot forward in the audition process.  Here are some of the most important tips:

***Have a current headshot.  This seems like simple advice but many people still use their headshot from the 80s/90s.  It’s also important that the headshot reflects the image you want to give to casting directors.

***Have a copy of your resume reflecting a level of experience that will catch the eye of the casting director.

***Take a change of clothes just in case you spill your lunch or coffee on your audition outfit.  Dryer sheets help get rid of unwanted pet hair on your clothes as well as static in your hair.

***STUDY STUDY STUDY!  Be sure and attend acting classes and workshops to hone your skills.

It’s an exciting time to be in Hollywood!  I’ll have more stories to share soon!

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