The Year In Review For Zach Louis

I started writing this update from the very frigid South where we were visiting family for the holidays. One of the main questions actors get on a daily basis is "What have you been in lately?"

It makes sense that people want to know if they will be able to watch a relative/actor in a movie or TV show.  However, they often seem to think any work by the actor doesn't count if it doesn't appear on their TV set or in their local movie theater.

Zach accomplished quite a bit this year in terms of advancing his career. In fact, here are the Top 10 moments of Zach's professional year:

1. Sharp Objects - This is the title of the new Amy Adams HBO show. Zach played a drunk high school wrestler in one episode of the show. Even though the episode was filmed in May of this year, the show won't air until summer 2018.
2. Fresh Off the Boat - One of the first "industry connections" Zach made in Los Angeles was a guy that books actors to play football players on TV shows. The actors are either real football players or actors that have the size and build of football players. Zach was called into action again this year as a football player on this ABC sitcom.
3. The Marriage Zone - One of two plays Zach was in at the same time in North Hollywood. The theatres were about 2 miles apart which made it easy for Zach to perform in both productions back in July, August and September.
4. Somewhere in the Middle - The second No Ho play AKA "the play with the better snack selection during the show".
5. Burbank Comedy Fest - Hundreds of comics from across the country sent in submissions for this comedy festival. Zach was chosen to participate for the second year in a row. Plus, none of his sets were lumped into "teen comic" nights. He was placed in showcases with veteran comics.
6. Flappers Comedy Club - The first club that took a chance on Zach by booking him on a regular basis in 2016. They had him perform multiple sets in 2017. While Zach fit well with many of the comedians he opened for at the club, he probably meshed the most with the sensibilities of Hal Sparks the night they performed together.
7. The Ice House - While this is not a new comedy venue, it is a new club he is performing at on a regular basis. The Ice House has multiple locations but Zach always performed in the main room at the Pasadena location. 
8. The Laugh Factory - This club is one of the most famous comedy venues on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. Zach had his first chance to take the stage there just a few weeks ago. The thing that instantly struck him was the fact that it was "one big room". Flappers and The Ice House have multiple stages and rooms so Zach was happy to find out that The Laugh Factory is a venue with multiple seating levels while still being one large room 
9. Mike Sager - Mike is a bestselling author as well as a award-winning journalist. He contacted us about writing a profile feature on Zach and his loving, supportive and amazing parents. The feature also includes an awesome video profile. The article and video are being shopped around and I hope to have some news soon about a home for the project in 2018.
10. AGT - The year closed with an email (out of the blue) from one of the casting producers of "America's Got Talent". She had seen Zach doing stand-up earlier in the year and asked him to provide some video for her to show the producers of the show. We helped Zach go through his sets from various clubs and found a strong set to send her. They must have liked what they saw because he has an audition with them in early February. It certainly bodes well for 2018.

Thanks for following along with Zach's adventures in 2017. I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and fulfilling 2018!

This actor is looking forward to a successful 2018.

My One Sided Celebrity Staring Contest

It's not hard to run into a celebrity in Los Angeles. This is the movie capital of the world and many Hollywood actors and actresses make their home in the cities around Los Angeles.

In other words, the chances of spotting a celebrity at the gym, the gas station, the grocery store or a restaurant is high on any given afternoon.

Dana and I recently had an encounter with a celebrity that can best be described as "odd" and even "kind of bizarre". The celebrity seemed way more interested in looking at us than we were interested in checking out this person known for his roles on the big screen.

We stopped to eat at a place called Sharky's which is a chain of Mexican restaurants throughout California (as well as random locations in Oregon and Nevada). Sharky's is one of those places that is never your first choice for dinner. However, it is a good choice when you are in a hurry to eat if you have other commitments that night.

We had other commitments last Wednesday night so we stopped by Sharky's in Studio City to grab a quick dinner. We entered the restaurant and got in line to order. The first thing we noticed was a baby moving his high chair across the floor by thrusting his body in a forward motion. Everyone was smiling and laughing at the baby including one guy sitting in a chair waiting for his "to go" order.

I figured the guy was with the family watching the baby. I also assumed he was sitting away from the baby in order to chase the kid in case the high chair went too far from the table.

I soon discovered I was wrong as the guy kept staring at the two of us. I recognized him right away but, honestly, I didn't really care that he was famous. I was just curious why he seemed to be having a staring contest with us.

Dana didn't care as well but she did want to make sure it was the person she had in mind. She started to ask me and I just replied with "Yes". We kept chatting while trying not to pay attention to the fact that this person was staring at us. We walked up to the counter to order and were right by "the mad starer". He kept staring as we placed our order and his gaze never left us once. It was odd and unnerving at the same time.  I looked down and my zipper was in the correct place and I didn't have any food on my face. I could not figure out why he was staring so much but I just kept ordering and ignoring the situation.

After we ordered, Dana found us a seat. After we sat down, the staring person promptly left his seat and disappeared to another section.

About 5 minutes later, the server at the counter yelled "Order for Shia!" and the "mad starer" appeared out of the darkness to claim his food. Shia LaBeouf grabbed his bags of food and then walked over to the salsa bar. Of course, I was standing at the salsa bar and realized he was staring at me again. I kept getting my salsa while Shia did the same thing. The only difference was Shia was staring at me the entire time.

Once he left the building, on foot, to wander down Coldwater Canyon Avenue, Dana and I spent out meal talking about the weirdness of that experience. His stare was not mean. He was not staring as if he was trying to figure out if he knew us from somewhere. It was just a straight ahead stare that you often see in people planning to chop up another person with an axe.

It was much like this blank stare with a little more intensity to the blankness:

The "Shia staring contest" certainly counts as the oddest celebrity encounter I've had in recent memory. I can't begin to tell you why he had his staring ability focused on us. I do know that some of his past encounters in public have ended with the police being called to the scene. My goal was not to win the staring contest. My goal was to eat my dinner without having to explain to the police why Shia LaBeouf ended up freaking out on me.

In related news, I will not be dining at the Sharky's in Studio City anytime in the near future.

This actor doesn't uncomfortably stare at others in public.

The Proof Is In...I Am Not A Jerk!

Spoiler Alert: I'm not exactly a warm and fuzzy person.

It's not that I don't like spending time with others. I just have little use for talking about myself for any length of time.

I like people to tell me what they need/what is on their mind so I will know what needs to be done. Let's get to the point and get moving ASAP.

Having said that, I recently discovered my personality is not as combative as some people believe.

In 2016, I was contacted by Mike Sager. Mike is a journalist who has written for Rolling Stone and Esquire, He is also an author whose articles inspired the feature films "Boogie Nights" and "Wonderland". He discovered my blog and contacted me about doing a feature story on Zach and his Dadager. It seemed like an interesting idea but we could never get our schedules to line up before the idea disappeared into the night.

Fast forward to this year as Mike and I touched base about the story idea. His editor wanted him to come to Los Angeles and interview out family. The story would touch on the journey that led us here as well as what a "Dadager" does for the career of his child/teen actor.

Mike and his film crew spent a weekend with us in September. The whirlwind weekend, filled with an intense interview process, included:

• Mike interviewing Dana and myself over dinner at Jerry's Deli. Dana and I discussed the decision making process behind moving to Los Angeles and what life is like having a teen actor.
• Interviews with Zach as he discussed his reasons for wanting to make acting his career, He also talked about the weird world of being a teenage stand-up comedian in the Los Angeles comedy scene.
• Mike and his crew went with us to The Ice House in Pasadena to film Zach's debut at the club.
• A few interviews, with the three of us together, discussing show business and how it impacts our lives on a daily basis.
• Even Doctor Murgatroyd AKA Doc The Dog got in on the action by insisting on sitting with us during one of the interviews.

The weekend with Mike is the most I've talked about myself/discussed the past in many years. I am not big on reminiscing about the past. I am more interested in the present as well as where I am heading in the future.

The weekend seemed to go well. Mike got a lot of good footage of Zach at The Ice House and some fun interviews at our home with all of us. The time spent looking back helped us focus on the future by examining the goals Zach is trying to achieve with his career/

I can feel your question about the interview...When can you read the feature article about Zach?

Mike put the article together and also made a short film piece containing footage from the comedy club and our interviews at home. He submitted them to his editor and discovered there was not enough drama or conflict in the piece.

In other words, I was not the cliche "evil stage parent" most people think of when it comes to parents of child/teen actors.

To his credit, Mike refused to do a rewrite that would have cast me in a bad light. He could have easily redone the piece to make his editor happy by making me a giant stage parent whose only concern is living off his kid.

The editor wanted a story featuring a stage parent like this guy: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lavar-ball-plaschke-20171121-story.html

So, what will happen to the story and the short film?

Mike and his team are shopping the story around and getting some advice from folks in the entertainment industry. I'm not sure what outlet will pick it up and run the story. I will definitely keep you posted in the future.

For now, the initial outcome of this project is proof that I am not as big of a jerk as many believe me to be.

Don't get me wrong...I am kind of a jerk. I'm just not a "stage parent using my kid to live out my show business dreams" jerk.

A feature story about this actor is coming in the near future.

Acting and Performing Opportunities During the Holiday Season

The holidays are almost here and everyone likes to find ways to make extra money to buy gifts for family and friends. While there are plenty of retail jobs available, there are a number of opportunities for actors to make money while still being able to use their acting skills.

• Halloween theme park jobs - It doesn't take long to get to a theme park if you live in Los Angeles. We have Universal Studios, Disney, Six Flags and Knott's Berry Farm and each one of them does some kind of holiday festival or event. Actors have the chance to work as characters that scare park guests as well as hosts/performers in shows. Zach has been working at "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal during Halloween. The event happens at night which gives him time during the day for auditions and school. (Yes, I know that Halloween is almost over but it is something to keep in mind for next year.)
• Holiday singing and dancing - Halloween is not the only time theme parks need performers to entertain guests. Christmas is a big time for employment opportunities thanks to the parks putting on holiday themed live shows that include song and dance numbers.
• Work in a retail environment without having to sell items - Song and dance numbers also happen on a regular basis in malls and department stores. They hire performers to entertain shoppers with Christmas carols, perform background music while people shop and (of course)  work as elves and holiday helpers while Santa Claus is talking to kids.
• Entertain the public around town - There are agencies that hire singers and performers to entertain retirement communities and schools during the holidays. It is a great way for singers and dancers to practice their craft while still making money.
• Demonstrating products - These are the folks you see at Costco on the weekends sharing news about exciting products, promoting great deals and sampling amazing food items. While it is a sales job, the person promoting the product still has to memorize a script and be convincing about how great the item is and why shoppers can't live without it!

The above examples are just some of the ways actors can do what they love (perform) and make extra money between booking roles. The holidays are stressful so any chance to get out in public and perform for others is welcomed by those who enjoy entertaining for a living. Plus, all of these jobs certainly beat sitting in an office all day doing a temp job in front of a computer!

This actor has been scaring people at Halloween Horror Nights

Why Haven't I Been Posting Lately?

There has been a definite lack of new posts by me in the last few months. I have plenty to discuss and stories to share from Hollywood. The main problems are a lack of free time and (sometimes) a lack of motivation to compose a new blog.

It's not that I don't want to update my blog on a regular basis. There are just times when my brain is in "writer overload" mode.  In the past two weeks, I have written a combination of news stories, blogs, articles and white papers about these topics:

*The overseas cryptocurrency market

*Fishing season tips for residents of Texas

*Cosmetic surgery including Mommy Makeover, Rhinoplasty Revision, BBL and forms of Lipo

*Steps to take when talking to insurance companies after a hurricane

*Hot topics for parents in 2018

*How to track down company funding information

*A new cosmetics line based in Greece

*A film festival manual for aspiring filmmakers

*Duct cleaning scams

*Crowdfunding ideas and incentives for a number of companies

After spending about 10 hours a day writing, I sometimes don't have the mental energy to compose a thoughtful blog. 

While I might not be able to update you on Zach's adventures as often as I would like, I will give you a quick bullet point rundown of his recent activities:

• Contacted by "America's Got Talent" 
• Appearing on "Fresh off the Boat" 
• Stand up gigs in Burbank and Pasadena
• A show at iO West
• Auditions for series leads and recurring characters
• A part in a play running every weekend in North Hollywood

The kid stays busy while also going to college and working at Universal Studios.

Even if I don't get a chance to share everything with you on my blog, I do update his adventures in Hollywood on my social media pages. The links to my social media profiles can be found on the right side of this page.

Thanks for your patience. I will be back with more tales of Hollywood as soon as possible!

You can always check this page for updates on The Artist.

The Chance To Perform Is Always There (If You Look For It)

I often receive emails asking me when Zach will be on TV again  or when he will be in a movie on the big screen or direct to DVD.

To answer those questions, he will be seen on television sooner (rather than later) in an episode of "Fresh Off The Boat" as well as an episode of the new HBO series "Sharp Objects" starring Amy Adams.  However, these are not the only projects he has been working on in 2017.

Acting is a tough business because the odds of you landing a part are not in your favor if you stop and think about it:

• Agents and managers submit their clients to casting directors
• By the time all of the submissions are turned in, the casting directors likely have hundreds of submissions to look at
• Out of the hundreds of submissions, they will choose anywhere from 5 to 50 actors to read for the part
• Out of that group of actors, some may get a callback while others will never hear anything from the casting folks about the part
• The lucky actor is finally picked out of the hundreds of submissions that started the process

When you break down the various steps in the casting process, it's easy to see why the odds of landing a role are not in the favor of an actor.

That is one of the main reasons why many actors (like Zach) find other avenues to practice their craft beyond being on a film or television set.

Since July of this year, Zach has either been practicing or appearing in two plays in North Hollywood:

1. "The Marriage Zone" (which recently completed its run with Zach in the role of "Ryan")
2. "Somewhere in the Middle" (which recently extended its run with Zach in the role of "Adam")

Plus, he has been working on expanding his comedy career by playing new comedy clubs and networking with both established and rising comedians in Los Angeles.  He just added The Ice House in Pasadena as one of his regular venues and is already working the main room of the club.

While Zach certainly enjoys being on set and acting in front of the camera, he also understands the need to keep his acting skills sharp between movie and TV roles. I admire him for taking matters into his own hands and creating opportunities that give him the chance to perform in front of audiences that might not have a chance to see him otherwise.

Staying busy, and staying focused, are paying off for him now. I believe that his hard work and dedication will pay off with more big (and small) screen roles in the future.

This actor is also a stand up comedian and a thespian. 

Conversations About "The Business"

No matter where you go in Hollywood, it seems like people are always talking about "the business". While the movie and television industry are a big part of this town, listening to random conversations reveals there is a "show business superstar" in everyone.

Here are seven of my favorite show biz related conversations I've heard in the past few weeks:

1. "I just finished a treatment for a gritty reboot of Howard the Duck for Phase 4 of the Marvel movies. In my treatment, he becomes a contestant on a Big Brother type show and teaches everyone the best and worst mankind has to offer while also trying to win the competition."
2. "I told him I would love to sing backup at the Hollywood Bowl but then I found out if was for the Muppets. Everyone will be looking at the singing frog instead of me!"
3. "I had lunch on the Warner Brothers lot last week. I didn't have a meeting there. I decided to sneak onto the lot to take a selfie for my IMDb page."
4. "The entire role consisted of me not speaking and staying in one place on the ground for 7 hours covered in fake blood. I can't wait to tell my acting coach!!!"
5. "I don't get why Netflix didn't go with my TGIF revival idea. I can totally see Urkel, Balki and any random cast member they can get from Step by Step living together in a Real World type show. It would be a hit!"
6. "I hope he makes it to Hollywood on the next season of American Idol. I think all of the camera time I get rooting for him in  the audience will help raise my profile in the industry."
7. "I booked a commercial where I play second banana to a dog. I've been working in the industry much longer than that mutt so this is completely unfair."

As long as there are show business dreams, there will be plenty of conversations like the ones listed above. I'll be sure and keep a notebook on me so I can write down more odd conversations to share with you in the coming months.

This Actor Has Been Appearing On Stage For The Past Three Months.

Revisiting The Secret Origin Of This Blog

If there's one thing I don't really "get" on social media, it is "Way Back Wednesday", "Throwback Thursday" and "Flashback Friday".

Don't get me wrong. I find it amusing to see old photos featuring bad haircuts and questionable fashion choices. I understand that people want to look back on their younger days. However, I rarely feel the need to post old items on my accounts. I am much more interested in where I am going instead of where I have been in the past.

Having said that, I've spent a lot of time in the last 48 hours talking about the journey that led us to Hollywood.  We've been working on a project spotlighting the three of us and part of the process has been interviews done separately and together. Sorry to be vague but I don't want to give too much away until the time is right.

The interviews inspired me to look back at some of the oldest posts on this blog. These old posts reminded me that the name of my blog was nothing more than a joke that happened to stick in the minds of friends and people that found my posts online.

Secret Origin of a Dadager:

When Zach and I were getting ready to move to Los Angeles, I did research about managers and agents to try and get a better idea about the business in general. I kept running across stories about fathers who were also the managers of their kids. The fathers of Michael Jackson, Lindsay Lohan and Beyonce kept appearing in search results as examples of fathers who were way too controlling and overbearing. As a joke, I decided to call myself a "Dadager" and the nickname stuck as time passed.

What started as a way to keep friends and family updated on Zach's career has turned into an outlet for insights into the business of acting. I've been contacted by many readers who want more information about certain show business topics and those who just want to say "thanks" for the info.

Looking at my old posts made me realize how little I knew about these topics when we arrived in Los Angeles:

• Casting directors
• Auditions
• Headshots
• Comedy clubs
• Acting classes
• LA traffic
• Callbacks
• Set life
• Pilot season
• Episodic season
• Stage Parents
• Improv at Second City and other venues
• Casting workshops
• Running lines before an audition

I am still amazed at the new info I learn on a weekly basis.

I really appreciate the support and feedback over the years. Your readership has meant a lot to me as my family has navigated the Hollywood machine for the last 5 years.

Plus, looking back at my old blog entries has taught me that a little "Flashback Friday" isn't a bad thing sometimes.

This actor makes each day an adventure in Hollywood.

The Play's The Thing...So Is The Stand-Up Stage

I was able to watch Zach Louis do something this past Friday night that I haven't experienced since 2011. I watched him onstage in a play before a live audience for the first time since he was in middle school in St. Louis. I've seen him onstage doing stand-up comedy in Los Angeles as well as improv at Second City in Hollywood. It's just been a long time since he has performed in a play.

In fact, he is currently in two plays in North Hollywood. Friday night saw him take the stage in a production of "The Marriage Zone" at the Secret Rose Theatre. Zach plays the child of the couple in the play as well as the narrator who sets up the play at the start of the show. The plot revolves around a married couple who are both unhappy in the marriage for different reasons. They are visited in "The Marriage Zone" by younger and older versions of their characters so they can see where they started and where they might end up as a couple. There are certainly some heavy moments in the play but Zach helps to keep things light with a number of funny lines.

The cast features a combination of younger performers and veterans who have appeared in such TV shows and films as "CSI: Cyber", "Grimm", "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". If you are near North Hollywood, and looking for a night of entertainment in an intimate theatre, you can find your tickets here. Zach's next performance is Labor Day Weekend and a code for discount tickets will be provided if you sign-up for emails from Plays 411.

Why is Zach not in the play this coming week? Because he is performing three shows this week during the Burbank Comedy Festival. The list of comedians is a mixture of established names and emerging comedians. Zach's three shows this week include:

1. Laugh Revolt Repeat
2. Emerging Comedians
3. Opening for Hal Sparks

All of the comedians hope to make a good impression on the crowd as well as the organizers of the festival so they will be invited to take part in the "Best of the Fest" shows on the last night of the festival. The festival also features panels, parties, podcasts and networking opportunities for all of the comedians taking part in the event.

I'm looking forward to a week of comedy with many people I've never seen before as well as watching Zach do his "thang" in front of industry veterans.  As always, I haven't heard his set in advance so I hope I haven't done anything stupid enough (lately) to be made fun of in his set. If I am made fun of by Zach, he is too old for me to ground so I guess it's all just part of the #funnybusiness of the festival.

This TV and movie actor is living onstage this week.

A History Of Comedy (That Only Focuses On One Stand-Up Comedian)

Zach recently got the news that he will be competing in the Burbank Comedy Festival for the second year in a row. The festival receives entries from comedians all over the country and features both household names and comedians starting to make their name in the business.

The festival runs August 13th-19th and is more than a series of stand-up comedy shows. The event also includes panels on the business of comedy such as :

• Working corporate comedy events
• Joke anatomy
• Getting an agent
• Insider tips from comedy venue bookers, owners and casting directors 

Zach attended many of the events last year to try and further his comedy career. He has already had a pretty good run as he has moved from open mic nights to gigs at established comedy clubs.

He started out doing open mics anywhere that would allow a person under the age of 18 to perform. His venues included restaurants, coffee shops, a few bars, opening for singer/songwriter friends and being an unofficial member of a group of comedians that did gigs around town together. He was an unofficial member because he was the only person under the age of 18 on stage as well as the only comedian without a set that leaned towards an African American audience. All of the other (very funny) comedians would talk about hip hop music, race relations and dating in your 20s and 30s. Zach was usually in the middle of the lineup and spent most of his time making jokes about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

He got a lot of experience with that group of comedians but Zach wanted stage time at an established comedy club. He started to attend open mic nights at Flappers in Burbank and was able to get booked on shows in the YooHoo Room at the club. His opportunity to have more stage time at Flappers resulted in Zach being booked in their main room as well.

Besides being in the Burbank Comedy Festival for the second year in a row, he gets to make another dream come true in August by taking the stage at The Comedy Store in Hollywood (on Sunset Blvd.) for the first time. Zach has spent many hours doing improv at Second City in Hollywood making it up in front of the audience. However, he seems to really enjoy constructing a joke and seeing how his creation plays in front of a live audience. It's a good thing he enjoys writing jokes and telling them on a stage since he has three sets during the Burbank Comedy Festival and the show at The Comedy Store.

He likes to talk about events that happen to him in his daily life. I will be spending the next few weeks being extra careful so I don't end up as the punchline of one of his jokes.

This actor has been busy with auditions as well as comedy shows.

The Most "LA Thing" That Has Happened To Me (So Far)

I have been in Los Angeles for over 5 years and have certainly had some odd moments since moving here. However, a business meeting earlier this week might be the most "LA thing" I've ever experienced.

I had a meeting the other day with a new business connection. He contacted me out of the blue about working on 2 upcoming projects in the entertainment industry. We are both located in the Los Angeles area so it made sense to meet in person. I have ongoing freelance copywriting, marketing and publicity projects with clients located in New York, Florida, the Philippines and West Virginia so it was nice to make a business connection where I live.

We set a meeting time to get some coffee and discuss the projects. He has a European accent so each mention of coffee sounded like "We will get-uh da coffee and discuss-uh the project over da coffee."
I drove to his office and discovered that his office was his home. No big deal because I work at home as well. The surprise was that we were just doing coffee at his place and not at a coffee shop.

I rang the doorbell and was greeted by his assistant as well a dog that excelled in the art of crotch sniffing. Super sweet dog but extremely fascinated by the crotch region. After making some small talk with the assistant and bonding with the dog, I went into the backyard to meet with my contact and his partner. Before getting into the business at hand, we discussed our personal lives, They were tired from different social events and had meant to relax in the pool earlier in the day. However, they had run out of time before our meeting.

That's when they had a "great-uh idea"...What if we all got in the pool and did our business meeting relaxing in the water????

Without any hesitation, I politely declined by using the (very valid) excuse that I was not wearing appropriate pool gear and did not bring any with me. No problem (according to them) because the giant pink flamingo in the pool was big enough that I could just sit in it rather than having to get my body in the water.

I realize this is easy for me to say since I was experiencing the offer in person. The offer to get in the pool didn't strike me as straight up odd as it sounds. It was more European eccentric and probably something they do on a regular basis.

After thinking about it for about 20-seconds, I agreed to get in the pool. I removed my shoes, rolled up my jeans and climbed aboard the giant pink flamingo. I have never seen the show "Entourage" but this experience was exactly how I imagine the Hollywood in the show was portrayed all the time.

We floated in the pool for a good 30-minutes drinking "da coffee" and discussing the different ways to promote their projects. We even worked on a PowerPoint while my flamingo drifted next to their panda and martini glass floats in the pool. The dog even joined us in the pool at one point.

There was only one or two times that I was floating in the pool and thinking, "How the hell did my life get to the point that I'm drinking coffee in swimming pools and taking meetings on flamingo floats???"

I'm not complaining at all. It is just not a thing I ever imagined happening in my professional life.

It was a very productive meeting and I think great things (creatively and financially) will come from our partnership. I even made it out of the meeting without falling in the pool! If nothing else comes from this meeting, it will make a great story if (and when) I do an Open Mic comedy night around town.

This actor has a stand up comedy date in Burbank this month.

If You Pass This 8 Question Quiz, You're Ready To Be An Actor

The life of an actor is not an easy one. It looks glamorous from the outside since most people only think about the actual process of acting on a film or TV set. They don't think about the amount of time spent at auditions, the money that goes into acting classes and headshots and the (sometimes) negative feedback from others.

Are you interested in becoming a professional actor? If so, take this quiz to see if acting is the right career choice for you!

Are you okay with not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from or when you will have another paycheck? 
For most actors, consistent work is not something that normally happens. If you are looking for a steady paycheck, this might not be the job for you.


Do you like being rejected on a regular basis?
You don't hear back from a casting director if you don't book a job. You either don't hear anything or you see an announcement online about the actor that landed the part you hoped to book.  If you can't handle the constant rejection when it comes to booking acting roles, you might consider another line of work.


Are you willing to make the choice between paying for headshots and acting classes instead of essential items?
Sometimes actors have to make the choice between paying for items crucial to their chosen profession (such as acting classes and headshots) or buying a new couch or new tires for their car. If you would rather spend any extra money you have on advancing your career, you might be suited for the acting world.

Are you okay with being judged on your physical appearance?
There are many times that the final decision for a role is not based on your acting ability. The casting director is often trying to "mix and match" actors in order to achieve a certain look among the characters. You might be too tall or too small for what the casting folks have in mind. You might have too much hair or not enough hair. You might look more like a brother or sister than the possible love interest of the other actor or actress. Being judged on your looks is a big part of the audition process and you have to accept that fact if you want to make it as an actor.

Can you handle criticism?
It is the job of casting directors as well as producers and the director on set to give you feedback about your work. If you are the type of person who thinks that every choice you make is the right one at all times, you either have to learn to accept criticism or find a line of work where nobody will give you any sort of guidance or direction. I don't know if such a job exists but maybe you can find it.

Are you prepared to disappoint your family and friends?
No matter how much you plan ahead, there will be a time when your manager or agent calls with a last minute audition or booking. Actors often have to miss dinners, birthdays and holiday trips home because of the last minute nature of the industry. There will be many times that your family and friends will be upset with you and discourage your choice of such an unpredictable career. Being an actor means giving up precious time with them as you follow your dreams.

Does the thought of your friends living a normal life make you jealous?
Hopefully, you will be happy seeing your friends get married, have a steady job and buy a house where they will raise a family. Does the thought of having a "normal life" make you jealous or does it not seem appealing at all? If seeing your friends raise a family while having a regular job makes you jealous, you might not be cut out for the life of an actor.

Is acting the only career choice that makes you happy?
If the thought of being an actor makes you smile and brings you happiness, you have made the right choice so get out there and kick some acting butt!

How did you do on the quiz?

If you scored 7 or 8 points, you are ready to live the life of an actor.
If you scored 5 or 6 points, you might want to think twice before moving to Los Angeles.
If you scored 4 (or below) points, stay home because the uncertain life of an actor is not for you.

This actor is still working hard to succeed in Hollywood.

Why Are Commercial Auditions Slower In The Summer?

Almost every actor in Hollywood has had a conversation with their agent or manager in the summertime where the actor complains that the number of auditions has been slow. The agent or manager will always reply by saying that it is slow this summer.

That answer translates to....It is slow every summer in Los Angeles.

It is certainly busy in the winter and early spring during pilot season. Auditions pick up again in the fall when episodic season begins. Thankfully, episodic season is not the only work opportunity in the fall.

Commercial casting increases towards the end of summer thanks to a number of factors:

• Christmas commercials increase in number as companies make their annual pitch for holiday dollars to be spent in their stores
• The increase in Christmas commercials also means an increase in modeling and catalog work as companies display the items they have for sale this holiday season
• Car commercials are big as automakers try to get rid of older models as well as introduce the autos for next year

Plus, the summer TV schedules on the major networks are mostly filled with reruns, games shows and reality TV shows. Many advertisers save their ad dollars for the fall when the majority of the scripted TV shows start their seasons. This means casting directors have more commercial work in the fall.

The important thing for actors to remember is that they are not doing anything wrong if they have a lack of commercial auditions in the summer. It is simply a slow time for actors in general.

Actors should enjoy the quiet time and work on personal projects that are important to them. If they get really lucky in the fall, they won't have any spare time to work on those passion projects.

This actor is staying busy with stand up comedy and stage plays.

Summer Casting Call Roundup From Hollywood

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there is plenty of acting work to be found in the time between pilot season and episodic season. Are you not sure what roles casting directors are looking to fill? For your convenience, here are some of the latest casting notices that grabbed my attention:

• Looking for males and females (20-50) to play very thin, drugged out heroin users. Must be emaciated thin. Need to submit a photo looking straight at the camera with no smiling. 
• Leading man (24-31) with the body of Chris Evans and the emotional maturity of Homer Simpson needed for romantic comedy about a bus driver in space.
• Do you have a smile that goes on for days? If so, submit now for the role of "Captain Smiles A Lot" in our new music video. Must be able to smile for hours without a break.
• Searching for attractive and well-spoken women between the ages of 18 and 35 with superior acting skills who know how to make a guy feel "special" in the romantic sense of the word. If you are able to pull off a convincing performance, we want to talk to you about a 1-minute video that will play as a "hook" on the homepage of our website.
• Male twins, 65-80, needed for film about love on the professional bridge players circuit. Must be well versed in the rules of playing bridge as well as how to cheat to win.
• Road trip movie in need of 3 oddball friend duos ranging from 35-52. Think "The Dream Team" meets "The Breakfast Club" with a dash of "The Truman Show".
• Think clowns are scary? Casting now for a low budget horror film about two clowns who refuse to stay dead and buried.
• Love metal music? Live your days as a gamer? New movie casting male lead to play a massage therapist who secretly wants to be a metal guitarist. To achieve his dream, he gets caught up in a community of fighting game fans.
• Casting for a music video about new love. Please specify the level of PDA you are comfortable with, if you want to audition with your significant other or if you would rather audition (and interact) with a stranger.
• Can you burp for a long period of time? If so, submit an audition tape of an extended length of burping. Feature film about a high stakes burping contest, as well as a romance between burping pros, is looking to cast in the next few weeks.

Do any of these parts sound like the perfect role for you? If so, you just might be a success in Hollywood!

This actor played a drunk wrestler earlier this week.

A Random Up Close And Personal Celebrity Encounter

Helicopters are a common sight in Los Angeles. It seems like police helicopters are in neighborhoods on a weekly basis aiding in manhunts. News helicopters are out a few times a week covering police chases. Helicopters are so common that it takes a little while to realize something out of the ordinary might be happening when they are flying around my neighborhood.

I heard two helicopters flying overheard last week. They were in the neighborhood for so long that I eventually realized something more than a police chase was going on that afternoon.

I went outside and looked around but couldn't see them in the sky. I did notice smoke filling the air a few streets over from my place. I walked towards the smoke and was able to spot two helicopters hovering over the hills of Sherman Oaks. I eventually ended up standing in the parking lot of the McDonald's close to my home. The parking lot was full of people trying to get a glimpse of the house on fire up in the hills. One helicopter was making an effort to put out the blaze while the other one looked to be a news helicopter getting footage of the action.

I walked to the edge of the parking lot where a guy was standing by himself watching the fire. He was wearing an ill-fitting shirt that didn't quite cover his belly, black shorts and white socks, I didn't pay much attention to him but he eventually said "Look at those two helicopters. You'd think the wind from them would help put out the fire."

There are some people you've never met in your life but you instantly know their voice from TV and movies. This was definitely the case once the guy started talking to me. I agreed with him but didn't turn to look at him. He then said that the house looked nice and maybe the fire didn't do much damage. I turned towards him to reply and said something that I don't remember. What I do remember is my first thought when I looked at the celebrity with the recognizable voice:

"Jon Lovitz is not that tall in person."

Admit it. Now that I've told you the name of the celebrity, you can hear his voice talking to me about the fire,

I never let on that I recognized him. I did mention the sound of multiple helicopters made me think a giant police chase was happening. He laughed and said the fire was not as exciting as a police chase. Plus, he remarked the smoke from the fire was now white and that probably meant the fire was close to being out. His other theory about the white smoke was:

"It could mean they've elected a new pope."

It hit me then how odd that moment was for me. I'm standing in a McDonald's parking lot listening to a former SNL cast member do stand-up comedy for an audience of one (me) about a fire we were both watching.

We continued to chat while he made jokes about the fire decreasing the resale value of the homes in that neighborhood. After a few minutes, I politely excused myself so I could go home and finish some work. I walked home thinking that my encounter with Jon Lovitz was the most "Hollywood" thing that has happened to me in months.

Celebrity sightings are commonplace in Los Angeles because of the number of movies and TV shows shot in the area. However, it's rare to get a private comedy show from a person you've watched on television since the 1980s. I should say it's rare to get that opportunity without having to pay big money for an appearance fee!

This Actor Hopes To Be An SNL Cast Member In The Future.

What Should An Actor Do After Pilot Season?

The TV upfronts are over and the fall television schedules are set for the main networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW).  While the upfronts represent a beginning for the actors who landed pilots that got picked up, this time of year also represents an ending for some actors.

The months of January-May are a busy time in Hollywood. A great number of actors move to Los Angeles during this time of the year for pilot season. Since the number of actors is much larger than the amount of available roles in pilots, the end of pilot season sees many of the temporary residents of Los Angeles head back to their hometowns.

Will they eventually return to take another shot at their acting career in Los Angeles? A good majority of them will say "Yes" when asked this question. However, some will go back home and never find a reason to try again in California.

What about the actors who didn't book a pilot but decide to stay in Los Angeles? What opportunities remain for them in the time between the end of pilot season and the start of episodic season in late summer/early fall?

There is plenty to keep you busy if you know where to look or if you want to create your own opportunities:

• Casting directors continue their work in the summer months because movies and commercials don't stop filming during this time period 
• There have been multiple auditions in the last few weeks for plays in Los Angeles so think about trying the stage this summer
• The time between pilot season and episodic season is a chance to update your resume, get new headshots and make sure your social media is an accurate representation of your brand as an actor
• Schedule meetings with your agent and manager to review how pilot season went and what you can do to prepare for episodic season
• Pull out that script you've wanted to complete and create a project that plays to your strengths
• Take an acting class or attend workshops in order to keep your acting skills sharp

Acting opportunities in Hollywood don't stop just because pilot season has ended for the year. It might take some extra effort on your part to find a project or a role that fits your skills. Just remember that it's worth the effort because you might find the part that kickstarts your career and helps you become a working actor.

This actor has booked a few roles since pilot season ended.

A Visit To The Voice

I had a chance last week to attend a taping of The Voice. I realize it is a live show but they do tape it for playback later on the West Coast. I enjoyed the experience but I'm not sure if I would do it again.

The show starts at 5pm on the West Coast. I went on a Tuesday which means I attended the one hour version of the show (the results show). Even though it starts at 5pm, audience members have to check-in much earlier.

I arrived for check-in around 1pm. My check-in time was 1:30pm but it is a good thing that I arrived early. I drove to one set of gates and was directed to another gate in order to get to the parking garage for the show. Once I got to the correct garage, I drove around for 10 minutes looking for a parking space. I was about to give up when a security guard waved me down to tell me that new parking spaces were being opened up. I just needed to follow the signs to the new parking area. I drove along the new path and ended up parking right in front of the check-in area.

Score one for me!

When you arrive at the check-in table, you need:

• Your ID
• A signed copy of the photo waiver that says they have the right to use your image during the show as well as in photos taken during the show
• A signed copy of the waiver that says you won't reveal what happened during the show until after the broadcast, not reveal trade secrets, etc.

There are two lines at the check-in area. The first is for people with priority seating and the other is for general admission/people who don't have reserved tickets but hope to see the show if possible. I made my way through the priority seating line and was directed to an area with a large tent.

I think it was around 1:45pm when I arrived at the tent. I wasn't sure what time it was because you are not allowed to take your phone with you after you check-in. Depending on when you arrive, and when you get back to your car after the show, you can spend a good 4-5 hours off the grid. 

The tent was the area where everybody that made it into the audience had to sit and wait. The paperwork for the show asked the audience to "dress to impress". Since it is a TV show, they want the audience to look stylish when the cameras do crowd shots. It was interesting to watch the crowd and see what some people consider stylish and impressive. Some of the outfits on display included:

• A newlywed male from Texas who was wearing the biggest belt buckle possible, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat that seemed to be glued to his head
• A female wearing a pink skirt, pink shoes and what might have been pink leggings but could have been pink short shorts
• A guy who denied that he had heard of Chance the Rapper even though he was wearing the same hat and outfit as Chance
• An assortment of plaid shorts that marked people as not being from Los Angeles 

There was music playing and food trucks for snacks but no clear indication of when we would be heading to the sound stage. After an undetermined amount of time, two guys approached the crowd to tell us what to expect during the show. They interacted with everybody by making jokes, answering questions and playing games.

Finally, it was time to head to the sound stage. The crowd was seated according to the color of the wristband you were given during check-in. You were either seated quickly or had to wait and see where the open seats were after the rest of the crowd entered the building.

Between the super long wait between check-in and going to the sound stage, and the loss of contact with the outside world, I was kind of over it by the time the show started at 5pm. 

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the show. I always find it interesting to watch how TV shows are put together. It is fascinating to watch a live TV production crew in action because the clock is constantly ticking for them during the show. The actual program was a little like being at church because there was a lot of standing and sitting and more standing and sitting and even more standing and sitting. The warm-up guy was good and got the crowd energized and ready for the show. He also came out during the commercial breaks and told us what was happening next and to be sure and stand and scream loudly for our favorite singers. Everybody followed their cues and made sure to show some love to the contestants as well as the judges.

One thing about being at a live TV show is the sound is certainly not the same as you hear on your TV. Because of the cheering of the crowd, it was next to impossible to hear Carson Daly at the start of the show and also at various points throughout the program. The judges are focused during the broadcast but they do interact with the audience a bit during the commercial breaks. The house band always sounds great on TV but they were loud and amazing in person. They played a variety of songs throughout the show and I came away very impressed with their skills as musicians.

The show wrapped up at 6pm and I was ready to hit the door and go home (and check my phone). Like I said, I enjoyed the show but there was way too much downtime between check-in and the start of the show. I understand the need to hype the crowd and explain the rules of attending the broadcast. However, that could have been done not long after we arrived instead of making everyone sit around for an hour (or more) after check-in.

I got back to my car around 6:30pm and was happy to be reunited with my phone. The two things I didn't understand about taking our phones were:

1. If one of the main features of the results show is a Twitter save, why do they deny the audience the chance to participate during the show they are attending?
2. Are they afraid the audience will post photos during the show on social media? It is being broadcast live to multiple time zones so it's not like many spoilers are going to happen.

BTW...I mentioned earlier that the producers of the show make you sign waivers that you bring to the show. If one of the waivers deals with not talking about what goes on behind the scenes of the show, why am I discussing my day in detail?

They never asked for any of the paperwork at check-in. They also never asked for it before we entered the sound stage or after the show. It never occurred to me they didn't ask for the paperwork until after I got home and emptied my pockets.

If you are a big fan of The Voice, or of hanging out under a tent with hundreds of strangers, I recommend trying to get tickets to see a live taping of The Voice. It is one of those "Hollywood experiences" that everyone should have a chance to enjoy if possible.

This actor was at an audition during the taping of the show.

All The World Is A Stage

The Artist had an audition last night for a play. While this isn't his usual type of acting gig, he has performed in plays in the past.

Zach arrived at the theater and was greeted by a long-haired dachshund and four older gentlemen who looked like they were booked by Central Casting to play the part of theater directors. They were dressed in a variety of hats and scarves and sat in the shadows to observe the proceedings happening on the stage.

After the initial introductions ended, Zach was called up to the stage to perform his scene, The character was a smarty pants teenager having a conversation with his mother. He performed the scene with a reader sitting to the side of the stage. The scene ended and there was silence in the room. Finally, the guy in charge of the group of theater people said this insightful comment:

"Huh."

Silence once again filled the room as everyone tried to determine what he meant by that one word comment. Zach was the first to speak up:

"I have absolutely no idea what that comment could possibly mean."

Everybody laughed and the audition director gave Zach a few notes while looking at his resume. The director noticed all of the comedy and improv in his background and remarked that he had perfect training to play a kid with a smart mouth. After a few more jokes back and forth, they started the scene again. Zach got halfway through when the director said that was enough. Of course, Zach was afraid that he had missed a line or not followed the directions properly. Instead, the director said:

"Callbacks are Monday night at 8pm. Can you be here???"

After agreeing to the time and date, Zach was dismissed from the stage.

Think good thoughts for him over the weekend and into Monday night for his callback. He is okay with not getting much in the way of conversation from the folks running the audition as long as they keep inviting him back to the theater.

This actor also has a stand-up comedy gig next week.

The Changing Landscape Of Headshots

Zach got new headshots earlier this year and I finally had a chance to visit a photo lab and get them printed. I went there Friday night and arrived about 15-minutes before they closed. I was the only customer so I was able to chat a bit with the guy working the front desk. I noticed that the photo lab seemed to have more video recording equipment than in years past. He said video production is one of the ways they pay the bills these days because "headshots aren't as big as they used to be."

I never thought about that fact before but he is right. Headshots are still important but they are not as important as they were in the past.

Let me explain.

When someone mentions an audition, one of the first things you probably think of is the image of an actor with his or her headshot in hand waiting to see the casting director. While this still happens, it doesn't occur as often as it did in the past. Many auditions are now recorded and instantly emailed to the casting director. There is no need for a printed headshot because the agent or manager used a jpeg of the photo to send to the casting office.

Even if the audition is in person, there will be times when the casting team have the headshot pulled up on their computer so there is no need to hand them a printed headshot.

Zach did two auditions last week and none of the casting directors asked him for his headshot.

If this is becoming more of a trend, why did I get new headshots printed? Because there are some casting directors who still want the actual headshot (with the resume on the back) even though they already have the photo and resume information on their computer. It might be a habit for them to ask for the headshot or they might want it because "that's the way it has always been done".

Plus, you still need a good headshot to showcase your personality. It doesn't matter whether it is a printed copy or an emailed version of the photo. You need to invest the time and money to find an experienced photographer who can convey what you bring to the table as an actor with your photo that (hopefully) serves as a good first impression.

A headshot is much like a business card in Hollywood. You present it to casting directors as a form of introduction as well as something for them to keep so they will remember you in the future.

This is another reason you need to use an experienced photographer for your headshots. A good photographer takes into account how the photo will look on the printed page as well as digitally. He (or she) will make sure the lighting and touch-ups on the photo work well in any format.

Plus, a good headshot is something to give family members who like to show off “their actor” to friends and other relatives. It's worth the money to make mom and dad happy!

This actor has new headshots on IMDb.

How To Get Ready For An Auditon

While preparing for an audition might seem like an easy process, there are many steps to follow once the email hits your inbox.

Don't believe me?

Here are the steps Zach Louis took this week during his latest audition process.

Step One
Zach received an email on Monday for an audition from his commercial agent.

Step Two
Confirmation of receiving the email and then letting his manager know he had an audition.

Step Three
Reading the character breakdown to see how many lines he had to learn as well as determining what wardrobe to wear to be "in character" while still looking like a real person to the casting director

Step Four
Practicing any lines and getting the body language down for the character

Step Five
Take a look (again) at the location of the audition in order to determine how long it takes to get there, if there is street parking and the time of day the audition is being held

Step Six
Make sure the resume on the back of his headshot has the logo and contact info for his commercial agent instead of his theatrical agent

Step Seven
Properly hydrate and get eight hours of sleep (or try to get that much sleep)

Step Eight
Go to audition and impress the casting director with major acting skills

Step Nine
Go home and hope for a callback

Step Ten
Get a callback and jump for joy

Step Eleven
Make sure the clothes you wore to the first audition are clean and then wear them again since the casting director liked your look in that outfit

Step Twelve
Repeat steps two though nine and hope to repeat step ten

No word yet on whether or not Zach is moving through to the next round of auditions. If he does get another callback, he will refer to the steps outlined above to properly prepare for it!

Think Good Thoughts For This Actor And His Callbacks.

An Audition Road Trip Story

Most of Zach's auditions take place in and around the Los Angeles area. However, he had a recent commercial audition that required a road trip to San Diego. The amount of money for the role was enough to make the trip worth our time so we hit the road to the former home of the Chargers. 

The only areas of San Diego I've spent much time in are the downtown area and Point Loma. Both of these areas can be reached by driving the 5 from our area of Los Angeles. I decided to use the Waze app to monitor any traffic issues, Imagine my surprise when the app decided to not put me on the 5 going to San Diego. My journey took me from the 101 to the 134 to the 210 to the 71 to the 15 to (briefly) the 79 and then back to the 15. 

In other words, I had no idea where I was going in terms of getting to San Diego. 

It was a fun drive because I got to see parts of California I didn't know existed as well as the locations of a few casinos I had heard of but didn't know where they were located. The trip took about two and a half hours which isn't bad for a drive to San Diego.

We found the audition location in the Sorrento Valley area of San Diego. Zach entered the building and came out about 15 minutes later drenched in sweat. He explained that part of the improv audition involved acting like he was passing out and having water thrown on him in order to revive him. He seemed to feel good about his audition and I left the studio with a wet kid in search of food.

Even though I didn't know it at the time, that is when I made my big mistake of the day.

There is a place in San Diego that has tofu with a great thai peanut sauce. Since I was in town, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to eat there. The restaurant was about 10 minutes away from the audition location which took me just far enough away from the 15 that Waze decided to put me on the 5 going home. 

Good news: Easy to navigate all the way home

Bad news: Traffic on the 5 is often a nightmare

Remember how I told you it took me two and a half hours to go the 135-140 miles to San Diego? It took me almost double that time as I spent over four and a half hours driving the same distance on the 5. On the plus side, it gave me some serious bonding time with Zach in the truck. 

Whether or not he books the commercial, it was nice spending the day with him since he is always off on an adventure at school or a comedy club or acting or with his friends. He even stayed awake and talked with me the whole way. A teenager talking to a parent for more than 5 minutes! What are the odds of that happening???

New Zach Louis headshots on his IMDb page.

An Overnight Hospital Adventure

We had an interesting weekend as Dana ended up at the emergency room on Saturday night/Sunday morning due to intense pain. It's become a joke in our family that something always happens in March that requires her to have surgery.  It is now March so (of course) we ended up at the hospital.

We arrived around 1AM and I let her out at the front door so she wouldn't have to walk from the parking lot. I parked the car and was approached by the security patrol. They started asking me all about my exciting night. I had no idea what they were talking about but they whooped loudly, gave me a high five and left to bother other people. I saw a security guard as I entered the building and mentioned that my wife had just walked in the door. Before I could ask how to get to the emergency room, he pointed down the hallway and sent me on my way. I went down the hallway where a nurse grabbed me before I could say anything. She told me my wife was upstairs and put me on an elevator. When I exited the elevator, I found myself in a maternity ward. Two nurses approached me so I could see my wife before the baby was born. I explained my situation and they seemed disappointed in me after they realized I wasn't there to be a new father. I reminded them there was a guy somewhere in the building looking for his wife and maybe they should go find him. They ran off to look for the dad and I went off in search of the emergency room.

I finally found Dana as she was being admitted to a room. She put on her patient gown and went to the bathroom to give a urine sample. I waited in the room as a "Code Gray" came over the intercom. "Code Gray" means there is a combative person that needs to be calmed down or restrained. I could hear a woman loudly yelling that "they didn't know what she had been through", "she doesn't like to be tied down" and "she'll kick people in places they didn't know they had on their bodies". Dana missed all of this because the combative person was restrained by the time she got out of the bathroom.

The rooms started filling up as the night continued. The guy next to us had to be a cocaine addict. His nose was bleeding everywhere because "he hurt his nose and had to put some packing in it". When asked which side of his nose he hurt, he replied with the left side. Five minutes later, it was the right side. Wait, maybe it was the left side. At one point, the doctor asked him "Do you have any idea if you actually hurt your nose or can I have the real story?" I do know the guy was the biggest wimp in the world as he yelled for the nurse every 10 minutes because "he was hurting".

While Dana had x-rays and various tests throughout the night, there were more all star patients entering the emergency room arena:

• The guy telling a long winded story about the 3 times he was struck by a car
• The patient who lost a finger or two in a combine accident
• The person who swallowed a goldfish belonging to a neighbor before coughing up blood
• The rocket scientist who fell off the back of a truck while sitting on a washing machine (his brother didn't have ropes so he was sitting on the machine so it wouldn't move)
• One guy who kept saying the words "California Chicken Wrap" in relation to his emergency but was unable to give more details

My favorite person was actually not in the emergency room. I went to the cafeteria around 4AM to get a snack and some caffeine. I walked in to find a guy standing all alone in front of the vending machines. He was yelling at the soda machine for taking his money, the snack machine for talking back to him and the coffee machine for being a "demon filled with the hot liquid that the wicked and unjust will get after death". He turned around and looked at me in silence. I calmly said it looked like he was having a moment with the machines and I would come back after he was done showing them the error of their ways. I calmly turned around and swiftly made my way back to the emergency room.

Dana was discharged at 7AM and we still don't have a definitive answer to her March medical mystery. Any good thoughts you can send her way would be greatly appreciated. Also, let me know if you have any idea how a California Chicken Wrap can result in a trip to the emergency room.

This actor stayed home to keep the dog calm while mom was at the hospital.

It Takes A Village To Do An Audition

It amazes me sometimes how the simplest audition can turn into a big production. This was the case for Zach this past Friday.

He received a callback for a print job. The audition was pretty straightforward because the main part involved recording a 30-second video on his iPhone. The callback notice was emailed to me at 8am and it was due by 5pm.

Zach doesn't have school on Friday morning so I decided to let him sleep until 10am before I would wake him up with the audition info.  Imagine my surprise when his alarm went off at 9:45am. He was going to spend the day with friends but could record the video before leaving.

I had some work fall into my lap between the time I got the email and Zach's alarm went off so I wasn't going to have time to record him. However, one of his friends was coming over at 10:30am so he could handle the recording. All the teenagers had to do was go outside to a nice sunny spot, record the audition and email it to me when it was finished.

Zach walked outside to record at 11am. About 20 minutes later, I got the audition emailed to me but didn't have time to watch it thanks to work. I finally saw it at 2pm and the first thing I noticed was the recording was shot from far away so you couldn't see any of Zach's facial expressions. I called him to record it again but at a closer angle.

He sent me the new recording and it was great except for the fact that he was standing in front of a fountain so all you could hear was running water. (ARGHHHHHH!)

I called again and asked him to go inside and record the video. About 15 minutes later, I got a new video with a closeup view of Zach and no running water.

It was now 3pm and still well before the audition deadline. Dana was home by now and went to the submission site on her computer to upload the video and some full length shots of his body. She then discovered the audition required his resume , a talent reel and a headshot which were all on my computer. I sat by her and emailed all of the info because she was far enough along in the submission process that it didn't make sense to start the process over on my computer.

We finally got the submission in at 4pm. The entire process took us 6 hours and involved:

• His management team sending the audition info
• Relaying the info to Zach
• Zach and his buddy recording the first video
• Watching the first video and realizing it needed to be recorded again
• Zach recording the second and third videos in two different locations at the home of another friend
• Dana using her computer to upload materials that I emailed to her from another computer as I sat next to her

It's amazing how many people and steps it took to get one 30-second video recorded and submitted. It was definitely a combination of teamwork and persistence that got the job done!

Keep your fingers crossed that this actor hears good news about the audition.

The Week In Acting Review For The Artist

Zach had a big audition this week for a comedy project that is also a dream gig for him. As with most auditions, I can't give too many details but it involves some of his favorite comedy folks currently working. Fingers and toes crossed.

The audition itself was on the former NBC Burbank lot. The production facility is now known as The Burbank Studios. They currently film "Days Of Our Lives" there and I've seen the back parking lot used for a crowd scene on "Superstore". The building was the home of The Tonight Show for Johnny and Jay for many years. I was there for a work meeting once and got lost trying to find my destination in the building. I somehow ended up on the set of "Days Of Our Lives". The show crew was very nice to me after it became obvious that I wasn't trying to crash the set. 

As with most auditions, it is now the "wait and see" game when it comes to hearing whether or not he gets a callback. I was happy he got the audition because it was his first chance to pass out his new headshot.

The new headshot for auditions

He won't need a headshot this Saturday because he is not going on an audition. He is attending his first class at The Groundlings Theatre on Melrose Avenue. Zach has been doing improv since 2012 and was a cast member at Second City for 2 years (before he aged out of the teen troupe). While he enjoyed these opportunities, the chance to take some classes at The Groundlings to improve his sketch writing skills is very exciting to him. Zach doesn't even mind getting up early on a Saturday morning!

The final bit of actor related business this week was the arrival of his new computer. The one he used for a few years worked fine but Zach needed an upgrade to a computer with better editing software. As part of his sketch writing plans, he wants to film and edit some sketches and put them on YouTube. Be on the lookout in the near future for Zach's videos online. He also plans to videotape some of his stand-up comedy gigs and put them online as well.

Dana and I will be uploading his new demo reels to IMDb soon so you can take a look at the reels that get sent to casting directors when Zach is submitted for a part. 

So long (for now) from Hollywood!

This Actor Likes To Write Comedy Material.

Screening Screeners On My Home Screen

One of the great things about having a kid "in the biz" is screeners.

If you don't know, a screener is a copy of a movie or television show made for the purpose of reviews, trying to get distributors interested in a project or (in Zach's case) allowing industry members to see the movies nominated for awards in Hollywood. (Zach is eligible to vote for the SAG Awards)

It also means that I get to watch movies with him in the comfort of our own home. Don't get me wrong. There is something great about going to a movie theater and seeing a film on the big screen. Plus, it is a good excuse to enjoy food I never eat otherwise such as nachos with the "tastes good but can't be good for you" nacho cheese, caramel popcorn (the only kind of popcorn I will eat) and chocolate covered raisins

Screeners have evolved over the years from VHS tapes to DVDs to digital downloads. Zach gets a mixture of DVDs and digital downloads. It was really nice over the weekend to be able to watch a current movie without having to go out in the California rain to see a film. We watched "La La Land" (still in theaters and up for many Oscars this weekend) in the comfort of our own warm and dry home. It is a beautifully shot movie that I'm sure looks amazing on the big screen. It also looked really nice on my television while watching it from my couch.

Screeners do come with the standard warning to not share them on the Internet or give them to others to watch or attempt to sell or profit from their existence. I don't want Zach to be on the receiving end of any anger over screeners so we definitely keep them "in house".

I'm looking forward to the Oscars because we've been able to watch many of the films up for best picture thanks to screeners. It's a great way to save money and enjoy the best of Hollywood at the same time.

I'm looking forward to watching screeners starring this actor in the future.

Career Moves Between Auditions

It was a slow week for auditions but a busy week for The Artist in moving his career forward. His acting related activities this week included:

• Signing up for classes at The Groundlings 
• Writing new material to use on stage 
• Open mic work at The Laugh Factory and Flappers
• Meeting with his manager to pick his new headshots
• Checking out a new (to him) comedy club in North Hollywood
• Determining the best program for editing videos on his computer
• Working with his manager to make 3 new demo reels (dramatic acting, comedy and stand-up)
• Driving to Palm Springs to support a friend appearing in a play

He is very excited about attending classes at The Groundlings as it will be a chance for him to get some long-form writing experience. He is great at writing jokes and constructing stand-up that tells a story throughout the set. He doesn't have as much experience writing sketches so this will be a good chance for him to work on that skill.

He wrote some new material this week for stand-up gigs. He can perform at a number of different venues now that he is 18 years old. There are some clubs around town that won't let comics go on stage until they are 21. However, there are venues that welcome comics that are 18 so he is doing research on their open mics to try and get on the radar of the folks who book the talent for those clubs.

Zach got new headshots last month and we finally had a chance to sit down with his manager and go over the photos. It's our job to pick 30 or 40 of our favorite shots and then take them to her office. His manager spreads them out on a table and removes them one by one until she gets to the 4 or 5 that she really likes. We came out of the meeting with a new main headshot and additional headshots for comedy submissions, dramatic auditions and a headshot for hosting open mics and other events.

It's late afternoon on Friday as I type this and his management team just sent me two of the new demo reels they've made for Zach. They look good and definitely showcase his range as an actor. This task might be something we can handle in the future since The Artist is checking into new editing programs. Until then, he has a good support system that puts together demo reels that should help his manager and agents get him noticed by casting directors this pilot season.

Even though he accomplished a lot this week, there is still plenty to do in the weeks ahead. The Artist is busy between stand-up, auditions and school (which starts again soon). Thankfully, he enjoys staying busy and chasing his dreams in Hollywood.

An actor who took care of business this week.

How To Survive Pilot Season

Pilot season is underway and you can feel the tension across the city. Everyone is comparing the amount of auditions they've had so far, what parts they went out for and wondering why they didn't get the call for certain parts. While pilot season is an important part of the year for actors, they also need to learn how to stay sane and survive the next few months. Here are some tips to help actors remain calm during pilot season:

• Keep Your Focus - Pilot season is busy and you could be driving to multiple areas of town in one day or multiple times during the week. Stay focused on your work and don't stress about Los Angeles traffic. Stay in the moment with your acting and don't worry about your agents or managers of any other "business" aspects of the television industry. Your agent and manager help you get in the room but it is your talent that will get you a callback for a project.
• Find An Outlet - Pilot season is more than going to auditions. It is also keeping track of new projects, submitting yourself for parts besides the ones your agent and manager handle, making connections and getting your name out there even more than you normally do during the year. It's a nonstop process but you need to make time to relax and let your mind rest. Go to the gym. Meet friends for dinner. Go hiking once or twice per week. Give yourself time to take a deep breath and think about something other than acting.
• It's Not Always You - There are a dozen or more reasons why you might not book a part. Your acting ability might be the last reason you don't book a pilot. They might have been searching for a "certain look" and you didn't match what they had in mind. The part might have been rewritten to be an older person or the opposite gender or even written out of the show completely. It might have been budget reasons. It's certainly disappointing if you don't land the role you were after but keeping it all in perspective is vital to staying sane during the pilot season casting process.
• Be Prepared - The art of being prepared is more than just knowing your lines and being off book. You will often be given a copy of the entire pilot script. Read through it so you know what the show is about beyond the part you hope to land, Showing an interest in the entire script and knowing how the characters interact with each other will go a long way in making you stand out in the eyes of the casting director. Being in the room is your time to shine and show you have what it takes to play the part as well as be an important part of the acting ensemble. 
• Don't Let It Define The Rest Of Your Year - Don't let the success or failure you have in booking a pilot define the rest of your year. Pilot season is only a few months out of the year. If you don't book a pilot, it doesn't mean you will be unemployed for the rest of the year. Keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities down the road. It might seem like the end of the world if you don't book a pilot but it can also mean there is something better waiting for you later in the year. Stay positive and keep your eyes on the goal of being a working actor.

This actor has had a couple of auditions in the last few weeks.

It's Easy To Audition When The Studio Works

Dana and I have been lucky enough to have a voice-over studio for years in our home. It is very helpful making extra money doing commercials and VO projects for industrial films and on hold messages for business owners. It's also helpful when Zach has a voice-over audition because we can record it at home and email the MP3 to his agent.

I should say...It is great when the studio is actually working.

We recently moved from one part of Sherman Oaks to the other and decided to upgrade our studio. While the old setup sounded fine, the studio was rapidly becoming "old school" with more equipment than necessary these days to have a functioning and modern studio. As part of our move, we decided to get rid of as much old equipment as possible while still keeping our mic. It's a sweet Neumann mic that is worth more than all of the old equipment combined.

We took our old gear to Guitar Center to see if we could trade any of it towards new equipment. They ended up taking everything we brought and gave us $250 worth of trade towards new gear. It's funny how I took a backseat full of equipment to trade and ended up walking out with everything I needed in one small box. It's definitely the digital age of audio recording.

We've had two issues with setting up the new studio:

1. Dana went on a business trip to New York and I wanted to wait on her because I trust her ears more than my own when it comes to audio
2. We were both fighting the flu during the moving process and were too wiped out to do anything extra 

No big deal about the studio not being set-up yet. It's not like we need to record audio anytime soon.

Or not.

Zach got a VO audition while our studio was down. The audition came in after hours on a Friday night so I spent most of the weekend trying to get confirmation from his manager that Zach could record the VO at her office on Monday morning. I was doing my best not to drive her staff nuts but I needed an answer because the MP3 was due at noon on Monday and they don't open until 11am.

I finally got the confirmation on Sunday direct from Sundance where his manager was attending the festival. Zach arrived at 11am on Monday and had his part recorded by 11:20am. The MP3 was emailed at 11:50am and there was no need to worry about the studio before Dana got back to Los Angeles. 

You know where this is going...He got another VO audition that came in after hours on Monday night. I emailed the management crew and got him set-up to arrive at 11am (again) because the MP3 was due at noon (again) on Tuesday.

Thankfully, that was the last VO audition of the week. Dana is back from her trip and our main goal this weekend is to get the studio up and going so we have the ability to record auditions again.

It was a bit stressful last weekend trying to make sure he had a place to record his audition since all of the parties I needed to reach were out of town or off work for the weekend. It all worked out in the end and I have a new appreciation for having a home studio.

I should say...I will have a new appreciation for having a home studio once we get it up and running again!

This actor feels good about both of his VO auditions.