Archive for September, 2008
Another Audition
I got a call for another audition, this time for a Boeing industrial on health spending accounts. I rocked the audition, walked out the door thinking, "Nice job, dude." Then the casting director chased me down the street and asked if I'd cut my sideburns off. She said, "It's OK if you won't!" I said, "I'd cut them down, but not get rid of [...]
The EMMYs
I was happy to see who the EMMYs recognized this year. Many of my favorite shows were awarded. I'm really tired from day job stuff, so I'll keep it brief before I fall asleep. Still have a ton of writing to do. 30 ROCK: Best Comedy Series. Tina Fey got Best Actress and Writer in a Comedy, while Alec Baldwin won Best Actor in a [...]
All Of A Sudden Summer Ended and The Coolest Book on TV Writing
All of a sudden, I turned around and our "summer" ended. OK, so we didn't get much of one to begin with. With the leaves turning...wet and season passes for snowboarding purchased, I've accepted the change of the season. Brando and I are celebrating our joint birthday party tonight and he just came in two-toned Half Maltese, half mud [...]
James Lipton Was Wrong / Archetypes
I'm watching Inside The Actor's Studio with James Lipton interviewing John Cusack. JL referred to BEING JOHN MALKOVICH as a "Very high concept film." I think he's dead wrong, since John Cusack had asked WMA for the most unproduceable script they had and it took 4 years to make. Love the film, but doesn't sound like a high concept to me. A [...]
Writing is Hard, Rewriting is Hell
I've been working on a rewrite of my latest script. Once again, I'm killing my darlings like crazy. My subplot is totally new (I had to kill of a major character people liked and replace him with a love interest for my protagonist), I've cut some elements that I hope will help bring out the traits of the secondary characters. My [...]
Call Back
Just had my call back for the commercial. I think I nailed it. My scene partner was an arrogant, non-acting Indian guy who thought $7,500 for one day of work was not a lot of money. Last time I checked, if you worked 5 days a week at that, you'd make a quarter million bucks a year. I just have gratitude for the opportunity to be myself and get [...]
Ten Little Indians
I did something that I've done in the past, but not with any particular regularity--I auditioned for a TV commercial. This time it was a gaming commercial for Samsung. I got the call from the casting agent, her database reminding her that I'm an Indian guy in my late 20s/early 30s and that I have "giant mutton chops" (her words). [...]
Austin Film Festival Second Rounder / Son of Rambow
Just got a letter in the mail today from the Austin Film Festival. The script, HAPPY ACCIDENT, that I co-wrote with Jen Peel (MFA at NYU, Screenwriter Teacher UW and NWFF, etc.) got into the second round. Let me be clear, this was something of a surprise. Our little script seemed to get panned at all the various screenwriting contests, but then [...]
Tropic Thunder II / Enter the Ninja
I saw two movies, one awesome, one "nawesome" (aka not awesome). Went with Laura and few buddies to see Tropic Thunder, again. What an awesome movie. So funny. Tom Cruise should just do roles like that from now on. Seriously. Go see already. The day prior the same friends had DVR'd Enter the Ninja, a nawesome crapfest. [...]
