Survey Says...Time to Film!

Filming a TV show is not always confined to a sound stage. Location shoots happen all across the city of Los Angeles and these shoots involve the arrival of film crews, equipment trucks, actors, security and blocked roads.

A TV show filming in a building near you can be a surprise if you're not paying attention to signs posted in the area near the location shoot. I'm not talking about signs that are posted the day of the filming. There are signs alerting people to the upcoming production posted anywhere from a few days to a week in advance of the filming dates.

One of the signs/notifications is a filming survey and it looks like this:

This filming survey was posted in the lobby of our building a few weeks ago. The form is not the one used to request the approval of filming activities. It is posted so the company that coordinates filming permits for on-location shoots will know if anyone has any concerns about the proposed filming location, dates or times.

The amount of complaints or concerns they get varies per production and neighborhood. Some people just don't care because location filming is a part of daily life in Los Angeles. It can be a pain at times because traffic can be stopped and parking can become an issue thanks to the production trucks. Overall, it is not that big of a deal.

However, some people HATE filming that takes place on their street. They don't like the extra vehicles and activity and they seem to view it as a major inconvenience to their lives even though most film crews go out of their way to be respectful to those that live in the impacted neighborhood.

The only time I hate having film crews on our street is when they take a lot of the extra parking spaces.  We have two parking spots in our building but we have three vehicles.  I park on the street because I want Dana to be able to easily park in our garage and enter our building since she leaves early in the morning for work (and it keeps her safe). I let Zach park in the other spot because he is coming and going at all hours thanks to school, acting, stand up gigs, auditions and hanging out with his friends. I don't like the idea of Zach having to find parking late at night and walk through the neighborhoods to get to our building.

We live in a nice area but I am concerned with keeping them safe.  Plus, they both drive nice cars and I feel the odds of someone stealing my truck with 160,000 miles on it are pretty low compared to their vehicles. I can usually find a spot close to our building but there have been times that I've parked three or four streets over thanks to a large number of cars in the neighborhood.

FYI...The production crew did film some scenes for "Good Girls" near our home. It wasn't too bad because they were on Ventura Blvd in a restaurant so they were already filming on a really busy street. The production trucks didn't make that much of a difference in the daily traffic of the neighborhood because is is already a busy area thanks to restaurants, retail shops and grocery stores in the area.

I've never watched "Good Girls" but I might have to start so I can see our neighborhood on TV.

This actor has been on location many times for TV and movie shoots.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Your Final Casting Call Roundup For 2016

Even though the entertainment industry is in holiday mode as the year ends, there are still casting calls for projects that will film in 2017. Here are seven of the latest (but not always greatest) casting calls from movies and television:

1. Can you follow directions? Do you know how to listen and follow instructions? If so, you might be part of our new indie film. Looking for extras for a shoot in January who look like doctors, lawyers, corrupt corporate types and the dimwits who they take advantage of in the film. Any and all types ages 32-64.
2. Are you an Internet troll? Are you a proud Internet troll? If so, we're looking for you to share your opinions with the world! Let us know the topic you want to discuss from food to politics to sports and beyond. If you have an opinion and a recent photo, we want to hear from you.
3. Looking for a female of any ethnicity 35-44 to play a "damsel in distress" in an upcoming pilot. Are you good at waiting for help??? If so, bring your "A game" to our (hopefully) "A+" pilot.
4. Seeking males and females 20-28 who look good in glasses for the next great spy epic. The glasses are 3D goggles in the film so you must look dashing and mysterious at the same time. Open to all types.
5. Looking for "Lady Luck" for our next movie. This lady is our main character as well as the title of the movie. Plot twist: She has the worst luck of anybody in the world. Seeking 25-32 but willing to go older for the right Caucasian or Asian leading lady.
6. Casting now for "Paranormal Patrol" AKA "The Ghostbusters reboot done the right way". Seeking men and women to form a multi-cultural squad that fights the paranormal while learning life lessons along the way. Seeking actors ages 23-59.
7. Now casting kids 8-14 for a family friendly movie about a group of kids who nurse a turtle back to health. Once the turtle is better, they discover he has the speed of a cheetah which leads to madcap adventures during a summer they'll never forget. All ethnic groups welcome.

Do any of these casting calls sound like you? If so, 2017 might be the year you become a star!

This actor is busy making his game plan for 2017.

Are You Ready For Episodic Season?

Zach has been busy the last few weeks getting ready for his shows during the Burbank Comedy Festival which begins tonight. Even with writing new material for three stand-up sets, he has also been busy with auditions. He had an audition last week for a meaty part in a popular TV show. More auditions are coming in for TV shows as episodic season is underway in Hollywood.

Not sure what episodic season is all about? No worries!

Here's the rundown on one of the busiest times in the TV production cycle:

Episodic season begins when the majority of TV series go into production for the upcoming season. The major roles in shows were cast earlier in the year during pilot season.  This is the time of year when casting directors look for actors to fill large guest star roles as well as smaller roles in upcoming episodes.

One of the best things about casting for episodes of TV is that the process for casting and filming moves at a quicker pace than movies. TV shows work on a tighter schedule and the work has to be accomplished within a certain amount of time before the next episode gets underway.

Even though a good amount of work is available during episodic season, there are not as many actors that relocate here for an extended period of time. My theory is that actors come here for pilot season because they hope to land a role that has the possibility of being a long-term acting job. While there are good roles available during this time of year, the roles are rarely long-term which might be one of the reasons less actors relocate here for episodic season.

As an actor, you need to make a checklist so you have everything in order for episodic season. Here are 6 key items for your checklist:

1. Make sure your latest headshot, acting reel and resume are easily available via your social media profiles.
2. Have plenty of headshots ready. Keep a few extra with you in your car!
3. Touch base with any contacts you have in casting offices as well as any producers, directors or production people you know on shows. It never hurts to reconnect with your network of contacts.
4. Take an acting class to keep your skills up to date. (I previously discussed how to find the right acting class.) Let your acting coach know what you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses and work on refining your skills.
5. Have a flexible work schedule, You never know when a last minute audition or callback will come your way. You don't want to be stuck at work and miss your opportunity.
6. Answer the phone! There are few things that frustrate your agent or manager more than not being able to get in touch with you. If you're in a location where you can't answer the phone, send them a text or an email. Make sure they know you got their message and will be at the audition on time.

The above list might seem simple but you would be surprised how many actors don't take care of the basics. Being professional and taking care of the basics can make the difference in your success in Hollywood.

This Actor Has Three Shows This Week During The Burbank Comedy Festival.

Not All Auditions Are Performed Equally

When the average person thinks of an acting audition, they picture someone walking out on stage or going into a room to read lines for a group of casting executives. These examples are still sometimes true but they are not always the case these days. There are many times actors audition for parts and are not in the same room with the casting director. Here are some examples of how auditions are currently conducted in Hollywood:

In-Person - The traditional way to audition and one of the methods most preferred by actors. Being in the room with the casting director not only gives actors an audience during the audition, it also allows for instant feedback. The casting director can ask for a different read of the script. He or she might even give the actor a different scene or part to read for on the spot. While it can be a nerve-wracking experience for the person auditioning, the fact that the casting person is there in person allows for an immediate connection to be made in the room.

Eco-Cast - This form of auditioning is provided by a company called Breakdown Services and they provide casting services to the entertainment industry. The service allows casting directors to send audition invites to actors, or their representatives, to record an audition. Once the auditions are recorded, they are sent to the casting office through the designated Eco-Cast account. This method allows a larger number of actors to audition since they don't have to be in the same city as the casting director. It does take away the intimate aspect of the casting process since the audition is simply recorded to be viewed at a later date.

iPhone - While this method is like an Eco-Cast since the actor is recording the audition for the casting director, there are a few ways that it differs as well. When an audition is recorded for submission, an actor normally tries to go into a studio with professional cameras and a generic background so there won't be anything distracting from the performance, Filming on an iPhone gives a greater sense of urgency as well as more of an intimate and "in the moment" feel. Plus, it allows actors to show off their creativity by choosing the manner in which it is filmed as well as any effects or tricks they want to add to make the audition stand out beyond their performance.

No matter which audition method is used by an actor, the end goal is to land the role and be part of the production. Zach has an audition to record on an iPhone this week and he is already thinking of ways to use the phone to his advantage during the recording process. With all of the audition methods available these days, can virtual reality auditions be far behind?

Besides his audition this week, this actor is preparing material for the Burbank Comedy Festival.

A Recap of (Recent) Life in Hollywood

Instead of focusing on one topic this week, I'm going to do a mixed bag and discuss a variety of "life in Hollywood" events from the last few weeks.

• I was recently approached by a writer, who is also a bestselling author, about doing a profile piece on me. He found my blog and wants to feature me in a magazine article about people who take the unexpected path in life. We are working out the final details and the interview should happen in a few weeks.
• Zach, along with two of his friends, decided it was time to give back to the community. They helped plan and implement a bowling event to raise funds for cancer research. The "Bowling Bash To Strike Away Cancer" raised over $15,000 during the 3-hour event. They served as the red carpet, social media and recruitment chairs for the event. They also helped host the bash and enlisted some of their talented friends to perform as well as serve as the official event photographer and event support. It was nice to see them excited about helping a great cause and work so hard to make the event such a success.

Zach Louis hosting the start of the ceremony.

• I've had a couple of conversations in the last week about turning my blog into a book. In fact, I've spoken with two people from different companies in the past week about writing a book. One of them found me through hashtags I use regularly on social media. The other person found me searching for blogs about acting and Hollywood. I'm in initial talks with them and it's definitely an intriguing idea.
• There was a production crew in our neighborhood last week. I discovered them while taking Doc on his morning walk. The crew asked us to stop for a moment while they finished filming a scene. I was fine with waiting but Doc kept pulling on the leash, When it was finally time for us to pass through the trucks and crew, I noticed Doc had peed on the stack of daily sides left on the ground by the guy who wouldn't let us pass. I smiled at Doc and quickly started walking. My dog knows how to show his displeasure while not messing up the scene being filmed.
• Zach just started his summer vacation from college. On the agenda for this summer? Creating a YouTube channel and its content, writing new stand-up material and testing it around town, guitar lessons, sleeping late, acting classes and auditions. It might be summer break from school but the kid doesn't know how to take it easy. He is determined to create opportunities while waiting for auditions from his agents.

Writing this update reminds me I need to get book proposal samples together for both of the interested parties! I need to review the samples closely because spell check likes to spell "dadager" as "dada get" or "da did ma". Looks like a manual review night ahead of me.

This actor is looking forward to summer fun.

7 Tips Every Actor Needs To Know About Being A Professional

I often discuss specific topics surrounding the world of acting such as auditions, agents and acting classes. While these are important topics, there are still many parts of the business of acting that are important for anyone interested in making acting their career. In no particular order, here are a few tips that can help you on a daily basis:

• Don't Be Late - While this might seem like obvious advice, many people don't take it to heart. There are thousands of actors in Hollywood trying to book jobs and be successful in this field. Even though traffic is horrible here, there is no reason not to plan ahead so you will be on time for a job or an audition. In fact, it's always better to be early than simply be on time.
• Learn Your Lines - Once again, this is amazingly obvious advice but it's not always followed by actors. Unless the job you booked specifically calls for improv, learn the lines that are sent to you. You need to know the lines by heart before you can begin to dive into the emotional aspects of the role. Also, don't attempt to make the lines "better" by tossing in your ideas and improv. Unless you want to insult the producers and writers of the project, don't simply change the lines to "fit your character" since you didn't create the character!
• The Business Isn't Fair - Most people know this fact but a few cling to the belief that they've done nothing wrong when they don't book a job. Also, you might book a role and then your part is cut for time. Your dream project might lose its financing. Don't dwell on why something didn't go your way with your acting career. Holding in the negative feelings and energy will only hold you back.
• Make A Choice - Will you conduct your career being prepared and ready to put in the work? Would you rather fly by the seat of your pants and hope that a big break lands in your lap? How you navigate your career is up to you but be prepared for the good and bad results of your approach.
• Don't Be Your Worst Enemy - When it comes to actors, they are their own worst enemy. From being unprepared for an audition to not rehearsing for a booked job to not arriving on time, you can do more damage to your credibility in the industry than anybody writing a review of your work.
• Get It Right The First Time At An Audition - You are not entering an audition to be coached by the casting directors. You are there to blow them away the first time. They might ask for different line readings because the production is not absolutely sure what they are looking for when it comes to character motivation. Be flexible and give other line readings if requested by them. When it comes to first impressions with your initial reading, be prepared to blow them away! 
• Don't Make Excuses - The production that hired you for a job doesn't care that traffic was bad this morning. The casting director at an audition doesn't want to hear how your power went out and you couldn't download the audition sides. Your agent doesn't care why you didn't show up for an audition they submitted you for that happened three hours ago. Acting is a business and these excuses don't matter because there is always an actor more than willing to take your audition slot or work the job you were late arriving to on the day of your shoot.

Acting is fun. Acting is an art form. Acting is also a business with many rules and expectations that should be obvious to all actors. Keep the above tips in mind as you navigate the world of Hollywood and you'll be viewed as a professional ready to get the job done at all times.

This teen actor has been taught to always be professional when working or auditioning.

Five Tasks To Perform Daily As An Actor

The image most people have of the daily life of an actor is one of glitz and glamour. Lunch at The Palm, shopping in Beverly Hills and parties with A-list actors in the industry. Isn't that what the daily life of an actor is all about?

Not really.

There is a lot of work put into the daily career path of a person living the acting life. An actor has to work on their craft more than once a week at an acting class in order to get ahead in the industry. There are many lifestyle choices that go into helping an actor find success. Here are five tips to help you be more successful in your daily journey as an actor:

1. Networking - Even if you don't have a job currently booked, there are still plenty of ways to work on getting ahead in your career. Join a writing group. Sign up for a casting director workshop. Do an open mic night. Workshop a play. Write a screenplay. Get feedback from fellow actors and people whose opinions you trust. The important thing is to not stay in bed all day. Take at least one step forward per day in your acting career by networking and showcasing your talents to others. The extra effort will pay off in the future. 
2. Look your best at all times - Los Angeles is a town where you never know who you'll be talking to at any given time. I've had conversations with studio executives, directors, talent coordinators and writers of major motion pictures without knowing (at the time) what they did for a living. There are industry people all over the place. They might be dining next to you, getting gas at the same time or shopping at the same store. It's vital to look your best at all times. Being presentable in your everyday life shows that you care about your appearance and not looking like you got out of bed an hour ago, Acting is a business as well as an art form and you wouldn't go to a job interview looking less than professional. The professional and "put together" impression you make on the stranger next to you can pay off in a career break further down the road.
3. Be prepared to be on call 24/7 - Even though you might not have a set schedule where you have to be somewhere from 9 to 5 on a daily basis, you will essentially be on call 24/7 on a daily basis. Planning trips at any point of the year other than the Christmas holidays is almost impossible since booking an audition can happen seven days a week. Auditions don't take the weekend off so going out of town for the weekend is sometimes difficult. I'm not saying that you can't take a vacation but be warned that you might miss out on an opportunity for a paid acting job. You are probably friends with fellow actors which is a good thing because they will understand when you have to cancel plans in order to make a last-minute audition in Santa Monica that happens an hour after the call for the audition. Plus, you need to learn multiple pages of dialogue in the hour that you'll be stuck on the 405 trying to get to the audition, There's also a good chance that you'll be asked to prepare multiple scenes for the audition only to discover that the casting people only want you to read the first scene. Being an actor means having to be prepared to sacrifice quality time with family and friends and significant others in the pursuit of your craft.
4. Maintain your look - Casting directors, agents and mangers often think of actors as "types" as opposed to actual people. The casting people make a breakdown for a part and decide if they want you to audition based on how they perceive you. Agents and managers scan casting notices and breakdowns and submit the clients they feel have "the look" for the part, They might think of you as a wonderful person with many redeeming qualities. However, if you don't register top of mind as having the right look for a part then they won't submit you for the audition. Your look is your calling card. Keeping yourself in shape and playing to how the industry perceives you is a daily exercise in keeping yourself relevant and prepared to kill at an audition.
5. Take care of your number one fan - The person most invested in your career is the person who looks at you in the mirror every morning. You are your biggest cheerleader and your biggest resource. It's up to you to determine how hard you want to work and how much motivation you have on a daily basis. The more often you put yourself in front of others, the more often you'll be top of mind when it comes to parts and auditions. Your time is valuable so don't waste it obsessing on the parts and opportunities that others have in front of them. Be a self-starter and make your acting future your number one priority.

This actor likes to write and create his own material.

My Favorite Casting Notices That Shouldn't Exist

There are hundreds of casting notices sent out every week in Hollywood. While most of them seem normal, there are others that make me do a double take after I read them.  Here are my five favorite odd casting notices from the past week:

1. Dirty Disney Burlesque Show - What more needs to be said besides that great title?
2. Male 18-35 needed to play the part of penguin wings that are able to fly after the owner of the wings takes mushrooms in an Arctic trailer park. You will not be playing a penguin. You will be playing the wings.
3. Soft bodied Korean senior citizen needed to perform hardcore rap song about the dangers of too much Viagra on a consistent basis. Must be willing to be nude except for a prosthetic FOV (Friend of Viagra). 
4. Do you like trains? Do you like having coal on your face? Do you enjoy wearing a train conductor hat? If so, join our new theater troupe that performs guerrilla plays in front of unsuspecting Amtrak passengers. Must be willing to keep performing no matter how much the passengers might complain.
5. Looking for a female 49-65 to play the part of a sexy grandmother to three llamas. Must not be afraid of llamas. Must be willing to feed llamas. The llamas are the stars of the production so you must be willing to accept second billing to the llamas.

The above casting notices are the ones that made me laugh the hardest this week. They are also the notices that made me curious why they even exist.

I guess the only answer is..."That's Show Business!"

I'm not sure how this actor feels about llamas. He does enjoy trains.

How To Dress The "Acting Part" On A Budget

Wardrobe is a big part of the daily existence of an actor. While big budget movies and television shows have their own wardrobe departments that supply the main actors and major guest stars with their outfits, many actors don't have the opportunity to work on larger productions. They work on commercials, do background work and book smaller guest star roles that require them to supply their own clothes. Some smaller shoots do have clothes on hand to help fill-in various wardrobe needs with standard size generic looking clothes. More often than not, the actor booking the role will get a call from wardrobe asking them to bring specific types of clothes to the shoot. The clothing request is made so the production will have outfit options for various scenes.

What's an actor with a limited budget supposed to do when they book a job for the next day with wardrobe requests? What are the best choices in Los Angeles for camera ready clothes on a budget?

The following is not a comprehensive list of places to shop for clothes on a budget. It is more of a "starter kit" to help find stores to shop at for auditions or booked jobs:

1. The Council Thrift Shops (NCJWLA/National Council of Jewish Women) - Worth checking out for the occasional name brand clothing. Multiple locations around Los Angeles.
2. Berda Paradise Thrift Store - A play on words as well as the first name (Berda) of the founder of the store. A thrift store with a good heart as it benefits the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic. Vintage clothing, name brands, purses and other goodies can be found at this store on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake.
3. American Cancer Society Discovery Shop - A set of stores across Los Angeles near and dear to my heart as my wife works for the American Cancer Society. There is sometimes more of a focus on furniture and home decorating items but still worth checking out for a few clothing items.
4. Wasteland - With three locations in the Los Angeles area, Wasteland is a definite resource for clothing on a budget. The actor searching for clothes will find anything from designer suits and jeans to shirts perfect for auditions and hanging out with friends. There is also a good selection of casual clothes. Wasteland is a place where almost any style of clothes can be found on the right day at a good price.
5. It's A Wrap - This is kind of an odd place because the clothes in the store are actual wardrobe pieces from TV shows and movies. If nothing else, it gives an actor a good idea of the wardrobe style of various productions. Plus, where else can you buy a random outfit from "Dancing With The Stars"? There's one location in Burbank and one on Robertson Blvd on the Westside.
6. Squaresville - A 2-story vintage store on Vermont with a little bit of everything in terms of clothing. Casual and designer clothes, shoes and accessories can all be found at this store.
7. Out Of The Closet - There are three or four locations of Out Of The Closet around town. Their selection of clothes shares space with housewares and books with part of the proceeds benefiting the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. 
8. Jet Rag - A vintage clothing store on La Brea that sometimes leans towards more eclectic selections but still worth checking out on a regular basis. It can be a little crazy on Sundays when they hold their $1 sales.
9. Crossroads - The number of Crossroads locations across Los Angeles makes it easy to find a location. Although they are not big on dress clothes or designer wear, they are a great option when searching for more casual outfits.
10. Buffalo Exchange - Their tagline says they specialize in new and recycled fashion. This is true as new/gently worn clothes hang next to vintage concert t-shirts and faded jeans. A good place to shop for stage clothes as well as clothes for filming.

In a city the size of Los Angeles, there are dozens of options when it comes to shopping for acting clothes. There are many recycled and vintage clothing stores that sell outfits that still look brand new. It's always nice to wear an outfit that cost very little but still looks like a million bucks.

The parents of this actor have had good luck at thrift stores.

Pilot Season Is Almost Here

It's officially 2016 and the Hollywood machine is gearing up for the coming year. It's also one of the busiest times of the year in town because pilot season is close to kicking off.

All of the casting directors and production people return to work this week. In fact, Zach had his first audition of the year today. Not only is this the time of year everyone is returning to work, it's also the time that a large number of actors are relocating to Los Angeles for pilot season.  

The time that pilot season happens used to be defined as January through April. With more cable networks and streaming services producing shows all through the year, there is some pilot casting that happens throughout the year. However, the majority of pilots are cast during the traditional time period.  

In order to get the most attention for their potential series, producers will try and cast a big name in one of the lead roles. The big name could be a former TV star returning to the medium or a movie star who is not considered a marquee name anymore. Once the main choices/big names are locked into the project, the casting folks will start to work on filling the secondary and smaller roles.

If the pilot does not have any big names attached to it, agents will submit their roster of actors for any and all available roles in a pilot. The casting directors then call in the actors they are interested in seeing for an audition. They continue to call actors in for callbacks until the available roles are filled. Once the cast is in place, the pilot episode is filmed and shown to the network for approval and audience testing. Even if the series is picked up by the network, not all of the actors will make it to the screen in the fall. Some of the roles will be recast due to network notes and audience testing.

Are you an actor that already has an agent and lives in Hollywood? Great! Make an appointment with your agent and get a game plan ready for pilot season. Make sure the agent has your current headshot, resume, demo reel and social media links ready to use when they submit you for a role. It never hurts to attend some workshops to get your name and face in front of casting directors you already know or have not had a chance to meet in person.

Are you an actor moving to Los Angeles for pilot season and looking for representation? Good luck. It will be more of an uphill battle for you since most agents and managers are focused on their current pool of talent and are (normally) not looking to take on anyone new at this time of year. Also, the short term rent prices are crazy since rental property landlords and apartment building management companies know they can get premium rates due to the competition for available rentals. I'm not telling you not to chase your dreams but you might want to wait until the amount of actors competing for available parts is smaller. Many actors only move here for pilot season and then they return to their homes.

It's too early to tell what types of shows will be big this pilot season. It's always interesting to see what parts The Artist is submitted for by his agent.  The next few months should make for some entertaining stories from Hollywood before pilot season 2016 is over.

This Actor Felt Confident About His Audition Today.

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Things You Learn When You Leave The Bubble

I am writing this update far from Hollywood. It's the holidays so we are visiting family in Arkansas. It's good to be here for a few reasons:

*Visiting family is always a good thing.

and

*Sometimes you have to get out of the bubble of show business to realize that not everyone is constantly thinking about Hollywood.

I've lived in many different cities and almost all of the stores and restaurants shut down on Christmas Eve. I was alone on Christmas Eve (as Dana and Zach had already left town) but I wasn't bored by any stretch of the imagination. A good 70% of the bars and restaurants by my home were open so I had plenty of food options. There were still Christmas Eve services and folks singing Christmas carols but it seemed like any other day in Los Angeles.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry (right here), a good portion of the conversations in Los Angeles revolve around show business in some form or fashion. I was at LAX flying out for Christmas vacation and heard conversations about DVR ratings, weekend box office numbers and pilot casting possibilities. About 60% of the passengers on the plane were wearing some sort of "Hollywood gear". I spotted production crew jackets, free t-shirts from movie screenings, baseball caps from TV shows and even a headshot or two being passed around while waiting for our flight.

I flew from Los Angeles to Dallas where I was greeted by Southern accents, SEC and Cowboys jackets and people discussing college bowl games and Jesus. I had a layover that left me enough time for lunch. I was reading the latest copy of "The Hollywood Reporter" when I noticed two people pointing at me. I couldn't hear their entire conversation but I did make out the words "movies" and "producer". 

Once I landed in Memphis, Dana picked me up and we headed to see her parents in Arkansas. It was late in the day and the lack of crops and green fields made the scenery rather bleak on the drive. The bleakness didn't grab my attention as much as the sky above as we drove past the small towns. It's almost impossible to get a good view of the sky in Los Angeles. There's always a hazy layer of smog that blocks the view. You have to get out of the city to really see the stars. We went to Big Bear in August and enjoyed the night sky. After four months of not having a good view at night, I was amazed at how bright the stars seemed and how easy they were to view. It's a fact that escapes your mind when you are used to not seeing the stars clearly on a daily basis.

We arrived to find a sick teen actor on the couch. He must have caught some sort of bug on the airplane because he was throwing up and running a high fever. Remember what I wrote above about Christmas Eve seeming like any other day? This did not hold true in small town Arkansas. It took me 4 or 5 attempts to find a Walgreens that was open on Christmas night. They were only open until 8pm and it was 15 miles away from us. Dana and I jumped into a vehicle and raced to the store to get Zach some medicine. The very nice lady working that night asked what we were looking for in the medicine aisle. We explained that we had just flown in from Los Angeles and that the kid might have caught something on the plane. We didn't mention the Los Angeles thing to brag as much as it was a simple part of the story to explain how he fell ill. I was in another aisle when a fellow customer came up to me and asked if I knew Tom Cruise or Bruce Willis. I told him I hadn't seen the guys for a few weeks but I would catch up with them in 2016. I sometimes forget that people who don't live in Los Angeles think that everyone knows each other (including super famous actors).

The bubble of show business is all around you in Hollywood. It becomes such an everyday part of life that it seems odd to be around people who aren't worried about their next audition or if their lines will be cut out of the final shooting script or how to get a script seen by the right people at a studio. I'm not saying if one viewpoint is more valid than the other one. I do know that it's good to get out of the show business bubble every now and then. It recharges your batteries, puts everything in perspective and helps you focus on what goals you want to achieve when you step back inside the bubble of Hollywood.

This Teen Actor Is Feeling A Little Bit Better Today.

One More Casting Notice Roundup For 2015

Happy holidays!

While the production end of the entertainment industry is shut down until the start of January, there are still plenty of casting calls for roles in projects that film in 2016.  Let's take a look at some of the more interesting projects that have made their way to my mailbox in the past two or three weeks.

*Beautiful, seductive and beguiling 25-44 female wanted to play mental ward patient in a calypso music video.

*Looking for four attractive women of Korean or Latin ethnicity to bicycle through New Year's Eve parties for a grassroots web series shoot.

*Sexually unsatisfied 50+ Middle Eastern Male or Female for supporting role in college road trip feature film.

*Protective, overbearing and creepy Russian male 35-62 for supporting role as father or grandfather in an ongoing web series.

*Four trained dogs (any breed) to star in a parody of the CW lineup of shows. Must have expressive eyes.

*Seeking 18+ athletic females willing to compete in the filming of a chicken chase contest while topless.

*Distinguished and regal appearing men (two men ages 45-58) willing to have their white suits covered with peanut butter fired from toy guns.

*Looking for 25-30 Caucasian male with the looks of Han Solo and the courage of Barney Fife. Must be open to being dunked repeatedly in milk.

*Corporate looking 30-45 Latin woman who is also an expert at Twister for a corporate training video. Must be willing to display Twister talents at the audition.

*In need of 25-30 African American male with own Easter Bunny outfit for short film where you fight Santa Claus while wearing the bunny suit.

Do any of these roles sound like a fit for you or someone you know? If so, think about your life choices and then get ready because you might become a star!

This actor is looking forward to more acting challenges in 2016.

My 200th Anniversary Blogpost Blowout Extravaganza

It's hard to believe this is my 200th update from Hollywood. To mark the milestone, I'd like to share some things I've learned about the acting business and Hollywood since I've started this blog:

• Every actor I've met since moving here is a "working actor". Everyone is not an actor that gets paid to act but they all claim to be working actors.
• Almost every restaurant is a museum of headshots collected over the lifetime of the restaurant. Depending on the age of the establishment, there can be headshots dating back to the 70s and earlier.
• While the city of Los Angeles doesn't solely revolve around the entertainment industry, it is the main topic of conversation on a daily basis.
• Did you miss the awesome car chase that happened last night? Don't worry. There will be another one later this week. Los Angeles has more police chases that go on for hours than any other city I know.
• You can't go more than 2 days without stumbling across a production crew filming in a neighborhood. It's very commonplace to see a group of production assistants running up and down the street keeping everything running smoothly for the rest of the crew.
• Spending Friday nights at Nick on Sunset watching my kid film a Nickelodeon television show is not how I imagined my Friday nights on the Sunset Strip when I was in my 20s.
• Traffic is hardly ever in your favor and never easy to predict. I've been in my truck for 3 hours attempting to drive 6 miles to an audition while also making it from my home to LAX (17 miles) in 20 minutes (which should never happen!).
• The best celebrity sightings are at the grocery store. Zach bumped into Kanye West once at a Ralphs (and I mean he really bumped into him) but didn't get yelled at by Kanye since Zach was only around 13-years-old at the time. I like to think that Kanye wouldn't yell at kids.
• You never know when you will run across a celebrity or a "celebrity" in town. The most random celebrity sightings I've had include Charles Fleischer (voice of Roger Rabbit), Jack Box (mascot of Jack In The Box), Toby Keith greeting my dog at a 7-Eleven and Sandra Bullock at a farmers market.
• People in Beverly Hills tend to give you an odd look when you want to valet park a large red pickup at a restaurant.
• Almost everyone who moves to Los Angeles never accepts the fact that they are Los Angeles residents. They could live here one year or 20 years and they will still tell you that they are from (insert name of their hometown). I understand having pride in where you come from but they never seem to accept the fact that they live in California.
• People that you don't even realize are actors will randomly appear on your television screen. Places that you dine at will suddenly be the setting for an important scene on a TV show. We once spotted our apartment building manager as a bartender at one of our favorite restaurants (that doesn't have a bar) on a FOX sitcom and then he was on TV the next night being questioned in a murder investigation on ABC.

Thanks for following Zach's adventures as well as my blog for the last 200 posts. Pilot season starts in early 2016 so a new round of actors moving to Hollywood is about to begin. I'll be bringing you behind the scenes stories as well as plenty of other Hollywood tales and adventures in the coming year.

Check out the new photos of this actor on IMDb.

What Exactly Does A Script Reader Do?

I recently had an interesting conversation with a script reader. I should say I recently had a conversation with a professional script reader. I've read many scripts in my day but I've never been paid to read scripts professionally. I enjoyed the chat with Phil (the script reader) because he was able to answer some questions I've always had about the job.

A script reader can be thought of as a person who is the first line of defense when it comes to judging a screenplay. The script reader can be employed by a variety of people including agents, producers and studio executives. They read scripts that have been submitted and make a recommendation on whether or not the script should be forwarded to the higher-ups at a company. While it might sound silly that the opinion of one person can determine the fate of a script, it is true that the script reader has that kind of power. While the script reader doesn't always have the final say on the matter, their opinion does factor greatly in the final decision.

Once an agent or an executive receives a script from a manager or client, they pass it on to the reader. The script reader will review the script and then give their thoughts on the script in the form of "coverage".  Coverage is a summary of what the script reader thought about the screenplay. The coverage sometimes includes a one or two page synopsis that is easy to understand when it comes to summarizing the script. I bring this up to remind you to make your spec script easy to understand. Your script can't be easily explained if it's not simple enough for the script reader to understand it.

The coverage of the script generally covers a number of topics including:

• Is the overall premise of the script interesting, engaging and believable?
• Is the story interesting enough to hold the attention of an audience?
• Will audiences like the main characters and want to follow their journey?  
• Is the script well constructed or will it need a good amount of work and revisions?
• Do the actions of the characters make sense throughout the script?
• How is the dialogue? Is it natural or rather clumsy?
• Do the strong parts of the script outweigh the weaker aspects of the overall presentation?
• What would be the overall budget for filming the script?
• Is the overall presentation and content of the script excellent, good, fair or poor?

Once these questions (and a multitude of others) are answered, the final decision comes down to three possible choices. The choices are often phrased different ways by different readers but they include:

1. Pass - This means the reader feels there are enough problems with the script that the agent, executive or production company should pass on the script.
2. Consider - The script is not perfect but it does show enough promise to be considered as a possible production. The "consider" also includes the idea that it will take some time and effort to get the script into good enough shape to be made into a movie.
3. Recommend - The script and its parts are in good enough shape that it should be moved forward in the process. The "recommend" decision means that a good amount of manpower and resources will be needed moving forward so "recommend" is not given as often as "pass" and "consider".

The next time you do (or don't) like a movie and are curious how the decision was made to move forward with the script, just remember the dedicated script readers who are the first to review and make a judgement about a screenplay.

This actor is toying with the idea of writing a script.  

Where Did Everybody Go????

December is just around the corner which means less and less people are in Hollywood. While California might seem like an ideal place to be during the holidays, it is actually a time of year when it is easier to get around the Los Angeles area.

The answer to where everybody has gone?

Home.

The entertainment industry starts to slow down as Christmas and New Year's Day get closer on the calendar. The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is the one time of the year actors can leave town without feeling like they are going to miss an audition or booking. When Zach and I were living here by ourselves, we would try and go visit Dana as much as possible. I can't name the amount of times I was either visiting Dana or on an airplane going to visit her when I would get a call from a casting director:

Casting Director: "Can Zach work a Super Soaker commercial tomorrow?"

Me: "Not unless it's shooting in Missouri,"

The above conversation has happened to almost every actor at least one time in their career. However, the entire industry shuts down at the end of the year. With no productions, casting or workshops going on in that time period, actors can leave town without the fear of missing a gig.

It's also the time of year that reminds me just how many people still consider somewhere else to be their home. Many of Zach's friends are out here with one parent while the other parent and siblings are back in their home state continuing their jobs and lives far removed from Hollywood. He also has many older friends that moved here all alone to chase their dream of making it as an actor.

It's not an easy situation for a number of reasons. The people living in Hollywood miss their family and friends as well as the comforts of home. The people back home miss their family members but they also miss being part of the daily lives and experiences of the ones who left to chase their dream. It's not an ideal situation for any of the people involved.

We were in the "split living" situation for 9 months until Dana got a job in Los Angeles. Since then, we've left town to see family but we are united and living in Los Angeles.

As the holidays continue, the traffic on the 405 becomes more tolerable. In the spirit of the holiday season, there was about 50% less road rage and fewer sightings of the middle finger this weekend. The fact that traffic is more manageable during the holidays might be the greatest gift of all.

I Need To Do Some Holiday Shopping For This Actor.

Making Money While Not Working

Zach loves being on set as much as the art of acting. Learning from others around him is one of his favorite parts of being a professional actor. He recently discovered another aspect of the acting world that was very enjoyable for him. He discovered the joy of making money while not having to be on set.

In other words, Zach discovered the joy of residuals.

A residual is when an actor gets paid (again) for the work they did on shows that have already aired once on television. This does not apply to all actors as extras do not receive any money when a program is shown in reruns. There are others who receive residuals from television shows and they include members of the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America.

You don't have to be one of the main members of the cast to qualify for residuals. Many day players and stunt performers qualify to receive money thanks to residuals. The amount of money received from residuals depends on the amount of money a person was paid in the first place for the show. The higher the pay per episode, the more money a person makes from the reruns.

In fact, some of the highest paid actors from television shows aren't even working regularly on TV shows anymore. Steve Carell, Ray Romano, Jon Cryer and the cast of "Friends" all earn millions of dollars each year in residuals thanks to syndicated reruns, foreign rights, DVD sales and digital media sales.

In a business known for work being hit and miss and rarely steady for the majority of actors in the industry, landing a gig that pays steady residuals is one way to enjoy a steady income in Hollywood.

This Actor Celebrated His First Residual Check With A Fast Food Run,